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A Strategy for Pensions at Risk of Extinction
Companies could change, or even eliminate, pension plans, but workers were entitled to the benefits they had already earned. A government agency was set up to guarantee that pensions would be paid even if the sponsoring company went broke. This year may well be remembered as the one when the fundamental tenet of Erisa, as the law came to be known, was abandoned.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the agency set up 40 years ago to guarantee those pensions, made clear in its annual report released last month that one group of pension funds would most likely run out of money within a few years. Absent new legislation, the already modest pensions of some retired workers will be eliminated.
The endangered pensions are not in the P.B.G.C.’s largest program, which insures pensions backed by a single company. That program is said to have a multibillion-dollar deficit, but there is no immediate danger for pension recipients.
The problem is in the area known as multiemployer pension plans. Those plans, often involving unionized workers, were once common in industries like coal mining, trucking and construction. Those plans seemed so solid in 1974 that they were not even required to be covered under Erisa. When they were added, years later, they were put into their own separate insurance scheme. Now that scheme is in danger of failing.
When those funds run out of money to pay benefits, it will be up to the P.B.G.C. to step in. It now pays a maximum of $12,870 a year for workers who spent 30 years digging coal or driving trucks, even if the plan called for larger payouts. A worker with only 15 years of service gets half of that. But the P.B.G.C. says its multiemployer plan might run out of money in 2018 and is virtually certain to fail by 2025.
In another era, a consensus would have been reached that something should be done to prevent that from happening. But this is the 21st century. When a commission was set up to look for solutions to the multiemployer problem — one that included representatives of pension plans, unions and employers — it started from the assumption that no government money would be available. The proposal it came up with was to allow such plans to cut benefits quickly, on the theory that depriving current retirees of income would leave some for future retirees. Such cuts would require legislation.
There are those who are outraged by the proposal. AARP, the lobbyist for retired people, protested that “the anti-cutback rule,” barring the reduction of benefits already earned and vested, “is perhaps the most fundamental of Erisa’s participant protections.” But in the current century, spending taxpayer money to help the unfortunate is unpopular.
It may not help that the multiemployer plans generally benefit union members, a group whose political influence is waning. Nor does it help that the Central States Teamsters fund was legendarily corrupt a few generations ago, although that fact does not seem to be a cause of its current problems.
Erisa never covered public pensions, and there are plenty of troubles in that area now. While few companies still offer defined-benefit pensions, many local and state governments still do. But Detroit was able to reduce its obligations in bankruptcy, and some states are seeking ways to get around legal protections for pension benefits.
The baby boomers now retiring — a group that includes me — may be the last American generation to leave work assured of adequate income in old age. In place of defined-benefit pensions, future generations will be left with their own savings.
Employers, private or public, are no longer willing to accept the investment risks that come from managing plans that promise benefits, so that risk has been transferred to workers. Whatever one thinks of 401(k) defined-contribution plans, they offer no guarantees and no assurances that even retirees who build up substantial balances will not outlive their money. And the evidence is that most people are not saving much money. They say the typical household nearing retirement has only $110,000 in a 401(k), an amount that will not go far.
They want to raise payroll taxes to shore up Social Security and to make it automatic for workers to join 401(k) plans. Employees could still opt out, but research shows inertia leads people to stay in if they are in and to stay out if they are out. They think we should work longer and save more.
Now, with retired coal miners in danger of losing meager pensions, the political system seems unwilling to even consider a taxpayer-supported solution.
Click here to access the full article on The New York Times.
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you are here: Annual Report 2010 / Investor Relations / 10 years on the stock market
Our first 10 years on the stock market
In 2010, Deutsche EuroShop celebrated its 10th anniversary. But are 10 years really that significant in the life of a company? Probably not. Yet, for some players on the stock market, even three months can seem "long term". Despite the short-term thinking that frequently prevails on the capital markets, 10 years on the stock exchange can be an eternity. We share this view, given that the stock markets have seen two major crises in 10 years which have not exactly made things easier for us or anyone else on the capital markets.
How did our story begin? In September 2000 – under the aegis of Deutsche Grundbesitz – a shelf company was renamed and Deutsche EuroShop commenced business operations. Our IPO followed just a few days later, with investors able to submit buy orders from 2 October 2000 to 29 December 2000, subject to a minimum subscription obligation of 50 shares at the fixed price of €38.40 (before 1:2 share split on 6 August 2007). As befitting a stock borne of the retail sector, a discount also came into play: those who subscribed to shares as early as October 2000 received a €0.30 discount per share, with a €0.15 discount being granted to all subscribers in November 2000.
Since 2 January 2001, the shares of Deutsche EuroShop have been listed for official trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
With the dot-com bubble having just burst, Deutsche EuroShop did not get off to the most auspicious of starts. It took almost three years – having already created an internal professional structure to coordinate communication with the capital market – for us to place all the shares owned by Deutsche Bank and, in doing so, significantly increase our free float. Until this task was complete, few investors on the capital market were interested in us. It was only when Deutsche Bank concluded its exit in mid-2003 that things changed.
Our company is now emerging from its fledgling years, and we again believe that we are equipped to grow further.
Analysts then began to cover our stock, and trading volumes on the stock market increased numerous times over. We subsequently made it onto the SDAX and then, one year later in autumn 2004, onto the MDAX.
Since then, we have been among the 100 biggest listed companies in Germany, even though we are the smallest on the exchange in terms of staff numbers. And as the stock market loves comparing figures: not only are we streets ahead of Daimler, Siemens, Deutsche Telekom and co with regard to sales and profit per capita, but we are also one of the best in terms of liabilities per capita.
At the end of 2004, banks discovered the growth potential of real estate shares, and this fuelled further interest. More and more analysts published reports on Deutsche EuroShop, and the press also began to cover us. Real estate shares had suddenly gone from wallflower status to becoming the stock market's flagship. The real property market saw much the same phenomenon. For investors worldwide, Germany became the place to be. This led to sharp price rises and, conversely, to diminishing returns. We therefore decided at the end of 2006 to refrain from participating in this race and put our investment activities on ice. At the time, we had no idea that it would be three years before we saw attractive conditions on the market again. Once banks started experiencing difficulties half a year later, a wider public began to wonder when the bubble would burst. Nevertheless, it would be another 14 months before Lehman Brothers collapsed.
Looking back at our first decade, we can conclude that four of the last 10 years were good and six were difficult. Last year was one of our good years, and we think this will also be the case for 2011. This is because the crisis barely affected Deutsche EuroShop, although the impact on our operating environment was severe. By maintaining a relatively good level of performance on the stock market, we not only became Germany's biggest listed real estate company at one stage, but the public at large now also regard us as an exemplary public company. This, above all, is down to exercising restraint.
Our company is now emerging from its fledgling years, and we again believe that we are equipped to grow further. The prices for shopping centers are high again, albeit at levels that seem acceptable. In cooperation with lenders, we are able to put up investments which also stand up to the requirements of the capital market. This allows us to raise the necessary equity via the stock market. And our aim is to make hay while the sun shines – not only to keep our company right at the top of the German stock list but, in particular, to close the gap on our major European competitors in the shopping center sector. After all, a sizeable presence on the capital market also enables us to become a must-have stock and thus helps reduce capital costs.
Deutsche EuroShop AG – the first 10 years for shareholders*
Since the IPO, the share price has risen by 130%.
In the last 10 years, the Deutsche EuroShop share has outperformed the DAX, MDAX and EPRA indices (+7%, +117% and +83% respectively).
What began as investments totalling €10,000 are now worth €23,027.
Investors who participated in the two rights issues in 2010 have seen the new shares increase by 37%.
Crisis? What crisis? Since 2007, DES shareholders have enjoyed average annual growth of 12.2%, whereas the DAX has lost an average of 5.0% per year.
The dividend has risen steadily, from €0.96 per share for the 2001 financial year to €1.10 per share for 2010
Investors who have stayed with us since the IPO have, to date, received €9.04 per share in the form of dividends. In June 2011, they will earn another €1.10 per share.
Investors who participated in one of the four capital increases have all profited as a result.
Investors holding DES shares over the last 10 years would have achieved an average return of 10% per year.
Our 100 biggest shareholders, accounting for 1% of our 10,000 shareholders, hold almost 80% of our shares.
* As of 31 December 2010; our performance calculator is available online at: www.deutsche-euroshop.de/
Continue reading: Conferences and roadshows 2010
Back to: The shopping center share
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Follow @ahess247
Recent Posts by Arik Hesseldahl
Lying Apple Gadfly Mike Daisey Still Doesn’t Get It
March 19, 2012 at 4:18 pm PT
“… story should always be subordinate to the truth, and I still believe that. Sometimes I fall short of that goal, but I will never stop trying to achieve it.”
Boy, oh boy, is Mike Daisey confused.
After a weekend of savage pounding by the media, Daisey, the opportunistic fabulist who was caught lying to one of the most respected radio documentarians in the history of broadcasting, reemerged in public today. In his latest attempt to mitigate the damage done to his reputation, he appears to compare himself to Mark Twain, opening his latest blog post by quoting — his words — another famous monologuist: “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”
Instead he seems to be borrowing from Phineas T. Barnum, the great American showman who is often credited — perhaps apocryphally — with saying “There is no such thing as bad publicity.”
I couldn’t tell you how ticket sales to Daisey’s show have been affected by the ensuing controversy and, frankly, I don’t care. I know that Daisey addressed it in opening comments before his performance of “The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs” on the night of March 17 in New York.
In summary, his defense is that his work is theater based on a body of facts that are largely true, and though they shouldn’t have been aired as factual on “This American Life,” he stands by it as theatrical work. Never mind that he insisted, not once, but repeatedly according to one account, that the words “This is a work of non-fiction,” be printed on his show’s Playbills. (For an example see page 3 of this PDF.)
But the money quotes that give the deepest insight into his state of mind are these:
“Especially galling is how many are gleefully eager to dance on my grave expressly so they can return to ignoring everything about the circumstances under which their devices are made. Given the tone, you would think I had fabulated an elaborate hoax, filled with astonishing horrors that no one had ever seen before. …
“If people want to use me as an excuse to return to denialism about the state of our manufacturing, about the shape of our world, they are doing that to themselves.”
Right. Mike Daisey, a confessed liar who parlayed his appearance on “This American Life” into a months-long string of media appearances on CBS, MSNBC, HBO and PBS — which helped raise his public visibility, built buzz and goosed ticket sales — thinks he can retake the moral high ground?
The only benefactor of all this attention certainly hasn’t been Chinese workers, but Daisey himself. Some 70,000 people have seen his show in 18 cities, and tickets in New York have been going for $75 to $85.
Worse, he continues to believe it is he alone who has been shining a light on the problems that have emerged over the years with Apple’s manufacturing arrangements in China and around the world. “Given the tenor of the condemnation, you would think I had concocted an elaborate, fanciful universe filled with furnaces in which babies are burned to make iPhone components …”
Sorry, Mike, but the discussion about Apple, Foxconn and its employees was going on well before you elbowed your way onto the scene.
For openers, at the D8 conference in 2010, AllThingsD’s Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg asked Apple’s then-CEO Steve Jobs about the situation at Foxconn, in the wake of a string of suicides.
That same year — indeed, only weeks after nine suicides by Foxconn employees — Bloomberg Businessweek’s Fredrik Balfour conducted a three-hour interview with Foxconn CEO Terry Gou, and also several unsupervised interviews with Foxconn workers, for a story featured on the magazine’s cover. The Atlantic Monthly considered Foxconn in the wider context of the rise of China as a leading economic power. The BBC looked at Foxconn after the suicides. Indeed, there had been a great deal of attention paid to matters related to Apple, Foxconn and workers in China, well before the days of Daisey. Who does he feel has not been talking about this?
In fact, let us not leave Apple itself out of that conversation. The way Daisey tells it, you might assume that the electronics giant is sweeping its dirty laundry under the nearest rug.
This is not the case. Awakened to allegations that emerged in 2006 of worker abuses and bad conditions at a Foxconn plant in Longhua — in a British tabloid newspaper, no less — Apple started issuing an annual document it calls its “Supplier Responsibility Progress Report.” The latest one, from 2012, is here (PDF). Reports are available from 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.
These reports hardly let Apple off the hook. Rather, they document progress made, as well as progress yet to be made. Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted to The Wall Street Journal earlier this year that a priority for 2012 is to reduce the number of hours that employees at Foxconn and other companies work. It is, as you can see by Apple’s own admission, the most difficult of its China labor issues to solve.
Hard as this is to believe, employees often want to work long hours — and to earn the overtime pay that comes with them. In being too aggressive, they run afoul of Apple’s demand that no one work more than 60 hours a week, six days a week. And keeping accurate records that prevent employees from overworking themselves is proving difficult. If you visited Foxconn, Apple’s own disclosures suggest, you would probably have no trouble finding someone who recently worked more than 60 hours in a week.
What you would have trouble finding are the underage workers that Daisey said — in a now-debunked statement from his stage show and radio appearances — were so plentiful. Apple’s 229 audits found none of those at the final-assembly plants owned by Foxconn and others, and found only five active and 13 historical cases of underage workers at other facilities it does business with.
You would also have trouble finding people poisoned by n-hexane. As Apple documents in its 2011 report, a poisoning incident did happen, and when it did, Apple ordered the factory in question to stop using the chemical, the use of which I understand, is already a violation of Chinese law. Most of the 137 people who were poisoned had returned to work by the time the report was published. One plant using the chemical was shut down entirely by local authorities.
Read any of these reports by Apple, and you’ll find not the PR-sanitized language you might expect, but instead a rather unvarnished assessment of a company trying to come to grips with the human costs of a deeply complex industrial operation. Each report, which Apple releases voluntarily generates a new round of negative press coverage. Meanwhile, China is, despite its size, still a developing nation, and it will be some time before workplace standards there come close to resembling what we take for granted in the U.S. It is an evolving situation, one that will improve over time.
And while I readily admit that consumers and activists should continue to pressure and engage Apple on the subject of workers’ safety and rights, in China and in the other countries where it does business, it rarely gets any credit for the progress it has made and the leadership it has shown.
On that note, I think the discussion on the matter has been a healthy and engaging one for the better part of a decade. Contrary to his own inflated sense of self-importance, Mike Daisey has added nothing of value to it, and should consider shutting up.
I said as much on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” yesterday, and have embedded the video below:
CNN Reliable Sources March 18 2012 from Arik Hesseldahl on Vimeo.
Tagged with: Apple, CBS, CNN, Foxconn, Hon Hai Precision Industry, iPad, iPhone, manufacturing, Media, Mike Daisey, New York Times, The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, theater
Apple Denies Working with NSA on iPhone Backdoor
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CIOs Brand Enterprise Social Tools as Most Overhyped Technology of the Year
Malware Attacks by Syrian Pro-Government Hackers Are on the Rise
There’s a lot of attention and PR around Marissa, but their product lineup just kind of blows.
— Om Malik on Bloomberg TV, talking about Yahoo, the September issue of Vogue Magazine, and our overdependence on Google
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ALS Often Gets The Short Straw When It Comes To Unintended Consequences
Iplex and Insmed are back in the news.
From Reuters:
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUSBNG6673520090727
UPDATE 1-Insmed stops supplying Iplex to new patients
Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:20am EDT
July 27 (Reuters) - Biopharmaceutical company Insmed Inc (INSM.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it had stopped supplying new patients with its experimental drug Iplex for treating Lou Gehrig's disease, and it said its limited inventory on hand must be conserved for treating existing patients.
Insmed, which sold its Colorado manufacturing facility to Merck & Co (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) earlier this year, said it has no longer the ability to manufacture the drug and it would not initiate further clinical trials with the drug at this time.
Iplex is approved for treating a growth hormone deficiency but is not currently sold for that purpose because of a court order related to patent infringement.
The company is studying Iplex as a potential treatment for muscular dystrophy.
About 70 patients currently receive the drug, including 12 in the United States, the company said. Most of the patients receive Iplex pursuant to a court-ordered extended access program to use the drug in Italy to treat patients with Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, the company said.
ALS causes muscles to weaken and eventually deteriorate. It usually develops in people between the ages of 40 and 60.
The company said it has sufficient Iplex inventory to supply these patients for no more than 24 months.
Any agreement with a third party to manufacture Iplex would not result in any production of the drug for at least 12 to 18 months, it said.
If anybody wanted to write a soap opera about ALS and the straws of hope that patients try to grasp, off-label use of FDA-approved drugs, the long and expensive process of getting new indications for FDA-approved drugs, the confusing patent and regulatory situations that can cause availability of drugs in Europe but not in the United States, and the lack of ALS therapies (thus driving patients to try things or be guinea pigs)... Iplex could be the star.
Offer To Help WIth The Little Things
Michael Goldsmith, who accomplishes big things, speaks wisely of how all can make a difference.
From The BYU Universe --
http://universe.byu.edu/node/1080
BYU professor promotes ALS awareness
By Adrienne Gorge
- Tue, 07/21/2009 - 20:45
Photo courtesy of Michael Goldsmith. BYU professor Michael Goldsmith takes a cut at a pitch during a fantasy camp game.
With the bases loaded, the batter stepped up to the plate again. With two strikes against him, he nervously looked at the pitcher. Quickly the ball released from the pitcher and came whizzing toward the plate. With a surge of confidence, the batter swung. Crack. The ball went sailing into the air.
Michael Goldsmith, a law professor at BYU, hit a triple to get his Little League baseball team back into the game. It was a defining moment for him.
“It gave me confidence so that I never let two strikes worry me again,” he said.
When Goldsmith was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2006, baseball became his refuge and his medium for awareness of ALS.
“Watching part of yourself die every few days makes it very personal,” he said. “Life has now become a race against the clock,” he said.
After attending a Baltimore Orioles baseball camp in 2008, Goldsmith decided to become an activist for ALS. He wrote an essay and submitted it to Newsweek magazine.
“I knew that my writing skills exceeded my baseball skills so I submitted an essay to Newsweek,” he said. “This was very much a long shot because Newsweek publishes just one essay out of 200 submissions, but this was better than no shot at all. I knew if I didn’t try I had no chance at all.”
Newsweek published the essay, and it caught the attention of Major League Baseball commissioner, who contacted Goldsmith and put him in charge of the event for ALS awareness.
Goldsmith said, “I was just a small part of a superb team whose efforts inspired me and provided a helpful distraction from my own difficulties.”
On July 4, Goldsmith threw the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s famous speech on the disease named after the Yankee Hall of Famer.
“I was naturally very excited but I tried not to personalize it,” Goldsmith said. “I viewed myself as representing everyone afflicted with ALS.”
As Goldsmith released the ball, it zoomed toward the plate.
“It was by far the worst throw I have ever made,” he said. “But my effort showed the crowd how pitifully weak ALS makes you. They gave me — and everyone I represent — a five minute standing ovation.”
Goldsmith’s mission is to promote ALS awareness and help encourage donations to finance research for a cure. He gave advice to BYU students on how to help with ALS patients. Since professional caregivers are expensive and insurance doesn’t cover in-home assistance, small acts of kindness help.
“If you offer to help with the little things — running errands, grocery shopping, house or yard work — it will make a huge difference,” he said.
These Students Are Very Aware
From Readers' Digest --
http://www.rd.com/make-it-matter-make-a-difference/make-it-matter-students-of-northport-high-school/article73412.html
"Kids Really Aren't Aware Of Who Lou Gehrig Was..."
"...and we're losing our connection with him and the disease."
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090719/NEWS01/907190331/1006/Group+putting+spotlight+on+Lou+Gehrig+s+disease
David Cone Still Pitches 4 ALS
From the New York Times, July 18, 2009 --
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/cone/
When David Cone finally made it to Suite 33 at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, two buttons of his blue shirt were opened, and he looked relieved. On the 10-year anniversary of Cone’s perfect game with the Yankees, he was thrilled that he did not bounce the ceremonial first pitch....
Cone spoke at length with Chris Pendergast, a former school teacher with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease) who he met in 1996. Before Pendergast left the suite, he had a pen placed in his mouth and signed his name in Cone’s guest book. Cone considered that a perfect ending to the day.
Dear Abby Readers Learned About ALS in Veterans Today
Today was certainly a good one for getting the word out about ALS and veterans' presumptive disability.
http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20090718_Dear_Abby__Her_boyfriend_fears_her_fidelity_while_studying_abroad_may_be_a_mistake.html
DEAR ABBY: In May 2001, you printed my letter alerting former prisoners of war and their widows to the special veterans' benefits available to them from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The response was great; many former POWs and their dependents now have their VA benefits because of that column.
Now, as chairman of VA outreach for American Ex- Prisoners of War, I write to alert all veterans (not just former POWs) of a recent VA ruling.
On Sept. 23, 2008, Lou Gehrig's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, was made a presumptive condition for all veterans who served in our armed forces for at least 90 days.
This means that the widows of those vets who died of Lou Gehrig's disease in the past are eligible for the VA widows' monthly benefit, which is very substantial. Many people are not aware that a veteran's death due to this disease is now considered service-connected. One claim I handled recently involved an ALS death 46 years ago, in 1963.
Thank you for your help in getting the word out, Abby.
- Fred Campbell,
American Ex-Prisoners of War
DEAR FRED: I'm pleased to help you and America's veterans once again. Readers, Fred welcomes inquiries at 3312 Chatterton Drive, San Angelo, TX 76904. He can also be e-mailed atfredrev@webtv.net.
Fred Campbell of the American Ex-Prisoners of War continues to serve his country and Abby in syndication has spread the word far and wide. The scintillating headline on the column didn't hurt, either ;-)
Here Is An ALS Advocate In Argyle
Tom Watson gets it when it comes to ALS.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/sports/golf/17golf.html?em
From the New York Times, July 16, 2009...
So it was a blast of nostalgia when Watson, grinning from ear to ear, shot a dazzling 65 in the first round Thursday. Miguel Ángel Jiménez rolled in a long birdie putt on 18 to snatch the lead from Watson with a 64 later Thursday afternoon, but the day still belonged to Watson.
At 59, Watson seemed to turn back time, for one lovely day in Scotland anyway. “The body’s a little bit old, but the enthusiasm out there was very similar,” he said, still grinning after his round. “What a wonderful day to play.”
Watson’s lead held up through much of the afternoon. He was tied by Ben Curtis and Jiménez at minus-5 before Jiménez went ahead with a 66-foot putt on 18 for birdie. Turnberry counts on a usually relentless Scottish wind to give it snarl, but a windless day made it an easy target for players to shoot under par. The low scores were piling up, and a group of six golfers sat one shot behind the leaders at four under, including Fredrik Jacobson, Steve Stricker and Stewart Cink. Watson strode around the links course as one of golf’s genial elder statesmen, a revered figure who joins the PGA Tour players only twice a year now, for the Masters and the British Open. He has, however, made waves at a major championship in his advancing years, shooting a 65 in the first round of the 2003 United States Open. He became the inspirational story of that tournament, mostly because his caddie, Bruce Edwards, was carrying his bag while battling A.L.S. Edwards died a year later.
If you've never seen Tom and Bruce, here's a trip down memory lane... and the age of this video should be a reminder to us all that ALS is still doing its evil to tens of thousands of good people.
From A Horrible Situation We Have Another Teachable Moment
On July 4 as I drove to Ohio to help pass out information as part of 4 ALS day at the Reds game, I passed Ezzard Charles Drive near downtown Cincinnati. It's a small world. I had not remembered that Ezzard Charles, the world heavyweight champion, was from Cincinnati. He died from ALS. It's a very small world when you pay attention to ALS and all the people it has stolen from us.
Yesterday as more on the terrible news on the Burr Oak Cemetery in Chicago unfolded, we learned that Ezzard Charles was buried there.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/15/court-appoints-new-direct_n_234527.html
Today would be a good day for us all to spread the reminder that ALS is Lou Gehrig's Disease and it has cut short the lives of many mighty athletes... even a world heavyweight champion.
It's up to us to keep the memory and connections to ALS alive in people's minds at every opportunity.
Does G.I. Joe Have A Good Side?
Gianni Lopergolo would know.
Here is a story of a talented photographer who had a pretty incredible job and employer, Hasbro...
http://www.hasbro.com/discover/giannisbook.cfm
Gianni Lopergolo has always been an artist. Whether it was his appreciation for architecture at age 15, his passion for the art of special effects as an NYU film student, or his intense love of cinematography and photography – not only as a student, but also as a teacher and a trail-blazing photographer – Gianni thrives on inspiration. Not only getting it, but also giving it.
Gianni joined the Hasbro family in 2002 and completely reinvented the way product photography was done for the toy company. With over a thousand original photographs spanning his impressive Hasbro career, Gianni admits that he has had no formal illustration or set-building training. "Anyone can do what I do," he humbly confesses. "And I want to teach them how. I've taught others in the past and I can teach more."
At the young age of 39, Gianni has been living with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease for three years. No longer able to work, but still as passionate about photography as ever, he has compiled this collection of images, which he hopes will teach, entertain and inspire.
The book will be newsworthy. Thanks, Hasbro.
How About A Commemorative Box Of Wheaties?
Wouldn't it be nice if General Mills might make a commemorative Lou Gehrig Wheaties box to celebrate Wheaties' birthday and to raise more 4 ALS awareness?
The following is from this morning's Wall Street Journal:
Remembering Gehrig With A Splash Of Milk
Wheaties, the cereal that calls itself the breakfast of champions, is celebrating its 85th birthday. Lou Gehrig was the first athlete to grace a Wheaties box, appearing on the back of the carton in 1934. Since then more than 150 individual athletes have been pictured on the box, and 50 teams have been featured. Michael Jordan was the first basketball player to get the honor in 1988, and he’s also the most frequent guest, appearing 18 times. Tiger Woods is on his heels at 16.
This Is An Example Of The Problem Posed By The Disease With The Impossible Name
Whoops... last night it seemed that this was another great example of MLB's contribution to ALS awareness. This morning the big error in the MLB story was pointed out by a reader. Ryan Zimmerman's mother has MS, not ALS. And so it goes with the problem of the "letter diseases." Even one of the biggest advocates for ALS, MLB, confused ALS with another letter disease. If MLB can't keep it straight, you know we're fighting an uphill battle!
I should have paid closer attention. If she had ALS, it would have been ZiALS foundation and not ZiMS foundation. Duh.
Thank heavens for Lou Gehrig or ALS wouldn't have name that anyone would remember.
Thanks to MLB for raising an incredible amount of ALS awareness on July 4 and for continuing to communicate moving and informative stories with an ALS connection. Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals, a first-time All Star, is featured.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090713&content_id=5861060&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Being at his first All-Star Game is even more special because his mother, Cheryl, will be in attendance. Cheryl has been afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis since 1995. ALS is an unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system.
During the first five years of her illness, Cheryl was able to work as a teacher, but it grew worse by 2000. She is now confined to a wheelchair. Ryan said Cheryl's illness helped him become even keel throughout his life. It explains why one never sees him get angry with the media or with umpires in public. "That's a big part of it." Ryan said. "Me and my brother [Shawn] had to do some things that younger kids wouldn't have to do. We were not the only kids that ever had to deal with something like that. That added to my [composure]. I don't get too high or too low. "Before that, that's the way we were brought up. That's the way my parents were when we were young. I just think it rubbed off on us."
Cheryl continues to hang in there. Today she is one of the Board of Directors of ziMS Foundation, which raises money to help find a cure for ALS. Ryan is the president of the foundation. Asked how Cheryl is doing these days, Ryan said, "It's nothing really. It's just kind of steady. There is no cure, there is nothing, so it's the same thing every day. Obviously, we have dealt with it for a long time. It's almost second nature to us.
Do You Really Think That A Moving Depiction Of ALS Is The Most Offensive Thing The Kids Might See On TV?
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Anger-over-TV-ban-on.5442507.jp
Bosses of a Northampton charity say they are puzzled why their controversial advert still remains banned from TV despite backing from an ad watchdog and other advertisers
Let's Get ALS On Their Radar - Nominate!
Surely someone with an intimate knowledge of ALS can get a seat at this table. By the way, ATSDR is the arm of the CDC responsible for delivering the ALS Registry.
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Custom.aspx?cid=21&e=de864ef7-1d96-42d4-943f-0d510fae5a26
RESOLVE, a non-profit organization specializing in consensus building in public decision making, and CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR) are accepting nominations for membership in each of the National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures’ six work groups. The work groups are:
Monitoring: collecting information on chemical use, exposure pathways, exposure levels, and health outcomes
John Balbus, George Washington University
Scientific Understanding: filling knowledge gaps on the health effects of chemicals
Kevin Teichman, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development
Policies and Practices: reducing harmful chemical exposures and adverse health outcomes, eliminating inequities, and spurring the development and use of safer alternatives
Chemical Emergencies: preventing, preparing for, and responding to acute chemical incidents
Andrea Kidd Taylor, Morgan State University
Serving Communities: addressing local chemical exposure concerns to promote environmental justice and improve health
Peggy Shepard, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Education and Communication: ensuring a well-informed public and a competent network of health care providers
Kathy Rest, Union of Concerned Scientists
What will work groups do?
Work groups will be responsible for addressing the following questions:
What are the major components of the United States' approach in this area?
What have been the major successes in this area over the last 40 years?
What are the major shortcomings, gaps, redundancies, and emerging priorities?
What solutions could help improve the system?
What can be done quickly (1-2 years)?
What recent or ongoing initiatives might impact this area?
Which parties can take specific actions?
As a product of their analyses, each work group will develop recommendations focusing on the role of NCEH/ATSDR and other federal agencies, while also addressing the role of non-federal partners (state and local agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia and the private sector). Work groups will prepare reports outlining their assessment and recommendations (draft report expected March 2010, final report expected July 2010).
Work groups also will help formulate relevant questions to pose to members of the public through citizen conversation tool-kits, and to the wide range of National Conversation stakeholders through the web-discussion platform and at public regional and community forums.
Work group members should have demonstrated expertise, experience and/or interest in the topics to be covered by the work group. They should be skilled in collaborative group processes. Finally, prospective members will need to have time to devote (an average of 10 hours per month) throughout the 18-month project period and should be willing to travel for occasional in person meetings.
RESOLVE and NCEH/ATSDR are committed to forming work groups with representation from a broad range of perspectives and expertise. We are seeking balanced membership across the public, private and nonprofit sectors, including:
Federal agencies;
State and local public health and environmental agencies;
Tribal groups;
Public health and environmental organizations;
Community-based organizations;
Industry;
Academic and research institutions, and
Individuals.
Nominations for work group membership should be submitted using the online submission provess (see submit nomination button below). Self-nominations are encouraged. To nominate someone other than yourself, please confirm the nominee’s interest in membership prior to submitting the nomination form, and be sure to include your name and contact information in the “Nominating Individual” fields. Nominations will be accepted until July 20, 2009.
Each work group will be comprised of up to 30 members. Nominations will be reviewed by the work group chairs, RESOLVE and NCEH/ATSDR staff to ensure balanced representation. Applicants can expect to receive a response regarding selection by August 28, 2009.
The Casualities Of War Continue Long After The Troops Come Home
ALS is an unacceptible fringe benefit of military service.
http://www.bu.edu/today/world/2009/06/25/one-four-vets-suffers-gulf-war-illness
You May Have Missed This While You Were At The Ballpark On July 4
NBC and Today ran a piece that explains an American hero - Michael Goldsmith -- and how Major League Baseball came through with MLB 4 ALS.
Here's A Wonderful Idea
From a letter in the San Francisco Chronicle...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/06/EDKB18IUPP.DTL
Giants battle ALS
I was one of the nine ALS patients introduced at home plate before the Giants game on July 4.
Thanks to Major League Baseball and the Giants for supporting the organizations seeking a treatment and cure for ALS and for helping to create awareness of the disease.
I know I speak for the entire ALS community when I say that I hope the July Fourth "4 ALS Awareness" Day will become an annual event.
JIM BARBER Walnut Creek
Surely The Cubbies Could Have Done Better
http://www.examiner.com/x-1553-Chicago-Cubs-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Cubs-miss-the-boat-honoring-memory-of-Lou-Gehrig
ALS Registry Information To Be Released
Don't get too excited. I learned the art of the teaser from CBS last week;-)
This is information regarding the Massachusetts registry --
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/07/05/middleborough_awaits_release_of_als_registry_information?mode=PF
ALS advocates still wait anxiously for news of the June meeting of the national ALS registry investigators. If anyone has any news, please comment.
Maybe TMZ will get on the case.
This Picture Says It All
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/slideshow/ALeqM5gCGkEUs3KRj-NvOrwfLpyGO1OgkQD997UTI80?index=0
Michael Goldsmith and son at Yankee Stadium
Here Is A "Must Read" From The July 5, 1939 LA Times
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/files/1939_0705_sports.jpg
Here is a nice article from USAToday about the Lou Gehrig ceremonies and 4 ALS. Dreams come true, but we have one more dream and we are all need to be part of it becoming reality. That dream is a cure for ALS.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2009-07-04-lou-gehrig-anniversary_N.htm
Visit Every Major League Game From July 4
Here is a great collection of videos from 4 ALS observances at all of the MLB parks (look for the video links at the left side of the page)...
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090704&content_id=5689200&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos
This Is ALS
This is ALS.
It steals the body but somehow the human spirt within grows to achieve remarkable things.
Thank you, Michael Goldsmith.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/sports/baseball/05vecsey.html?ref=sports
Kent Hrbek Rocks
...As all Major League teams honored the 70th anniversary of Gehrig's famous farewell speech at Yankee Stadium, Hrbek was called upon Saturday to deliver a reading of Gehrig's words. Certainly an emotional speech for Gehrig, Hrbek, too, had to hold his emotions in check as he read the words from first base at the Metrodome prior to the Twins' game against the Tigers.
"I had a hard time finishing up the speech," Hrbek said. "I got a little choked up just from the fact that you think about what this guy talked about and what kind of person he was."
Since his father, Ed, passed away from ALS during Hrbek's rookie season in 1982, Hrbek has dedicated much of his time to raise awareness of the disease and money for ALS research through various charities such as his annual golf and fishing tournaments....
He Knew Lou Gehrig and Lou Gehrig's Disease
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/04/life-touched-lou-gehrig-8212-and-disease-named-him/?metro&zIndex=126713
You have to love a man who knows how to save two cakes a year ;-)
Bill, I'm Going To Remember This Day For A Long Time
So are we, Lou.
http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2009/07/03/sports/doc4a4ec78297572957600386.txt
http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014204.html
Curt Schilling Speaks
"Major League Baseball is sitting in front of more people, being seen, heard and watched by more pairs of eyes than at any time in its history," said Curt Schilling, who has been a longtime champion of efforts to help fight ALS. "On July 4th of this year more people will receive an introduction to ALS, what it is, what it does and what it means, than on any day in the history of mankind. For that we have Commissioner Bud Selig to thank. ... MLB has the power to change the world when focused and delivering the right message, and I am proud to see that message being presented to the world this year."
Try The Google Test Today
Usually if you Google "Gehrig's" for news, you find a lot of obituaries and a few fundraisers. Today you find baseball news and 4 ALS and all kinds of awareness information. July 4, 2009, is a refreshingly good day to help people understand the ALS problem. Today millions of people will learn that Lou Gehrig's Disease is ALS, and nobody has figured it out 70 years later.
Thank you, Michael Goldsmith. Thank you, Bud Selig. Thank you, MLB.
If only every day were 4 ALS day!
Meet The Demmerle Brothers
There is a special stinging irony when ALS strikes a world-class athlete who is a good person. Lou wasn't the only such victim...
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/ci_12750649
Here Is An Interesting Slant On Advocacy This July 4
The cause isn't ALS, but the thoughts are interesting as we celebrate our freedoms this Independence Day...
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090704/LOCAL/907040443/
It Was Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day Then, And It Still Is
Newsday covers Gehrig and 4 ALS. The great articles just keep on coming this week!
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-splou0704,0,987875.column
Sports Illustrated Remembers Lou Gehrig
Dick Friedman - SI - gives us an interesting historical perspective.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/07/03/friedman.gehrig/
Check Out The Pre-Game Show
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/blog/2009/07/rain_then_clearing_in_the_bron.html
Meanwhile, this announcement from YES: during Saturday's pre-game show, which starts at 12:30 p.m., the network will air a story commemorating the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man" speech. Toward the end of the piece, YES will show various members of the organization reciting Gehrig’s speech. Among those: Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Brian Cashman, Jorge Posada, Joe Girardi, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Xavier Nady and Johnny Damon.
Here Is A Tribute From Tampa
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jul/03/sp-for-a-lesson-in-courage-this-fourth-of-july-loo/
The Speech Made The Movie
Here is a nice column on Lou Gehrig from Oklahoma --
http://www.newsok.com/berry-tramel-70-years-later-lou-gehrigs-message-lives-on/article/3382574?custom_click=lead_story_title
The CBS News Story on ALS by Katie Couric Ran Tonight
CBS Evening News http://www.cbsnews.com/
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/02/eveningnews/main5130584.shtml?tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea
Watch CBS Videos Online
By Katie Couric
(CBS) Lou Gehrig might have considered himself lucky. But he couldn't have imagined that seven decades after his emotional farewell, there would still be no treatment for ALS.
"When I was initially diagnosed, the doctors, three different doctors, told me the same thing: 'There's nothing we can do. Go home and die,' basically," said Philip Carlo, an ALS patient.
But CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric reports that science may finally be making the kind of progress that would have made the iron horse proud. "Much as those Yankees featured some of the greatest teamwork in the history of baseball. We have assembled a dream team of scientists and clinicians to work on the problem," said Valerie Estess, co-founder, Project ALS. Once competitors, scientists from both Harvard and Columbia are working together - with skin samples from both patients and healthy donors to help doctors figure out what causes ALS. "Well, for the first time we can now have billions of these cells to study in the laboratory and ask why it is that they get sick," says Dr. Kevin Eggan of the
Harvard Stem Cell Institute.
In ALS, nerve cells - called motor neurons - become incapable of sending messages from the brain, to the spinal cord, and on to the muscles - resulting in paralysis and ultimately death. "You're alive. But you watch yourself die, and you can't do anything about it," said Carlo. Rather than retrieving the motor neurons from the spinal cord of patients, a procedure that's far too risky, scientists are creating them from scratch. "Skin cells are very accessible, but they have nothing to do with the disease. So that's why we've had to find out a way of turning the skin cells into motor neurons," said Chris Henderson, Do-Director, Motor Neuron Center, Columbia University.
Couric decided to donate some of her skin to science. A tiny piece of skin is put it in a Petri dish, where cells then multiply. They are genetically modified to behave like embryonic stem cells - capable of becoming any kind of cell in the body. "They have all the characteristics of embryonic stem cells but they don't come from the embryo," said Dr. Eggan. They're then able to manipulate those very malleable stem cells to become motor neurons - enabling researchers to do what's never been done before: study the progression of ALS under a microscope.
"We want to compare the motor neurons from ALS patients with the motor neurons from healthy individuals. And through that we really do believe that we'll come to a fundamental understanding of what leads to ALS," said Henderson Which in turn, should lead to more effective treatment.
Carlo said the research is essential, "we have light at the end of the tunnel. And that -you can't ask for more than hope." Hope, that even the luckiest man on the face of the earth never had. At the end of his speech, Gehrig said, "I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for. Thank you."
More about MLB and ALS here
More about Project ALS Here
This Week In Baseball Is All About Lou
Isn't this a great way to celebrate our nation? We celebrate a true sports hero and we do some good for a cause.
Watch The Sunday Chicago Sun-Times
Following was just tweeted:
@ScarfaceAl Read about two of my heroes, Aimee Chamernik and Lou Gehrig, in Saturday's Chicago Sun-Times.
@ScarfaceAl is the wonderful Gehrig biographer Jonathan Eig. You'll have to go to his twitter profile to figure out the name :-)
ESPN Does A Beautiful Job With The Lou Gehrig Letters
This is just an outstanding presentation of an important glimpse into history! These are not to be missed.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/flash/gehrigletters
Thanks, ESPN.
Columbia University Remembers Lou Gehrig
Here is a nice tribute from Lou's alma mater...
http://www.gocolumbialions.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9600&ATCLID=3759032
Go Columbia, Beat ALS!
While We Wait For the Katie Couric CBS News and Today Show Segments on ALS
Please take a moment and visit this link on the Major League Baseball site --
http://mlb.mlb.com/4als/index2.jsp
It tells us what this weekend is about, and it includes some wonderful video that helps us understand the greatness of Gehrig and the horrible irony of the disease that took him out of the lineup.
We are grateful to MLB for giving us this weekend to remember and to raise much needed awareness. We are grateful to Michael Goldsmith for presenting the concept. We are grateful to all of the brave people with ALS who give us the reason to keep up the fight against this outrageous disease.
There Is A Wonderful 4 ALS Column In The Boston Globe
This one speaks volumes about Lou Gehrig and the magnitude of 4 ALS.
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/07/02/als_event_saturday_proves_charity_begins_at_home_plate?mode=PF
Below is an excerpt.
Charity begins at home plate
By Dan Shaughnessy, Globe Columnist | July 2, 2009
Going to Fenway Park for Red Sox-Mariners Saturday? Bring a box of tissue. Bring your checkbook, too. Boston’s ancient baseball theater will be one of 15 major league parks honoring the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech (“I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth’’) and raising funds to support ALS research. It’s called “4ALS Awareness’’
Nice going, MLB. In 1939, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis took Gehrig off the field after 2,130 consecutive games and now baseball is joining the fight against the deadly disease.
“We’re involved with a whole series of charities,’’ explained commissioner Bud Selig. “We get asked a lot. But I’ve had inquiries about ALS from a fair number of people over the years, because of the Lou Gehrig connection. I said to myself, ‘This disease is so horrible and it affects so many people and it’s as dreaded today as it was in 1939.’ This is our chance to increase awareness, raise some money, and reach out to all the people affected and show people we do care.
“I can’t give any more reason than that. That’s how it happened. I wish my other decisions were as easy as this one.’’
Warm Up The TV For The Today Show
Tomorrow (Thursday) morning, the Today Show has a segment on the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's farewell slated.
Has CBS Found A Way To Get Us To Watch Their Evening News Every Night?
Toward the end of this evening's CBS news with Katie Couric, they ran the teaser again on their ALS story that said it will run tomorrow. "New treatments for Lou Gehrig's Disease may be as close as the surface of your skin."
Tomorrow... you're always a day away...
They're finishing up the news right now as I type. The final story is on Michael Jackson's patented shoes. They had time for that story but not ALS. Go figure.
ESPN Will Have Lou Gehrig Features This Weekend
Thanks to the heads-up from @ALSlesturner on twitter... ESPN will have Lou Gehrig features this weekend and tomorrow the great Gehrig biographer Jonathan Eig will be interviewed on ESPN.
How great is this?
We're finally getting some national resolve to get the word out about ALS thanks to Michael Goldsmith and Lou Gehrig!
Fire Up The Popcorn Popper For Sunday!
Here Is The Definitive, Good-News Press Release on 4 ALS MLB Activities
This will just make you smile when you read it. It will be a tearful smile by the time you finish.
Thanks, Major League Baseball.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090701&content_id=5636318&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Major League Baseball clubs hold special on-field ceremonies on July 4th to honor 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's farewell speech
In an effort to raise awareness and financial support for organizations leading the fight against ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, every Major League Baseball Club playing at home on July 4th will conduct a special on-field ceremony to commemorate Lou Gehrig's Yankee Stadium farewell speech. During these special ceremonies, all Clubs will honor Gehrig's memory by recreating part of his "Luckiest Man" speech (Excerpt at the end of the release).
"Seventy years ago, Lou Gehrig delivered an impassioned speech that has become part of American History," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "Major League Baseball is proud to devote the Fourth of July to Lou Gehrig and the disease that bears his name. We are pleased to have this opportunity to help find a cure for ALS and help those who are suffering from the disease."
The New York Yankees will host a special "4 ♦ ALS Awareness" ceremony at Yankee Stadium prior to their 1:00 p.m. (ET) game against the Toronto Blue Jays. During the pre-game ceremony, the Yankees will recognize Michael Goldsmith, a lifelong baseball fan who contributed to the development of the "4 ♦ ALS" initiative.
"Seventy years after Lou Gehrig's farewell speech, no cure exists for ALS," said Goldsmith. "Doctors have no real way even to slow its devastating progression. Because research for a cure is still in its infancy, defeating ALS will require the same determination that Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken, Jr. demonstrated in setting records for consecutive games played. I live for the day when all ALS patients can give you a standing ovation for fighting this fight with us."
On July 4th all on-field personnel, including players, coaches, umpires and groundskeepers will wear a "4 ♦ ALS" patch. In addition, to honor Gehrig, who played first base with the Yankees for 17 years, a special "4 ♦ ALS" logo will appear on top of first base in each ballpark. Authenticated first bases from the July 4th games will be auctioned off at a later date on MLB.com to raise additional funds for ALS. A special "4 ♦ ALS" video was created for Clubs playing at home on July 4th.
In addition, individual Clubs will support the ALS cause on July 4th. For example, American Idol Finalist Michael Johns will perform the National Anthem prior to the Baltimore Orioles vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim game; the Philadelphia Phillies have raised over $865,000 for ALS this year alone; and the Minnesota Twins are one of many Clubs that have donated a suite for ALS families.
In support of the "4 ♦ ALS" initiative, MLB Network will air an edition of "Studio 42 with Bob Costas" featuring an interview with Cal Ripken, Jr. on July 5th at 8:00 p.m. (ET) followed by the Academy Award-winning movie, "The Pride of the Yankees" at 9:00 p.m. (ET).
MLB.com has established an online community at http://mlb4als.mlblogs.com, where representatives of the four organizations working with Major League Baseball, as well as others impacted by ALS, are collaborating to share stories, research and further opportunities to unite in support of ALS. The four leading organizations working with MLB on the on the "4 ♦ ALS" campaign are: The ALS Association, ALS TDI, MDA's Augie's Quest and Project A.L.S. ALS destroys the nerve cells controlling muscles, ultimately causing complete paralysis. The average life expectancy is three to five years after diagnosis.
The ALS Association is a non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig's Disease on every front. Through global research, providing assistance for people with ALS via a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure.
The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) has a single mission-to develop therapeutics that slow and stop ALS. The nonprofit Institute has a 30 person research team working aggressively by applying the best practices on behalf of today's patients.
MDA's Augie's Quest, the Muscular Dystrophy Association's ALS research initiative, is an aggressive, cure-driven effort singularly focused on finding treatments and cures for ALS. MDA funds over $23 million annually and has funded more than $250 million since its inception.
The mission of Project A.L.S. is to create a new paradigm for neurodegenerative disease research. They identity the world's leading researchers and clinicians and mobilize them to work together as teams in the areas of genetics, drug discovery, stem cells, and disease pathways. Each project is vetted and approved by its research advisory board. Project A.L.S. has raised over $38 million to fund these efforts.
Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man" Speech (Abbreviated Version)
"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.
I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day?
Sure I'm lucky. When the [New York Giants], a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift-that's something.
When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies-that's something.
When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter-that's something.
When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body-it's a blessing.
When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed-that's the finest I know.
So, I close in saying that, I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."
This Is A Great Week For Googling Gehrig In The News
There are a lot of good news stories this morning about Lou Gehrig and 4 ALS and MLB and Michael Goldsmith.
Here is one of them --
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/columnists/mcgrath/story/796530.html
Hmmm... "Lou Gehrig Stadium" ... like the sound... or maybe "Cure Lou Gehrig's Disease Stadium" and then they can sell the naming rights when that name is passe.
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Dear Abby Readers Learned About ALS in Veterans To...
From A Horrible Situation We Have Another Teachabl...
This Is An Example Of The Problem Posed By The Dis...
Do You Really Think That A Moving Depiction Of ALS...
The Casualities Of War Continue Long After The Tro...
You May Have Missed This While You Were At The Bal...
Here Is A "Must Read" From The July 5, 1939 LA Tim...
Bill, I'm Going To Remember This Day For A Long Ti...
Here Is An Interesting Slant On Advocacy This July...
It Was Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day Then, And It St...
The CBS News Story on ALS by Katie Couric Ran Toni...
ESPN Does A Beautiful Job With The Lou Gehrig Lett...
While We Wait For the Katie Couric CBS News and To...
There Is A Wonderful 4 ALS Column In The Boston Gl...
Has CBS Found A Way To Get Us To Watch Their Eveni...
Here Is The Definitive, Good-News Press Release on...
This Is A Great Week For Googling Gehrig In The Ne...
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The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
Author: Michael Chabon
Release: September 19, 2000
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Main Character(s): Joe Kavalier, Sam Clay, Rosa Saks
Synopsis: It is New York City in 1939. Joe Kavalier, a young artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdini-esque escape, has just pulled off his greatest feat to date: smuggling himself out of Nazi-occupied Prague. He is looking to make big money, fast, so that he can bring his family to freedom. His cousin, Brooklyn’s own Sammy Clay, is looking for a collaborator to create the heroes, stories, and art for the latest novelty to hit the American dreamscape: the comic book. Out of their fantasies, fears, and dreams, Joe and Sammy weave the legend of that unforgettable champion the Escapist. And inspired by the beautiful and elusive Rosa Saks, a woman who will be linked to both men by powerful ties of desire, love, and shame, they create the otherworldly mistress of the night, Luna Moth. As the shadow of Hitler falls across Europe and the world, the Golden Age of comic books has begun.
Declassified by Agent Palmer: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is Brilliant (A No Spoiler Book Review)
Quotes and Lines
We have this history of impossible solutions for insoluble problems. – Wil Eisner, in conversation
Like all of his friends, he considered it a compliment when somebody called him a wiseass. (He = Clay)
But like most natives of Brooklyn, Sammy considered himself a realist, and in general his escape plans centered around the attainment of fabulous sums of money.
“‘Forget about what you are escaping from,’” he said, quoting an old maxim of Kornblum’s. “‘Reserve your anxiety for what you are escaping to.’”
“Never worry about what you are escaping from, he said. “Reserve your anxieties for what you are escaping to.”
“People only notice what you tell them to notice,” he said. “And then only if you remind them.” – Kornblum
Gossips, busybodies, and kibitzers were the fiends of her personal demonology. She was universally at odds with the neighbors, and suspicious, to the point of paranoia, of all visiting doctors, salesmen, municipal employees, synagogue committeemen, and tradespeople.
All of this left him hardened, battered, rumpled, and addicted to the making of money, but not, somehow, embittered. – Anapol
Sammy glared at Ashkenazy, not because Ashkenazy had insulted his work–no one was ever more aware of his own artistic limitations than Sam Clay–but because Sammy felt that he was standing on the border of something wonderful, a land where wild cataracts of money and the racing river of his own imagination would, at last, lift his makeshift little raft and carry it out to the boundless freedom of the open sea.
Joe gave up trying to think like, trust, or believe in his cousin and just walked, head abuzz, toward the Hudson River, stunned by the novelty of exile.
Her entire discourse with him appeared to consist solely of animadversion and invective.
It was, in part, a longing–common enough among the inventors and heroes–to be someone else; to be more than the result of two hundred regimens and scenarios and self-improvement campaigns that always ran afoul of his perennial inability to locate an actual self to be improved.
In the immemorial style of young men under pressure, they decided to lie down for a while and waste time.
It was not that Joe felt at home in New York. That was something he never would have allowed himself to feel. But he was very grateful to his headquarters in exile. New York City had led him, after all, to his calling, to this great, mad new American art form. She had laid at his feet the printing presses and lithography cameras and delivery vans that allowed him to fight, if not a genuine war, then a tolerable substitute.
…work that Deasey had long since concluded was only “a long, spiraling chute, greased with regular paychecks, to the Tartarus of pseudonymous hackdom.”
Neither of the cousins was much for parties. Though Sammy was mad for swing, he could not, of course, dance on his pipe-cleaner legs; his nerves killed his appetite, and at any rate, he was too self-conscious about his manners to eat anything; and he disliked the flavor of liquors and beer. Introduced into a cursed circle of jabber and jazz, he would drift helplessly behind a large plant. His brash and heedless gift of conversation, by means of which he had whipped up Amazing Midget Radio Comics and with it the whole idea of Empire, deserted him. Put him in front of a roomful of people at work and he would be impossible to shut up; work was not work for him. Parties were work. Women were work. At Palooka Studios, whenever there occurred the chance conjunction of girls and a bottle, Sammy simply vanished, like Mike Campbell’s fortune, at first a little at a time, and then all at once.
“Don’t be smart, it’s unattractive in a man.” – Rosa to Joe
To get paid vast sums for wasting one’s life, in her view, only added to the cosmic tallying of wastefulness. Most maddening of all to Sammy was the way that, in the face of the sudden influx of money, Ethel steadfastly refused to change any element of her life, except to shop for better cuts of meat, buy a new set of carving knives, and spend a relatively lavish amount on new underwear for Bubbie and herself.
When they had first started going out, he was so absorbed by his work that he rarely had time for meals, existing quite mysteriously on coffee and bananas, but as Rosa herself, to her considerable satisfaction, had begun to absorb Joe more and more, he had become a regular guest at her father’s dinner table, where there were never fewer than five courses and three different varieties of wine. His ribs no longer stuck out, and his skinny little-boy’s behind had taken on a manlier helf.
The true magic of this broken world lay in the ability of the things it contained to vanish, to become so thoroughly lost, that they might never have existed in the first place.
One of the sturdiest precepts of the study of human delusion is that every golden age is either past or in the offing.
“I’m tired of fighting, maybe, for a little while. I fight, and I am fighting some more, and it just makes me have less hope, not more. I need to do something . . . something that will be great, you know, instead of trying always to be Good.” – Joe
The systems that controlled the motion, sound, and lighting of Democracity and its companion exhibit, General Motors’ Futurama, were quite literally the dernier cri of the art and ancient principles of clockwork machinery in the final ticking moments of the computerless world.
What would she be saying if she did? That she wanted to marry him? For ten years, at least, since she was twelve or thirteen, Rosa had been declaring roundly to anyone who asked that she had no intention of getting married, ever, and that if she ever did, it would be when she was old and tired of life. When this declaration in its various forms had ceased to shock people sufficiently, she had taken to adding that the man she finally married would be no older than twenty-five. But lately she had been starting to experience strong, inarticulate feelings of longing, of a desire to be with Joe all the time, to inhabit his life and allow him to inhabit hers, to engage with him in some kind of joint enterprise, in a collaboration that would be their lives.
She closed her eyes and tried to recite a snatch of Buddhist prayer her father had taught her, claiming it had a calming effect. It had little apparent impact on her father, and she wasn’t even sure she had the words right. Om mani padmi om. Somehow it did make her feel calmer.
He tried to be stern and friendless but was an inveterate kibitzer.
…explorers invariably give their names to the places that haunt or kill them.
The defeat of those actual world-devouring supervillains, Hitler and Tojo, along with their minions, had turned out to be as debilitating to the long-underwear hero trade as the war itself had been an abundant source of energy and plots; it proved to be hard for the cashiered captains and supersoldiers, on their return from tying Krupp artillery into half-hitches and swatting Zeros like midges over the Coral Sea, to muster the old pre-1941 fervor for busting up rings of car thieves, rescuing orphans, and exposing crooked fight promoters. At the same time, a new villain, the lawless bastard child of relativity and Satan, had appeared to cast its roiling fiery pall over even the mightiest of heroes, who could no longer be entirely assured that there would always be a world for them to save. The tastes of returning GIs, who had become hooked on the regular shipments of comic books provided them along with candy bars and cigarettes, turned to darker, more “adult-oriented” fare: true-crime comics had their vogue, followed by horror tales, Westerns, science fiction; anything, in short, but masked men.
Rosa shook her head. It seemed to be her destiny to live among men whose solutions were invariably more complicated or extreme than the problems they were intended to solve.
The usual charge leveled against comic books, that they offered merely an escape from reality, seemed to Joe actually to be a powerful argument on their behalf. He had escaped, in his life, from ropes, chains, boxes, bags, and crates, from handcuffs and shackles, from countries and regimes, from the arms of a woman who loved him, from crashed airplanes and an opiate addiction and from an entire frozen continent intent on causing his death. The escape from reality was, he felt–especially right after the war–a worthy challenge.
The newspaper articles that Joe had read about the upcoming Senate investigation into comic books always cited “escapism” among the litany of injurious consequences of their reading, and dwelled on the pernicious effect, on young minds, of satisfying the desire to escape. As if there could be any more noble or necessary service in life.
Hope had been his enemy, a frailty that he must at all costs master, for so long now that it was a moment before he was willing to conceded that he had let it back into his heart.
Now he had been unmasked, along with Bruce and Dick, and Steve and Bucky, and Oliver Queen (how obvious!) and Speedy, and that security was gone for good. And now there was nothing left to regret but his own cowardice.
“I’m much too old to be happy, Mr. Clay. Unlike you.” – Deasey
I have tried to respect history and geography wherever doing so served my purposes as a novelist, but wherever it did not I have, cheerfully or with regret, ignored them.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the deep debt I owe in this and everything else I’ve ever written to the work of the late Jack Kirby, the King of Comics.
Michael Chabon’s grandfather was a typographer who worked in a New York City plant where, among other things, comic books were printed.
Fame and fortune are coming your way.
You are interested in higher education, whether material or spiritual.
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When I arrived this morning in Sacramento, I wasn't sure why I was here. I am attending the California Academy of Family Physicians 2009 Congress of Delegates. I am one of many family physicians who have come from all over the state. They are leaders in their community, faculty in academic medicine and residency programs, department chairs, chapter presidents.
I am here because I happen to show up at most of the meetings. If you go often enough, you get nominated to be a delegate. This year especially there weren't enough of us coming from the Los Angeles Chapter so they asked for volunteers. At the registration table, my name was not listed as one of the delegates. Maybe I don't belong here.
The guest speaker is Dr. Ted Epperly, the current president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). He notes the current national crises (crisises? crisii?) and says that he believes that, after many years of failed attempts, healthcare reform is finally going to take place in 2009 because of a miracle. According to Epperly, that miracle was the election of Barack Obama.
He said that he was at the White House 2 days ago, invited along with representatives from the 3 other primary care specialties (American College of Physicians, American Academy of Pediatricians, American Osteopathic Association) and a host of legislators, insurance representatives and stakeholders. They were part of a White House Health Care Summit there to discuss how to fix what ails our nation's medical non-system.
During the summit, Obama asked for the cooperation and participation from all the interested parties. And when he came to physician participation, he called on Epperly (who was taken by surprise and only had about 20 seconds to speak).
What he said was:
"Speaking on behalf of over 100,000 doctors, we're ready to do our part. We very much believe that we need to expand coverage in this country to everyone, and we need to fix the work force, sir, so that all those patients have a place to go.
We'll roll up our shirtsleeves and do everything possible to make this work. Because it is the right thing to do, and I applaud you and this body for doing this today, to do it this year. And we must do it. Thank you."
Epperly said he feels it was not by accident that Obama chose a family physician to speak for American physicians. It’s because he understands that primary care is broken.
He also said the president made it clear that everyone must be at the table, everyone must listen and everyone must give up a little something. Epperly quoted Victor Fuchs, a noted Stanford economist, as saying US healthcare reform would only come about if there was a war, an economic depression or major civil unrest. (We got 2 out of 3 so far.)
The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) has become more than a model of healthcare, Epperly said. It has become a symbol of a movement to restore healthcare to this country.
Epperly observed that the current healthcare system is totally unsustainable, especially in this recession. Healthcare spending rose to $2.4 trillion in 2008 and is projected to rise to $2.5 trillion in 2009. But Epperly is hopeful that reform will finally take place under the Obama administration. "More has been done in one month than has been done in the past decade as far as healthcare reform," he said. "We can't afford to keep putting it off. President Obama recognizes that if there isn't enough investment in our domestic policy, this country will fall apart."
Epperly also called on family physicians to take a more active role in advocating healthcare reform. "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu," he said. "We family physicians are in the position we are in, not because the work we do is not worth it, but because we didn't step forward when we needed to."
Even though family physicians may feel like they're not getting the respect or the payment that they deserve for their work, Epperly feels Obama recognizes the value of family physicians to care for patients and their community. "Don't lose faith," Epperly said. "It won't be easy, but a better day is coming."
At the end of Epperly's talk, I felt re-energized and motivated, hopeful that our healthcare system can and will change for the better, sooner rather than later. I will continue to try to improve my solo practice using the principles of the PCMH. And while I don't have the charisma, eloquence or leadership of Obama or Epperly, I can blog.
I guess I figured out why I am here in Sacramento after all:
To keep the faith. And to help Save Primary Care.
Posted by akifox at 10:26 PM
This is also the diagnosis
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Cycling Racing News and Opinion
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories
Buncha stuff going on...
Saxo Bank remains team co-sponsor
Denmark's Saxo Bank announced it will co-sponsor the Tinkoff-Saxo cycling team through 2015. The squad is owned by Russian Oleg Tinkoff and is managed by its former owner, Bjarne Riis.
Tinkoff-Saxo rider Alberto Contador suffering in stage five of this year's Tour de France. Photo © Sirotti
Heart Problem Sidelines Lodewyck
From BMC:
Klaas Lodewyck will be withheld from racing for an indefinite amount of time due to a problem with his heart, BMC Racing Team Chief Medical Officer Dr. Max Testa said Wednesday.
Thorough Investigation Underway: Lodewyck competed last month in the Tour de Wallonie, his first competition since breaking his right collarbone in a crash while racing with the Belgian national team in Halle-Ingooigem on June 25. "He had been experiencing some irregular heart rhythm during racing and training," Dr. Testa said. "We have been investigating it, first by having him evaluated by sports cardiologists in Belgium. The common decision between a specialist there and the BMC Racing Team's medical staff is to rest Klaas for an undetermined amount of time while a thorough investigation is performed." Before his injury, Lodewyck had been effective in helping teammate Philippe Gilbert win Ster ZLM Toer, Steve Cummings win Tour Méditerranéen and Taylor Phinney win the Dubai Tour. The most aggressive rider at the 2012 Tour of Oman said the situation is depressing. "Mentally, it is like I am in a big nightmare," Lodewyck said. "Since my crash, it seems like there has always been something and for the last week, I have been to the hospital almost every day for tests." Dr. Testa said an update on Lodewyck's condition will be shared when more details are known.
BMC Racing Team Signs Jempy Drucker
BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz announced Thursday the signing of Jempy Drucker to a multi-year contract, beginning in the 2015 season.
Help For The Classics: The 27-year-old from Luxembourg was runner-up last month at the Skoda Tour de Luxembourg, runner-up on Stage 5 at the Tour of Norway and finished fourth at Dwars door Vlaanderen. A professional since 2008, he has twice finished runner-up at GP Stad Zottegem (2010 and 2012) and was sixth overall last year at the Tour de Wallonie. "Jempy has a nice background in classics-style racing in the spring and summer," Ochowicz said. "He also has stage racing experience that we will be able to utilize in a number of races throughout the year. On numerous occasions, he has demonstrated his ability to time trial and deliver in the faster races solid performances and consistent results." Drucker said he was excited to receive the invitation to join the BMC Racing Team. "I think it is one of the best teams in the world," he said. "It will be a pleasure to get a chance to ride for the BMC Racing Team next year. I want to progress as a rider and become a better rider. My main races are the classics, so I hope to be able to play a big role in them and help the team get nice results or a win
Jonas Van Genechten wins the fourth stage of the Tour de Pologne
Yesterday (Wednesday, August 6) Lotto-Belisol rider Jonas Van Genechten won the fourth stage of the Tour of Poland using a huge 54 big-meat ring to win the downhill, tailwind-aided sprint. What the heck, here's Lotto-Belisol's press release, they earned a little glory:
With 236 kilometers it was the longest stage.
Boris Vallée joined an early breakaway, but it didn't get much space. Next Edmondson, Krizek and Taciak attacked. In the final Cousin and Kasperkiewicz bridged to the leaders. Eight kilometers from the end, in the last local lap of 12.3 kilometers in Katowice, all escapees were caught. There were some late attacks, like the one of Thor Hushovd. Still a bunch sprint would decide about the stage win. Jonas Van Genechten turned out to be the fastest. Jacopo Guarnieri had to be satisfied with the second place, Luka Mezgec got third. For Van Genechten it's the second win of the season after Gullegem Koerse and this in a WorldTour race.
Jonas Van Genechten: "Of course I'm very happy with this victory. It was a fast sprint, because there was a descent at the end. The right timing was important to win. With two laps to go we decided I would be the man for the sprint. Kenny Dehaes wasn't feeling 100%. The whole team believed in me. Kenny did the last part of the work in the team, up to the last three kilometers. It wasn't easy to stay together. Each rider of the team has a big part in the win. I want to thank all of them."
"Until the bottom of the last hill I was positioned well. Then I did an effort to be in a good position for the last kilometer. This victory confirms my condition and shows I can perform on the highest level. From the start of the season I am in good shape. There was an opportunity for me here and it was successful."
Theo Bos and Robert Gesink to MTN Qhubeka?
AD Sportwereld is reporting that MTN Qhubeka is courting Belkin riders Theo Bos (who won the Tour of Poland third stage) and Robert Gesink. Both have contracts with the Dutch team that are up at the end of the year.
Theo Bos wins Tour of Poland Stage Three. Photo ©Sirotti
Mark Cavendish returns to racing
Rather than take part in the Prudential RideLondon Classic, Mark Cavendish is taking a lower key return to racing by starting August 12 at the French Tour de l'Ain. Cavendish crashed out of the first stage at Harrogate of this year's Tour de France.
Cavendish ruptured all the ligaments at the AC joint, or more pedantically, the acromioclavicular joint. This is where the collarbone (the clavicle) meets the highest point of the shoulder blade (acromion).
Mark Cavendish talks with Omega Pharma team boss Lefevre at this year's Tour before going home
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How Reflection Works in Physics
Definition of Reflection in Physics
Tara Moore/Getty Images
In physics, reflection is defined as the change in the direction of a wavefront at the interface between two different media, bouncing the wavefront back into the original medium. A common example of reflection is reflected light from a mirror or a still pool of water, but reflection affects other types of waves beside light. Water waves, sound waves, particle waves, and seismic waves may also be reflected.
The Law of Reflection
Todd Helmenstine, sciencenotes.org
The law of reflection is usually explained in terms of a ray of light striking a mirror, but it applies to other types of waves as well. According to the law of reflection, an incident ray strikes a surface at a certain angle relative to the "normal" (line perpendicular to the mirror's surface).
The angle of reflection is the angle between the reflected ray and the normal and is equal in magnitude to the angle of incidence, but is on the opposite side of the normal. The angle of incidence and angle of reflection lie in the same plane. The law of reflection can be derived from the Fresnel equations.
The law of reflection is used in physics to identify the location of an image that is reflected in a mirror. One consequence of the law is that if you view a person (or other creature) through a mirror and can see his eyes, you know from the way reflection works that he can also view your eyes.
Types of Reflections
Ken Hermann/Getty Images
The law of reflection works for specular surfaces, which means surfaces which are shiny or mirror-like. Specular reflection from a flat surface forms mirror mages, which appear to be reversed from left to right. Specular reflection from curved surfaces may be magnified or demagnified, depending on whether the surface is spherical or parabolic.
Diffuse Reflections
Waves can also strike non-shiny surfaces, which produce diffuse reflections. In diffuse reflection, light is scattered in multiple directions because of tiny irregularities in the surface of the medium. A clear image is not formed.
Infinite Reflections
If two mirrors are placed facing each other and parallel to each other, infinite images are formed along the straight line. If a square is formed with four mirrors face to face, the infinite images appear to be arranged within a plane. In reality, images aren't truly infinite because tiny imperfections in the mirror surface eventually propagate and extinguish the image.
Retroreflection
In retroreflection, light returns in the direction from whence it came. A simple way to make a retroreflector is to form a corner reflector, with three mirrors faced mutually perpendicular to each other. The second mirror produces an image that is the inverse of the first. The third mirror makes in an inverse of the image from the second mirror, returning it to its original configuration. The tapetum lucidum in some animal eyes acts as a retroreflector (e.g., in cats), improving their night vision.
Complex Conjugate Reflection or Phase Conjugation
Complex conjugate reflection occurs when light reflects back exactly in the direction from whence it came (as in retroreflection), but both the wavefront and the direction are reversed. This occurs in nonlinear optics. Conjugate reflectors may be used to remove aberrations by reflecting a beam and passing the reflection back through the aberrating optics.
Neutron, Sound, and Seismic Reflections
Monty Rakusen/Getty Images
Reflections occur in several types of waves. Light reflection doesn't only happen within the visible spectrum but throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. VHF reflection is used for radio transmission. Gamma rays and x-rays may be reflected, too, although the nature of the "mirror" is different than for visible light.
The reflection of sound waves is a fundamental principle in acoustics. Reflection is somewhat different from sound. If a longitudinal sound wave strikes a flat surface, the reflected sound is coherent if the size of the reflecting surface is large compared to the wavelength of the sound.
The nature of the material matters as well as its dimensions. Porous materials may absorb sonic energy, while rough materials (with respect to wavelength) may scatter sound in multiple directions. The principles are used to make anechoic rooms, noise barriers, and concert halls. Sonar is also based on sound reflection.
Seismologists study seismic waves, which are waves that may be produced by explosions or earthquakes. Layers in the Earth reflect these waves, helping scientists understand the Earth's structure, pinpoint the source of the waves, and identify valuable resources.
Streams of particles may be reflected as waves. For example, neutron reflection off of atoms may be used to map internal structure. Neutron reflection also is used in nuclear weapons and reactors.
Huygens' Principle Explains How Waves Move Around Corners
The Photoelectric Effect
The Principles of Superposition
What Is Electromagnetic Radiation?
The Inside Scoop on Telescopes
What the Compton Effect Is and Why It's Important in Physics
What Is Wave-Particle Duality?
Skins of Metal - A Hazard in Architecture
Who Invented the Kaleidoscope?
The Men Who Helped Invent Radar
The History of Ultrasound in Medicine
This Online Geometry Course Covers Formulas, Terms, and Angles
How Long Have Humans Been Making Things Out of Glass?
Understand the Science Behind How the Ground Rumbles
6 Fascinating Facts About the Earth's Mantle
Radiation in Space Gives Clues about the Universe
посмотреть ry-diplomer.com
ry-diplomer.com/diplom-v-sterlitamake
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La Ruta Maya River Challenge Training Continues
Posted on March 9, 2012 by lesleycarter
Pau Hana Surf Supply continue their training in San Ignacio, Belize for the ultimate race, La Ruta Maya River Challenge! Four days and 170 miles of river racing on a paddleboard is my kind of adventure! Just looking at the photos gets my heart racing. For the first time in my life, I’m living vicariously through someone else. While I’m waiting for the best adventure of my life, the arrival of my baby girl, Shane is about to embark on an eye-opening adventure of his own. Check out Todd Caranto (Pau Hana), Nicholas Troutman (trainer), Shane Perrin (paddleboard La Ruta Maya racer), Doug Death (cameraman), and Jessica Wunderlich, (photos) as they prepare for the River Challenge.
Nick found a new friend who has been following them around for 3 days.
Jessica and Nicholas got up close and personal at the local market.
Todd prepped the Big EZ paddleboard, which is the same board that I’ll be using after the baby is born.
Nick talked strategy with some last second planning…
Then he was off…
The Class 2-3 rapids were no problem for Nick.
Todd went for it as well.
Shane did pretty well for his first time in the rapids.
The crew scoped out some of the rapids to practice on.
Imagine hopping onto a paddleboard every morning for four days and paddling for an average of 42.5 miles a day under the tropical sun with little support and only the supplies you’re carrying on your board! La Ruta Maya River Challenge is not for the faint of heart. I’m not sure any amount of training would prepare me for such an adventure, but Shane is going for it and I’m anxiously awaiting his first race day.
This entry was posted in Belize, Central America, Travel, Uncategorized and tagged Adrenaline, Belize, bucket list, Bucket List Publications, Central America, culture, La Ruta Maya River Challenge, landscape, Lesley Carter, photo by lesleycarter. Bookmark the permalink.
29 thoughts on “La Ruta Maya River Challenge Training Continues”
wordsfromanneli on March 9, 2012 at 1:41 pm said:
Looks like a lot of hard work. Fun too, but hard work.
lesleycarter on March 9, 2012 at 2:29 pm said:
170 miles would certainly leave you with a true sense of accomplishment when complete. 🙂
Booksphotographsandartwork on March 9, 2012 at 2:02 pm said:
I can’t even begin to imagine the strength and balance it would take to accomplish that. Good luck! I’m glad it’s you and not me!
Let's CUT the Crap! on March 9, 2012 at 2:22 pm said:
I agree. Sounds like awfully hard work. I love the photos. Nice and big too.
councilblogs on March 9, 2012 at 2:34 pm said:
Lesley, Thx for the like today. Yes, hard work indeed. But it is right up there with all your other adventures. Enjoy.
orples on March 9, 2012 at 2:46 pm said:
That looks like it would be a lot of fun on still waters. I don’t think I’d even consider the rapids.
lesleycarter on March 9, 2012 at 11:18 pm said:
I’d need a lot of practice before I’d consider the rapids, but I think it’s doable. I’d love to give it a try. 🙂
Dirty Feat on March 9, 2012 at 4:28 pm said:
Lesley,
Having liked two of my posts in the past week, I decided it was time for me to give you some props! Gotta say, you have something really meaningful going on here, Keep the positive vibes going. I will be keeping up with your entries for the benefit of my Journey to live the most fulfilling life possible!
Mona on March 9, 2012 at 6:28 pm said:
Looks like a fabulous experience.
Dominick S. on March 9, 2012 at 8:15 pm said:
Geez…I need to stop reading this blog….I keep adding more things to my list! Exciting times for you and your family!
That’s the point 😉
Keep reading and keep adding; life is for living.
Sandra on March 9, 2012 at 8:52 pm said:
Wish I had your exciting wonderful life. You live it to the full. Good for you. Love reading about your exploits.
ToggyOrderedChowder on March 9, 2012 at 9:27 pm said:
What an amazing challenge! Paddleboarding is something I definitely want to try now. Good luck to Shane on his first race. 🙂
P.S. You could do it, Lesley! 😀
Once the baby arrives and is settled in, I’m sure going to try 🙂
dabawenyo life on March 9, 2012 at 10:12 pm said:
great outdoor experience..I’m sure afterwards is muscle pains.. 😛
James Shannon on March 9, 2012 at 10:39 pm said:
I’ve always heard of paddleboarding on still water, but on rapids? That’s sounds like edgy adventure to me! Definitely trying it soon!
I tried riverboarding a couple of years ago (with a body board) and it was amazing! I can’t wait to try paddleboarding on rapids too. 🙂
Jamie Dedes on March 10, 2012 at 3:33 am said:
Looks so fun. Thanks for sharing photos here.
insaniteeni on March 10, 2012 at 5:57 am said:
That looks like a lot of fun! I may have to try something like that.
genekgarrison on March 10, 2012 at 7:28 am said:
The adventure is exciting. I’m very impressed with the photography too.
Yolanda Presant on March 11, 2012 at 3:36 pm said:
For the last couple of years my daughter has been paddleboarding off the coast in Vancouver, BC. She likes it too.
rsouth on March 11, 2012 at 6:15 pm said:
How have I lived this long without knowing about this awesome sport? Thanks for the post!
Ruth2Day on March 11, 2012 at 10:31 pm said:
that is surely going to be an adventure. hope to follow more of it with you on the blog!
karcherry on March 12, 2012 at 2:58 am said:
I can’t believe my eyes… what an adventure!
granbee on March 12, 2012 at 9:58 am said:
Just absolutely adore white water activities of any kind, anywhere! Love that produce market and that dog, as well! So great of you to share such wonders with us here! Very energizing and inspiring!
Pingback: La Ruta Maya River Challenge Training Continues | Bucket List … | cayoscoop
Cayo Scoop on March 12, 2012 at 4:22 pm said:
Awesome! You’re on the Cayo Scoop!
http://www.scoop.it/t/best-of-san-ignacio-cayo/p/1391598383/la-ruta-maya-river-challenge-training-continues-bucket-list
We want a paddle board.
stacey on March 12, 2012 at 5:24 pm said:
Great Effort SHANE!! I did it in a canoe last year that was tough enough…….. but who knows maybe one day i could follow in shane’s footsteps…..
lesleycarter on March 12, 2012 at 5:25 pm said:
Shane completed the race, and he was the first person to do it on a paddleboard!
What an accomplishment and adventure!
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Edgar DegasYoung Woman with Ibis
Young Woman with Ibis
Degas made sketches of this composition in a notebook he used during his second stay in Rome in 1857–58. Originally conceived as a depiction of a pensive woman, the picture assumed a mysterious air when Degas added the imaginary Middle Eastern cityscape, the pink flowers, and the two red ibises around 1860–62. About the same time he also considered adding the brilliant birds to his large historical painting Semiramis Building Babylon (Musée d'Orsay, Paris).
Edgar Degas, born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas, French: [ilɛːʁ ʒɛʁmɛ̃ ɛdɡaʁ də ɡɑ]; 1834 – 1917, was a French artist famous for his paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings. He is especially identified with the subject of dance; more than half of his works depict dancers. He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism, although he rejected the term, preferring to be called a realist. He was a superb draftsman, and particularly masterly in depicting movement, as can be seen in his rendition of dancers, racecourse subjects and female nudes. His portraits are notable for their psychological complexity and for their portrayal of human isolation. At the beginning of his career, Degas wanted to be a history painter, a calling for which he was well prepared by his rigorous academic training and close study of classic art. In his early thirties, he changed course, and by bringing the traditional methods of a history painter to bear on contemporary subject matter, he became a classical painter of modern life.
The Dance Class
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Why we are fasting…
Posted on February 8, 2018 March 26, 2018 by Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Exactly one month from today on March 8th, International Women’s Day, CIW members will be standing in the streets of New York to hold a press conference ahead of next month’s Freedom Fast and Time’s Up Wendy’s March. To celebrate a day where women around the world stand up to protect their rights, farmworker women from Immokalee will announce why they are planning to give up a week’s worth of work — and five days of food — to advance their struggle to end sexual violence in the fields.
Today, we bring you a preview of their message. (And, if you have not done so yet, make sure to register for the action and check out all the details on the fast itself over at the Freedom Fast website!)
#TIMESUPWENDYS: JOIN THE FAIR FOOD PROGRAM!
Inspired by the unprecedented power of the #MeToo movement, women across the country are searching for long-term, proven solutions to sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. An answer to this national scourge has emerged from one of the most unlikely corners of society: the farmworker community of Immokalee, Florida.
For generations, farmworker women have endured some of the most hostile working conditions this country has to offer. Farmworker women have referred to the constant barrage of catcalls, groping, and sexual assault as “our daily bread” in the fields, and in one study, four out of every five farmworker women reported experiencing sexual harassment or violence at work.
But in 2011, after nearly two decades of hard-fought organizing with consumers across the country, farmworker women and men with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) launched the Fair Food Program (FFP) and, within a few short years, put an end to sexual assault and other human rights violations in the $650 million Florida tomato industry.
When asked by CNN to describe the change, one worker said simply, “Our dignity has been restored by this program.” By harnessing public awareness and the purchasing power of more than a dozen of the world’s largest retail food companies, the FFP has radically transformed working conditions for tens of thousands of farmworkers and has been recognized for its unique success by human rights observers from the White House to the United Nations. Today, the FFP extends to seven states and three crops, and all the major fast-food companies – McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Taco Bell, KFC, and Chipotle – are on board.
All except Wendy’s.
For years now, Wendy’s has turned a deaf ear to workers’ and consumers’ calls to join the Fair Food Program. Worse yet, in response to pressure to join the FFP, Wendy’s abandoned its longtime Florida tomato suppliers altogether and shifted its purchases instead to Mexico, where sexual harassment and assault in the fields are endemic and farmworker women are intimidated into silence by a culture of fear, violence, and corruption. Rather than do its part to support the leading program for ending sexual violence in corporate supply chains, Wendy’s has chosen to partner with an industry where – despite widespread abuse — its brand will be protected because women there are afraid to complain and are forced into silence.
Today we are breaking that silence.
From March 11-15, farmworkers from Immokalee, together with their consumer allies, are launching the five-day Freedom Fast outside the Manhattan hedge fund offices of Nelson Peltz, Wendy’s largest shareholder and Chair of its Board of Directors. The Fast will demand that Wendy’s join the rest of the fast-food industry in supporting the Fair Food Program’s groundbreaking worker protections, and will protest the ongoing human rights abuses faced by workers in Mexico’s produce industry where Wendy’s currently buys its tomatoes. The Freedom Fast will then culminate with a massive march on March 15 in the heart of Manhattan.
The time is up for corporate leaders, like Mr. Peltz, who have the power to end sexual violence against women in their supply chains and yet, do nothing. For market giants like Wendy’s, refusing to take meaningful action to end sexual violence in the supply chain — when a proven solution is right at their fingertips — is no longer an option.
The Atlantic: The Fair Food Program “represents hope for workers in an industry where, for generations, there’s been very little…”
BREAKING: Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach to march alongside CIW at Time’s Up Wendy’s March!
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Bennet, Burr, Warren, Hatch Introduce Bill to Help Patients by Facilitating Faster Development of Drugs for Rare Diseases
Posted by PPMD on September 15, 2015 at 5:10pm
We are thrilled to announce that the Advancing Targeted Drugs for Rare Diseases Act bill dropped in the Senate today (see press release below)! PPMD has been working with the Senate HELP Committee and Sarepta for the last several months on this 21st Century Cures provision which morphed into stand-alone legislation (view PPMD's most updated endorsement of this legislation).
According to PPMD President Pat Furlong, "It is our expectation that this bill will enable sponsors developing therapies for Duchenne - and other devastating rare diseases and disorders with profound unmet medical needs – to leverage similar or closely related underlying technologies and/or data to accelerate the development pathway for additional targeted therapies.”
The bill has the support of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Duchenne Alliance, and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).
Read today’s announcement to learn more about the bill and stay tuned for ways you can help this important legislation move forward:
Bipartisan bill would help pave the way for advancing new drugs for rare diseases
Washington D.C. – Today U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Burr (R-NC), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the Advancing Targeted Therapies for Rare Diseases Act of 2015. This bipartisan bill will help advance the development of targeted drugs for patients with serious or life-threatening rare genetic diseases.
“Companies developing these targeted therapies are saving and lengthening lives, and if we allow them to expand the scope of their current testing we can potentially save even more lives,” Bennet said. “We have met with Coloradans suffering the effects of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, cancer and other life threatening diseases who have asked us to remove red tape and help them access cutting edge treatments. By allowing these innovators to safely test new therapies on patients with the same disease, but a different mutation, we can unleash a host of lifesaving new breakthroughs.”
"This is an exciting era of medicine that holds great potential for personalizing treatments to improve and save lives," said Burr. “This bipartisan legislation will help fulfill this potential for patients in North Carolina and across our nation by facilitating the development of targeted drugs for rare diseases. I’m proud of North Carolina’s innovators and the work they are doing on behalf of patients, and it is my hope that this legislation will facilitate many life-saving treatments that give hope to families who are battling rare diseases.”
“Targeted therapies are a promising form of treatment for people living with rare diseases who often have no other treatment options. We should use all the tools we can to help bring these new therapies to market, while maintaining the FDA’s strong safety and effectiveness standards,” Warren said. “By clarifying the FDA’s current authority to consider research supporting previously-approved targeted treatments, this bipartisan bill will help innovators advance the next generation of precision medicines.”
“Innovation in treatments is critical for patients with rare diseases. The Advancing Targeted Therapies for Rare Diseases Act will enable more patients suffering from rare diseases to benefit from advances in precision medicine,” said Hatch. “By removing difficulties involved in conducting conventional trials for genetic subgroups of many rare diseases, this legislation will incentivize new drug development, create greater efficiency in the drug review process, and bring needed treatments to patients faster. I am proud to work with Senators Bennet, Burr, and Warren on this meaningful, bipartisan legislation.”
Many rare diseases like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, and certain cancers have genetic origins. Different mutations within a gene can result in the same disease, meaning some diseases are further fractured into various subtypes. Advances in medicine have made it possible to develop treatments targeted to a particular genetic subtype, but the use of these targeted therapies is limited to patients with an exact mutation. Targeted therapies are usually developed first for the most common genetic subtype.
Developing drugs for rare diseases is particularly difficult because of the small patient populations available for clinical trials. Therefore, there would need to be dozens of therapies to treat the full spectrum of certain genetic rare diseases.
The Advancing Targeted Therapies for Rare Diseases Act of 2015 affirms the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) authority to allow innovators to use their own data supporting the approval of a targeted therapy to help facilitate additional targeted therapies to treat patients with the same rare disease.
This bill does not change the FDA’s current approval standards and has the support of the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Duchenne Alliance, and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).
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Fronted by the late Yvon Vromman, The Honeymoon Killers were a provocative band with a strong pop sensibility. They became the darlings of the music press all around Europe (including in the UK, a rare feat for a French-singing act), and their delirious live shows gained them a strong following. Les Tueurs also included vocalist Véronique Vincent, guitarist Gerald Fenerberg, drummer Jeanf Jones Jacob III and Aksak Maboul members Marc Hollander (who is also the founder of Crammed) & Vincent ...
"Chez les Aborigènes", the first single off "Ex-Futur Album"...
... the avant-pop opus from 1980-83 by Véronique Vincent & Aksak Maboul
Soon out: "Ex-Futur Album" by Veronique Vincent & Aksak Maboul
At the extreme pop end of Aksak Maboul's broad musical spectrum, an album will soon be coming out with a slight delay of… 30 years!
THE HONEYMOON KILLERS
Ex-Futur Album
Special Manubre
Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel
Contains videos & live footage, free mp3s & streams, pictures, press quotes & clippings, and maybe even personal contributions from the artist.
Come In Now!
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Random thoughts and information from a published author, S. Evan Townsend.
Treasure of the Rogue Moon
Treasure of the Pirate Planet
Treasure of the Black Hole
Gods of Strife
The Terror of Tombstone
The Huskies are 8-0!
I was in meetings in Lewiston, Idaho literally all day Saturday from 6:30 AM to nearly 9:00 PM with about an hour break around 4:15. Because of that, I had to DVR the University of Washington Huskies game against Utah and watch it today when I got home.
Before the game, the Huskies were ranked (AP writers poll) #4 in the nation and Utah #17. Utah was 7-1 and on top of the Pac-12 South Division. If the Huskies have any hopes of going to the playoffs, they have to stay unbeaten so they can stay high in the rankings (their soft pre-conference schedule is hurting their chances). Also, this might be a preview of the Pac-12 championship game in December if both teams stay on top of their divisions. The Huskies went into this game undefeated.
At first it looked like it might be another Husky blowout game, even playing in Salt Lake City in front of a hostile crowd. They Huskies jumped up to a 14-0 lead by early in the second quarter.
The Utah made 17 unanswered points. One touchdown was basically due to a Husky player's Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty. The Utes had a running back named Thompson the Huskies struggled to stop. Husky quarterback Jake Browning threw one of his rare interceptions that the Utes capitalized on.
In the second half, the Huskies began playing better. Even though the Utes held the lead a short time, the Huskies scored on their next series. By the end it came down to stopping a Utah drive that could tie the game. And the Husky defense was up to the task. The final score was 31-24.
The Huskies are 8-0 for the first time since I don't know when.
On the AP poll, the Huskies stayed at #4. The Utah Utes, I guess for holding their own against a #4 team, moved up one to #16. And the Colorado Buffaloes, who had a bye this weekend, moved from 23 - 21. Also, The Washington State University Cougars are now ranked at #25.
Which means of the four Pac-12 schools ranked in the AP Top #25 poll, none are the big California schools that are usually so dominant.
Next week the Huskies take on California in Berkeley. Right now, I don't see a team in the Pac-12 that could beat them. Utah was their toughest opponent yet. And they beat them.
Posted by S. Evan Townsend at 1:55 PM No comments:
Labels: huskies, sports
Halloween Giveaway Almost Over!
The colossal Halloween Giveaway is nearly over. Get your entries in before it's too late. Top prize: $100 PayPal cash. And there's lots of books and other goodies available. So check it out:
Posted by S. Evan Townsend at 8:06 AM No comments:
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Rebecca Besser and S.F. Edwards
Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers Rebecca Besser and S.F. Edwards.
Rebecca Besser
Rebecca Besser resides in Ohio with her wonderful husband and amazing son. They've come to accept her quirks as normal while she writes anything and everything that makes her inner demons squeal with delight. She's best known for her work in adult horror, but has been published in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for a variety of age groups and genres. She's entirely too cute to be scary in person, so she turns to the page to instill fear into the hearts of the masses.
Rebecca's Books:
Zombies Inside
Nurse Blood
Re-Civilize
Rebecca's Links:
S.F. Edwards
S.F. Edwards and family recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest after spending the last nine years as a flight and operational test engineer for the United States Air Force. Prior to that he spent his time travelling the world ensuring that self defense weapon systems of the US Navy were ready able to protect thousands of American Service members. S.F. has a diverse background in engineering as well as in aviation and space education as a former instructor at the US Space and Rocket Center's Aviation Challenge program. To this day his passion for all things aviation and space permeates his life.
S.F. currently calls the area around Edwards Air Force Base home with his wife and five sons, one of whom is afflicted with a severe, lifelong disability. The boys are his greatest joy and he works hard to make sure that they will become responsible, capable young men.
S.F. is the creator and author of the Spiral War series of military science fiction novels. S.F. is also a regular contributor to and a Veteran Reviewer with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Online Writers Workshop.
S.F.'s Books:
Spiral War: On The Cusp
Spiral War: On Dagger’s Wings
Spiral War: In Death’s Shadow
S.F.'s Links:
From Today's Show: The Universe has Ten Times the Number of Galaxies as Thought
Listen to today's program at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT, or in archive here.
Labels: Speculative Fiction Cantina
I found a new blogging challenge and this one is a 52-week challenge so that should last me about a year (depending on how many I skip).
The first prompt is "Meet my best friend."
This might sound a bit unusual, but my best friend is probably Sarah. Sarah lives in Eastern Canada (and I live in Western U.S.). We communicate mostly via text, sometimes emails. We've met twice face to face when she was visiting a friend of hers in the U.S. not far from where I live.
Sarah is a walking dictionary. If I needed to know how to spell a word, I text her. She has proofread all my novels (and needs to get on the one I sent her quite a while ago).
Sarah is a Jeopardy! freak. She does the test online whenever she can and has twice advanced to auditions. They always say "we'll call you if we want you" at the end and they've never called her. When she watches the show, she gets frustrated when someone does poorly, wondering why they selected them and not her.
She used to have a blog but doesn't anymore.
And that's my best friend. Do you have a best friend?
Huskies are #4!
The biggest news this week for the University of Washington Huskies is that #2 Ohio State lost to unranked Purdue. This knocked Ohio State down in today's AP Poll to #6. And that moved Michigan from #3 to #2, Clemson (who had a bye this week) from #4 to #3, and the Huskies from #5 to #4. This is likely the Huskies' highest rating since sometime in the 1990s.
If they can maintain that ranking (i.e., not lose to somebody) they have a good chance of going to the FBS playoffs competing for the national title.
As for their game against Oregon State yesterday, they won 41-17. They were brilliant the first half of the game, zooming out to a 31 - 0 lead in front of a home crowd.
But in the second half they played as if they didn't care, allowing Oregon State to score those 17 points. Even quarterback Jake Browning, who is in Heisman Trophy contention, wasn't hitting receivers with the precision he normally does.
As happens a lot in Husky games, Browning came out in the fourth quarter (with about nine minutes left) and second stringers started playing.
Elsewhere in the Pac-12, Colorado beat Stanford who, since losing to the Huskies, have been fading fast. Colorado is now ranked at #23 in the AP Poll.
Utah beat UCLA, which moved them from #19 to #17 in the AP Poll. Those are the only other two ranked teams in the Pac-12 this week.
Washington State beat Arizona State in Tempe, which is not easy to do. I'm almost surprised WSU isn't ranked but that first-game lose to an FCS team probably keeps them out of the top 25.
While the Huskies are 7-0 (their best record for a long time, probably the 1990s), and 4-0 in conference, the WSU Cougars are 5-2 but also 4-0 in conference. That puts them squarely in second place in the Pac-12 North behind UW.
The Pac-12 South has the Utah Utes in first place at 7-1 and 4-1 in conference. The Colorado Buffaloes are right behind them at 6-2 over all, and also 4-1 in conference. The big California schools (USC and UCLA) who normally dominate the Pac-12 South have to contend with being behind upstarts Utah and Colorado.
Next week the Huskies play Utah in Salt Lake City. This will probably be the toughest test yet for the Dawgs. And could be a preview of the Pac-12 championship game. The Huskies will have to contend with the elevation with is over 4,000 feet there while they are used to playing at near sea level.
Unfortunately, I have a meeting all day that Saturday. I will DVR the game and maybe watch it Sunday if I can keep from seeing/hearing the score. That means no social media. That'll be tough.
Author Appearance in Wenatchee, WA.
I will be at the Pybus Market in Wenatchee, WA today from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM selling and signing books including my latest, Treasure of the Pirate Planet. Come by and say "hi." I'd love to see you and talk to you there.
The address for the Pybus Market is 3 N Worthen St. in Wenatchee. Turn right on Orondo from Wenatchee Ave. to find it.
This is a multi-author signing.
Labels: author appearances
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Richard Keller and Trey Dunham
Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we welcome writers Richard Keller and Trey Dunham.
Richard Keller
Richard Keller is an author, speaker, talk show host, and owner of Wooden Pants Publishing. He started his life as an avid science fiction reader to the point he tried to get through Dune in one sitting while still a tween. His first writing experience was for his third grade teacher and his first short story, a terribly bad rip-off of Knight Rider was submitted when he was 12. Richard has written over two thousand pieces in newspapers, magazines, and online over the last several decades. His science fiction series, Saunders’ Savages, features an oversexed and wealthy CEO of an intergalactic corporation who moonlights as the leader of a pay-for-hire army.
Richard's books:
Coffee Cup Tales 2 – Extra Foam
Paradise Not Quite Lost
Authors, and the Zombies they Emulate
Richard's Links:
Trey Dunham
Trey Dunham is a writer, speaker and storyteller with a proven ability to attract and motivate audiences.
He is the author of several books including: From a Gun to the Plow (New Hope Publishers, forthcoming, with Steve Finn), Strangers and Aliens: Thoughts on 1 Peter (CreateSpace, 2013), We’ve Never Seen Anything Like This: A new Look at the Gospel of Mark (CreateSpace, 2014), The Meaning of Technology: A Theology of Technique in Jacques Ellul (CreateSpace, forthcoming), and Loophole: A Novel (CreateSpace, 2015, with Jason Hostetler, movie rights optioned by JC Films). He has been blogging on spiritual, family and personal topics at TreyDunham.com since 2009 His published poetry has won awards from literary groups at Denison University.
Dunham wrote and delivered sermons regularly to as many as 3,000 people, as a teaching pastor at one of West Virginia’s largest churches. He quadrupled the size of the church’s campus ministry to over 200 students in his eight years there. He opened a popular Fair Trade coffee house as a satellite ministry near the West Virginia University campus. The café became a hub for service projects and social-justice events Dunham organized, drawing hundreds of students into volunteer projects for local charities. In 2010, he led a team to plant CityChurch in Morgantown, WV.
For four years, Dunham told the story of SustainU, a maker and marketer of recycled, natural-fiber clothing manufactured exclusively at U.S. plants. As the startup’s marketing director, he helped drive a thirteen-fold sales increase to $2 million. He used Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and press releases to generate positive coverage for SustainU in The New York Times and other metropolitan and local media.
Dunham, who holds a doctoral degree in Technology Education, has taught and spoken before a wide variety of audiences. He has travelled and lived around the world, heading a mission in the jungles of New Guinea and overseeing a hospital-construction crew in the Himalayas of Nepal. He has presented his research at two international conferences of scholars in his field. And he has led hundreds of campus Bible study groups in deeply personal discussions about faith, and finding meaning. Over the years, he has counseled dozens of singles and dating, engaged, and married couples.
Dunham lives in Morgantown, WV.
Trey's Books:
Catch for Us the Foxes
Jesus and the City
The Beams of Our House
Trey's Links:
From Today's Show: Maybe Alien Life Runs on Cosmic Rays.
Listen to today's show at 6:00 PM ET/ 3:00 PM PT or in archive here.
I've been watching Star Trek the original series on Netflix in honor of the show's 50th anniversary. But the episodes on Netflix aren't entirely original. Somebody replaced all the cheesy 1960s special effects with modern state-of-the-art CGI effects. And they've been having way too much fun. They've put rings around planets, showed a small asteroid hit a disabled starship and break apart, and other changes. The most blatant were probably in the episode "The Galileo Seven" which, for old Star Trek, was heavy on the special effects.
And I can't decide how I feel about it.
I hate when they colorize films. To me that destroys the director's original vision. But with Star Trek, in the 1960s they were limited by technology and money and probably time. I admit, I remember the special affects looking pretty bad (every planet looked the same, except a different color, for instance). But every now and again I find myself trying to remember how they did a certain special effect originally. I wish they'd give you a choice, old effects or new ones.
At least the people who did the CGI are reasonably faithful to the original effects. For instance, in the Doomsday Machine, the machine is still a lumpy conical tube (it was originally a windsock dipped in concrete) but it looks black and menacing and not quite so, well, cheesy.
So, I'm conflicted. I like the new special effects, except I wish I could see the old ones.
Labels: movies and television, Random Thoughts
Huskies Still Number Five!
My beloved University of Washington Huskies had a bye this week, so there's no game to talk about.
So what else happened in the Pac-12 and the Top 25?
In the Pac-12, The WSU Cougars beat UCLA in a soggy game in Pulman. The final score was 27 - 21.
That gives the Cougars the same conference record as the Huskies (3-0) but their overall record is 4-2 whereas the Huskies are 6-0. That also puts WSU solidly in second place in the Pac-12 North after the first-place Huskies.
The Nike Ducks (last place in the Pac-12 North) didn't lose yesterday. They, too, had a bye.
The Pac-12 South Division is wide open. The Utah Utes are still on top with a 6-1 record (3-1 in conference). But the Colorado Buffaloes (!) are in second place with a 3-1 conference record and a 5-2 overall record. Utah beat Oregon State yesterday. Colorado beat Arizona State.
The Pac-12 championship game might be Washington vs. Utah. A preview of that game will be on October 29th when Washington plays at Utah. Unfortunately, I will miss that game due to a previous commitment. I might DVR it and try to avoid learning the score but I won't be able to watch it until Sunday.
In the top five teams in the top 25 (Washington is #5), Michigan (#4) also had a bye. But Clemson (#3) had to go into overtime to beat unranked North Carolina State. That dropped them to #4 and moved Michigan to #3. Washington stayed at #5 (unfortunately).
And #2 Ohio State had to go into overtime to beat #8 Wisconsin. But they are still #2. And Alabama is, of course, still #1.
The only other Pac-12 team in the top 25 is Utah which moved up to #19 from #21.
This was Week 8 of college football. So we are half-way through the season. Should be exciting to see what happens in the second half. Go Dawgs!
Posted by S. Evan Townsend at 11:11 AM No comments:
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Jamie Wyman and DT2
Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome Jamie Wyman and DT2.
Jamie Wyman
After a misspent adulthood pursuing a Music Education degree, JAMIE WYMAN fostered several interests before discovering that being an author means never having to get out of pajamas. (However, she can eat/spin fire, tell you a lot about auditioning to be a Blue Man, and read/write in Circular Gallifreyan.)
Jamie also works as an editor. In addition to freelance work, she works with sci-fi/fantasy publisher Dragon Moon Press.
As an author, Jamie’s favorite playgrounds are urban fantasy, horror and creepy carnival settings. You can find novels, novellas, short stories and flash fiction by Jamie in a variety of places. Start looking here. Jamie also writes articles for Cracked.com.
When she’s not traipsing about with her imaginary friends, she lives in Phoenix with two hobbits and two cats. She is proud to say she has a deeply disturbed following at her blog. Send chai.
Jamie's books:
Uninvited (coming October 18th)
Unvieled
"The Case of the Tattooed Bride" (short story in an anthology)
Jamie's Links
DT2 (David Taylor)
David Taylor II (DT2) is an award winning author, playwright, songwriter and producer. His latest book, Lucifer: Soldiers, Serpents and Sin – Book 1 is an internationally best-selling book. He has created an entire story world called The Realm from that first book and continues to expand it through the book’s companion website, www.SecretsofTheRealm.com
Taylor writes sci fi, fantasy, Christian fiction, and Children’s Literature.
He is a co-composer for the smash hit theater production, Eye of the Storm:The Bayard Rustin Musical, nominated for 3 Black Theater Alliance awards.
In 2015 his book Wayward Pines:Survival, from the hit Fox TV show of the same name, broke top 10 in the Amazon best seller list and is currently still there.
He is also the author of the new children’s favorite, Diary of a Chocolate Midas.
He is the proud father of two, as well as a lover of football, pizza, and a good glass of lemonade.
DT2's books:
Lucifer: Soldiers, Serpents and Sin
Wayward Pines: Survival
Diary of a Chocolate Midas
DT2's Links:
From today's show: New Dwarf Planet Found.
Listen to today's show at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT or in archive here.
The sequel to Treasure of the Black Hole has been released!
Treasure of the Pirate Planet is now available in paperback and Kindle (it's so new, it hasn't merged yet on Amazon).
. . . if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?
Rick Bailey is living a nice, quiet life on the planet where he retired, enjoying the money he found in the Treasure of the Black Hole. Without warning, he is arrested for helping his former lover, Jil, break out of prison where she was serving a 20-year term for murdering an alien. Hoping to clear his name, Bailey goes after Jil. But the slime-bed mate of Jil's victim is also after her.
Now, Bailey's only hope for saving Jil is to find a treasure buried on a planet over ran with cannibalistic pirates. He teams up with a Core Empire Intelligence Corps officer, but she might have motives of her own. Can Rick save Jil and keep himself out of the clutches of the Core Empire that wants to vivisection him, the police who want to jail him, and the alien who wants vengeance for his brother's murder?
This exciting novel is the second book in a planned "Treasures of Space" trilogy.
Get your copy today in paperback or Kindle (Also available at Barnes & Noble).
Posted by S. Evan Townsend at 12:46 PM No comments:
Labels: Treasure of the Black Hole, Treasure of the Pirate Planet
Back to the 30-day Blogging challenge and this is the last one, and it's a hard one, for me, at least. The prompt is "One thing you're excited for."
Hell, I'm 56 years old. My health is deteriorating. My writing career has never taken off. What am I excited for? Not much.
But at the moment I'm just living day to day, doing my freelance work and trying to write fiction (which I'm still not having much luck at. And NaNoWriMo is coming and I don't even know if I'll participate this year. I have zero ideas for a novel to write.
Maybe grandchildren, if my sons will get on the ball and produce some (preferably after getting married to a nice girl). My older brother has grandchildren but he's older than I and his kids are older than mine are (his youngest is a little older than my oldest). So maybe I'm excited for grandchildren. If I ever get any.
University of Washington Huskies Still #5
As I said yesterday, the AP top 25 college football poll was delayed until this morning. So here's what happened:
First of all, the University of Washington Huskies remained at #5. It's going to be hard for them to get much higher. The top 6 teams all have 6-0 records. One of the top four teams (Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and Michigan) would have to lose for the Huskies to move up.
Stanford fell off the top 25 poll after their loss to Washington State. I was a little worried that might lower the Huskies in the poll as people realize Stanford is not as good as they thought they were when they were #7 and the Huskies beat them badly.
The Colorado Buffaloes also dropped off the poll after their loss to USC.
And the Utah Utes beat Arizona and moved up to #21 from #24. So they are the only other Pac-12 team in the top 25.
So week seven is done. The Huskies have a bye next week then they face Oregon State who beat California this week.
The Huskies are Dominating the Pac-12
On November 14th, 2015, the University of Washington Huskies lost to the Arizona State Sun Devils in a game in Tempe, Arizona.
That was the last game the Huskies lost. They have now, as of last night, won nine games in a row.
This season, except for the close Arizona game (their first away game and first conference game), they have scored 40 or more points on every opponent.
And they are 6-0 this season (3-0 in conference) with the best record in the Pac-12.
Finally, after last night's game, I don't know if there's a team in the Pac-12 that can defeat them. They may go 12-0.
What happened last night? The Huskies, #5 in the AP poll, decimated the hated and un-ranked University of Oregon Ducks by a score of 70-21.
This was supposed to be a tough test for the Huskies. They have lost before this game 12 in a row against the Ducks. They were playing in front of a very motivated crowd at Oregon's Autzen Stadium.
But the Huskies dominated from the beginning, staring with an intercept on the first play for scrimmage in the game. Toward the end of the game (as has been happening a lot with the Huskies), the starters were pulled out and the second string players went in. Even then, the Huskies scored a touchdown and stopped a Duck goal line stand to keep them from scoring late in the 4th quarter.
It was an amazing game to watch. And it was wonderful to finally beat the damn Ducks.
The Huskies are currently ranked #5 in the AP poll. It's going to be tough for them to go much higher as the 1-4 teams are also very good. We'll have to see. Unfortunately, the poll has been delayed until Monday due to hurricane Matthew.
Also around the Pac-12, Washington State beat #15 Stanford 42-16. It will be interesting to see if Stanford drops out of the AP top 25 poll.
USC beat #21 Coloradeo. That probably will drop Colorado out of the top 25.
Number 24 Utah beat Arizona. That may move them up a bit.
And Oregon State, the doormat of the Pac-12, beat California in a high-scoring squeaker.
What's at Stake Today
Today is for University of Washington Husky fans probably the second biggest game of the year, after last week's defeat of Stanford. Why is this game so important? Because it's against hated rival Oregon Ducks.
Oregon has beaten the Huskies in the past twelve (!) times these teams have met. That means the Huskies haven't won since 2003.
Time was when the Ducks were a team you played (and always beat) before the Huskies went on to play the tougher California teams (Stanford, Cal, USC, and UCLA). Then Nike founder Phil Knight started pouring money into his alma mater's football program. And the Ducks got better. For about a decade they've dominated the Pac-10/12. They've even played in at least one national championship game (and lost). They are also known for having a different uniform for every game, usually something florescent green or yellow (their school colors).
And Husky fans hate them and hate losing to them. Here's a blog post from 2011 explaining part of that hate.
But this year is different. The Huskies are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference coming off that big win against Stanford. They are in first place in the Pac-12 North division. The Ducks are 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference and in fifth place in the Pac-12 North (which has six teams). And the Huskies are nine-point favorates.
But this is the Oregon game and it's going to be played on Oregon's turf in Autzen Stadium. Emotions run high. The crowd will be ready to help their Ducks beat the Huskies.
It all probably comes down to Husky head coach Chris Petersen getting his team ready and not letting them believe the hype and get over-confident. But that's hard when your team is #5 in the AP poll.
The game is at 4:30 Pacific Time on Fox.
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Carlo Kennedy and Ted D. Berner
Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers Carlo Kennedy and Ted D. Berner.
Carlo Kennedy
Carlo Kennedy is an Irish-Italian-American author.
Carlo's Books:
Time Signature II: The Regrets of Our Past
"The Test" (free short story)
Carlo's Links:
Ted D. Berner
Ted Berner grew up in the Mountains of Montana and has lived on a ranch for half of his life. He’s blessed to live with a wonderful wife and several four-legged furry friends. Much of his time is spent in the air as an airline pilot and when on the ground, ranch work occupies several hours each week, but his fascination for the lost wisdom of the ancients is a craving he just can’t hide from. Although his first love is spending time at home with his family, Berner’s passion for the unknown will undoubtedly be the driving force for another novel.
Ted's Book:
Proof the Novel
Ted's Links:
Website Store
From Today's Show: Water-Powered Cubesat.
Listen to today's show at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT, or in archive here.
And it's back to the 30-day blogging challenge that I'm doing over 30 or so weeks. Today's prompt is "The night of your 21st birthday."
Hell, I'm 56, I don't remember my 21st birthday. And it's not because I drank so much, it's because it apparently wasn't very memorable. Or was that the birthday with the wine? If so, that's a story I don't want to tell.
Okay, I'll tell the story. This is a tale my wife and I have kept secret for thirty-five years. The minister of the church we went to was on vacation. He and his wife had someone house sitting. My then-fiancee conned him into letting us use the house for a nice dinner. I brought a bottle of red wine. Sometime during the course of the dinner we spilled a bunch of wine on the dark oak table. My fiance ran to get a towel but, to our horror, the wine almost immediately soaked into the wood, leaving no mark or stain. I looked under the table, expecting to see wine dripping out of the bottom of the table, but there wasn't. It was as if the wood simply absorbed it like a sponge. We never told anyone, until now. Sorry Dick and Betsy.
One recent birthday (within the past five years) was when my wife made a cake with bacon. She made a three-layer white cake with caramel frosting, which I thought would go good with the bacon. She layered the bacon between the layers of cake and then on the outside of the cake and covered it all in caramel frosting. It was delicious but very rich.
What's your favorite birthday memory?
Do you Believe?
Yesterday was a very good day in the world of sports. Well, it actually started on Friday.
Friday night on ESPN in front of a nation-wide audience the #7 Stanford Cardinal played the #10 Washington Huskies. I was expecting a close game, hard fought, with several lead changes and it might come down to who has the ball last. And if the Huskies lost, it would be close and not drop them too far in the AP rankings.
But it was nothing like that. From the beginning the UW Huskies dominated Stanford. They shut down their star player McCafferty (he had only one good play the entire game), they sacked the quarterback six time (or was it seven, I kind of lost count in all the excitement), and routed Stanford 6 - 44. Stanford made one touch down in the third quarter, went for the 2-point conversion instead of the PAT, and didn't get is. Interestingly, Washington's first PAT attempt was tipped by Stanford and missed. I remember thinking "I hope we don't lose by one point."
Stanford never led, had trouble converting on third downs, and was basically beaten by the Huskies in every way possible.
Then on Saturday, Arizona State and Utah both lost leaving the Huskies the only team in the Pac-12 that is undefeated at 5-0 (2-0 in conference). The Huskies now lead the Pac-12 North. This is the first time they have been 5-0 since 1992 (when they went 7-0). They have won their last eight games going back into last season.
Do you believe in the Huskies now?
Another great thing that happened yesterday is the Seattle Mariners lost, eliminating them from any wildcard contention. They play today and then their year is over.
Finally, the AP rankings came out at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (11:00 AM Pacific Time). And the UW Huskies are #5 in the nation according to the AP poll. That has to be their highest ranking in a long long time.
Stanford dropped to #15 and Utah dropped to #24.
UPDATE: This is the highest ranking UW has had since 2001. And Colorado is now it the top 25 at #21.
Posted by S. Evan Townsend at 11:08 AM 1 comment:
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S. Evan Townsend
S. Evan Townsend has been called "America's Unique Speculative Fiction Voice" and writes novels that cause thrills and rapid page-turning. After spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence branch, he returned to civilian life and college to earn a B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Washington. In his spare time he enjoys reading, driving (sometimes on a racetrack), meeting people, and talking with friends. He is in a 12-step program for Starbucks addiction. Evan lives in central Washington State with his wife and has three grown sons. He enjoys science fiction, fantasy, history, politics, cars, and travel. He currently has ten published fantasy and science fiction novels.
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Rebecca Besse...
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Richard Kelle...
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Jamie Wyman a...
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Carlo Kennedy...
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Home Bio Photos Songs Video Comments Contact
For those who don’t know Dakota...
You’ll get to know this talented 21 year old singer/songwriter and all she feels, as you listen to the emotionally-charged songs of her first self-titled CD. Her songs speak to the heartbreak of love-- from the start of love unnoticed to “The Burning Ending”. They are inspired by the boys who have been a part of her life…some up close and personal, some through friends, and some from a distance.
But where did it all begin?
Born in New York City and raised in Basking Ridge, NJ, Dakota started showing her musical talents at the age of six. Classically trained in piano, she performed before audiences and judges for more than 7 years, gaining trophies and accolades. But the classics didn’t have the lyrics and lyrics are everything to Dakota. Soon, she was writing lyrics on scrap pieces of paper everywhere, and turning melodies in her head into pop songs on the piano. Today, Dakota trades off between the piano and guitar, writing and singing songs that cross pop, country, and rock.
Dakota has been recording her songs at the Vault Recording Studio in Hoboken, NJ working with Dan McLoughlin, an amazing multi-talented producer who has brought her songs and vision to life. In the recording of her first CD, Dakota also had the chance to have renowned seasoned professionals be a part of her music—like Matchbox 20 players Ryan McMillan on drums and Matt Beck on lead guitar.
Influenced by a diverse range of artists including Taylor Swift and Jewel, Dakota is most excited about performing her songs live. Her first performance in 2010 was the ‘Hoboken for Haiti’ charity concert at Maxwells. The next day’s news captured her vibe… “Dakota Davenport played keyboard and sang sweet, sad songs with a voice you wouldn’t think would come out of someone so young.”
As you listen to the first CD of Dakota Davenport, the voice of heartbreak will win your heart.
For those of you who know Dakota, but want to know a little bit more…
Dakota’s middle name is Rae. She doesn’t like being asked North or South. She likes eating apples and peanut butter (together) at night. She has a huge fear of spiders. She hates eyelash curlers. She drives a ford fusion which has blue and black leather seats (: oh yeah!
For everyone who ever listened to one of Dakota’s songs…
She wants you to know “It means so much to me that you would take the time out of your day to listen. I love you times a billion for that and can't thank you enough <3"
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You are here: Home / Social Sciences / Education / Keith Whittington: Tolerating Campus Dissent, Left and Right
Keith Whittington: Tolerating Campus Dissent, Left and Right
April 25, 2018 by PUP Author
The reminders come nearly daily that tolerating freedom of speech and thought on college campuses—and in American society—is hard. It is very easy to say that we love freedom of speech in the abstract. It is much harder to adhere to that conviction when confronted with speech that we ourselves find to be, well, intolerable. When we encounter ideas or rhetoric that we find abhorrent, we are tempted to look for loopholes in the freedom of speech, to rationalize efforts to silence those who make us uncomfortable. This instinct is only natural and all too human, but it is an instinct at odds with the requirements of a liberal democracy and very much at odds with the ideals of a modern university.
The passing of Barbara Bush unfortunately became the occasion for another such reminder. An English professor at California State University, Fresno took to Twitter to celebrate the former first lady’s death, denouncing Bush as a “racist” and the mother of a “war criminal.” No stranger to provocative Twitter posts, the professor seemed to initially revel in the outrage she had generated before retreating from the increasingly intense public glare.
Fresno State president Joseph Castro was soon engaged in damage control, but in doing so did not represent the principles of either the university or the Constitution well. Castro did not content himself with reminding members of the public that the professor spoke only for herself and not the institution and did not even get around to emphasizing that universities are home to a large number of independent-minded individuals who hold a wide range of views and frequently disagree with one another. Instead, he chose to join the outraged public in denouncing a member of his own faculty for expressing views “contrary to the core values of our University,” which he identified as values of “empathy” and “respect.” The president subsequently emphasized that “we are all held accountable for our actions.” Indeed, the tweet was, in Castro’s view, “beyond free speech,” apparently because it was “disrespectful.”
Castro is, of course, correct that everyone is accountable for their actions. The question is what accounting is appropriate for appalling opinions expressed on a personal social media account. The speech of university professors can and should be criticized when it is wrong. Students and colleagues may choose to avoid quarrelsome professors. University professors are subject to discipline, and even termination, if they engage in professional misconduct. When American citizens who happen to be members of the faculty at a state university express unpopular political opinions in the public sphere, their speech is constitutionally protected from reprisals by state government officials, including university presidents. When members of the campus community spend their free time engaging in public debate, any university leader should refrain from asserting that “disrespectful,” uncivil, or odious comments are beyond the bounds of freedom of speech and subject to official sanction.
Universities should strive to nurture campus communities that are open to intellectual diversity and raucous debate. University professors should strive, even in their free time, to contribute positively to our social discourse and not to drag it further into the gutter. But freedom of speech is often messy and sometimes unpleasant. The disagreements among members of a diverse society are often deep and intense, and those disagreements will sometimes be expressed with passion. We are quick to recognize when others have offended us, but slow to recognize when we have given offense. We make greater progress in overcoming those disagreements and in making productive use of unconventional thinking, however, when we accept that we will sometimes be offended and we tolerate that with which we fervently disagree. Not every expressed idea is a good one. Not every disagreement will give way to greater insight. But intellectual and social progress is best made when we tolerate dissent rather than shout it down, when we criticize rather than punish, when we turn away from the provocateur rather than fan the flames.
Keith E. Whittington is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics at Princeton University and a leading authority on American constitutional theory and law. He is the author of Speak Freely: Why Universities Must Defend Free Speech.
Filed Under: Education, PUPinions Tagged With: campus dissent, Censorship, first amendment, free speech, hate speech, protests, safe spaces, social media, trigger warnings
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Category: history of arts
mely Posted in history of arts No comments
Art & The History Of Art
Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus (250-260 CE), with battle between Roman soldiers and barbarians. All units in the School for Studies in Art and Culture (SSAC) have graduate programs at the Masters level (for more information about the Art History MA please click here ). As well, most full-time faculty members in the SSAC can supervise PhD dissertations through the Institute for Comparative Studies in Literature, Art and Culture (ICSLAC).
Students nominated to participate in the 1960’s Scholars Program invite outside speakers to campus, creating some of the most anticipated and exciting arts programming at the College from the ground up. Students exhibit their own work throughout the year in the Wilde Gallery in the W. L. S. Spencer Studio Art Building and at the annual Senior Studio Art Exhibition at the Williams College Museum of Art.
While personal reminiscences of art and artists have long been written and read (see Lorenzo Ghiberti Commentarii, for the best early example), 8 it was Giorgio Vasari, the Tuscan painter, sculptor and author of the Lives of the Painters , who wrote the first true history of art.
Although the history of art is commonly seen as being mainly concerned with civilizations that derived from European and Chinese cultures, a significant amount of arts and crafts appeared from the earliest times around the periphery of the known world.
Cited as the ultimate champion of high-potential undergraduates, and often referred to as a junior Nobel Prize”, the Undergraduate Awards is the world’s largest international academic awards programme, recognising excellent research and original work across the sciences, humanities, business and creative arts.…
Dr. R. J. Belton of the Department of Fine Arts at Okanagan University College has produced this excellent guidebook to Art History. Students nominated to participate in the 1960’s Scholars Program invite outside speakers to campus, creating some of the most anticipated and exciting arts programming at the College from the ground up. Students exhibit their own work throughout the year in the Wilde Gallery in the W. L. S. Spencer Studio Art Building and at the annual Senior Studio Art Exhibition at the Williams College Museum of Art.
The History and Arts Commission consists of community volunteers with a demonstrated interest, experience, or related professional qualifications in historic preservation and/or cultural arts. A minimum of two units (or equivalent) must be selected from the MA modules in the History of Art and Archaeology department listed below. Together, Amherst’s arts programs host more than 300 events in the performing, literary and visual arts each year.
The Fund supports both undergraduate and graduate student travel to conduct research in the history of art and architectureat archaeological sites, archives, collection and allows undergraduate and graduate students to participate in curatorial, conservation, and exhibition projects of long or short duration at the Rhode IslandSchool of Design Museum, the boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Worcester Art Museum, or other museums.
See in particular the renaissance of French Decorative Art (1640-1792), created by French Designers especially in the form of French Furniture , at Versailles and other Royal Chateaux, in the style of Louis Quatorze (XIV), Louis Quinze (XV) and Louis Seize (XVI).
Our majors have gone on to thrive in graduate MA and PhD programs in art history and in careers in College and University teaching, museums, and the art market; for others, art history coursework has proven outstanding preparation for a broad range of disciplines, including law, business, and medicine. …
Bibliography Of The History Of Art (Getty Research Institute)
The PhD programme is designed to provide a suitable scientific and professional qualification within the European panorama for research in art history in all of its accepted meanings, with particular attention paid to the appreciation of artistic-cultural, territorial and environmental heritage. Faculty have won major prizes from the American Association of Italian Studies, Archaeological Institute of America, College Art Association, and Renaissance Society of America. Tamryn McDermott (MA, Fine Arts Administration, 2005) has been appointed the Director of Admissions for Tyler. To be delivered at the Humanities Research and Education Association Annual Conference in San Francisco on April 9, 2015. This programme is a unique opportunity to study the History of Art and/or Archaeology of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This may be undertaken with the museum’s archivist The result is to occasionally find a strong emphasis on the history of media in conjunction with the history of culture.
Art History offices and seminar rooms are located in Fayerweather Hall, where faculty and students enjoy close proximity to the Fralin Museum, Ruffin Hall and the Studio Art program, the Fine Arts Library, and the School of Architecture. In first year, students follow the BA (Omnibus) programme, combining History with three other subjects. Many work as curators, teachers, and administrators in the arts (see Alumni pages). The art and the history of art major is organized into two distinct programs: The History of Art and The Practice of Art.
Congratulations to History of Art students Sorcha Flanagan and Johanna Varadi who both came highly commended in the Art History, Music, Film & Theatre category of the Undergraduate Awards, 2016. They consider theoretical and methodological questions and are invited to question the relevance of the disciplinary distinction between History of Art and Archaeology to the study of the non-Western world. A Masters from the Department of the History of Art and Archaeology provides students with expertise in the History of Art and/or Archaeology of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The legacy of psychoanalysis in art history has been profound, and extends beyond Freud and Jung.
Through history we can understand our past, explain our present and be better equipped to predict the future. Any units listed for this area of study relate only to the ‘Requirements’ outlined in the Faculty of Arts component of any bachelors double degrees. Carly studied History of Art and English Literature and now works in the Paintings Department at Lyon and Turnbull Auctioneers.
The History of Art program supports scholarly projects that will enhance the appreciation and understanding of European art and architecture. The Golovine is the official Blog for the Department and takes its name from one of the most popular artworks in the collection of The Barber Institute of Fine Arts: Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun’s c.1797 Portrait of Countess Golovine.
History Of Art Graduate Department Of Art
You’ll develop key communication and presentation skills, and the ability to think creatively and critically. An unsuspecting turn for the history of art criticism came in 1914 when Sigmund Freud published a psychoanalytical interpretation of Michelangelo’s Moses titled Der Moses des Michelangelo as one of the first psychology based analyses on a work of art.
The methodical orientation of these modules allows the central perspectives of art history research to be developed: Image and space concepts, mediality as well as theories and contexts. Both the making of art, the academic history of art, and the history of art museums are closely intertwined with the rise of nationalism.
History is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a minor, major or extended major, and A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major. The History and Theory of Architecture program explores the history, meaning and social significance of the built environment, and how it both reflects and shapes human circumstances, needs and aspirations. The BA in History is a qualification well suited to a range of career paths and an avenue to further training of a more vocational nature. Discussion hub for those studying the Arts & Humanities Pathway with Pathways to Success.…
History Of Art And Design Subject Areas
Based in Norman Foster’s world-famous Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts on the UEA campus, Art History and World Art Studies offers a unique and exceptional working environment for Undergraduate and Postgraduate study. Although the history of art is commonly seen as being mainly concerned with civilizations that derived from European and Chinese cultures, a significant amount of arts and crafts appeared from the earliest times around the periphery of the known world.
At the time of the Spanish conquest of Yucatán during the 16th and 17th centuries, the Maya were still powerful, but many communities were paying tribute to Aztec society The latter culture was thriving, and it included arts such as sculpture, painting, and feather mosaics.
An unsuspecting turn for the history of art criticism came in 1914 when Sigmund Freud published a psychoanalytical interpretation of Michelangelo’s Moses titled Der Moses des Michelangelo as one of the first psychology based analyses on a work of art.
C.G. Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist , an influential thinker, and founder of analytical psychology Jung’s approach to psychology emphasized understanding the psyche through exploring the worlds of dreams , art, mythology , world religion and philosophy Much of his life’s work was spent exploring Eastern and Western philosophy, alchemy , astrology , sociology , as well as literature and the arts.…
Art And Photographic Portraits
Getting an incredible photograph of your artwork is easy with right now’s great digital cameras. Within the Middle Ages , many of the art in Europe confirmed people from the Bible in work , stained glass home windows, and mosaic tile floors and walls. For one of the best ends in nice art photography, spend money on top quality, dependable digicam and understand that lighting and staging vastly affects the standard of your images.
The qualified candidate can have a Bachelor’s degree in Art Historical past or related discipline and a minimum of 3 years of experience in non-revenue fundraising, preferably within the visible arts. Take a tour of the world’s largest artwork web site and study why a whole lot of 1000’s of artists, photographers, artwork galleries, and iconic brands have partnered with FAA to deal with their sales, marketing, website design, and order-achievement.
Drawing comes from the host of artwork types you associate with effective arts. We carry together the worldwide inventive and cultural neighborhood to generate worth from art. Ultimately, to expertise 3D is to have interaction with questions in regards to the nature of notion, the allure of illusionism, and our relationship with the technologies that create such images.
As various as cultures and people of the world are, so are kinds of pictures. One, similar to a painter, sculptor, or writer, who is in a position by advantage of creativeness and talent or ability to create works of aesthetic worth, particularly within the high-quality arts. LACMA opened its new Wilshire Boulevard location to the public in 1965, with the everlasting collection in the Ahmanson Building, particular exhibitions within the Hammer Building, and the 600-seat Bing Theater for public applications.
Expertise in the following areas is required: mastery of Excel and Microsoft Access, including pivot tables and data visualization; robust SQL skills and familiarity with VBA or different programming languages, akin to Python; working knowledge of SQL Server Management Studio and Microsoft Visual Studio; proficiency with reporting tools similar to Crystal Studies and SQL Server Reporting Companies; experience utilizing Google Analytics and 3rd-occasion revenue reporting devices; and person-degree expertise with growth CRMs reminiscent of Raiser’s Edge and Tessitura.
In recent years, LACMA has dedicated to expanding, upgrading, and unifying the museum’s 20-acre campus by means of the addition of latest buildings, together with the Broad Modern Artwork Museum (BCAM) (2008) and the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion (2010), as well as monumental public artworks and open-air gathering places for the group.
In consequence, nude photography and erotic pictures at all times discover themselves branded in multiple methods, and labelled as works of inventive freedom, aesthetics, kitsch, junk or provocation. Artwork is divided into the plastic arts , where one thing is made, and the performing arts , where one thing is completed by people in action.
No matter self-discipline, artists use these parts as foundations for producing art work. Collections Administration ensures artistic endeavors in storage areas are accessible, housed beneath proper environmental conditions, and …
School Of Liberal Arts
While maintaining a reputation for excellence in the traditional academic pursuits of teaching and research, the Department of History and Art History undertakes three additional and distinctive missions. With Griselda Pollock ‘s reading of French feminist psychoanalysis and in particular the writings of Julia Kristeva and Bracha L. Ettinger , as with Rosalind Krauss readings of Jacques Lacan and Jean-François Lyotard and Catherine de Zegher’s curatorial rereading of art, Feminist theory written in the fields of French feminism and Psychoanalysis has strongly informed the reframing of both men and women artists in art history.
It is one of the founding and leading institutions for research in Design History with professors who are world authorities and research that includes international design, feminist art curation, self and identity, the photography of scenes of conflict and postcolonial collecting and representation.
Although the history of art is commonly seen as being mainly concerned with civilizations that derived from European and Chinese cultures, a significant amount of arts and crafts appeared from the earliest times around the periphery of the known world. …
Welcome To The Department Of History And Art History
Our teaching and research covers a wide variety of themes, perspectives, time periods, and regions. Art history at Tulane focuses largely on Europe and the Americas, the latter including the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. History is about the study and interpretation of past events and their significance for understanding ourselves and our contemporary world. In summary, your first year will introduce you to history of art as a discipline.
With Griselda Pollock ‘s reading of French feminist psychoanalysis and in particular the writings of Julia Kristeva and Bracha L. Ettinger , as with Rosalind Krauss readings of Jacques Lacan and Jean-François Lyotard and Catherine de Zegher’s curatorial rereading of art, Feminist theory written in the fields of French feminism and Psychoanalysis has strongly informed the reframing of both men and women artists in art history.
In any event, the style had a massive impact on Parisian and world art, and was the gateway to a series of colour-related movements, including Post-Impressionism, Neo-Impressionism, Pointillism, Divisionism, Fauvism, Intimism, the American Luminism or Tonalism, as well as American Impressionism , the Newlyn School and Camden Town Group , the French Les Nabis and the general Expressionist movement.
Faculty have won major prizes from the American Association of Italian Studies, Archaeological Institute of America, College Art Association, and Renaissance Society of America. Tamryn McDermott (MA, Fine Arts Administration, 2005) has been appointed the Director of Admissions for Tyler. To be delivered at the Humanities Research and Education Association Annual Conference in San Francisco on April 9, 2015. This programme is a unique opportunity to study the History of Art and/or Archaeology of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This may be undertaken with the museum’s archivist The result is to occasionally find a strong emphasis on the history of media in conjunction with the history of culture.
Renewed patronage of the visual arts and architecture was a key feature of this propaganda campaign, and led to a grander, more theatrical style in both areas. On the BA History of Art you will develop an independent critical involvement with works of art and visual culture. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments. Art historians employ a number of methods in their research into the ontology and history of objects. It appeared simultaneously in America and Britain, during the late 1950s, while a European form (Nouveau Realisme) emerged in 1960. The history of 20th-century art is a narrative of endless possibilities and the search for new standards, each being torn down in succession by the next. …
Trinity College Dublin, The University Of Dublin, Ireland
Art History, which is devoted to the study of all the visual arts, is one of the broadest fields in the humanities. Study History of Art at Edinburgh College of Art and you can expect to examine diverse visual media, as well as, of course, the traditional art forms of painting, sculpture and printmaking. We have the strongest focus on New Zealand history of any university in the world and New Zealand themes are central to our academics’ research. Study in a department that combines an innovative approach with passionate academics, and makes full use of London’s many opportunities to study art history and curating. Museum studies , including the history of museum collecting and display, is now a specialized field of study, as is the history of collecting. This education is designed to foster a life-long interest in, sensitivity to, and appreciation of the significance of artistic production as a fundamental historical and cultural form of human expression and communication. I’ve written a history book for the centennial celebrations of a girls’ school in Marton.
Students in many fields may also find that art history is relevant to their studies. I enjoyed history at school and university and became really interested in medical anthropology – the interaction between people and medicine. Students can broaden their education at one of Temple’s international programs, especially those in Rome and Japan, which offer a range of Art History classes. Vasari’s approach held sway until the 18th century, when criticism was leveled at his biographical account of history.
Our majors have gone on to thrive in graduate MA and PhD programs in art history and in careers in College and University teaching, museums, and the art market; for others, art history coursework has proven outstanding preparation for a broad range of disciplines, including law, business, and medicine.
Students nominated to participate in the 1960’s Scholars Program invite outside speakers to campus, creating some of the most anticipated and exciting arts programming at the College from the ground up. Students exhibit their own work throughout the year in the Wilde Gallery in the W. L. S. Spencer Studio Art Building and at the annual Senior Studio Art Exhibition at the Williams College Museum of Art. …
We are one of the largest and most diverse History of Art Schools in the UK, and part of a vibrant and creative community of students and academics at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). History is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a minor, major or extended major, and A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major. The History and Theory of Architecture program explores the history, meaning and social significance of the built environment, and how it both reflects and shapes human circumstances, needs and aspirations. The BA in History is a qualification well suited to a range of career paths and an avenue to further training of a more vocational nature. Discussion hub for those studying the Arts & Humanities Pathway with Pathways to Success.
Narrative or history painting was another important genre in Romanticism: leading exponents include: Francisco Goya (1746-1828) Henry Fuseli (1741-1825), James Barry (1741-1806), Theodore Gericault (1791-1824) and Eugene Delacroix (1798-63), as well as later exponents of Orientalist painting , and moody Pre-Raphaelites and Symbolists.
Our postgraduates progress to work in arts, culture and heritage roles, including in galleries, museums, archives, conservation, publishing and arts administration. Another very important movement – anti-impressionist rather than post-impressionist – was Symbolism (flourished 1885-1900), which went on to influence Fauvism, Expressionism and Surrealism. Thus, books about the visual arts of the United States , such as Francis Pohl’s Framing America, start with the conquest and reconstruct manifold traditions. Kaelin Jewell (PhD student, Art History), presented a Spotlight Lecture on Judith Leyster’s The Last Drop (The Gay Cavalier), painted ca. Your fourth option module could be a History of Art module, or a Related Study module from another department within Goldsmiths.…
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Remarks at the Official Inauguration Ceremony of the New Bayon’s Radio and Television Station at Reussey Sross Village, Nirudth District, Khan Mean Chhey
Your Venerable Monks,
Your Excellencies, Oukgna, Ladies, and Gentlemen, Members of the National Assembly and the Senate, Government Officials
Distinguished National and International Guests,
Today, me and my wife are very honored and delighted to participate with your venerable monks, your excellencies, ladies, and gentlemen, members of the National Assembly and the Senate, government officials, distinguished national and international guests in the Official Inauguration Ceremony of the New Bayon’s Radio and Television Station, at Reussey Sross Village, Nirudth District, Khan Mean Chhey, Phnom Penh.
On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and myself, I would like to warmly congratulate and sincerely praise your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, who are the Director General, Deputy Director General, Executive Manager, Assistant to the Director General, and all the staff working at all levels of the Secretariat of Bayon’s Radio and Television Station who have exerted their utmost efforts to actively fulfilled their duties to serve the broadcasting sector by managing and showing real live and breaking news from both inside and outside the country to the local and some international viewers from all walks of life, on time.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to express a sense of pride for the management of the whole Secretariat of Bayon’s Radio and Television Station in appropriately and clearly disseminating the news with high quality. It is a private radio and television station which through its ongoing efforts to improve and expand the power and coverage of its broadcast not only in the provinces within the country but also in some other countries.
Actually, the information sector and the dissemination of news is a very important sector in our new era because this sector contributes in the renovation of human civilization evolution and also play a role as the accelerator in the communication and information interchange between communities, countries in the region as well as in the entire world in various sectors such as culture, art, economic, politic, trade socio-economic and modern science.
I remember that after the 7th January 1979 we have only one state-owned broadcasting system. That broadcasting system included the state radio and television channel which broadcasted in a limited frequency and could not cover the whole country. Now we have so many broadcasting systems which cover the entire country.
In this regard, I would like to confirm that this official inauguration of the new Bayon’s Radio and Television Station is not just only the proof of the development in physical infrastructure of the broadcasting system sector, but it is also the proof of the improvement in the spirit and concentration on the education and training for journalists and reporters and also to display to the national and international public to clearly understand about the willingness of the Royal Government in the development of the broadcasting system, professionally and responsibly in contributing to the establishment of a democratic society in Cambodia.
In this new era, the broadcasting of news through radios and televisions is efficient because it is a particular type of media which not just requires the audiences to spend less fees on, but also allow them to gain a lot of knowledge, know-how and many breaking news. Even with small radios they can receive various information and knowledge at anywhere and anytime by just spending fair price for the radio and its batteries. Likewise, with televisions, the viewers can also get clear view and sound at anyplace.
With the appropriate and efficient view, good television programs could provide tremendous benefits such as relaxation, entertainment, releasing stress from work, receiving hot news and events as well as other education and training programs, etc. There are some doctors who recommend their patients living with stroke and mental disease to watch funny TV programs and laugh for 2 to 3 hours per day every evening. They claimed that most of those patients get better after watching those recommended TV programs. Currently the professional surgeons of mental and physiological related diseases who are working in the northeast provinces, use the TV programs to educate the girls who had lived in the forest for more than 18 years. This method has proved to achieve considerable benefit.
Moreover, the broadcasting via radios and televisions has actively contributed to the education sector. Via radios and TVs we can disseminate the education and training to the citizens of all ages, skin colors, and anywhere and actively participated in the improvement of the general knowledge and know-how of the citizens. This contribution will upgrade the intelligence, basic and primary knowledge in other related sectors for their everyday lives. In fact, radios and televisions contribute in the dissemination of public services information on the technical aspects of health, hygiene, daily living, agriculture, plantation, production and the knowledge on the market movement and other accelerators. Since most of the rural people do not like reading books and other educational texts, the broadcasting via radios and televisions play an active role in providing further education and training for them.
Base on this concept, the audiences may improve their knowledge by listening to radios and watching TV programs with high quality and additional value based on the basic education and training. Therefore, both the state and private owned media require the concentration on quality of organizing and producing its radio and TV programs and the producers must be real professional with good morality.
In the advanced countries, they use all available means to educate and disseminate the knowledge to their people based on the preference and suitability of the livelihood, circumstance and life style as well as the surrounding environment. In this sense, I would like to highlight that at anytime and anyplace, all citizens can receive the same information, knowledge and education. For a certain group of people who prefer to stay around and relax at the urban center, business center or public places that are crowded, the dissemination and education at those places have been organized through creating entertainment programs which instilled with educational information. Hence, they only have to spend a little time to obtain new knowledge and education as well as entertainment.
For some certain groups of business people who work by utilizing their eyes and hands, education and dissemination of news can be done through Radio. They can work as normal while obtaining information and knowledge as someone else can via some good programs that have been carefully made. For those who like to spend time with television, a good TV program is very important to convey the knowledge and education. TV broadcasting requires more attentions because it includes both the sound and image. Therefore, the acting, dressing, attitudes and wording must be done professionally and ethically.
Once again, me and my wife would like to express our deep appreciation to Her Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, who are the Director General, Deputy Director General, Executive Manager, Assistant to H.E. Director General and all the staff of theSecretariat of Bayon’s Radio and Television Station who have exerted their utmost efforts in leading and working with high responsibilities and adhering to clear professional ethics and dignities.
Finally, me and my wife would like to wish all of you with Five Gems of Buddhist Blessings. May I know announce the official operation of the New Bayon’s Radio and Television Station from now on.
Click for selected comments.
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Home Tech News Changing seasons create new driving challenges around the world in Microsoft’s ‘Forza Horizon 4’
Changing seasons create new driving challenges around the world in Microsoft’s ‘Forza Horizon 4’
The reveal of Forza Horizon 4, at Microsoft’s official pre-E3 briefing show. (Microsoft Photo)
The Forza series of racing games goes back to 2005 and the original Xbox, where the original Forza Motorsport served as Xbox’s answer to Sony’s exclusive Gran Turismo franchise. Since 2012, releases in the Forza series have alternated between Motorsport, a series of racing simulators with intensely realistic physics, and Horizon, a series of open-world racing/exploration games that run on the same engine, with the same intensely realistic physics. Forza has been published directly by Microsoft since its inception, and has traditionally been one of the big exclusives for the Xbox line of consoles.
Forza Horizon 4 takes the open-world half of the franchise back to the U.K., to the home of the sub-series’s traditional developer, Playground Games. The central conceit of Horizon is that you’re one of the racers who’s come to attend the traveling Horizon Festival, a street-racing event that encompasses Britain, Wales, and Scotland. This year, it’s in the English countryside, modeled after the environment right outside Playground Games’s window. As an attendant at the festival, you can collect and customize a fleet of real-world cars — each one precisely modeled to match a murderers’ row of current and classic machines — by winning the races you encounter out in the world.
Two of the classic British cars available to collect in Forza Horizon 4. (Microsoft image)
The key phrase during the demo was “living the Horizon life.” Past Horizon games were boldly plotless affairs that were mostly about treating the game as sort of a dream vacation, letting you drive around, enter races on a whim, and engage in activities against the backdrop of some endless picturesque summer environment. This time out, you actually have a goal, and a narrative: you aren’t a guest or administrator at the festival, but a permanent resident. You stay at the festival year-round, collecting cars, buying properties to use as fast-travel points, and accruing influence at the festival through your contributions, until you finally manage to achieve the rank of Horizon Superstar.
Typically, this would mean winning as many races as possible, but Horizon 4 notably subverts that. You can earn influence in a variety of ways, such as through photography or detailing rides. Theoretically, you can reach the end of the Horizon 4 narrative without ever leaving your garage; you could spend the entire time detailing cars and streaming via Microsoft’s Mixer service and still achieve enough influence to become a superstar. There are also promised narrative missions, such as stunt driving or working as a cabbie, which should be worth some decent influence, including one that’s rumored to play a lot like the classic Dreamcast game Crazy Taxi.
The year-round residency in the festival area also means that you can watch the seasons change. Every week, the Horizon 4 world will cycle to the next time of year, taking you through spring, summer, fall, and winter, with the world around you changing to match. This brings new challenges with it, including inclement weather, frozen lakes, dry river beds, and muddy terrain to race over or through.
Two official pieces of Forza Horizon 4 art, on the wall of a dressing room at the Microsoft Theater, showing the same cottage in winter and spring. (GeekWire Photo / Thomas Wilde)
You can opt to play the entirety of Horizon 4 by yourself, using “Drivatar” bots as your racing opponents, or play entirely online on instanced servers that can support up to 72 players at once. In order to prevent griefing, any player that you are not actively grouped with will be “ghosted”: they simply have collision detection turned off entirely, and other cars treat them like they’re intangible.
Forza Horizon 4 is slated for exclusive release on Oct. 2 as an Xbox “Play Anywhere” title — buy it once, and you can then play it on any Xbox One or a PC running Windows 10. The standard edition retails for $59.99; you can also purchase the deluxe edition for $79.99, which comes with a “Car Pass” that gives you two new cars for your collection every week for the next 21 weeks, starting on Oct. 2. Serious Forza fans can buy the ultimate edition for $99.99, which automatically includes two planned expansion packs, VIP membership, the car pass, and early access to the game starting on Sept. 28.
All editions of Forza Horizon 4, if pre-ordered digitally, come with a Formula Drift Car Pack, which works with both Horizon 4 and the forthcoming Motorsport 7, and adds seven new Formula Drift cars to your collection.
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Quality — and Quantity — of Life
It’s been the conventional wisdom for years that in the last half-century, there has been phenomenal economic growth in most countries, but the overall level of “inequality” between countries has not changed much. That is, even though the poor countries are getting richer, the rich countries are also getting richer, so that on average the rich countries are richer than the poor countries by about as much as they’ve been for a while. (The same countries aren’t all in the same “rich” or “poor” categories as before; this is for a comparison of “countries that are rich and poor now” compared to “countries that are rich and poor then” — but that’s another topic.)
Now mostly this sort of thing is measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita — that is, the total output of all goods and services per year in each country, divided by the total population of that country. Most people think this is a fairly good measure of the standard of living in any given country, probably because they were told so in their first economics class, or even earlier in life. This is true even though anyopne who was paying attention in economics class knows that there are all sorts of problems with measuring GDP, especially over long time periods and across countries with different types of economies. The main problem, really, is that there isn’t a really good alternative measure.
Unless you are creative. In a recent paper, Gary Becker, Tomas Philipson, and Rodrigo Soares make the obvious (now that they mention it!) point that what matters in determining the total quality of your life is not just how well you live each year of your life, but how many years you get to live. In other words, it’s not just “quality of life” that counts, it’s “quantity of life,” too.
(You know, given how much effort we all put into living longer (as well as better), it’s really surprising nobody seems to have thought of this before — but this is why Gary Becker has a Nobel Prize and most of the rest of us don’t.)
It turns out, when you take into account the increase in longevity, there actually has been a decrease in inequality between rich and poor countries over the last four decades. Much of this is due to the fact that longevity gains have been much larger in poor countries than in rich countries. In short, there has been a huge decrease in longevity inequality, and if this is properly included as part of the measure of economic well-being, there has been a decrease in economic inequality as well.
The paper is here, and the abstract is here:
GDP per capita is usually used to proxy for the quality of life of individuals living in different countries. However, welfare is also affected by quantity of life, as represented by longevity. This paper incorporates longevity into an overall assessment of the evolution of cross-country inequality, and shows that it is quantitatively important. The absence of reduction in cross-country inequality up to 1990’s noticed in previous work is in stark contrast with the reduction in inequality after incorporating gains in longevity. Throughout the post-war period, health contributed to significantly reduce welfare inequality across countries. The paper derives valuation formulas for infra-marginal changes in longevity and computes a “full†growth rate that incorporates the gains in health experienced by 96 countries for the period between 1960 and 2000. Incorporating longevity gains changes traditional results; countries starting with lower income tended to grow faster than countries starting with higher income. We estimate an average yearly growth in “full-income†of 4.1 percent for the poorest 50% countries in 1960, of which 1.7 percentage points are due to health, as opposed to a growth of 2.6 percent for the richest 50% countries, of which only 0.4 percentage points are due to health. Additionally, we decompose changes in life expectancy into changes attributable to thirteen broad groups of causes of death and three age groups. We show that mortality from infectious, respiratory and digestive diseases, congenital, perinatal, and “ill-defined†conditions, mostly concentrated before age 20 and between ages 20 and 50, is responsible for most of the reduction in life expectancy inequality. At the same time, the recent effect of AIDS, together with reductions in mortality after age 50 – due to nervous system, senses organs, heart and circulatory diseases – contributed to increase health inequality across countries.
N.B. Gary Becker writes half of The Becker-Posner Blog.
Hunger in America
Jane Galt debunks the latest hunger numbers, which, if taken seriously, would imply that there is substantial overlap between the portion of the poor population that’s obese and the portion that of the poor population that can’t afford enough food to survive.
One of the truly amazing facts of everyday life in America today is that we are one of the few societies in the history of the world in which there are poor people who are fat. Typically, “poor” has meant “can’t afford enough to eat.” In Leo Rosten and Leonard Ross’ 1937 novel set in the early 20th-century, The Education of Hyman Kaplan, the title character, a student in an English-for-immigrants class, is asked what word is the opposite of “rich.” He responds, “skinny.” This is meant as an error, but an understandable one — in 1910, or for that matter in 1937, only the rich could afford enough food to become fat.
When I point this out to people, the most common response is, “Well yes, poor people are fat because they eat at McDonald’s, and all that meat is fattening.” Well yes, that’s the point — in times past, and in other countries, the poor can’t afford to eat meat, not in enough quantities to get fat, anyway. When the first McDonalds’ opened in Moscow in 1990, a burger cost the average worker two days’ wages. That’s an “average” worker, not a “poor” worker. In the Soviet Union, even aveage workers couldn’t afford to get fat at McDonald’s.
Dinesh D’Souza links the Soviet perception of America to that of a would-be immigrant from Bombay:
Indeed, newcomers to the United States are struck by the amenities enjoyed by “poor” people. This fact was dramatized in the 1980s when CBS television broadcast a documentary, “People Like Us,” intended to show the miseries of the poor during an ongoing recession. The Soviet Union also broadcast the documentary, with a view to embarrassing the Reagan administration. But by the testimony of former Soviet leaders, it had the opposite effect. Ordinary people across the Soviet Union saw that the poorest Americans have TV sets, microwave ovens and cars. They arrived at the same perception that I witnessed in an acquaintance of mine from Bombay who has been unsuccessfully trying to move to the United States. I asked him, “Why are you so eager to come to America?” He replied, “I really want to live in a country where the poor people are fat.”
(Emphasis added.) (I believe this story is retold in D’Souza’s book, What’s So Great About America?)
The fact is, in America, most people going to bed hungry do so because they are on a diet. Been there, done that.
Sidenote: I experienced a very nice blogger-moment when I realized that I’d been meaning for the last two weeks (that’s an eternity in blog-years!) to link to the above post by Jane Galt, with whom I’ve had no prior contact, when I realized she’d just linked to my Medicare post and sent me a torrent of readers. Thanks, Jane, and welcome to Jane’s readers!
Reality, or The Onion? #3: Requirement for High School Graduates
— Different River @ 8:51 am
I’d have thought this was a put-on, or from the The Onion, but it’s from the Mainstream Media, so it must be true, right?
According to this article in the Connecticut Post, the school board in Milford, Connecticut has decided that starting in 2009, high school students will be required to know how to read in order to graduate.
Glad to know they have some standards there…
The article also says that the school board’s decision “allows Associate Supt. of Learning Larry Schaefer to form a task force that will explore how the new standard could be implemented at Jonathan Law and Foran high schools. The group will be comprised of city educators.”
“Associate Supt. of Learning”? What are all the other “Supts.” in charge of? Forgetting?
“[T]o form a task force that will explore how the new standard could be implemented”? I have an idea: teach students to read!
“The group will be comprised of city educators.” Oh — is that the problem?
(Hat tip: James Taranto.)
One Right at a Time
Delegate Mamye E. BaCote (D-95) has introduced a bill (HB1785) in the Virginia House of Delegates that would allow localities to ban possession of firearms in public libraries.
I guess this means she thinks citizens should be able to exercise their First Amendment rights (freedom of the press) or their Second Amendment rights (to keep and bear arms) — just not both at the same time.
UPDATE (1/23/05): This bill has been “passed by indefinitely,” that is, defeated in committee, by a vote of 18-2.
Grand Rounds XVII
— Different River @ 12:24 am
Thanks to Waking Up Costs for including my post on Medicare in this week’s Grand Rounds, the weekly roundup of medical blogs coordinated by Blogborygmi.
And, welcome to all of you who got there from here!
Dr. King and the Iranian Refugee
For many reasons, we should stop regarding Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday and an exclusively African-American holiday. Here’s another example why.
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Catholic Self-Help Important Document: "Jesus Christ The Bearer of the Water of Life: A Christian Reflection on the New Age" (2003)
The following is a very important document for those Catholics, and as well as all Christians, who are interested in Self-Help literature and approaches. The following document represents a pontifical study of the New Age "movement" and Christian teaching. It is important not only to believe Church teaching on the multifarious ways that New Age is incompatible with Christian belief, but is also important to understand New Age and its connection with much of contemporary Self-Help literature. Consequently, there is also a swath of contemporary Self-Help literature which finds its roots in forming "good habits", to the enhancement of true religiosity, and seeking these resources is helpful to us in hearing God's voice and "going out to the outskirts" of society. The document presented below is a blessing for those of us who have had our orthodox faith enhanced, our obedience to our bishops and superiors increased, and our fidelity to our vocations and work strengthened by excellent Self-Help literature. This document presents wisdom for those of us beginning to navigate the complex and often deceptive terrain of Self-Help literature. The bibliography is also very helpful. May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
THE BEARER OF THE WATER OF LIFE
A Christian reflection
on the “New Age”
1. What sort of reflection
1.1. Why now?
1.2. Communications
1.3. Cultural background
1.4. The New Age and Catholic faith
1.5. A positive challenge
2. New Age spirituality: an overview
2.1. What is new about New Age?
2.2. What does the New Age claim to offer?
2.2.1. Enchantment: There Must be an Angel
2.2.2. Harmony and Understanding: Good Vibrations
2.2.3. Health: Golden Living
2.2.4. Wholeness: A Magical Mystery Tour
2.3. The fundamental principles of New Age thinking
2.3.1. A global response in a time of crisis
2.3.2. The essential matrix of New Age thinking
2.3.3. Central themes of the New Age
2.3.4. What does New Age say about...
2.3.4.1. ...the human person?
2.3.4.2. ...God?
2.3.4.3. ...the world?
2.4. “Inhabitants of myth rather than history”: New Age and culture
2.5. Why has New Age grown so rapidly and spread so effectively?
3. New Age and Christian faith
3.1. New Age as spirituality
3.2. Spiritual narcissism?
3.3. The Cosmic Christ
3.4. Christian mysticism and New Age mysticism
3.5. The God within and theosis
4. New Age and Christian faith in contrast
5. Jesus Christ offers us the water of life
6. Points to note
6.1. Guidance and sound formation are needed
6.2. Practical steps
7. Appendix
7.1. Some brief formulations of New Age ideas
7.2. A select glossary
7.3. Key New Age places
8.1. Documents of the Catholic Church's Magisterium
8.2. Christian studies
9. General bibliography
9.1. Some New Age books
9.2. Historical, descriptive and analytical works
The present study is concerned with the complex phenomenon of “New Age” which is influencing many aspects of contemporary culture.
The study is a provisional report. It is the fruit of the common reflection of the Working Group on New Religious Movements, composed of staff members of different dicasteries of the Holy See: the Pontifical Councils for Culture and for Interreligious Dialogue (which are the principal redactors for this project), the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
These reflections are offered primarily to those engaged in pastoral work so that they might be able to explain how the New Age movement differs from the Christian faith. This study invites readers to take account of the way that New Age religiosity addresses the spiritual hunger of contemporary men and women. It should be recognized that the attraction that New Age religiosity has for some Christians may be due in part to the lack of serious attention in their own communities for themes which are actually part of the Catholic synthesis such as the importance of man' spiritual dimension and its integration with the whole of life, the search for life's meaning, the link between human beings and the rest of creation, the desire for personal and social transformation, and the rejection of a rationalistic and materialistic view of humanity.
The present publication calls attention to the need to know and understand New Age as a cultural current, as well as the need for Catholics to have an understanding of authentic Catholic doctrine and spirituality in order to properly assess New Age themes. The first two chapters present New Age as a multifaceted cultural tendency, proposing an analysis of the basic foundations of the thought conveyed in this context. From Chapter Three onwards some indications are offered for an investigation of New Age in comparison with the Christian message. Some suggestions of a pastoral nature are also made.
Those who wish to go deeper into the study of New Age will find useful references in the appendices. It is hoped that this work will in fact provide a stimulus for further studies adapted to different cultural contexts. Its purpose is also to encourage discernment by those who are looking for sound reference points for a life of greater fulness. It is indeed our conviction that through many of our contemporaries who are searching, we can discover a true thirst for God. As Pope John Paul II said to a group of bishops from the United States: “Pastors must honestly ask whether they have paid sufficient attention to the thirst of the human heart for the true 'living water' which only Christ our Redeemer can give (cf. Jn 4:7-13)”. Like him, we want to rely “on the perennial freshness of the Gospel message and its capacity to transform and renew those who accept it” (AAS 86/4, 330).
1. WHAT SORT OF REFLECTION?
The following reflections are meant as a guide for Catholics involved in preaching the Gospel and teaching the faith at any level within the Church. This document does not aim at providing a set of complete answers to the many questions raised by the New Age or other contemporary signs of the perennial human search for happiness, meaning and salvation. It is an invitation to understand theNew Age and to engage in a genuine dialogue with those who are influenced by New Age thought. The document guides those involved in pastoral work in their understanding and response to New Age spirituality, both illustrating the points where this spirituality contrasts with the Catholic faith and refuting the positions espoused by New Age thinkers in opposition to Christian faith. What is indeed required of Christians is, first and foremost, a solid grounding in their faith. On this sound base, they can build a life which responds positively to the invitation in the first letter of Saint Peter: “always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have. But give it with courtesy and respect and a clear conscience” (1 P 3, 15 f.).
The beginning of the Third Millennium comes not only two thousand years after the birth of Christ, but also at a time when astrologers believe that the Age of Pisces – known to them as the Christian age – is drawing to a close. These reflections are about the New Age, which takes its name from the imminent astrological Age of Aquarius. The New Age is one of many explanations of the significance of this moment in history which are bombarding contemporary (particularly western) culture, and it is hard to see clearly what is and what is not consistent with the Christian message. So this seems to be the right moment to offer a Christian assessment of New Age thinking and the New Agemovement as a whole.
It has been said, quite correctly, that many people hover between certainty and uncertainty these days, particularly in questions relating to their identity.(1) Some say that the Christian religion is patriarchal and authoritarian, that political institutions are unable to improve the world, and that formal (allopathic) medicine simply fails to heal people effectively. The fact that what were once central elements in society are now perceived as untrustworthy or lacking in genuine authority has created a climate where people look inwards, into themselves, for meaning and strength. There is also a search for alternative institutions, which people hope will respond to their deepest needs. The unstructured or chaotic life of alternative communities of the 1970s has given way to a search for discipline and structures, which are clearly key elements in the immensely popular “mystical” movements. New Age is attractive mainly because so much of what it offers meets hungers often left unsatisfied by the established institutions.
While much of New Age is a reaction to contemporary culture, there are many ways in which it is that culture's child. The Renaissance and the Reformation have shaped the modern western individual, who is not weighed down by external burdens like merely extrinsic authority and tradition; people feel the need to “belong” to institutions less and less (and yet loneliness is very much a scourge of modern life), and are not inclined to rank “official” judgements above their own. With this cult of humanity, religion is internalised in a way which prepares the ground for a celebration of the sacredness of the self. This is why New Age shares many of the values espoused by enterprise culture and the “prosperity Gospel” (of which more will be said later: section 2.4), and also by the consumer culture, whose influence is clear from the rapidly-growing numbers of people who claim that it is possible to blend Christianity and New Age, by taking what strikes them as the best of both.(2) It is worth remembering that deviations within Christianity have also gone beyond traditional theism in accepting a unilateral turn to self, and this would encourage such a blending of approaches. The important thing to note is that God is reduced in certain New Age practices so as furthering the advancement of the individual.
New Age appeals to people imbued with the values of modern culture. Freedom, authenticity, self-reliance and the like are all held to be sacred. It appeals to those who have problems with patriarchy. It “does not demand any more faith or belief than going to the cinema”,(3) and yet it claims to satisfy people's spiritual appetites. But here is a central question: just what is meant by spirituality in a New Age context? The answer is the key to unlocking some of the differences between the Christian tradition and much of what can be called New Age. Some versions of New Age harness the powers of nature and seek to communicate with another world to discover the fate of individuals, to help individuals tune in to the right frequency to make the most of themselves and their circumstances. In most cases, it is completely fatalistic. Christianity, on the other hand, is an invitation to look outwards and beyond, to the “new Advent”
of the God who calls us to live the dialogue of love.(4)
The technological revolution in communications over the last few years has brought about a completely new situation. The ease and speed with which people can now communicate is one of the reasons why New Age has come to the attention of people of all ages and backgrounds, and many who follow Christ are not sure what it is all about. The Internet, in particular, has become enormously influential, especially with younger people, who find it a congenial and fascinating way of acquiring information. But it is a volatile vehicle of misinformation on so many aspects of religion: not all that is labelled “Christian” or “Catholic” can be trusted to reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church and, at the same time, there is a remarkable expansion of New Age sources ranging from the serious to the ridiculous. People need, and have a right to, reliable information on the differences between Christianity and New Age.
When one examines many New Age traditions, it soon becomes clear that there is, in fact, little in the New Age that is new. The name seems to have gained currency through Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry, at the time of the French and American Revolutions, but the reality it denotes is a contemporary variant of Western esotericism. This dates back to Gnostic groups which grew up in the early days of Christianity, and gained momentum at the time of the Reformation in Europe. It has grown in parallel with scientific world-views, and acquired a rational justification through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It has involved a progressive rejection of a personal God and a focus on other entities which would often figure as intermediaries between God and humanity in traditional Christianity, with more and more original adaptations of these or additional ones. A powerful trend in modern Western culture which has given space to New Age ideas is the general acceptance of Darwinist evolutionary theory; this, alongside a focus on hidden spiritual powers or forces in nature, has been the backbone of much of what is now recognised as New Age theory.
Basically, New Age has found a remarkable level of acceptance because the world-view on which it was based was already widely accepted. The ground was well prepared by the growth and spread of relativism, along with an antipathy or indifference towards the Christian faith.
Furthermore, there has been a lively discussion about whether and in what sense New Age can be described as a postmodern phenomenon. The existence and fervor of New Age thinking and practice bear witness to the unquenchable longing of the human spirit for transcendence and religious meaning, which is not only a contemporary cultural phenomenon, but was evident in the ancient world, both Christian and pagan.
Even if it can be admitted that New Age religiosity in some way responds to the legitimate spiritual longing of human nature, it must be acknowledged that its attempts to do so run counter to Christian revelation. In Western culture in particular, the appeal of “alternative” approaches to spirituality is very strong. On the one hand, new forms of psychological affirmation of the individual have be
come very popular among Catholics, even in retreat-houses, seminaries and institutes of formation for religious. At the same time there is increasing nostalgia and curiosity for the wisdom and ritual of long ago, which is one of the reasons for the remarkable growth in the popularity of esotericism and gnosticism. Many people are particularly attracted to what is known – correctly or otherwise – as “Celtic” spirituality,(5) or to the religions of ancient peoples. Books and courses on spirituality and ancient or Eastern religions are a booming business, and they are frequently labelled “New Age” for commercial purposes. But the links with those religions are not always clear. In fact, they are often denied.
An adequate Christian discernment of New Age thought and practice cannot fail to recognize that, like second and third century gnosticism, it represents something of a compendium of positions that the Church has identified as heterodox. John Paul II warns with regard to the “return of ancient gnostic ideas under the guise of the so-called New Age: We cannot delude ourselves that this will lead toward a renewal of religion. It is only a new way of practising gnosticism – that attitude of the spirit that, in the name of a profound knowledge of God, results in distorting His Word and replacing it with purely human words. Gnosticism never completely abandoned the realm of Christianity. Instead, it has always existed side by side with Christianity, sometimes taking the shape of a philosophical movement, but more often assuming the characteristics of a religion or a para-religion in distinct, if not declared, conflict with all that is essentially Christian”.(6) An example of this can be seen in the enneagram, the nine-type tool for character analysis, which when used as a means of spiritual growth introduces an ambiguity in the doctrine and the life of the Christian faith.
The appeal of New Age religiosity cannot be underestimated. When the understanding of the content of Christian faith is weak, some mistakenly hold that the Christian religion does not inspire a profound spirituality and so they seek elsewhere. As a matter of fact, some say the New Age is already passing us by, and refer to the “next” age.(7) They speak of a crisis that began to manifest itself in the United States of America in the early 1990s, but admit that, especially beyond the English-speaking world, such a “crisis” may come later. But bookshops and radio stations, and the plethora of self-help groups in so many Western towns and cities, all seem to tell a different story. It seems that, at least for the moment, the New Age is still very much alive and part of the current cultural scene.
The success of New Age offers the Church a challenge. People feel the Christian religion no longer offers them – or perhaps never gave them – something they really need. The search which often leads people to the New Age is a genuine yearning: for a deeper spirituality, for something which will touch their hearts, and for a way of making sense of a confusing and often alienating world. There is a positive tone in New Age criticisms of “the materialism of daily life, of philosophy and even of medicine and psychiatry; reductionism, which refuses to take into consideration religious and supernatural experiences; the industrial culture of unrestrained individualism, which teaches egoism and pays no attention to other people, the future and the environment”.(8) Any problems there are with New Age are to be found in what it proposes as alternative answers to life's questions. If the Church is not to be accused of being deaf to people's longings, her members need to do two things: to root themselves ever more firmly in the fundamentals of their faith, and to understand the often-silent cry in people's hearts, which leads them elsewhere if they are not satisfied by the Church. There is also a call in all of this to come closer to Jesus Christ and to be ready to follow Him, since He is the real way to happiness, the truth about God and the fulness of life for every man and woman who is prepared to respond to his love.
Christians in many Western societies, and increasingly also in other parts of the world, frequently come into contact with different aspects of the phenomenon known as New Age. Many of them feel the need to understand how they can best approach something which is at once so alluring, complex, elusive and, at times, disturbing. These reflections are an attempt to help Christians do two things:
– to identify elements of the developing New Age tradition;
– to indicate those elements which are inconsistent with the Christian revelation.
This is a pastoral response to a current challenge, which does not even attempt to provide an exhaustive list of New Age phenomena, since that would result in a very bulky tome, and such information is readily available elsewhere. It is essential to try to understand New Age correctly, in order to evaluate it fairly, and avoid creating a caricature. It would be unwise and untrue to say that everything connected with the New Age movement is good, or that everything about it is bad. Nevertheless, given the underlying vision of New Age religiosity, it is on the whole difficult to reconcile it with Christian doctrine and spirituality.
New Age is not a movement in the sense normally intended in the term “New Religious Movement”, and it is not what is normally meant by the terms “cult” and “sect”. Because it is spread across cultures, in phenomena as varied as music, films, seminars, workshops, retreats, therapies, and many more activities and events, it is much more diffuse and informal, though some religious or para-religious groups consciously incorporate New Age elements, and it has been suggested that New Age has been a source of ideas for various religious and para-religious sects.(9) New Age is not a single, uniform movement, but rather a loose network of practitioners whose approach is to think globally but act locally. People who are part of the network do not necessarily know each other and rarely, if ever, meet. In an attempt to avoid the confusion which can arise from using the term “movement”, some refer to New Age as a “milieu”,(10) or an “audience cult”.(11) However, it has also been pointed out that “it is a very coherent current of thought”,(12) a deliberate challenge to modern culture. It is a syncretistic structure incorporating many diverse elements, allowing people to share interests or connections to very different degrees and on varying levels of commitment. Many trends, practices and attitudes which are in some way part of New Age are, indeed, part of a broad and readily identifiable reaction to mainstream culture, so the word “movement” is not entirely out of place. It can be applied to New Age in the same sense as it is to other broad social movements, like the Civil Rights movement or the Peace Movement; like them, it includes a bewildering array of people linked to the movement's main aims, but very diverse in the way they are involved and in their understanding of particular issues.
The expression “New Age religion” is more controversial, so it seems best to avoid it, although New Age is often a response to people's religious questions and needs, and its appeal is to people who are trying to discover or rediscover a spiritual dimension in their life. Avoidance of the term “New Age religion” is not meant in any way to question the genuine character of people's search for meaning and sense in life; it respects the fact that many within the New Age Movement themselves distinguish carefully between “religion” and “spirituality”. Many have rejected organised religion, because in their judgement it has failed to answer their needs, and for precisely this reason they have looked elsewhere to find “spirituality”. Furthermore, at the heart of New Age is the belief that the time for particular religions is over, so to refer to it as a religion would run counter to its own self-understanding. However, it is quite accurate to place New Age in the broader context of esoteric religiousness, whose appeal continues to grow.(13)
There is a problem built into the current text. It is an attempt to understand and evaluate something which is basically an exaltation of the richness of human experience. It is bound to draw the criticism that it can never do justice to a cultural movement whose essence is precisely to break out of what are seen as the constricting limits of rational discourse. But it is meant as an invitation to Christians to take the New Age seriously, and as such asks its readers to enter into a critical dialogue with people approaching the same world from very different perspectives.
The pastoral effectiveness of the Church in the Third Millennium depends to a great extent on the preparation of effective communicators of the Gospel message. What follows is a response to the difficulties expressed by many in dealing with the very complex and elusive phenomenon known asNew Age. It is an attempt to understand what New Age is and to recognise the questions to which it claims to offer answers and solutions. There are some excellent books and other resources which survey the whole phenomenon or explain particular aspects in great detail, and reference will be made to some of these in the appendix. However they do not always undertake the necessary discernment in the light of Christian faith. The purpose of this contribution is to help Catholics find a key to understanding the basic principles behind New Age thinking, so that they can then make a Christian evaluation of the elements of New Age they encounter. It is worth saying that many people dislike the term New Age, and some suggest that “alternative spirituality” may be more correct and less limiting. It is also true that many of the phenomena mentioned in this document will probably not bear any particular label, but it is presumed, for the sake of brevity, that readers will recognise a phenomenon or set of phenomena that can justifiably at least be linked with the general cultural movement that is often known as New Age.
For many people, the term New Age clearly refers to a momentous turning-point in history. According to astrologers, we live in the Age of Pisces, which has been dominated by Christianity. But the current age of Pisces is due to be replaced by the New Age of Aquarius early in the third Millennium.(14) The Age of Aquarius has such a high profile in the New Age movement largely because of the influence of theosophy, spiritualism and anthroposophy, and their esoteric antecedents. People who stress the imminent change in the world are often expressing a wish for such a change, not so much in the world itself as in our culture, in the way we relate to the world; this is particularly clear in those who stress the idea of a New Paradigm for living. It is an attractive approach since, in some of its expressions, people do not watch passively, but have an active role in changing culture and bringing about a new spiritual awareness. In other expressions, more power is ascribed to the inevitable progression of natural cycles. In any case, the Age of Aquarius is a vision, not a theory. But New Age is a broad tradition, which incorporates many ideas which have no explicit link with the change from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius. There are moderate, but quite generalised, visions of a future where there will be a planetary spirituality alongside separate religions, similar planetary political institutions to complement more local ones, global economic entities which are more participatory and democratic, greater emphasis on communication and education, a mixed approach to health combining professional medicine and self-healing, a more androgynous self-understanding and ways of integrating science, mysticism, technology and ecology. Again, this is evidence of a deep desire for a fulfilling and healthy existence for the human race and for the planet. Some of the traditions which flow into New Age are: ancient Egyptian occult practices, Cabbalism, early Christian gnosticism, Sufism, the lore of the Druids, Celtic Christianity, mediaeval alchemy, Renaissance hermeticism, Zen Buddhism, Yoga and so on.(15)
Here is what is “new” about New Age. It is a “syncretism of esoteric and secular elements”.(16)They link into a widely-held perception that the time is ripe for a fundamental change in individuals, in society and in the world. There are various expressions of the need for a shift:
– from Newtonian mechanistic physics to quantum physics;
– from modernity's exaltation of reason to an appreciation of feeling, emotion and experience (often described as a switch from 'left brain' rational thinking to 'right brain' intuitive thinking);
– from a dominance of masculinity and patriarchy to a celebration of femininity, in individuals and in society.
In these contexts the term “paradigm shift” is often used. In some cases it is clearly supposed that this shift is not simply desirable, but inevitable. The rejection of modernity underlying this desire for change is not new, but can be described as “a modern revival of pagan religions with a mixture of influences from both eastern religions and also from modern psychology, philosophy, science, and the counterculture that developed in the 1950s and 1960s”.(17) New Age is a witness to nothing less than a cultural revolution, a complex reaction to the dominant ideas and values in western culture, and yet its idealistic criticism is itself ironically typical of the culture it criticizes.
A word needs to be said on the notion of paradigm shift. It was made popular by Thomas Kuhn, an American historian of science, who saw a paradigm as “the entire constellation of beliefs, values, techniques and so on shared by the members of a given community”.(18) When there is a shift from one paradigm to another, it is a question of wholesale transformation of perspective rather than one of gradual development. It really is a revolution, and Kuhn emphasised that competing paradigms are incommensurable and cannot co-exist. So the idea that a paradigm shift in the area of religion and spirituality is simply a new way of stating traditional beliefs misses the point. What is actually going on is a radical change in world- view, which puts into question not only the content but also the fundamental interpretation of the former vision. Perhaps the clearest example of this, in terms of the relationship between New Age and Christianity, is the total recasting of the life and significance of Jesus Christ. It is impossible to reconcile these two visions.(19)
Science and technology have clearly failed to deliver all they once seemed to promise, so in their search for meaning and liberation people have turned to the spiritual realm. New Age as we now know it came from a search for something more humane and beautiful than the oppressive, alienating experience of life in Western society. Its early exponents were prepared to look far afield in their search, so it has become a very eclectic approach. It may well be one of the signs of a “return to religion”, but it is most certainly not a return to orthodox Christian doctrines and creeds. The first symbols of this “movement” to penetrate Western culture were the remarkable festival at Woodstock in New York State in 1969 and the musical Hair, which set forth the main themes ofNew Age in the emblematic song “Aquarius”.(20) But these were merely the tip of an iceberg whose dimensions have become clearer only relatively recently. The idealism of the 1960s and 1970s still survives in some quarters; but now, it is no longer predominantly adolescents who are involved. Links with left-wing political ideology have faded, and psychedelic drugs are by no means as prominent as they once were. So much has happened since then that all this no longer seems revolutionary; “spiritual” and “mystical” tendencies formerly restricted to the counterculture are now an established part of mainstream culture, affecting such diverse facets of life as medicine, science, art and religion. Western culture is now imbued with a more general political and ecological awareness, and this whole cultural shift has had an enormous impact on people's life-styles. It is suggested by some that the New Age “movement” is precisely this major change to what is reckoned to be “a significantly better way of life”.(21)
One of the most common elements in New Age “spirituality” is a fascination with extraordinary manifestations, and in particular with paranormal entities. People recognised as “mediums” claim that their personality is taken over by another entity during trances in a New Age phenomenon known as “channeling”, during which the medium may lose control over his or her body and faculties. Some people who have witnessed these events would willingly acknowledge that the manifestations are indeed spiritual, but are not from God, despite the language of love and light which is almost always used.... It is probably more correct to refer to this as a contemporary form of spiritualism, rather than spirituality in a strict sense. Other friends and counsellors from the spirit world are angels (which have become the centre of a new industry of books and paintings). Those who refer to angels in the New Age do so in an unsystematic way; in fact, distinctions in this area are sometimes described as unhelpful if they are too precise, since “there are many levels of guides, entities, energies, and beings in every octave of the universe... They are all there to pick and choose from in relation to your own attraction/repulsion mechanisms”.(22) These spiritual entities are often invoked 'non-religiously' to help in relaxation aimed at better decision-making and control of one's life and career. Fusion with some spirits who teach through particular people is another New Ageexperience claimed by people who refer to themselves as 'mystics'. Some nature spirits are described as powerful energies existing in the natural world and also on the “inner planes”: i.e. those which are accessible by the use of rituals, drugs and other techniques for reaching altered states of consciousness. It is clear that, in theory at least, the New Age often recognizes no spiritual authority higher than personal inner experience.
Phenomena as diverse as the Findhorn garden and Feng Shui (23) represent a variety of ways which illustrate the importance of being in tune with nature or the cosmos. In New Age there is no distinction between good and evil. Human actions are the fruit of either illumination or ignorance. Hence we cannot condemn anyone, and nobody needs forgiveness. Believing in the existence of evil can create only negativity and fear. The answer to negativity is love. But it is not the sort which has to be translated into deeds; it is more a question of attitudes of mind. Love is energy, a high-frequency vibration, and the secret to happiness and health and success is being able to tune in, to find one's place in the great chain of being. New Age teachers and therapies claim to offer the key to finding the correspondences between all the elements of the universe, so that people may modulate the tone of their lives and be in absolute harmony with each other and with everything around them, although there are different theoretical backgrounds.(24)
Formal (allopathic) medicine today tends to limit itself to curing particular, isolated ailments, and fails to look at the broader picture of a person's health: this has given rise to a fair amount of understandable dissatisfaction. Alternative therapies have gained enormously in popularity because they claim to look at the whole person and are about healing rather than curing. Holistic health, as it is known, concentrates on the important role that the mind plays in physical healing. The connection between the spiritual and the physical aspects of the person is said to be in the immune system or the Indian chakra system. In a New Age perspective, illness and suffering come from working against nature; when one is in tune with nature, one can expect a much healthier life, and even material prosperity; for some New Age healers, there should actually be no need for us to die. Developing our human potential will put us in touch with our inner divinity, and with those parts of our selves which have been alienated and suppressed. This is revealed above all in Altered States of Consciousness (ASCs), which are induced either by drugs or by various mind-expanding techniques, particularly in the context of “transpersonal psychology”. The shaman is often seen as the specialist of altered states of consciousness, one who is able to mediate between the transpersonal realms of spirits and gods and the world of humans.
There is a remarkable variety of approaches for promoting holistic health, some derived from ancient cultural traditions, whether religious or esoteric, others connected with the psychological theories developed in Esalen during the years 1960-1970. Advertising connected with New Agecovers a wide range of practices as acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic, kinesiology, homeopathy, iridology, massage and various kinds of “bodywork” (such as orgonomy, Feldenkrais, reflexology, Rolfing, polarity massage, therapeutic touch etc.), meditation and visualisation, nutritional therapies, psychic healing, various kinds of herbal medicine, healing by crystals, metals, music or colours, reincarnation therapies and, finally, twelve-step programmes and self-help groups.(25) The source of healing is said to be within ourselves, something we reach when we are in touch with our inner energy or cosmic energy.
Inasmuch as health includes a prolongation of life, New Age offers an Eastern formula in Western terms. Originally, reincarnation was a part of Hindu cyclical thought, based on the atman or divine kernel of personality (later the concept of jiva), which moved from body to body in a cycle of suffering (samsara), determined by the law of karma, linked to behaviour in past lives. Hope lies in the possibility of being born into a better state, or ultimately in liberation from the need to be reborn. What is different in most Buddhist traditions is that what wanders from body to body is not a soul, but a continuum of consciousness. Present life is embedded in a potentially endless cosmic process which includes even the gods. In the West, since the time of Lessing, reincarnation has been understood far more optimistically as a process of learning and progressive individual fulfilment. Spiritualism, theosophy, anthroposophy and New Age all see reincarnation as participation in cosmic evolution. This post-Christian approach to eschatology is said to answer the unresolved questions of theodicy and dispenses with the notion of hell. When the soul is separated from the body individuals can look back on their whole life up to that point, and when the soul is united to its new body there is a preview of its coming phase of life. People have access to their former lives through dreams and meditation techniques.(26)
One of the central concerns of the New Age movement is the search for “wholeness”. There is encouragement to overcome all forms of “dualism”, as such divisions are an unhealthy product of a less enlightened past. Divisions which New Age proponents claim need to be overcome include the real difference between Creator and creation, the real distinction between man and nature, or spirit and matter, which are all considered wrongly as forms of dualism. These dualistic tendencies are often assumed to be ultimately based on the Judaeo-Christian roots of western civilisation, while it would be more accurate to link them to gnosticism, in particular to Manichaeism. The scientific revolution and the spirit of modern rationalism are blamed particularly for the tendency to fragmentation, which treats organic wholes as mechanisms that can be reduced to their smallest components and then explained in terms of the latter, and the tendency to reduce spirit to matter, so that spiritual reality – including the soul – becomes merely a contingent “epiphenomenon” of essentially material processes. In all of these areas, the New Age alternatives are called “holistic”. Holism pervades the New Age movement, from its concern with holistic health to its quest for unitive consciousness, and from ecological awareness to the idea of global “networking”.
“Both the Christian tradition and the secular faith in an unlimited process of science had to face a severe break first manifested in the student revolutions around the year 1968”.(27) The wisdom of older generations was suddenly robbed of significance and respect, while the omnipotence of science evaporated, so that the Church now “has to face a serious breakdown in the transmission of her faith to the younger generation”.(28) A general loss of faith in these former pillars of consciousness and social cohesion has been accompanied by the unexpected return of cosmic religiosity, rituals and beliefs which many believed to have been supplanted by Christianity; but this perennial esoteric undercurrent never really went away. The surge in popularity of Asian religion at this point was something new in the Western context, established late in the nineteenth century in the theosophical movement, and it “reflects the growing awareness of a global spirituality, incorporating all existing religious traditions”.(29)
The perennial philosophical question of the one and the many has its modern and contemporary form in the temptation to overcome not only undue division, but even real difference and distinction, and the most common expression of this is holism, an essential ingredient in New Age and one of the principal signs of the times in the last quarter of the twentieth century. An extraordinary amount of energy has gone into the effort to overcome the division into compartments characteristic of mechanistic ideology, but this has led to the sense of obligation to submit to a global network which assumes quasi-transcendental authority. Its clearest implications are a process of conscious transformation and the development of ecology.(30) The new vision which is the goal of conscious transformation has taken time to formulate, and its enactment is resisted by older forms of thought judged to be entrenched in the status quo. What has been successful is the generalisation of ecology as a fascination with nature and resacralisation of the earth, Mother Earth or Gaia, with the missionary zeal characteristic of Green politics. The Earth's executive agent is the human race as a whole, and the harmony and understanding required for responsible governance is increasingly understood to be a global government, with a global ethical framework. The warmth of Mother Earth, whose divinity pervades the whole of creation, is held to bridge the gap between creation and the transcendent Father-God of Judaism and Christianity, and removes the prospect of being judged by such a Being.
In such a vision of a closed universe that contains “God” and other spiritual beings along with ourselves, we recognize here an implicit pantheism. This is a fundamental point which pervades allNew Age thought and practice, and conditions in advance any otherwise positive assessment where we might be in favor of one or another aspect of its spirituality. As Christians, we believe on the contrary that “man is essentially a creature and remains so for all eternity, so that an absorption of the human I in the divine I will never be possible”.(31)
The essential matrix of New Age thinking is to be found in the esoteric-theosophical tradition which was fairly widely accepted in European intellectual circles in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was particularly strong in freemasonry, spiritualism, occultism and theosophy, which shared a kind of esoteric culture. In this world-view, the visible and invisible universes are linked by a series of correspondences, analogies and influences between microcosm and macrocosm, between metals and planets, between planets and the various parts of the human body, between the visible cosmos and the invisible realms of reality. Nature is a living being, shot through with networks of sympathy and antipathy, animated by a light and a secret fire which human beings seek to control. People can contact the upper or lower worlds by means of their imagination (an organ of the soul or spirit), or by using mediators (angels, spirits, devils) or rituals.
People can be initiated into the mysteries of the cosmos, God and the self by means of a spiritual itinerary of transformation. The eventual goal is gnosis, the highest form of knowledge, the equivalent of salvation. It involves a search for the oldest and highest tradition in philosophy (what is inappropriately called philosophia perennis) and religion (primordial theology), a secret (esoteric) doctrine which is the key to all the “exoteric” traditions which are accessible to everyone. Esoteric teachings are handed down from master to disciple in a gradual program of initiation.
19th century esotericism is seen by some as completely secularised. Alchemy, magic, astrology and other elements of traditional esotericism had been thoroughly integrated with aspects of modern culture, including the search for causal laws, evolutionism, psychology and the study of religions. It reached its clearest form in the ideas of Helena Blavatsky, a Russian medium who founded theTheosophical Society with Henry Olcott in New York in 1875. The Society aimed to fuse elements of Eastern and Western traditions in an evolutionary type of spiritualism. It had three main aims:
1. “To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, caste or colour.
2. “To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science.
3. “To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in man.
“The significance of these objectives... should be clear. The first objective implicitly rejects the 'irrational bigotry' and 'sectarianism' of traditional Christianity as perceived by spiritualists and theosophists... It is not immediately obvious from the objectives themselves that, for theosophists, 'science' meant the occult sciences and philosophy the occulta philosophia, that the laws of nature were of an occult or psychic nature, and that comparative religion was expected to unveil a 'primordial tradition' ultimately modelled on a Hermeticist philosophia perennis”.(32)
A prominent component of Mrs. Blavatsky's writings was the emancipation of women, which involved an attack on the “male” God of Judaism, of Christianity and of Islam. She urged people to return to the mother-goddess of Hinduism and to the practice of feminine virtues. This continued under the guidance of Annie Besant, who was in the vanguard of the feminist movement. Wicca and “women's spirituality” carry on this struggle against “patriarchal” Christianity today.
Marilyn Ferguson devoted a chapter of The Aquarian Conspiracy to the precursors of the Age of Aquarius, those who had woven the threads of a transforming vision based on the expansion of consciousness and the experience of self-transcendence. Two of those she mentioned were the American psychologist William James and the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung. James defined religion as experience, not dogma, and he taught that human beings can change their mental attitudes in such a way that they are able to become architects of their own destiny. Jung emphasized the transcendent character of consciousness and introduced the idea of the collective unconscious, a kind of store for symbols and memories shared with people from various different ages and cultures. According to Wouter Hanegraaff, both of these men contributed to a “sacralisation of psychology”, something that has become an important element of New Age thought and practice. Jung, indeed, “not only psychologized esotericism but he also sacralized psychology, by filling it with the contents of esoteric speculation. The result was a body of theories which enabled people to talk about God while really meaning their own psyche, and about their own psyche while really meaning the divine. If the psyche is 'mind', and God is 'mind' as well, then to discuss one must mean to discuss the other”.(33) His response to the accusation that he had “psychologised” Christianity was that “psychology is the modern myth and only in terms of the current myth can we understand the faith”.(34) It is certainly true that Jung's psychology sheds light on many aspects of the Christian faith, particularly on the need to face the reality of evil, but his religious convictions are so different at different stages of his life that one is left with a confused image of God. A central element in his thought is the cult of the sun, where God is the vital energy (libido) within a person.(35) As he himself said, “this comparison is no mere play of words”.(36) This is “the god within” to which Jung refers, the essential divinity he believed to be in every human being. The path to the inner universe is through the unconscious. The inner world's correspondence to the outer one is in the collectiveunconscious.
The tendency to interchange psychology and spirituality was firmly embedded in the Human Potential Movement as it developed towards the end of the 1960s at the Esalen Institute in California. Transpersonal psychology, strongly influenced by Eastern religions and by Jung, offers a contemplative journey where science meets mysticism. The stress laid on bodiliness, the search for ways of expanding consciousness and the cultivation of the myths of the collective unconscious were all encouragements to search for “the God within” oneself. To realise one's potential, one had to go beyond one's ego in order to become the god that one is, deep down. This could be done by choosing the appropriate therapy – meditation, parapsychological experiences, the use of hallucinogenic drugs. These were all ways of achieving “peak experiences”, “mystical” experiences of fusion with God and with the cosmos.
The symbol of Aquarius was borrowed from astrological mythology, but later came to signify the desire for a radically new world. The two centres which were the initial power-houses of the New Age, and to a certain extent still are, were the Garden community at Findhorn in North-East Scotland, and the Centre for the development of human potential at Esalen in Big Sur, California, in the United States of America. What feeds New Age consistently is a growing global consciousness and increasing awareness of a looming ecological crisis.
New Age is not, properly speaking, a religion, but it is interested in what is called “divine”. The essence of New Age is the loose association of the various activities, ideas and people who might validly attract the term. So there is no single articulation of anything like the doctrines of mainstream religions. Despite this, and despite the immense variety within New Age, there are some common points:
– the cosmos is seen as an organic whole
– it is animated by an Energy, which is also identified as the divine Soul or Spirit
– much credence is given to the mediation of various spiritual entities
– humans are capable of ascending to invisible higher spheres, and of controlling their own lives beyond death
– there is held to be a “perennial knowledge” which pre-dates and is superior to all religions and cultures
– people follow enlightened masters...
New Age involves a fundamental belief in the perfectibility of the human person by means of a wide variety of techniques and therapies (as opposed to the Christian view of co-operation with divine grace). There is a general accord with Nietzsche's idea that Christianity has prevented the full manifestation of genuine humanity. Perfection, in this context, means achieving self-fulfilment, according to an order of values which we ourselves create and which we achieve by our own strength: hence one can speak of a self- creating self. On this view, there is more difference between humans as they now are and as they will be when they have fully realised their potential, than there is between humans and anthropoids.
It is useful to distinguish between esotericism, a search for knowledge, and magic, or the occult: the latter is a means of obtaining power. Some groups are both esoteric and occult. At the centre of occultism is a will to power based on the dream of becoming divine.
Mind-expanding techniques are meant to reveal to people their divine power; by using this power, people prepare the way for the Age of Enlightenment. This exaltation of humanity overturns the correct relationship between Creator and creature, and one of its extreme forms is Satanism. Satan becomes the symbol of a rebellion against conventions and rules, a symbol that often takes aggressive, selfish and violent forms. Some evangelical groups have expressed concern at the subliminal presence of what they claim is Satanic symbolism in some varieties of rock music, which have a powerful influence on young people. This is all far removed from the message of peace and harmony which is to be found in the New Testament; it is often one of the consequences of the exaltation of humanity when that involves the negation of a transcendent God.
But it is not only something which affects young people; the basic themes of esoteric culture are also present in the realms of politics, education and legislation.(37) It is especially the case with ecology. Deep ecology's emphasis on bio-centrism denies the anthropological vision of the Bible, in which human beings are at the centre of the world, since they are considered to be qualitatively superior to other natural forms. It is very prominent in legislation and education today, despite the fact that it underrates humanity in this way.. The same esoteric cultural matrix can be found in the ideological theory underlying population control policies and experiments in genetic engineering, which seem to express a dream human beings have of creating themselves afresh. How do people hope to do this? By deciphering the genetic code, altering the natural rules of sexuality, defying the limits of death.
In what might be termed a classical New Age account, people are born with a divine spark, in a sense which is reminiscent of ancient gnosticism; this links them into the unity of the Whole. So they are seen as essentially divine, although they participate in this cosmic divinity at different levels of consciousness. We are co- creators, and we create our own reality. Many New Age authors maintain that we choose the circumstances of our lives (even our own illness and health), in a vision where every individual is considered the creative source of the universe. But we need to make a journey in order fully to understand where we fit into the unity of the cosmos. The journey is psychotherapy, and the recognition of universal consciousness is salvation. There is no sin; there is only imperfect knowledge. The identity of every human being is diluted in the universal being and in the process of successive incarnations. People are subject to the determining influences of the stars, but can be opened to the divinity which lives within them, in their continual search (by means of appropriate techniques) for an ever greater harmony between the self and divine cosmic energy. There is no need for Revelation or Salvation which would come to people from outside themselves, but simply a need to experience the salvation hidden within themselves (self-salvation), by mastering psycho- physical techniques which lead to definitive enlightenment.
Some stages on the way to self-redemption are preparatory (meditation, body harmony, releasing self-healing energies). They are the starting-point for processes of spiritualisation, perfection and enlightenment which help people to acquire further self-control and psychic concentration on “transformation” of the individual self into “cosmic consciousness”. The destiny of the human person is a series of successive reincarnations of the soul in different bodies. This is understood not as the cycle of samsara, in the sense of purification as punishment, but as a gradual ascent towards the perfect development of one's potential.
Psychology is used to explain mind expansion as “mystical” experiences. Yoga, zen, transcendental meditation and tantric exercises lead to an experience of self-fulfilment or enlightenment. Peak-experiences (reliving one's birth, travelling to the gates of death, biofeedback, dance and even drugs – anything which can provoke an altered state of consciousness) are believed to lead to unity and enlightenment. Since there is only one Mind, some people can be channels for higher beings. Every part of this single universal being has contact with every other part. The classic approach in New Age is transpersonal psychology, whose main concepts are the Universal Mind, the Higher Self, the collective and personal unconscious and the individual ego. The Higher Self is our real identity, a bridge between God as divine Mind and humanity. Spiritual development is contact with the Higher Self, which overcomes all forms of dualism between subject and object, life and death, psyche and soma, the self and the fragmentary aspects of the self. Our limited personality is like a shadow or a dream created by the real self. The Higher Self contains the memories of earlier (re-)incarnations.
New Age has a marked preference for Eastern or pre-Christian religions, which are reckoned to be uncontaminated by Judaeo-Christian distorsions. Hence great respect is given to ancient agricultural rites and to fertility cults. “Gaia”, Mother Earth, is offered as an alternative to God the Father, whose image is seen to be linked to a patriarchal conception of male domination of women. There is talk of God, but it is not a personal God; the God of which New Age speaks is neither personal nor transcendent. Nor is it the Creator and sustainer of the universe, but an “impersonal energy” immanent in the world, with which it forms a “cosmic unity”: “All is one”. This unity is monistic, pantheistic or, more precisely, panentheistic. God is the “life-principle”, the “spirit or soul of the world”, the sum total of consciousness existing in the world. In a sense, everything is God. God's presence is clearest in the spiritual aspects of reality, so every mind/spirit is, in some sense, God.
When it is consciously received by men and women, “divine energy” is often described as “Christic energy”. There is also talk of Christ, but this does not mean Jesus of Nazareth. “Christ” is a title applied to someone who has arrived at a state of consciousness where he or she perceives him- or herself to be divine and can thus claim to be a “universal Master”. Jesus of Nazareth was not theChrist, but simply one among many historical figures in whom this “Christic” nature is revealed, as is the case with Buddha and others. Every historical realisation of the Christ shows clearly that all human beings are heavenly and divine, and leads them towards this realisation.
The innermost and most personal (“psychic”) level on which this “divine cosmic energy” is “heard” by human beings is also called “Holy Spirit”.
The move from a mechanistic model of classical physics to the “holistic” one of modern atomic and sub-atomic physics, based on the concept of matter as waves or energy rather than particles, is central to much New Age thinking. The universe is an ocean of energy, which is a single whole or a network of links. The energy animating the single organism which is the universe is “spirit”. There is no alterity between God and the world. The world itself is divine and it undergoes an evolutionary process which leads from inert matter to “higher and perfect consciousness”. The world is uncreated, eternal and self-sufficient The future of the world is based on an inner dynamism which is necessarily positive and leads to the reconciled (divine) unity of all that exists. God and the world, soul and body, intelligence and feeling, heaven and earth are one immense vibration of energy.
James Lovelock's book on the Gaia Hypothesis claims that “the entire range of living matter on earth, from whales to viruses, and from oaks to algae, could be regarded as constituting a single living entity, capable of manipulating the Earth's atmosphere to suit its overall needs and endowed with faculties and powers far beyond those of its constituent parts”.(38) To some, the Gaia hypothesis is “a strange synthesis of individualism and collectivism. It all happens as if New Age, having plucked people out of fragmentary politics, cannot wait to throw them into the great cauldron of the global mind”. The global brain needs institutions with which to rule, in other words, a world government. “To deal with today's problems New Age dreams of a spiritual aristocracy in the style of Plato's Republic, run by secret societies...”.(39) This may be an exaggerated way of stating the case, but there is much evidence that gnostic élitism and global governance coincide on many issues in international politics.
Everything in the universe is interelated; in fact every part is in itself an image of the totality; the whole is in every thing and every thing is in the whole. In the “great chain of being”, all beings are intimately linked and form one family with different grades of evolution. Every human person is ahologram, an image of the whole of creation, in which every thing vibrates on its own frequency. Every human being is a neurone in earth's central nervous system, and all individual entities are in a relationship of complementarity with others. In fact, there is an inner complementarity or androgyny in the whole of creation.(40)
One of the recurring themes in New Age writings and thought is the “new paradigm” which contemporary science has opened up. “Science has given us insights into wholes and systems, stress and transformation. We are learning to read tendencies, to recognise the early signs of another, more promising, paradigm. We create alternative scenarios of the future. We communicate about the failures of old systems, forcing new frameworks for problem-solving in every area”.(41) Thus far, the “paradigm shift” is a radical change of perspective, but nothing more. The question is whether thought and real change are commensurate, and how effective in the external world an inner transformation can be proved to be. One is forced to ask, even without expressing a negative judgement, how scientific a thought-process can be when it involves affirmations like this: “War is unthinkable in a society of autonomous people who have discovered the connectedness of all humanity, who are unafraid of alien ideas and alien cultures, who know that all revolutions begin within and that you cannot impose your brand of enlightenment on anyone else”.(42) It is illogical to conclude from the fact that something is unthinkable that it cannot happen. Such reasoning is really gnostic, in the sense of giving too much power to knowledge and consciousness. This is not to deny the fundamental and crucial role of developing consciousness in scientific discovery and creative development, but simply to caution against imposing upon external reality what is as yet still only in the mind.
2.4. “Inhabitants of myth rather than history”(43)?: New Age and culture
“Basically, the appeal of the New Age has to do with the culturally stimulated interest in the self, its value, capacities and problems. Whereas traditionalised religiosity, with its hierarchical organization, is well-suited for the community, detraditionalized spirituality is well-suited for the individual. TheNew Age is 'of' the self in that it facilitates celebration of what it is to be and to become; and 'for' the self in that by differing from much of the mainstream, it is positioned to handle identity problems generated by conventional forms of life”.(44)
The rejection of tradition in the form of patriarchal, hierarchical social or ecclesial organisation implies the search for an alternative form of society, one that is clearly inspired by the modern notion of the self. Many New Age writings argue that one can do nothing (directly) to change the world, but everything to change oneself; changing individual consciousness is understood to be the (indirect) way to change the world. The most important instrument for social change is personal example. Worldwide recognition of these personal examples will steadily lead to the transformation of the collective mind and such a transformation will be the major achievement of our time. This is clearly part of the holistic paradigm, and a re-statement of the classical philosophical question of the one and the many. It is also linked to Jung's espousal of the theory of correspondence and his rejection of causality. Individuals are fragmentary representations of the planetary hologram; by looking within one not only knows the universe, but also changes it. But the more one looks within, the smaller the political arena becomes. Does this really fit in with the rhetoric of democratic participation in a new planetary order, or is it an unconscious and subtle disempowerment of people, which could leave them open to manipulation? Does the current preoccupation with planetary problems (ecological issues, depletion of resources, over-population, the economic gap between north and south, the huge nuclear arsenal and political instability) enable or disable engagement in other, equally real, political and social questions? The old adage that “charity begins at home” can give a healthy balance to one's approach to these issues. Some observers of New Age detect a sinister authoritarianism behind apparent indifference to politics. David Spangler himself points out that one of the shadows of the New Age is “a subtle surrender to powerlessness and irresponsibility in the name of waiting for the New Age to come rather than being an active creator of wholeness in one's own life”.(45)
Even though it would hardly be correct to suggest that quietism is universal in New Age attitudes, one of the chief criticisms of the New Age Movement is that its privatistic quest for self-fulfilment may actually work against the possibility of a sound religious culture. Three points bring this into focus:
– it is questionable whether New Age demonstrates the intellectual cogency to provide a complete picture of the cosmos in a world view which claims to integrate nature and spiritual reality. The Western universe is seen as a divided one based on monotheism, transcendence, alterity and separateness. A fundamental dualism is detected in such divisions as those between real and ideal, relative and absolute, finite and infinite, human and divine, sacred and profane, past and present, all redolent of Hegel's “unhappy consciousness”. This is portrayed as something tragic. The response from New Age is unity through fusion: it claims to reconcile soul and body, female and male, spirit and matter, human and divine, earth and cosmos, transcendent and immanent, religion and science, differences between religions, Yin and Yang. There is, thus, no more alterity; what is left in human terms is transpersonality. The New Age world is unproblematic: there is nothing left to achieve. But the metaphysical question of the one and the many remains unanswered, perhaps even unasked, in that there is a great deal of regret at the effects of disunity and division, but the response is a description of how things would appear in another vision.
– New Age imports Eastern religious practices piecemeal and re- interprets them to suit Westerners; this involves a rejection of the language of sin and salvation, replacing it with the morally neutral language of addiction and recovery. References to extra-European influences are sometimes merely a “pseudo-Orientalisation” of Western culture. Furthermore, it is hardly a genuine dialogue; in a context where Graeco-Roman and Judaeo-Christian influences are suspect, oriental influences are used precisely because they are alternatives to Western culture. Traditional science and medicine are felt to be inferior to holistic approaches, as are patriarchal and particular structures in politics and religion. All of these will be obstacles to the coming of the Age of Aquarius; once again, it is clear that what is implied when people opt for New Age alternatives is a complete break with the tradition that formed them. Is this as mature and liberated as it is often thought or presumed to be?
– Authentic religious traditions encourage discipline with the eventual goal of acquiring wisdom, equanimity and compassion. New Age echoes society's deep, ineradicable yearning for an integral religious culture, and for something more generic and enlightened than what politicians generally offer, but it is not clear whether the benefits of a vision based on the ever-expanding self are for individuals or for societies. New Age training courses (what used to be known as “Erhard seminar trainings” [EST] etc.) marry counter-cultural values with the mainstream need to succeed, inner satisfaction with outer success; Findhorn's “Spirit of Business” retreat transforms the experience of work while increasing productivity; some New Age devotees are involved not only to become more authentic and spontaneous, but also in order to become more prosperous (through magic etc.). “What makes things even more appealing to the enterprise-minded businessperson is that New Age trainings also resonate with somewhat more humanistic ideas abroad in the world of business. The ideas have to do with the workplace as a 'learning environment', 'bringing life back to work', 'humanizing work', 'fulfilling the manager', 'people come first' or 'unlocking potential'. Presented by New Age trainers, they are likely to appeal to those businesspeople who have already been involved with more (secular) humanistic trainings and who want to take things further: at one and the same time for the sake of personal growth, happiness and enthusiasm, as well as for commercial productivity”.(46) So it is clear that people involved do seek wisdom and equanimity for their own benefit, but how much do the activities in which they are involved enable them to work for the common good? Apart from the question of motivation, all of these phenomena need to be judged by their fruits, and the question to ask is whether they promote self or solidarity, not only with whales, trees or like-minded people, but with the whole of creation – including the whole of humanity. The most pernicious consequences of any philosophy of egoism which is embraced by institutions or by large numbers of people are identified by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as a set of “strategies to reduce the number of those who will eat at humanity's table”.(47) This is a key standard by which to evaluate the impact of any philosophy or theory. Christianity always seeks to measure human endeavours by their openness to the Creator and to all other creatures, a respect based firmly on love.
Whatever questions and criticisms it may attract, New Age is an attempt by people who experience the world as harsh and heartless to bring warmth to that world. As a reaction to modernity, it operates more often than not on the level of feelings, instincts and emotions. Anxiety about an apocalyptic future of economic instability, political uncertainty and climatic change plays a large part in causing people to look for an alternative, resolutely optimistic relationship to the cosmos. There is a search for wholeness and happiness, often on an explicitly spiritual level. But it is significant thatNew Age has enjoyed enormous success in an era which can be characterised by the almost universal exaltation of diversity. Western culture has taken a step beyond tolerance – in the sense of grudging acceptance or putting up with the idiosyncrasies of a person or a minority group – to a conscious erosion of respect for normality. Normality is presented as a morally loaded concept, linked necessarily with absolute norms. For a growing number of people, absolute beliefs or norms indicate nothing but an inability to tolerate other people's views and convictions. In this atmosphere alternative life-styles and theories have really taken off: it is not only acceptable but positively good to be diverse.(48)
It is essential to bear in mind that people are involved with New Age in very different ways and on many levels. In most cases it is not really a question of “belonging” to a group or movement; nor is there much conscious awareness of the principles on which New Age is built. It seems that, for the most part, people are attracted to particular therapies or practices, without going into their background, and others are simply occasional consumers of products which are labelled “New Age”. People who use aromatherapy or listen to “New Age” music, for example, are usually interested in the effect they have on their health or well-being; it is only a minority who go further into the subject, and try to understand its theoretical (or “mystical”) significance. This fits perfectly into the patterns of consumption in societies where amusement and leisure play such an important part. The “movement” has adapted well to the laws of the market, and it is partly because it is such an attractive economic proposition that New Age has become so widespread. New Age has been seen, in some cultures at least, as the label for a product created by the application of marketing principles to a religious phenomenon.(49) There is always going to be a way of profiting from people's perceived spiritual needs. Like many other things in contemporary economics, New Age is a global phenomenon held together and fed with information by the mass media. It is arguable that this global community was created by means of the mass media, and it is quite clear that popular literature and mass communications ensure that the common notions held by “believers” and sympathisers spread almost everywhere very rapidly. However, there is no way of proving that such a rapid spread of ideas is either by chance or by design, since this is a very loose form of “community”. Like the cybercommunities created by the Internet, it is a domain where relationships between people can be either very impersonal or interpersonal in only a very selective sense.
New Age has become immensely popular as a loose set of beliefs, therapies and practices, which are often selected and combined at will, irrespective of the incompatibilities and inconsistencies this may imply. But this is obviously to be expected in a world- view self-consciously based on “right-brain” intuitive thinking. And that is precisely why it is important to discover and recognise the fundamental characteristics of New Age ideas. What is offered is often described as simply “spiritual”, rather than belonging to any religion, but there are much closer links to particular Eastern religions than many “consumers” realise. This is obviously important in “prayer”-groups to which people choose to belong, but it is also a real question for management in a growing number of companies, whose employees are required to practise meditation and adopt mind-expanding techniques as part of their life at work.(50)
It is worth saying a brief word about concerted promotion of New Age as an ideology, but this is a very complex issue. Some groups have reacted to New Age with sweeping accusations about conspiracies, but the answer would generally be that we are witnessing a spontaneous cultural change whose course is fairly determined by influences beyond human control. However, it is enough to point out that New Age shares with a number of internationally influential groups the goal of superseding or transcending particular religions in order to create space for a universal religion which could unite humanity. Closely related to this is a very concerted effort on the part of many institutions to invent a Global Ethic, an ethical framework which would reflect the global nature of contemporary culture, economics and politics. Further, the politicisation of ecological questions certainly colours the whole question of the Gaia hypothesis or worship of mother earth.
3 NEW AGE AND CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY
New Age is often referred to by those who promote it as a “new spirituality”. It seems ironic to call it “new” when so many of its ideas have been taken from ancient religions and cultures. But what really is new is that New Age is a conscious search for an alternative to Western culture and its Judaeo-Christian religious roots. “Spirituality” in this way refers to the inner experience of harmony and unity with the whole of reality, which heals each human person's feelings of imperfection and finiteness. People discover their profound connectedness with the sacred universal force or energy which is the nucleus of all life. When they have made this discovery, men and women can set out on a path to perfection, which will enable them to sort out their personal lives and their relationship to the world, and to take their place in the universal process of becoming and in the New Genesis of a world in constant evolution. The result is a cosmic mysticism (51) based on people's awareness of a universe burgeoning with dynamic energies. Thus cosmic energy, vibration, light, God, love – even the supreme Self – all refer to one and the same reality, the primal source present in every being.
This spirituality consists of two distinct elements, one metaphysical, the other psychological. Themetaphysical component comes from New Age's esoteric and theosophical roots, and is basically a new form of gnosis. Access to the divine is by knowledge of hidden mysteries, in each individual's search for “the real behind what is only apparent, the origin beyond time, the transcendent beyond what is merely fleeting, the primordial tradition behind merely ephemeral tradition, the other behind the self, the cosmic divinity beyond the incarnate individual”. Esoteric spirituality “is an investigation of Being beyond the separateness of beings, a sort of nostalgia for lost unity”.(52)
“Here one can see the gnostic matrix of esoteric spirituality. It is evident when the children of Aquarius search for the Transcendent Unity of religions. They tend to pick out of the historical religions only the esoteric nucleus, whose guardians they claim to be. They somehow deny history and will not accept that spirituality can be rooted in time or in any institution. Jesus of Nazareth is not God, but one of the many historical manifestations of the cosmic and universal Christ”.(53)
The psychological component of this kind of spirituality comes from the encounter between esoteric culture and psychology (cf. 2.32). New Age thus becomes an experience of personal psycho- spiritual transformation, seen as analogous to religious experience. For some people this transformation takes the form of a deep mystical experience, after a personal crisis or a lengthy spiritual search. For others it comes from the use of meditation or some sort of therapy, or from paranormal experiences which alter states of consciousness and provide insight into the unity of reality.(54)
Several authors see New Age spirituality as a kind of spiritual narcissism or pseudo-mysticism. It is interesting to note that this criticism was put forward even by an important exponent of New Age,David Spangler, who, in his later works, distanced himself from the more esoteric aspects of this current of thought.
He wrote that, in the more popular forms of New Age, “individuals and groups are living out their own fantasies of adventure and power, usually of an occult or millenarian form.... The principal characteristic of this level is attachment to a private world of ego-fulfilment and a consequent (though not always apparent) withdrawal from the world. On this level, the New Age has become populated with strange and exotic beings, masters, adepts, extraterrestrials; it is a place of psychic powers and occult mysteries, of conspiracies and hidden teachings”.(55)
In a later work, David Spangler lists what he sees as the negative elements or “shadows” of theNew Age: “alienation from the past in the name of the future; attachment to novelty for its own sake...; indiscriminateness and lack of discernment in the name of wholeness and communion, hence the failure to understand or respect the role of boundaries...; confusion of psychic phenomena with wisdom, of channeling with spirituality, of the New Age perspective with ultimate truth”.(56) But, in the end, Spangler is convinced that selfish, irrational narcissism is limited to just a few new-agers. The positive aspects he stresses are the function of New Age as an image of change and as an incarnation of the sacred, a movement in which most people are “very serious seekers after truth”, working in the interest of life and inner growth.
The commercial aspect of many products and therapies which bear the New Age label is brought out by David Toolan, an American Jesuit who spent several years in the New Age milieu. He observes that new-agers have discovered the inner life and are fascinated by the prospect of being responsible for the world, but that they are also easily overcome by a tendency to individualism and to viewing everything as an object of consumption. In this sense, while it is not Christian, New Agespirituality is not Buddhist either, inasmuch as it does not involve self-denial. The dream of mystical union seems to lead, in practice, to a merely virtual union, which, in the end, leaves people more alone and unsatisfied.
In the early days of Christianity, believers in Jesus Christ were forced to face up to the gnostic religions. They did not ignore them, but took the challenge positively and applied the terms used of cosmic deities to Christ himself. The clearest example of this is in the famous hymn to Christ in Saint Paul's letter to the Christians at Colossae:
“He is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation,
for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers–
all things were created through him and for him.
Before anything was created, he existed, and he holds all things in unity.
Now the Church is his body, he is its head.
As he is the Beginning, he was first to be born from the dead,
so that he should be first in every way;
because God wanted all perfection to be found in him
and all things to be reconciled through him and for him,
everything in heaven and everything on earth,
when he made peace by his death on the cross” (Col 1: 15-20).
For these early Christians, there was no new cosmic age to come; what they were celebrating with this hymn was the Fulfilment of all things which had begun in Christ. “Time is indeed fulfilled by the very fact that God, in the Incarnation, came down into human history. Eternity entered into time: what 'fulfilment' could be greater than this? What other 'fulfilment' would be possible?” (57) Gnostic belief in cosmic powers and some obscure kind of destiny withdraws the possibility of a relationship to a personal God revealed in Christ. For Christians, the real cosmic Christ is the one who is present actively in the various members of his body, which is the Church. They do not look to impersonal cosmic powers, but to the loving care of a personal God; for them cosmic bio-centrism has to be transposed into a set of social relationships (in the Church); and they are not locked into a cyclical pattern of cosmic events, but focus on the historical Jesus, in particular on his crucifixion and resurrection. We find in the Letter to the Colossians and in the New Testament a doctrine of God different from that implicit in New Age thought: the Christian conception of God is one of a Trinity of Persons who has created the human race out of a desire to share the communion of Trinitarian life with creaturely persons. Properly understood, this means that authentic spirituality is not so muchour search for God but God's search for us.
Another, completely different, view of the cosmic significance of Christ has become current in New Age circles. “The Cosmic Christ is the divine pattern that connects in the person of Jesus Christ (but by no means is limited to that person). The divine pattern of connectivity was made flesh and set up its tent among us (John 1:14).... The Cosmic Christ... leads a new exodus from the bondage and pessimistic views of a Newtonian, mechanistic universe so ripe with competition, winners and losers, dualisms, anthropocentrism, and the boredom that comes when our exciting universe is pictured as a machine bereft of mystery and mysticism. The Cosmic Christ is local and historical, indeed intimate to human history. The Cosmic Christ might be living next door or even inside one's deepest and truest self”.(58) Although this statement may not satisfy everyone involved inNew Age, it does catch the tone very well, and it shows with absolute clarity where the differences between these two views of Christ lie. For New Age the Cosmic Christ is seen as a pattern which can be repeated in many people, places and times; it is the bearer of an enormous paradigm shift; it is ultimately a potential within us.
According to Christian belief, Jesus Christ is not a pattern, but a divine person whose human-divine figure reveals the mystery of the Father's love for every person throughout history (Jn 3:16); he lives in us because he shares his life with us, but it is neither imposed nor automatic. All men and women are invited to share his life, to live “in Christ”.
For Christians, the spiritual life is a relationship with God which gradually through his grace becomes deeper, and in the process also sheds light on our relationship with our fellow men and women, and with the universe. Spirituality in New Age terms means experiencing states of consciousness dominated by a sense of harmony and fusion with the Whole. So “mysticism” refers not to meeting the transcendent God in the fullness of love, but to the experience engendered by turning in on oneself, an exhilarating sense of being at one with the universe, a sense of letting one's individuality sink into the great ocean of Being.(59)
This fundamental distinction is evident at all levels of comparison between Christian mysticism andNew Age mysticism. The New Age way of purification is based on awareness of unease or alienation, which is to be overcome by immersion into the Whole. In order to be converted, a person needs to make use of techniques which lead to the experience of illumination. This transforms a person's consciousness and opens him or her to contact with the divinity, which is understood as the deepest essence of reality.
The techniques and methods offered in this immanentist religious system, which has no concept of God as person, proceed 'from below'. Although they involve a descent into the depths of one's own heart or soul, they constitute an essentially human enterprise on the part of a person who seeks to rise towards divinity by his or her own efforts. It is often an “ascent” on the level of consciousness to what is understood to be a liberating awareness of “the god within”. Not everyone has access to these techniques, whose benefits are restricted to a privileged spiritual 'aristocracy'.
The essential element in Christian faith, however, is God's descent towards his creatures, particularly towards the humblest, those who are weakest and least gifted according to the values of the “world”. There are spiritual techniques which it is useful to learn, but God is able to by-pass them or do without them. A Christian's “method of getting closer to God is not based on any technique in the strict sense of the word. That would contradict the spirit of childhood called for by the Gospel. The heart of genuine Christian mysticism is not technique: it is always a gift of God; and the one who benefits from it knows himself to be unworthy”.(60)
For Christians, conversion is turning back to the Father, through the Son, in docility to the power of the Holy Spirit. The more people progress in their relationship with God – which is always and in every way a free gift – the more acute is the need to be converted from sin, spiritual myopia and self-infatuation, all of which obstruct a trusting self-abandonment to God and openness to other men and women.
All meditation techniques need to be purged of presumption and pretentiousness. Christian prayer is not an exercise in self-contemplation, stillness and self-emptying, but a dialogue of love, one which “implies an attitude of conversion, a flight from 'self' to the 'You' of God”.(61) It leads to an increasingly complete surrender to God's will, whereby we are invited to a deep, genuine solidarity with our brothers and sisters.(62)
Here is a key point of contrast between New Age and Christianity. So much New Age literature is shot through with the conviction that there is no divine being “out there”, or in any real way distinct from the rest of reality. From Jung's time onwards there has been a stream of people professing belief in “the god within”. Our problem, in a New Age perspective, is our inability to recognise our own divinity, an inability which can be overcome with the help of guidance and the use of a whole variety of techniques for unlocking our hidden (divine) potential. The fundamental idea is that 'God' is deep within ourselves. We are gods, and we discover the unlimited power within us by peeling off layers of inauthenticity.(63) The more this potential is recognised, the more it is realised, and in this sense the New Age has its own idea of theosis, becoming divine or, more precisely, recognising and accepting that we are divine. We are said by some to be living in “an age in which our understanding of God has to be interiorised: from the Almighty God out there to God the dynamic, creative power within the very centre of all being: God as Spirit”.(64)
In the Preface to Book V of Adversus Haereses, Saint Irenaeus refers to “Jesus Christ, who did, through His transcendent love, become what we are, that He might bring us to be even what He is Himself”. Here theosis, the Christian understanding of divinisation, comes about not through our own efforts alone, but with the assistance of God's grace working in and through us. It inevitably involves an initial awareness of incompleteness and even sinfulness, in no way an exaltation of the self. Furthermore, it unfolds as an introduction into the life of the Trinity, a perfect case of distinction at the heart of unity; it is synergy rather than fusion. This all comes about as the result of a personal encounter, an offer of a new kind of life. Life in Christ is not something so personal and private that it is restricted to the realm of consciousness. Nor is it merely a new level of awareness. It involves being transformed in our soul and in our body by participation in the sacramental life of the Church.
4 NEW AGE AND CHRISTIAN FAITH IN CONTRAST
It is difficult to separate the individual elements of New Age religiosity – innocent though they may appear – from the overarching framework which permeates the whole thought-world on the New Age movement. The gnostic nature of this movement calls us to judge it in its entirety. From the point of view of Christian faith, it is not possible to isolate some elements of New Age religiosity as acceptable to Christians, while rejecting others. Since the New Age movement makes much of a communication with nature, of cosmic knowledge of a universal good – thereby negating the revealed contents of Christian faith – it cannot be viewed as positive or innocuous. In a cultural environment, marked by religious relativism, it is necessary to signal a warning against the attempt to place New Age religiosity on the same level as Christian faith, making the difference between faith and belief seem relative, thus creating greater confusion for the unwary. In this regard, it is useful to remember the exhortation of St. Paul “to instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine or to concern themselves with myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the plan of God that is to be received by faith” (1 Tim 1:3-4). Some practices are incorrectly labeled asNew Age simply as a marketing strategy to make them sell better, but are not truly associated with its worldview. This only adds to the confusion. It is therefore necessary to accurately identify those elements which belong to the New Age movement, and which cannot be accepted by those who are faithful to Christ and his Church.
The following questions may be the easiest key to evaluating some of the central elements of New Age thought and practice from a Christian standpoint. “New Age” refers to the ideas which circulate about God, the human being and the world, the people with whom Christians may have conversations on religious matters, the publicity material for meditation groups, therapies and the like, explicit statements on religion and so on. Some of these questions applied to people and ideas not explicitly labelled New Age would reveal further unnamed or unacknowledged links with the whole New Age atmosphere.
* Is God a being with whom we have a relationship or something to be used or a force to be harnessed?
The New Age concept of God is rather diffuse, whereas the Christian concept is a very clear one. The New Age god is an impersonal energy, really a particular extension or component of the cosmos; god in this sense is the life-force or soul of the world. Divinity is to be found in every being, in a gradation “from the lowest crystal of the mineral world up to and beyond the Galactic God himself, about Whom we can say nothing at all. This is not a man but a Great Consciousness”.(65) In some “classic” New Age writings, it is clear that human beings are meant to think of themselves as gods: this is more fully developed in some people than in others. God is no longer to be sought beyond the world, but deep within myself.(66) Even when “God” is something outside myself, it is there to be manipulated.
This is very different from the Christian understanding of God as the maker of heaven and earth and the source of all personal life. God is in himself personal, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who created the universe in order to share the communion of his life with creaturely persons. “God, who 'dwells in unapprochable light', wants to communicate his own divine life to the men he freely created, in order to adopt them as his sons in his only-begotten Son. By revealing himself God wishes to make them capable of responding to him, and of knowing him, and of loving him far beyond their own natural capacity”.(67)God is not identified with the Life-principle understood as the “Spirit” or “basic energy” of the cosmos, but is that love which is absolutely different from the world, and yet creatively present in everything, and leading human beings to salvation.
* Is there just one Jesus Christ, or are there thousands of Christs?
Jesus Christ is often presented in New Age literature as one among many wise men, or initiates, or avatars, whereas in Christian tradition He is the Son of God. Here are some common points in New Age approaches:
– the personal and individual historical Jesus is distinct from the eternal, impersonal universal Christ;
– Jesus is not considered to be the only Christ;
– the death of Jesus on the cross is either denied or re-interpreted to exclude the idea that He, as Christ, could have suffered;
– extra-biblical documents (like the neo-gnostic gospels) are considered authentic sources for the knowledge of aspects of the life of Jesus which are not to be found in the canon of Scripture. Other revelations about Jesus, made available by entities, spirit guides and ascended masters, or even through the Akasha Chronicles, are basic for New Age christology;
– a kind of esoteric exegesis is applied to biblical texts to purify Christianity of the formal religion which inhibits access to its esoteric essence.(68)
In the Christian Tradition Jesus Christ is the Jesus of Nazareth about which the gospels speak, the son of Mary and the only Son of God, true man and true God, the full revelation of divine truth, unique Saviour of the world: “for our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father”.(69)
* The human being: is there one universal being or are there many individuals?
“The point of New Age techniques is to reproduce mystical states at will, as if it were a matter of laboratory material. Rebirth, biofeedback, sensory isolation, holotropic breathing, hypnosis, mantras, fasting, sleep deprivation and transcendental meditation are attempts to control these states and to experience them continuously”.(70) These practices all create an atmosphere of psychic weakness (and vulnerability). When the object of the exercise is that we should re-invent our selves, there is a real question of who “I” am. “God within us” and holistic union with the whole cosmos underline this question. Isolated individual personalities would be pathological in terms of New Age(in particular transpersonal psychology). But “the real danger is the holistic paradigm. New Age is thinking based on totalitarian unity and that is why it is a danger...”.(71) More moderately: “We are authentic when we 'take charge of' ourselves, when our choice and reactions flow spontaneously from our deepest needs, when our behaviour and expressed feelings reflect our personal wholeness”.(72) The Human Potential Movement is the clearest example of the conviction that humans are divine, or contain a divine spark within themselves.
The Christian approach grows out of the Scriptural teachings about human nature; men and women are created in God's image and likeness (Gen 1.27) and God takes great consideration of them, much to the relieved surprise of the Psalmist (cf. Ps 8). The human person is a mystery fully revealed only in Jesus Christ (cf. GS 22),and in fact becomes authentically human properly in his relationship with Christ through the gift of the Spirit.(73)This is far from the caricature of anthropocentrism ascribed to Christianity and rejected by many New Age authors and practitioners.
* Do we save ourselves or is salvation a free gift from God?
The key is to discover by what or by whom we believe we are saved. Do we save ourselves by our own actions, as is often the case in New Age explanations, or are we saved by God's love? Key words are self-fulfilment and self-realisation, self-redemption. New Age is essentially Pelagian in its understanding of about human nature.(74)
For Christians, salvation depends on a participation in the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, and on a direct personal relationship with God rather than on any technique. The human situation, affected as it is by original sin and by personal sin, can only be rectified by God's action: sin is an offense against God, and only God can reconcile us to himself. In the divine plan of salvation, human beings have been saved by Jesus Christ who, as God and man, is the one mediator of redemption. In Christianity salvation is not an experience of self, a meditative and intuitive dwelling within oneself, but much more the forgiveness of sin, being lifted out of profound ambivalences in oneself and the calming of nature by the gift of communion with a loving God. The way to salvation is not found simply in a self-induced transformation of consciousness, but in a liberation from sin and its consequences which then leads us to struggle against sin in ourselves and in the society around us. It necessarily moves us toward loving solidarity with our neighbour in need.
* Do we invent truth or do we embrace it?
New Age truth is about good vibrations, cosmic correspondences, harmony and ecstasy, in general pleasant experiences. It is a matter of finding one's own truth in accordance with the feel- good factor. Evaluating religion and ethical questions is obviously relative to one's own feelings and experiences.
Jesus Christ is presented in Christian teaching as “The Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn14.6). His followers are asked to open their whole lives to him and to his values, in other words to an objective set of requirements which are part of an objective reality ultimately knowable by all.
* Prayer and meditation: are we talking to ourselves or to God?
The tendency to confuse psychology and spirituality makes it hard not to insist that many of the meditation techniques now used are not prayer. They are often a good preparation for prayer, but no more, even if they lead to a more pleasant state of mind or bodily comfort. The experiences involved are genuinely intense, but to remain at this level is to remain alone, not yet in the presence of the other. The achievement of silence can confront us with emptiness, rather than the silence of contemplating the beloved. It is also true that techniques for going deeper into one's own soul are ultimately an appeal to one's own ability to reach the divine, or even to become divine: if they forget God's search for the human heart they are still not Christian prayer. Even when it is seen as a link with the Universal Energy, “such an easy 'relationship' with God, where God's function is seen as supplying all our needs, shows the selfishness at the heart of this New Age”.(75)
New Age practices are not really prayer, in that they are generally a question of introspection or fusion with cosmic energy, as opposed to the double orientation of Christian prayer, which involves introspection but is essentially also a meeting with God. Far from being a merely human effort, Christian mysticism is essentially a dialogue which “implies an attitude of conversion, a flight from 'self' to the 'you' of God”.(76)“The Christian, even when he is alone and prays in secret, he is conscious that he always prays for the good of the Church in union with Christ, in the Holy Spirit and together with all the saints”.(77)
* Are we tempted to deny sin or do we accept that there is such a thing?
In New Age there is no real concept of sin, but rather one of imperfect knowledge; what is needed is enlightenment, which can be reached through particular psycho-physical techniques. Those who take part in New Age activities will not be told what to believe, what to do or what not to do, but: “There are a thousand ways of exploring inner reality. Go where your intelligence and intuition lead you. Trust yourself”.(78) Authority has shifted from a theistic location to within the self. The most serious problem perceived in New Age thinking is alienation from the whole cosmos, rather than personal failure or sin. The remedy is to become more and more immersed in the whole of being. In some New Age writings and practices, it is clear that one life is not enough, so there have to be reincarnations to allow people to realise their full potential.
In the Christian perspective “only the light of divine Revelation clarifies the reality of sin and particularly of the sin committed at mankind's origins. Without the knowledge Revelation gives of God we cannot recognize sin clearly and are tempted to explain it as merely a development flaw, a psychological weakness, a mistake, or the necessary consequence of an inadequate social structure, etc. Only in the knowledge of God's plan for man can we grasp that sin is an abuse of freedom that God gives to created persons so that they are capable of loving him and loving one another”.(79)Sin is an offense against reason, truth and right conscience; it is a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity...(80)Sin is an offense against God... sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it... Sin is thus 'love of oneself even to contempt of God'”.(81)
* Are we encouraged to reject or accept suffering and death?
Some New Age writers view suffering as self-imposed, or as bad karma, or at least as a failure to harness one's own resources. Others concentrate on methods of achieving success and wealth (e.g. Deepak Chopra, José Silva et al.). In New Age, reincarnation is often seen as a necessary element in spiritual growth, a stage in progressive spiritual evolution which began before we were born and will continue after we die. In our present lives the experience of the death of other people provokes a healthy crisis.
Both cosmic unity and reincarnation are irreconcilable with the Christian belief that a human person is a distinct being, who lives one life, for which he or she is fully responsible: this understanding of the person puts into question both responsibility and freedom. Christians know that “in the cross of Christ not only is the redemption accomplished through suffering, but also human suffering itself has been redeemed. Christ – without any fault of his own – took on himself 'the total evil of sin'. The experience of this evil determined the incomparable extent of Christ's suffering, which became the price of the redemption... The Redeemer suffered in place of man and for man. Every man has his own share in the redemption, Each one is also called to share in that suffering through which the redemption was accomplished. He is called to share in that suffering through which all human suffering has also been redeemed. In bringing about the redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the redemption. Thus each man in his suffering can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ”.(82)
* Is social commitment something shirked or positively sought after?
Much in New Age is unashamedly self-promotion, but some leading figures in the movement claim that it is unfair to judge the whole movement by a minority of selfish, irrational and narcissistic people, or to allow oneself to be dazzled by some of their more bizarre practices, which are a block to seeing in New Age a genuine spiritual search and spirituality.(83) The fusion of individuals into the cosmic self, the relativisation or abolition of difference and opposition in a cosmic harmony, is unacceptable to Christianity.
Where there is true love, there has to be a different other (person). A genuine Christian searches for unity in the capacity and freedom of the other to say “yes” or “no” to the gift of love. Union is seen in Christianity as communion, unity as community.
* Is our future in the stars or do we help to construct it?
The New Age which is dawning will be peopled by perfect, androgynous beings who are totally in command of the cosmic laws of nature. In this scenario, Christianity has to be eliminated and give way to a global religion and a new world order.
Christians are in a constant state of vigilance, ready for the last days when Christ will come again; their New Age began 2000 years ago, with Christ, who is none other than “Jesus of Nazareth; he is the Word of God made man for the salvation of all”. His Holy Spirit is present and active in the hearts of individuals, in “society and history, peoples, cultures and religions”. In fact, “the Spirit of the Father, bestowed abundantly by the Son, is the animator of all”.(84)We live in the last times.
On the one hand, it is clear that many New Age practices seem to those involved in them not to raise doctrinal questions; but, at the same time, it is undeniable that these practices themselves communicate, even if only indirectly, a mentality which can influence thinking and inspire a very particular vision of reality. Certainly New Age creates its own atmosphere, and it can be hard to distinguish between things which are innocuous and those which really need to be questioned. However, it is well to be aware that the doctrine of the Christ spread in New Age circles is inspired by the theosophical teachings of Helena Blavatsky, Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophy and Alice Bailey's “Arcane School”. Their contemporary followers are not only promoting their ideas now, but also working with New Agers to develop a completely new understanding of reality, a doctrine known by some observers as “New Age truth”.(85)
5 JESUS CHRIST OFFERS US THE WATER OF LIFE
The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord. He is at the heart of every Christian action, and every Christian message. So the Church constantly returns to meet her Lord. The Gospels tell of many meetings with Jesus, from the shepherds in Bethlehem to the two thieves crucified with him, from the wise elders who listened to him in the Temple to the disciples walking miserably towards Emmaus. But one episode that speaks really clearly about what he offers us is the story of his encounter with the Samaritan woman by Jacob's well in the fourth chapter of John's Gospel; it has even been described as “a paradigm for our engagement with truth”.(86) The experience of meeting the stranger who offers us the water of life is a key to the way Christians can and should engage in dialogue with anyone who does not know Jesus.
One of the attractive elements of John's account of this meeting is that it takes the woman a while even to glimpse what Jesus means by the water 'of life', or 'living' water (verse 11). Even so, she is fascinated – not only by the stranger himself, but also by his message – and this makes her listen. After her initial shock at realising what Jesus knew about her (“You are right in saying 'I have no husband': for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly”, verses 17- 18), she was quite open to his word: “I see you are a prophet, Sir” (verse 19). The dialogue about the adoration of God begins: “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews” (verse 22). Jesus touched her heart and so prepared her to listen to what He had to say about Himself as the Messiah: “I who am speaking to you – I am he” (verse 26), prepared her to open her heart to the true adoration in Spirit and the self-revelation of Jesus as God's Anointed.
1Helen Bergin o.p., “Living One's Truth”, in The Furrow, January 2000, p. 12.
The woman “put down her water jar and hurried back to the town to tell the people” all about the man (verse 28). The remarkable effect on the woman of her encounter with the stranger made them so curious that they, too, “started walking towards him” (verse 30). They soon accepted the truth of his identity: “Now we no longer believe because of what you told us; we have heard him ourselves and we know that he really is the saviour of the world” (verse 42). They move from hearing about Jesus to knowing him personally, then understanding the universal significance of his identity. This all happens because their minds, their hearts and more are engaged.
The fact that the story takes place by a well is significant. Jesus offers the woman “a spring... welling up to eternal life” (verse 14). The gracious way in which Jesus deals with the woman is a model for pastoral effectiveness, helping others to be truthful without suffering in the challenging process of self-recognition (“he told me every thing I have done“, verse 39). This approach could yield a rich harvest in terms of people who may have been attracted to the water-carrier (Aquarius) but who are genuinely still seeking the truth. They should be invited to listen to Jesus, who offers us not simply something that will quench our thirst today, but the hidden spiritual depths of “living water”. It is important to acknowledge the sincerity of people searching for the truth; there is no question of deceit or of self-deception. It is also important to be patient, as any good educator knows. A person embraced by the truth is suddenly energised by a completely new sense of freedom, especially from past failures and fears, and “the one who strives for self-knowledge, like the woman at the well, will affect others with a desire to know the truth that can free them too”.(87)
An invitation to meet Jesus Christ, the bearer of the water of life, will carry more weight if it is made by someone who has clearly been profoundly affected by his or her own encounter with Jesus, because it is made not by someone who has simply heard about him, but by someone who can be sure “that he really is the saviour of the world” (verse 42). It is a matter of letting people react in their own way, at their own pace, and letting God do the rest.
6 POINTS TO NOTE
Christ or Aquarius? New Age is almost always linked with “alternatives”, either an alternative vision of reality or an alternative way of improving one's current situation (magic).(88) Alternatives offer people not two possibilities, but only the possibility of choosing one thing in preference to another: in terms of religion, New Age offers an alternative to the Judaeo-Christian heritage. The Age of Aquarius is conceived as one which will replace the predominantly Christian Age of Pisces.New Age thinkers are acutely aware of this; some of them are convinced that the coming change is inevitable, while others are actively committed to assisting its arrival. People who wonder if it is possible to believe in both Christ and Aquarius can only benefit from knowing that this is very much an “either-or” situation. “No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn” (Lk 16.13). Christians have only to think of the difference between the wise men from the East and King Herod to recognise the powerful effects of choice for or against Christ. It must never be forgotten that many of the movements which have fed the New Age are explicitly anti-Christian. Their stance towards Christianity is not neutral, but neutralising: despite what is often said about openness to all religious standpoints, traditional Christianity is not sincerely regarded as an acceptable alternative. In fact, it is occasionally made abundantly clear that “there is no tolerable place for true Christianity”, and there are even arguments justifying anti-Christian behaviour.(89) This opposition initially was confined to the rarefied realms of those who go beyond a superficial attachment to New Age, but has begun more recently to permeate all levels of the “alternative” culture which has an extraordinarily powerful appeal, above all in sophisticated Western societies.
Fusion or confusion? New Age traditions consciously and deliberately blur real differences: between creator and creation, between humanity and nature, between religion and psychology, between subjective and objective reality. The idealistic intention is always to overcome the scandal of division, but in New Age theory it is a question of the systematic fusion of elements which have generally been clearly distinguished in Western culture. Is it, perhaps, fair to call it “confusion”? It is not playing with words to say that New Age thrives on confusion. The Christian tradition has always valued the role of reason in justifying faith and in understanding God, the world and the human person.(90) New Age has caught the mood of many in rejecting cold, calculating, inhuman reason. While this is a positive insight, recalling the need for a balance involving all our faculties, it does not justify sidelining a faculty which is essential for a fully human life. Rationality has the advantage of universality: it is freely available to everyone, quite unlike the mysterious and fascinating character of esoteric or gnostic “mystical” religion. Anything which promotes conceptual confusion or secrecy needs to be very carefully scrutinised. It hides rather than reveals the ultimate nature of reality. It corresponds to the post-modern loss of confidence in the bold certainties of former times, which often involves taking refuge in irrationality. The challenge is to show how a healthy partnership between faith and reason enhances human life and encourages respect for creation.
Create your own reality. The widespread New Age conviction that one creates one's own reality is appealing, but illusory. It is crystallised in Jung's theory that the human being is a gateway from the outer world into an inner world of infinite dimensions, where each person is Abraxas, who gives birth to his own world or devours it. The star that shines in this infinite inner world is man's God and goal. The most poignant and problematic consequence of the acceptance of the idea that people create their own reality is the question of suffering and death: people with severe handicaps or incurable diseases feel cheated and demeaned when confronted by the suggestion that they have brought their misfortune upon themselves, or that their inability to change things points to a weakness in their approach to life. This is far from being a purely academic issue: it has profound implications in the Church's pastoral approach to the difficult existential questions everyone faces. Our limitations are a fact of life, and part of being a creature. Death and bereavement present a challenge and an opportunity, because the temptation to take refuge in a westernised reworking of the notion of reincarnation is clear proof of people's fear of death and their desire to live forever. Do we make the most of our opportunities to recall what is promised by God in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? How real is the faith in the resurrection of the body, which Christians proclaim every Sunday in the creed? The New Age idea that we are in some sense also gods is one which is very much in question here. The whole question depends, of course, on one's definition of reality. A sound approach to epistemology and psychology needs to be reinforced – in the appropriate way – at every level of Catholic education, formation and preaching. It is important constantly to focus on effective ways of speaking of transcendence. The fundamental difficulty of all New Age thought is that this transcendence is strictly a self-transcendeence to be achieved within a closed universe.
Pastoral resources. In Chapter 8 an indication is given regarding the principal documents of the Catholic Church in which can be found an evaluation of the ideas of New Age. In the first place comes the address of Pope John Paul II which was quoted in the Foreword. The Pope recognizes in this cultural trend some positive aspects, such as “the search for new meaning in life, a new ecological sensivity and the desire to go beyond a cold, rationalistic religiosity”. But he also calls the attention of the faithful to certain ambiguous elements which are incompatible with the Christian faith: these movements “pay little heed to Revelation”, “they tend to relativize religious doctrine in favor of a vague worldview”, “they often propose a pantheistic concept of God”, “they replace personal responsibility to God for our actions with a sense of duty to the cosmos, thus overturning the true concept of sin and the need for redemption through Christ”.(91)
First of all, it is worth saying once again that not everyone or everything in the broad sweep of New Age is linked to the theories of the movement in the same ways. Likewise, the label itself is often misapplied or extended to phenomena which can be categorised in other ways. The term New Agehas even been abused to demonise people and practices. It is essential to see whether phenomena linked to this movement, however loosely, reflect or conflict with a Christian vision of God, the human person and the world. The mere use of the term New Age in itself means little, if anything. The relationship of the person, group, practice or commodity to the central tenets of Christianity is what counts.
*The Catholic Church has its own very effective networks, which could be better used. For example, there is a large number of pastoral centres, cultural centres and centres of spirituality. Ideally, these could also be used to address the confusion about New Age religiosity in a variety of creative ways, such as providing a forum for discussion and study. It must unfortunately be admitted that there are too many cases where Catholic centres of spirituality are actively involved in diffusingNew Age religiosity in the Church. This would of course have to be corrected, not only to stop the spread of confusion and error, but also so that they might be effective in promoting true Christian spirituality. Catholic cultural centres, in particular, are not only teaching institutions but spaces for honest dialogue.(92) Some excellent specialist institutions deal with all these questions. These are precious resources, which ought to be shared generously in areas that are less well provided for.
*Quite a few New Age groups welcome every opportunity to explain their philosophy and activities to others. Encounters with these groups should be approached with care, and should always involve persons who are capable of both explaining Catholic faith and spirituality, and of reflecting critically on New Age thought and practice. It is extremely important to check the credentials of people, groups and institutions claiming to offer guidance and information on New Age. In some cases what has started out as impartial investigation has later become active promotion of, or advocacy on behalf of, “alternative religions”. Some international institutions are actively pursuing campaigns which promote respect for “religious diversity”, and claim religious status for some questionable organisations. This fits in with the New Age vision of moving into an age where the limited character of particular religions gives way to the universality of a new religion or spirituality. Genuine dialogue, on the other hand, will always respect diversity from the outset, and will never seek to blur distinctions in a fusion of all religious traditions.
*Some local New Age groups refer to their meetings as “prayer groups”. Those people who are invited to such groups need to look for the marks of genuine Christian spirituality, and to be wary if there is any sort of initiation ceremony. Such groups take advantage of a person's lack of theological or spiritual formation to lure them gradually into what may in fact be a form of false worship. Christians must be taught about the true object and content of prayer – in the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ, to the Father – in order to judge rightly the intention of a “prayer group”. Christian prayer and the God of Jesus Christ will easily be recognised.(93) Many people are convinced that there is no harm in 'borrowing' from the wisdom of the East, but the example of Transcendental Meditation (TM) should make Christians cautious about the prospect of committing themselves unknowingly to another religion (in this case, Hinduism), despite what TM's promoters claim about its religious neutrality. There is no problem with learning how to meditate, but the object or content of the exercise clearly determines whether it relates to the God revealed by Jesus Christ, to some other revelation, or simply to the hidden depths of the self.
*Christian groups which promote care for the earth as God's creation also need to be given due recognition. The question of respect for creation is one which could also be approached creatively in Catholic schools. A great deal of what is proposed by the more radical elements of the ecological movement is difficult to reconcile with Catholic faith. Care for the environment in general terms is a timely sign of a fresh concern for what God has given us, perhaps a necessary mark of Christian stewardship of creation, but “deep ecology” is often based on pantheistic and occasionally gnostic principles.(94)
*The beginning of the Third Millennium offers a real kairos for evangelisation. People's minds and hearts are already unusually open to reliable information on the Christian understanding of time and salvation history. Emphasising what is lacking in other approaches should not be the main priority. It is more a question of constantly revisiting the sources of our own faith, so that we can offer a good, sound presentation of the Christian message. We can be proud of what we have been given on trust, so we need to resist the pressures of the dominant culture to bury these gifts (cf. Mt 25.24-30). One of the most useful tools available is the Catechism of the Catholic Church. There is also an immense heritage of ways to holiness in the lives of Christian men and women past and present. Where Christianity's rich symbolism, and its artistic, aesthetical and musical traditions are unknown or have been forgotten, there is much work to be done for Christians themselves, and ultimately also for anyone searching for an experience or a greater awareness of God's presence. Dialogue between Christians and people attracted to the New Age will be more successful if it takes into account the appeal of what touches the emotions and symbolic language. If our task is to know, love and serve Jesus Christ, it is of paramount importance to start with a good knowledge of the Scriptures. But, most of all, coming to meet the Lord Jesus in prayer and in the sacraments, which are precisely the moments when our ordinary life is hallowed, is the surest way of making sense of the whole Christian message.
*Perhaps the simplest, the most obvious and the most urgent measure to be taken, which might also be the most effective, would be to make the most of the riches of the Christian spiritual heritage. The great religious orders have strong traditions of meditation and spirituality, which could be made more available through courses or periods in which their houses might welcome genuine seekers. This is already being done, but more is needed. Helping people in their spiritual search by offering them proven techniques and experiences of real prayer could open a dialogue with them which would reveal the riches of Christian tradition, and perhaps clarify a great deal about New Agein the process.
In a vivid and useful image, one of the New Age movement's own exponents has compared traditional religions to cathedrals, and New Age to a worldwide fair. The New Age Movement is seen as an invitation to Christians to bring the message of the cathedrals to the fair which now covers the whole world. This image offers Christians a positive challenge, since it is always time to take the message of the cathedrals to the people in the fair. Christians need not, indeed, must not wait for an invitation to bring the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who are looking for the answers to their questions, for spiritual food that satisfies, for living water. Following the image proposed, Christians must issue forth from the cathedral, nourished by word and sacrament, to bring the Gospel into every aspect of everyday life – “Go! The Mass is ended!” In Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte the Holy Father remarks on the great interest in spirituality found in the secular world of today, and how other religions are responding to this demand in appealing ways. He goes on to issue a challenge to Christians in this regard: “But we who have received the grace of believing in Christ, the revealer of the Father and the Savior of the world, have a duty to show to what depths the relationship with Christ can lead” (n. 33). To those shopping around in the world's fair of religious proposals, the appeal of Christianity will be felt first of all in the witness of the members of the Church, in their trust, calm, patience and cheerfulness, and in their concrete love of neighbour, all the fruit of their faith nourished in authentic personal prayer.
William Bloom's 1992 formulation of New Age quoted in Heelas, p. 225f.:
*All life – all existence – is the manifestation of Spirit, of the Unknowable, of that supreme consciousness known by many different names in many different cultures.
*The purpose and dynamic of all existence is to bring Love, Wisdom, Enlightenment... into full manifestation.
*All religions are the expression of this same inner reality.
*All life, as we perceive it with the five human senses or with scientific instruments, is only the outer veil of an invisible, inner and causal reality.
*Similarly, human beings are twofold creatures – with: (i) an outer temporary personality; and (ii) a multi-dimensional inner being (soul or higher self).
*The outer personality is limited and tends towards love.
*The purpose of the incarnation of the inner being is to bring the vibrations of the outer personality into a resonance of love.
*All souls in incarnation are free to choose their own spiritual path.
*Our spiritual teachers are those whose souls are liberated from the need to incarnate and who express unconditional love, wisdom and enlightenment. Some of these great beings are well- known and have inspired the world religions. Some are unknown and work invisibly.
*All life, in its different forms and states, is interconnected energy – and this includes our deeds, feelings and thoughts. We, therefore, work with Spirit and these energies in co-creating our reality.
*Although held in the dynamic of cosmic love, we are jointly responsible for the state of our selves, of our environment and of all life.
*During this period of time, the evolution of the planet and of humanity has reached a point when we are undergoing a fundamental spiritual change in our individual and mass consciousness. This is why we talk of a New Age. This new consciousness is the result of the increasingly successful incarnation of what some people call the energies of cosmic love. This new consciousness demonstrates itself in an instinctive understanding of the sacredness and, in particular, the interconnectedness of all existence.
*This new consciousness and this new understanding of the dynamic interdependence of all life mean that we are currently in the process of volving a completely new planetary culture.
Heelas (p. 226) Jeremy Tarcher's “complementary formulation”.
1. The world, including the human race, constitutes an expression of a higher, more comprehensive divine nature.
2. Hidden within each human being is a higher divine self, which is a manifestation of the higher, more comprehensive divine nature.
3. This higher nature can be awakened and can become the center of the individual's everyday life.
4. This awakening is the reason for the existence of each individual life.
David Spangler is quoted in Actualité des religions nº 8, septembre 1999, p. 43, on the principal characteristics of the New Age vision, which is:
*holistic (globalising, because there is one single reality-energy);
*ecological (earth-Gaia is our mother; each of us is a neurone of earth's central nervous system);
*androgynous (rainbow and Yin/Yang are both NA symbols, to do with the complementarity of contraries, esp. masculine and feminine);
*mystical (finding the sacred in every thing, the most ordinary things);
*planetary (people must be at one and the same time anchored in their own culture and open to a universal dimension, capable of promoting love, compassion, peace and even the establishment of world government).
Age of Aquarius: each astrological age of about 2146 years is named according to one of the signs of the zodiac, but the “great days” go in reverse order, so the current Age of Pisces is about to end, and the Age of Aquarius will be ushered in. Each Age has its own cosmic energies; the energy in Pisces has made it an era of wars and conflicts. But Aquarius is set to be an era of harmony, justice, peace, unity etc. In this aspect, New Age accepts historical inevitability. Some reckon the age of Aries was the time of the Jewish religion, the age of Pisces that of Christianity, Aquarius the age of a universal religion.
Androgyny: is not hermaphroditism, i.e. existence with the physical characteristics of both sexes, but an awareness of the presence in every person of male and female elements; it is said to be a state of balanced inner harmony of the animus and anima. In New Age, it is a state resulting from a new awareness of this double mode of being and existing that is characteristic of every man and every woman. The more it spreads, the more it will assist in the transformation of interpersonal conduct.
Anthroposophy: a theosophical doctrine originally popularised by the Croat Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), who left the Theosophical Society after being leader of its German branch from 1902 to 1913. It is an esoteric doctrine meant to initiate people into “objective knowledge” in the spiritual-divine sphere. Steiner believed it had helped him explore the laws of evolution of the cosmos and of humanity. Every physical being has a corresponding spiritual being, and earthly life is influenced by astral energies and spiritual essences. The Akasha Chronicle is said to be a “cosmic memory” available to initiates.(95)
Channeling: psychic mediums claim to act as channels for information from other selves, usually disembodied entities living on a higher plane. It links beings as diverse as ascended masters, angels, gods, group entities, nature spirits and the Higher Self.
Christ: in New Age the historical figure of Jesus is but one incarnation of an idea or an energy or set of vibrations. For Alice Bailey, a great day of supplication is needed, when all believers will create such a concentration of spiritual energy that there will be a further incarnation, which will reveal how people can save themselves.... For many people, Jesus is nothing more than a spiritual master who, like Buddha, Moses and Mohammed, amongst others, has been penetrated by the cosmic Christ. The cosmic Christ is also known as christic energy at the basis of each being and the whole of being. Individuals need to be initiated gradually into awareness of this christic characteristic they are all said to have. Christ – in New Age terms – represents the highest state of perfection of the self.(96)
Crystals: are reckoned to vibrate at significant frequencies. Hence they are useful in self-transformation. They are used in various therapies and in meditation, visualisation, 'astral travel' or as lucky charms. From the outside looking in, they have no intrinsic power, but are simply beautiful.
Depth Psychology: the school of psychology founded by C.G. Jung, a former disciple of Freud. Jung recognised that religion and spiritual matters were important for wholeness and health. The interpretation of dreams and the analysis of archetypes were key elements in his method. Archetypes are forms which belong to the inherited structure of the human psyche; they appear in the recurrent motifs or images in dreams, fantasies, myths and fairy tales.
Enneagram: (from the Greek ennéa = nine + gramma = sign) the name refers to a diagram composed of a circle with nine points on its circumference, connected within the circle by a triangle and a hexangle. It was originally used for divination, but has become known as the symbol for a system of personality typology consisting of nine standard character types. It became popular after the publication of Helen Palmer's book The Enneagram,(97) but she recognises her indebtedness to the Russian esoteric thinker and practitioner G.I. Gurdjieff, the Chilean psychologist Claudio Naranjo and author Oscar Ichazo, founder of Arica. The origin of the enneagram remains shrouded in mystery, but some maintain that it comes from Sufi mysticism.
Esotericism: (from the Greek esotéros = that which is within) it generally refers to an ancient and hidden body of knowledge available only to initiated groups, who portray themselves as guardians of the truths hidden from the majority of humankind. The initiation process takes people from a merely external, superficial, knowledge of reality to the inner truth and, in the process, awakens their consciousness at a deeper level. People are invited to undertake this “inner journey” to discover the “divine spark” within them. Salvation, in this context, coincides with a discovery of the Self.
Evolution: in New Age it is much more than a question of living beings evolving towards superior life forms; the physical model is projected on to the spiritual realm, so that an immanent power within human beings would propel them towards superior spiritual life forms. Human beings are said not to have full control over this power, but their good or bad actions can accelerate or retard their progress. The whole of creation, including humanity, is seen to be moving inexorably towards a fusion with the divine. Reincarnation clearly has an important place in this view of a progressive spiritual evolution which is said to begin before birth and continue after death.(98)
Expansion of consciousness: if the cosmos is seen as one continuous chain of being, all levels of existence – mineral, vegetable, animal, human, cosmic and divine beings – are interdependent. Human beings are said to become aware of their place in this holistic vision of global reality by expanding their consciousness well beyond its normal limits. The New Age offers a huge variety of techniques to help people reach a higher level of perceiving reality, a way of overcoming the separation between subjects and between subjects and objects in the knowing process, concluding in total fusion of what normal, inferior, awareness sees as separate or distinct realities.
Feng-shui: a form of geomancy, in this case an occult Chinese method of deciphering the hidden presence of positive and negative currents in buildings and other places, on the basis of a knowledge of earthly and atmospheric forces. “Just like the human body or the cosmos, sites are places criss-crossed by influxes whose correct balance is the source of health and life”.(99)
Gnosis: in a generic sense, it is a form of knowledge that is not intellectual, but visionary or mystical, thought to be revealed and capable of joining the human being to the divine mystery. In the first centuries of Christianity, the Fathers of the Church struggled against gnosticism, inasmuch as it was at odds with faith. Some see a reborth of gnostic ideas in much New Age thinking, and some authors connected with New Age actually quote early gnosticism. However, the greater emphasis in New Age on monism and even pantheism or panentheism encourages some to use the term neo-gnosticism to distinguish New Age gnosis from ancient gnosticism.
Great White Brotherhood: Mrs. Blavatsky claimed to have contact with the mahatmas, or masters,exalted beings who together constitute the Great White Brotherhood. She saw them as guiding the evolution of the human race and directing the work of the Theosophical Society.
Hermeticism: philosophical and religious practices and speculations linked to the writings in theCorpus Hermeticum, and the Alexandrian texts attributed to the mythical Hermes Trismegistos.When they first became known during the Renaissance, they were thought to reveal pre-Christian doctrines, but later studies showed they dated from the first century of the christian era.(100)Alexandrian hermeticism is a major resource for modern esotericism, and the two have much in common: eclecticism, a refutation of ontological dualism, an affirmation of the positive and symbolic character of the universe, the idea of the fall and later restoration of mankind. Hermetic speculation has strengthened belief in an ancient fundamental tradition or a so-called philosophia perennisfalsely considered as common to all religious traditions. The high and ceremonial forms of magic developed from Renaissance Hermeticism.
Holism: a key concept in the “new paradigm”, claiming to provide a theoretical frame integrating the entire worldview of modern man. In contrast with an experience of increasing fragmentation in science and everyday life, “wholeness” is put forward as a central methodological and ontological concept. Humanity fits into the universe as part of a single living organism, a harmonious network of dynamic relationships. The classic distinction between subject and object, for which Descartes and Newton are typically blamed, is challenged by various scientists who offer a bridge between science and religion. Humanity is part of a universal network (eco-system, family) of nature and world, and must seek harmony with every element of this quasi-transcendent authority. When one understands one's place in nature, in the cosmos which is also divine, one also understands that “wholeness” and “holiness” are one and the same thing. The clearest articulation of the concept of holism is in the “Gaia” hypothesis.(101)
Human Potential Movement: since its beginnings (Esalen, California, in the 1960s), this has grown into a network of groups promoting the release of the innate human capacity for creativity through self-realisation. Various techniques of personal transformation are used more and more by companies in management training programmes, ultimately for very normal economic reasons. Transpersonal Technologies, the Movement for Inner Spiritual Awareness, Organisational Development and Organisational Transformation are all put forward as non-religious, but in reality company employees can find themselves being submitted to an alien 'spirituality' in a situation which raises questions about personal freedom. There are clear links between Eastern spirituality and psychotherapy, while Jungian psychology and the Human Potential Movement have been very influential on Shamanism and “reconstructed” forms of Paganism like Druidry and Wicca. In a general sense, “personal growth” can be understood as the shape “religious salvation” takes in theNew Age movement: it is affirmed that deliverance from human suffering and weakness will be reached by developing our human potential, which results in our increasingly getting in touch with our inner divinity.(102)
Initiation: in religious ethnology it is the cognitive and/or experiential journey whereby a person is admitted, either alone or as part of a group, by means of particular rituals to membership of a religious community, a secret society (e.g. Freemasonry) or a mystery association (magical, esoteric-occult, gnostic, theosophical etc.).
Karma: (from the Sanskrit root Kri = action, deed) a key notion in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, but one whose meaning has not always been the same. In the ancient Vedic period it referred to the ritual action, especially sacrifice, by means of which a person gained access to the happiness or blessedness of the afterlife. When Jainism and Buddhism appeared (about 6 centuries before Christ), Karma lost its salvific meaning: the way to liberation was knowledge of the Atmanor “self”. In the doctrine of samsara, it was understood as the incessant cycle of human birth and death (Huinduism) or of rebirth (Buddhism).(103) In New Age contexts, the “law of karma” is often seen as the moral equivalent of cosmic evolution. It is no longer to do with evil or suffering – illusions to be experienced as part of a “cosmic game” – but is the universal law of cause and effect, part of the tendency of the interconnected universe towards moral balance.(104)
Monism: the metaphysical belief that differences between beings are illusory. There is only one universal being, of which every thing and every person is a part. Inasmuch as New Age monism includes the idea that reality is fundamentally spiritual, it is a contemporary form of pantheism (sometimes explicitly a rejection of materialism, particularly Marxism). Its claim to resolve all dualism leaves no room for a transcendent God, so everything is God. A further problem arises for Christianity when the question of the origin of evil is raised. C.G. Jung saw evil as the “shadow side” of the God who, in classical theism, is all goodness.
Mysticism: New Age mysticism is turning inwards on oneself rather than communion with God who is “totally other”. It is fusion with the universe, an ultimate annihilation of the individual in the unity of the whole. Experience of Self is taken to be experience of divinity, so one looks within to discover authentic wisdom, creativity and power.
Neopaganism: a title often rejected by many to whom it is applied, it refers to a current that runs parallel to New Age and often interacts with it. In the great wave of reaction against traditional religions, specifically the Judaeo-Christian heritage of the West, many have revisited ancient indigenous, traditional, pagan religions. Whatever preceded Christianity is reckoned to be more genuine to the spirit of the land or the nation, an uncontaminated form of natural religion, in touch with the powers of nature, often matriarchal, magical or Shamanic. Humanity will, it is said, be healthier if it returns to the natural cycle of (agricultural) festivals and to a general affirmation of life. Some “neo-pagan” religions are recent reconstructions whose authentic relationship to original forms can be questioned, particularly in cases where they are dominated by modern ideological components like ecology, feminism or, in a few cases, myths of racial purity.(105)
New Age Music: this is a booming industry. The music concerned is very often packaged as a means of achieving harmony with oneself or the world, and some of it is “Celtic” or druidic. SomeNew Age composers claim their music is meant to build bridges between the conscious and the unconscious, but this is probably more so when, besides melodies, there is meditative and rhythmic repetition of key phrases. As with many elements of the New Age phenomenon, some music is meant to bring people further into the New Age Movement, but most is simply commercial or artistic.
New Thought: a 19th century religious movement founded in the United States of America. Its origins were in idealism, of which it was a popularised form. God was said to be totally good, and evil merely an illusion; the basic reality was the mind. Since one's mind is what causes the events in one's life, one has to take ultimate responsibility for every aspect of one's situation.
Occultism: occult (hidden) knowledge, and the hidden forces of the mind and of nature, are at the basis of beliefs and practices linked to a presumed secret “perennial philosophy” derived from ancient Greek magic and alchemy, on the one hand, and Jewish mysticism, on the other. They are kept hidden by a code of secrecy imposed on those initiated into the groups and societies that guard the knowledge and techniques involved. In the 19th century, spiritualism and the Theosophical Society introduced new forms of occultism which have, in turn, influenced various currents in theNew Age.
Pantheism: (Greek pan = everything and theos = God) the belief that everything is God or, sometimes, that everything is in God and God is in everything (panentheism). Every element of the universe is divine, and the divinity is equally present in everything. There is no space in this view for God as a distinct being in the sense of classical theism.
Parapsychology: treats of such things as extrasensory perception, mental telepathy, telekinesis, psychic healing and communication with spirits via mediums or channeling. Despite fierce criticism from scientists, parapsychology has gone from strength to strength, and fits neatly into the view popular in some areas of the New Age that human beings have extraordinary psychic abilities, but often only in an undeveloped state.
Planetary Consciousness: this world-view developed in the 1980s to foster loyalty to the community of humanity rather than to nations, tribes or other established social groups. It can be seen as the heir to movements in the early 20th century that promoted a world government. The consciousness of the unity of humanity sits well with the Gaia hypothesis.
Positive Thinking: the conviction that people can change physical reality or external circumstances by altering their mental attitude, by thinking positively and constructively. Sometimes it is a matter of becoming consciously aware of unconsciously held beliefs that determine our life-situation. Positive thinkers are promised health and wholeness, often prosperity and even immortality.
Rebirthing: In the early 1970s Leonard Orr described rebirthing as a process by which a person can identify and isolate aoreas in his or her consciousness that are unresolved and at the source of present problems.
Reincarnation: in a New Age context, reincarnation is linked to the concept of ascendant evolution towards becoming divine. As opposed to Indian religions or those derived from them, New Ageviews reincarnation as progression of the individual soul towards a more perfect state. What is reincarnated is essentially something immaterial or spiritual; more precisely, it is consciousness, that spark of energy in the person that shares in cosmic or “christic” energy. Death is nothing but the passage of the soul from one body to another.
Rosicrucians: these are Western occult groups involved in alchemy, astrology, Theosophy and kabbalistic interpretations of scripture. The Rosicrucian Fellowship contributed to the revival of astrology in the 20th century, and the Ancient and Mystical Order of the Rosae Crucis(AMORC) linked success with a presumed ability to materialise mental images of health, riches and happiness.
Shamanism: practices and beliefs linked to communication with the spirits of nature and the spirits of dead people through ritualised possession (by the spirits) of a shaman, who serves as a medium. It has been attractive in New Age circles because it stresses harmony with the forces of nature and healing. There is also a romanticised image of indigenous religions and their closeness to the earth and to nature.
Spiritualism: While there have always been attempts to contact the spirits of the dead, 19th century spiritualism is reckoned to be one of the currents that flow into the New Age. It developed against the background of the ideas of Swedenborg and Mesmer, and became a new kind of religion. Madame Blavatsky was a medium, and so spiritualism had a great influence on the Theosophical Society, although there the emphasis was on contact with entities from the distant past rather than people who had died only recently. Allan Kardec was influential in the spread of spiritualism in Afro-Brasilian religions. There are also spiritualist elements in some New Religious Movements in Japan.
Theosophy: an ancient term, which originally referred to a kind of mysticism. It has been linked to Greek Gnostics and Neoplatonists, to Meister Eckhart, Nicholas of Cusa and Jakob Boehme. The name was given new emphasis by the Theosophical Society, founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. Theosophical mysticism tends to be monistic, stressing the essential unity of the spiritual and material components of the universe. It also looks for the hidden forces that cause matter and spirit to interact, in such a way that human and divine minds eventually meet. Here is where theosophy offers mystical redemption or enlightenment.
Transcendentalism: This was a 19th century movement of writers and thinkers in New England, who shared an idealistic set of beliefs in the essential unity of creation, the innate goodness of the human person, and the superiority of insight over logic and experience for the revelation of the deepest truths. The chief figure is Ralph Waldo Emerson, who moved away from orthodox Christianity, through Unitarianism to a new natural mysticism which integrated concepts from Hinduism with popular American ones like individualism, personal responsibility and the need to succeed.
Wicca: an old English term for witches that has been given to a neo-pagan revival of some elements of ritual magic. It was invented in England in 1939 by Gerald Gardner, who based it on some scholarly texts, according to which medieval European witchcraft was an ancient nature religion persecuted by Christians. Called “the Craft”, it grew rapidly in the 1960s in the United States, where it encountered “women's spirituality”.
Esalen: a community founded in Big Sur, California, in 1962 by Michael Murphy and Richard Price, whose main aim was to arrive at a self-realisation of being through nudism and visions, as well as “bland medicines”. It has become one of the most important centres of the Human Potential Movement, and has spread ideas about holistic medicine in the worlds of education, politics and economics. This has been done through courses in comparative religion, mythology, mysticism, meditation, psychotherapy, expansion of consciousness and so on. Along with Findhorn, it is seen as a key place in the growth of Aquarian consciousness. The Esalen Soviet-American Institute co-operated with Soviet officials on the Health Promotion Project.
Findhorn: this holistic farming community started by Peter and Eileen Caddy achieved the growth of enormous plants by unorthodox methods. The founding of the Findhorn community in Scotland in 1965 was an important milestone in the movement which bears the label of the 'New Age'. In fact, Findhorn 'was seen as embodying its principal ideals of transformation'. The quest for a universal consciousness, the goal of harmony with nature, the vision of a transformed world, and the practice of channeling, all of which have become hallmarks of the New Age Movement, were present at Findhorn from its foundation. The success of this community led to its becoming a model for, and/or an inspiration to, other groups, such as Alternatives in London, Esalen in Big Sur, California, and the Open Center and Omega Institute in New York”.(106)
Monte Verità: a utopian community near Ascona in Switzerland. Since the end of the 19th century it was a meeting point for European and American exponents of the counter-culture in the fields of politics, psychology, art and ecology. The Eranos conferences have been held there every year since 1933, gathering some of the great luminaries of the New Age. The yearbooks make clear the intention to create an integrated world religion.(107) It is fascinating to see the list of those who have gathered over the years at Monte Verità.
Documents of the Catholic Church's magisterium
John Paul II, Address to the United States Bishops of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska on their “Ad Limina” visit, 28 May 1993.
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Letter to Bishops on Certain Aspects of Christian Meditation (Orationis Formas), Vatican City (Vatican Polyglot Press) 1989.
International Theological Commission, Some Current Questions Concerning Eschatology, 1992, Nos. 9-10 (on reincarnation).
International Theological Commission, Some Questions on the Theology of Redemption, 1995, I/29 and II/35-36.
Argentine Bishops' Conference Committee for Culture, Frente a una Nueva Era. Desafio a la pastoral en el horizonte de la Nueva Evangelización, 1993.
Irish Theological Commission, A New Age of the Spirit? A Catholic Response to the New Age Phenomenon, Dublin 1994.
Godfried Danneels, Au-delà de la mort: réincarnation et resurrection, Pastoral Letter, Easter 1991.
Godfried Danneels, Christ or Aquarius? Pastoral Letter, Christmas 1990 (Veritas, Dublin).
Carlo Maccari, “La 'mistica cosmica' del New Age”, in Religioni e Sette nel Mondo 1996/2.
Carlo Maccari, La New Age di fronte alla fede cristiana, Turin (LDC) 1994.
Edward Anthony McCarthy, The New Age Movement, Pastoral Instruction, 1992.
Paul Poupard, Felicità e fede cristiana, Casale Monferrato (Ed. Piemme) 1992.
Joseph Ratzinger, La fede e la teologia ai nostri giorni, Guadalajara, May 1996, inL'Osservatore Romano 27 October 1996.
Norberto Rivera Carrera, Instrucción Pastoral sobre el New Age, 7 January 1996.
Christoph von Schönborn, Risurrezione e reincarnazione, (Italian translation) Casale Monferrato (Piemme) 1990.
J. Francis Stafford, Il movimento “New Age”, in L'Osservatore Romano, 30 October 1992.
Working Group on New Religious Movements (ed.), Vatican City, Sects and New Religious Movements. An Anthology of Texts From the Catholic Church, Washington (USCC) 1995.
Raúl Berzosa Martinez, Nueva Era y Cristianismo. Entre el diálogo y la ruptura, Madrid (BAC) 1995.
André Fortin, Les Galeries du Nouvel Age: un chrétien s'y promène, Ottawa (Novalis) 1993.
Claude Labrecque, Une religion américaine. Pistes de discernement chrétien sur les courants populaires du “Nouvel Age”, Montréal (Médiaspaul) 1994.
The Methodist Faith and Order Committee, The New Age Movement Report to Conference 1994.
Aidan Nichols, “The New Age Movement”, in The Month, March 1992, pp. 84-89.
Alessandro Olivieri Pennesi, Il Cristo del New Age. Indagine critica, Vatican City (Libreria Editrice Vaticana) 1999.
Ökumenische Arbeitsgruppe “Neue Religiöse Bewegungen in der Schweiz”, New Age – aus christlicher Sicht, Freiburg (Paulusverlag) 1987.
Mitch Pacwa s.j., Catholics and the New Age. How Good People are being drawn into Jungian Psychology, the Enneagram and the New Age of Aquarius, Ann Arbor MI (Servant) 1992.
John Saliba, Christian Responses to the New Age Movement. A Critical Assessment, London (Chapman) 1999.
Josef Südbrack, SJ, Neue Religiosität - Herausforderung für die Christen, Mainz (Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag) 1987 = La nuova religiosità: una sfida per i cristiani, Brescia (Queriniana) 1988.
“Theologie für Laien” secretariat, Faszination Esoterik, Zürich (Theologie für Laien) 1996.
David Toolan, Facing West from California's Shores. A Jesuit's Journey into New Age Consciousness, New York (Crossroad) 1987.
Juan Carlos Urrea Viera, “New Age”. Visión Histórico-Doctrinal y Principales Desafíos,Santafé de Bogotá (CELAM) 1996.
Jean Vernette, “L'avventura spirituale dei figli dell'Acquario”, in Religioni e Sette nel Mondo1996/2.
Jean Vernette, Jésus dans la nouvelle religiosité, Paris (Desclée) 1987.
Jean Vernette, Le New Age, Paris (P.U.F.) 1992.
9 GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
William Bloom, The New Age. An Anthology of Essential Writings, London (Rider) 1991.
Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism, Berkeley (Shambhala) 1975.
Fritjof Capra, The Turning Point: Science, Society and the Rising Culture,
Toronto (Bantam) 1983.
Benjamin Creme, The Reappearance of Christ and the Masters of Wisdom,
London (Tara Press) 1979.
Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Conspiracy. Personal and Social Transformation in Our Time, Los Angeles (Tarcher) 1980.
Chris Griscom, Ecstasy is a New Frequency: Teachings of the Light Institute, New York (Simon & Schuster) 1987.
Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago (University of Chicago Press) 1970.
David Spangler, The New Age Vision, Forres (Findhorn Publications) 1980.
David Spangler, Revelation: The Birth of a New Age, San Francisco (Rainbow Bridge) 1976.
David Spangler, Towards a Planetary Vision, Forres (Findhorn Publications) 1977.
David Spangler, The New Age, Issaquah (The Morningtown Press) 1988.
David Spangler, The Rebirth of the Sacred, London (Gateway Books) 1988.
Christoph Bochinger, “New Age” und moderne Religion: Religionswissenschaftliche Untersuchungen, Gütersloh (Kaiser) 1994.
Bernard Franck, Lexique du Nouvel-Age, Limoges (Droguet-Ardant) 1993.
Hans Gasper, Joachim Müller and Friederike Valentin, Lexikon der Sekten, Sondergruppen und Weltanschauungen. Fakten, Hintergründe, Klärungen, updated edition, Freiburg-Basel-Vienna (Herder) 2000. See, inter alia, the article “New Age” by Christoph Schorsch, Karl R. Essmann and Medard Kehl, and “Reinkarnation” by Reinhard Hümmel.
Manabu Haga and Robert J. Kisala (eds.), “The New Age in Japan”, in Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Fall 1995, vol. 22, numbers 3 & 4.
Wouter Hanegraaff, New Age Religion and Western Culture. Esotericism in the Mirror of Nature, Leiden-New York-Köln (Brill) 1996. This book has an extensive bibliography.
Paul Heelas, The New Age Movement. The Celebration of the Self and the Sacralization of Modernity, Oxford (Blackwell) 1996.
Massimo Introvigne, New Age & Next Age, Casale Monferrato (Piemme) 2000.
Michel Lacroix, L'Ideologia della New Age, Milano (Il Saggiatore) 1998.
J. Gordon Melton, New Age Encyclopedia, Detroit (Gale Research Inc) 1990.
Elliot Miller, A Crash Course in the New Age, Eastbourne (Monarch) 1989.
Georges Minois, Histoire de l'athéisme, Paris (Fayard) 1998.
Arild Romarheim, The Aquarian Christ. Jesus Christ as Portrayed by New Religious Movements, Hong Kong (Good Tiding) 1992.
Hans-Jürgen Ruppert, Durchbruch zur Innenwelt. Spirituelle Impulse aus New Age und Esoterik in kritischer Beleuchtung, Stuttgart (Quell Verlag) 1988.
Edwin Schur, The Awareness Trap. Self-Absorption instead of Social Change, New York (McGraw Hill) 1977.
Rodney Stark and William Sims Bainbridge, The Future of Religion. Secularisation, Revival and Cult Formation, Berkeley (University of California Press) 1985.
Steven Sutcliffe and Marion Bowman (eds.), Beyond the New Age. Exploring Alternative Spirituality, Edinburgh (Edinburgh University Press), 2000.
Charles Taylor, Sources of the Self. The Making of the Modern Identity, Cambridge (Cambridge University Press) 1989.
Charles Taylor, The Ethics of Authenticity, London (Harvard University Press) 1991
Edênio Valle s.v.d., “Psicologia e energias da mente: teorias alternativas”, in A Igreja Católica diante do pluralismo religioso do Brasil (III). Estudos da CNBB n. 71, São Paulo (paulus) 1994.
World Commission on Culture and Development, Our Creative Diversity. Report of the World Commission on Culture and Development, Paris
(UNESCO) 1995.
M. York, “The New Age Movement in Great Britain”, in Syzygy. Journal of Alternative Religion and Culture, 1:2-3 (1992) Stanford CA.
(1)Paul Heelas, The New Age Movement. The Celebration of the Self and the Sacralization of Modernity, Oxford (Blackwell) 1996, p. 137.
(2)Cf. P. Heelas, op. cit., p. 164f.
(3)Cf. P. Heelas, op. cit., p. 173.
(4)Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Dominum et vivificantem (18 May 1986), 53.
(5)Cf. Gilbert Markus o.p., “Celtic Schmeltic”, (1) in Spirituality, vol. 4, November-December 1998, No 21, pp. 379-383 and (2) in Spirituality, vol. 5, January-February 1999, No. 22, pp. 57-61.
(6)John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, (Knopf) 1994, 90.
(7)Cf. particularly Massimo Introvigne, New Age & Next Age, Casale Monferrato (Piemme) 2000.
(8)M. Introvigne, op. cit., p. 267.
(9)Cf. Michel Lacroix, L'Ideologia della New Age, Milano (il Saggiatore) 1998, p. 86. The word “sect” is used here not in any pejorative sense, but rather to denote a sociological phenomenon.
(10)Cf. Wouter J. Hanegraaff, New Age Religion and Western Culture. Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought, Leiden-New York-Köln (Brill) 1996, p. 377 and elsewhere.
(11)Cf. Rodney Stark and William Sims Bainbridge, The Future of Religion. Secularisation, Revival and Cult Formation, Berkeley (University of California Press) 1985.
(12)Cf. M. Lacroix, op. cit., p. 8.
(13)The Swiss “Theologie für Laien” course entitled Faszination Esoterik puts this clearly. Cf. “Kursmappe 1 – New Age und Esoterik”, text to accompany slides, p. 9.
(14)The term was already in use in the title of The New Age Magazine, which was being published by the Ancient Accepted Scottish Masonic Rite in the southern jurisdiction of the United States of America as early as 1900 Cf. M. York, “The New Age Movement in Great Britain”, in Syzygy. Journal of Alternative Religion and Culture, 1: 2-3 (1992), Stanford CA, p. 156, note 6. The exact timing and nature of the change to the New Age are interpreted variously by different authors; estimates of timing range from 1967 to 2376.
(15)In late 1977, Marilyn Ferguson sent a questionnaire to 210 “persons engaged in social transformation”, whom she also calls “Aquarian Conspirators”. The following is interesting: “When respondents were asked to name individuals whose ideas had influenced them, either through personal contact or through their writings, those most often named, in order of frequency, were Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, C.G. Jung, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Aldous Huxley, Robert Assagioli, and J. Krishnamurti. “Others frequently mentioned: Paul Tillich, Hermann Hesse, Alfred North Whitehead, Martin Buber, Ruth Benedict, Margaret Mead, Gregory Bateson, Tarthang Tulku, Alan Watts, Sri Aurobindo, Swami Muktananda, D.T. Suzuki, Thomas Merton, Willis Harman, Kenneth Boulding, Elise Boulding, Erich Fromm, Marshall McLuhan, Buckminster Fuller, Frederic Spiegelberg, Alfred Korzybski, Heinz von Foerster, John Lilly, Werner Erhard, Oscar Ichazo, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Joseph Chilton Pearce, Karl Pribram, Gardner Murphy, and Albert Einstein”: The Aquarian Conspiracy. Personal and Social Transformation in Our Time,Los Angeles (Tarcher) 1980, p. 50 (note 1) and p. 434.
(16)W.J. Hanegraaff, op. cit., p. 520.
(17)Irish Theological Commission, A New Age of the Spirit? A Catholic Response to the New Age Phenomenon, Dublin 1994, chapter 3.
(18)Cf. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago (University of Chicago Press), 1970, p. 175.
(19)Cf. Alessandro Olivieri Pennesi, Il Cristo del New Age. Indagine critica, Vatican City (Libreria Editrice Vaticana) 1999, passim, but especially pp. 11-34. See Also section 4 below.
(20)It is worth recalling the lyrics of this song, which quickly imprinted themselves on to the minds of a whole generation in North America and Western Europe: “When the Moon is in the Seventh House, and Jupiter aligns with Mars, then Peace will guide the Planets, and Love will steer the Stars. This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius... Harmony and understanding, ympathy and trust abounding; no more falsehoods or derision - golden living, dreams of visions, mystic crystal revelation, and the mind's true liberation. Aquarius...”.
(21)P. Heelas, op. cit., p. 1f. The August 1978 journal of the Berkeley Christian Coalition puts it this way: “Just ten years ago the funky drug-based spirituality of the hippies and the mysticism of the Western yogi were restricted to the counterculture. Today, both have found their way into the mainstream of our cultural mentality. Science, the health professions, and the arts, not to mention psychology and religion, are all engaged in a fundamental reconstruction of their basic premises”. Quoted in Marilyn Ferguson, op. cit., p. 370f.
(22)Cf. Chris Griscom, Ecstasy is a New Frequency: Teachings of the Light Institute, New York (Simon & Schuster) 1987, p. 82.
(23)See the Glossary of New Age terms, §7.2 above.
(24)Cf. W.J. Hanegraaff, op. cit., chapter 15 (“The Mirror of Secular Thought”). The system of correspondences is clearly inherited from traditional esotericism, but it has a new meaning for those who (consciously or not) follow Swedenborg. While every natural element in traditional esoteric doctrine had the divine life within it, for Swedenborg nature is a dead reflection of the living spiritual world. This idea is very much at the heart of the post-modern vision of a disenchanted world and various attempts to “re-enchant” it. Blavatsky rejected correspondences, and Jung emphatically relativised causality in favour of the esoteric world-view of correspondences.
(25)W.J. Hanegraaff, op. cit., pp. 54-55.
(26)Cf. Reinhard Hümmel, “Reinkarnation”, in Hans Gasper, Joachim Müller, Friederike Valentin (eds.), Lexikon der Sekten, Sondergruppen und Weltanschauungen. Fakten, Hintergründe, Klärungen, Freiburg-Basel-Wien (Herder) 2000, 886-893.
(27)Michael Fuss, “New Age and Europe – A Challenge for Theology”, in Mission Studies Vol. VIII-2, 16, 1991, p. 192.
(28)Ibid., loc. cit.
(29)Ibid.,p. 193.
(31)Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation (Orationis Formas), 1989, 14.
Cf. Gaudium et Spes, 19; Fides et Ratio, 22.
(32)W.J. Hanegraaff, op. cit., p. 448f. The objectives are quoted from the final (1896) version, earlier versions of which stressed the irrationality of “bigotry” and the urgency of promoting non-sectarian education. Hanegraaff quotes J. Gordon Melton's description of New Age religion as rooted in the “occult-metaphysical” tradition (ibid., p. 455).
(34)Thomas M. King s.j., “Jung and Catholic Spirituality”, in America, 3 April 1999, p. 14. The author points out that New Age devotees “quote passages dealing with the I Ching, astrology and Zen, while Catholics quote passages dealing with Christian mystics, the liturgy and the psychological value of the sacrament of reconciliation” (p. 12). He also lists Catholic personalities and spiritual institutions clearly inspired and guided by Jung's psychology.
(35)Cf. W.J. Hanegraaff, op. cit., p. 501f.
(36)Carl Gustav Jung, Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido, quoted in Hanegraaff, op. cit., p. 503.
(37)On this point cf. Michel Schooyans, L'Évangile face au désordre mondial, with a preface by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Paris (Fayard) 1997.
(38)Quoted in the Maranatha Community's The True and the False New Age. Introductory Ecumenical Notes, Manchester (Maranatha) 1993, 8.10 – the original page numbering is not specified.
(39)Michel Lacroix, L'Ideologia della New Age, Milano (il Saggiatore) 1998, p. 84f.
(40)Cf. the section on David Spangler's ideas in Actualité des religions nº 8, septembre 1999, p. 43.
(41)M. Ferguson, op. cit., p. 407.
(43)“To be an American... is precisely to imagine a destiny rather than inherit one. We have always been inhabitants of myth rather than history”: Leslie Fiedler, quoted in M. Ferguson, op. cit., p. 142.
(44)Cf. P. Heelas, op. cit., p. 173f.
(45)David Spangler, The New Age, Issaquah (Mornington Press) 1988, p. 14.
(46)P. Heelas, op. cit., p. 168.
(47)See the Preface to Michel Schooyans, L'Évangile face au désordre mondial,
op. cit. This quotation is translated from the Italian, Il nuovo disordine mondiale, Cinisello Balsamo (San Paolo) 2000, p. 6.
(48)Cf. Our Creative Diversity. Report of the World Commission on Culture and Development, Paris (UNESCO) 1995, which illustrates the importance given to celebrating and promoting diversity.
(49)Cf. Christoph Bochinger, “New Age” und moderne Religion: Religionswissenschaftliche Untersuchungen, Gütersloh (Kaiser) 1994, especially chapter 3.
(50)The shortcomings of techniques which are not yet prayer are discussed below in § 3.4, “Christian mysticism and New Age mysticism”.
(51)Cf. Carlo Maccari, “La 'mistica cosmica' del New Age”, in Religioni e Sette nel Mondo1996/2.
(52)Jean Vernette, “L'avventura spirituale dei figli dell'Acquario”, in Religioni e Sette nel Mondo1996/2, p. 42f.
(53)J. Vernette, loc. cit.
(54)Cf. J. Gordon Melton, New Age Encyclopedia, Detroit (Gale Research) 1990, pp. xiii-xiv.
(55)David Spangler, The Rebirth of the Sacred, London (Gateway Books) 1984, p. 78f.
(56)David Spangler, The New Age, op. cit., p. 13f.
(57)John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente (10 November 1994), 9.
(58)Matthew Fox, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ. The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance, San Francisco (Harper & Row) 1988, p. 135.
(59)Cf. the document issued by the Argentine Bishops' Conference Committee for Culture: Frente a una Nueva Era. Desafío a la pastoral en el horizonte de la Nueva Evangelización, 1993.
(60)Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Orationis Formas, 23.
(61)Ibid.,3. See the sections on meditation and contemplative prayer in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§. 2705-2719.
(62)Cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Orationis Formas, 13.
(63)Cf. Brendan Pelphrey, “I said, You are Gods. Orthodox Christian Theosis and Deification in the New Religious Movements” in Spirituality East and West, Easter 2000 (No. 13).
(64)Adrian Smith, God and the Aquarian Age. The new era of the Kingdom, Great Wakering (McCrimmons) 1990, p. 49.
(65)Cf. Benjamin Creme, The Reappearance of Christ and the Masters of Wisdom, London (Tara Press) 1979, p. 116.
(66)Cf. Jean Vernette, Le New Age, Paris (P.U.F.) 1992 (Collection Encyclopédique Que sais-je?), p. 14.
(67)Catechism of the Catholic Church, 52.
(68)Cf. Alessandro Olivieri Pennesi, Il Cristo del New Age. Indagine Critica, Vatican City (Libreria Editrice Vaticana) 1999, especially pages 13-34. The list of common points is on p. 33.
(69)The Nicene Creed.
(70)Michel Lacroix, L'Ideologia della New Age, Milano (Il Saggiatore) 1998, p. 74.
(71)Ibid., p. 68.
(72)Edwin Schur, The Awareness Trap. Self-Absorption instead of Social Change, New York (McGraw Hill) 1977, p. 68.
(73)Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§ 355-383.
(74)Cf. Paul Heelas, The New Age Movement. The Celebration of the Self and the Sacralization of Modernity, Oxford (Blackwell) 1996, p. 161.
(75)A Catholic Response to the New Age Phenomenon, Irish Theological Commission 1994, chapter 3.
(76)Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Orationis Formas, 3.
(77)Ibid.,7.
(78)William Bloom, The New Age. An Anthology of Essential Writings, London (Rider) 1991, p. xvi.
(79)Catechism of the Catholic Church, § 387.
(80)Ibid., § 1849.
(82)John Paul II, Apostolic Letter on human suffering “Salvifici doloris” (11 February 1984), 19.
(83)Cf. David Spangler, The New Age, op. cit., p. 28.
(84)Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Redemptoris Missio (7 December 1990), 6, 28, and the Declaration Dominus Jesus (6 August 2000) by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 12.
(85)Cf. R. Rhodes, The Counterfeit Christ of the New Age Movement, Grand Rapids (Baker) 1990, p. 129.
(86)Helen Bergin o.p., “Living One's Truth”, in The Furrow, January 2000, p. 12.
(87)Ibid.,p. 15.
(88)Cf. P. Heelas, op. cit., p. 138.
(89)Elliot Miller, A Crash Course in the New Age, Eastbourne (Monarch) 1989, p. 122. For documentation on the vehemently anti-Christian stance of spiritualism, cf. R. Laurence Moore, “Spiritualism”, in Edwin S. Gaustad (ed.), The Rise of Adventism: Religion and Society in Mid-Nineteenth-Century America, New York 1974, pp. 79-103, and also R. Laurence Moore, In Search of White Crows: Spiritualism, Parapsychology, and American Culture, New York (Oxford University Press) 1977.
(90)Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical letter Fides et Ratio (14 September 1998), 36-48.
(91)Cf. John Paul II, Address to the United States Bishops of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska on their “Ad Limina” visit, 28 May 1993.
(92)Cf. John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa (14 September 1995), 103. The Pontifical Council for Culture has published a handbook listing these centres throughout the world: Catholic Cultural Centres (3rd edition, Vatican City, 2001).
(93)Cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Orationis Formas, and § 3 above.
(94)This is one area where lack of information can allow those responsible for education to be misled by groups whose real agenda is inimical to the Gospel message. It is particularly the case in schools, where a captive curious young audience is an ideal target for ideological merchandising. Cf. thecaveat in Massimo Introvigne, New Age & Next Age, Casale Monferrato (Piemme) 2000, p. 277f.
(95)Cf. J. Badewien, Antroposofia, in H. Waldenfels (ed.) Nuovo Dizionario delle Religioni, Cinisello Balsamo (San Paolo) 1993, 41.
(96)Cf. Raúl Berzosa Martinez, Nueva Era y Cristianismo, Madrid (BAC) 1995, 214.
(97)Helen Palmer, The Enneagram, New York (Harper-Row) 1989.
(98)Cf. document of the Argentine Episcopal Committee for Culture, op. cit.
(99)J. Gernet, in J.-P. Vernant et al., Divination et Rationalité, Paris (Seuil) 1974, p. 55.
(100)Cf. Susan Greenwood, “Gender and Power in Magical Practices”, in Steven Sutcliffe and Marion Bowman (eds.), Beyond New Age. Exploring Alternative Spirituality, Edinburgh (Edinburgh University Press) 2000, p. 139.
(101)Cf. M. Fuss, op. cit., 198-199.
(102)For a brief but clear treatment of the Human Potential Movement, see Elizabeth Puttick, “Personal Development: the Spiritualisation and Secularisation of the Human Potential Movement”, in: Steven Sutcliffe and Marion Bowman (eds.), Beyond New Age. Exploring Alternative Spirituality, Edinburgh (Edinburgh University Press) 2000, pp. 201-219.
(103)Cf. C. Maccari, La “New Age” di fronte alla fede cristiana, Leumann-Torino (LDC) 1994, 168.
(104)Cf. W.J. Hanegraaff, op. cit., 283-290.
(105)On this last, very delicate, point, see Eckhard Türk's article “Neonazismus” in Hans Gasper, Joachim Müller, Friederike Valentin (eds.), Lexikon der Sekten, Sondergruppen und Weltanschauungen. Fakten, Hintergründe, Klärungen, Freiburg- Basel-Wien (Herder) 2000, p. 726.
(106)Cf. John Saliba, Christian Responses to the New Age Movement. A Critical Assessment, London, (Geoffrey Chapman) 1999, p.1.
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Staffing Policy
Mandatory – Quality Area 4
This policy will provide guidelines for engaging staff at Elsa Macleod Kindergarten Inc., including:
employing sufficient numbers of educators to meet legislative, policy and service standards
employing educators with qualifications and experience that meet legislative, policy and service standards
providing appropriate supervision to staff and other adults at the service
complying with legislation relating to Working with Children Checks and criminal history record checks.
This policy should be read in conjunction with the following service policies:
Determining Responsible Person Policy
Participation of Volunteers and Students Policy
1. Values
Elsa Macleod Kindergarten Inc. is committed to:
ensuring that the health, safety and wellbeing of children at the service is protected at all times while also promoting their learning and development
fulfilling a duty of care to all children attending the service
providing accountable and effective staffing and management practices
employing educators with a range of relevant qualifications and experience to provide a quality educational program that meets the needs of children and families in the community
employing educators according to policy and funding requirements
complying with current legislation in relation to the employment of staff, including the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, Fair Work Act 2009 and the Working with Children Act 2005.
This policy applies to the Approved Provider, Nominated Supervisor, Certified Supervisor, educators, other staff, students on placement and volunteers at Elsa Macleod Kindergarten Inc.
3. Background and legislation
Research has demonstrated that the employment of appropriately-qualified staff in early childhood services is a key contributor to the delivery of quality programs and better learning outcomes for children. “Those with higher qualification levels and standards of training are better equipped to provide improved learning environments and mentor educators in quality practices, leading to better outcomes for children” (Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011). The Australian Government has acknowledged this by legislating minimum qualification requirements for all educators working in early childhood education and care services. Eligibility for services to receive funding also includes requirements for staff to hold specific qualifications (Victorian kindergarten policy, procedures and funding criteria – refer to Sources).
A current list of approved qualifications is available on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) website (refer to Sources). Applications can also be made to ACECQA to determine if other qualifications (such as those gained overseas) entitle the individual to work as an early childhood teacher, diploma-level educator or certificate III level educator. Application forms are available on the ACECQA website and a fee is required for processing an application.
In addition, current legislation requires at least one educator who holds current approved first aid qualifications, anaphylaxis management training and emergency asthma management training to be in attendance and immediately available at all times that children are being educated and cared for by the service. These qualifications must be updated as required, and details of qualifications must be kept on an individual’s staff record. As a demonstration of duty of care and best practice, KPV recommends all educators have current approved first aid qualifications, anaphylaxis management training and emergency asthma management training.
It is essential that all educators and other adults engaged to work directly with children are provided with opportunities to learn and develop new skills in relation to supporting the learning and development of young children. Such opportunities can arise when more qualified and experienced educators offer guidance and feedback to other educators. Opportunities for professional development are also crucial for all educators to ensure that their work practice remains current and relevant to the practices and principles of the national Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) (refer to Sources).
Staff are required to actively supervise children at all times when children are in attendance at the service (refer to Supervision of Children Policy). To facilitate this, services are required to comply with legislated educator-to-child ratios at all times, and these ratios are based on the ages and number of children at the service. Only those educators working directly with children (refer to Definitions) can be counted in the ratio.
To ensure that children are protected from harm while participating in service programs, all educators and staff are required by law to have and maintain a Working with Children (WWC) Check or a criminal history record check (refer to Definitions and Sources). This also applies to volunteers and students unless they are working under the direct supervision of an educator who is over 18 years of age and holds, or is actively working towards (refer to Definitions), an approved diploma-level education and care qualification (Regulation 358).
Parents/guardians and family members closely related to children attending the service are exempt from needing a WWC Check. However a service may decide, as a demonstration of duty of care, that all parents/guardians who volunteer at the service are required to undergo a WWC Check.
Code of Conduct Policy – management, co-ordinators, educators, staff, students on placement and volunteers are required to be respectful and ethical at all times. This policy explains the responsibilities of all parties in relation to one another, to children and families using the service, and to individuals and organisations in the wider community.
Determining Responsible Person Policy – legislation requires all approved services to ensure that a Responsible Person is physically present at all times the service is educating and caring for children. The Responsible Person is either the Approved Provider, or the Nominated Supervisor or Certified Supervisor who has been placed in day-to-day charge of the service. This policy provides guidelines to determine the Responsible Person at the service.
Participation of Volunteers and Students Policy – this policy provides guidelines for the engagement and participation of volunteers and students at the service, while ensuring that children’s health, safety and wellbeing is protected at all times.
Relevant legislation and standards include but are not limited to:
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010: Sections 12, 13, 14, 161, 162, 165, 169
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011: Regulations 14, 15, 16, 46, 47, 48, 49, 83, 84, 118, 120, 121–123, 125–126, 129–135, 136, 137–143, 145–152, 355, 357, 358, 360–364
Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic)
Fair Work Act 2009
Information Privacy Act 2000 (Vic), as amended 2011
National Quality Standard, Quality Area 4: Staffing Arrangements
– Standard 4.1: Staffing arrangements enhance children’s learning and development and ensure their safety and wellbeing
– Element 4.1.1: Educator-to-child ratios and qualification requirements are maintained at all times
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007
Privacy Act 1998 (Cth), as amended 2011
Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic)
Working with Children Regulations 2006 (Vic)
The terms defined in this section relate specifically to this policy. For commonly used terms e.g. Approved Provider, Regulatory Authority, National Law, National Regulations etc. refer to the General Definitions section of this manual.
Actively working towards: An educator who is enrolled in a course for a qualification, and provides the Approved Provider with documentary evidence of their commencement in the course, their satisfactory progress towards completion of the course and ongoing evidence that they are meeting all the requirements to maintain their enrolment. Educators who are ‘actively working towards’ an approved diploma-level qualification must also hold an approved certificate III level education and care qualification or have completed the mandatory units of study in an approved certificate III level education and care qualification as determined by the national authority (ACECQA).
Adequate supervision: (In relation to this policy) supervision entails all children (individuals and groups) in all areas of the service, being in sight and/or hearing of an educator at all times including during toileting, sleep, rest and transition routines. Services are required to comply with the legislative requirements for educator-to-child ratios at all times. Supervision contributes to protecting children from hazards that may emerge in play, including hazards created by the equipment used.
Adequate supervision refers to constant, active and diligent supervision of every child at the service. Adequate supervision requires that educators are always in a position to observe each child, respond to individual needs, and immediately intervene if necessary. Variables affecting supervision levels include:
number, age and abilities of children
number and positioning of educators
current activity of each child
areas in which the children are engaged in an activity (visibility and accessibility)
developmental profile of each child and of the group of children
experience, knowledge and skill of each educator
need for educators to move between areas (effective communication strategies).
Approved first aid qualification: A list of approved first aid qualifications, anaphylaxis management and emergency asthma management training is published on the ACECQA website: www.acecqa.gov.au
Certified Supervisor: An educator with a Supervisor Certificate (in accordance with the National Regulations) who may consent to being placed in day-to-day charge of the education and care service. The designation must be made by the Approved Provider or the Nominated Supervisor and accepted in writing by the Certified Supervisor. A Certified Supervisor placed in day-to-day charge of a service does not have the same responsibilities under the National Law as the Nominated Supervisor. Applications for Supervisor Certificates are assessed by the Regulatory Authority.
Criminal history record check: A full-disclosure, Australia-wide criminal history record check issued by Victoria Police (refer to Sources), or by a police force or other authority of a state or territory, or the Commonwealth. It may also be referred to as a National Police Certificate or Police Records Check.
Early childhood teacher: A person with an approved early childhood teaching qualification. Approved qualifications are listed on the ACECQA website: www.acecqa.gov.au
Educator: An individual who provides education and care for children as part of an education and care service.
Educational Leader: The Approved Provider of an education and care service must designate, in writing, a suitably-qualified and experienced educator, co-ordinator or other individual to lead the development and implementation of educational programs at the service (Regulation 118). This person must have a thorough understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework (or other approved learning framework), be able to guide other educators in their planning and reflection, and mentor colleagues in the implementation of their practice.
Fit and proper: In determining whether an applicant is fit and proper, the Regulatory Authority must take into account the applicant’s history of involvement in education and care services, their compliance with current and prior law, criminal history record check, and any bankruptcy or insolvency issues. The Regulatory Authority may reassess fitness and propriety at any time. Applicants are required to complete the Declaration of Fitness and Propriety form on the ACECQA website and have this approved by the Regulatory Authority. This form must be completed by an individual provider applicant or, in the case of an entity provider applicant, each person with management or control of a service. The form is available at: http://acecqa.gov.au/application-forms/provider-approvals/ (Note: Under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010, Section 5, Definitions: “person with management or control, in relation to an education and care service, means – (b) if the provider of the service is an eligible association, each member of the executive committee of the association who has the responsibility, alone or with others, for managing the delivery of the education and care service”.)
Nominated Supervisor: A person who is a Certified Supervisor and has been nominated by the Approved Provider of the service under Part 3 of the Act to be the Nominated Supervisor of that service, and who has consented to that nomination. The Nominated Supervisor has day-to-day responsibility for the service in accordance with the National Regulations. All services must have a Nominated Supervisor.
Responsible Person: The Approved Provider (if that person is an individual, and in any other case the person with management or control of the service operated by the Approved Provider) or a Nominated Supervisor or Certified Supervisor who has been placed in day-to-day charge of the service in accordance with the National Regulations.
Staff record: A record which the Approved Provider of a centre-based service must keep containing information about the Nominated Supervisor, the Educational Leader, staff, volunteers, students and the Responsible Person at a service. Details that must be recorded include qualifications, training and the Working with Children Check (Regulations 146–149). A sample staff record is available on the ACECQA website: http://acecqa.gov.au/storage/Staff%20record.pdf
Supervisor Certificate: Allows a person to consent to be the Nominated Supervisor or Certified Supervisor, and be placed in day-to-day charge of an approved service. Applicants must be 18 years or older, be assessed as a fit-and-proper person (refer to Definitions above) and meet the minimum requirements for qualifications, experience and management capability required under the Regulations (Regulations 46–49). Applicants for a Supervisor Certificate are assessed by the Regulatory Authority.
Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT): The statutory authority for the regulation and promotion of the teaching profession in Victoria, established as part of the Victorian Institute of Teaching Act 2001. All teachers in Victorian government schools, Catholic schools and independent schools are required to be registered with the VIT in order to practise in their profession.
Victorian kindergarten policy, procedures and funding criteria: Sets out the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s (DEECD) operational requirements for early childhood services in receipt of state government funding for the provision of a four-year-old kindergarten program.
Working directly with children: For the purposes of the National Regulations, working directly with children is defined as being physically present with children and directly engaged in providing them with education and/or care.
Working with Children (WWC) Check: The check is a legal requirement for those undertaking paid or voluntary child-related work in Victoria and is a measure to help protect children from harm arising as a result of physical or sexual abuse. The Department of Justice assesses a person’s suitability to work with children by examining relevant serious sexual, physical and drug offences in a person’s national criminal history and, where appropriate, their professional history. A WWC Check card, notice or document (valid for five years), is granted to a person under working with children legislation if:
they have been assessed as suitable to work with children
there has been no information that, if the person worked with children, they would pose a risk to those children
they are not prohibited from attempting to obtain, undertake or remain in child-related employment.
Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA): www.acecqa.gov.au
KPV’s Early Childhood Management Manual contains additional information and attachments relating to staffing, including sample position descriptions, an induction (staff orientation) checklist and professional development planning and performance review information.
National Early Years Learning Framework: www.deewr.gov.au/earlychildhood/policy_agenda/quality/pages/earlyyearslearningframework.aspx
Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework: www.education.vic.gov.au/earlylearning/default.htm
Victorian kindergarten policy, procedures and funding criteria: www.education.vic.gov.au/ecprofessionals/kindergarten/
Working with Children Check unit, Department of Justice – provides details of how to obtain a WWC Check: www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren/
Victoria Police – National Police Record Check: www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274
Administration of First Aid Policy
Anaphylaxis Policy
Asthma Policy
Child Safe Environment Policy
Complaints and Grievances Policy
Curriculum Development Policy
Delivery and Collection of Children Policy
Inclusion and Equity Policy
Interactions with Children Policy
Supervision of Children Policy
ensuring that the service does not operate without a Nominated Supervisor (refer to Definitions), as required under the National Law (refer to Determining Responsible Person Policy)
ensuring that there is a Responsible Person (refer to Definitions and Determining Responsible Person Policy) on the premises at all times the service is in operation
ensuring that the Nominated Supervisor, Certified Supervisors, educators and all staff comply with the Code of Conduct Policy at all times
ensuring that children being educated and cared for by the service are adequately supervised (refer to Definitions and Supervision of Children Policy) at all times they are in the care of that service (National Law: Section 165(1))
complying with the legislated educator-to-child ratios at all times (National Law: Sections 169(1) & (3), National Regulations: Regulations 123, 355, 357, 360)
ensuring that all staffing meets the requirements of the National Law, National Regulations and the Victorian kindergarten policy, procedures and funding criteria (refer to Sources) at all times the service is in operation
complying with current legislation relating to the employment of staff, including the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, Fair Work Act 2009, Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Working with Children Act 2005
employing the relevant number of appropriately-qualified educators (refer to Definitions). Qualifications must be approved by ACECQA (refer to Background and Sources) (Regulations 126, 361)
employing additional staff, as required, to provide a quality early childhood education and care program
ensuring an early childhood teacher (refer to Definitions) is working with the service for the required period of time specified in the National Regulations, and that, where required, a record is kept of this work (Regulations 130–134, 152, 362, 363)
appointing an appropriately-qualified and experienced educator to be the Educational Leader (refer to Definitions), and ensuring this is documented on the staff record (Regulations 118, 148)
ensuring that Educators and other staff are provided with a current position description that relates to their role at the service
maintaining a staff record (refer to Definitions) in accordance with Regulation 145, including information about the Nominated Supervisor, the Educational Leader, other staff members, volunteers, students and the Responsible Person. Details that must be recorded include qualifications, training and the Working with Children Check (Regulations 146–149). A sample staff record is available on the ACECQA website: http://acecqa.gov.au/storage/Staff%20record.pdf
complying with the requirements of the Working with Children Act 2005, and ensuring that the Nominated Supervisor, Certified Supervisor, educators, staff, volunteers and students on placement at the service have a current Working with Children Check (refer to Definitions) or a Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) certificate of registration
ensuring that the Working with Children Check or VIT registration have been sighted and the details kept on each staff record (Regulations 145, 146, 147)
completing a fit-and-proper assessment (refer to Definitions) in accordance with the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (Sections 12, 13, 14) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (Regulations 14, 15, 16). Where the Approved Provider is not an individual, a fit-and-proper assessment must be completed for each person with management or control of a service e.g. for the executive members of a Committee of Management
determining who will cover the costs of Working with Children Checks or criminal history record checks (refer to Definitions)
developing (and implementing, where relevant) an appropriate induction program for educators and all staff appointed to the service
ensuring that volunteers/students and parents/guardians are adequately supervised at all times when participating at the service, and that the health, safety and wellbeing of children at the service is protected (refer to Participation of Volunteers and Students Policy)
ensuring educators who are under 18 years of age are not left to work alone, and are adequately supervised at the service (Regulation 120)
ensuring that there is at least one educator with current approved first aid qualifications, anaphylaxis management training and emergency asthma management training (refer to Definitions) in attendance and immediately available at all times that children are being educated and cared for by the service. Details of qualifications and training must be kept on the staff record (Regulations 136, 145)
developing procedures to ensure that approved first aid qualifications, anaphylaxis management training and emergency asthma management training are evaluated regularly, and that staff are provided with the opportunity to update their qualifications prior to expiry
ensuring that staff records (refer to Definitions) and a record of educators working directly with children (refer to Definitions) are updated annually, as new information is provided or when rostered hours of work are changed (Regulations 145–151)
ensuring that annual performance reviews of educators and other staff are undertaken
reviewing staff qualifications as required under current legislation and funding requirements on an annual basis
ensuring that the Nominated Supervisor, educators/staff, volunteers and students on placement at the service are not affected by alcohol or drugs (including prescription medication) that would impair their capacity to supervise or provide education and care to children (Regulation 83)
ensuring that all educators and staff have opportunities to undertake professional development relevant to their role to keep their knowledge and expertise current
ensuring that the Nominated Supervisor and educators/staff are advised and aware of current child protection laws and any obligations that they may have under these laws (Regulation 84) (refer to Child Safe Environment Policy)
informing parents/guardians of the name/s of casual or relief staff where the regular educator is absent
developing and maintaining a list of casual and relief staff to ensure consistency of service provision
ensuring that the procedures for the appointment of casual and relief staff are compliant with all regulatory and funding requirements.
holding a Supervisor Certificate (refer to Definitions)
providing written consent to accept the role of Nominated Supervisor
ensuring that, in their absence from the service premises, another person with a Supervisor Certificate (a Certified Supervisor – refer to Definitions) is placed in day-to-day charge of the service (refer to Determining Responsible Person Policy)
ensuring that the name and position of the Responsible Person in charge of the service is displayed and easily visible from the main entrance of the service
complying with the service’s Code of Conduct Policy at all times
ensuring adequate supervision of children at all times (refer to Supervision of Children Policy)
ensuring the educator-to-child ratios are maintained at all times, that each educator at the service meets the qualification requirements relevant to their role, including the requirement for current approved first aid qualifications, anaphylaxis management training and emergency asthma management training, and that details of such training is kept on the staff record
developing rosters in accordance with the availability of Responsible Persons, staff qualifications, hours of operation and the attendance patterns of children
ensuring that educators and other staff undertake appropriate induction following their appointment to the service
participating in an annual performance review
ensuring that less experienced educators and others engaged to be working with children are adequately supervised
ensuring educators who are under 18 years of age are not left to work alone and are adequately supervised at the service
providing details of their current Working with Children Check or VIT registration for the staff record
sighting and recording details of current Working with Children Checks or VIT registrations before staff commence at the service
ensuring that they are not affected by alcohol or drugs (including prescription medication) that would impair their capacity to supervise or provide education and care to children (Regulation 83)
ensuring that they are aware of current child protection laws and any obligations that they may have under these laws (refer to Child Safe Environment Policy)
informing parents/guardians of the name/s of casual or relief staff where the regular educator is absent.
providing written consent to accept the role of Certified Supervisor
informing the Approved Provider and/or Nominated Supervisor in the event of absence from the service due to leave or illness so they can be replaced by another Responsible Person (refer to Determining Responsible Person Policy).
meeting the qualifications, experience and management requirements if they wish to gain a Supervisor Certificate, as defined in the National Regulations (Regulations 46–49)
ensuring that they are not affected by alcohol or drugs (including prescription medication) that would impair their capacity to supervise or provide education and care to children
renewing their Working with Children Check assessment every five years
undertaking the required induction program following appointment to the service
advising the Department of Justice of any relevant change in circumstances, including change of name, address, contact details and change of employer/volunteer organisation, including changes to the organisation’s contact details
adequately supervising children at all times (refer to Definitions and Supervision of Children Policy)
supervising volunteers/students and parents/guardians at all times to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children at the service (refer to Participation of Volunteers and Students Policy)
maintaining educator-to-child ratios at all times
maintaining current approved qualifications relevant to their role, including first aid qualifications, anaphylaxis management training and emergency asthma management training
undertaking professional development relevant to their role to keep their knowledge and expertise current
supervising educators at the service who are under 18 years of age, and ensuring that they are not left to work alone
ensuring that they are aware of current child protection laws and any obligations that they may have under these laws (refer to Child Safe Environment Policy).
reading this Staffing Policy
complying with the law, the requirements of the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011, and all service policies and procedures
following the directions of staff at the service at all times to ensure that the health, safety and wellbeing of children is protected.
5. Sources and related policies
The Approved Provider is responsible for:
The Nominated Supervisor is responsible for:
Certified Supervisors are responsible for:
Certified Supervisors, educators and other staff are responsible for:
Parents/guardians, volunteers and students on placement are responsible for:
In order to assess whether the values and purposes of the policy have been achieved, the Approved Provider will:
regularly check staff records to ensure Working with Children Checks and qualifications are current and complete
regularly seek feedback from everyone affected by the policy regarding its effectiveness
monitor the implementation, compliance, complaints and incidents in relation to this policy
keep the policy up to date with current legislation, research, policy and best practice
revise the policy and procedures as part of the service’s policy review cycle, or as required
notify parents/guardians at least 14 days before making any changes to this policy or its procedures.
This policy was adopted by the Approved Provider of Elsa Macleod Kindergarten Inc. in October, 2012.
Review date: October, 2018
© Copyright Elsa MacLeod Kindergarten | Website by Bespoke Design Co | All Rights Reserved
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Arabic/عربي
Author Suzanne Collins to write a prequel novel 64 years before Hunger Games trilogy by 2020
Author Suzanne Collins is set to pen a prequel of the Hunger Games, which will be 64 years before Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, picked up the bow and arrow
Tuesday June 18th 2019 | 11:42 pm
One of the most popular Hollywood franchises in this decade was the Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth starrer Hunger Games films. Ever since the first movie released in 2012, the movie going audience worldwide were hooked on to Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her story. The rooted for her as she took on the evil administrator at the Capital. So much so, that the film franchise inspired theme parks across the globe.
Now, according to a report in Deadline, the studio, Lionsgate, may be eyeing to make more movies and expand the franchise. Incidentally, author Suzanne Collins, who has written the Hunger Games books previously which was later adapted into a movie franchise, is set to write a prequel novel , which fans can expect to read by 2020.
Set in the world of Panem, the book will trace the story of that place 64 years before the events of the first Hunger Games. This is one hell of a move by Lionsgate, who hasn’t had much success at the box-office in recent time with their films. Revisiting one of their most successful franchises might be the smartest decisions that the studio has made and it is sure to pay-off.
“As the proud home of the Hunger Games movies, we can hardly wait for Suzanne’s next book to be published. We’ve been communicating with her during the writing process and we look forward to continuing to work closely with her on the movie,” said Joe Drake, Chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group revealed to the US-based entertainment website.
Hunger Games wouldn’t be the first movie franchise to explore the idea of prequels. In fact, it was George Lucas, who started the trend of prequels after he did Episode 1, 2 and 3 of Star Wars movies. Over the years, many successful film franchises have gone back to do prequels, such the Lord of the Rings trilogy with their Hobbit trilogy, Harry Potter movies with their Fantastic Beats movies and several others.
Source: times now news
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Albilad
Al Bilad was established in 2008 by Dar Al Bilad for Press Publishing and Distribution company (c). All rights reserved.
Registered in Bahrain No. GBJP 773. Registered office: Block 720, Road 24, Building 336, 4th Floor, Zayed Town, P.O. Box 385, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
Arabic Website
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Home Panorama
Rembrandt, Vermeer artworks now on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi
AMMONNEWS - The Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first museum to carry the famed name outside of France, announced Sunday it would roll out works by Dutch masters Rembrandt and Vermeer this month.
Works by the two artists are part of the gallery’s first exhibition this year, entitled “Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces from The Leiden collection and the Musee du Louvre”.
The exhibit, on display in the United Arab Emirates’ capital from February 14 to May 18, is dedicated to the famed “fijnschilders” -- fine painters -- of the Netherlands.
“Rembrandt is a master of the Golden Age,” museum head Manuel Rabate told AFP. “He’s a universal genius, he’s connected to the world,” he added.
The exhibition includes 95 works, including Vermeer’s “Young Woman Seated at a Virginal” alongside Rembrandt’s “Portrait of a Man” and “Study of the Head and Clasped Hands of a Young Man as Christ in Prayer”.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi was inaugurated with great pomp in November 2017 by French President Emmanuel Macron and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
It was marketed as “a universal museum” celebrating cultural exchange and tolerance.
*AFP
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Red tide is a cyclic event, but it shouldn’t be this bad
By Krista Prince | Sep 9, 2018 | Opinion | 1 |
EN Photo by Bret Munson // A dead fish lies on the shore at Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers.
By Krista Prince
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released its red tide status update on Friday, and it reports low to high concentrations both along shore and offshore Lee and Collier County.
This year, the red tide bloom has lasted nearly a year and is thought to have been the worst bloom since the 2005 hurricane season.
But why has the red tide bloom of 2018 been so bad?
Dr. Michael P. Crosby, president and CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, states, “The ongoing red tide bloom is a naturally occurring cyclic event that is not initiated by outflows from Lake Okeechobee, nor inputs from the Caloosahatchee River.”
According to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, unlike many harmful algal blooms (HABs) which are linked to coastal nutrient pollution, scientists have found no direct link between nutrient pollution and the start of red tide, or the frequency or severity of red tides.
There has also been no evidence to show a connection between global warming and worsening red tide blooms.
“Whether climate change will make these more frequent is something that we just don’t know right now,” Quay Dortch, a program manager for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in an interview with USA Today.
The fact of the matter is that there hasn’t been enough research done in order to see if climate change and outflows from Lake Okeechobee are causing such a horrible outbreak of red tide in southwest Florida.
However, according to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, the greatest nutrient source of red tide blooms was the decay and recycling of cyanobacteria (blue-green alga) Trichodesmium. This is exactly what is being brought from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico.
If the red tide algae have a higher amount of nutrients being brought to it, it is logical to see a link between more intense blooms.
Yes, red tide is a cyclical event, but it has never killed this much marine life before, and it has never devastated coastal communities on such a large scale.
Despite the lowering levels from earlier in the season, it is not time to forget about the upset of marine and coastal life.
The very fact that through hours of research all I could come up with while writing this article is that there isn’t enough evidence to support either claim.
This is a testament that something needs to be done.
We need people to pay attention because Florida is in a full-blown, but avoidable, water crisis.
We need to pay attention to the legislation and legislators who allow bills to pass that worsen the water quality in Florida.
We need to pay attention as FGCU students and citizens of a coastal community because of our experiences.
Dead fish and the smell of red tide are proof enough that something isn’t quite right.
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Marine ScientistPhD on September 9, 2018 at 6:42 pm
Mote CEO Crosby continues to waffle and obfuscate by saying that the nutrients and Trichodesmium did not INITIATE the red tide. That is like saying that a carcinogenic chemical did not cause/initiate the cancer, but instead it was that one cell that turned cancerous that initiated it. Any
knowledgeable scientist has to conclude excess nutrient inputs to the Gulf from coastal development and major sources like Lake Okeechobee and its outfall through the Caloosahatchee have great potential to feed any small red tide bloom and make it larger in extent, concentration and duration. Mote/Crosby apparently do not want to get on the bad side of donors like Mosaic, Big Sugar, and its major donors and Board of Trustees who have great financial interests in development and real estate. Mote has been talking about red tide for 50 years, supposedly working on it and spending millions of dollars on it for almost 40 years, and all with practically no useful results. Now Mote wants millions more in the way of political pork funding from Rubio and now even Nelson. Mote, as a private institution, has no accountability for the pork funding it has received, and it has no obligation to use the political pork money for the good of the state and public. Instead, it can use such funding to pay administrative and fund-raising costs, and to try to develop its new tourist attraction aquarium — to make even more money. Any research funding for red tide should not go to Mote through politically influenced pork. Instead it should be funded through a competitive, peer-reviewed grants process in which the best/and brightest scientists and best research institutions compete on merit, not on political influence. Funding for monitoring should not be diverted to a private entity like Mote, but instead should be directed toward Federal agencies (like NOAA), state agencies (like FDEP and FWC), and state universities — institutions that have a public mandate to act in the best interest of the region and state, and not just in their own self-interests like Mote.
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»2015 Wisconsin Act 45
Date of enactment: July 1, 2015
2015 Assembly Bill 19 Date of publication*: July 2, 2015
* Section 991.11, Wisconsin Statutes: Effective date of acts. "Every act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over the governor's partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication."
An Act to create 940.315 of the statutes; relating to: unlawful use of a global positioning device, and creating a penalty.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
45,1 Section 1. 940.315 of the statutes is created to read:
940.315 Global positioning devices. (1) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor:
(a) Places a global positioning device or a device equipped with global positioning technology on a vehicle owned or leased by another person without that person's consent.
(b) Intentionally obtains information regarding another person's movement or location generated by a global positioning device or a device equipped with global positioning technology that has been placed without that person's consent.
(2) This section does not apply to a motor vehicle manufacturer or a person, acting within the scope of his or her employment, who installs an in-vehicle communication or telematics system, to a device installed by or with the permission of the vehicle owner for automobile insurance rating, underwriting, or claims handling purposes, to a law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity, to a parent or guardian acting to track the movement or location of his or her minor child or his or her ward, to a lienholder or agent of a lienholder acting to track the movement or location of a motor vehicle in order to repossess the motor vehicle, or to an employer or business owner acting to track the movement or location of a motor vehicle owned, leased, or assigned for use by the employer or business owner.
/2015/related/acts/45 true acts /2015/related/acts/45/1 acts/2015/45,1 acts/2015/45,1 section true
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15.07(5)(k) (k) Members of the board for people with developmental disabilities, $50 per day.
15.07(5)(L) (L) Members of the school district boundary appeal board, $25 per day.
15.07(5)(o) (o) Members of the burial sites preservation board, $25 per day.
15.07(5)(s) (s) Members of the credit union review board, $25 per day but not to exceed $1,500 per year.
15.07(5)(t) (t) Members of the waste facility siting board who are town or county officials, $35 per day.
15.07(5)(w) (w) Members of the lower Wisconsin state riverway board, $25 per day.
15.07(5)(x) (x) Members of the real estate appraisers board, $25 per day.
15.07(5)(y) (y) Members of the Kickapoo reserve management board, $25 per day.
15.07(5)(z) (z) Members of the cemetery board, $25 per day.
15.07(5m) (5m) Limitations on salary and expenses.
15.07(5m)(b) (b) Lower Wisconsin state riverway board. The members, except for the chairperson, of the lower Wisconsin state riverway board shall be reimbursed under sub. (5) for only their necessary and actual travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, or shall be paid $25 plus mileage incurred in the performance of their duties, whichever is greater. The chairperson of the lower Wisconsin state riverway board shall be reimbursed for all his or her actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties. The lower Wisconsin state riverway board shall determine which expenses of the chairperson are actual and necessary before reimbursement.
15.07(5m)(c) (c) Board for people with developmental disabilities. A member of the board for people with developmental disabilities shall be reimbursed under sub. (5) (k) only if the member attends a meeting or event of the board and all of the following apply:
15.07(5m)(c)1. 1. The member's official duties related to the meeting or event occupy at least 4 hours in one day.
15.07(5m)(c)2. 2. Due to the member's official duties related to the meeting or event the member forfeits wages from other employment or the member is not otherwise employed for wages.
15.07(5m)(d) (d) Distance learning authorization board. The members of the distance learning authorization board shall not be reimbursed for expenses under sub. (5).
15.07(6) (6) Reports. Every board created in or attached to a department or independent agency shall submit to the head of the department or independent agency, upon request of that person not more often than annually, a report on the operation of the board.
15.07(7) (7) Official oath. Each member of a board shall take and file the official oath prior to assuming office.
15.07 History History: 1971 c. 100 s. 23; 1971 c. 125, 261, 270, 323; 1973 c. 90, 156, 299, 334; 1975 c. 39, 41, 422; 1977 c. 29 ss. 24, 26, 1650m (3); 1977 c. 203, 277, 418, 427; 1979 c. 34, 110, 221, 346; 1981 c. 20, 62, 94, 96, 156, 314, 346, 374, 391; 1983 a. 27, 282, 403; 1985 a. 20, 29, 316; 1987 a. 27, 119, 142, 354, 399, 403; 1989 a. 31, 102, 114, 219, 299, 340; 1991 a. 25, 39, 116, 221, 269, 316; 1993 a. 16, 75, 102, 184, 349, 399, 490; 1995 a. 27, 216, 247; 1997 a. 27 ss. 43 to 48m, 9456 (3m); 1999 a. 9, 44, 181, 197; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33 ss. 79 to 85, 2811; 2003 a. 48 ss. 10, 11; 2003 a. 171; 2003 a. 206 s. 23; 2005 a. 25 ss. 41g to 45m, 2493; 2005 a. 76, 228, 253; 2007 a. 1, 20, 97, 109; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 10, 32; 2013 a. 203; 2015 a. 55, 118, 208, 237; 2017 a. 59, 366.
15.07 Annotation “Membership" as used in sub. (4) means the authorized number of positions and not the number of positions that are currently occupied. 66 Atty. Gen. 192.
15.08 15.08 Examining boards and councils.
15.08(1)(1) Selection of members. All members of examining boards shall be residents of this state and shall, unless otherwise provided by law, be nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed. Appointments shall be for the terms provided by law. Terms shall expire on July 1. No member may serve more than 2 consecutive terms. No member of an examining board may be an officer, director or employee of a private organization which promotes or furthers the profession or occupation regulated by that board.
15.08(1m) (1m) Public members.
15.08(1m)(a)(a) Public members appointed under s. 15.405 or 15.407 shall have all the powers and duties of other members except they shall not prepare questions for or grade any licensing examinations.
15.08(1m)(am) (am) Public members appointed under s. 15.405 or 15.407 shall not be, nor ever have been, licensed, certified, registered or engaged in any profession or occupation licensed or otherwise regulated by the board, examining board or examining council to which they are appointed, shall not be married to any person so licensed, certified, registered or engaged, and shall not employ, be employed by or be professionally associated with any person so licensed, certified, registered or engaged.
15.08(1m)(b) (b) The public members of the chiropractic examining board, the dentistry examining board, the hearing and speech examining board, the medical examining board, the physical therapy examining board, perfusionists examining council, respiratory care practitioners examining council and council on physician assistants, the board of nursing, the nursing home administrator examining board, the veterinary examining board, the optometry examining board, the pharmacy examining board, the marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and social work examining board, the psychology examining board, and the radiography examining board shall not be engaged in any profession or occupation concerned with the delivery of physical or mental health care.
15.08(1m)(c) (c) The membership of each examining board and examining council created in the department of safety and professional services after June 1, 1975, shall be increased by one member who shall be a public member appointed to serve for the same term served by the other members of such examining board or examining council, unless the act relating to the creation of such examining board or examining council provides that 2 or more public members shall be appointed to such examining board or examining council.
15.08(2) (2) Selection of officers. At its first meeting in each year, every examining board shall elect from among its members a chairperson, vice chairperson and, unless otherwise provided by law, a secretary. Any officer may be reelected to succeed himself or herself.
15.08(3) (3) Frequency of meetings.
15.08(3)(a)(a) Every examining board shall meet annually and may meet at other times on the call of the chairperson or of a majority of its members.
15.08(3)(b) (b) The medical examining board shall meet at least 12 times annually.
15.08(3)(c) (c) The hearing and speech examining board shall meet at least once every 3 months.
15.08(4) (4) Quorum.
15.08(4)(a)(a) A majority of the membership of an examining board constitutes a quorum to do business, and a majority of a quorum may act in any matter within the jurisdiction of the examining board.
15.08(4)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), no certificate or license which entitles the person certified or licensed to practice a trade or profession shall be suspended or revoked without the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting membership of the examining board.
15.08(5) (5) General powers. Each examining board:
15.08(5)(a) (a) May compel the attendance of witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and receive proof concerning all matters within its jurisdiction.
15.08(5)(b) (b) Shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains, and define and enforce professional conduct and unethical practices not inconsistent with the law relating to the particular trade or profession.
15.08(5)(c) (c) May limit, suspend or revoke, or reprimand the holder of, any license, permit or certificate granted by the examining board.
15.08(6) (6) Improvement of the profession. In addition to any other duties vested in it by law, each examining board shall foster the standards of education or training pertaining to its own trade or profession, not only in relation of the trade or profession to the interest of the individual or to organized business enterprise, but also in relation to government and to the general welfare. Each examining board shall endeavor, both within and outside its own trade or profession, to bring about a better understanding of the relationship of the particular trade or profession to the general welfare of this state.
15.08(7) (7) Compensation and reimbursement for expenses. Each member of an examining board shall, unless the member is a full-time salaried employee of this state, be paid a per diem of $25 for each day on which the member was actually and necessarily engaged in the performance of examining board duties. Each member of an examining board shall be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of examining board duties.
15.08(8) (8) Official oath. Every member of an examining board shall take and file the official oath prior to assuming office.
15.08(9) (9) Annual reports. Every examining board shall submit to the head of the department in which it is created, upon request of that person not more often than annually, a report on the operation of the examining board.
15.08(10) (10) Seal. Every examining board may adopt a seal.
15.08 History History: 1971 c. 40; 1975 c. 86, 199; 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 32; 1979 c. 34 ss. 32e to 32s, 2102 (45) (a); 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 94; 1983 a. 403, 524; 1985 a. 332, 340; 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 229, 316, 359; 1991 a. 39, 160, 316; 1993 a. 105, 107, 184, 490; 1995 a. 245; 1997 a. 175; 1999 a. 180; 2001 a. 80, 89, 105; 2009 a. 106, 149; 2011 a. 32, 258.
15.08 Annotation Selection and terms of officers of regulatory and licensing boards are discussed. 75 Atty. Gen. 247 (1986).
15.085 15.085 Affiliated credentialing boards.
15.085(1)(1) Selection of members. All members of affiliated credentialing boards shall be residents of this state and shall, unless otherwise provided by law, be nominated by the governor, and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed. Appointments shall be for the terms provided by law. Terms shall expire on July 1. No member may serve more than 2 consecutive terms. No member of an affiliated credentialing board may be an officer, director or employee of a private organization which promotes or furthers the profession or occupation regulated by that board.
15.085(1m) (1m) Public members.
15.085(1m)(a)(a) Public members appointed under s. 15.406 shall have all of the powers and duties of other members except that they shall not prepare questions for or grade any licensing examinations.
15.085(1m)(am) (am) Public members appointed under s. 15.406 shall not be, nor ever have been, licensed, certified, registered or engaged in any profession or occupation licensed or otherwise regulated by the affiliated credentialing board to which they are appointed, shall not be married to any person so licensed, certified, registered or engaged, and shall not employ, be employed by or be professionally associated with any person so licensed, certified, registered or engaged.
15.085(1m)(b) (b) The public members of the podiatry affiliated credentialing board or occupational therapists affiliated credentialing board shall not be engaged in any profession or occupation concerned with the delivery of physical or mental health care.
15.085(2) (2) Selection of officers. At its first meeting in each year, every affiliated credentialing board shall elect from among its members a chairperson, vice chairperson and, unless otherwise provided by law, a secretary. Any officer may be reelected to succeed himself or herself.
15.085(3) (3) Frequency of meetings.
15.085(3)(a)(a) Every affiliated credentialing board shall meet annually and may meet at other times on the call of the chairperson or of a majority of its members.
15.085(3)(b) (b) The chairperson of an affiliated credentialing board shall meet at least once every 6 months with the examining board to which the affiliated credentialing board is attached to consider all matters of joint interest.
15.085(4) (4) Quorum.
15.085(4)(a)(a) A majority of the membership of an affiliated credentialing board constitutes a quorum to do business, and a majority of a quorum may act in any matter within the jurisdiction of the affiliated credentialing board.
15.085(4)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), no certificate or license which entitles the person certified or licensed to practice a trade or profession shall be suspended or revoked without the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership of the affiliated credentialing board.
15.085(5) (5) General powers. Each affiliated credentialing board:
15.085(5)(a) (a) May compel the attendance of witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and receive proof concerning all matters within its jurisdiction.
15.085(5)(b) (b) Shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains, and define and enforce professional conduct and unethical practices not inconsistent with the law relating to the particular trade or profession. In addition to any other procedure under ch. 227 relating to the promulgation of rules, when promulgating a rule, other than an emergency rule under s. 227.24, an affiliated credentialing board shall do all of the following:
15.085(5)(b)1. 1. Submit the proposed rule to the examining board to which the affiliated credentialing board is attached. The proposed rule shall be submitted under this subdivision at least 60 days before the proposed rule is submitted to the legislative council staff under s. 227.15 (1).
15.085(5)(b)2. 2. Consider any comments on a proposed rule made by the examining board to which the affiliated credentialing board is attached, if the examining board submits the comments to the affiliated credentialing board within 30 days after a public hearing on the proposed rule under s. 227.18 or, if no hearing is held, within 30 days after the proposed rule is published under s. 227.16 (2) (e).
15.085(5)(b)3. 3. Include, in the report submitted to the legislature under s. 227.19 (2), any comments on the proposed rule submitted by the examining board under subd. 2. and the affiliated credentialing board's responses to those comments.
15.085(5)(c) (c) May limit, suspend or revoke, or reprimand the holder of, any license, permit or certificate granted by the affiliated credentialing board.
15.085(6) (6) Improvement of the profession. In addition to any other duties vested in it by law, each affiliated credentialing board shall foster the standards of education or training pertaining to its own trade or profession, not only in relation of the trade or profession to the interest of the individual or to organized business enterprise, but also in relation to government and to the general welfare. Each affiliated credentialing board shall endeavor, both within and outside its own trade or profession, to bring about a better understanding of the relationship of the particular trade or profession to the general welfare of this state.
15.085(7) (7) Compensation and reimbursement for expenses. Each member of an affiliated credentialing board shall, unless the member is a full-time salaried employee of this state, be paid a per diem of $25 for each day on which the member was actually and necessarily engaged in the performance of affiliated credentialing board duties. Each member of an affiliated credentialing board shall be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of affiliated credentialing board duties.
15.085(8) (8) Official oath. Every member of an affiliated credentialing board shall take and file the official oath prior to assuming office.
15.085(9) (9) Annual reports. Every affiliated credentialing board shall submit to the head of the department in which it is created, upon request of that person not more often than annually, a report on the operation of the affiliated credentialing board.
15.085(10) (10) Seal. Every affiliated credentialing board may adopt a seal.
15.085 History History: 1993 a. 107; 1997 a. 175; 1999 a. 180; 2009 a. 113, 149; 2011 a. 258.
15.09 15.09 Councils.
15.09(1)(1) Selection of members.
15.09(1)(a) (a) Unless otherwise provided by law, the governor shall appoint the members of councils for terms prescribed by law. Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), fixed terms shall expire on July 1 and shall, if the term is for an even number of years, expire in an odd-numbered year.
15.09(1)(b) (b) The terms of the members of the council on recycling shall expire as specified under s. 15.347 (17) (c).
15.09(1)(c) (c) The terms of the members of the off-highway motorcycle council shall expire on March 1.
15.09(2) (2) Selection of officers. Unless otherwise provided by law, at its first meeting in each year every council shall elect a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary from among its members. Any officer may be reelected for successive terms. For any council created under the general authority of s. 15.04 (1) (c), the constitutional officer or secretary heading the department or the chief executive officer of the independent agency in which such council is created shall designate an employee of the department or independent agency to serve as secretary of the council and to be a voting member thereof.
15.09(3) (3) Location and frequency of meetings. Unless otherwise provided by law, every council shall meet at least annually and shall also meet on the call of the head of the department or independent agency in which it is created, and may meet at other times on the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members. A council shall meet at such locations as may be determined by it unless the constitutional officer or secretary heading the department or the chief executive officer of the independent agency in which it is created determines a specific meeting place.
15.09(4) (4) Quorum. Except as otherwise expressly provided, a majority of the membership of a council constitutes a quorum to do business, and a majority of a quorum may act in any matter within the jurisdiction of the council.
15.09(5) (5) Powers and duties. Unless otherwise provided by law, a council shall advise the head of the department or independent agency in which it is created and shall function on a continuing basis for the study, and recommendation of solutions and policy alternatives, of the problems arising in a specified functional area of state government.
15.09(6) (6) Reimbursement for expenses. Members of a council shall not be compensated for their services, but, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, members of councils created by statute shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, such reimbursement in the case of an elective or appointive officer or employee of this state who represents an agency as a member of a council to be paid by the agency which pays his or her salary. Members of the agricultural education and workforce development council may not be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
15.09(7) (7) Reports. Unless a different provision is made by law for transmittal or publication of a report, every council created in a department or independent agency shall submit to the head of the department or independent agency, upon request of that person not more often than annually, a report on the operation of the council.
15.09(8) (8) Official oath. Each member of a council shall take and file the official oath prior to assuming office.
15.09 History History: 1971 c. 211; 1977 c. 29; 1977 c. 196 s. 131; 1979 c. 34, 346; 1983 a. 27, 388, 410; 1985 a. 84; 1989 a. 335; 1991 a. 39, 189; 1993 a. 184; 2003 a. 260; 2007 a. 223; 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 233; 2015 a. 170.
subch. II of ch. 15 SUBCHAPTER II
15.10 15.10 Department of administration; creation. There is created a department of administration under the direction and supervision of the secretary of administration. The secretary of administration shall be appointed on the basis of recognized interest, administrative and executive ability, training and experience in and knowledge of problems and needs in the field of general administration.
15.103 15.103 Same; specified divisions.
15.103(1)(1) Division of hearings and appeals. There is created a division of hearings and appeals which is attached to the department of administration under s. 15.03. The administrator of the division shall be appointed by the secretary of administration in the classified service.
/statutes/statutes/15 true statutes /statutes/statutes/15/I/08/3/b statutes/15.08(3)(b) statutes/15.08(3)(b) section true
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Of Scientists and Evidence
Jerry Coyne (endorsed by PZ) has repeated his claim that, empirically, accommodationism has failed because "American’s attitudes to evolution have been relatively unchanged (with 40+% denying it) for twenty-five years." Actually, it is considerably longer than that the numbers on this issue have been stable. What perplexes me is why scientists would make the error of citing evidence that does not bear the weight of the supposed conclusion.
Over this same period of stability in the numbers, there has been a significant shift away from the largely evolution-friendly "mainstream" Protestant denominations primarily to Evangelical, Pentecostal and Fundamentalist churches that make anti-evolutionism a tenet of faith. This would seem to support an interpretation that there is something other than religious doctrine driving anti-evolutionism.
In an area as complex as the effect of social conditions on the beliefs of individuals, the maxim that correlation does not equal causation is particularly apt. Surely scientists are aware that poll results are a particularly tricky type of evidence. Nor does a mere 25 years seem sufficient to count as a fair test of the efficacy of an approach to changing large-scale social phenomena. All of which does not mean that the incompatibilists are wrong about accommodationism ... merely that, as Chris Schoen of u n d e r v e r s e has noted before, there is a strange lack of empiric evidence for many of their positions ... which is highly ironic given their attacks on religion for the same failing.
Now comes Razib at Gene Expression to give a closer look at the polls and he finds that young people, including the religious, are less creationist than older cohorts, particularly among Catholics. Moreover:
[W]hen it comes to politics there hasn't been much change among liberals, who in general are not Creationists, and some change among Conservatives, who are less Creationist among the younger age cohorts, but a large swing among moderates.
I think it is a fair initial guess that moderates are more attracted to the accommodationist message than the incompatiblist simply because ... well ... they're moderates and will tend to favor a position between any extremes.
What I think is definitely true is that the incompatibilists need more empiric evidence before they can credibly claim that accommodationism is a failure.
Labels: Accommodationism Incompatiblism
I think you are right. But I think PZ's utterances on the subject are provoked by the failure of Mooney and Kirshenbaum to present any evidence supporting their position, indeed their refusal to even attempt to provide any evidence what so ever.
Like you said. It is a complex interaction, not worthy of such shabby arguments, as presented by M&K or PZ and Coyne.
# posted by Søren : 2:07 PM
Yes. I'm not defending Mooney and Kirshenbaum ... or Ruse for that matter. But bad arguments are bad arguments and no one should get a pass when they present them.
# posted by John Pieret : 2:40 PM
1: The percentage of people who are atheists or non-religious has grown fairly dramatically, which would naturally balance the rise of the religious right.
2: The "anti-accomodationist" movement, which holds that trying to play to the centre doesn't work when the truth is not centrist, only really caught on with Dawkins' "The God Delusion" which came out in 2006.
And 3: After The God Delusion, to quote you "young people, including the religious, are less creationist than older cohorts."
This same group is also where atheism has seen its biggest gains.
# posted by Bruce Gorton : 6:20 AM
It's not all that clear that people who are atheists or non-religious has grown all that much. The number of people who say they are not a member of any particular sect or who do not attend a church regularly has grown. But many of those still believe in a "higher power." Americans have long been rather easygoing in regard to church attendance and mobile in church affiliation, showing little adherence to particular dogma. In that sense the "spiritual but not religious" could just be viewed as another, extremely fluid, sect.
Hard core YEC creationism itself is a relatively new phenomena, dating mostly from the 1960s. Before that, it was only notably a tenet of Seventh-Day Adventism. If our goal is to protect science education (which the "moderate religionists" are more likely to be OK with), then the question is which is better -- accommodationism or incompatibilism -- in shifting the proportion of YECs in the population? As to the number of people who think God is "involved" in whatever process humans came about, I don't think that number has changed very much.
شركة شراء الاثاث المستعمل بالرياض
ارقام اثاث مستعمل بالرياض
محلات شراء الاثاث المستعمل
# posted by aboshady : 4:32 PM
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Giuseppe L. Bonifati
Born 1985. He is an actor, playwright, poet and theatre director. He works between Denmark, Italy and Hungary. He attended acting courses at the Civic School of Dramatic Art “Paolo Grassi”. He furthered his studies at the National Academy of Dramatic Arts “Silvio D’Amico” and at the International Theatre Workshops of Venice Biennale. He is artist/director in residence at Odin Teatret Nordisk Teaterlaboratorium (Denmark). He participated in other residency programs in Europe and America.
He met during his artistic formation among others Rodrigo Garcia (as director assistant), Antonin Milenin, Abani Biswas, Maurizio Scaparro, Enzo Moscato, Marcello Magni, Vincenzo Pirrotta, Giuliano Scabia. He also followed studies on the method “Stanislavkj-Strasberg” with Beatrice Bracco, Michael Margotta, Francesca De Sapio from Actors Studio. As actor, he took part in plays directed by Eugenio Barba, Julia Varley, Motus, Renato Carpentieri, Remondi&Caporossi, Ruggero Cappuccio, Andrée Ruth Shammah, Roberto Cavosi, Emanuela Giordano, Giuseppe Maradei. He was awarded with the Crystal Microphone “Umberto Benedetto, 2006, RAI, New voices for radio (Jury: Giovanni Antonucci, Claudia Cannella, Gabriele Parenti, Nicola Cariglia). In 2011, he won the National Dramaturgy Award “Alessandro Fersen” and he has been chosen among the Young National Talents by Ministry of Youth – Italy. He has been granted in 2015 with DE.MO./MOVIN’UP, by MIBACT Italian Culture Ministry/GAI. He took part in 2013 as actor and pedagogue in the European project “Caravan – Artists on the road”, a Theatre International project by EU, Fondazione CRT, University of Turin. He took part to its continuation “Caravan Next” (2016-2019), a big scale European project led by Nordisk Teaterlaboratorium, with the participation of several partners from all over Europe. He is the artistic director of the performing arts group DOO – Divano Occidentale Orientale. He has conceived and directed all the works produced by the group, presented in Italy, Denmark, Costa Rica, Poland, Hungary, Bosnia, Venezuela, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Iran, Croatia, France, Brazil, Spain etc… For the poetry, he published Ritratto all’Ombra (2004) and 21:31 (mi sento morire), 2014 by Lietocolle Publisher. The text of “Pepe El Bastardo Impaziente e Innamorato” appeared in the theatrical series Percorsi by Editoria&Spettacolo publishing house. In cine, among other movies, he took part in Ridley Scott’s movie ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, alongside international stars as Kevin Spacey, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Timothy Hutton… (Showreel 2018 / IMDB)
Linda Sugataghy
She has a master degree of French linguistics and literature from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest. Born in Hungary, she is now based in Hungary and Denmark. She is artist/director in residence at Odin Teatret Nordisk Teaterlaboratorium (Denmark). She joined DOO in 2013 and participated from the beginning in the project THE JUDGEMENT. From 2015, she is assisting the project “Above the Skin”, an urban action and workshop project touring in several countries, among others in France, Italy, Spain Hungary, Brazil. From 2016, she takes part in the multidisciplinary artistic movement Kunstpartiet in Denmark, in cooperation with Nordisk Teater Laboratorium (Odin teatret). She participated in “Caravan Next” (2016-2019), a big scale European project led by Nordisk Teaterlaboratorium, with the participation of several partners from all over Europe. She was the responsible of documentation and design for Art On Call in 2019, and she created for this project the doc-film “Kunst på Opkald”. She is in charge of the photo/video production, international communication and design for DOO.
Alberto M. Guinaldo
He was born and raised in Spain. Leaving there at 24, he trained as an actor at « CRL » in Liège (Belgium). A quick move to Brussels followed with a starring role as Treplev in theater production« The seagull » by Eimuntas Nekrosius in 2000. Since then he has been busy working with renowned Belgian directors such as Mathias Simons, Nathalie Mauger and Jean-François Noville. In 2006 he performed in « Le pont de pierres». This show was awarded as BEST NEWCOMER PLAY, and he got a BEST ACTOR AWARD in the Huy Theater Festival. His interest in theatrical research brought him to work in many different countries: France, England, Singapore, Italy, Canada, Denmark or Spain. Alberto’s main focus as a performer is exploring all possibilities of the actor’s physicality and body energy. He has performed in two plays by Eugenio Barba: « The marriage of Medea » (2008), and « Ur-Hamlet » (2009) and in ”Tomorrow” by Julia Varley. Later he joined renowned Russian director Vladimir Ananiev in France for his adaptation of« The shadow » (Evgueni Schwartz) in 2011. For DOO, he has performed in the following projects: “Maiden in Costa Rica”, “The Judgement”, “Qui-es-tu? Tu me tues”, “Mayor in Residence” “Kommandopost”, “Art as Defence” directed by Giuseppe L. Bonifati. He is currently touring in Africa and Europe with the play “Sank” directed by renowned African playwright and producer Aristide Tarnagda.
DOOPAG.COM
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The CJEU and the rule of law in Poland: Note on the Polish Supreme Court preliminary ruling request of 2 August 2018
Alicja Sikora, Chair EU Law, Jagiellonian University
As Eugene Ionesco put it, you can only predict things after they have happened (Rhinoceros, 1959).
On Thursday the Polish Supreme Court submitted to the European Court of Justice a preliminary ruling request under Article 267 TFEU. While doing so it also suspended the application of a Polish law forcing the early retirement of Supreme Court justices who are above 65 years old, including the President of the Supreme Court whose mandate is guaranteed by the Polish Constitution. This is a challenge to the Polish government’s changes to the judiciary, on the grounds that it violates the rule of law.
There were many preliminary ruling requests in the course of the history of EU law from van Gend den Loos, Costa/Enel, Nold, Francovich, Defrenne, Akerberg Fransson, Melloni, Pringle, Gauweiler and many others which shaped a ‘constitutional order of States’. Judicial dialogue established under Article 267 TFEU has been a cornerstone for the development of the EU legal order.
Thursday’s request might, however, not constitute just a major doctrinal novelty. The Polish Supreme Court stepped into the path of active claim for rule of law, which is not only a common principle to Member States, but also expression of the axiology on which EU is founded as expressed in Article 2 TEU. Polish judges seek advice which will in a way sans precedent engage the Court of Justice in the legal and political battle for independent justice in Poland. It is a symbolic proof of how much Europe is needed and how crucial and fragile the enforcement of common values turns to be.
The Court of Justice has already prepared the foundations of such action in recent cases such as C-64/16, Associação Sindical dos Juízes Portugueses (on the independence of Portuguese judges in the context of austerity, discussed here) and C‑216/18 PPU, LM (on the recognition of Polish European Arrest Warrants in light of rule of law concerns), where Article 19 TEU (which sets out the basics of the CJEU’s role) was linked to the protection of the rule of law. Consequently, it is, according to the Court, for the national courts and tribunals and the Court of Justice to ensure the full application of EU law in all Member States and judicial protection of the rights of individuals under that law. It follows that every Member State must ensure that the bodies which, as ‘courts or tribunals’ within the meaning of EU law, meet the requirements of effective judicial protection, which include, in particular, the independence and impartiality of those courts.
In the present case, the Polish Supreme Court referred to the Court of Justice five questions which relate mostly to the interpretation of the principle of judicial independence in the light of EU primary law (Articles 2, 4(3), 19 (1) TEU as well as Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights). Other questions focus on the interpretation of Directive 2000/78, which includes the principle of non-discrimination based on age. The referring judges also applied for the application of the expedited treatment of the case under Article 105 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice.
Unsurprisingly, it is the suspension of the application of the national law which caused fierce criticism of the highest Polish authorities. Yet, Polish Court acted in perfect conformity with the classic case-law of the Court concerning interim measures (Factortame, Zukerfabrick, Atlanta) whereby national courts suspend application of a national measure which represents a risk of breach of EU law, pending the decision of the CJEU clarifying whether there is a conflict between national law and EU law (or, in some cases, on whether an EU law being challenged in the national courts is invalid).
The underlying question is whether the CJEU is willing to address the rule of law dispute in Poland directly, via use of the preliminary ruling procedure, or leave the issue to the EU’s political authorities, which are considering warning or sanctioning Poland under the process set out in Article 7 TEU. The Polish Supreme Court is potentially opening a new chapter in the enforcement of EU law and values.
Barnard & Peers: chapter 6, chapter 9
Photo credit: France 24
Labels: CJEU, interim measures, national constitutions, national courts, Poland, preliminary rulings, rule of law, supreme courts
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Pyung-Lim Han
Expertscape's algorithms degrade at low publication numbers. Thus, with only 2 published articles on Autistic Disorder from 2008 through 2019, it is not possible for Expertscape to reliably rate Pyung-Lim Han's expertise on this topic.
Most likely: Ewha Woman's University
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, 11-1 Daehyun-Dong, Seodaemoon-Gu, Seoul, 120-750, Republic of Korea. · Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, 11-1 Daehyun-Dong, Seodaemoon-Gu, Seoul, 120-750, Republic of Korea. · Brain Disease Research Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. · Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. · Pubmed 29027111
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, 11-1 Daehyun-Dong, Seodaemoon-Gu, Seoul, 120-750, Republic of Korea. · Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. · Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of Korea. · University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-806, Republic of Korea. · Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, 11-1 Daehyun-Dong, Seodaemoon-Gu, Seoul, 120-750, Republic of Korea. · Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, 11-1 Daehyun-Dong, Seodaemoon-Gu, Seoul, 120-750, Republic of Korea. · Pubmed 27878759
Here are the titles of all articles written by Pyung-Lim Han in 2008-2019 about Autistic Disorder:
Excessive D1 Dopamine Receptor Activation in the Dorsal Striatum Promotes Autistic-Like Behaviors. 2018
Loss of Adenylyl Cyclase Type-5 in the Dorsal Striatum Produces Autistic-Like Behaviors. 2017
Learn more about Pyung-Lim Han using the ready-made Google searches below.
Pyung-Lim Han, Autistic Disorder
Ewha Woman's University
Han, Ewha Woman's University
Han, Autistic Disorder, Ewha Woman's University
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Patrick Rothfuss’s ‘The Slow Regard of Silent Things’ cover reveal
Our good friends over at Gollancz have finally released the cover for Patrick Rothfuss’s brand new novella, The Slow Regard of Silent Things.
Fantasy-Faction covered just what this story is in quite some detail a few months back, but to summarise it is a short, sweet story about fan favourite Auri. Although we’ve said ‘short’ there, the novella is still a good 30,000 words, longer than Gaiman’s Coraline, so there is a fair amount of scope for some detailed backstory.
From what we’ve heard of this tale, this cover should suit it perfectly. Pat has said that he feels it is good (and had it confirmed by friends), but very strange and even a bit weird – which has us getting a kind of fairytale vibe. Auri is a bit of a rogue, a trickster and you see that in the cover too. Certainly, I think this design is a lot more ‘Auri’ than the American version, which looks quite dark and mysterious, but not quite ‘sweet’ or centred on its protagonist. I think the Americans have tried hard to ensure their book matches with the others in the series, whereas Gollancz have felt brave enough to differentiate it. Here is that American cover and the synopsis the Americans have treated us to:
Deep below the University, there is a dark place. Few people know of it: a broken web of ancient passageways and abandoned rooms. A young woman lives there, tucked among the sprawling tunnels of the Underthing, snug in the heart of this forgotten place.
Her name is Auri, and she is full of mysteries.
The Slow Regard of Silent Things is a brief, bittersweet glimpse of Auri’s life, a small adventure all her own. At once joyous and haunting, this story offers a chance to see the world through Auri’s eyes. And it gives the reader a chance to learn things that only Auri knows….
In this book, Patrick Rothfuss brings us into the world of one of the Kingkiller Chronicle’s most enigmatic characters. Full of secrets and mysteries, The Slow Regard of Silent Things is the story of a broken girl trying to live in a broken world.
Inevitably, fans will be asking how Rothfuss has time to do a novella when he still hasn’t given us a date for but three, but I’ve always been a big fan of lateral development in a series. I remember reading that Auri was added into the series after Rothfuss had already finished the thing. Seeing as she played such a big part, to me, it makes sense he has had to back track a little, or at least wanted to really explore this new character. I’m wondering if it means Auri will have an even bigger part in book three.
What do you guys reckon?
The Slow Regard Of Silent Things Preview
Rothfuss’s Auri Novella Gets a Release Date!
The Slow Regard of Silent Things – Cover & Synopsis
Interview with Patrick Rothfuss
Tags: Patrick Rothfuss, The Slow Regard of Silent Things
Posted in Articles, News
Overlord is a Martial Artist, Reader, Student, Boston Terrier owner, Social Media Adviser (to UK Gov/Parliament) and the founder of Fantasy-Faction.com. It's a varied, hectic life, but it's filled with books and Facebook and Twitter and Kicking stuff - so he'd not have it any other way.
Jennette says:
I LOVE the first cover. I don’t think I would pick up the book based on the American version of the cover.
Rebekah Loper says:
I really like the first cover, as well, over the American one. The American one is… rather boring. Which means I may have to go out of my way to acquire the UK one, lol.
I can’t wait to read more about Auri, though! She fascinated me from the moment we first met her.
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Posted on April 26, 2018 by litsak
Southampton Club Contact Info
Official Website: www.southamptonfc.com
Address: Southampton Football Club, St Mary’s Stadium, Britannia Road, Southampton, SO14 5FP
Ticket Office No: 02381 780 780 or tickets@saintsfc.co.uk
With old ground The Dell not fit for purpose as far as Premier League football is concerned, construction of St Mary’s started late in 1999 and was completed at a very reasonable cost of £32million in summer 2001. The Saints played their first game here in August 1st, 2001 against Espanyol.
St Mary’s Stadium is a complete bowl with all stands of equal height, something which would have to change if the club ever found the need to expand. Two large screens are placed at opposite ends of the ground and can be seen from every seat.
Strangely, St Mary’s is the largest football stadium in the south of England outside of London at over 32,000 capacity.
Naturally undersoil heating is utilised at St Mary’s, although there is a reasonably mild climate on the south coast, while the playing surface is a mix of natural grass and synthetic fibres and measures the standard 105 metres by 68 metres.
The current capacity at St Mary’s is 32,500 and is unlikely to change in the near future.
The four main areas of St Mary’s Stadium are the Northam Stand to the north behind the goal, opposite is the Chapel Stand. The Itchen and Kingsland Stands run along the length of the pitch.
All four corners are filled with the family areas in the south and the Itchen, Northam and Kingsland Stands joined at the other end.
Away Fans At St Mary’s
Away fans are housed at the northern end of the ground within the Northam Stand which is shared with home supporters making the atmosphere noisy. Typical Premier League ticket allocations are just over 3,000 though this will change for cup games etc when as many as 4,500 can be handed to the opposing side.
A wide range of pricing exists at St Mary’s for Premier League tickets depending on age, location within the stadium, time of year and of course the perceived level of opposition.
Pricing is split into Category A and Category B, the prices for the latter ranging from £32 – £46 and the former from £39 – £52 for an adult.
‘Club Southampton’ matchday hospitality packages are offered up with a wide variety of premium experiences in Executive Boxes, the Terry Paine Lounge, the President’s Lounge and the Saints Bar.
Prices range from £138 – £180 per person plus VAT in most lounges while the executive boxes generally run from £175 – £195 for most Premier League games.
How To Get To St Mary’s Stadium
Drivers heading to St Mary’s can take the M3 motorway then the A33 into Southampton. When reaching the A3024 Northam Road, look for the B3038 (Britannia Road) to reach the stadium.
Parking is sparse at the stadium however and driving there on matchdays is not recommended for any supporters with traffic heavy.
The best way to reach St Mary’s is by train with the stadium around 1½ miles from Southampton Central Station, around a 30-minute walk. Shuttle buses are in operation on matchdays from the station too, taking supporters right to the stadium.
As far back as 2012 there were ambitious plans to expand St Mary’s to a 50,000-seat stadium though that seems very unlikely to happen.
Without consistent top-six and European football the demand will simply not exist within the town to fill such a stadium and so things will remain as they are for now.
This entry was posted in Premier League Teams and tagged Southampton, St Mary’s Stadium. Bookmark the permalink.
← St Andrew’s Stadium – Birmingham City
London Stadium – West Ham United →
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School of Engineering Presents
Campus Mourns the Passing of Michael I. Savic
Professor Emeritus Michael I. Savic, age 89, died in Atlanta, Georgia on June 24, 2019. He was born in Belgrade, Serbia, and immigrated to the United States in 1967.
Dr. Savic received a Dr. Eng. Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1965. He was principal investigator on 32 major projects, mainly in areas of industrial and biomedical electronics, and in signal processing. He published over 79 professional papers, and was granted eight patents; 220 citations of his work were published in literature.
Dr. Savic was a devoted and admired mentor, advising more than 100 students working toward bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Dr. Savic joined Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1982. He was professor of electrical engineering and Director of the Signal and Speech Research Laboratory.
Survivors include his daughter, Alice Jane Savic, and brother, Dr. Slobodan Savic. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.
School of Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Jonsson Engineering Center, Troy, NY USA 12180-3590
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Everything You Need to Know about Pluto and New Horizons
Jul 15, 2015 | Video, Vlog | 0 comments
Hello Rebels, and welcome back to my life.
A lot of things happened during my recent break from making videos but probably the one I’m most excited about is the New Horizons mission that just reached Pluto, the unfortunately-not-a-planet that’s got astronomers all a-twitter.
They actually are all kind of freaking out on Twitter. It’s adorable.
Just in case you are, like, me a quasi-science geek in that you like science but don’t always keep up on the news of it, here’s everything you need to know about the New Horizons mission and what we’ve learned about Pluto so far.
The New Horizons space probe was launched in 2006, but its origins actually go back much earlier, like to 1990 with a mission called Pluto 350.
That mission was cancelled in the year 2000, reportedly due to budget constraints, and I just have to say to the American government that, you know who never cancelled space exploration missions due to budget constraints? Starfleet, and look where that got them.
NASA received so much backlash over the cancellation because, like, we all kind of love Pluto, that they created the New Frontiers program as a sort of mid-budget catch-all division for similar projects.
We say “mid-budget,” but the total cost is actually $650 million. However, for NASA that’s not a whole lot, especially compared to, say, moon missions and the ISS, all of which require a lot more resources because there are actual, you know, living humans being put into space.
In 2002 the project was effectively cancelled again by the Bush administration—ugly look—by simply not including the project in NASA’s annual budget. But the scientists on the mission had set their hearts on it by now, and they didn’t put up with that.
They published a survey of all NASA missions and placed the New Horizons mission at the top of their priority list, even above future missions to the moon and Jupiter, and after using that report to garner overwhelming support, New Horizons was finally reinstated and given its 2006 launch date.
To get all the way out to Pluto and not take decades doing it, New Horizons was launched at the fastest rate we’ve ever launched anything out of Earth’s orbit, at the blistering speed of 16 kilometers per SECOND.
Just for reference, at that speed you could circle the Earth in 41 minutes.
Then it was nine years of waiting, although the probe did some pretty cool sci-fi stuff during that time.
It flew by and took new photos and readings of Jupiter, also using Jupiter’s gravity to slingshot into even faster speeds, and happened to pass by an asteroid in the asteroid belt close enough to take some observations of that as well.
Then, just a couple of days ago, New Horizons sent back the first high-res photos of Pluto. And I don’t mean the first high-res photos of this mission—I mean the first high-res photos EVER.
See, we’ve never gotten close enough to Pluto to see what it really looks like. Any image you’ve ever seen of the planet is just an artist’s rendition. The best photo we had of it up till now was this.
“Pluto animiert 200px” by Aineias, NASA, ESA, and M. Buie (Southwest Research Institute)
derivative work: Aineias, Ilmari Karonen – Pluto_hubble_photomap.jpg via Pluto_animiert.gif. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Yeah. Not very impressive.
But here’s the first image we’ve received of Pluto, as actually photographed by a camera made by human hands.
“Pluto by LORRI and Ralph, 13 July 2015” by NASA/JHUAPL/SWRI – solarsystem.nasa.gov. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Just a little bit better, isn’t it?
New Horizons is now gathering more data and will start transmitting it back to Earth soon, but I want to talk about one more cool thing that I haven’t heard a lot of people talking about.
You probably know Pluto isn’t technically a planet, it’s classified as a dwarf planet. But what most people don’t know is that as it moves on its orbital path, Pluto doesn’t rotate…it orbits again.
Pluto’s largest moon is a body called Charon, which narrowly escaped being classified as a dwarf planet itself because of its size. It’s so large, in fact, that it doesn’t orbit Pluto—Pluto and Charon orbit each other.
Here’s a video showing what it looks like.
“Pluto-Charon System” by Stephanie Hoover – Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
The center of gravity of the Pluto mini-system isn’t actually Pluto—it’s that central point in space OUTSIDE of Pluto. This is what’s called a binary orbit, where two objects orbit each other rather than the smaller object orbiting the larger.
A quick side note: if you happen to be reading my Nightblade books, you will have noticed that that world has two moons which themselves happen to be in a binary orbit. And now you know.
The last thing to know about New Horizons and Pluto is that OF COURSE this isn’t everything you need to know. We can’t even imagine all the data that’s going to be coming in from the probe over the next little while, or what it could mean for the future of astronomy.
Rebels, these are super exciting times. Thank you so much for watching, and an extra special shoutout to my Patreon patrons who make all my YouTube videos possible. If you want to help me out, click the Patreon link in the description below. I will see you tomorrow. Byyye.
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Forman, Alice
The Alice Forman collection consists of manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, professional material, printed material, and other material.
Manuscripts in the collection includes: "A Report on a Seminar on Categories and Functions of Nursing Personnel" (1956); "Reconstruction in Alabama," by E.C. Meredith (1963); "Training Programme for Auxiliary Nurses in Costa Rica: 1963-1964," prepared by the U.N. World Health Organization (1964); "Assistant Health Personnel in Turkey," a quiz game on index cards, by Forman (1964); "Report on Nursing, Reza Pahlavi Medical Center," by Doris M. Armstrong; "Family Planning," by Linda Wheeler, a transcript from a workshop for nurses; "The Cuidad de Dios Project," by Dr. David M. Paige (1969); "Epidemiological Inpatients Systems Analysis and Operations Research on Family Planning Services," by Carl E. Taylor (1972); "Health Services Research and the Challenge of Population," by Carl E. Taylor (1972); "Nutrition and Infection," by Carl E. Taylor and Cecil DeSweener; "Traditional Healers in a Region of Mysore," by C. Alex Alexander; "What is Community?" by Cicely D. Williams; and "In the Land of the Coconuts," by Forman.
Correspondence in the collection consists of personal letters; World Health Organization correspondence; and letters concerning the Florence Nightingale Fund.
Photographs in the collection include a set of photos related to her article "In the Land of the Coconuts"; and a few photographs of family and graduation exercises.
Professional material in the collection includes reports: "The Building of the Nation's Health," by Dr. K.C.K.E. Raja, University of Madras (1951); "Nutrition Survey of the Armed Forces" (1958); "Bureau of Community Health Service Programs," by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; "A Task Force on Health at the Ministerial Level," by the Pan American Health Organization (1963); "Health Conditions in the Americas 1961-1962," prepared for the XV Meeting of the Direction Council (1964); "Some Problems of Introducing Modern Health Services in Eastern Turkey," prepared by The Mus Project (1964); "Social Functions of the Turkish Lise. Cooperative Research Project No. S-047," by Andreas M. Kazamus, University of Wisconsin (1965); "Rural Health Unit Functional Analysis Seylek Village" (1966); "Demonstration and Evaluation Project Ethiopian Health Center Program-Its Impact on Community Health in Three Towns," prepared by the Ethiopian Medical Journal (1967); "Testing Educational Achievement in Nursing in the Cento Countries," by Mary R. Shields, Consultant on Testing (1967); "Report on the Organization of Public Health services in Turkey" (1969); "Training of Assistant Health Services and Institutions in Turkey," prepared by M. Rahmi, M.D., Department of Public Health; reports on fecal contamination, water pollution indicators, and manpower planning programs; "Rural Health Unit Functional Analysis Report of the Pilot Study" (1969); "Alabama Social Welfare Annual Reports" (1978-1980); "A Realistic Look at an Alabama Problem," by the Alabama Department of Public Health; "Supplemental Application to Expand Adolescent Health Services in Hale, Greene, and Sumter Counties"; and "State of Alabama Department of Pensions and Security Annual Report" (1980-1991). Printed reports include both conference reports and nursing reports. Conference Reports include "The Non-Medical Missionary's Role in Mission Medical Work" (1947); and "International Council of Nurses: Proceedings of the 50th Anniversary Conference Stockholm, Sweden" (1949). Nursing reports include "The International Council of Nurses, National Reports" (1950); "Nurses in Nigeria" (1965); "Christian Medical Commission, World Council of Churches, Geneva, Reports of Surveys, Consultations, and Project Proposals" (1969); "Comprehensive Health Planning: Final Reports" (1970); "An Appraisal of the Population Project of the Rural Health Research Center of Narangwal India: the Integration of Family Planning and Rural Health Services at the Village Level" (1971); and "The Ghaja Family Health Nurse Project, Lages, Nigeria 1967-1970: An Examination of its Family Planning Impact," by John Wellman (1971).
Printed material in the collection includes: instructional booklets and manuals on midwifery, pregnancy, and childbirth (1947-1969); "Rules of Training and Education," a manual prepared by the Central Midwives Board (1955); "Guide for Schools of Nursing in India" (1966); "Manual for Lady Health Visitors: Preliminary Morbidity Data Collection" (1967); "International Health I" (1970); "Standing Orders: for Care of Sick Women and Children" (1971-1972); "International Health II" (1973-1974); and "Guidelines: Problem Oriented Record Obstetric Service" (1978). Also present are pamphlets on: "Child Growth and Development"; "Aids for Health Teaching"; "Discipline and the Family"; "Developing Responsibility in Children"; "Heart Disease and Pregnancy"; "Observing and Recording the Behavior of Young Children"; "The Parent-Teacher Partnership"; and "Publications of the Child Study Association of America." There are general information pamphlets on London, Wales, and Northern Ireland (1923-1970); the US (1941-1973); Africa, Nigeria, Zambia, Kenya (1943-1970); Japan (1953); India (1953-1972); France (1956; 1971); Turkey, Pakistan, Iran (1961-1973); Brazil (1963); the Philippines (1965; 1970); Latin America (1967); Switzerland (1969-1973); Australia (1970); South America (1972); and the District of Columbia. Periodicals in the collection include various issues of The Journal of Nurse-Midwifery (1924-1977); various issues of The Illustrated Weekly of India (1969, 1971); various issues of the American Journal of Nursing (1969, 1970); The American Journal of Public Health Supplement (1973); The Nursing Journal of India (1973); Yale Alumni Magazine and Journal (1978); Johns Hopkins Magazine (1969, 1979, 1984); Alabama Social Welfare (1980-1983); and Children Today (1981). There are various editions of The Greene County Democrat, published in Eutaw, AL (1978-1986); a number of maps; and comic books on pregnancy, nutrition, and prenatal care.
Also present in the collection are several files containing various types of material, arranged into topics by Forman. These subject files include printed material, research material, notes, correspondence, and memoranda.
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If you have any information about these crimes, or any person(s) involved, you are urged:
to call CrimeStoppers Honolulu at 808-955-8300,
dial *crime on your cellular phone (free cellular calls are provided by Cingular, Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless in Hawaii), or
submit a 'Web Tip' by clicking the button on the left of this page.
You do not have to give your name. CrimeStoppers Honolulu will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 if your tip leads to an arrest, identity of a suspect, or recovery of property, and you can remain anonymous.
Wanted Fugitive: Rashawn Griffin
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Rashawn Griffin who is wanted for a $20,000 cash only warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Probation.
On November 17, 2017, at about 2:09 a.m., the victim, who is a cab driver, was parked on Makaloa Street when a male entered the cab and placed him in a choke hold. The male then took the victim’s cash and cell phone and fled the scene. Police were notified and was able to locate the male nearby. The male, who was later identified as Rashawn Griffin, was subsequently placed under arrest for Robbery in the Second Degree.
Griffin has seven prior convictions and is known to frequent the Honolulu area.
Suspect: Rashawn Griffin
Race: African American
Wanted Fugitive: Roy Kalama
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Roy Kalama who is wanted for a $20,000 cash only warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Probation.
On September 6, 2017, at about 2:15 p.m., the complainant returned to his residence in the Wahiawa area when he observed a male inside of his kitchen carrying a handgun. The complainant ran to his neighbor’s house for help at which time he observed two males to exit the residence, carrying the complainant’s property and run away. Police were notified was able to locate both males nearby. One of the males, who was identified as Roy Kalama, was subsequently placed under arrest for Burglary in the First Degree.
Kalama has twelve prior convictions and is known to frequent the Honolulu, Waipahu and Waianae areas.
Suspect: Roy Kalama
Race: Hawaiian
Wanted Fugitive: Emilito Capanang
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Emilito Capanang who is wanted for a $30,000 bench warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Probation.
On September 24, 2017, at about 11:00 a.m., the victim was sitting down in front of a shack in the Waipahu area when a male carrying a large machete approached him. The male then struck the victim with the machete causing a large scalp laceration then fled the scene. Police were notified and through the investigation, the male was identified as Emilito Capanang. He was later located and placed under arrest for Assault in the Second Degree.
Capanang has 5 prior conviction and is known to frequent the Waipahu and Honolulu areas.
Suspect: Emilito Capanang
Race: Filipino
Wanted Fugitive: Joseph Williams-Garcia
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Joseph Williams-Garcia who is wanted for a $30,000 Bench Warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Bail and Release.
On December 3, 2015 at approximately 12:30 p.m., the victim was at her Ewa Beach home when a male unlawfully entered her residence. The male threatened her with a knife and prevented her from leaving the home. The male then took some of the victim’s property and fled. Police were notified and was able to locate the male nearby. As officers approached him, the male ran into a house that was unlocked and assaulted the homeowner. Police were later able to place the male, later identified as Joseph Williams-Garcia, under arrest for Burglary in the First Degree, Kidnapping, Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, Theft in the Second Degree, and Unauthorized Entry in a Dwelling in the Second Degree.
Williams-Garcia has 2 prior convictions and is known to frequent the Kapolei area.
Suspect: Joseph Williams-Garcia
Wanted Fugitive: Bruce Kamakeeaina
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Bruce Kamakeeaina who is wanted for a $20,000 Bench Warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Probation.
On November 11, 2017 at about 8:36 a.m., an HPD Officer was patrolling the Punalu’u area when he observed a Toyota truck being driven by a male. The officer had prior knowledge that the vehicle had been reported stolen and upon further confirming that the vehicle was still outstanding, the officer stopped the driver of the truck. As the officer attempted to place the male under arrest, the male resisted and assaulted the officer causing him injuries. The male, who was identified as Bruce Kamakeeaina, was subsequently placed under arrest for Unauthorized Control of Propelled Vehicle, Assault Against a Law Enforcement Officer in the First Degree and Resisting Arrest. He was also later placed under arrest for Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree after he was found to be in possession of a glass smoking pipe with crystal methamphetamine residue.
Kamakeeaina has 10 prior convictions and is known to frequent the Laie and Hauula areas.
Suspect: Bruce Kamakeeaina
Wanted Fugitive: Stephen Boter
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Stephen Boter who is wanted for a $20,000 Bench Warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of HOPE Probation.
On March 19, 2011 at approximately 2:10 a.m., the victim was hanging out at his friends in the Waianae area when he overheard some people making trouble in front of the house. The victim told one of the males to leave because he was getting loud at which time a physical confrontation ensued. The male then struck the victim from behind with a large rock causing the victim to go unconscious then began kicking him while he laid on the ground. The victim was transported to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a skull fracture and brain trauma. Police were notified and through the investigation, the male was identified as Stephen Boter. He was later located and placed under arrest for Assault in the First and Assault in the Second Degree.
Boter has 4 prior convictions and is known to frequent the Waianae area.
Suspect: Stephen Boter
Wanted Fugitive: Lauren Kaehuaea
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Lauren Kaehuaea who is wanted for a $20,000 cash only bench warrant for Failure to Appear for HOPE Hearing on 3/19/19.
On June 15, 2015, at approximately 2:12 p.m., an employee of the Kapolei Safeway store observed a male to enter the store then select and conceal four bottles of Tequila into his bag. The male then attempted to leave the store without making payment for the items. The employee tried to stop the male but the male punched the employee’s face at which time a struggle ensued for the bag. Another employee was able to recover three of the bottles but the male smashed the fourth bottle onto the ground then fled. Police were notified and was able to locate the male nearby. The male, who was identified as Lauren Kaehuaea, was subsequently placed under arrest for Robbery in the Second Degree.
Kaehuaea has 4 prior convictions and is known to frequent the Waianae area.
Wanted Fugitive: Kuli'i Kido
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Kuli’i Kido who is wanted for a $20,000 cash only Bench Warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Probation.
On December 12, 2011 at about midnight, the victim was hanging out with his friends in the Palolo area when they were approached by two males. The males demanded the victim’s money and property and used physical force against him. One the males then took the victim’s car keys and entered the victim’s vehicle and took property from within. Police were notified and through the investigation, one of the males was identified as Kuli’i Kido. He was later located and placed under arrest for Robbery in the Second Degree and Unauthorized Entry into Motor Vehicle in the First Degree.
Kido has 4 prior convictions and is known to frequent the Honolulu area.
Suspect: Kuli’i Kido
Wanted Fugitive Justin Purvis
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Justin Purvis who is wanted for a $25,000 Grand Jury Bench Warrant for Terroristic Threatening in the First and Second Degree.
On April 5, 2019 at about 2:40 p.m., two maintenance workers for a Moanalua area condominium were pressure washing the parking garage when a vehicle approached them. Two males exited the vehicle, one of them was armed with a handgun and threatened the two workers. Police were notified and through the investigation, the male was identified as Justin Purvis. He is now wanted for Terroristic Threatening in the First and Second Degrees.
Purvis has 2 prior convictions and is known to frequent the Honolulu and Ewa Beach areas.
Suspect: Justin Purvis
Wanted Fugitive: Daryl Quinones
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Daryl Quinones who is wanted for a $100,000 Grand Jury Bench Warrant for Robbery in the Second Degree, Kidnapping and Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree.
On January 7, 2019 at about 8:00 a.m., the victim was inside of a business in the Kalihi area when a male brandished a dangerous instrument and demanded the victim’s property. The male also used a chain to lock the doors to the business so that the victim couldn’t leave. The victim was later able to call the police at which time they arrived and placed the male, later identified as Daryl Quinones, under arrest for Robbery in the First Degree and Kidnapping. The male was also placed under arrest for Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree after Officers recovered crystal methamphetamine from the male.
Quinones has no prior conviction and is known to frequent the Honolulu area.
Suspect: Daryl Quinones
Wanted Fugitive: Jarrett Treu
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Jarrett Treu who is wanted for an $11,000 Warrant of Arrest for Burglary in the Second Degree and Unauthorized Control of Propelled Vehicle.
On September 26, 2018, the complainant discovered that someone had broken into his Waianae area business, took property and fled in the company van. The complainant reviewed the security footage and observed an unknown male in the video. Police were notified and through the investigation, the male was identified as Jarrett Treu. He is now wanted for Burglary in the Second Degree and Unauthorized Control of Propelled Vehicle.
Treu has no prior conviction and is known to frequent the Kapolei area.
Suspect: Jarrett Treu
Wanted Fugitive: Kenneth M. Villarreal
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Kenneth Villarreal who is wanted for a $25,000 Bench Warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Probation.
On December 16, 2017 at about 3:30 p.m., the complainant returned to his Kaneohe area home and discovered that someone had broken into his home and took various items from within. The complainant reviewed his home video surveillance system and observed a male entering his property. Police were notified and through the investigation, the male depicted in the video surveillance was identified as Kenneth Villarreal. He was later located and placed under arrest for Burglary in the First Degree.
He has 31 prior convictions and is known to frequent the Ewa Beach area.
Suspect: Kenneth Villarreal
Wanted Fugitive: Lawrence J. Keller Jr.
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Lawrence Keller who is wanted for a $20,000 Cash Only bench warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Probation.
On March 22, 2013, at approximately 5:45 p.m., a Loss Prevention Officer for the Waipahu Walmart Store observed a male to select and conceal a portable DVD player and two cellular phones. The male then exited the store without making payment for the items. The Loss Prevention Officer stopped the male and notified police. The male, who was identified as Lawrence Keller, was subsequently placed under arrest for Theft in the Second Degree.
Keller has 39 prior convictions and is known to frequent the Ewa Beach and Honolulu areas.
Suspect: Lawrence Keller
Hair: Salt Pepper
Wanted Fugitive: Fred Calleon
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Fred Calleon who is wanted for an $11,000 Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear for Arraignment and Plea on February 4, 2019.
On July 22, 2018 at about 4:30 a.m., the victim was involved in an argument with a male in the Ala Moana area. As the argument escalated, the male struck the victim’s face multiple times causing her injuries. Police were notified and placed the male, later identified as Fred Calleon, under arrest for Abuse of Family or Household Member.
Calleon has 12 prior convictions and is known to frequent the Honolulu area.
Wanted Fugitive: Shane Conradt-Nunuha
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Shane Conradt-Nunuha who is wanted for a $20,000 Cash Only Bench Warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Probation.
On February 4, 2010 at approximately 7:45 p.m., the juvenile victim was waiting at a bus stop in the Kaimuki area when he was approached by two males. One of the males then asked the victim if he had ever been robbed before then demanded the victim’s iPhone. When the victim refused, the male grabbed the victim’s iPhone then punched his face causing him to sustain injuries. Both males then fled the scene. Police were notified and through the investigation, the male who punched the victim and took his iPhone, was identified as Shane Conradt-Nunuha. He was later located and placed under arrest for Robbery in the Second Degree.
He has 2 prior convictions and is known to frequent the Wahiawa area.
Wanted Fugitive: Brandon K. HARDING
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Brandon Harding who is wanted for a $80,000 Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear for Hearing on May 1, 2018.
On August 5, 2017, a male checked into the Hyatt Waikiki Hotel and provided the front desk clerk with an identification card and a credit card bearing his name. The male later checked out of the hotel on August 11, 2017 with a total bill of $3,461.41. When an employee of the Hyatt later tried to finalize the males account, they discovered that the credit card that the male used was fraudulent and flagged his name in the hotel’s computer. On August 21, 2017, the same male returned to the Hyatt and tried to check in. Police were notified and placed the male, later identified as Brandon Harding, under arrest for Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card and Theft in the Second Degree.
Harding has no prior convictions and is known to frequent the Honolulu area.
Suspect: Brandon Harding
Wanted Fugitive: Michael D. WARNER
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Michael Warner who is wanted for a $25,000 bench warrant for Failure to Appear Hearing on April 25, 2018.
On November 6, 2016 at about 11:30 p.m., the complainant was inside of a Waikiki night club when someone stole her purse from on top of a bar counter. On November 7, 2016, at about 9:00 p.m., the complainant used her sister’s phone to try and track down her phone that was in her stolen purse. Upon pinging the phone, they were able to track it down to the Fort Derussy beach area. They then heard the audible sound of the phone coming from the back pocket of a male that was laying on the beach. Police were notified and upon detaining the male with the complainant’s phone, he was found to be in possession of the complainant’s credit cards. The male, who was identified as Michael Warner, was subsequently placed under arrest for Theft in the Second Degree and Unauthorized Possession of Confidential Personal Information.
Warner has no prior conviction and is known to frequent the Honolulu area.
Suspect: Michael Warner
Wanted Fugitive: Ernesto Alcala
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Ernesto Alcala Jr. who is wanted for a $50,000 bench warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Deferral.
On November 25, 2013, at approximately 6:40 p.m., a Loss Prevention Officer for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service or AAFES, a retail establishment, observed a male browsing at items in the store. The Loss Prevention Officer recognized the male as someone who had previously been arrested for theft several months prior. The male was later observed to select a Bose speaker box and LG DVD player then place them into a shopping cart. The male then proceeded to the garden section and threw the Bose speaker and LG DVD player over the wall to his friend who then placed them into a vehicle. Police were notified and the male who threw the items over the wall was identified as Ernesto Alcala Jr.. Alcala was subsequently placed under arrest for Theft in the Second Degree.
Alcala has no prior conviction and is known to frequent the Wahiawa area.
Suspect: Ernesto Alcala
Wanted Fugitive: Chenhui XIONG
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Chenhui Xiong who is wanted for a $100,000 Bench Warrant for Failure to Comply with the Terms and Conditions of Probation.
On March 6, 2017 at about 7:50 p.m., a male entered the Waikiki Yves Saint Laurent store and selected two men’s bags from the sales floor. The male then provided the employee a Visa credit card for payment but the card was declined. The male then provided an American Express credit card for payment but that card was also declined. The employee then called the Visa Merchant Authorization Center at which time he was told that the credit card was not valid. The employee became suspicious and contacted the police. The male, who was later identified as Chenhui Xiong, was subsequently placed under arrest for two counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card.
Chenhui Xiong has no prior convictions and is known to frequent the Honolulu area.
Suspect: Chenhui Xiong
Wanted Fugitive: Joeson J. MONGKEYA
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Joeson Mongkeya who is wanted for a $100,000 Grand Jury Bench Warrant for three counts of Sex Assault in the Second Degree.
On May 28, 2014, at about 8:00 a.m., Joeson Mongkeya befriended a female and gave her an alcoholic beverage. Mongkeya then sexually assaulted the victim numerous times. The victim reported the incident to a family member who then contacted police. Mongkeya was later located and placed under arrest for Sex Assault in the Second Degree.
He has eight prior convictions and is known to frequent the Honolulu area.
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THE CRISIS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS AND AMERICAN POWER / STRATFOR GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE
| Etiquetas: Income Distribution, U.S. Economic And Political
The Crisis of the Middle Class and American Power
January 8, 2013 | 1000 GMT
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Last week I wrote about the crisis of unemployment in Europe. I received a great deal of feedback, with Europeans agreeing that this is the core problem and Americans arguing that the United States has the same problem, asserting that U.S. unemployment is twice as high as the government's official unemployment rate. My counterargument is that unemployment in the United States is not a problem in the same sense that it is in Europe because it does not pose a geopolitical threat. The United States does not face political disintegration from unemployment, whatever the number is. Europe might.
At the same time, I would agree that the United States faces a potentially significant but longer-term geopolitical problem deriving from economic trends. The threat to the United States is the persistent decline in the middle class' standard of living, a problem that is reshaping the social order that has been in place since World War II and that, if it continues, poses a threat to American power.
The Crisis of the American Middle Class
The median household income of Americans in 2011 was $49,103. Adjusted for inflation, the median income is just below what it was in 1989 and is $4,000 less than it was in 2000. Take-home income is a bit less than $40,000 when Social Security and state and federal taxes are included. That means a monthly income, per household, of about $3,300. It is urgent to bear in mind that half of all American households earn less than this. It is also vital to consider not the difference between 1990 and 2011, but the difference between the 1950s and 1960s and the 21st century. This is where the difference in the meaning of middle class becomes most apparent.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the median income allowed you to live with a single earner -- normally the husband, with the wife typically working as homemaker -- and roughly three children. It permitted the purchase of modest tract housing, one late model car and an older one. It allowed a driving vacation somewhere and, with care, some savings as well. I know this because my family was lower-middle class, and this is how we lived, and I know many others in my generation who had the same background. It was not an easy life and many luxuries were denied us, but it wasn't a bad life at all.
Someone earning the median income today might just pull this off, but it wouldn't be easy. Assuming that he did not have college loans to pay off but did have two car loans to pay totaling $700 a month, and that he could buy food, clothing and cover his utilities for $1,200 a month, he would have $1,400 a month for mortgage, real estate taxes and insurance, plus some funds for fixing the air conditioner and dishwasher. At a 5 percent mortgage rate, that would allow him to buy a house in the $200,000 range. He would get a refund back on his taxes from deductions but that would go to pay credit card bills he had from Christmas presents and emergencies. It could be done, but not easily and with great difficulty in major metropolitan areas. And if his employer didn't cover health insurance, that $4,000-5,000 for three or four people would severely limit his expenses. And of course, he would have to have $20,000-40,000 for a down payment and closing costs on his home. There would be little else left over for a week at the seashore with the kids.
And this is for the median. Those below him -- half of all households -- would be shut out of what is considered middle-class life, with the house, the car and the other associated amenities.
Those amenities shift upward on the scale for people with at least $70,000 in income. The basics might be available at the median level, given favorable individual circumstance, but below that life becomes surprisingly meager, even in the range of the middle class and certainly what used to be called the lower-middle class.
The Expectation of Upward Mobility
I should pause and mention that this was one of the fundamental causes of the 2007-2008 subprime lending crisis. People below the median took out loans with deferred interest with the expectation that their incomes would continue the rise that was traditional since World War II. The caricature of the borrower as irresponsible misses the point.
The expectation of rising real incomes was built into the American culture, and many assumed based on that that the rise would resume in five years. When it didn't they were trapped, but given history, they were not making an irresponsible assumption.
American history was always filled with the assumption that upward mobility was possible. The Midwest and West opened land that could be exploited, and the massive industrialization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries opened opportunities. There was a systemic expectation of upward mobility built into American culture and reality.
The Great Depression was a shock to the system, and it wasn't solved by the New Deal, nor even by World War II alone. The next drive for upward mobility came from post-war programs for veterans, of whom there were more than 10 million. These programs were instrumental in creating post-industrial America, by creating a class of suburban professionals. There were three programs that were critical:
1. The GI Bill, which allowed veterans to go to college after the war, becoming professionals frequently several notches above their parents.
2. The part of the GI Bill that provided federally guaranteed mortgages to veterans, allowing low and no down payment mortgages and low interest rates to graduates of publicly funded universities.
3. The federally funded Interstate Highway System, which made access to land close to but outside of cities easier, enabling both the dispersal of populations on inexpensive land (which made single-family houses possible) and, later, the dispersal of business to the suburbs.
There were undoubtedly many other things that contributed to this, but these three not only reshaped America but also created a new dimension to the upward mobility that was built into American life from the beginning. Moreover, these programs were all directed toward veterans, to whom it was acknowledged a debt was due, or were created for military reasons (the Interstate Highway System was funded to enable the rapid movement of troops from coast to coast, which during World War II was found to be impossible). As a result, there was consensus around the moral propriety of the programs.
The subprime fiasco was rooted in the failure to understand that the foundations of middle class life were not under temporary pressure but something more fundamental. Where a single earner could support a middle class family in the generation after World War II, it now took at least two earners.
That meant that the rise of the double-income family corresponded with the decline of the middle class. The lower you go on the income scale, the more likely you are to be a single mother. That shift away from social pressure for two parent homes was certainly part of the problem.
Re-engineering the Corporation
But there was, I think, the crisis of the modern corporation. Corporations provided long-term employment to the middle class. It was not unusual to spend your entire life working for one.
Working for a corporation, you received yearly pay increases, either as a union or non-union worker. The middle class had both job security and rising income, along with retirement and other benefits. Over the course of time, the culture of the corporation diverged from the realities, as corporate productivity lagged behind costs and the corporations became more and more dysfunctional and ultimately unsupportable. In addition, the corporations ceased focusing on doing one thing well and instead became conglomerates, with a management frequently unable to keep up with the complexity of multiple lines of business.
For these and many other reasons, the corporation became increasingly inefficient, and in the terms of the 1980s, they had to be re-engineered -- which meant taken apart, pared down, refined and refocused. And the re-engineering of the corporation, designed to make them agile, meant that there was a permanent revolution in business. Everything was being reinvented. Huge amounts of money, managed by people whose specialty was re-engineering companies, were deployed. The choice was between total failure and radical change. From the point of view of the individual worker, this frequently meant the same thing: unemployment. From the view of the economy, it meant the creation of value whether through breaking up companies, closing some of them or sending jobs overseas. It was designed to increase the total efficiency, and it worked for the most part.
This is where the disjuncture occurred. From the point of view of the investor, they had saved the corporation from total meltdown by redesigning it. From the point of view of the workers, some retained the jobs that they would have lost, while others lost the jobs they would have lost anyway. But the important thing is not the subjective bitterness of those who lost their jobs, but something more complex.
As the permanent corporate jobs declined, more people were starting over. Some of them were starting over every few years as the agile corporation grew more efficient and needed fewer employees. That meant that if they got new jobs it would not be at the munificent corporate pay rate but at near entry-level rates in the small companies that were now the growth engine. As these companies failed, were bought or shifted direction, they would lose their jobs and start over again. Wages didn't rise for them and for long periods they might be unemployed, never to get a job again in their now obsolete fields, and certainly not working at a company for the next 20 years.
The restructuring of inefficient companies did create substantial value, but that value did not flow to the now laid-off workers. Some might flow to the remaining workers, but much of it went to the engineers who restructured the companies and the investors they represented. Statistics reveal that, since 1947 (when the data was first compiled), corporate profits as a percentage of gross domestic product are now at their highest level, while wages as a percentage of GDP are now at their lowest level. It was not a question of making the economy more efficient -- it did do that -- it was a question of where the value accumulated. The upper segment of the wage curve and the investors continued to make money. The middle class divided into a segment that entered the upper-middle class, while another faction sank into the lower-middle class.
American society on the whole was never egalitarian. It always accepted that there would be substantial differences in wages and wealth. Indeed, progress was in some ways driven by a desire to emulate the wealthy. There was also the expectation that while others received far more, the entire wealth structure would rise in tandem. It was also understood that, because of skill or luck, others would lose.
What we are facing now is a structural shift, in which the middle class' center, not because of laziness or stupidity, is shifting downward in terms of standard of living. It is a structural shift that is rooted in social change (the breakdown of the conventional family) and economic change (the decline of traditional corporations and the creation of corporate agility that places individual workers at a massive disadvantage).
The inherent crisis rests in an increasingly efficient economy and a population that can't consume what is produced because it can't afford the products. This has happened numerous times in history, but the United States, excepting the Great Depression, was the counterexample.
Obviously, this is a massive political debate, save that political debates identify problems without clarifying them. In political debates, someone must be blamed. In reality, these processes are beyond even the government's ability to control.
On one hand, the traditional corporation was beneficial to the workers until it collapsed under the burden of its costs. On the other hand, the efficiencies created threaten to undermine consumption by weakening the effective demand among half of society.
The Long-Term Threat
The greatest danger is one that will not be faced for decades but that is lurking out there. The United States was built on the assumption that a rising tide lifts all ships. That has not been the case for the past generation, and there is no indication that this socio-economic reality will change any time soon. That means that a core assumption is at risk.
The problem is that social stability has been built around this assumption -- not on the assumption that everyone is owed a living, but the assumption that on the whole, all benefit from growing productivity and efficiency.
If we move to a system where half of the country is either stagnant or losing ground while the other half is surging, the social fabric of the United States is at risk, and with it the massive global power the United States has accumulated. Other superpowers such as Britain or Rome did not have the idea of a perpetually improving condition of the middle class as a core value. The United States does. If it loses that, it loses one of the pillars of its geopolitical power.
The left would argue that the solution is for laws to transfer wealth from the rich to the middle class. That would increase consumption but, depending on the scope, would threaten the amount of capital available to investment by the transfer itself and by eliminating incentives to invest.
You can't invest what you don't have, and you won't accept the risk of investment if the payoff is transferred away from you.
The agility of the American corporation is critical. The right will argue that allowing the free market to function will fix the problem. The free market doesn't guarantee social outcomes, merely economic ones. In other words, it may give more efficiency on the whole and grow the economy as a whole, but by itself it doesn't guarantee how wealth is distributed. The left cannot be indifferent to the historical consequences of extreme redistribution of wealth. The right cannot be indifferent to the political consequences of a middle-class life undermined, nor can it be indifferent to half the population's inability to buy the products and services that businesses sell.
The most significant actions made by governments tend to be unintentional. The GI Bill was designed to limit unemployment among returning serviceman; it inadvertently created a professional class of college graduates. The VA loan was designed to stimulate the construction industry; it created the basis for suburban home ownership. The Interstate Highway System was meant to move troops rapidly in the event of war; it created a new pattern of land use that was suburbia.
It is unclear how the private sector can deal with the problem of pressure on the middle class. Government programs frequently fail to fulfill even minimal intentions while squandering scarce resources. The United States has been a fortunate country, with solutions frequently emerging in unexpected ways.
It would seem to me that unless the United States gets lucky again, its global dominance is in jeopardy. Considering its history, the United States can expect to get lucky again, but it usually gets lucky when it is frightened.
And at this point it isn't frightened but angry, believing that if only its own solutions were employed, this problem and all others would go away. I am arguing that the conventional solutions offered by all sides do not yet grasp the magnitude of the problem -- that the foundation of American society is at risk -- and therefore all sides are content to repeat what has been said before.
People who are smarter and luckier than I am will have to craft the solution. I am simply pointing out the potential consequences of the problem and the inadequacy of all the ideas I have seen so far.
DESPERATELY SEEKING A LINE IN SAFE ASSETS / THE FINANCIAL TIMES COMMENT & ANALYSIS
| Etiquetas: Banks And Banking, Central Banking, Financial Markets, Government Budget Deficits, Government Debt Markets
Desperately seeking a line in safe assets
By Ralph Atkins in London
As if the world’s central bankers did not have enough to do already.
With the global economy still badly scarred by successive financial crises, another job is falling to today’s masters of the universe: ensuring there are sufficient “safe assets” to keep the financial system functioning.
Overseeing the supply of assets that can be used as collateral or to provide cash quickly may not fit obviously with central banks’ post-crisis responsibilities for supporting economic growth and helping banks in emergencies – while watching out for inflation. But the task is rapidly gaining importance. Investor nervousness is discouraging unsecured lending. More crucially, regulators are demanding stronger cushions of safe assets built into the banking system.
The risk is of a sudden shortage of sufficiently high-quality assets triggering a “collateral crunch” and paralysing credit flows into the real economy. The danger may not be immediate; there are still plenty of high-quality government bonds around, for example. But it is a legitimate concern, for example, in the eurozone, where perceptions about the safety of sovereign debt have been undermined.
Official acknowledgment that this has become a real issue came this week when central bankers and regulators, meeting in Basel, Switzerland, agreed how first-ever global liquidity standards should be applied to banks.
The original plan was to keep the definition of “high quality liquid assets” relatively tight, focused on government bonds, cash and central bank reserves. But on Sunday, Sir Mervyn King, the Bank of England governor who oversees the Basel oversight group, announced a much broader than expected definition, which also included corporate bonds rated as low as triple B minus and even some residential mortgage-backed securities.
This was great advertising for the securitisation industry, still tainted by its role in triggering the global financial crisis in 2007. But with all due respect for mortgage-backed securities – no doubt much improved – their official designation among assets deemed of the highest quality pointed to some devaluation in the meaning of “safe”. The term has become a relative, rather than absolute, measure.
For some critics, regulators have caved into the power of the banking lobby, rendering the new rules ineffective as safeguards for future financial stability. Sir Mervyn put it differently: the changes were not about making the rules stronger or weaker but “more realistic”.
For now, the liquidity coverage rules will not make much difference.
Most large banks meet the requirements comfortably already – not because their books are full of wholesome mortgage-backed securities or corporate bonds but because central banks have flooded the financial system with liquidity through their crisis-fighting monetary policy operations.
Indeed, a simpler approach to liquidity rules would have been to include anything that can be used as collateral to borrow from central banks. Sir Mervyn, however, is looking to the day when central banks can wind down their own balance sheets and return to more normal operations. As he put it on Sunday, central banks should act as lender of last resort – not first resort.
The snag is that the private sector cannot substitute for central banks as anchors of financial stability. Intriguingly, exactly this point was emphasised in research published in Basel just as details of this week’s liquidity rules were being finalised.
In a paper on “global safe assets,” Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas of the University of California at Berkeley and Olivier Jeanne of Johns Hopkins University argue claims on the private sector are “inherently risky and should stay so to limit moral hazard.” Their conclusion is that “besides money, government debt remains the best candidate for the status of safe asset” with central banks having “a role to play in making government debts safe”.
The warning is salutary for the European Central Bank, which last year engaged in a high-stakes battle of will with governments over the region’s debt crisis, even as it took ever bolder measures to stop the continent’s monetary union disintegrating. Greek bonds, for example, were for times banned as collateral to obtain ECB liquidity.
But in other ways the ECB has been exemplary. Generally, its rules have been loosened considerably so banks can now offer a wide range of lower quality assets as collateral to obtain essential liquidity – freeing up higher quality assets for use elsewhere. Europe’s economy would be in peril again if the ECB neglected the supply of safe assets.
Ralph Atkins is the FT’s capital markets editor
THE WORLD IN 2030 / PROJECT SYNDICATE
| Etiquetas: World Economic And Political
The World in 2030
Illustration by Paul Lachine
CAMBRIDGE – What will the world look like two decades from now? Obviously, nobody knows, but some things are more likely than others. Companies and governments have to make informed guesses, because some of their investments today will last longer than 20 years. In December, the United States National Intelligence Council (NIC) published its guess: Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds.
The NIC foresees a transformed world, in which “no country – whether the US, China, or any other large country – will be a hegemonic power.” This reflects four “megatrends”: individual empowerment and the growth of a global middle class; diffusion of power from states to informal networks and coalitions; demographic changes, owing to urbanization, migration, and aging; and increased demand for food, water, and energy.
Each trend is changing the world and “largely reversing the historic rise of the West since 1750, restoring Asia’s weight in the global economy, and ushering in a new era of ‘democratization’ at the international and domestic level.” The US will remain “first among equals” in hard and soft power, but “the ‘unipolar moment’ is over.”
It is never safe, however, to project the future just by extrapolating current trends. Surprise is inevitable, so the NIC also identifies what it calls “game-changers,” or outcomes that could drive the major trends off course in surprising ways.
First among such sources of uncertainty is the global economy: will volatility and imbalances lead to collapse, or will greater multipolarity underpin greater resilience? Similarly, will governments and institutions be able to adapt fast enough to harness change, or will they be overwhelmed by it?
Moreover, while interstate conflict has been declining, intrastate conflict driven by youthful populations, identity politics, and scarce resources will continue to plague some regions like the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. And that leads to yet another potentially game-changing issue: whether regional instability remains contained or fuels global insecurity.
Then there is a set of questions concerning the impact of new technologies. Will they exacerbate conflict, or will they be developed and widely accessible in time to solve the problems caused by a growing population, rapid urbanization, and climate change?
The final game-changing issue is America’s future role. In the NIC’s view, the multi-faceted nature of US power suggests that even as China overtakes America economically – perhaps as early as the 2020’s – the US will most likely maintain global leadership alongside other great powers in 2030. “The potential for an overstretched US facing increased demands,” the NIC argues, “is greater than the risk of the US being replaced as the world’s preeminent political leader.”
Is this good or bad for the world? In the NIC’s view, “a collapse or sudden retreat of US power would most likely result in an extended period of global anarchy,” with “no stable international system and no leading power to replace the US.”
The NIC discussed earlier drafts of its report with intellectuals and officials in 20 countries, and reports that none of the world’s emerging powers has a revisionist view of international order along the lines of Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, or the Soviet Union. But these countries’ relations with the US are ambiguous. They benefit from the US-led world order, but are often irritated by American slights and unilateralism. One attraction of a multipolar world is less US dominance; but the only thing worse than a US-supported international order would be no order at all.
The question of America’s role in helping to produce a more benign world in 2030 has important implications for President Barack Obama as he approaches his second term. The world faces a new set of transnational challenges, including climate change, transnational terrorism, cyber insecurity, and pandemics. All of these issues require cooperation to resolve.
Obama’s 2010 National Security Strategy argues that the US must think of power as positive-sum, not just zero-sum. In other words, there may be times when a more powerful China is good for the US (and for the world). For example, the US should be eager to see China increase its ability to control its world-leading greenhouse-gas emissions.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has referred to the Obama administration’s foreign policy as being based on “smart power,” which combines hard and soft power resources, and she argues that we should not talk about “multipolarity,” but about “multi-partnerships.” Likewise, the NIC report suggests that Americans must learn better how to exercise power with as well as over other states.
To be sure, on issues arising from interstate military relations, understanding how to form alliances and balance power will remain crucial. But the best military arrangements will do little to solve many of the world’s new transnational problems, which jeopardize the security of millions of people at least as much as traditional military threats do. Leadership on such issues will require cooperation, institutions, and the creation of public goods from which all can benefit and none can be excluded.
The NIC report rightly concludes that there is no predetermined answer to what the world will look like in 2030. Whether the future holds benign or malign scenarios depends in part on the policies that we adopt today.
Joseph S. Nye, a former US assistant secretary of defense and chairman of the US National Intelligence Council, is University Professor at Harvard University. His most recent book is The Future of Power.
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DONALD TRUMP AND XI JIMPING´S BATTLE OVER GLOBALIZATION / THE FINANCIAL TIMES COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS
| Etiquetas: China, Donald Trump, Economics, Geopolitics, Trade, U.S. Economic And Political, Xi Jinping
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping’s battle over globalisation
The US president’s rhetoric on trade reads like a declaration of economic warfare
by: Martin Wolf
Xi Jinping, president of China, made a speech last week on globalisation at the World Economic Forum that one would have expected to come from a US president. At his inauguration, Donald Trump made remarks on trade that one would never have expected to come from a US president. The contrast is astounding.
Mr Xi recognised that globalisation was not without difficulties. But, he argued, “blaming economic globalisation for the world’s problems is inconsistent with reality”. Instead, “globalisation has powered global growth and facilitated movement of goods and capital, advances in science, technology and civilisation, and interactions among people”. His vision matches that of the last US president to address the World Economic Forum. In 2000, President Bill Clinton argued that “we have got to reaffirm unambiguously that open markets and rules-based trade are the best engine we know of to lift living standards, reduce environmental destruction and build shared prosperity”.
Mr Trump rejects this vision: “We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.” Moreover: “We will follow two simple rules: buy American and hire American.”
This is not chatter. Mr Trump has already cancelled US participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiated under his predecessor. He has announced his intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. Furthermore, he has made highly punitive threats against Mexico (imposition of a 35 per cent tariff) and China (imposition of a 45 per cent tariff).
Behind this is what Peter Navarro, Mr Trump’s trade policy adviser, and Wilbur Ross, his proposed commerce secretary, call the “Trump Trade Doctrine”, the view that “any deal must increase the growth rate [of the economy], decrease the trade deficit and strengthen the US manufacturing base”.
For a British reader, this brings back memories of the “alternative economic strategy” advanced by the leftwing of the Labour party in the 1970s. Just like Mr Navarro, Mr Ross and, apparently, Mr Trump, those leftwingers argued that trade deficits constrain demand. Controls on imports were their solution. Deals aimed at decreasing the US trade deficit seem to be Mr Trump’s. Who would have imagined that primitive mercantilism would seize the policymaking machinery of the world’s most powerful market economy and issuer of the world’s principal reserve currency?
The frightening fact is that the people who seem closest to Mr Trump believe things that are almost entirely false.
They believe, for example, that a value added tax not levied on exports is a subsidy to exports.
It is not: US goods sold in the EU pay VAT, just as European goods do; and European goods sold in the US pay sales taxes (where levied), just as US goods do. In both cases, no distortion between domestic and imported goods is created. Tariffs are levied only on imported goods. So they do distort relative prices.
Again, these people believe trade policy determines the trade deficit. To a first approximation, this is not so, because the trade (and current account) balances reflect differences between income and spending. Assume imposition of an across-the-board-tariff. Purchases of foreign exchange will fall and the exchange rate will appreciate, until exports fall and imports rise enough to return the deficit to where it started. Protection then just helps some businesses at the expense of others. The Trump proposals seem to aim at resurrection of the economically dead. True, protection might lower the external deficit by making the US a less attractive destination for foreign investment. But that hardly seems a sane strategy.
Yet another mistake is belief in the merit of bilateral deals. Trade deals are not like deals between companies. They set the terms on which all businesses transact. Bilateralism fragments world markets. It is extremely difficult for firms to create long-term arrangements if new bilateral deals might destabilise competitive conditions at any moment.
Unfortunately, as Martin Sandbu argues, unwise policies might do huge damage. The US president possesses the legal authority to do virtually whatever he wants. But reneging on past deals is sure to make the US seem an unreliable partner. Its victims, particularly China, are also likely to retaliate. According to analysis by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, China and Mexico together account for a quarter of US trade. In a full trade war, US employment might fall by 4.8m private sector jobs. The disruption of supply chains is likely to be especially serious.
Beyond this are huge geopolitical consequences. Beating up Mexico will overturn three decades of reform, probably delivering power there to a leftwing populist. Beating up China may poison an essential relationship for decades. Abandoning TPP may hand a number of the Asian allies of the US over to China. Ignoring World Trade Organisation rules might destroy the institution that provides stability to the real side of the world economy.
The rhetoric of “America First” reads like a declaration of economic warfare. The US is immensely powerful. But it cannot even be confident it will get its own way. Instead, it may merely declare itself to be a rogue state.
Once the hegemon attacks a system it created, only two outcomes seem at all likely — its collapse or recreation of the system around a new hegemon. Mr Xi’s China cannot replace the US: that would take co-operation with Europeans and other Asian powers. The more likely outcome is collapse into a trade policy free-for-all. Mr Xi’s vision is the right one. But, without Mr Trump’s support, it may now be unworkable. That would benefit nobody, including the US.
ANOTHER RESET WITH RUSSIA? / PROJECT SYNDICATE
| Etiquetas: Donald Trump, NATO, Russia, U.S. Economic And Political
Another Reset with Russia?
Robert Skidelsky
LONDON – The question of the West’s relationship with Russia has been buried by media stories of hacking, sex scandals, and potential blackmail. The dossier by former British spy Christopher Steele about US President Donald Trump’s activities in Moscow some years ago may turn out to be as credible as the claims that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction – or it may not.
We simply don’t know. What is clear is that such stories have distracted attention from the task of bridging the diplomatic chasm now dividing Russia and the West.
It’s hard for a Westerner, even one of Russian ancestry like me, to warm to Vladimir Putin’s Russia. I hate the way his government has used the “foreign agent” law to harass and effectively close down NGOs. I hate its human-rights abuses, assassinations, dirty tricks, and criminal prosecutions to intimidate political opponents.
What seems indisputable is that today’s anti-liberal, authoritarian Russia is as much a product of the souring of relations with the West as it is of Russian history or the threat of disintegration that Russia faced in the 1990s.
This souring is rooted in Russia’s perception, underpinned by a large dose of paranoia and a misreading of post-communist history, that the West – and the United States, in particular – has aggressive designs on it. It is simply not true that Russia willingly gave up its empire to join the democratic West, only to be rebuffed by it. The Soviet Union had become too decrepit to hold on to its post-World War II gains or even its pre-war frontiers. The peoples of Eastern Europe, and those absorbed by the Soviet Union, were delighted to be free of Kremlin control.
Nonetheless, as Dmitri Trenin, Director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, points out, Robert Gates, who headed the CIA in the early 1990s, later conceded that the West, and particularly the US, “badly underestimated the magnitude of Russian humiliation in losing the Cold War.” The spectacle of “American government officials, academicians, businessmen, and politicians” arrogantly “telling the Russians how to conduct their […] affairs” inevitably “led to deep and long-term resentment and bitterness.”
In this context, NATO’s expansion between 1999 and 2004 to include the Baltic states was, in my view, a serious mistake. I remember a leading Russian liberal telling me in the 1990s that a democratic government in Moscow was a much more secure guarantee against Russian adventurism than NATO troops in Vilnius.
Russia’s own overture to join NATO in 2001-2002 was predictably rejected. NATO’s essential post-communist purpose, after all, was to protect Eastern Europe against Russian revanchism.
But it was a kick in the face when, at NATO’s Bucharest summit in 2008, the Alliance’s then-secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said that Ukraine would “someday” join. Although NATO’s leaders rejected Scheffer’s position at that very summit, many Russians came to believe that wherever Russia’s power receded, it was being replaced by the expanding power of the West, with no middle ground or buffer.
Putin called NATO membership for Ukraine “a direct threat” to Russia.
Although Russia and the West each claim to uphold a rules-based international order, both sides have flouted the United Nations Charter when it suits them, accusing the other of hypocrisy. Did no Western policymaker heed the warnings of responsible Russian politicians that NATO’s bombing of Belgrade in 1999 and Kosovo’s subsequent detachment from Serbia – both in violation of international law and the UN Charter – might set a dangerous precedent?
Despite the manifest corruption of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, and his betrayal of his pledge to sign an association agreement with the EU, Russia saw only the West’s hand in the popular uprising that resulted in Yanukovych’s ouster in 2014. The West, in turn, was unanimous in condemning Russia’s subsequent annexation of Crimea and clandestine military support for a pro-Russian separatist uprising in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
From the perspective of Realpolitik, Putin’s intervention in Ukraine was a catastrophic error: in addition to the economic sanctions Russia incurred as a result, Russian policy shifted Ukraine decisively into the Western camp. With its links to the US and the European Union fracturing, Russia has looked to a Eurasian alliance with China to bolster its crumbling geopolitical position. But this is neither country’s favored partnership.
Trenin believes that the West should fear Russia’s weakness more than its imperial designs. Russia’s fundamental post-Soviet shortcoming has been its failure to modernize its economy. The Putin-Medvedev governments that have ruled for the last 17 years have failed to overcome the “oil curse.”
The state’s continued dependence on resource revenues has entrenched corruption, sustained autocracy, and encouraged foreign-policy adventurism as a substitute for broad-based material prosperity.
The Trump administration is set to make a new effort to build bridges. Trump proposes a “deal” to lift Western sanctions on Russia in exchange for an agreed reduction in nuclear stockpiles. This would be a good confidence-boosting start.
There are at least three positives to build on. First, Putin’s foreign-policy coups, while opportunistic, have been cautious. He talks big, but respects his limits. Having made his point in Georgia and Ukraine, he drew back. He is a gambler, but not for the highest stakes.
Second, the Russian thesis of “multipolarity” offers much to international relations. With American power on the wane and China’s on the rise, a restructuring of international relations is inevitable. The rules of the game forged in the era of US supremacy will have to be revised to accommodate different interests and perceptions. Russia could play a constructive role in this revision, if it does not overestimate its strength.
Finally, Russia has shown – on the nuclear deal with Iran and the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons – that it can work with the US to advance common interests. And, in my view, Putin’s “realism” in providing military support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is preferable to futile Western efforts to orchestrate a “political settlement.” If successful, millions of refugees may be able to return to their homes.
The conflict of values between the two sides will continue. But, provided the West treats Russia and its concerns with respect, there is no reason why a much better working relationship cannot be established.
http://prosyn.org/JhD1Xqs
AS CHINA EXTOLS OPEN MARKETS, PRICE CONTROLS SPROUT BACK HOME / TH WALL STREET JOURNAL
| Etiquetas: China, Economics, Free Markets
As China Extols Open Markets, Price Controls Sprout Back Home
New ‘color coded’ coal price controls are emblematic of deeper problems with China’s reform agenda
By Nathaniel Taplin
China's President Xi Jinping after his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17. Photo: Associated Press
What is odder than watching the president of China, a nominally socialist nation, at Davos publicly assume the mantle of the global champion of unfettered markets?
Answer: watching the above, while the bureaucracy back home quietly churns out new price controls.
China has developed a new color coding system for coal prices, with increasing levels of intervention to control prices as they move outside a “green” zone of $70 to $80 a ton. The move follows intense volatility in global coal prices, which gained over 70% in 2016 after sharp Chinese capacity cuts collided with rebounding industrial electricity demand.
Coal price controls in China have a long and unhappy history, and there is little doubt that prices are far freer than at the turn of the century.
But further progress under the current administration has been scattershot. Under Xi Jinping, markets have been allowed to play a greater role in the economy—as long as they move in a direction policy makers like. When they don’t, however, rhetorical homage to free markets quickly goes out the window. That helps smooth short term volatility. But the costs are substantial. The government is willing to bear those costs because coal is China’s main energy source and rising prices have political and social implications.
For China, it means slower growth and a higher risk of a big financial blowup in the long run as, in the absence of proper market signals, capital allocation runs amok in the state-owned sector.
And for foreign investors eyeing Chinese firms, it often means poor returns, as state-owned firms are forced into national service or miss opportunities to profit off rising prices due to administrative diktats.
The recent struggle to control coal prices is a classic example of the latter. Chinese coal production has finally rebounded in response to rising prices, but big state-owned miners, which are easier to police, have largely missed the bonanza. Output from key state-owned mines in November was still down 8% on the year following forced capacity cuts in early 2016.
But production for the country as a whole was only down 4%, suggesting that more flexible small and midsize mines have actually reaped much of the benefits of rising prices.
One result: lagging share prices for listed Chinese miners. Hong Kong-listed China Coal Energy’s sales were still down almost 6% on the year in the third quarter, even though coal prices were up 35% over the same period. China Shenhua and China Coal Energy shares are up 33% and 39% since end-December 2015 respectively, against gains of more than 100% for Glencore, Yancoal Australia and Rio Tinto.
On scale and market size alone, China and its key state-owned enterprises should be leaders of the next phase of globalization. But unless the nation is prepared to put more faith in markets back home, it is hard to see other nations following its lead.
THINKING THROUGH TRUMP´S VIEWS ONTHE ISLAMIC STATE / GEOPOLITICAL FUTURES
| Etiquetas: Donald Trump, ISIS
Thinking Through Trump’s Views on the Islamic State
The president has said he will eradicate IS, but how might this happen?
During President Donald Trump’s inauguration speech last Friday, he reiterated his promise to destroy the Islamic State. Previously, he also pledged to reduce international commitments that don’t benefit the United States. The two statements are not incompatible. Trump is simply saying that the destruction of IS is fundamental to the national interest. On the surface, this is not an obvious priority, so we must try to understand why IS is so important in his thinking.
IS is a Sunni movement, primarily located in Syria and Iraq, committed to re-establishing the caliphate and dominating the Islamic world. It has established a relatively contiguous area of control stretching from Mosul to Palmyra. Within this space, it has developed a government, and its capital is Raqqa. It maintains rudimentary services, raises taxes and conducts trade. It also maintains a substantial military that has been battling forces trying to retake Mosul. If it succeeds in uniting the Islamic world under a caliphate, it could represent a global challenge. A modern industrialized society governed by a single, integrated state based on Shariah and possessing that much territory would be a very real challenge to American interests.
U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist after addressing the crowd during his swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20, 2017 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
IS is far from this goal and has many steps to execute on the way there, so the likelihood of this happening is extremely low. If it was moving in that direction, future intervention would make more sense. It also should be remembered that a Shariah-based industrial force able to project power globally would face tension between the social order commanded by Shariah and a truly global power. In addition, IS threatens regional powers like Turkey Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel with its military capabilities, and others, including the United States, with intermittent terrorist attacks. In the end, the single power most hostile to the Islamic State is Iran, which IS challenges theologically and politically.
Looked at in this way, it would seem to follow that IS does not pose a direct threat now to the United States, and that plenty of intermediate, regional powers are in a position to block IS.
Therefore, given the overarching theme of Trump’s global strategy, IS should be a problem for regional powers to deal with; the U.S. does not need to address it until much further down the line, if ever. We need to understand the reasoning for this.
We tend to think of the Middle East as we think of Europe: a group of independent nation-states collaborating or fighting with each other. Maps create this image, but they are deceiving.
Thinking of only the Middle East is also problematic. To make sense of the issue, you need to think of the Muslim world, stretching from Morocco to the Philippines, and from Central Asia to Africa. It is a world of over 1.6 billion humans, roughly a quarter of all humanity.
The Muslim world was never under the control of a single caliphate, but massive regional powers emerged. For example, at one point the Mediterranean basin was controlled by Muslims. Their power dominated the Iberian Peninsula and stretched toward Vienna.
Reasonable people might have thought that Christian Europe was vastly outclassed by Islam during that period. However, the balance of power there, in the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia shifted back and forth between Muslims and their adversaries.
From roughly the 18th century, the balance began to shift toward the Europeans. As Christian European empires enveloped the world, this included the Muslim world as well. The Dutch in Indonesia imposed force that shattered political Islam in the East Indies. British and French imperialism overwhelmed political Islam in South Asia and North Africa, respectively. The Russian Empire imposed its force on the Caucuses and Central Asia. And as the Ottoman Empire weakened and fell, the Europeans overran the Middle East. European imperialism fragmented the political power of Muslims. It did not shatter the religious principles that powered political Islam. The ability to express them as a political force was limited by European power, but the core was not broken. And that core did not regard Islam as a private religion; it saw Islam’s public and private legitimacy and power as part of the same fabric. The religion was theocratic at its core. Its inability to act politically was developed over time, but it was not a permanent condition.
After the collapse of the European empires, a set of states remained, floating atop the wreckage the Europeans left behind. But beneath that wreckage was the layer of political Islam that had never gone away, however powerless it might have been the previous few centuries. It was that layer, freed from constraints, that gave rise to al-Qaida and IS, as well as numerous other organizations centered in the Sunni world, such as the Taliban. The emergence of political Islam was not an aberration, but a struggle on the part of Islam to return to its historical normal.
There is a great debate raging in the West about how to distinguish average Muslims from Islamist radicals. In the thinking that flows from Trump’s position, that is the wrong question to ask. Political Islam is Islam. Various weakened strands of Islam, broken by Europe’s domination, have pushed the political aspect to the side, but Islam is inherently a political religion. The core question is not distinguishing Islam and political Islam. They are one.
However, this does not mean that political Islam must be savage.
But that doesn’t work at this point in history. After emerging from European domination, Islam is undergoing a wrenching revolutionary process. It is trying to reconstruct itself within the context of a dispirited Muslim community. Urgency and external pressure don’t radicalize Muslims. Rather, the entire process of reassertion is impossible without a radicalization of the Muslim community, because that process liberates the repressed beliefs of Islam. This pressure does not turn Muslims into radicals. It is release from pressure that opens the door to it.
European revolutions, such as the Russian, German and French revolutions, proceeded barbarically. This should not bring anyone comfort. It signals what the human toll of creating an Islamic polity might be.
For the United States to back away from this and let nature take its course ignores the reality that radicalism tends to displace moderation, not the other way around. Therefore, simply allowing it to be contained by Turkey or Saudi Arabia fails to take into account that they are also subject to radicalization. Or to put it differently, the idea that radicalization is taking place misstates the reality.
Islam is not searching for radicalization or moderation – but for authenticity. And an authentic Islamic state emerging to power is not in the American interest.
How, then, should it be dealt with? One solution is to continue the 15-year war that started after 9/11.
All this does is strengthen the emergence of political Islam. The other is to use the balance of power, particularly Iran and Israel. The problem is they may decide not to be used, and in the case of Iran, what might result would be no solution.
Trump’s strategy would be to return the Muslim world to the status quo ante 1945. For centuries, Islam was political, on the defensive, demoralized and fragmented. That was achieved by Europe hurling itself against the Muslim world as it did against the rest of the world. And obviously, the Europeans are in no position to repeat that.
The key is to break the Islamic world’s growing confidence in itself. Defeating IS is not an end in itself but a means to an end. IS is merely a new construction of political Islam in its revolutionary form. But unlike other such movements, IS has stood and fought, indicating political Islam’s growing vigor. For Trump, the enemy is this rising confidence and vigor.
Political Islam cannot be eradicated.
But its confidence can. And notions such as “radicalization” that are used to argue against harsh measures miss the point. It is not anger at harshness that radicalizes, but pride and hope for the future that draws on it. That future has to be made enormously more distant.
Accepting this notion would lead to arguing for a massive insertion of U.S. forces designed not only to shatter a particular movement but to demonstrate the hopelessness of political Islam establishing itself for another century. This is what European powers did during their reign.
The hopelessness of the situation was evident, and with it, the virtue of moderation. Without hopelessness, it is unclear what advantage there is in being moderate.
It is difficult to imagine what this attack would look like. I do not think that the Trump team believes defeating IS will solve this problem. The roots are in the population, and the population must be convinced that their hopes are beyond realization. The pronouncement on defeating IS and a large increase in the defense budget are of note. In my view, Trump appears to operate in a disjointed manner in order to keep his options open. He is aided in this by his enemies who deny there is any coherence to his thought process. But I have seen no evidence of incoherence, only things he doesn’t have the power to do at this point.
I do not understand what the military operation will look like, and I am of the generation that has seen too many plans burst into flames. I can follow his reasoning to the point that he wants to break political Islam. But in defense of his approach, we can say that the strategy of the last 15 years hasn’t worked, that former President Barack Obama’s attempt to be friendly didn’t help and that doing nothing and hoping for the best seems risky. None of the reasoning matters until the strategy is worked out.
DONALD TRUMP AND XI JIMPING´S BATTLE OVER GLOBALIZ...
AS CHINA EXTOLS OPEN MARKETS, PRICE CONTROLS SPROU...
THINKING THROUGH TRUMP´S VIEWS ONTHE ISLAMIC STATE...
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Race and Children’s Literature
Posted on August 14, 2013 by Hannah Lee
By Hannah Lee
Do you remember the joy of finding a book that reflected your life, your family? As an immigrant living on the Lower East Side, I learned about American ways through the Girl Scout manual, and was puzzled by the young adult stories of Beverly Cleary, who wrote about teenage boys who played football, and girls who rallied them with cheers in formation. By the time I became a mother, books about Asian-American families had become available, and I still happily collect them.
Back in the mid-20th century, book publishers were not interested in reaching a wider audience beyond the mainstream culture. Ezra Jack Keats was a pioneer, who convinced Viking Press to allow depiction of a black boy, Peter, in his 1962 book, The Snowy Day. He also broke new literary ground in portraying an urban setting and using collage to illustrate his text. The book won the 1963 Caldecott Award for “most distinguished American picture book for children.”
Born in 1916 to Polish Jewish immigrants, Keats grew up poor in East New York, Brooklyn. His father discouraged his interest in writing, while simultaneously supporting his talent with tubes of paint. Keats changed his name from Jack Ezra Katz in 1947 in reaction to the anti-semitism in the country
The reaction to The Snowy Day ranged from outrage that Keats was not himself black to gratitude for expanding the racial profile of the book world. The poet and leader of the “Harlem Renaissance,” Langston Hughes, praised it as “a perfectly charming little book.” The writer Sherman Alexie read it as a child on an Indian reservation in the 1970s and reminisced:
It was the first time I looked at a book and saw a brown, black, beige character — a character who resembled me physically and spiritually in all his gorgeous loneliness and splendid isolation.
This summer we are treated with overlapping exhibits in our city’s institutions, with The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats at the National Museum of American Jewish History, a retrospective collection of the work of Jerry Pinkney at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a companion exhibit on Pinkney’s body of work at the Free Library on Vine Street.
A native son of Germantown born in 1939, Pinkney struggled with dyslexia, but he soared through his talent in drawing. Whereas Keats’ black characters could have been anybody, Pinkey’s artwork explicitly incorporates African-American motifs. He won the 2010 Caldecott Medal for his illustration of The Lion & the Mouse, a version of Aesop’s fable that he also wrote. He also has five Caldecott Honors, among other awards. One of my favorite of his works is of Goin’ Someplace Special, written by Patricia McKissack. Set in the late 1950s in Nashville, it is about a time and place where the library was one of the few places that disregarded the segregationist Jim Crow laws and treated blacks with respect.
Books may not lead social movements, but they have lasting impacts in supporting individuals who live outside the mainstream. You are no longer fringe when there are books that reflect your life.
http://blog.pjvoice.com/diary/3427/race-and-childrens-literature
Posted in Philadelphia Jewish Voice, Published Works | Tagged art, books, children's literature, illustration, Keats, multiculturalism, NMAJH, parenting, Pinkney, race
Talkback on “Slaying the Dragon”
Posted on June 7, 2012 by Hannah Lee
Teshuvah (repentance) is a prominent Jewish value, but what happens when a high Ku Klux Klan high official renounces his life? The world premiere of the opera, Slaying the Dragon, was heralded by a Q&A session with a panel consisting of: Ellen Frankel, the librettist and managing director of Center City Opera Theater; Kathryn Watterson, author of Not by the Sword: How a Cantor and His Family Transformed a Klansman on which the opera is based; and Bob Wolfson, Associate National Director of Regional Operations for the Anti-Defamation League and formerly the local ADL officer in charge of Lincoln, Nebraska where the events took place. The panel discussion took place on Sunday, June 3 at the National Museum of American Jewish History.
In her 1995 book, Watterson, a professor in the English Department of the University of Pennsylvania, chronicled the stranger-than-fiction narrative of Larry Trapp, the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan’s Lincoln chapter who had a change of heart, renounced his life of hatred and violence, and embraced Judaism.
A double amputee and blind from the complications of diabetes, Trapp — a black-sheep, distant relation of the von Trapp family singers of The Sound of Music fame — was inspired by the love and kindness offered by Michael and Julie Weisser.
A remarkable couple, Michael Weisser was then cantor and spiritual leader of the Reform Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, one of two synagogues in Lincoln, and Julie was herself a convert to Judaism. Together they were raising five children, and they all welcomed Trapp into their home — with the teen sisters giving up their own room — and nursed him while he was dying from his illness. When Trapp died at age 42, he was buried in the Jewish cemetery there.
There are still people in the Jewish community in Lincoln who doubt Trapp’s sincerity in his transformation. Wolfson recounted the “surreal feeling” he had when Trapp, who’d previously threatened his family, rolled up to the ADL office in his wheelchair and asked to give Wolfson a hug. This was the guy that he had to warn his children against, and the reason they had to monitor the in-coming mail to the house.
Wolfson thinks it was because the Angel of Death was at his back that Trapp personally apologized to every person he’d hurt in his campaign of hate. However, it took courage to leave the KKK, because it was a public betrayal — by a Grand Dragon, no less! The opera deviates from reality in that Trapp is portrayed as vulnerable, being mocked by his fellow Klansmen for his physical disabilities. In actuality, he was a strong leader and was admired by his Klan, despite his inability to physically carry out the acts of evil and spite that he advocated.
Michael Weisser, now a rabbi in Flushing, New York, was a strong believer in redemption — he’d had his own tragedy to overcome. Neither he nor his wife were punitive people; their preferred motto was: “Educate, not punish.” When two college boys were on trial in Lincoln for defacing his synagogue, Weisser offered to lead educational classes for them both in lieu of jail time. Watterson pointed out that society has surely gained more by the time these misguided youth spent at Weisser’s side than in prison.
Watterson noted that white supremacists are under-developed emotionally. So much energy is expended on projecting hate that there is no room for personal growth. Wolfson said that people often prefer to think of these people as “nuts.” ”Some are, but not all are so.” Larry Trapp was not intellectually impaired, he said, but it is harder to contemplate rational people who hate obsessively.
Could what had happened in Lincoln happen here? Hatred can happen anywhere. Wolfson said that Weisser was a radical, whose Reform temple had lost members. The conservative Jewish community looked askance at him, whom he would describes as “to the left, politically, of Mao Zedong,” the late Communist dictator of China.
The Jews of Lincoln were Zionist and middle-of-the-road politically and they couldn’t understand Weisser who believed in the prophet-to-the-nation philosophy of Reform Judaism, stressing tikkun olam (repairing the world) and protesting injustice. However, Weisser built up his congregation and brought life to the synagogue.
Watterson said that she focused on Trapp’s life as a white supremacist, because it was so similar to that of Timothy McVeigh, the man who detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, killing 168 people and injuring more than 800 people, the deadliest act of terrorism within the United States prior to the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Frankel, the librettist, said that the composer, Michael Ching, urged her to make Larry Trapp and Michael and Julie Weisser– re-named Grand Dragon Jerry Krieg and Rabbi Nathan and Vera Goodman in the opera — less black-and-white evil and goodness incarnate. He wanted her to bring the characters closer together and find the commonality in them.
Are we in a post-racial world? Wolfson noted that the world has moved to the right in recent times, citing hate crimes in France, Greece, and the United States. Economic hardship and instability bring out the worst in human nature. However, liberal-minded people tend not to regard this evidence of persistent racism as a motivation to keep the fight against bigotry at the top of their social action agenda, preferring to think that the issue has been resolved.
It’s most important, Watterson urged, “to get to know each other, beyond our comfort zone, and acknowledge each other’s humanity.” She noted the spill-over of hate words into general society (e.g., “femini-Nazis”) and the public shaming and blaming tolerated in our communities. We should foster more creativity, said she, not demonize “people of color.”
Herbert Levine, Frankel’s husband, asked from the audience about how the KKK was able to get away with its open acts of violence? Where were the police, the FBI? Wolfson said that in the case of the Asian immigrant community, the Laotian leadership told the police to let them handle acts of violence against their community in their own way. Thus, after their community center was targeted by “Operation Gooks,” defaced and destroyed by Trapp’s minions, it was re-built by the Asian community anew, but this time behind barbed-wire fencing and patrolled by armed guards.
How strong is the KKK nowadays? Watterson said they’re very organized — “the movement inspires action.” One aborted example: Trapp himself had planned on assassinating Jesse Jackson, the black civil rights activist and Baptist minister, figuring that, in his weheelchair, he could get close to his targeted victim.
Of the white supremacists groups, White Aryan Nation is more powerful, but there are local KKK groups in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Wolfson pointed out that the Internet allows these groups to organize more efficiently, not announcing a public rally until “12 minutes before” — with the leaders texting one another — to avoid police intervention. The ADL (and the FBI) used to infiltrate these groups, but they can now avoid unwanted scrutiny more easily. Wolfson noted that the biggest problem is the lone wolf, one who operates outside of group sanctions. Frankel added that the Philly chapter of ADL has a full-time staffer who monitors the communication of hate groups and who maintains an ongoing dialogue with the FBI.
Evening performances of Slaying the Dragon will take place on June 14 and 16, with a 2 pm final show on June 17 at the Helen Corning Warden Theater at the Academy of Vocal Arts, on 1920 Spruce Street. Limited seating is available. For tickets, visit www.OperaTheater.org.
http://blog.pjvoice.com/diary/2241/talkback-on-slaying-the-dragon
Posted in Philadelphia Jewish Voice, Published Works | Tagged ADL, anti-semitism, art, book chat, Frankel, KKK, Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, NMAJH, theater, Watterson, White Aryan Nation, white supremacists, Wolfson
In Memoriam: Maurice Sendak
Posted on May 10, 2012 by Hannah Lee
What is the measure of a man’s worth? If it’s durable accomplishments, then Maurice Sendak has left a whoppingly large body of work: author of 18 books/anthologies, illustrator of 78 books by others (if I counted correctly); set designer of more than five ballets and operas, and author of one opera. However, if we were to include the generations of children whose memories have been indelibly influenced by Sendak, then we’re heading into the stratosphere.
Our family’s favorite was not Where the Wild Things Are, which won the Caldecott Medal in 1964, nor In the Night Kitchen, his 1970 book of a naked young boy playing in his family’s kitchen after bedtime that has been banned in several states (including Illinois, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Texas). In fact, our copy had a distinctively bad odor that everyone of us still recalls. No, our favorite was Nutshell Library (Caldecott Collection) which included Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup with Rice, and Pierre. The oft-stated line by the rebellious Pierre was bandied about in our house, because “he didn’t care.” Later, we were charmed by the animated televised production combining “The Nutshell Library” and “The Sign on Rosie’s Door” titled, Really Rosie, featuring the singing voice of Carole King. My sister’s three boys also loved Sendak’s books, identifying with “what sometimes seemed like the hidden message in his books (when so many children’s books are saccharine sweet).”
Born in Brooklyn in 1928 to Polish Jewish immigrants, Sendak grew up in a sad, grim household, shadowed by the tragedy of World War II. In one interview with Terry Gross of NPR, Sendak recalled often dropping in on his best-friend, Carmine, who lived in the apartment across the hall, because Carmine’s family featured laughter, hugs, and kisses. And pasta! He nurtured his love of books when confined to his bed during a childhood illness. He’d said that he decided to become an illustrator after viewing Walt Disney’s film Fantasia at the age of twelve.
In another interview with Terry Gross, he stated that he never wrote for children, but we readers knew that he understood the complexities of childhood, with its attendant fears, anxieties, and jealousies. Toward the end of his life, he declined all invitations to school assemblies, because he was appalled that the protocols and instructions by the adults in charge — teachers and principals — had turned him into the children’s enemies — “Behave or else!” ”Ask good questions!” Sendak preferred that children come to his books on their own, asking their own “terrible” questions.
Sendak died on Tuesday morning from complications of a stroke. His final book, Bumble-Ardy, was published in September.
http://blog.pjvoice.com/diary/2172/in-memoriam-maurice-sendak
Posted in Philadelphia Jewish Voice, Published Works | Tagged art, books, obituary, Sendak
Talkback With The Band’s Visit Director
Posted on April 27, 2012 by Hannah Lee
An addition to this year’s Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia was a showing of the 2007 film, The Band’s Visit, followed by a Q&A with the director, Eran Kolirin. It was held on April 15 at the new home of the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr.
The film is a bittersweet account of what happens when the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra mistakenly heads to the remote fictional desert town of Bet Hatikva, where there is no Arab Cultural Center (“no Arab Cultural Center, no Israeli culture, no culture”) to stage their concert performance. They are stranded there, with little Israeli money, until the inter-city bus arrives the next day. Despite the tension between their two countries, they’re greeted with a range of generous and grudging hospitality.
The Band’s Visit won eight Israeli Ophir Prizes awarded by the Israeli Film Academy. Rotten Tomatoes reported that 98% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 108 reviews, and gave it a golden tomato for best foreign film of 2008.
Deborah Baer Mozes, the cultural attaché for the Israeli embassy, started the Q&A by asking what was the director’s inspiration? It was the character of the Egyptian “General” (Lieutenant-Colonel Tawfiq Zacharya, superbly played by the Iraqi Jew, Sasson Gabai) dealing with his inner turmoil, of “something underneath trying to escape.” Another audience member asked about his inspiration from the Egyptian playwright, Ali Salem, whose “My Drive into Israel” was a memoir of his 1994 trip to Israel following the signing of the Oslo Accord. Salem later described the trip as not “a love trip, but a serious attempt to get rid of hate. Hatred prevents us from knowing reality as it is.” His pro-peace sentiments were controversial and Salem was banned from publication in Egypt afterwards.
An audience member asked why could the characters make phone calls from the public telephone booths without any simonim (Israeli phone tokens)? The director gave both a practical and a poetic reply: the “142″ number sequence allows one to make a collect call without simonim, but it’s far easier to make a phone call without money than to send an Egyptian band to Israel.
Another audience member noted that the filming was done in Yeruham (a desert town in the northern Negev, about 15 km from Dimona). Kolirin has a fondness for these towns, which were planned to expand settlement into the desert, but which became dismal, forgotten places. He expressed nostalgia for their architecture, which are gravestones to a grand idea.
How was The Band’s Visit received in the Arab world? It was banned, of course, but it did get one screening in Cairo and Kolirin traveled there as the guest of the Israeli embassy. It was a “schizophrenic feeling” for him, as it is a country so much like his own, but still foreign.
An audience member asked about the choice of having some characters being changed by the band’s visit, but Kolirin and other audience members disputed a change, as in whether the Egyptian character Simon completed his concerto overture. The director said that he was more interested in a change in perspective (including that of the viewer, as in the phantom girlfriend who actually does make a phone connection) than for any external change.
Kolirin’s second film, The Exchange, was shown at the 68th Venice International Film Festival last September and will be released in the United States later this year.
http://blog.pjvoice.com/diary/2122/talkback-with-the-bands-visit-director
Posted in Philadelphia Jewish Voice, Published Works | Tagged Arab-Israeli relations, art, IFF, Israel, Israeli cinema, Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia, Kolirin, lee
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→ CULTURE
The Armenian Island in Venice
Started by gamavor , Mar 22 2017 01:34 PM
#1 gamavor
gamavor
-= Nobility =-
http://www.euronews....time=1490091642
The Armenian presence in Europe stretches from London to Larnaca, Lisbon to Lviv; the Armenian Catholic Mkhitarian Congregation is among the most impactful examples of that legacy and this year marks a three-century-long presence in one of Europes most iconic towns.
The vaporetto leaves from San Zaccaria to one of the most unique corners of Venice, a testament to the centuries of multi-cultural history of that magnificent city. The unique corner is really an island Isola di San Lazzaro degli Armeni, or the Island of St. Lazarus of the Armenians. This year marks the 300th anniversary of that island becoming home to the Mkhitarian or Mechitarist Congregation.
Mkhitar was born in Sebastia (modern-day Sivas, in central Turkey) in 1676. He joined the Armenian Church at a time when it was facing the challenges of a modernising world. Drawn to Western Christianity and its already-established traditions of education and publishing, Mkhitar ran his own printing house in Constantinople (Istanbul), bringing together other like-minded individuals who longed to rejuvenate and invigorate a community at times struggling in the social and political milieu of the 17th century Ottoman Empire. Facing the resistance of the authorities, Abbot Mkhitar and his followers, who established the congregation named after the founder in 1700, spent some time moving from place to place first to Greece, then up the Adriatic before finally establishing themselves on what used to be a leper colony off Venice in 1717.
In the centuries that followed, the Mkhitarian fathers had a profound effect on research, education, and publishing in Europe generally, and for the Armenian world in particular. Still today, the monastery they founded continues to produce books; Venice is one of two cities in the world that can boast having published at least one Armenian book every year for three hundred years or more, with just a few interruptions (the other city being Istanbul). Whether as first-time publications of ancient manuscripts, translations of significant European works, or the other way around, the Armenian legacy has been showcased to the European and broader world through the efforts of these monks, and the doors of Europe have likewise been opened for Armenians thanks to their activities.
The Mkhitarian Congregation has always served as a bridge, says Father Serop Jamourlian, both for tying the Armenian reality to the European world in terms of scholarship and spirituality, and also as a bridge of universal human values: it is a representative of the East in the West and the conveyor of Western ideas to the East.
Perhaps the most significant impact the Congregation has had involves the development of language and identity. It was the Mkhitarian fathers who first published modern dictionaries of the Armenian language. Modern scientific approaches to research and education also owe much to these Armenian priests in Venice, who once upon a time ran a network of some thirty schools across Europe and the Middle East.
The reputation of San Lazzaro was so strong that Napoleon Bonaparte offered that monastery special permission to continue functioning even after he shut down other religious institutions in Venice in 1810. A few years later, the islands most famous guest Lord Byron spent some months during 1816-1817 studying the Armenian language.
The Mechitarists have suffered some setbacks over the course of their rich history, such as a significant split in the Congregation that led to a second monastery being established in Vienna in 1811. They reunited in 2000. The two had meanwhile carried on Abbot Mkhitars mission diligently. Both Venice and Vienna are known as centres of learning for the Armenian world.
Although the Mkhitarian Congregation is not as active as it used to be, with a smaller membership and growing challenges within a generally more secular global environment, it continues to run four schools in places reflecting the footprint of the Armenian Diaspora: Beirut, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and Istanbul. A school was established in Yerevan, in the Republic of Armenia, in the year 2007 a good indication of the renewal of Diaspora-Homeland ties since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Special commemorations are planned for September during this 300th anniversary year celebrations alongside the people of Italy and Venice. Father Serop emphasises that their welcoming and hospitable attitude towards the Armenians is based on the experience of many centuries of deep ties. What lies in store for the Mkhitarian Congregation? Father Serop says that the mission has always been and remains, Service to the Armenian nation.
PS: If there is anything Armenian in the present world that made me proud of being Armenian then for sure one of these is St. Lazaro Degli Armeni. I visited the place twice and I'll go again. Beside the unique exhibits from Europe, Armenia and the World there is a very special ambience in the place that can't be described with words. Every Armenian and not only should go and see this magical place.
Edited by gamavor, 22 March 2017 - 01:35 PM.
Thank you again gamavor. I've long been interested in San Lazzaro and have books printed by the Mechitarist. I've though of the Island and read of Lord Byron, his going each morning to progress and study the Armenian Language. In the video of your post there is and overhead view of the our island, that is particularly good to see. The video it's self is well done with the panning of the buildings, artifacts and the playing of music by Gomidas Vartabed added to it as lemon and Modzoon to sarma ( I just went back to reference the words Arpa used for sarma when scolding the use of furkis on the forum~but haven't found it.)
Hyeforum.com is the truest Armenian forum of it's kind, and today looks like the only one. The Archives here are a treasure. Conversations, arguments, discussions carried on by people, members, cousins never met, and now silent are more valuable than can be put into words. Arpa for one, a relative I never met, but learned to love, reminded me of my Uncle Kevork, with his angle of angle of arrogance and dogged sticking to his truth and love for Armenians and their Culture.
There are several, many others, you, Yervant and MosJan stand tall among them, I am a new comer, happy to have found this forum, an institution really. ( the alumni, are they gone forever, I wonder?)
Long live Hyeforum it records, it's Library and the family of Hye who brought it together and have kept it alive! God love them.
Edited by onjig, 31 March 2017 - 12:54 PM.
I didn't mention Vanetsi, are you in touch with him? vadic and amora, have we any way of taping them on the shoulder?
Amora and vadic if there is any way of taping them on the shoulder that would be nice.
I believe Arpa used the word "Battos" exact translation of sarma meaning to wrap and "lidtz" for dolma again translation.
Venice, itself is one of the most amazing places on Earth in terms of human achievement. San Lazzaro is not the only Armenian point of interest.There are many, - due to the close relationship between Venetian and Cilician merchants. One place not to miss is Collegio Armeno Moorat Raphael. Venice has a well preserved historic Armenian street and a Church of Holy Cross in the heart of the city. Another shocking discovery was the "Armenian graffiti" from 12 c. AD on the columns currently installed at the main cathedral of San Marko, that were "brought" from Constantinople by the Crusaders. Next is the tomb of the last Armenian Queen - Charlotte de Lusignan (actually she was the Queen of Armenia, Cyprus and Jerusalem). I was lucky to have a very knowledgeable guide (a local Armenian guy) whose name I don't remember, but it is a must to have someone as a guide to show you around.
http://freepages.gen...VAL/armenia.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpwCuJBnmQw&t=72s
the New Venice - Italy
San Lazzaro, three hundred years of Armenian culture
First it was leprosy, then abandonment. It blossomed in all its beauty with Mechitar in 1717, today the monks hand over the message of the founder of Vera Mantengoli
VENICE. The Armenian Island celebrates its first three hundred years. It was indeed September 8, 1717 when the monk Mechitar, after earning the estimate of the future doge Alvise Mocenigo, received in concession the island of San Lazzaro, used in the past as a leper and then abandoned. 300 years have passed and the island has never lost its role as a point of reference for Armenian culture thanks to the mechitarist monks who for centuries handed down the founder's message.
Before the Armenians. The news of the island of San Lazzaro dates back to 810, when it is home to the Order of the Benedictines. In 1182 a hospice for pilgrims and a church dedicated to San Leone Magno were built.
A century later, in 1262, the Senate decided to make us a leper home that remained until 1348 when restoration work began and the island under the jurisdiction of St. Peter of Castello.
Leprosized, the island becomes a place to welcome the poor. For a few decades, from 1645 to 1678, the island is occupied by the Dominicans who fled from Crete occupied by the Turks. For a time here weapons are being built to support the war in Morea.
Since 1696 it is used to grow orchards, but is slowly abandoned, then blossom in all its beauty with the arrival of Mechitar.
Mechitar's vision. A brief appearance of the Virgin Mary, which is celebrated by the Nativity, explodes in the life of the sixteen-year-old Mechitar, guiding the next path.
Over the years the dream of a monastic order devoted to the spiritual and cultural elevation of the Armenian people leads Mechitar, born in 1676 to Sabaste of the Armenians, to flee from Anatolia to Morea, and then find refuge in Venice.
The monk founded his congregation in Constantinople in 1700 but then flees to Modone, in the Greek Morea ruled by the Serenissima. In 1712, the Ottoman fleet landed on the peninsula, forcing Mechitar and its monks to flee to Venice, where there is already a consolidated Armenian community in San Martino, predominantly merchants. Having too many religious congregations in Venice, a decree prohibited the admission of new ones, but not in the islands.
When Mechitar arrives at San Lazzaro, there is only a small church and a ruined building with some rooms, wrapped in pompous trees. A ruin, but for those like him wandering without finding peace, that handkerchief is finally a home where to put roots.
Great dreamer, but also practical, the monk rolls his sleeves and begins to design the monastery. Today's structure is still designed by Mechitar, reinforced on the banks a fortnight ago.
The realm of culture. The island, seven thousand square meters of land, is located in front of the Lido (vaporetto 20, stop after San Servolo) and consists of a monastery with cloister and a garden full of trees, olive trees, pomegranates and the famous rosettes for jam of roses made by the monks.
The walls are covered with bookshelves with 170,000 books, without counting the special library funded by benefactor Boghos Ispenian who holds 4500 precious manuscripts, such as The Book of Friday, 1512 and the work of a monk's life, the first dictionary of the Armenian classical language , published a few days after his death in 1749.
The island, as demonstrated by the dozens of lynotypes still exhibited and used from 1789 to 1989, was home to an extraordinary multilingual printing press capable of publishing in 36 languages.
A plaque in the courtyard reminds us of Lord Byron's stay in 1816, who fell in love with Armenian culture. Just in the Byron room today, the monastery houses a rare and rare mummy donated in 1825, covered with an embroidered mat with polychrome glass beads.
In the halls, a fresco from Tiepolo and many paintings by Pietro Novelli, the most varied testimonies and donations are exhibited: from the paintings of the most famous Armenian painter Ivan Aivazovsky to the bust of the savior of the traditional Armenian songs, Komitas Vardapet. In some veins also many writings of 1915/16.
During the genocide, seven mechitarist monks died. "The library is an example of the importance of the press for Mechitar and the monks," explains Alberto Peratoner, professor of the Theological Faculty of Triveneto and a friend of the Armenian community, "we see the careful and aesthetic care of the text, the quality of the engravings, paper choice, the result was a very high quality product. "
Mission: to fly. Today, those roots continue to bear the fruits that Mechitar planted 300 years ago. "We continue to be a bridge between Armenia and Western culture so that we can have the chance to fly, as the founder said," explains Father Serafino, a priori on the island.
"Mechitar said that one has to have two wings: one is the Bible, religion and the other is culture and science."
http://nuovavenezia....mena-1.15880396
Venetian people - Italy
Armenian Mechitarists, Archbishop Zekyian speaks: three centuries of history and a future on three "pillars" gvonline 13 September 2017
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Love for study, the preservation of an inestimable cultural heritage, the spread and contemporary declination of an ecumenical style.
There are at least these three pillars to hold, today and in view of tomorrow, the congregation of the Armenian Mechitarian fathers.
They are three pillars that sink their roots in the past, but look closely at the future. Just as Sebasty's Mechitar had done, the Armenian Abbot who three centuries ago gave birth to a monastic experience that had its heart in the lagoon of Venice, on the island of San Lazzaro.
The Monk Mechitar had been an innovator, and the religious of the congregation he created today can find, at three centuries, ways to decline the founder's innovative and evangelizing push in the present.
Mons. Lévon Boghos Zekiyan, 73, is a prince of Constantinople and a pontifical delegate for the Mechitarist Congregation, as well as president of the Bishops' Conference of Turkey. Bishop Zekiyan has a very strong bond with Venice, not only because he is entrusted with the congregation that has its historic center in San Lazzaro, but also because since 1955 he lives and works in the lagoon area.
He was a kid, in fact, Lévon Boghos Zekiyan when he first came to Venice to study. And here he remained, until bishopric ordination, teaching for many years Armenian language and literature in Ca 'Foscari.
But today, the three hundred years since - on September 8, 1717, Mechitar and his disciples settled on the island of San Lazzaro, given them by the Doge - it is about to carry on and innovate the substance of this three-century history .
All this also to ensure the continuity of monks' presence. Today the congregation counts only 24, many less than the approximately 80 of which it had in the mid-twentieth century. The crisis of vocations, of course, is not a problem that arises only for Mechitarists: all religious families, albeit with different numbers and modes, are afflicted.
But that is precisely why it is about giving the present lymph to the wealth that the charism of Mechitar has generated. A doctor of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Zekiyan remembers, says that love for study is an image of God's love. And this is made clear to those who experience it. This love for study, knowledge and research is still one of the underlying causes of the mission.
In San Lazzaro, given the long history, it does all with the preservation and protection of a great heritage.
There are more than four thousand, in fact, preserved manuscripts. After the National Library of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, San Lazzaro is the richest collection of antique documents: "And from the point of view of the thematic variety - says Bishop Zekyian - the Venetian collection is the most important . So it's a treasure. So I often say that only to be able to preserve this heritage, benefiting from current criteria and techniques, is a sufficient mission for our monks. "
But there is a third "pillar", as well as perhaps more essential to today: "Mechitar has had, as a forerunner, an ecumenical view of the Church. The centuries passed, following the tradition of the Armenian Church. "
The founding monk has grafted, that is, the new on the ancient. And this is precisely the result that the Congregation is calling three hundred years later to show its relevance.
Clarifies Msgr. Lévon Boghos Zekiyan: "Today's ecumenism is based on the distinction between the substance of faith and the language that expresses this substance. Language can vary, while the substance remains the same. This Mechitar principle supported him openly and explicitly. So I believe that the congregation, from this point of view, has a particular mission in ecumenical dialogue that can be enjoyed as a model for the universal Church. The congregation itself is a concrete and existential experience of this ecumenical principle. "
And Venice is not alien to the genesis and vitality of this ecumenical style: "It is my hypothesis," argues the Armenian Archbishop of Constantinople, "but I am convinced that Mechitar could not survive, with this ecumenical ideal, in that post- tridentina, if it had not been to Venice. "
Giorgio Malavasi
https://www.genteven...o-tre-pilastri/
PanARMENIAN.Net - As а native speaker of Armenian, it’s hard to imagine that people are capable of mastering your language so well that they can perfectly speak, write and express themselves in Armenian. Conversing with Benedetta Contin, an Italian scholar who has put her heart and soul into learning the Armenian language, I was amazed at her ability to convey her thoughts in such beautiful Western Armenian. Benedetta currently teaches old Armenian in Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice where Lord George Gordon Byron came in 1816 and immediately became fascinated by the beauty of the Armenian culture and language.
While the Armenian version of the interview was unchanged to give a better understanding of Benedetta’s proficiency and devotion, here is a short walk through her thoughts about the Armenian language, its peculiarities and beauty.
About the peculiarities of learning Armenian
The wish to master the Armenian language crawled up to me little by little, especially after I visited Armenia. And it became a kind of challenge for me to absorb everything that had anything to do with this sweet and at the same time bitter language, from Grabar (Classical Armenian, also known as Old Armenian or Liturgical Armenian - the oldest attested form of the language - Ed.) to the two types of modern Armenian (Eastern and Western - Ed.), from Mesrobian to Soviet orthography. The Armenian language resembles the soil of Armenia, its accent, phonetics and harmony reflecting the mysterious colors of fertile and enticing nature. In a word, how can a person in love explain what their object of love is? This can’t be conveyed in words.
About the choice of the Armenian language and the road to mastering it
I started studying Greek, Latin and Sanskrit at the oldest university of Europe in Padua, which is also my birthplace, but I wasn’t that enthusiastic. And then I realized I am more interested in Oriental languages and cultures than the Greek world which I had learned a lot about while attending the lyceum. So I decided to move to the Ca' Foscari University of Venice and registered myself at the department of Oriental languages there. Venice became a real discovery for me like it did for Abbot Mkhitar three centuries ago (Mkhitar Sebastatsi - an Armenian Catholic monk, as well as prominent scholar and theologian who founded the Mekhitarist Order, which has been based on San Lazzaro island near Venice since 1717 - Ed.). I had the great honor to learn from Father Boghos Lévon Zékiyan, a prominent Armenologist and Archbishop of the Mekhitarist Congregation. A new horizon of the Armenian culture, civilization and worldview thus opened before me, at the same time helping to better understand of my Venetian heritage and identity.
About the Armenian language in everyday life
My husband is Armenian and we speak both Armenian and Italian with our three children as it’s very important for them to not just speak Armenian but to also realize that they belong to two exquisite cultures that have given wonderful pieces and infinite beauty to the humanity. They should be proud of and cherish such a historic background.
I speak the Venetian dialect of Armenian so my diction is a but accented, but Armenians are usually very polite and haven’t told me anything so far. No matter what, I am proud of what I know.
About Benedetta
I currently work for the Foundation for Religious Sciences John XXIII (Fondazione per le Scienze Religiose Giovanni XXIII) in Bologna where I was asked to prepare a volume about the Armenian Church Conventions for Brepols, a famous international publishing house. Also, I teach Grabar to the newcomers of the Mekhitarist Congregation on San Lazzaro island. At the same time, I am the deputy president of Padus-Araxes Cultural Association and the deputy head of the Summer Intensive Course of Armenian Language and Culture in Venice. My area of study focuses on the history and background of Armenian thought and philosophy.
My dissertation titled “David the Invincible and the School of Alexandria: Research on the formation of the epistemological vocabulary of Greek and Armenian works” has just been published in French with the support of the Orientalia Christiana Analecta of the Vatican (Benedetta Contin, “David l'Arménien et l'Ecole d'Alexandrie. Recherches sur la formation du vocabulaire épistémologique des oeuvres grecques et arméniennes”, Orientalia Christiana Analecta, Roma 2017).
Srbuhy Martirosyan / PanARMENIAN.Net
http://www.panarmeni...enian_in_Venice
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06/01/2018 Resources
Directive Regarding Capital Punishment — January 2018
Download original in Persian
Directive sent by Sadegh Amoli Larijani to all Judicial authorities , signalling the implementation of the amendment to the Counter Narcotics Law approved by the Parliament in October of 2017.
Head of the Judiciary
Number: 900/48244/100
Directive to all judicial authorities nationwide:
In the implementation of the Law of the Annexation of An Article to the Counter Narcotics Law, approved by the Iranian Parliament on October 4, 2017, and the necessity of expediting its implementation in cases where formerly issued rulings are eligible for a reduced sentence, judicial authorities must pay attention to the following:
The “Law” in this circular refers to the Counter Narcotics Law approved in 1989 by the Expediency Council, along with its subsequent amendments and extensions, and the “single article” refers to the addition of an article to the Counter Narcotics Law, approved by the Iranian Parliament on October 4, 2017.
Judges responsible for enforcing penal sentences are required to expeditiously halt the executions and review all cases referred to in article (10) (b) of the Islamic Penal Code of 2014, with priority for those sentenced to death, and where the implementation of the “single article” would reduce the punishment of the convicted individuals, to submit the case in a statement together with the case file to the branch of the Revolutionary Court that originally issued the final decree or its successor. Where the convicted individual independently requests the sentence reduction, the Enforcement Unit Judge is obligated to submit his/her request along with the case file to the court.Note: “The court that originally issued the final decree,” refers to the Revolutionary Court branch that issued the sentence, whether the sentence was finalized after the moratorium had expired, or whether, depending on the case, it was confirmed by the Head, or a Supreme Court branch, or the Prosecutor General.
Prisoners covered by this Article may submit their request to the Head Warden of their prison. In this case, the Head Warden must submit the received request in its entirety to the enforcing court as soon as possible. The Enforcement Unit Judge must forward the request along with the case file for review to the court that originally issued the final decree.
The court that originally issued the final decree must examine the submitted case file as soon as possible, and if it deems the case under article (10) (b) of the Islamic Penal Code, to take action to issue a revised verdict based on sentence reduction. Otherwise, the court will reject the request for sentence reduction, providing the reasons, and the case file is returned to the relevant authority. The court’s decision is final.
The exclusion from paragraph (b) (10) of the Islamic Penal Code for those sentenced to death or life imprisonment before the Single Article is implemented must be reflected in the case through minutes signed by the Enforcement Unit Judge and confirmed by the prosecutor, and enforcing the execution without it is prohibited.
The use of children and adolescents under eighteen years of age or insane persons for committing the offense referred to in paragraph (b) of the single article includes those who commit the offenses in question by using those persons as a means of committing a crime, as stipulated in Article 128 of the Penal Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran approved in 2014, or cases such as hiring or recruiting mature individuals under the age of 18.
According to paragraph (d) of the single article, the importation, exportation, shipping, manufacturing, making, distribution, sale or offering for sale of more than 50 kg of narcotics, subject of Article 4, or more than 2 kg of narcotics, subject of Article 8, and purchase, keeping, hiding, or carrying more than 3 kilograms of narcotics, subject of Article 8, will result in the death penalty.
Individuals who prior to the single article’s enforcement date have committed the offenses listed in the first paragraph of this article with the amount of narcotics in excess of he amount specified in clause (d) and who do not meet the conditions stipulated in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this article, will be eligible for the reduced sentence listed in the article.
Enforcing Article 10 of the Islamic Penal Code, in the cases of individuals who have committed the crimes listed in this article prior to this single article’s effective date, and whose cases have not yet led to a sentence, and the application of the single article will be in their favor, the court is required to issue its ruling by complying with this article. Where the sentence has been issued and it is under consideration at an appeals court, the Supreme Court will overrule the verdict and forward the case file for review to a lateral court.
If those sentenced to death are subjects of the Supreme Leader’s amnesty, and their sentence has been reduced to life imprisonment prior to the single article’s effective date, they shall be subject to article 20 (b) of the Islamic Penal Code.
If the implementation of the single article reduces the sentences of individuals sentenced to life imprisonment to a second degree punishment, the abettors of the offense will also be subject to article 20 (b) of the Islamic Penal Code.
In executing the single article’s clause, if a criminal offense is punishable by more than five years in prison, the court shall, in determining the penalty, be obliged to observe the following points:
A. It is forbidden to determine a penalty below the minimum legal punishment.
B. In the event that the minimum legal punishment for a crime is determined, except for the allowance provided for in article 38 of the law and where the Supreme Leader has granted amnesty, referred to in paragraph (11) of Article 100 of the Constitution, any such concession, such as suspension of punishment, conditional release, or punishment reduction subject of Article 443 of the Criminal Procedure Code is prohibited. If the penalty imposed exceeds the minimum punishment of a crime, the court may, after the minimum legal sentence for the crime is served, suspend all or part of the remaining sentence.
The responsibility for the implementation of this directive lies with the prosecutors and the heads of the judiciary in the jurisdictions, and the Prosecutor General supervises its proper implementation and will provide a report about the implementation of the said single article after three months to the Head of the Judiciary.
Sadegh Amoli Larijani
Directive Regarding Capital Punishment -- January 2018
English Translation of Draft Citizenship Rights Charter
International Covenant, on Economic Social, and Cultural Rights
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
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Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 2, 2019
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 1-06620 11-1893410
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On May 2, 2019 Griffon Corporation (the “Registrant”) issued a press release announcing the Registrant’s financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended March 31, 2019. A copy of the Registrant’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
99.1 Press Release, dated May 2, 2019
The information filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K is being furnished in accordance with Item 2.02 and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of such section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
By: /s/ Brian Harris
SVP and Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit Index
Griffon Corporation Announces Second Quarter Results
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, May 2, 2019 – Griffon Corporation (NYSE:GFF) (the “Company” or “Griffon”) today reported results for the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019.
Consolidated revenue was $549.6 million, an increase of 15% from the prior year quarter. Home & Building Products (“HBP”) increased 20%, while Defense Electronics ("Telephonics") revenue decreased 9%, compared to the prior year quarter.
Income from continuing operations was $6.5 million, or $0.15 per share, compared to $2.0 million, or $0.05 per share, in the prior year quarter. The current year quarter results included discrete tax benefits, net, of $0.1 million. The prior year quarter results included acquisition costs of $0.8 million ($0.4 million, net of tax, or $0.01 per share) and a net tax provision for discrete and other certain tax items that affect comparability of $0.4 million or $0.01 per share. Excluding these items from the respective quarterly results, income from continuing operations would have been $6.4 million, or $0.15 per share, compared to $2.7 million, or $0.06 per share, in the prior year quarter.
Segment adjusted EBITDA was $53.7 million, an increase of 23% from the prior year quarter primarily driven by HBP revenue growth. Segment adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income excluding interest income and expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and unallocated amounts (mainly corporate overhead), restructuring charges, loss on debt extinguishment and acquisition related expenses, as well as other items that may affect comparability, as applicable.
Ronald J. Kramer, Chairman and CEO, commented, "We are pleased to report a solid second quarter, highlighted by a 15% increase in revenue and 23% growth in Segment adjusted EBITDA. Our enhanced operating performance was attributable to the success of our portfolio reshaping over the last two years, starting with the divestiture of the plastics business and the acquisitions of ClosetMaid and CornellCookson. These newly acquired businesses are performing well and contributed to our increased Home and Building Products Segment profitability. Telephonics continues to improve its manufacturing efficiencies in anticipation of a growing backlog for its core intelligence, surveillance and communications solutions."
Kramer continued, "We are in the early stages of unlocking the full earnings potential of our businesses, and expect to drive incremental value to shareholders as we execute our strategic plans. Additionally, increased U.S. defense and infrastructure spending should further accelerate our revenue growth and profitability. We are optimistic about our future."
Segment Operating Results
Home & Building Products
Revenue was $474.5 million, an increase of 20% when compared to the prior year quarter. Clopay Building Products Company, Inc. ("CBP") benefited from the acquisition of CornellCookson on June 4, 2018, which
delivered approximately $48.1 million of revenue, as well as from favorable pricing, partially offset by unfavorable volume and mix. At the AMES Companies, Inc. ("AMES"), favorable weather conditions drove increases in U.S. lawn and garden products, and the launch of new product programs drove increased revenue for U.S. pots and planters and for wire storage and organization. These increases also were supplemented at AMES Australia as previously delayed orders materialized in the quarter. Organic growth was 8%.
Segment adjusted EBITDA was $48.8 million, an increase of 23% compared to the prior year quarter driven by the increased revenue as noted above, partially offset by increased material and tariff costs at both AMES and CBP.
Defense Electronics
Revenue was $75.1 million, a decrease of 9% from the prior year quarter, primarily due to decreased maritime surveillance radar revenue offset in part by a $1.6 million benefit from the adoption of revenue recognition guidance effective October 1, 2018. The impact of the revenue recognition guidance is expected to be immaterial to full year results.
Segment adjusted EBITDA was $4.9 million compared to $4 million, an increase of 24% from the prior year quarter, driven by reduced operating expenses and timing of research and development initiatives. The impact from the adoption of revenue recognition guidance effective October 1, 2018 was not material. The impact from the adoption of the revenue recognition guidance is expected to be immaterial to full year results.
Contract backlog was $378 million at March 31, 2019, compared to $374 million at September 30, 2018, restated for the adoption of revenue recognition guidance effective October 1, 2018, with approximately 73% expected to be fulfilled within the next twelve months. During the quarter, Telephonics was awarded several new contracts and received incremental funding on existing contracts approximating $87 million, which translates into a book to bill ratio of approximately 1.15.
In the quarter ended March 31, 2019, the Company recognized a tax provision of $3.2 million on Income before taxes from continuing operations of $9.7 million, compared to a tax provision of $1.2 million on Income before taxes from continuing operations of $3.2 million in the comparable prior year quarter. Excluding all items that affect comparability, the effective tax rates for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were 34.0% and 32.6%, respectively.
Discontinued Operations
During the quarter ended March 31, 2019, Griffon recorded an $11.0 million charge ($7.6 million, net of tax) to discontinued operations. The charge consisted primarily of a purchase price adjustment to resolve a claim related to the $475 million plastics divestiture and included an additional reserve for a legacy environmental matter.
Share Repurchases
In August 2016 and 2018, Griffon’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50 million of Griffon’s outstanding common stock. Under these programs, the Company may purchase shares in the open market, including pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan, or in privately negotiated transactions. During the six months ended March 31, 2019, Griffon purchased 37,500 shares of common stock under these repurchase programs, for a total of $0.4 million or $9.92 per share. At March 31, 2019, $58.0 million remained under existing Board authorizations.
Balance Sheet and Capital Expenditures
At March 31, 2019, the Company had cash and equivalents of $58 million and total debt outstanding of $1.22 billion, net of discounts and issuance costs, resulting in a net debt position of $1.16 billion. $176 million was available for borrowing under the revolving credit facility, subject to certain loan covenants. Capital expenditures were $9 million in the current quarter.
The Company will hold a conference call today, May 2, 2019, at 4:30 PM ET.
The call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-407-0792 (U.S. participants) or 1-201-689-8263 (International participants). Callers should ask to be connected to the Griffon Corporation teleconference or provide conference ID number 13689636. Participants are encouraged to dial-in at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.
A replay of the call will be available starting on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 7:30 PM ET by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (U.S.) or 1-412-317-6671 (International), and entering the conference ID number: 13689636. The replay will be available through Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET.
“Safe Harbor” Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All statements related to, among other things, income (loss), earnings, cash flows, revenue, changes in operations, operating improvements, industries in which Griffon operates and the United States and global economies that are not historical are hereby identified as “forward-looking statements” and may be indicated by words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “supports,” “plans,” “projects,” “expects,” “believes,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “hope,” “forecast,” “management is of the opinion,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “explores,” “opportunities,” the negative of these expressions, use of the future tense and similar words or phrases. Such forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: current economic conditions and uncertainties in the housing, credit and capital markets; the Griffon's ability to achieve expected savings from cost control, restructuring, integration and disposal initiatives; the ability to identify and successfully consummate and integrate value-adding acquisition opportunities; increasing competition and pricing pressures in the markets served by Griffon’s operating companies; the ability of Griffon’s operating companies to expand into new geographic and product
markets, and to anticipate and meet customer demands for new products and product enhancements and innovations; reduced military spending by the government on projects for which Griffon’s Telephonics Corporation supplies products, including as a result of defense budget cuts and other government actions; the ability of the federal government to fund and conduct its operations; increases in the cost or lack of availability of raw materials such as resin, wood and steel components or purchased finished goods, including any potential impact on costs or availability resulting from tariffs; changes in customer demand or loss of a material customer at one of Griffon's operating companies; the potential impact of seasonal variations and uncertain weather patterns on certain of Griffon’s businesses; political events that could impact the worldwide economy; a downgrade in the Griffon’s credit ratings; changes in international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange fluctuations; the reliance by certain of Griffon’s businesses on particular third party suppliers and manufacturers to meet customer demands; the relative mix of products and services offered by Griffon’s businesses, which could impact margins and operating efficiencies; short-term capacity constraints or prolonged excess capacity; unforeseen developments in contingencies, such as litigation, regulatory and environmental matters; unfavorable results of government agency contract audits of Telephonics Corporation; Griffon’s ability to adequately protect and maintain the validity of patent and other intellectual property rights; the cyclical nature of the businesses of certain Griffon’s operating companies; possible terrorist threats and actions and their impact on the global economy; Griffon's ability to service and refinance its debt, and the impact of recent and future legislative and regulatory changes, including, without limitation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Such statements reflect the views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, as previously disclosed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Griffon undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Griffon is a diversified management and holding company that conducts business through wholly-owned subsidiaries. Griffon oversees the operations of its subsidiaries, allocates resources among them and manages their capital structures. Griffon provides direction and assistance to its subsidiaries in connection with acquisition and growth opportunities as well as in connection with divestitures. In order to further diversify, Griffon also seeks out, evaluates and, when appropriate, will acquire additional businesses that offer potentially attractive returns on capital.
Home & Building Products segment consists of two companies, AMES and CBP:
AMES, founded in 1774, is the leading North American manufacturer and a global provider of branded consumer and professional tools, landscaping products, and outdoor lifestyle solutions. In 2018, we acquired ClosetMaid, a leader in wood and wire closet organization, general living storage and wire garage storage products for homeowners and professionals.
Defense Electronics segment consists of Telephonics Corporation, founded in 1933, a globally recognized leading provider of highly sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and communications solutions for defense, aerospace and commercial customers.
For more information on Griffon and its operating subsidiaries, please see the Company’s website at www.griffon.com.
Company Contact: Investor Relations Contact:
Brian G. Harris Michael Callahan
SVP & Chief Financial Officer Managing Director
Griffon Corporation ICR Inc.
Griffon evaluates performance and allocates resources based on each segment's operating results from continuing operations before interest income and expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, unallocated amounts (mainly corporate overhead), restructuring charges, loss on debt extinguishment and acquisition related expenses, as well as other items that may affect comparability, as applicable ("Segment adjusted EBITDA", a non-GAAP measure). Griffon believes this information is useful to investors.
The following table provides a reconciliation of Segment adjusted EBITDA to Income before taxes from continuing operations:
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
For the Six Months Ended March 31,
Home & Building Products:
Total consolidated net sales
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment adjusted EBITDA
Net interest expense
Segment depreciation and amortization
Unallocated amounts
Acquisition costs
Cost of life insurance benefit
The following is a reconciliation of each segment's operating results to Segment adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations:
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES
BY REPORTABLE SEGMENT
Segment operating profit
Defense Electronics:
All segments:
Income from operations - as reported
Segment operating profit from continuing operations
Segment adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations
Unallocated amounts typically include general corporate expenses not attributable to any reportable segment.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND
Griffon evaluates performance based on Earnings per share and Net income excluding restructuring charges, loss on debt extinguishment, acquisition related expenses and discrete and certain other tax items, as well as other items that may affect comparability, as applicable. Griffon believes this information is useful to investors for the same reason. The following table provides a reconciliation of Income from continuing operations to Adjusted income from continuing operations and earnings per share from continuing operations to Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations:
RECONCILIATION OF INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
TO ADJUSTED INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Adjusting items, net of tax:
Discrete and certain other tax provisions (benefits)
Adjusted income from continuing operations
Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations
Adjusted earnings per common share from continuing operations
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands)
Note: Due to rounding, the sum of earnings per common share and adjusting items, net of tax, may not equal adjusted earnings per common share from continuing operations.
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Thoughts on the Hugo Award Nominees: Fan Artist
Ninni Aalto
Brad Foster
Elizabeth Leggett
Spring Schoenhuth
Steve Stiles
Please see my Hugo disclaimer at the conclusion of this article. Let us instead jump right into my thoughts on the nominees.
Elizabeth Leggett: Leggett was on my final Hugo nominating ballot and I very much stand behind that nomination and I am quite glad she was able to pick up a Hugo nomination this year. Check out the link of her work at the top of this article, it's fantastic stuff.
Spring Schoenhuth: Schoenhuth's art is not the same sort of drawing / painting / art that we think about when we think of Hugo art. Schoenhuth does much more of the metal sculpture / jewelry style of art. What she does is excellent, though it isn't completely to my taste for genre art. It's not that I'm a traditionalist, it is more that I more appreciate cover art as science fiction and fantasy art.
No Award: While Foster and Stiles have been perennial nominees, and I had a very nice e-mail exchange with Foster last year when I was looking to highlight the art of all of the nominees (something I do not plan to do this year), I don't feel this art is truly among the best. It is art of a particular style, and I think it has fit the fanzines they have often been published in, but when you compare to Elizabeth Leggett, well, there is no comparison. I appreciated Ninni Aalto's work more than those of Foster and Stiles, but it still doesn't quite rise above and meet the levels of Leggett and Schoenhuth.
1. Elizabeth Leggett
2. Spring Schoenhuth
3. No Award
Standard 2015 Hugo Disclaimer:
In a typical year, I just jump right into whichever category I'm writing about and letting my thoughts sort out the whole mess. This is not a typical year, so I'd like to start by talking a little bit about how I'm going to work through the various Hugo Award categories and how I am going to vote. Simply put, I am going to read everything. If I feel the work is strong enough to merit a ranked vote, I will vote for it in whatever order feels most appropriate. If I feel the work is not strong enough to merit ranking it above No Award, I will not do so. But at no point am I making a blanket statement about Sad Puppies or Rabid Puppies or that I've heard Thomas Heuvelt may have been campaigning for a nomination or anything else that I am not aware of. The ballot is what the ballot is and I will treat it as such.
I am also working with the same methodology as I have in the past, which is to say that there are frequently works and writers on the ballot that I simply and strongly disagree with. In most cases, I have still ranked those works above No Award. I don't believe I have always done this, and I know if I had participated last year, one novel would have been below No Award because I bounced so hard off of the first book in that series that I really can't understand how the second also managed a nomination - and that writer is a Hugo favorite. Most stories compare to works that have previously been on the ballot, so those works that meet my low-bar criteria will secure my vote.
I may re-post this message on each article I write about the nominees, just so that we're clear in such a contentious year.
Posted by Joe on Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Labels: Hugo Awards
RAH said...
I just looked at the art last night and I thought Legget was so far above the other nominations.I ranked that # . I do not care whether a work was on a slate or not. That whole business seems to be sour grapes because another group out voted the normal group on nominations. Big Whoop
Leggett's work is just outstanding. I believe she also does some professional work, but I'm with you - her fan work here was just far and away better than anyone else. If she doesn't win, I just don't know.
Doctor Science said...
I agree about Leggett being in a whole 'nother league than the others in this category, and I trust she'll be the runaway winner.
I'm frustrated by a bunch of the Artist noms, because the material in their packets appears to be from a number of years, not just 2014. What do you, as someone who obviously cares about the Artist categories, think about making them Best Pro/Fan Artwork in the target year?
As a general rule, I would not mind seeing Best Artwork as a category rather than Artist.
Of course, the Best Artist award as it stands is supposed to be for a body of work over the course of the year. I had a conversation back in 2010 with both an artist and an editor because I had written about how I was considering nominating Richard Powers (who died in 1996) for Best Professional Artist on the strength of the cover of Eclipse Three, cover art which had never been previously used before - so it was "new", but as I was told, it also wasn't reflective of the body of work being produced in the genre for that year. As great as that cover was (and it is glorious). A single work is harder to vote for anyway, because it is a body of work award.
Best Artist is a bit of a popularity contest, as those two individuals also admitted, and I think Best Artwork would be a potential way around that.
If we don't vote for Best Professional Writer, why do we vote for Best Professional Artist?
Some artists who are plugged into the fan community as well as simply being a pro working in the field do post on their websites a gallery from each particular year. John Picacio comes to mind as a more prominent example of this. He's not fishing for a nomination, but he wants folks to know what he published during the previous eligibility year. If it's tough sometimes to figure out what writers put out during a year, it's damn near impossible to figure that out with artists unless they give you a helping hand.
I'm a bit scattered this morning, but I do like the idea of Artwork replacing Artist. I would definitely be open to more conversation about it.
PresN said...
Looking through these nominees, I'm leaving myself a reminder to nominate for this category next year. I could name a dozen artists on deviantart/tumblr who are better than most of the nominees this year, and given that Brad Foster's work has been nominated for decades I can only assume that most voters just nominate whoever scribbles cartoons in their fanzines. I wondered, last year, how an 18-year-old art student won the category. I don't wonder any more- Sarah Webb was miles above all of these artists, with only Leggett coming anywhere near.
I think that most people who nominate don't know what is happening over at deviantart and tumblr. I don't. I'm not part of those communities.
But Fan Artist came out of a very different tradition, so it often was those artists who worked in the fannish communities who attended Worldcon and produced the older style fanzines - and for a long time, that was also a significant part of who participated in the Hugo Awards.
Sarah Webb's work was excellent I hope to see more from her.
Thoughts on the Hugo Award Nominees: Graphic Story...
Thoughts on the Hugo Award Nominees: Related Work
Thoughts on the Hugo Award Nominees: Professional ...
Thoughts on the Hugo Award Nominees: Fancast
Thoughts on the Hugo Award Nominees: Short Story
Hugo Nominee / Voter's Packet Available
Books Read: April 2015
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Three Plays
by Derek Walcott
The three plays in this collection form a triptych--the central play, a farce, is flanked by two dramas. Together they span the last four decades of Trinidad's social and political history, beginning, in The Last Carnival, with the colonial life-style of a French Creole family faced with the emergence of the Black Power movement, and ending, in A Branch of the Blue Nile, with the conflict among members of a small theatre company in contemporary Port-of-Spain. Beef,… (more)
The three plays in this collection form a triptych--the central play, a farce, is flanked by two dramas. Together they span the last four decades of Trinidad's social and political history, beginning, in The Last Carnival, with the colonial life-style of a French Creole family faced with the emergence of the Black Power movement, and ending, in A Branch of the Blue Nile, with the conflict among members of a small theatre company in contemporary Port-of-Spain. Beef, No Chicken, the middle play, deals with the corruption of a small town in a hurry to catch up with the industrialization that a new highway will bring.
The Last Carnival is an entirely new version of Walcott's earlier, unpublished play, In a Fine Castle. It had its American premiere with the Group Theatre Company in Seattle in 1983. Beef, No Chicken premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre's Winterfest series in 1982. A Branch of the Blue Nile was given its Caribbean premiere by State One in Barbados in 1983.
Fiction Drama
$ 40.00 For EPUB 52 loans, 2 years, 1 at a time
Quantity : New Cart
Concurent Loans
Maximum lending period
52 loans 1 loans 2 years 59 days
ACS4 6 loans false false
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (September 09, 2014)
Collection: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
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Mariah Carey to Perform on Billboard Music Awards
May 5th, 2015 by KRNB
Courtesy Caesars EntertainmentThe list of superstar performers on the upcoming Billboard Music Awards keeps growing. Mariah Carey‘s the latest artist announced to take the stage during the ceremony.
There’s no word on what song Mariah will perform, though it could be her latest single, “Infinity,” which was released last week.
Mariah will already be in Las Vegas — her new show, Mariah #1 to Infinity, opens tomorrow at the at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. It’ll count down all 18 of her Billboard #1 singles in chronological order. Mariah’s the only solo artist to score 18 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Mariah joins the list of big names who’ll be taking the stage at this year’s Billboard Music Awards, which already includes Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea, Kelly Clarkson, Ed Sheeran, Meghan Trainor, and John Legend. Other artists confirmed to perform are Hozier, Sam Smith, Fall Out Boy, and Nick Jonas. The show will be hosted by Ludacris and John Legend’s wife, Chrissy Teigen.
The 2015 Billboard Music Awards airs May 17 on at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Mariah’s new greatest hits album, #1 to Infinity, hits retailers the next day.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
awards Billboard carey mariah music perform
Mariah Felt Like a Prisoner in Her First Marriage Read More
Beyoncé reportedly shut down Grand Canyon landmark for new music video Read More
Songs You Better Play at a Black Family Reunion Read More
Mariah Carey: I’m kind of a prude, compared to most others in the field Read More
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Home Articles Is the Book of Mormon the answer for apathy among the youth?
Is the Book of Mormon the answer for apathy among the youth?
Our youth want something to sink their teeth into. They want truth that applies to the “real world.”
There I was, 1996 and fresh out of BYU, teaching high school history, government and PE in Northern Arizona to students who couldn’t care less about the subject material. It was culture shock after years at BYU and teaching motivated new missionaries at the Missionary Training Center. How could I reach these students?
Even in the PE class students wanted only to sit on the side and talk with friends. I tried everything—games, activities, video clips—all with limited success. Then an idea came.
Most of the families in the area were deeply affected by a federal land grab. As a class we started watching news clips and discussing historical and governmental principles directly relating to the “real world”; suddenly, every student was engaged—finally, an idea that worked! This was their world. Apathy is not only a problem in public schools, apathetic feelings plague the Church.
Elder M. Russell Ballard explained on Bloomberg Television,
“. . . one of the greatest problems that we have in the Church is the total—not total—but the extreme apathy—indifference.” 1
President Gordon B. Hinckley also commented on this spirit of indifference:
. . . it is the age of utter mediocrity. . . . in this world so filled with problems, so constantly threatened by dark and evil challenges, you can and must rise above mediocrity, above indifference.2
I think most of us know that we must rise above this apathy, this indifference, but how?
How do we help the youth, or even those much older overcome apathy? Currently, unemployed high school students spend on average 0.1 hours/day in religious/spiritual/volunteer activity.3
Why has our nation and our Church become apathetic to faith? Heartbreak among even the best mothers and fathers is becoming near universal as parents struggle to instill in the hearts of their children a passion or even an interest in the Gospel.
How can we encourage our children or grandchildren to love the scriptures and help them to truly care?
Activities and programs are the popular remedy, but superficial remedies generally fail as the Church can never compete with the world in terms of pleasure. The world is always going to be more “fun”, more wild and provide more amusement than Gospel centered activities. When I taught high school and seminary, I learned early that the best way to engage students in the material was using current events. I used news clips and magazine articles—real world events—to show students that history, government and other courses applied to their “real” world. Could this approach also work for the Gospel? How does the Gospel directly apply to life? Should we be surprised that the Book of Mormon, the most correct of any book on earth, was written with this precise end in mind? President Hinckley taught:
The Book of Mormon narrative is a chronicle of nations long since gone. But in its descriptions of the problems of today’s society, it is as current as the morning newspaper and much more definitive, inspired, and inspiring concerning the solutions of those problems. 4
I believe that one answer to the extreme apathy in the Church has been staring us in the face. We have had the Book of Mormon for 185 years, but prophets have taught that we have not been using it as the Lord intended.5 How would apathy change if we straightforwardly applied the Book of Mormon message to our day, to our situation? But does the Book of Mormon speak directly of the United States and the issues that we face as twenty-first century Americans?
Book of Mormon Geography and the Doctrines of Salvation
When Elder Bruce R. McConkie compiled some of President Joseph Fielding Smith’s essential teachings into a set of three volumes, he helped fill a void which had long existed in the Church. Doctrines of Salvation contains a vital compilation of “answers . . . to gospel questions frequently asked, but seldom answered with the authoritative finality of the oracles of God.”6 As the preface to Volume 1 states,
“Joseph Fielding Smith is the leading gospel scholar and the greatest doctrinal teacher of this generation. Few men in this dispensation have approached him in gospel knowledge or surpassed him in spiritual insight.”
Not surprisingly, Doctrines of Salvation focuses on the most critical doctrines pertaining to our individual salvation.
Salvation being the purpose of the work, one section has often confused and bewildered readers. Tucked among sections on Priesthood, Signs of the Times and Israelite covenants is a chapter dedicated to the Hill Cumorah! Upon closer count, at least 12 pages are dedicated to Book of Mormon geography, specifically detailing the one and only location of the Hill Cumorah in upstate New York.
Why in a work entitled Doctrines of Salvation, a work dedicated to the principles and doctrines necessary for salvation, is the physical location of the Book of Mormon discussed or even mentioned? What does Book of Mormon geography have to do with the doctrines of salvation? President Smith and Elder McConkie apparently understood a significant connection.
This question puzzled me as a child and later as an adult. However, I left the door open. Someday I hoped to understand why Book of Mormon geography held such weight for these prophets of God.
Years later a clue came when studying the latter-day Signs of the Times, in particular the list compiled by Elder Bruce R. McConkie in Mormon Doctrine. I was struck that at least 20 of Elder McConkie’s 51 Signs of the Times occurred in, or were directly tied to the United States of America. Some regard the signs of the last days in a dreamy, vague, surreal way. On the contrary, these signs are clearly discernible, literal, physical events. The “real world” if you will.
Could understanding the correct location of Book of Mormon geography be essential to correctly interpreting the latter-day Signs of the Times? Could understanding Book of Mormon geography and correctly identifying the Promised Land of America be essential to preparing for the Second Coming of Christ? Could these teachings deter apathy in the Church?
What if we stepped through the Book of Mormon history and paralleled it with Elder McConkie’s 51 latter-day Signs of the Times? Even more, what if we could find these 51 Signs of the Times foreshadowed in the Book of Mormon chronology in the correct sequence?
To this day the chronology and even reality of the Signs of the Times is debated. Are they literal or figurative? Where and when did, or will, they take place? Who was, or will be, involved? In the end there have been more questions than answers. Does the Book of Mormon, the most correct book on earth, hold the key to unlocking the most important “real world” questions confronting us as latter-day saints?
51 Signs of the Times
We will commence with the earliest latter-day Signs of the Times and parallel each sign with corresponding events in the Book of Mormon.
PERSECUTION & REBIRTH
Because of the wickedness of the people and the persecution of an apostate church, faithful saints suffer oppression for living the commandments of God.
Nephi and Lehi acquire Plates of Brass, c. 600 B.C.
Persecution of righteous by apostate church
Reformers translate and acquire scriptures in their mother tongue
Millions of men, women and children tortured and martyred
#1 Spirit to be poured out on all flesh
#2 Discovery and use of printing #6 Translation and printing of Bible
#3 Protestant Reformation
If the Book of Mormon genuinely parallels our day, the book must begin with a scenario very close in theme to that of the Protestant Reformation—the Reformation being the earliest sign in latter-day history. Can we look into the early part of the Book of Mormon and find a church that has become apostate and persecutes true followers of Christ? Do we find faithful saints struggling to acquire scripture held in the hands of this apostate church? Do we find individuals forced to flee for their belief in the true and living God, while others are martyred? Looking into the beginning of the Book of Mormon, this is precisely how the chronicle begins.
Righteous groups are led out from the wicked to a promised land where the freedom of worship according to conscience is possible.
Lehites/Mulekites travel to America, c. 589 B.C.
Gentiles migrate to America, 1607- c. 1780
#4 Discovery and colonization of America
#17 Ten tribes to return
#19 Return of Judah to Jerusalem
The colonization of America by righteous individuals fleeing religious persecution is another principal sign of the times in the Latter Days. Looking into the Book of Mormon do we find a foreshadowing? The Lord desired to lead the Lehites and the Mulekites to a promised land and the tool he used was persecution. Fast forward over two thousand years and he uses that same tool to drive the early colonists to America. Puritans, Covenanters, Separatists, Huguenots and other groups were led by God to America in the Great Migration. Additionally, the Nephites relied upon the same legal and moral foundation as the American colonizers: the laws set forth by Moses and the prophets in the Brass Plates, on the one hand, and the laws set forth by Moses and the prophets in the Bible on the other.
The Lord inspires righteous leaders to establish a divinely sanctioned government whereby the people can worship God in liberty.
Laws of Mosiah given by hand of God, c. 92 B.C.
Lord establishes U.S. Constitution, c. 1775-1787
#5 Establishment of the American Nation
#7 Establishment of US Constitution
It is no accident that the principles of the Nephite republican form of government—the Laws of Mosiah—can be found in the Constitutional law upon which this nation, the United States of America, was established. The enemies of these divinely sanctioned governments are also prophetically similar. Do we study the Book of Mormon as the most authoritative textbook on government?
A record of scripture is translated by the gift and power of God from gold plates containing the record and warning of a fallen people who formerly inhabited America, but were destroyed when they ripened in iniquity.
Jaredite plates of gold translated by Seer, c. 121 B.C – 92 B.C.
Joseph Smith translates plates of gold, 1829
#9 Coming forth of the Book of Mormon
Did Mormon foreshadow the Book of Mormon in the Book of Mormon? Limhi sent 43 men in search of Zarahemla, but rather, this party discovered the remains of the Jaredite nation, including gold plates, swords, breastplates and dry bones.7 These gold plates were translated by a seer, found near the hill Ramah (also known as the hill Cumorah)8 and contained a witness and warning for the Nephite civilization.9 The Jaredite nation and record were the witness and warning to the Nephites that the Book of Mormon is to us in our day. The 12 witnesses (3 witnesses + 8 witnesses + Joseph Smith) of the Book of Mormon were given a view of the Breastplate, Sword of Laban and the plates of gold. They also traveled over the dry bones of the Nephites.10 Each of the records concludes describing the destruction of the former Christian inhabitants of America in bloody confrontations near the hill Cumorah.11
The Church of Jesus Christ is restored.
Church of Christ organized by Alma, c. 147 B.C.
Church organized by Joseph Smith, 1830
#8 Latter-Day Revelation
#11 Restoration of keys and priesthood
#12 Restoration of the Gospel
#14 Church and Kingdom set up again
Did Mormon, when abridging the record, carefully select and highlight the formation of the Church of Christ in the days of Alma and Mosiah to correspond with the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this dispensation? Does the persecution and driving into the wilderness of the Church founded by Alma foreshadow the driving and expulsion of the saints in the latter days?
A righteous prophet of God is raised up to teach the true Gospel and is martyred for teaching doctrines which had been lost including the true nature of the Godhead.
Abinadi martyred, c. 148 B.C.
Prophet Joseph martyred, 1844
#10 Opposition to the Book of Mormon
#13 Messenger to precede Second Coming
#24 Persecution of the Saints
The martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith is one of the principal signs of the times in the latter days. Was the mission of the prophet Joseph Smith foreshadowed by the mission of Abinadi? Each restored the true Gospel lost through apostasy. Each was miraculously preserved and each testified that his death would be a type of that to come. Each stirred the animosity of wicked ecclesiastical leaders. Each was placed in prison for three days and each voluntarily laid down his life. These are a sampling of dozens of parallels between the Prophet Joseph Smith and Abinadi who were also types of Christ.
Antichrists arise preaching enticing doctrines and philosophies in direct opposition to the true Gospel of Christ and the principles of liberty upon which the freedom of the people depend.
Anti-Christs: Sherem, Nehor, Korihor and others, 91 – 74 B.C.
Anti-Christs: Darwin, Freud, Dewey, Keynes and Marx, 1830-
#40 Many false churches in Latter-days
#39 Apostate darkness covers earth
The Book of Mormon contains the teachings and chronicles the ministries of men who were anti-Christ. President Benson taught:
The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon is similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time.12
We have not been using the Book of Mormon as we should . . . Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the book to expose and combat the falsehoods in socialism, organic evolution, rationalism, humanism, and so forth.13
Missionaries are sent at great personal sacrifice to those who have never heard the true Gospel and many thousands are converted.
Sons of Mosiah, Alma and his brethren, c. 90 B.C.
Missionaries to the world, 1839-
#16 Gathering of Israel
#26 True gospel to be preached in all the world
The Book of Mormon is careful to describe in detail how Ammon teaches and later how his brother Aaron teaches. They each begin with the Creation, then teach the Fall and the Atonement followed by the scriptures.14 The Book of Mormon is the pattern for missionary work. The sons of Mosiah, Alma, Helaman and Nephi exemplify the work of the ministry. Zeezrom, Corianton and others illustrate repentance and the need for purity in those called to serve.
Wicked men conspire to take away the freedoms of the righteous using treachery, murder, intrigue and carefully devised words to stir their followers to extreme hatred against religion and imagined wrongs.
Amlici, Zerahemnah, Amalickiah, Ammoron, 87 B.C. – 57 B.C.
Lenin, Stalin, Mao and others, c. 1900-
#25 Persecution of the Jews
The tactics of those seeking to destroy the freedom of the Nephites in an attempt to destroy the “cause of Christians” is exposed in the Book of Mormon. Amalickiah, Amlici and others use secret societies, propaganda campaigns and education programs to promote humanistic state worship and to submit many thousands to their rule. Once in power they deceive the people and stir them up to anger against the liberty, lands, family order, and religion of the Nephites. Do we recognize the parallels in our day?
LIBERTY AND WAR
Great leaders fight to preserve the liberty and lands of the people enabling the Gospel to continue to be taught and lived.
The War Chapters of the Book of Mormon, 72-57 B.C.
War is poured out upon all nations
#35 Peace taken from earth
#37 Wars and rumors of wars
The Cause of Christians or religious freedom is perhaps the primary theme of the Book of Mormon. Nephite lands in the Book of Mormon were an asylum for the Anti-Nephi-Lehi converts to the Gospel, the escaping people of Limhi and others. Rather than policing nations outside Nephite jurisdiction, the Nephites warmly welcomed and donated land for refugees, protecting the downtrodden. Nephite armies were defensive rather than offensive in preserving liberty.
The Church grows as apostasy increases; the truly faithful are persecuted and the prophetic leadership strives to teach true doctrine and regulate the Church.
Thousands and tens of thousands baptized, 43 B.C.
Worldwide Church growth, c. 1960-
#15 Growth of the Church
#20 Jews to begin to believe in Christ
#21 Building of Latter-day temples
#23 Spirit of Elijah and genealogical research
#43 Lamanites to blossom as the rose
The Book of Mormon speaks of astonishing Church growth and walls of separation tumbling down where the Gospel had previously been forbidden. Church leaders struggle with difficulties associated with rapid expansion and increasing apostasy.
Miracles and revelation are rejected as religious principles are removed from society and even members of the Church become a stumbling block.
Youth rebel, God and commandments forsaken
Secularization, humanization and apostasy, c. 1960-
#18 Times of Gentiles being fulfilled
#33 Latter-Day wickedness
#41 Refusal of men to believe signs of times
The Book of Mormon speaks of youth rebellion, education systems without God, redistribution of wealth, society rejecting miracles and revelation while seeking and being surrounded by demons. It speaks of Church members rejecting true prophets while following after deceptive educators and worldly counselors. “In the Book of Mormon we find lessons for dealing with persecution and apostasy.”15
TRAVEL & TRADE
Free travel and free trade lead to increased prosperity and wealth including great expansion and building.
Wealth increases, free trade and travel, c. 49 B.C. –
Prosperity, international trade, c. 1960-
#27 Worldly knowledge to increase
#28 Scientific and inventive progress
Early in Book of Mormon history the Nephites and Lamanites divide. This iron curtain of separation continues generation after generation despite attempts made by the Nephites to bring Gospel light to those who have never heard the truth. The Lamanites are taught to hate Nephites; that their problems were largely the result of wrongs inflicted upon them by Nephi or his descendants. This line of separation divided freedom of religion on the one side and a culture of idleness and hatred on the other. Those familiar with the Iron Curtain in our own day will see the parallels here. Almost overnight the walls come down in an era of free travel and trade; an era of expansion and building with cement structures and roads.
TERROR & ROBBERS
Secret combinations become common first in the more settled parts of the land and then spread to include many of the those claiming to belong to the Church.
Judges murdered, combinations among Nephites, c. 52 B.C.
Leaders/others murdered, intrigue and complicity
#32 Strikes, anarchy, violence, to increase
In the Book of Mormon, as the Nephites move away from their righteous Christian foundation, terror and secret combinations that once existed primarily among the Lamanites, come to permeate the Nephite society. The threat is no longer in foreign lands; it is among the Nephites and even Church membership. Among both political and religious leaders. Youth and others flock to growing robber bands, becoming a threat to formal government. Finally, the Nephite republican government, which parallels our own constitutional republic, is destroyed by a secret combination and the people divide into tribes.
Many physical signs are seen in the heavens and the earth including famine, earthquake, stars in the heavens, lightning and darkness.
Earthquakes, fire, famine, flood, slippery treasures, 32 A.D.
Earthquakes, fire, famine, flood, economic instability
#29 Disease, plague, pestilence to sweep earth
#30 Elements in commotion
#31 Disasters and calamities to abound
#36 Angels now reaping the earth #38 Famines, depressions, and economic turmoil
#42 Signs on Earth and in Heavens
Every physical sign recorded in the Book of Mormon is also a Sign of the Times in the latter days. Some of these include famine, earthquake, pestilence and the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds. Other signs include treasures slipping from the hands of those whose hearts are upon them. In our day fortunes are gained or lost in a day as markets fluctuate and the judgements of God increasingly stare us in the face.
The more righteous gather in and the wicked are destroyed to prepare the way for the Coming of the Son of God.
Righteous gather, more wicked destroyed, 3 – 34 A.D.
Saints gather, destruction poured out
#34 Spirit ceasing to strive with wicked
#44 The gathering at Adam-ondi-Ahman
#45 Final Great War to attend Second Coming
#46 Sorrow and fear precede and accompany Second Coming
#47 Fall of the great and abominable church
#49 Wicked to be burned as stubble
In the Book of Mormon the more righteous are preserved from physical judgements while the more wicked are destroyed. The more wicked are those who had rejected and cast out the prophets and saints living primarily in the population centers of the land.
COMING OF CHRIST
The righteous are resurrected. Christ comes to His people, heals the sick, reestablishes His Church and expounds all things.
Christ comes to Nephites, 34 A.D.
#22 Lord to come suddenly to Temple
In the Book of Mormon, the coming of the resurrected Christ to the Nephites, is the central event. This event was spoken of and anticipated throughout their history. In our own day, we are focused on preparing the world for the Second Coming of Christ. The righteous are instructed to watch carefully for the signs, indicating the time is near. Parallels between the coming of Christ to the Nephites and the Second Coming include: the gathering of the remnant, the Savior coming in the clouds of heaven, multitudes falling to the earth, men and women gazing upon the nail-prints in the Savior’s hands and feet, Christ’s teachings transcending the law, healing of the sick, visitations of angels, resurrections and sacrament ordinances overseen by the Son of God.
All eventually are converted to the true Gospel and become partakers of the Heavenly Gift. The cities are rebuilt and a great period of peace continues for several generations.
~200 years of Peace
~1000 years of Peace
#50 Final restitution of all things to be completed
#51 Christ to reign personally upon earth
Following the destruction, the Savior descends from heaven and comes to His temple. His coming ushers in the beginning of a lasting period of peace. If each phrase from the end of 3rd Nephi through 4th Nephi is carefully compared with prophecies of the Millenium the foreshadowing is unmistakable. Some of these include: all things common, universal missionary work, the coming forth of hidden scriptures, people multiplying to fill the land, the rebuilding of cities and an end of contention.
FOR OUR DAY
In sharing this critical message paralleling latter-day Signs of the Times alongside Book of Mormon chronology with thousands of latter-day saints I have been fascinated by common responses. The feedback of all ages including the youth, the middle aged and the elderly generally includes at least one of these themes:
The individual is inspired to carefully study the Book of Mormon to personally discover this parallel message;
A new inclination is spawned to become more active in family, Church and community in applying the Book of Mormon message;
A stronger devotion to living specific principles that apply concretely to the respondent’s personal circumstances is born;
A new hunger to correctly understand the Signs of the Times and how they personally apply is given rise.
I believe that each of these responses is a personal testimony that carefully applying the Book of Mormon to our day is a fundamental solution to overcoming the extreme apathy in the Church.
President Benson seemed to think so as well:
Sometimes I think we are so inclined to be complacent and to more or less take things as they are. The prophets in the Book of Mormon saw our day, and, oh, how I wish every American would read the Book of Mormon. To practically every problem that faces us as a nation today and as a people, you can find the answer in the Book of Mormon.16
This is an earnest plea to take another look at the Book of Mormon as specifically and concretely the “most correct book on earth.” Our young men and women were born with intelligence and a strong desire to establish Zion. This drives them to cry for something authentic. The Gospel is true, but when presented in an abstract, unrealistic and speculative fashion the power is lost. Our youth want to know the truth; things as they really were, really are and really will be. They want something to sink their teeth into. They want truth that applies to the “real world.”
M. Russell Ballard, Bloomberg Television Interview with Mike Schneider, 18 April 2008.
Gordon B. Hinckley, “Stand Up for Truth,” BYU Devotional Address, 17 September 1996.
http://www.bls.gov/tus/charts/chart8.pdf (February, 2015).
Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Testimony Vibrant and True,” Ensign, Aug. 2005.
Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov. 1986.
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft 1954-56, 1:v
Mosiah 8:7-11
Ether 15:11
Mosiah 28:18
“The whole of our journey, in the midst of so large a company of social honest and sincere men, wandering over the plains of the Nephites, recounting occasionally the history of the Book of Mormon, roving over the mounds of that once beloved people of the Lord, picking up their skulls & their bones, as a proof of its divine authenticity, and gazing upon a country the fertility, the splendor and the goodness so indescribable, all serves to pass away time unnoticed,…” (Joseph Smith, Jr. [letter to Emma Smith, June 4, 1834], Dean C. Jessee, The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co. 1984, pp. 323 – 325).
J. Golden Kimball wrote, “Heber C. Kimball said it was revealed to him that the last great destruction of the wicked would be on the lakes near the Hill Cumorah.” (Lundwall, N. B., Inspired Prophetic Warnings to all Inhabitants of the Earth, N. B. Lundwall, publisher, 1940, p. 52).
Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God,” Ensign, Jan. 1988, 3
Ibid., 5
Ezra Taft Benson, “A New Witness for Christ,” Ensign, Nov. 1984.
Ezra Taft Benson, A Witness and a Warning (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1988), 21.
Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988), 391.
joseph fielding smith
Margaret September 20, 2016 at 8:34 am
So many parents are struggling right now to help their children and don’t know what to do. This article is a beautiful reminder to all parents of the importance and blessing of the Book of Mormon for help in rearing our children, if we will but use it and cling to it as the “iron rod” which will help us get through the mists of darkness that surround us in these latter days. The Book of Mormon truly applies to each of us, as the events parallel our day, and the teachings answer the current problems we are confronted with daily. It should be our constant reference as it is the “most correct book” and source for truth.
David October 9, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Given that the Book of Mormon parallels our own latter-day America, what of the righteous gathering as a body in the center of their lands because of the threat of the Gadiantons? Clearly we have been told repeatedly that the gathering in of the Lost Tribes today involves missionary work around the world, and that Israel is being gathered to the various Stakes of Zion across the globe. And at some point the various cities in Missouri will be built (in the center of our latter-day Promised Land lands), but will there be a literal gathering in of the righteous to a specific location (in the center of the land) for the purpose of physical defense against a hostile threat (latter-day Gadiantons)?
Oh, my goodness gracious how I love this article. I think it hit it right on. In a world that is plagued with apathy, this is definitely a solution for it. I work with youth and they are starving for meat, not milk. They want it taught as straight up as you can, holding nothing back. They can’t just keep being given food, fun, and fantasy and calling it the gospel. Enough is enough. The scriptures feed these children what the world is not, and we can’t be afraid to teach it. Thank you for writing a wonderful article.
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Progressives actually had a pretty good New York primary night
Scott Heins/Getty Images
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) brushed off a challenge from his left by actress and activist Cynthia Nixon in Thursday's New York Democratic primary, but progressives scored some big upsets in state Senate races. The highest profile of those was Julia Salazar's victory over 16-year incumbent state Sen. Martin Dilan in a northern Brooklyn district. Salazar, a 27-year-old democratic socialism running for office for the first time, doesn't face a Republican challenger in November.
Progressive challengers also unseated six of eight Democrats who formed a now-disbanded Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) that handed control of the state Senate to Republicans. Among those ousted was IDC leader Jeff Klein, who lost to Alessandra Biaggi, plus Jose Peralta, Jesse Hamilton, Marisol Alcantara, David Valesky, and Tony Avella. "In 2018, Democratic voters are in no mood for Democratic politicians who get too comfortable with Republicans," said Harry Enten at CNN. On the other hand, state Sen. Simcha Felder, a Democrat who voted to keep the minority Republicans in control of the Senate, fended off a challenger, Blake Morris.
The more liberal wing of the Democratic Party fared poorly in statewide races, however. Along with Cuomo's victory, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul survived a challenge from New York City Council member Jumaane Williams, and Cuomo-endorsed New York City Public Advocate Letitia "Tish" James beat three other Democratic candidates for the attorney general nomination, including anticorruption advocate Zephyr Teachout and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. James will face Republican Keith Wofford in November. Either of them will be the first black New York attorney general, and James would also be the first female elected to the job. Peter Weber
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Chess Horizons
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MACA Chess Horizons Magazine Article
Interview NM Siddharth Arun
Nathan Smolensky
Our interview series continues with Siddharth Arun, one of the most recognizable young faces on the Massachusetts chess scene. Sid, as friends know him, has played in nearly 400 USCF-rated tournaments since his 2005 debut, mostly in Massachusetts, and achieved the USCF Master title in late Summer 2013. As he graduates high school and prepares to fly South for the autumn, I decided it was time for the definitive Chess Horizons interview with Mr. Arun.
Nathan Smolensky: When did you first learn to play chess? Who taught you?
Siddharth Arun: I started learning chess when I was around five years old, with my brother teaching me basic moves and strategy. I played in my first tournament when I was around 6 years old, and was completely pummeled. I don't think I even won a game. I took a hiatus shortly after and then returned yet again under my brother's tutelage. However, my motivation to play chess back in the day was to defeat my brother in a classic sibling rivalry.
NS: What do you like most about chess?
SA: I love every bit of chess, especially the strategy and the complexity that comes with the plethora of variations every move. Perhaps my favorite aspect of chess lies in its global unification. Chess is a universal language, a game that can be played by people of any age, any race, any economic background. Chess is a unifier of many different peoples. During a recent trip to India, I visited a rural village in hopes of teaching chess to the children at the school. The language barrier was an obvious obstacle, as I could not speak the local language. To my surprise, they had already learned the game, and thus we managed to communicate through the language of the chess pieces. Chess is a game that challenges borders, and brings people together, despite how different we may all be. Because at the chess board, we are equals, challenging each other to a battle of wits.
NS: Do you often teach chess?
SA: In my town, I have been teaching chess at the library for the past four years. Every Monday, I teach around 20-30 children basic strategies of chess, and then direct a tournament in which the children can practice their skills. Some of these students have participated in scholastic regional tournaments around the area and have emerged as first place winners. This club is the first of its kind in my town, which had no previous chess scene, and hopefully it will continue once I head off to college. Apart from my town, I also teach chess every Sunday at the Westwood Chinese School, and teach my peers at the high school chess club, which tied for first at the Hurvitz Cup in April 2015.
NS: You’re graduating high school. What’s next?
SA: I will be attending Johns Hopkins University in the Fall and will be majoring in Biomedical Engineering. As far as summer plans, I will most likely be spending time with my friends before we head off on our separate ways, and I will also be interning at a psychiatry laboratory in Boston for a month.
NS: Do you plan to continue playing chess? If so, do you have any particular goals in mind? SA: I will definitely be continuing, as there are quite a few chess players at Hopkins. Hopefully, we will be able to participate at USATE and compete for top college team. Additionally, as I have recently dipped below 2200 due to unfortunate circumstances, my primary goal is to return above 2200 and work hard to reach 2300. NS: Do you have a favorite game that you’ve played so far? SA: I have a few, but I would say the most beautiful, and thus my favorite, game would have to be the one I played against NM Farzad Abdi at the Boylston Chess Club. It was a King's Gambit, an opening I normally play in blitz, but I thought I would have fun with it in a G/60. Based on what happened, and the sheer excitement and turmoil of the game, I decided never to play the King's Gambit in a classical rated game ever again – though I broke that promise this past May at the Mass Open. However, the unorthodox style displayed in this game provides a beauty and complexity that I could not even comprehend:
NM Siddharth Arun (2202)
NM Farzad Abdi (2260)
BCF $15 Open (3)
King’s Gambit, Accepted [C34]
This annotation was previously published on chess.com
1. e4 e5 2. f4
I had been studying the King's Gambit for a while, playing it primarily in blitz and shorter time controls. This tournament, a G/60, was the perfect setting to play some sharp, crazy chess.
2... exf4 3. Nf3 Nf6
An interesting variation, one I was not too familiar with. More common is 3... g5 4. Nc3 Nc6 (4... g4 5. Ne5 Qh4+ 6. g3 fxg3 7. Qxg4 g2+ 8. Qxh4 gxh1=Q 9. Qh5 is a cute little combination in which White is now completely winning, due to several mate threats) 5. d4 d6 6. g3 g4 7. Nh4 f3 8. Be3 Bg7 9. Qd2 A transposition to the Quaade Variation, providing opportunities for both sides.
4. Nc3 d5 5. e5 Nh5 6. Be2 Bg4 7. d4
This move is played to prevent my opponent from playing d4 himself.
7... Nc6 8. a3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Qh4+ 10. Ke2?
10. g3! is a much stronger reply: 10... fxg3 11. hxg3 Qxg3+ 12. Kf1 g6 13. Nb5 Kd8 14. Bxd5 results in some unclear play, with chances for both sides. Although White does appear completely lost, it's not too easy for Black to find a continuation.
10... O-O-O 11. Nxd5 f6 12. e6 Rd6?
Allowing White to equalize. Better was Rxd5: 12... Rxd5 13. Bxd5 f3+ (13... Nxd4+ 14. Kd3 is Similar to the other variation) 14. Bxf3 Nxd4+ 15. Kd3 Be7. This is tougher for White to play as his King is in the center.
13. Kd3!!
When I played this over the board, I assessed that White should be winning. Black has no clear path to break open in the center and expose the King. Now plans for White include playing c4 and then c5, pressuring the f4 pawn, and playing Re1 and pushing e7.
13... g6 14. Re1
14. Qe1 is a better move as it takes the queen off the file of attack.
14... Ng7 15. e7 Bxe7 16. Nxe7+ Nxe7 17. Rxe7 Nf5
17... Ne6 18. c3 f5 19. Bxb7+! Kb8 20. Bf3 and now black is on the ropes. 17... Rxd4+ succumbs to 18. Kxd4 Rd8+ 19. Bd5 Nf5+ 20. Kc3 Nxe7 21. Be6+ Kb8 22. Qxd8+ Nc8 23. Qxc8#.
18. Qe1!
The only way to save the position
18... Rxd4+ 19. Kc3 Qxh2 20. Re8+
20. Re4 Rxe4 21. Qxe4 Nd6 22. Qe6+ Kb8 23. Qxf6 and White should be winning.
20... Rd8 21. Qe6+ Kb8 22. Rxh8 Rxh8 23. Qxf6 Re8 24. Bd2 a6 25. Qg5 Nh4 26. Qd5 Nxf3 27. Qxf3 g5 28. Re1 Rd8 29. Re6 Qg1 30. Re2 Qb6 31. Qe4 h5 32. b3
Here I had less than five minutes. I ended up winning this game as I was able to maneuver my bishop to c3 and attack his pawns on the kingside with my queen and rook. Overall this was an extremely unique and enjoyable game - not every day the king is in the center of attack - but also one that taught me that I should save the King's Gambit for blitz :).
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Georgia NE Florida Orlando Sites
ECHL Update November 27
November 27, 2018 LockedIN Georgia, Jacksonville, Orlando, Sports
News, Moves and Upcoming Events
Welcome to the ECHL Update for November 27, 2018 and what a weekend it was in the ECHL, Tons of action from Jacksonville as the Icemen had a great homestand and the fans LOVED IT. Big things are coming up and here is your news….
The Atlanta Gladiators announced on Monday the AHL’s Admirals have recalled forward Garret Ross from his loan back to Milwaukee. Ross, 26, heads to Milwaukee after the forward scored seven points (2g, 5a) in six games with Atlanta. The Michigan native started the season in Fort Wayne, amassing two assists in eight games before being dealt to South Carolina. The sixth-year pro signed an AHL contract with Milwaukee on November 13th and then had his ECHL rights traded to Atlanta by the Stingrays, where he was then loaned to the Gladiators by the Admirals. The former Chicago Blackhawks draft pick returns to the AHL where he has spent the majority of his pro career skating in 289 games notching 114 points (51g, 63a) and 399 penalty minutes.
The 16th season of Atlanta Gladiators hockey continues at the Infinite Energy Arena Friday, November 30th, against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at 7:35 PM. For ticket information, visit the official team website at www.atlantagladiators.com or call the main office line at 770-497-5100.
The Jacksonville Icemen, proud affiliate of the NHL Winnipeg Jets and AHL Manitoba Moose, announced a partnership with The DONNA Foundation in a family-friendly endurance event to be held at Veterans Memorial Arena prior to the Icemen game on December 28.
The ‘Puck & Stick Stair Challenge’, presented by Venus, features a multi-tiered endurance event throughout the arena in which participants can choose from four family-friendly levels of difficulty: Team Puck, Team Stick, Hat Trick Challenge, and the Goalie. Registration for the inaugural endurance event includes a street festival, parking, and admission to the Icemen game. Additional tickets are available for purchase.
Proceeds will benefit The DONNA Foundation, whose mission is to provide financial assistance and support to those living with breast cancer and fund ground-breaking breast cancer research. To date, the DONNA Foundation has served 12,000 families by providing more than $5 million dollars in relief and helped to develop and maintain the Mayo Clinic Translational Genomics Program.
About The DONNA Foundation
The DONNA Foundation was established in June of 2003 by three-time breast cancer survivor and award-winning journalist Donna Deegan to meet the critical financial needs of the underserved living with breast cancer. Their mission is to provide financial assistance and support to individuals living with breast cancer and fund ground breaking breast cancer research. To date, the DONNA Foundation has served 12,000 families by providing more than $5 million dollars in relief and helped to develop and maintain the Mayo Clinic Translational Genomics Program. For more information, visit www.TheDONNAFoundation.org.
The Jacksonville Icemen, announced that goaltender Ken Appleby has been assigned to Jacksonville, while Mikhail Berdin, along with defensemen Jacob Cederholm and Justin Woods, have all been recalled to the Moose.
Appleby, 23, joins the Icemen after five appearances with the Moose this season recording a 4.78 goals-against average and an 0.873 save percentage. The 6-foot-4, 209-pound netminder spent the majority of last season with the New Jersey Devils’ AHL club, Binghamton, where he posted a 2.76 goals-against average and 0.901 save percentage in 26 games. The North Bay, Ontario native appeared in three NHL games with New Jersey, stopping 52 of 55 shots and posting a 1.45 goals-against average and .945 save percentage in 124 minutes of action.
Berdin, 20, recorded his first professional shutout last week for the Icemen. In 12 games for Jacksonville, the 6-foot-2, 163-pound netminder recorded a 2.35 goals-against average and .916 save percentage, with a league-leading ten wins. On a previous recall to the Moose, the Ufa, Russia product went 3-0-0 with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. Berdin was a sixth round selection, 157th overall, of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Woods, 24, has seven points (3G, 4A) and a minus-two rating in 19 games for the Icemen in his rookie campaign. Woods joined Jacksonville for the final eight games of last season following the culmination of his collegiate career at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
Cederholm, 20, started the 2018-2019 campaign with the Moose before being assigned to Jacksonville. In eleven-games, the stay-at-home rookie defenseman has one assist and a plus-nine rating. The Helsingborg, Sweden native was drafted by the Jets in round four, 97th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
The Jacksonville Icemen, announced that Sam Vigneault and Kole Sherwood have been recalled to Cleveland by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Vigneault recorded points in all three games with the Icemen, for a total of six (1G, 5A). Sherwood also contributed in his short stint with the Icemen recording an assist.
The Icemen head to Idaho for a pair of games this weekend, Friday and Saturday at 9:10 p.m. ET. They’ll spend the next two weeks on the road before returning home against Orlando on December 12.
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COMMENTARY>>Do you have character?
By Master Sgt. Gary Moon
As a young boy, I was given chores around the house to accomplish. One of those chores was washing the nightly dinner dishes by hand. We had a perfectly good dishwasher so it’s understandable that at 10 I would find this chore a complete waste of time.
On one particular night, in a fit of righteous indignation, I complained about how unfair this was. My mother, ever calm, said,
“It’s good for you, it builds character.” Over the course of my childhood this became my mother’s mantra. I often thought to myself, who needs this much character?
Now many years later, I ask myself, was mom right? Did the dishpan hands I received from the hours spent scrubbing pots actually succeed? Do I have character? What does it mean to be a person of character? For me good character is distinguished by three major components: having integrity, giving your best effort and taking responsibility for your actions.
Have the integrity to do what is right, every time, no matter who is or isn’t watching. All too often we cut corners or take shortcuts because it is faster and easier. Other times our own desires get in the way of doing what is required. Unfortunately these habits are insidious and each time we allow them to happen they become easier to repeat, and before long we have lost sight of what is expected and blurred the edges between right and wrong. Unfortunately, taken to the extreme this can lead to jail time, or worse, the loss of life.
Hand-in-hand with integrity is giving your best effort. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and rarely are we only asked to do tasks we perform well. More often we are charged with assignments for which we have little skill. When these situations occur we have to overcome our limitations, rise to the occasion and give our best effort. Many times we will surprise ourselves with hidden talent; other times we will fail. If we are secure in the knowledge that we gave the task our best effort, we need not feel embarrassment for failure. Instead, we learn from our failure and build our experience. A wise man once told me, “It is okay to be wrong. Learn from your mistake then don’t repeat it, and try not to be wrong very often.”
This leads directly to the last attribute I use when measuring character. Accept responsibility for your actions - no excuses, no equivocations. Make a decision and stand by it. If you are wrong, learn from it and move on. This is one of the hardest lessons to learn and it becomes more difficult as a person’s scope of influence increases. It is always easy to accept responsibility when you are being congratulated for a job well done, but when the results of a decision you made do not go quite as planned you must have the strength of character to account for your actions. A former commander gave me this piece of advice, “You will never have more than 80 percent of the information you need to make a decision, so be prepared to explain yourself.”
I’ve had a long career in the military and have had many great mentors who helped me build my character, but none as influential as my mother. She pushed me down the right path by teaching me the principles of integrity, giving my best effort and how to take responsibility for my actions. She did this by simply repeating her mantra, “It’s good for you; it builds character.” So let me take this chance to say - thank you mom, for your words of wisdom - and ask those of you reading this, do you have character?
COMMENTARY>>COMMENTARY New 314th leader sets pillars for Center of Excellence foundation
By Airman 1st Class Rochelle Sollars
Five pillars will set the foundation for the C-130 Center of Excellence, its new commander said at his change-of-command ceremony Aug. 20.
“Mission--standards--partnerships--innovation--focus,” said Col. Mark G. Czelusta, 314th Airlift Wing commander. “Let us continue to keep these five simple words in our minds as the world’s C-130 Center of Excellence.”
During the ceremony, the 19th Air Force commander let everyone in attendance know that he was leaving them in good hands.
“Colonel Czelusta is a perfect leader for the 314th Airlift Wing with an outstanding career record,” said Maj. Gen. Mark S. Solo, 19th Air Force commander. “Colonel Czelusta’s extraordinary career has prepared him well for this day and his extensive experience in combat operations makes him the perfect fit to meet the training of tomorrow’s warriors.”
Colonel Czelusta is excited to lead the nation’s premier C-130 training wing.
“You have my good word and solemn promise that I will do everything I can to be the commander this wing and its Airmen deserve,” Colonel Czelusta told General Solo at the ceremony.
After taking command of the 314th AW, Colonel Czelusta addressed the community dignitaries in attendance.
“The 314th Airlift Wing and Team Little Rock are the envy of the Air Force when it comes to community involvement and support,” he said. “This was obvious when I was here as a copilot trainee in 1995, as a squadron commander in 2005, and not surprisingly, it hasn’t changed a bit.”
Colonel Czelusta now leads a team of approximately 1,200 military and civilian professionals who form the C-130 “Center of Excellence” for tactical airlift. The wing trains C-130 aircrew members from across the Department of Defense, Coast Guard and 38 nations, as well as C-21 aircrews through the 45th Airlift Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
“As we press on and grow from where we are today, I expect that we will continue to be guided by a few key principles. In fact, they’re the same ones that make Combat Airlift the warfighter’s capability of choice,” said Colonel Czelusta. “The first is a mission that we own and take personally. The second are standards that are unapologetically high. Third, we know that our mission is both pointless and impossible without partnerships. And while it’s partnerships within our wing, across Team Little Rock, and through the Total Force that make the mission possible, it’s through an attentive and responsive ear to our joint and global customers that we will be worthwhile. Fourth, we will continue to be innovative ... and for the better. And finally, we have the good sense to focus on what matters, and to leave behind the distracters.”
The former commander of the 463rd Operations Support Squadron, assigned to the base in 2005, has returned to “The Rock” for the third time during his career to command the largest C-130 training wing in the Air Force.
Col. Charles K. Hyde, the wing’s previous commander, received the Legion of Merit during the ceremony and is now assigned to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.
The 314th AW works in concert with the 19th Airlift Wing, 189th Airlift Wing and U.S. Air Force Weapons School in all aspects of C-130 training.
TOP STORY > >New leader tosses gauntlet for Black Knights
By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
The new 19th Airlift Wing commander is honored to be back among the Black Knights and call Little Rock Air Force Base his home.
Col. Michael Minihan, the 19th AW commander, is on his second assignment here and is excited to witness the Little Rock AFB Combat Airlift legacy in motion.
“It’s truly amazing to watch the Airmen of Little Rock accomplish the mission on a daily basis,” said Colonel Minihan.
As the new commander, Colonel Minihan is focused on providing worldwide deployable C-130 aircraft, aircrews, support personnel and equipment for Air Mobility Command and Air Expeditionary Force taskings while providing for the health and welfare of more than 12,000 Airmen and families at Little Rock AFB.
“The Black Knight priorities will continue to be mission, people and fun,” he said. “I especially want to emphasize taking care of each other and our families.”
Part of that emphasis on taking care of Airmen and families is ensuring the availability of world-class housing and education.
“Hunt Pinnacle has done an incredible job taking housing privatization and turning it into a success story,” Colonel Minihan said. “Team Little Rock and Hunt Pinnacle cannot let up when it comes to our desire for excellence. Our Airmen and their families deserve nothing less.
“When you move to a new base, housing and schools are at the top of the list on what families care about,” he continued. “Our local community is committed to providing our children the best education possible. I need Airmen and their families to be involved at every level of public education to voice their concerns and be a part of the solution.”
Colonel Minihan stressed the importance of developing Airmen as a means to developing airpower.
“I want to emphasize how we develop Airmen and airpower: equipping them and training them, so when it comes time to do our combat mission they have everything they need to be successful,” Colonel Minihan said. “[We need to do] it in manner that retains their service so we can send them to war, bring them home, reconstitute them and get them ready to do it again in a way they’re happy, well-equipped and motivated.”
The commander charges all Little Rock Airmen to practice personal accountability and be a good wingman to one another when it comes to physical fitness.
“A healthy lifestyle is a condition of employment in the U.S. Air Force,” said Colonel Minihan. “I want Airmen to look at physical fitness like they do with every other aspect of their professional life. At the end of the day, it’s hard work and sweat that makes us successful.”
Colonel Minihan reminded wing members three keys to success.
“I have three simple words for Black Knight leaders, supervisors and Airmen: ownership, leadership and attitude,” the commander said. “I need Airmen to own the mission, own what’s happening around you and take accountability.
“Leadership: I value bold, decisive in-your-face leadership, and I expect our Airmen to lead,” Colonel Minihan added. “Finally, there’s attitude. I value positive attitudes that make coming to work a joy.”
The wing commander also values Team Little Rock’s strong relationship with the local community.
“We enjoy the warm embrace of an award-winning community,” Colonel Minihan said. “The service of our community to our nation is just as important as those who wear the uniform. Our Airmen and their families rely on the community to live, thrive and prosper. When our community won the Abilene Trophy, it simply affirmed what those of us who experienced the local hospitality knew, and it’s that our community support is the best.”
Colonel Minihan is a command pilot with more than 3,200 hours in the C-130 Hercules and KC-10 Extender.
COMMENTARY>>Little Rock AFB chaplain officiates wedding ceremony in AOR
By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) – Chaplain (Capt.) Sean E. Randall, deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base’s 19th Airlift Wing, performed a wedding ceremony for Senior Airman Sheri Nolen and Senior Airman Donald Nolen Aug. 4 at his deployed location in Southwest Asia.
“Over 130 maintainers were in attendance and the energy level was explosive,” Chaplain Randall wrote from his deployed location. “The level of expectancy erupted when I asked, ‘Who gives this woman to be married to this man?’ The entire warehouse exploded with ‘We do!’”
Airman Nolen recalls the journey that led her and her groom together in such an unlikely setting.
Young girls often dream about what their perfect wedding will be like. They dream of the perfect dress, cake, ring and who their dashing groom will be.
Senior Airman Sheri Nolen spent her childhood in Denver more interested in playing in the dirt and running around.
“I never really thought about a wedding when I was a kid.” she said. “I was too busy blowing things up and playing with Barbie dolls.”
As she got older, she thought a wedding on a cruise would be ideal. But, Airman Nolen was skeptical that she would ever find the right person with whom to spend her life.
Then she met Senior Airman Donald Nolen.
Airman Donald Nolen is a communications navigation maintainer in the KC-10 Extender and Airman Sheri Nolen is a crew chief on the same airframe.
Although both were assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here at the time of their marriage, the path to their meeting and marriage was an interesting one.
The two met at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., in April 2008, and became fast friends. In October of that year, they started to see each other romantically.
Airman Nolen said she knew early on she had met the person she could spend her life with.
“His smile and his eyes are amazing,” she said. “He is always willing to help anybody in need. He will literally give you the shirt right off his back.”
Airmen Nolen was equally smitten with his future bride.
“She is the kindest and most amazing person I have ever met,” he said. “She has the most amazing energy and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with her.”
In 2010, he started to plan out his proposal to his future bride. He thought of doing it adventurously while the two were skydiving.
Then, the needs of the Air Force changed their plans.
In April, Airmen Nolen was given five days of notice that she would be deploying to Southwest Asia. Fortunately for the couple, her future groom had a planned deployment to the same location in June.
The two Airmen quickly went to plan B and discussed options of how to get married.
After some research, the couple found out that they could do a double proxy marriage through the state of Montana. A double proxy marriage is one where two proxies stand in for the absent parties. Neither the bride nor the groom needs to be present for the ceremony. Montana is the only state in the U.S. that allows this type of marriage.
The marriage became official July 12.
“The Air Force is a family and when we heard of their plight we responded,” said Chaplain Randall. “I met with their commander then I met with the couple. In the (deployed location), a couple can’t make this happen; only leadership can. I followed up by writing a ceremony based on what they had always wanted in a wedding, traditional vows and the exchange of rings.”
Airman Nolen said it was a unique experience for her.
“We pretty much just emailed a couple of certificates,” she said. “It really felt more like we were applying for credit cards than getting married.”
So the new couple would have some type of ceremony, their coworkers planned a wedding ceremony here Aug. 4.
“The ceremony itself is being called an Air Force first, ” said Chaplain Randall.
The ceremony had a few touches that reminded the attendees of the fact that it was in a deployed location. The bride had a train made out of Airman battle uniform material and the groom had a boutonniere made of pink tissue paper pinned to his uniform.
“(Airman Nolen) will never forget her wedding and neither will we,” said Chaplain Randall. “A small interruption in the battle rhythm of war is a gift from God. This ceremony was our gift to the Nolan’s but the interruption was God’s gift to us.”
The couple did not get to honeymoon yet, as the bride returned to McGuire AFB due to the end of her deployment here.
Airmen Nolen said that even though it has been a strange and twisting road to marriage, she wouldn’t change a thing.
“If I had the chance to do this differently, I would choose to do it the same way all over again,” she said.
This ceremony exemplified social and spiritual health, two pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness, which Airmen can learn more about on www.amc.mil/caf.
The 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs staff contributed to this article.
COMMENTARY>>Feels like coming home
By Col. Mark Czelusta
No, I’m not from Arkansas. I wasn’t born here, and I am not a state resident. But that doesn’t change the fact that my wife, Susan, daughter Madison and I feel like we’re home again at Little Rock Air Force Base.
Like every other Herk driver in our Air Force, I completed several aircrew qualification courses here. I’m an Air Force Weapons School graduate through the program now executed by the 29th Weapons Squadron. And from 2005 through 2007, I was a squadron commander here as part of Air Mobility Command’s 463rd Airlift Group.
The org charts have changed over the years, and the base’s parent Major Command is now different. But the core of Team Little Rock is as steady as ever. We’re the end-to-end, total force home of Combat Airlift, and I’m beyond honored to command the wing that represents an early step in the development of the tac airlifter’s warrior ethos.
From my vantage point, the 314th Airlift Wing–America’s C-130 “Center of Excellence”–has always been about five simple principles. And you can expect them to continue to remain preeminent in our perspective:
A mission that we take personally.
Standards that are unapologetically high.
Partnerships that make our mission worthwhile and possible.
An insatiable appetite for innovation.
An unrelenting focus on what truly matters.
Mission–Standards–Partnerships–Innovation–Focus. We’ll talk more about each of them over the next few months. Let there be no doubt: They matter to every member of our team. And we will take them to the next level.
I do, however, want to say a few words about partnerships right now. For partnering with the 19th and 189th Airlift Wings is an utmost privilege. In a single stroke, they make our mission both possible and worthwhile. The same can be said for the communities of Central Arkansas, which possess unparalleled hospitality, generosity and patriotism.
To the Hyde family, thank you for your leadership and sacrifice ... Godspeed as you press on to San Antonio and Randolph AFB.
To the men and women of the 314th Airlift Wing, Team Little Rock and to the people of Central Arkansas, Susan, Madison and I thank you for the warm welcome. We have indeed come home.
TOP STORY > >Combat Care-lifter
By Ashley Mangin
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs volunteer
Little Rock AFB needs more FCC providers.
The Family Child Care Program is a program designed to augment the care given to children at the Child Development Center.
“If you love children, [being an FCC provider] allows you to work with children in your own home while spending time with your own children as well,” said Jacque Johannes, 19th Force Support Squadron family child care coordinator.
“We also give our providers the opportunity to work toward accreditation or their Child Development Associate’s Degree,” Ms. Johannes continued.
While providing the same outstanding quality of care, there are some distinct differences in the style of care provided.
“The ratios are definitely smaller,” said Ms. Johannes. “Some children benefit from smaller groups.
“There are also different age groups together,” Ms. Johannes added. “I think that makes it a more home-like environment.”
There are some other benefits to using a home-based child care provider.
“More one-on-one care is a big thing,” Ms. Johannes said. “There is also a flexibility of the hours of care. Sometimes parents have a day when they have to drop-off early or pick-up late, and our providers can accommodate that.”
Little Rock Air Force Base’s FCC Program has nine active providers currently providing approximately 5,000 hours of care per week including 500 hours of care through special programs.
“We offer a variety of programs through our expanded childcare program that are paid for by the Air Force,” said Ms. Johannes.
“We have extended duty care for those who work outside their normal duty hours and have no other options for care, we have returning home care for members coming home from a deployment, and home community care for people who don’t live on base but have to stay for a drill weekend or some other work related event.
“We also have two wonderful programs that we offer in conjunction with the Airman and Family Readiness Center: PCS care for before and after a PCS and the volunteer program where we offer up to 20 hours per week of childcare for anyone interested in volunteering on base.”
Potential providers must have a love of children, a desire to work with children and good communication skills. Becoming a provider is a big decision that should be discussed with the whole family, but is a rewarding experience.
“I love being able to watch the kids grow and develop into the people they are meant to be,” said Malissa Kaye, family child care provider. “I was looking for care and I couldn’t find any that was the quality that I was looking for. I thought, if I was looking then other people were too.”
The FCC office tries to ease some of the burden of starting a new business.
“All of our providers go through extensive training before they are licensed,” said Ms. Johannes. “We try to update their training throughout the year as well. We also have a lot of base agencies available to help our providers with any problems they might have. We even have toys and equipment, safety and health items and various supplies so they don’t have to spend a lot at first.”
Anyone providing more than 10 hours of childcare per week on base on a regular basis is required to be licensed by FCC.
Anyone interested in becoming a family child care provider and enriching the lives of Little Rock AFB’s little Combat Airlifters should contact Jacque Johannes at the Family Child Care Office at 987-3156.
COMMENTARY>>19th Airlift Wing activates its third active associate squadron
By Capt. Joe Knable
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. – The 345th Airlift Squadron was officially reactivated here Aug. 6, making it the third active associate squadron to fall under Little Rock Air Force Base’s 19th Airlift Wing.
As part of the Air Force’s Total Force Integration initiative, the 345th AS, commanded by Lt. Col. Craig L. Williams, will fully integrate 112 aircraft maintenance, operational and support personnel with the 403rd Maintenance Group and 815th Airlift squadron.
As an active associate unit to the Air Force Reserve Command’s 403rd Wing, the 345th AS’ active-duty personnel will work alongside their Reserve counterparts to maximize the capabilities of both missions while minimizing operational cost to taxpayers. The two squadrons will initially share eight and soon 10 Reserve C-130Js, the Air Force’s newest tactical airlift platform, said Colonel Williams.
“We have three goals: to create a new and outstanding squadron, to seamlessly integrate with the 403rd Wing, and then execute the mission for which we’ve trained so many hours,” Colonel Williams said upon assuming command here today.
Speaking to his Reserve partners, he said, “Our commitment to you is that as we work together to accomplish this challenge – this change in the Air Force mission – the men and women of the 345th AS will respect and appreciate your culture. We’re getting huge strides from your experience for sure. We’ll take care of your facilities and your airplanes while we strive to build our own unique squadron identity and continued legacy.”
The new commander was recently stationed at Little Rock AFB until 2006, where he was a 48th Airlift Squadron assistant director of operations and then worked in the 19th Airlift Wing Plans and Programs office. Before arriving at Keesler in January, he was the director of operations for the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where that unit transitioned from the venerable C-130E to the brand-new C-130J in approximately one year. Between hisassignments at Little Rock and Ramstein, he was assigned to Air Mobility Command, 19th AW’s parent command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., where he started as the C-130J program manger and became the chief, Combat Delivery Branch for the C-130J, C-130 Avionics Modernization Program and C-27J.
His C-130J experience at AMC and Germany made him the ideal choice to lead the Air Force’s first C-130J active associate squadron, said Lt. Col. Pat Curtis, 19th Operations Group deputy commander, in an interview with a reporter.
“I’m intimately familiar with J-model operations,” said Colonel Williams in that interview.
The commander said he’s been building relationships since he arrived at Keesler. “This is a huge paradigm shift for them, welcoming the active duty into ‘their house’ ... Relationship building is the number one goal for total force integration units,” he said.
TFI is about “access to iron and experience,” said Colonel Curtis, speaking of the active-duty members, many of whom are new to the C-130J, working alongside the experienced reservists. It presents many new training opportunities. “There’s a lot of energy from the infusion of youth and experience,” he told the reporter.
“You’re building a much stronger baseline of experience to be injected back into the ‘J’ community,” Colonel Williams added.
The individual aircrews are often a mix between active duty and Reserve flyers, said the new commander. “It’s been mixed since day one – if you were walking around in (airman battle uniforms) without patches, you couldn’t tell the difference. We have the same checklists, training and standards. The mission completion is seamless,” he said.
The 30th Airlift Squadron works with the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 187th Airlift Squadron at Cheyenne Regional Airport, Wyo., and is the 19th AW’s first TFI squadron and the first active-duty associate unit to an Air National Guard unit, according to Wyoming National Guard Public Affairs. The squadron flies C-130Hs and employs 190 active-duty personnel.
The 52nd Airlift Squadron, partnered with the Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., was activated in October, making it the 19th AW’s second TFI squadron. The C-130H squadron is still in the building stage, but fully manned will have 173 active-duty personnel, said Colonel Curtis.
Every TFI unit is different, said Colonel Curtis. There are differences working with the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command, who each have their own unique cultures, and the different geography in the different states presents different flying training opportunities. An additional benefit of TFI is to have this diversity of experience among the aircrews, he said.
The 345th has fewer personnel because the crew of the C-130J only requires two pilots and one loadmaster for a basic mission.
The legacy model C-130s also have navigators and flight engineers, positions made obsolete by the modern avionics of the C-130J. The C-130 AMP model eliminates the navigator position but retains the flight engineer.
The heritage of the 345th dates back to June 1949, when it was activated as the 345th Troop Carrier Squadron, flying C-46 Commandos and then C-119 Flying Boxcars out of Memphis, Tenn., according to squadron officials. In subsequent reactivations at various locations, the squadron flew aircraft including H-19 Chickasaw and H-21 Workhorse/Shawnee helicopters, C-123 Providers, and finally the C-130 Hercules for the first time in 1961. The squadron was last stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan, where it was last inactivated July 1, 1993.
Members from the 403rd Wing public affairs office contributed to this article.
COMMENTARY>>Farewell, Little Rock AFB
By Col. Charles K. Hyde
As most people who know me will tell you, I am passionate about our Air Force and the Airmen who defend our nation.
As Jodie, Robert, George and I leave, we are grateful for the opportunity to have served with the 314th Airlift Wing, the men and women of Little Rock AFB, and our community partners who make up Team Little Rock. In our two years at “The Rock,” our appreciation for our Airmen, their service and their commitment to excellence has only grown and renewed our zeal for our Air
Force and its mission. You have inspired us.
I will always treasure the opportunity to have been associated with the legacy of Col. Clayton Stiles, our wing’s first and most distinguished commander, and the 314th Troop Carrier Group. These first combat airlifters left home in 1942 and didn’t return until World War II’s end in 1945, leaving a legacy of valor, sacrifice and accomplishment that continued through Korea and Vietnam to the present. Their birthright defined us and challenges us today.
I couldn’t be prouder of the current 314th AW team. You exceeded every expectation, raised the standards of professionalism, conquered every challenge and exceeded every goal. You won an Outstanding Unit Award, the Daedalian Award for the best maintenance in Air Education and Training Command, the AETC Vern Orr Award for the most effective use of human resources, and 36 other Air Force and Major Command awards.
You’re still the reigning champions for the best logistics compliance inspection score in AETC, trained over 3,600 combat delivery Airmen and expanded our role as the Air Force’s largest operational international training program. Our partners around the world link procurement of C-130s to training in the 314th Airlift Wing; the common theme is you, the professional Airmen of the 314th–you are the best.
The awards and your global reputation are indicators of your professionalism, but your legacy is more than accolades, it’s the foundation of combat airlift that you build and the commitment you instill in future warriors. The commitment and teamwork for which combat airlifters are known starts in the 314th and extends to every mission flown around the world. I leave with confidence that the asymmetric advantage and operational flexibility your training provides to combatant commanders will produce victory in the current wars and future conflicts. I also leave knowing that future Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Soldiers, like future Army 2nd Lt. Robert Hyde, can depend on the combat airlifters that you have trained.
Military endeavors and warfare are team efforts, and we have great partners at Little Rock AFB. Col. Mike Minihan, Col. Greg Otey and the 19th Airlift Wing team have provided outstanding support. On behalf of the 314th team, thank you for enabling our Airmen and mission–from medical support to logistics, it’s all been first class. The 189th and 314th Airlift Wings share a common mission and make up the world’s best total force training team. We could not have asked for better partners, and Col.
Jim Summers ensured the relationship between our wings set a total force standard–thank you.
Our military derives its ultimate support from the American people, and we have been blessed with outstanding community involvement and support. Our appreciation for our community partners and all you have done for Little Rock AFB and the Airmen of the world’s greatest Air Force has only grown. You provide untold time and resources to support our mission and people, and adopt us as members of your communities and families. It’s an honor to serve in your military.
To the men and women of the 314th Airlift Wing, thank you for your service and commitment to the defense of our county in a time of war. May God Bless you and keep you until we meet again.
TOP STORY > >New DUI slogan promises zero tolerance
Team Little Rock has adopted a new DUI slogan, which leaders hope will clearly convey the message of zero tolerance for drinking and driving incidents.
Remember: No DUIs, No Excuses, Drink Responsibly.
Senior Master Sgt. James Populis, 19th Civil Engineer Squadron first sergeant, said the intent behind the new slogan is to eliminate any confusion.
“We wanted to find a slogan that cuts out all the noise and give the bottom line,” Sergeant Populis said. “[The new slogan] should have a message that could not be misconstrued.”
The new slogan conveys three messages to Little Rock Airmen.
“For the new slogan, we wanted to start with the bottom line: our expectation of having no DUI incidents,” Sergeant Populis said. “Then we wanted to add something about our tolerance level for those who get DUIs, so the term ‘No Excuses’ came from that.
“Lastly, there’s the ‘Drink Responsibly’ piece ... it’s a message for everybody regardless of age because you can’t be under the age of 21 and drink responsibly,” he added.
Steps have already been taken to spread the word about the new DUI mindset.
“New signs are already in place at the base gates,” Sergeant Populis said. “[The DUI slogan] is being put out at the First Term Airmen Center and commander’s calls. Also, first sergeants will occasionally go out at base intersections to get the message out and wish people a safe and happy weekend.”
Staff Sgt. Charles Tyler, 19th Security Forces Squadron desk sergeant, says Little Rock Airmen should have a plan before having a few drinks.
“The plan should include how a person gets to where they are going and how to get back,” Sergeant Tyler said. “If you’re not planning on having a designated driver, at least have a cab number or the number for Airmen Against Drunk Driving on hand.”
Sergeant Tyler, who is also the AADD president, hopes the new DUI slogan will help people make wise decisions when they go out.
Sergeant Populis said the new slogan’s message is clear and believes Team Little Rock can reach its goal.
“People say it’s unrealistic [to expect zero DUIs], but I don’t think so,” he said. “Our expectation as first sergeants is it’s another standard we all must work to comply with. This slogan says ‘no excuses’ because there is no good reason to get a DUI. DUI’s have a negative effect on people’s careers and health and that’s what we’re trying to avoid.”
COMMENTARY>>Returning to the Herk legacy
By Chief Master Sgt. Charles Fletcher
314th Maintenance Group superintendent
We all know what our Air Force’s, wing’s and squadron’s mission statements are, but that’s not what I’m talking about here -- I’m talking about your personal mission statement.
In other words, what are your short, medium and long term goals? Do you want to become the best Airman or NCO you can be?
Do you want to get promoted? Do you want to be the best parent or spouse you can be? Do you want to get in better physical shape?
Are you someone who lets things happen to them, or do you affect your own change? Are you proactive in attaining your goals and have you developed your own mission statement? If you haven’t I would suggest that you do. You are responsible for your future. Only by setting goals and measuring our performance against those goals can we become more effective people.
Steven Covey the author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” states: “A personal mission statement based on correct principles becomes the same kind of standard for an individual. It becomes a personal constitution, the basis for making major, life directing decisions in the midst of the circumstances and emotions that affect our lives. It empowers individuals with the same timeless strength in the midst of change.”
Where do you see yourself in one, three and five years and what do you want to accomplish? Set your goals and then establish the steps for how you are going to get there. Make small achievable goals initially and then progress to bigger more challenging goals. Before you know it, you will have achieved more than you ever thought possible.
The ultimate outcome is to become a well-rounded person for yourself, your family and your service. By affecting your own future and being proactive you can accomplish your mission. But only by first establishing what your mission statement is can you start to set out on your goals. Good luck.
A former C-130 pilot assigned to the base in 1994 has come home to command the world’s largest C-130 wing.
Col. Michael Minihan, a former 61st Airlift Squadron pilot, took command of the 19th Airlift Wing Black Knights in a change-of-command ceremony here Aug. 2.
“We are Combat Airlift,” he told the audience of military and civilian dignitaries. “Some days our mission is to train, and other days it is to rest and reconstitute. We’re the bus that takes warriors to work, and safely home again. We’re the delivery truck that takes beans and bullets to the front line. And some days we are the ambulance fighting to preserve precious American lifeblood. And some days we are the hearse - some sorrowful days we are the hearse - that flies sacred angels home one last time. It is an honor to be the home of combat airlift.”
Colonel Minihan concluded with a reference to the C-130 engine start-up checklist - the verbiage the pilot calls out before starting the number three engine, the first engine to be started, indicating the start of the mission. “Black Knights, I’m proud to wear your patch. I’m ready to ‘clear number three’ and go to work.”
As commander, Colonel Minihan leads the world’s largest fleet of C-130 aircraft and is responsible for providing worldwide deployable C-130 aircraft, aircrews, support personnel, and equipment for Air Mobility Command and Air Expeditionary Force taskings. Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, 18th Air Force commander, explained the importance of the 19th AW and the great work accomplished by its people.
“I don’t know if you can possibly appreciate the reach of Little Rock Air Force Base,” General Allardice said. “When virtually anything happens in the world of substance, you’ll have Air Mobility Command there ... and certainly the men and women of Little Rock and the 19th AW are involved. The 19th just delivers a whole range of support to people worldwide and we’re so proud of what they’re doing.”
Because the wing has more airplanes and geographically separated units than any other 18th AF wing, the general regarded the 19th AW as “the most complex, diverse wing in 18th AF.”
The general lauded Colonel Minihan’s ability to perform the important work ahead of him. “The reputation of (Colonel Minihan) is incredibly strong,” General Allardice said.
The new wing commander is a third-generation Air Force officer, whose grandfather flew B-26s and whose father retired as a lieutenant general. “You have someone who understands the Air Force and understand the Air Force mission and is committed to excellence...” said General Allardice.
Col. Greg Otey, the wing’s previous commander, received the Legion of Merit during the ceremony and is headed to the Pentagon to serve as the Headquarters Air Force Senior Air Force Planner for Joint Matters.
The 19th AW is the “Home of C-130 Combat Airlift” and works in concert with the 314th Airlift Wing, 189th Airlift Wing and US Air Force Weapons School in all aspects of C-130 training.
By Col. Mike Minihan
My name is Mike Minihan. I’m an Airman and a Herk driver. My bride, Ashley, and my three kids, Adair, Mikey and Marley, are honored to once again call Little Rock Air Force Base home. Thank you all for our phenomenal reception and change of command. A special thanks to the Otey family for their leadership and sacrifice as Black Knight Lead ... Godspeed in the next chapter of their Air Force journey.
I’ll frequently share my thoughts with you in the Combat Airlifter ... I will always be brief and to the point. Here we go:
To live in and be a part of the award-winning Jacksonville community is a privilege. To lead the Black Knight operators, maintainers, supporters and medics is also a privilege. And to partner with the 314th Airlift Wing and the 189th Airlift Wing is a privilege.
To employ the Herk in combat and support Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen in harm’s way is an honor. We bring honor to all of our patches ... our flag, our command, our unit and our name.
We walk in the footsteps of giants. Our Tac Airlift founding fathers instilled in us our famous mindset and mission-hacking skills. We will further them.
We are blue collar airlift. We sweat and we rumble. We are wonderfully ugly. We deliver ... always.
We walk with quiet confidence and dominate. We work hard, play hard and, most importantly, we take care of each other.
Thanks, Team Little Rock. I look forward to meeting you all and personally thanking you for your service and sacrifices. You are America’s best.
TOP STORY > >Little Rock Airman earns Tuskegee Airmen award
A Little Rock Airman from the 48th Airlift Squadron was recognized July 28 by the Tuskegee Airmen for his excellence in professional and community service.
Maj. James O’Brien, 48th AS scheduling flight commander, earned the Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Military Award in the Field Grade Officer category. He was presented the award during the 39th annual Tuskegee Airmen National Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
“I’m very honored to even be considered (for this award),” said Major O’Brien.
As the scheduling flight commander, Major O’Brien programed and tailored flying schedules to meet student and instructor requirements while managing a 4,656-hour flying hour program. He instructs combat mission planning, tactical formation, night vision goggle airdrop/airland procedures for Air Force, joint and allied students.
Major O’Brien selflessly gave back to his community, spearheading the Combined Federal Campaign for the 19th Operations Group and raising $249,000. He also acted as team leader for the American Lung Association Stair Climb event, raising more than $500 toward research programs.
The major credits the award to his teammates and coworkers.
“[This award] is really a reflection of all the people I work and fly with,” said Major O’Brien. “Everything I’ve done hasn’t been by myself; it’s always a team effort. Everyone I’ve worked with has been strong and dedicated to doing their job well.”
Major O’Brien also credits his mentors throughout the years for shaping him into who he is today.
“I’ve had a lot of great mentors starting with my parents and my family,” the major said. Drawing inspiration from mentors from the Air Force Academy and his strong Christian beliefs, Major O’Brien said he has been “very fortunate to have those people to look up to and take me under their wing.”
Major O’Brien excelled in education as well, completing a master of business administration degree with a 3.9 grade-point average despite having to juggle deployments and squadron duties.
The major believes the award speaks of Team Little Rock as a whole.
“This is a reflection of Team Little Rock and the C-130 community in general,” said Major O’Brien. “Whether we are fund-raising through the CFC, doing community projects, such as outreach programs to local hospitals, going on deployments (every squadron always has someone deployed) and making the mission happen or training ... all those things are recognized by this award.”
Earning the Air Force-level award sparked pride in Major O’Brien’s leaders.
“Major O’Brien’s commitment to the Air Force core values and professionalism as a combat airlifter were recognized as continuing the character and service of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen,” said Col. C.K. Hyde, 314th Airlift Wing commander. “I can think of no better association or honor.”
Like many Airmen, the major is familiar with the Tuskegee Airmen, what they stood for and is proud to be recognized by them.
“The Tuskegee Airmen were the epitome of Airman and officership,” he said. “Their dedication to country was unquestionable as well as the pride they had in their work. If we could work toward half of their work ethic and dedication, then we would be that much better off in serving this country.”
Major O’Brien had the honor of meeting members of the original Tuskegee Airmen earlier in his Air Force career.
“Several of them made the trip out to Balad Air Base, Iraq, a few years ago while I was deployed and also to Maxwell AFB where I was attending squadron officer school,” he said. “There was a long line to get in there (to meet them) but it was well worth the wait.
“At the time, I held them in such high esteem. And now, several years later, to be recognized by their organization is such a huge honor,” Major O’Brien added.
Major O’Brien believes all Airmen should work toward high goals and not toward earning awards.
“Believe what you’re doing, enjoy what you’re doing and work hard at whatever task you’ve taken on and really try to work as team,” said Major O’Brien. “In the end you’ll have satisfaction from that no matter how it turns out. If you earn recognition along the way, that’s just a bonus, but shooting for individual recognition is not the answer to why you serve.
“If you set out to do what’s right, then you always come out on top as well as the organization.”
COMMENTARY>>COMMENTARY New 314th leader sets pilla...
TOP STORY > >New leader tosses gauntlet for Black ...
COMMENTARY>>Little Rock AFB chaplain officiates we...
COMMENTARY>>19th Airlift Wing activates its third ...
TOP STORY > >New DUI slogan promises zero toleranc...
TOP STORY > >Little Rock Airman earns Tuskegee Air...
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Kenge Patriotike
muzik shqip 2018 muzik 2016 adelina Ermal Potpuri gold-ag Blero Afrim Muciqi meda Sinan elvana gjata shpat kasapi genta valle muzik 2014 tuna ilahije shqipSabri Fejzullahu Ramadan
When you go to a bank to open an account, you will find each kind of deposit account comes with a different interest rate, depending on the bank and account. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reports that the type of accounts that usually earn the highest interest rates are money market accounts, then savings accounts, and finally checking accounts. A bank earns a spread on the funds it lends out from those it takes in as a deposit. The net interest margin (NIM), which most banks report quarterly, represents this spread, which is simply the difference between what it earns on loans versus what it pays out as interest on deposits. Of course, this gets much more complicated given the dizzying array of credit products and interest rates used to determine the rate eventually charged for loans. Borrowing during a down economy or when uncertainty is high (about factors such as inflation and a volatile interest rate environment) could be a good strategy for achieving a favorable rate�especially if you choose a time when a bank may be especially motivated to make a deal or give you the best rate possible. Finally, seeking a loan or rate with government backing can also help you secure the lowest rate possible.
Meda - Zero Zero.mp3 3.77 MB
Meda - Zero Zero.mp3" />
The Music of Albania (Albanian: Muzika Shqiptare) is associated with the country of Albania and Albanian communities. Music has a long tradition in the country and is known for its regional diversity, from the Ghegs in the North to the Tosks in the South. It is an integral part of the national identity, strongly influenced by the country's long and turbulent history, which forced Albanians to protect their culture from their overlords by living in rural and remote mountains.
Diverse Albanian folk music includes monophonic and polyphonic styles, responses, choral, instrumental and vocal music. Each region has a unique musical tradition that reflects its history, language and culture. Polyphonic singing and song forms are primarily found in South Albania, while in the North they are predominantly monophonic. Albanian iso-polyphony has been declared an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Gjirokaster National Folklore Festival, held every five years in Gjirokaster, is an important venue exhibiting traditional Albanian music.
Albanian music extends to ancient Illyria and Greece, with influences from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empire. It is evident in archeological findings such as arenas, odeons, theatre buildings and amphitheatres, all over Albania. The remains of temples, libraries, sculptures and paintings of ancient dancers, singers and musical instruments, have been found in territories inhabited by the ancient Illyrians and ancient Greeks.
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Momo's Tangier
As I fell asleep that first night in Tangier, I couldn't help but think how much more I could enjoy the city if I were invisible. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, they don't sell invisibility cloaks - not even in the old medina - but when I left my hotel after breakfast the next day the streets were blissfully empty. There was a young man at a viewpoint overlooking the old port who asked if I needed directions. I said I didn't; here you need to do everything with conviction, even getting lost, otherwise who knows what you could get sucked into. So I left after snapping some photos, only to bump into him again shortly after, when I truly was lost.
In America cynicism is instilled at an early age. Don't accept candy from strangers on Halloween; don't get into cars with strangers; don't even talk to them at all. We're so conditioned to be distrustful of people that approach us in public that it's a hard habit to break. And, yeah, it can be risky and dangerous to engage but, as I learned, the benefits can also be completely worth it.
The second time this guy, whom I'll call Momo, offered help, I accepted because I was trying to get to the Kasbah and he seemed to know where it was. He guided me toward the museum, where he paid for my ticket, and explained some of the artifacts better than I could glean from reading the accompanying texts. Afterward we finished our tour of the Kasbah, and he asked if he could continue to accompany me. Again, I said yes. Momo seemed courteous, not creepy, and I disliked the thought of being jeered at like the day before.
For the rest of the afternoon Momo essentially acted as my tour guide, leading me to the Place 4 Avril 1947, the English church and cemetery and through the hectic souq in the medina, sharing some of the history behind the buildings and monuments. As we stood near one of the souq's entrances, two men passed toting a wheelbarrow full of animal organs. As they lifted it to carry it down the stairs and into the bowels of the market, a large, slippery chunk slithered out and onto the ground like a bloody eel trying to wriggle its way back to the sea. A third man picked it up and they continued on their way.
"Welcome to Morocco," said Momo laughing at my disgusted expression, adding, "Don't worry - they'll rinse it off."
Particularly in the medina, I noticed how much of a difference it made having Momo around as compared to my leisurely solo stroll. The staring persisted but I got almost no cat-calls. Not to mention, as a native Arabic speaker he could comfortably converse with shop owners in ways that I couldn't.
I wasn't entirely surprised when, later, he invited me home to meet his mother and brother. I followed him away from the old medina to the modern part of the city, and a working-class neighborhood where, because the individual apartments had no ovens, the community shared one. Momo was impressed at my restraint from drinking water in public - because I didn't want to offend the fasters - but as I accepted a glass at the house he assured me that it was okay; that people were used to it. He, in turn, confessed that I was the first Asian he had ever met, confirming the theory I had formed based on other Moroccans' behavior around me. Both he and his brother had many questions, often talking over each other, and I think their mother would have gladly joined in had she also spoken French.
As Momo prepared to walk me back to my hotel, the family made me promise to return later that evening to join them for iftar, the fast-breaking meal that occurs at sunset.
Several hours later he returned to pick me up (I should note that this was a lot of walking, on a hot day, for a person who cannot drink any water). The city was buzzing now, in the early evening, with people making last minute purchases for dinner meaning slow progress through the streets but good people-watching.
By the time we made it back to the apartment the food was almost ready. And in addition to all the traditional iftar fare his mother had also prepared a delicious tagine, just for me. After the iftar siren ended we dug in to the feast. To drink there was mint tea, the Moroccan staple, and a blended smoothie of bananas and milk. Eating commenced with dried dates and a hearty tomato soup with chickpeas, lentils, meat and noodles, but after that it was a free-for-all and I was encouraged to try everything. There were several types of cookies, flavored with sesame and soaked in honey, two types of bread, one crepe-like that we brushed with a mixture of butter and honey and another more like European loaves, as well as a sort of almond-based paste spiced with anise that tasted good but made your mouth very dry. Everything was delicious and made from scratch; I would have eaten more if I could but by the end my stomach was stretched to the limit and I could practically feel the food baby kicking.
When I left later, both the mother and brother seemed genuinely disappointed when I said I wasn't planning to return to Tangier during the course of my trip. Next time, they promised, there would be couscous (which I had earlier expressed a penchant for but that also takes a long time to prepare). In return I said I would prepare a cake.
Instead of going directly back to the medina, where my hotel was, we took a roundabout path out towards the beach. By this time, around 10 or 11 at night, the city had truly come to life. Stores and cafes that had been closed all afternoon were now full of people drinking and smoking. We even passed a metal workshop where the artisans were hard at work, sending sparks flying out onto the sidewalk.
As we walked Momo talked at length about the state of things in Morocco, which was much worse than in France where he had previously been living. Here there were lower wages and less social benefits, just to name a few. He seemed frustrated and weary with the way things were in his home country - derisive, at times, like when we passed a giggling group of boys all clutching plastic bags. They were getting high, he told me, off fumes from paint and glue. They couldn't have been more than ten years old.
When we finally parted ways, it was with some irony that he warned me not to be so trusting as I continued my tour around the country. The hospitality can be incredible, but not everyone is so genuine. I suppose that day I just got lucky.
Where we first met.
Kasbah
Plaza 4 Avril 1947
Chickens in the market.
Mystery animal innards at a butcher's stall. Note the lack of refrigeration; most are like this in the medina.
The fish hall.
Near the family's apartment.
The rock held ancient tombs until they were removed and placed in the kasbah museum.
Tags tangier, morocco
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Home » News » How to Start Collecting Art in Your 20s
July 30, 2018 News admin
How to Start Collecting Art in Your 20s
For many people in their 20s, art collecting can seem like a far-off pipe dream, the preserve of the older and wealthy. Millennials, after all, don’t typically make oodles of money, the average income for college graduates is typically under $50,000 and the cost of living in job-creating urban centers are continuing to rise as well. But the art market isn’t all $450 million Leonardo da Vinci paintings and snooty evening auctions, and many in the industry are taking steps to lower barriers to entry and bring in newer collectors, including young people.
“The misconception that art is only for the wealthy is my pet hate,” said Paul Becker, the founder of Art MoneyArt Money, which provides no-interest loans to art buyers. “There is such a rich ecosystem of quality and value beyond the obvious and expensive tiers”. Around 10% of those using Art Money are in their twenties, Becker said, with many of them falling into a group he called “creative professionals”—people working in fashion, design, publishing, marketing, and other similar fields.
Collectors in their twenties can also check out lower-cost mediums like works on paper, photographs, and smaller artworks generally. And they can avoid sticker shock by knowing how much they can afford to spend, and stick to that budget, even if they fall in love with a work. “The hardest thing is the budgeting—balancing how much you want the piece and how much it costs,” said Neil Hamamoto, an artist, and collector. He began buying art in earnest a few years ago, partially using savings from his previous life in San Francisco working in tech while still sticking to a budget that made sense for him. He’s now 24 years old and has a collection of around 10 works varying in size by artists including Josh Sperling, Chris Burden, Tom Sachs, and Robert Moreland, along with two small works by Jeff Koons and Yayoi Kusama. Hamamoto acknowledged that even if one has the resources with which to collect, wall space can be a challenge, especially in New York City, where Hamamoto lives. The apartments are usually small and rents are high. “If you want to buy something big, you better have a nice wall waiting for it,” he said.
Resource and space constraints aren’t the only barriers to entry. New collectors also have to discover their likes and dislikes and know where to find and buy the art they enjoy. Auction houses, which hold free and public previews of their high-profile sales, are a fun place to see works up close, as are, of course, museums themselves, art galleries, and commercial fairs, said Emily Kaplan, head of Contemporary Curated at Sotheby’s.
“Every season, there are more and more young people coming in to see the auction previews,” Kaplan said, although young buyers still make up a relatively small share of buyers at live auctions. But Kaplan pointed out that Sotheby’s did away with buyer’s premiums for online-only sales this summer, one way the traditional auction house is appealing to younger buyers. At online auctions, work can sell for as low as a few hundred dollars, well within the budget of younger collectors. “That can be a surprise to a lot of people who think that if they want to collect art they have to spend tens of thousands,” Kaplan said. And since waving a paddle in a room is not a familiar way to buy for most people, online auctions (think of eBay, where you may have bought a piece of furniture or clothing) can be a familiar first step. Kaplan also noted that presale estimates are just that—estimates. If you see a work you like, you can speak to a specialist, who can give you a sense of the level of interest and whether the price might be lower. At The Art Dose, this is the job of our curator on a daily basis.
Perhaps most importantly, young collectors can support artists who are also just starting out themselves. Buying the work of an emerging (or even unknown) artist isn’t about bringing home a $450 million trophy for your wall. It is about fostering the career of a young artist you respect and enjoys. “A collection doesn’t need to start with a da Vinci,” as Hamamoto puts it. Next time you see a work that you like and it fits your budget, “go for it,” Becker said. “Owning a unique creation from the hand of an artist is something you’ll enjoy for a lifetime”.
The Millennial Mindset
We need to also address what demographers and marketers now call “millennials”. For every new generation, the predecessors always say that the young blood is spoiled and self-absorbed—Time magazine dubbed millennials as the “Me Me Me Generation”. A generous historian may one day overlook their need for constant validation and safe spaces, but for now, the cliché of being over-parented, over-schooled and over-protected isn’t completely off base.
The so-called millennials never had a summer of ’67, where they tuned in and dropped out, nor a May of ’68 or March of ’89, where they seriously challenged the social order. Instead, they were launched amidst the collapsing scenery of the Great Recession. So they had to delay home-ownership, marriage, and children; on the art scene, they socialized, gossiped and Instagrammed, but never actually bought many pictures—until now. A new survey of high-net-worth collectors by the U.S. Trust company, reveals that the latency period is finally ending. Millennials are settling down, finding financial footing, and beginning to collect.
In the past two years, they have become the fastest growing segment of collectors (though still represent only a tiny sliver of sales). If we observe the statistics from the above picture, millennials fall into two camps: wealth inheritors, and a burgeoning group of rising private equity, real estate, and hedge fund professionals (the young tech elite still don’t collect). As the degree-inflation generation, they’re far more likely to have received financial gifts towards their success. They’re curious and ambitious, but not all that rebellious or revolutionary. They’re more likely to obey authority and basically operate within the system. The great ideological struggles of the 20th century were less immediate to them and that’s understandable.
Blog Source: The Art Dose | The Rise of Millennial Collectors & How to Start Collecting Art in Your 20s The Rise of Millennial Collectors & How to Start Collecting Art in Your 20s
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Toddlers may know when you are not telling the truth, say Singapore and US experts
Published on : 29-Nov-2016
A child reacting to a question posed by NTU Assistant Professor Setoh Pei Pei (left) in a study that showed that the cognitive abilities of two-and-a-half year olds are more advanced than previously thought. (Photo credit: NTU Singapore)
A new study has shown that toddlers as young as two-and-a-half years old can understand when others have different thoughts from them – much earlier than the age of four as traditionally thought. This suggests that children may know when adults are lying or pretending.
The finding is made by developmental psychologists Assistant Professor Setoh Pei Pei from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), Assistant Professor Rose Scott from the University of California Merced, and Professor Renée Baillargeon from the University of Illinois, who studied the behaviour of more than 140 children in the United States aged two-and-a-half years old.
Their study, published in this month’s edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the official scientific journal of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States, used a methodology known by psychologists as “false belief task”.
The researchers used the test to find out whether younger children failed to show an understanding of what others think, either because false beliefs - misconceptions due to incorrect reasoning - are too advanced for children to understand, or because there is too much information for them to deal with all at once.
In a traditional false belief task, a child would listen to a story where a character Sally hides a marble in one of two containers and then leaves. The marble is then shifted to the other container without Sally’s knowledge.
When asked where Sally will look for her marble, younger children pointed to the marble’s new location, suggesting that they do not understand that Sally holds a false belief about the marble’s location. Children from around four years old onwards would point to the marble’s original location.
The study by the Singapore and US professors however showed that when the false belief task is simplified, younger children can answer the question correctly.
The modified story of Emma and her apple follows the same format except that the apple was taken away to an undisclosed location. The children were asked two additional location questions where they were shown two object pictures and asked which picture shows the object in question. This was before they were asked the critical question about where Emma will look for her apple.
The additional questions contributed to reducing the information-processing demands on the children, and made it easier for them to answer the critical question. They also became familiar with the test procedure as they learned to expect a question to be asked when they were shown two pictures.
The results suggest that young children are aware that others may hold different beliefs from them, but were not able to demonstrate this understanding due to information-processing overload.
See the Annex for a graphical representation of the test developed by the research team.
Study shows cognitive abilities of two-and-a-half year olds more advanced than previously thought
Psychology professor Renee Baillargeon said, “When children around the world are asked what someone with a false belief will do next, it is usually not until age four or five that they answer correctly. Our study shows that when the task is made simpler, even two-and-a-half year olds succeed. So the ability to answer questions about persons with false beliefs is present very early in development, contrary to what was traditionally thought.”
Assistant Professor Setoh who heads NTU Singapore’s Early Cognition Lab said, “Having the ability to represent false beliefs means recognising that others can have different thoughts from us. This ability enables children to recognise when others are lying, cheating or pretending.
“If parents believe that children do not understand complicated matters, they may tell simpler versions of the truth and ‘dumb down’ what they view as complicated content for kids. Our findings suggest that children may be able to spot when parents are doing this from as early as two-and-a-half years old. Parents of young children and early childhood educators should be aware that children’s early cognitive abilities may be more advanced than previously thought.”
The study was supported by the US’ National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant.
Moving forward, Assistant Professor Setoh will embark on three new studies in the Asian/Singapore context related to false belief.
One is to find out whether parents in Singapore engage in parenting by lying (as opposed to truth-telling). Another will investigate the effect of such a parenting practice on children in the long run.
A third study will focus on toddlers’ understanding of social acting, which is social pretense that people engage in so as to maintain a positive relationship with their ingroup.
***END***
Ang Hui Min
Corporate Communications Office
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About Nanyang Technological University
A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the colleges of Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and its Interdisciplinary Graduate School. It has a new medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, set up jointly with Imperial College London.
NTU is also home to world-class autonomous institutes – the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering – and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and the Institute on Asian Consumer Insight (ACI).
Ranked 13th in the world, NTU has also been ranked the world’s top young university for the last two years running. The University’s main campus has been named one of the Top 15 Most Beautiful in the World. NTU also has a campus in Novena, Singapore’s medical district.
For more information, visit www.ntu.edu.sg
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Sotheby's snapped up by French tycoon Drahi for $3.7 billion
Sudip Kar-Gupta, Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Mathieu Rosemain, Reuters
Posted at Jun 18 2019 09:04 AM
A woman stands in front of Andy Warhol's "Superman" at a pre-auction viewing at Sotheby's in Los Angeles, California. Lucy Nicholson, Reuters/File
PARIS/BOSTON -- Franco-Israeli cable magnate Patrick Drahi made a surprise move into the art world by snapping up Sotheby's in a deal worth $3.7 billion, marking the art auction house's return to private ownership after 31 years.
The acquisition allows Drahi to join French billionaire Francois Pinault - who owns Sotheby's main rival Christie's - at the top of the art world and New York society.
Drahi joins an exclusive club of French billionaires active in the global art market, which also includes LVMH's boss Bernard Arnault through his Louis Vuitton foundation.
Drahi's expansion in the United States also has echoes of former Vivendi boss Jean-Marie Messier, who turned a struggling French water company into a global media giant with stakes in established US institutions.
The deal also marks a new chapter for the 275-year-old auction house that became a destination for a new generation of wealth created on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley and around the world.
In many ways, being public put Sotheby's at a competitive disadvantage to its main US rival Christie's, which was already private, art experts said.
"Now the company can become more flexible and nimble as a privately-held enterprise and it will be interesting to see the changes that will be made," said Abigail Asher, a partner at international art consultants Guggenheim, Asher.
Founded in London in 1744 before expanding overseas in the 20th century, Sotheby's had the distinction of being the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Famous items sold by Sotheby's include the collections of the late Duchess of Windsor, the personal collection of artist Andy Warhol and Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream".
Sotheby's said BidFair USA, an acquisition vehicle set up by Drahi, had offered $57 in cash per share to buy it out. The offer represented a premium of 61 percent to Sotheby's closing price on Friday, and gives it a market capitalization of $2.6 billion.
LOEB WELCOMES DEAL
The art world has been a favorite in recent times for investors looking to make extra returns in a world of ultra-low interest rates, with the prices of many expensive works of art having steadily increased.
A report published by Swiss bank UBS and Art Basel in March said that the global art market had enjoyed another uptick in 2018.
Drahi - who is better known for engineering debt-fueled acquisitions in the cable and telecom business through the Altice group he controls - said he would be funding the takeover through financing arranged by French bank BNP Paribas and by equity provided by his own funds.
Drahi has also been selling non-core assets in recent years to ease concerns over the debt levels of his businesses.
The businessman said he would not be selling shares in his Altice Europe business, but would be cashing in a small stake in his Altice USA division. Shares in Altice USA fell around 2% on Monday.
Born in Morocco, Drahi, 55, was trained at the selective Polytechnique school in Paris, and holds dual French and Israeli citizenship.
Despite controlling influential French media outlets such as leftist bible Liberation and the country's most-watched news channel BFM TV, Drahi has shied away from elite gatherings of France’s establishment and spends much of his time between Switzerland, the United States and Israel.
"This investment will further demonstrate the anchoring of my family in the United States, a country where we have been very welcomed since the successful acquisitions of Suddenlink in 2015, Cablevision in 2016 and just recently Cheddar," Drahi said in a statement, referring to the two U.S. cable companies and an online news network respectively.
He said he had full confidence in Sotheby's management and did not expect any change to the company's strategy.
About five years ago, Sotheby's ended a long-running fight with activist investor Daniel Loeb's hedge fund Third Point, by asking Loeb and two associates to join Sotheby's board, and Loeb was instrumental in hiring Smith as CEO.
Loeb, a prominent art collector, on Monday praised the sale.
The price "affirms the value we saw when we first invested in Sotheby’s, and rewards long-term investors like Third Point who believed in its potential," Loeb told Reuters.
BNP Paribas and Morgan Stanley advised Drahi, while LionTree Advisors worked on behalf of Sotheby's.
Sotheby's, Patrick Drahi, Christie's, auction, art, mergers and acquisitions
Read More: Sotheby's Patrick Drahi Christie's auction art mergers and acquisitions
Tren ng LRT-1 nagkaaberya sa Blumentritt Station
Chinese Cove: Remulla to check permits of 'POGO Island' workers
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Irreplaceable Warrior
Feb 16 2018 By Khaled Ahmed
Arif Ali—AFP
Asma Jahangir was tough against the toughest odds—a champion of the downtrodden who refused to bow to power
Often at odds with Pakistan’s religious right and the security establishment, it is a testament to the strength of Asma Jahangir that she managed to extract victories from a grudging state that awarded her its highest civilian honors, the Sitara-e-Imtiaz and the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, despite her principled challenging of its cherished values. For many of her detractors in her homeland, the sharpest rebuke was that she was a woman in a society where bearded men dominated and could bring the state to its knees. The rest of the world responded by shunning Pakistani voices that branded her a “Jewish agent” and making her a U.N. Rapporteur for Human Rights who was showered with awards: the Right Livelihood Award, the Freedom Award, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, the UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights, as well as the French Legion of Honor.
Daughter of Malik Ghulam Jilani, a man who fought dictatorship, she was a consistent critic of military rule that repeatedly involved Pakistan in wars that ended in defeats. Throughout her 65 years, she saw generals damaging Pakistan’s flailing governments through decade-long bouts of power as democratically elected prime ministers were ousted from power before completing their terms. Her most devastating blow against this status quo was the foundation of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in 1987 after fighting military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq’s Hudood laws in the streets of Pakistan with her Women’s Action Forum. The deep state could have gotten her killed through “enemy” terrorists—at least one such attempt was highlighted by her—but had to suffer her because of her status at the United Nations. As The New York Times noted after her untimely passing: “In 2012, Jahangir said that an assassination plot against her had been hatched at the highest level of the security establishment.”
Jahangir’s refusal to allow personal enmity to stand in the way of her principles earned her fans even among those ideologically aligned against her. Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, born from the loins of military dictatorship, hated her like other dominant conservative elements in the country, but grew to admire her after his own political metamorphosis. The lawyers’ community, dominated by violent, small-city vandals, also learned to respect her as she was elected the first woman to head the Supreme Court Bar Association in 2010.
Alongside her sister, Hina Jilani, Jahangir established Pakistan’s first all-women legal practice in 1980. Seven years later, the two set up AGHS Legal Aid, the first free legal aid center in Pakistan, challenging all laws and customs aimed against women and minorities. Despite these successes, it was her persistent questioning of the Pakistan Army’s policies that sparked hatred from the deep state. Writing for daily Dawn in 2012, she foreshadowed the “Dawn leak” controversy that plagued Nawaz Sharif’s government:
“It is reprehensible that any country should violate the territorial integrity of another; but it is even worse for a country to allow non-state intruders to dictate state policies under the threat of violence and for the government to swallow it meekly. Under the present circumstances, there are greater chances of the transition to democracy rolling back, rather than an improvement in this climate of political bickering. A reversal of the system will sweep with it all the so-called citadels of free expression, the rule of law and political democracy unless urgent and sustainable political and economic measures are taken.”
A champion of democracy, Jahangir was no fan of the dharna politics that have become so popular in Pakistan in recent years. She condemned Imran Khan’s serial sit-ins for behind-the-scenes manipulation designed to destabilize Pakistan. She also blasted judges who showed off their loyalty to the deep state with flamboyant fictional references in judgments that dismissed Sharif from office. She wrote about her bitterness over the subjugation of the judiciary in 2015:
“The fight against terrorism in Pakistan has taken a toll on civil-military ties. To avoid confrontation, the government often gives in to the military’s demands. Parliament too passed a constitutional amendment, temporarily allowing military courts to try civilians linked to terrorism. The amendment was challenged in the Supreme Court by members of civil society. After a much-awaited judgment, the petitions were predictably dismissed. Perhaps it is difficult to imagine any judiciary in Pakistan assuming it can override a powerful military’s desires.”
Her bluntness and principles were often a bitter pill to swallow for Pakistanis more accustomed to black and white ‘us vs. them’ narratives. Her death prompted an outpouring of support on social media, but there were likewise disparagers who sought to insult her memory and her accomplishments. Fortunately, Jahangir was much bigger than just Pakistan. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid tribute to her, calling her a “human rights giant,” as newspapers across the world published obituaries praising a woman who fought against tough odds knowing full well that there was no guarantee of safety.
As U.N. Rapporteur, she visited many countries in Africa, and East Timor in Southeast Asia, but it was her visits to India that attracted the most ire, proving controversial even after her death. She had investigated human rights violations in Mumbai and Gujarat and had in particular interviewed infamous Hindu fundamentalist Bal Thakeray in this connection. A picture of the two—both wearing saffron colors—has been distributed on social media in a bid to defame her posthumously. But no one has bothered to look at the negative report she returned to the United Nations following her trip.
At times condemned for focusing on human rights violations in Pakistan over those in our neighboring states, Jahangir was steadfast. “Yes, I am very unhappy, extremely anguished at human rights violations against Kashmiris in India or against Rohingyas in Burma or, for that matter, Christians in Orissa. But obviously I am going to be more concerned over violations taking place in my own house because I am closer to the people who I live with. I have more passion for them,” she told Herald magazine.
Asma Jahangir may no longer be with us, but that passion, her desire to fight for the disenfranchised, will never die. Her supporters in Pakistan, as well as the rest of the world, must ensure it does not.
From our Feb. 3 – 17, 2018, issue
U.N. Human Rights Award Honors Asma Jahangir
Inaugural Asma Jahangir Conference Pays Homage to Human Rights Icon
Lahore to Host Inaugural Asma Jahangir Conference
Ranjitsinghkhalra
Xellent article by Khaled ahmed.a befitting tribute to Asma.
I do not agree with most of Asma opinion about Pakistan but I do appreciate her openness and bold talk in news channels
Pakistan now growing, but these type of people are not available this time, who said Imran khan not become a prime minister of Pakistan in his life ,then she died and Imran khan became prime minister of Pakistan.
Leave a Reply to Ranjitsinghkhalra Cancel reply
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Title: ‘Yankee Go Home’
Author: Frazer Finlayson
In: Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 28, No. 7. 1965.
Publication details: Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association, 15 June 1965, Wellington
Part of: Salient : An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z.
Keywords: New Zealand History
Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 28, No. 7. 1965.
'Yankee Go Home'
By Salient Reporter Frazer Finlayson
A Minor immigration official playing at God almost succeeded in preventing an American student from continuing his studies at Vic this year.
The American student, Frank Stone, entered New Zealand on a six-month tourist visa and came to study at Vic for one year. This six-month visa was not going to be renewed when he applied recently, although he had been assured by the New Zealand Embassy staff that such a visa was renewable merely on application.
Instead of his visa being practically automatically renewed as expected, the Department of Labour immigration division officer said "he was not prepared" to extend Stone's visa for another six months thus leaving him only a few days to quit university and get out of the country.
Visas to United States citizens are issued under reasonable circumstances for periods of six months for tourists and students and are renewable for another period of six months. The general policy for visa renewals is that an extension may be granted "if good reason" can be shown, and "each case is considered on its own particular merits."
This appears to mean that each case is considered on its own facts with no set policy guiding what "good reasons" are for extensions. There is also supposed to be provision for extension for another six months when the visa has been extended once already, but the wording of the immigration officer's letter does not give any room even for applying for a further extension should it be wanted—apparently no matter what reasons are given.
It was only after some considerable persuasion that Stone was able to persuade the clerk to reconsider his case. Having paid his varsity fees, and being well into the year, his position was such that it would be disadvantageous for him to have to leave his studies when he had been assured that he would be able to get a visa to cover the university year.
When Stone's case was condescendingly reconsidered, he received a letter from the immigration officer, who said that "he was prepared" to extend the visa on the condition that Frank Stone had a paid passage booked out of the country by December 15.
The letter, as may be seen, used hostile and almost insulting language, typical of which was the ending which said, "I should make it clear to you that a further extension beyond December 15 will not be granted." Although the department has now renewed Frank Stone's visa, it took them about six weeks to do so, and by that time the original six-month visa had expired, which could have caused some embarrassment.
'an official playing at God'
Perhaps the most enlightening sidelight to come out of the contents of the letter was the section that said "you should also complete the enclosed form Lab. Imm 38 and return it to this office.'' Firstly, an identical form had already been filled in and sent to the department and, secondly, there was no form enclosed with the letter!
It is possible that the writer was so intent upon his choice of words that the form was left out. On further application, the required form was received some weeks later, complete with a note pinned at the top of the form saying "With the compliments of the Department of Labour"; nice, and also efficient!
The letter was signed "for the Secretary of Labour" and we are left to wonder (a) If similar official letters are always written in this manner to all overseas visitors who apply for extended visas?
(b) If there is no check against such authoritarian letters being written by seemingly over-eager regulation-conscious public servants?
(c) Just how much red tape and official interference are overseas visitors expected to have to put up with?
Obviously, cases like this one must lead only to the worsening of New Zealand's image overseas, as it is very likely that the Immigration Department officials will be some of the only public servants tourists are likely to meet. Visitors will judge the country on such incidents.
Also, if a person applies for a visa in his own country and is assured that it is almost a formality to have that visa extended, such a policy should therefore be adopted here by the Immigration Department to limit unnecessary embarrassment. If New Zealand is hoping to develop a tourist industry then there should be another look at the way in which overseas visitors are treated and addressed once they are here.—F. D. Finlayson.
Editorial Comment—Page 6
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What is Southern food, John Egerton?
When I wrote n Thursday about the untimely passing of Nashville writer John Egerton, I told about the first time I met him, after a keynote speech at the Association of Food Journalists meeting in Atlanta in 1994.
I told about being in the elevator and how kind and down to earth he was to me, a new and star-struck food writer. What I forgot was that when I asked about his speech and admitted I couldn't take notes fast enough to keep up with it, he graciously handed his own copy of it to me.
On Friday afternoon, I was digging through my files when I found that speech. At the time it was written, there was no Southern Foodways Alliance. There were no chefs like Sean Brock or Vivian Howard. John T Edge wasn't a food writer yet. And many of us were just beginning to look in the direction Egerton was pointing.
Here's that speech, from the copy he handed me.
What is Southern Food?
I trust that you are by now sufficiently welcomed to Atlanta and the South, both verbally and gastronomically. The fact that the Association of Food Journalists has gathered here -- in this region, this city, this hotel -- to hold its annual conference seems altogether appropriate to me, much as would a convocation of Civil War historians in Richmond, or an Elvis resurrection in Memphis, or a Democratic Party convention in Little Rock (in a phone booth this year, I regret to say).
What better place to talk about food -- or eat it -- than in the South? And what better Southern place than Atlanta (leaving aside New Orleans, which is in another order of magnitude, and a world unto itself). We all enjoyed an introductory taste of Atlanta's leading culinary establishments last evening, and now we have just had our first sit-down meal together, a splendid repast prepared by the Ritz Carlton's renowned chef, Guenter Seeger -- applause, applause -- and this is only the beginning. For the next three days, you can expect to be amazed and delighted by the virtually endless showcase of Southern food, drink, and hospitality that is coming your way.
As a native of this city and a lifelong resident of the South -- and as a sometime cook, part-time food writer, and an all-time eater -- I have been awarded the enviable honor of bringing you what Susan Puckett and the organizers of this conference have billed as 'the keynote address.'
With all due respect to Susan, I think 'keynote' is the wrong word here. That would be fine in music, where the keynote is the main not, or politics, where it sounds the campaign theme -- but we're talking about food. So let's put this presentation in context and in perspective: let's call it the hors' d'oeuvres, or the appetizer, or a snack -- a small serving of food for thought, a verbal follow-up to what you've already eaten, and a foretaste of what's to come. For the rest of this week, you're going to be presented with an elegant suffiiciency of Southern cuisine and table talk. And for the rest of this lunch hour, you're going to get one man's opinions on the questions before the house, namely: What is Southern food? What is its past? What is its future?
First, what is it? Well, for openers, it's history and tradition. The South has saddled itself with many negative images down through the years -- from slavery, rebellion, and violence to segregation, isolation and poverty -- but it is the region's positive contributions to American life that have made it a contemporary land of hope and promise. The nation is far more aware than it used to be of the South's attractive characteristics. Geography and climate, for example. And natural beauty. And homegrown music in a variety of styles. And lots of good writers (more, I sometimes think, than readers). And speech -- often lyrical, colorful, expressive, magnetic. And, as significant as any of these, Southern food. The best regional cookery in America, in my humble opinion. I'll come back to defend that claim in a minute.
The popular image of Southern cookery endures -- notwithstanding the complaints of some that the food is too sweet or too greasy (and I'll come back to that too). We've had a long and richly deserved reputation for producing fine foods, for preparing and preserving and serving them, for eating them with gusto, and for writing and talking about them endlessly.
No other region of the country has produced anything like as many cookbooks as the South, over as long a period of time - from Mary Randolph/s "The Virginia House-Wife" in 1824 to "The Black Family Reunion Cookbook," a phenomenally successful collection of the 1990s. And right now, two of the nation's most successful food-oriented magazines, Southern Living and Cooking Light (both produced in Birmingham, Alabama, by the same company).
The history and traditions of food in the South can be seen in almost every community. Atlanta is an especially impressive case in point. "The Dixie Cook-Book," published here in 1883, ran to more than 1,300 pages; Henrietta Dull, better known as Mrs. S.R. Dull, home economics editor for the Atlanta Journal, first wrote her no-nonsense classic, "Southern Cooking," in 1928, and the book has never been out of print; both the Journal and the Atlanta Constitution have maintained a tradition of excellent food editors and writers down through the years, and most, like Nathalie Dupree, have written outstanding cookbooks. None, though, have been nearly as successful as Nathalie in the relatively new -- post World War II -- medium of television.
Atlanta has long been a hothouse of creativity and productivity in the wide world of food. It has recently attracted the famed Virginia-born food expert Edna Lewis to live and work here. It has a wondeful array of great restaurants and equally outstanding chefs, from Guenther Seeger here at the Ritz Carlton to the seriously Southern Scott Peacock at the Horseradish Grill. It has the influential restaurant critic Elliot Mackle, and food detective Shirley Corriher, and lively chapters of IACP and AIWF, and a wealth of talented cooks, stylists, photographers and writers, such as Jane Schneider, Kay Goldstein, Al and Mary Ann Clayton, Tim Patridge, Susan Mack and many more. And just now, there is a small but very hopeful move afoot to establish a regional society for the preservation and perpetuation of time-honored Southern foods.
So Southern food is history and tradition. It's also diversity. Contrary to popular belief, there's a lot more to it than grits and gravy and gooey desserts. I don't deny that Southerners tend to exercise a highly developed sweet tooth, or that most of them are partial to the many-splendored wonders of pork seasoning. I myself have been moved to declare publicly (for laughs, if not for literal accuracy) that the six major food groups in the South are sugar, cream, salt, butter, eggs and bacon grease. But I hasten to add the the Big Six don't embrace such classic Southern specialties as fresh spinach, sliced tomatoes, ambrosia, boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce, tree-ripened peaches and unsweetened tea with lemon or lime. Far from being narrowly repetitious and mediocre at best, real Southern food is wonderfully varied and generally pleasing to the eye and the palate. Even when it's sweet or greasy, it can be superior. If you doubt that, let me invite you to try a wedge of chess pie or a platter of catfish and hush puppies.
Diversity in the context of Southern food also has other meanings. The South, after all, is a big region, stretching from the Eastern Shore of Virginia through parts of Kentucky and Missouri and Oklahoma to the western border of Texas. Thus, what we have come to call Tex-Mex is arguably Southern, and so are the town and country cuisines of Louisiana: Creole and Cajun. And Florida fare, with its Latin and Caribbean flavors. And the seafood and rice-based cookery of the Carolina Lowcountry. And the distinctive elements of mountain cookery in the Appalachians and the Ozarks. And so, of course, is the down-home/soul food/country cooking/home-style/Junior League/New Southern/tea-room/cafe/dinner on the ground/all-you-can-eat/field-hand food that has come traditionally from the Deep South, from Georgia and Alabama and Mississippi and other states close by.
Diversity means, too, that this food is the historical property of all the South's people, white and black and brown, young and old, rich and poor. It was black cooks, both women and men, who did the lion's share of Southern cooking through the time of slavery and again in the segregation era. The white women for whom and with whom they worked in the kitchens of the region were ostensibly the teachers -- but in reality, it was the blacks who possessed the overall mastery of cooking that gave us this rich heritage and it was primarily they who lifted it out of the ordinary and up to the level of artistry. Without the contributions of black cooks, Southern food might well have been as dull and bland and forgettable as English food -- which is more or less what it was until it got a saving infusion of Native American foodstuffs and African creativity.
This is not to say, of course, that white women couldn't cook, or that all blacks were culinary geniuses; it's simply an acknowledgement that without what the nonwhites brought to it, southern food never would have soared. Ponder this: If most of America's hogs and corn are raised in the Midwest, and have been for over a century, why is that most of the best barbecue and country ham and cornbread, and roasting ears, and corn fritters and grits and corn whiskey have always come from here in the South -- and still do? The obvious answer is the natural superiority of Southern cooks and cookery.
So what is Southern food? It's partly an attitude, a way of thinking. It's technique. It's seasoning. It's a way of cooking, from the simplest to the most complex, that says to the interested observer, 'This isn't hard; you can do this -- roll up your sleeves and plunge in, and we'll delight in it together.'
And, finally, in the most concrete terms I can put it, Southern food is what we've eaten for generations, and what we still love to this day: country ham and beaten biscuits, spoonbread, pole beans, creamed corn and roasting ears, garden tomatoes, black-eyed peas, scalloped cabbage, almost any kind of barbecue (but especially pork) and the sauces that go with it, turnip greens and collards, Brunswick stew and burgoo, sweet potatoes and yams, plain and fancy grits, more kinds of cornbread than there are states in the union, yeast rolls, buttermilk, Kentucky bourbon and Tennessee sippin' whiskey, crawfish bisque, jambalaya, eggs creole, fried tomatoes, gumbo, red rice, roux (and its upcountry equivalent, chicken gravy), chicken and dumplings, chicken pilau or perloo, angel biscuits, french toast, hush puppies, country sausage, sawmill gravy, catfish, white beans, fried apples, cornbread dressing, fried okra, baked onions, wilted lettuce salad, shrimp and oysters, country fried steak, squash casserole, pickled peaches, chow-chow, cheese straws, sorghum, guava jelly, quince jelly, pralines, apple stack cake, half-moon pies, black bottom pie, key lime pie, blackberry cobbler, boiled custard and eggnog, syllabub, jam cake, bourbon pecan cake, coconut cake, peach cobbler, apple dumplings. That's a partial list, off the top of my head.
And, lest we forget, Southern food is also the treasures we have created and put out for the rest of the world to share: fried chicken, iced tea, pecan pie, peach ice cream, strawberry shortcake, peanut brittle, Goo-Goo Clusters, Moon Pies -- and of course, Coca-Cola, along with most of the other soft drinks you can think of. For good measure, the South has also sent forth many of its native sons and daughters to become nationally prominent writers on food -- Craig Claiborne, Peter Feibleman, Eugene Walter, Jeanne Voltz, James Villas, Sara Belk and Vertamae Grosvenor, to name a few.
What all this adds up to, in my view, is this: For reasons that no one truly understands, the South is a fertile food culture, a place where people are caught up in food, almost obsessed with it, much like the people of France and Italy are. And as a consequence, you have this wonderfully productive and creative atmosphere full of great restaurants and chefs, home cooks, cookbook writers and readers, recipes, memorable meals -- and, of course, eaters. We are big on food, in part, I think, because of our history. There have been times, most notably during the Civil War and the Great Depression, when the vast majority of Southerners confronted the specter of malnutrition, hunger, even starvation. People who have known deprivation tend to carry the fear, or at least the memory, forever. When you think about it that way, "all you can eat' sounds more like an antidote for having nothing to eat. Whatever the case, I may reluctantly concede that the superiority of Southern food is a matter of opinion, or a matter of taste - but the pervasive Southern interest in food is a matter of fact, and it generates a continuous round of eating, drinking and socializing that is a positive pleasure for all who partake.
That pretty much covers the question of what Southern food is, and of what its past has been. Now let me close with a few words about its future. Time marches on, and all things change. Our slow food is threatened by the age of fast food. Health consciousness has made us consider the consequences of eating sugar, salt, butter, cream and pork fat. . . . Nouvelle cuisine has made all the old and traditional dishes seem out of style, of not out of favor. The white guys who used to take it for granted that someone else -- probably someone black, certainly someone female -- would be fixing their supper are learning that if they can't cook, they might not eat.
Southern food has to change, or it will die. Nobody wants to stay in the kitchen all the time. The food we eat should be easier and quicker to prepare, and more nutritious, and everybody ought to know how to cook and clean up afterward. My only plea is this: Don't throw out the great old dishes with the dishwater. Don't settle for processed, pre-cooked, artificial food when the real thing can be had with just a little thought and planning and acquired skill. Don't surrender to the food police without giving as much consideration to your mental health as your physical health. I am reminded of the words of John Thorne, Maine's "Outlaw Cook," who should have been a Southerner. "The whole anti-fat movement astonishes me," Thorne once said. "We read things written about lard that treat it as the moral equivalent of crack. The upshot of all this hysteria is going to be a generation of teenagers who will be sneaking out behind the barn to smoke not dope but beef brisket. And grandpa is going to slip out with them."
I also remember what the great jazzman Eubie Blake said on his 100th birthday, this after eating Southern for a century: "If I'd know I was gonna live this long," he declared, over a plate of ribs, "I'd have taken better care of myself."
May we all be as fortunate as Eubie Blake. And for a benediction, I can think of nothing better than the words of the Methodist ladies of Maysville, Kentucky, in their "New Kentucky Home Cook Book," dated 1884, to wit:
"Bad dinners go hand in hand with total depravity, while a well-fed man is already half saved."
Wonderful. Thank you.
RIP, John Egerton.
Ronni Lundy said...
Thank you! What a joy to find Egerton's voice, still ringing, still grinning, still poking and prodding and, most of all, still inviting everyone in. A lovely gift, and much appreciated, Kathleen
One Great . . . Thanksgiving adult beverage
The peculiarly interesting cocktail academy
Thank you for everything, John Egerton
Celebrate local foods at the Common Grounds Festiv...
Live food chat and more in today's Thanksgiving co...
Carolinas food makers jamming on Good Food list
One Great . . . way to cook cauliflower
What are you looking for? Ham loaf and suet
Yes, it's fall food . . . and more
One Great . . . maple-glazed Brussels sprouts
Mashed potato success story
Southern her way: Cookbook author at Reid's
Cookbooks are books, too
One Great . . . sweet and spicy sweet potatoes
History and beer: Celebrate with both
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Historical Political Events for July 6
1535 Sir Thomas More, who first conceived of a place called Utopia, appointed to the position of "Lord Chancellor" of England by Henry the 8th, got into trouble when he declined to swear exclusive allegiance to the king. As a result, Sir Thomas was beheaded on this date, another casualty of the "rule of law".
1775 In Philadelphia, the American Congress under John Hancock, adopts a "Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms."
1892 300 Pinkerton guards helped introduce scabs into the workplace by opening fire on striking Carnegie mill steel workers, resulting in the death of 7 guards and 11 strikers.
1923 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Russia, the Ukraine, White Russia, and Transcaucasia) established on paper December 30, 1922 becomes a reality on this date. (Quoted from The People's Chronology,from Henry Holt and Company, Inc. Copyright © 1995, 1996 by James Trager. All rights reserved.)
1984 The "public debt limit" is raised from $?? to $1,573,000,000,000 by our exalted leaders. It is now rising at the rate of $1.68 billion per day. ["Limit" must not mean the same to politicians as it does to you and I]
1989 Oliver North, unsuccessful Senate candidate but successful talk show host, is sentenced to a 3-year suspended prison sentence, 2 years' probation, a $150,000 fine, and an order to perform 1,200 hours of community service for his participation in the Iran-Contra Scandal.
2006 Today's Most Interesting Government Contract Award: LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals Awarded an Additional $2.3M Department of Defense Contract to Continue the Preclinical Development of Their 3rd Generation, Mucosal Anthrax Vaccine. [DOD does not trust HHS to handle this lucrative -- I mean serious -- problem, which is also spending $billions on anthrax vaccines.]
Rien n’est plus dangereux qu’une id´ee, quand on n’a qu’une id´ee.
(Nothing is more dangerous than an idea, when you have only one idea.)
— Alain (´Emile-Auguste Chartier), 1938
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DAILY FORECASTS
GAMECASTS
CURRENT WX
Dearth Of Chilled November Mornings This Decade
With the possibility of lows below 30 in the city each of the next two nights, it puts Philadelphia in contention to double the number of sub 30 degree nights it's had this decade. It's a trend that's becoming less frequent, in part to climate (general climate change plus a periodic warm Atlantic phase helping to "heat" the coastal plain a bit more effectively into November), partly also to increased sprawl in South Jersey and the suburbs that increases the size of the heat island.
Going back to the "move" out to the Airport in 1940, the city has averaged anywhere between three and seven sub 30 mornings in a given year per decade. Some years do more than seven, some don't score any cold mornings at all. Per decade, the general average has been in the three to seven ballpark. Until last November, we had not seen a sub 30 morning in the city during the month since 2008. That's the longest stretch in the city since the early 1920's, when weather observations were taken in Center City.
One other interesting statistic, beyond the trend towards fewer 20's in November at night, is that we have not experienced a sub 20 morning since 1986. Typically, we were good for one or two of these per decade until the 1980's. Since '86, we haven't had that kind of "luck" in the temperature department. Odds don't exactly favor us getting there this November either.
That said, between the next two nights, Philadelphia does stand a decent chance of adding a couple of notches to the 20's belt in a decade that so far has been rather thin on such numbers.
Posted by Tom at 11/12/2013 01:00:00 PM
Labels: climate, cold, heat island
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Mr Dean Cambell Nalder
Date: 5 February 1966
Place: Narrogin, Western Australia
Son of Cambell Crawford Nalder, farmer and politician, and Janice Ricket, daughter of Norman Ricket and Vera Victoria Gunter
BBus (Econs & Fin Mgt); GradDip (AppFin)
Search for speeches by Dean Nalder
Member for Alfred Cove from 9 March 2013. Elected to the Thirty-Ninth Parliament for Alfred Cove on 9 March 2013 in succession to Dr Janet May Woollard (defeated). Electorate abolished in the redistribution of 2015.
Member for Bateman from 11 March 2017. Elected to the Fortieth Parliament for Bateman (new seat) on 11 March 2017.
Minister for Transport, Finance from 17 March 2014–8 December 2014
Minister for Transport from 8 December 2014–31 March 2016
Minister for Agriculture and Food; Transport from 31 March 2016–20 September 2016
Shadow Treasurer; Shadow Minister for Finance; Energy from 25 March 2017
Member Public Accounts Committee from 9 May 2013–18 March 2014 (Chairman from 15 May 2013–18 March 2014)
Member Joint Audit Committee from 13 June 2013–18 March 2014 (Deputy Chairman from 3 July 2013–18 March 2014)
Member Public Accounts Committee from 23 May 2017 (Deputy Chairman from 24 May 2017)
Member Joint Standing Committee on Audit from 13 June 2017
The Nalder family is the only family to have had three generations that have served in the Parliament of Western Australia. The Nalders have all served in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia including Dean Cambell Nalder's father, Cambell Crawford Nalder and his grandfather, Sir Crawford David Nalder.
Parliament of Western Australia website. Current Members. Accessed 3 March 2015.
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Tag Archives: treason
Canada, U.S. agree to use each other’s troops in civil emergencies
July 1, 2013 PecanGroup Leave a comment
Canada and the U.S. have signed an agreement that paves the way for the militaries from either nation to send troops across each other’s borders during an emergency, but some are questioning why the Harper government has kept silent on the deal.
Neither the Canadian government nor the Canadian Forces announced the new agreement, which was signed Feb. 14 in Texas.
The U.S. military’s Northern Command, however, publicized the agreement with a statement outlining how its top officer, Gen. Gene Renuart, and Canadian Lt.-Gen. Marc Dumais, head of Canada Command, signed the plan, which allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency.
The new agreement has been greeted with suspicion by the left wing in Canada and the right wing in the U.S.
The left-leaning Council of Canadians, which is campaigning against what it calls the increasing integration of the U.S. and Canadian militaries, is raising concerns about the deal.
“It’s kind of a trend when it comes to issues of Canada-U.S. relations and contentious issues like military integration. We see that this government is reluctant to disclose information to Canadians that is readily available on American and Mexican websites,” said Stuart Trew, a researcher with the Council of Canadians.
Trew said there is potential for the agreement to militarize civilian responses to emergency incidents. He noted that work is also underway for the two nations to put in place a joint plan to protect common infrastructure such as roadways and oil pipelines.
“Are we going to see (U.S.) troops on our soil for minor potential threats to a pipeline or a road?” he asked.
Trew also noted the U.S. military does not allow its soldiers to operate under foreign command so there are questions about who controls American forces if they are requested for service in Canada. “We don’t know the answers because the government doesn’t want to even announce the plan,” he said.
But Canada Command spokesman Commander David Scanlon said it will be up to civilian authorities in both countries on whether military assistance is requested or even used.
He said the agreement is “benign” and simply sets the stage for military-to-military co-operation if the governments approve.
“But there’s no agreement to allow troops to come in,” he said. “It facilitates planning and co-ordination between the two militaries. The ‘allow’ piece is entirely up to the two governments.”
If U.S. forces were to come into Canada they would be under tactical control of the Canadian Forces but still under the command of the U.S. military, Scanlon added.
News of the deal, and the allegation it was kept secret in Canada, is already making the rounds on left-wing blogs and Internet sites as an example of the dangers of the growing integration between the two militaries.
On right-wing blogs in the U.S. it is being used as evidence of a plan for a “North American union” where foreign troops, not bound by U.S. laws, could be used by the American federal government to override local authorities.
“Co-operative militaries on Home Soil!” notes one website. “The next time your town has a ‘national emergency,’ don’t be surprised if Canadian soldiers respond. And remember — Canadian military aren’t bound by posse comitatus.”
Posse comitatus is a U.S. law that prohibits the use of federal troops from conducting law enforcement duties on domestic soil unless approved by Congress.
Scanlon said there was no intent to keep the agreement secret on the Canadian side of the border. He noted it will be reported on in the Canadian Forces newspaper next week and that publication will be put on the Internet.
Scanlon said the actual agreement hasn’t been released to the public as that requires approval from both nations. That decision has not yet been taken, he added.
© (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.
Canadacivil emergenciesemergencynew world ord3ernorth american unionpecangroupRussiatraitortreasontroop exchangeus troops
Who doesn’t want to be President forever?
November 8, 2011 PecanGroup Leave a comment
Bill Clinton Supports Changing 22nd Amendment on Presidential Term Limits
by Billy Hallowell
Former President Bill Clinton says he supports a new “rule” in dealing with limits to presidential governance. After individuals serve two terms, he says they should be able to serve a third — with a few caveats.
First and foremost, this regulation, should it be adopted, shouldn’t apply to anyone who has already served. Also, the former president would want the individual seeking a third round in the White House to take some time off after his or her second term.
Clinton was speaking to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” where he was promoting his new book, “Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy.”
When co-host Joe Scarborough asked, “Shouldn’t a president be able to take two terms, take time off and run again? Shouldn’t Americans have that choice?,” Clinton answered affirmatively, saying:
“I’ve always thought that should be the rule. I think as a practical matter, you couldn’t apply this to anyone who has already served, but going forward, I personally believe that should be the rule.”
22nd amendmentbill clintonformer presidenthillarypecan grouppecangroup.orgpresidential term limitrulesupreme courtterm limitstreasonunconstitutional
Democrats….the Party of Treason
August 31, 2011 PecanGroup Leave a comment
democratic partygrigsbyheadstonetombstonetreason
Splitting AZ: Support grows for 51st state
May 14, 2011 PecanGroup Leave a comment
Posted: Feb 24, 2011 7:43 PM EST Updated: Feb 25, 2011 4:00 PM EST
By Jessica Chapin, Reporter –
Splitting AZ; Support is growing for 51st state
“Start Our State” co-founders Paul Eckerstrom and Peter Hormel want Southern Arizona to break away and become the 51st state “Start Our State” co-founders Paul Eckerstrom and Peter Hormel want Southern Arizona to break away and become the 51st state
Hormel says with Pima County’s size and population, they could pull it off Hormel says with Pima County’s size and population, they could pull it off
State Senator Vic Williams, who represents Northwest Pima County, says they have bigger priorities State Senator Vic Williams, who represents Northwest Pima County, says they have bigger priorities
Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Richard Elias says “Start Our State” is sending a message that’s been a long time coming Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Richard Elias says “Start Our State” is sending a message that’s been a long time coming
TUCSON (KGUN9- TV) – One group is so fed up with Arizona politics they want to break away and form a brand new state. “Start Our State,” a new Pima County political committee, hopes to bring the initiative to voters in 2012.
Co-founders Peter Hormel and Paul Eckerstrom say the governor’s Federal lawsuit over immigration and new bills proposing to nullify Federal law are what sent their opinions over the edge.
“I and some other people finally got so frustrated with what’s happening in Phoenix that we felt obligated to do something about it,” said Hormel. “It’s an idea that I think once you take a step back and think about it, it starts to make more and more sense.”
He says with Pima County’s size and population, they could pull it off. Pima County has more square miles than New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. It has more people than Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Vermont, Delaware and Alaska.
When asked about the financial feasibility, Hormel responded, “We certainly can’t do any worse than they’re doing now.”
He’s not alone in his thinking. Thursday, State Sen. Paula Aboud (D-28) proposed an amendment to SB 1433, which would enable the state to nullify certain Federal laws.
“Today, I am offering an amendment to SB 1433 to propose that Pima County secede from the rest of the State,” she said on the floor. “We do not advocate their brand on our state and we don’t support their harmful legislation that continues to tarnish Arizona’s reputation.”
The Senate voted no on the amendment, but passed the bill.
In response, several state legislators came out to support the proposed secession.
“The State of Baja Arizona proposal should get careful investigation and consideration at all levels,” said Rep. Daniel Patterson (D-29). “Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee and Yuma Counties could make a nice new western state, with Tucson as the capital city.”
Not every Pima County-based law-maker agrees.
“I am a proud Arizonan who will not support creating a 51st state out of Southern Arizona,” said Rep. Bruce Wheeler (D-28)
Sen. Vic Williams (R-26) says the Northwest portion of the county has bigger priorities.
“I know that they’re going to come around,” he said about central Tucson. “They’re going to see things our way and help work on the Governor’s job package for our greater prosperity here in Arizona.”
As for the county leaders who may stand to gain a political advantage with statehood, Board of Supervisors Chair Richard Elias says it’s a message, in the least, that’s been a long time coming.
“In many cases we feel like we’re being singled out and attacked on a regular basis by an extremist group of legislators,” he said. “I’m quite proud to be a citizen of the United States of America and I would be proud to see our new state to be more accepting of the laws of the United States as they stand today.”
Details like potential names, slogans or flag logos have not yet been decided. Hormel says they must first put together a petition to put the motion on a ballot, and they’d leave details up to voters, provided it passes. Elias, however, did have a suggestion.
“I think we should be Arizona and I think all those people who have come here and moved to Maricopa County, they should figure out a new name for themselves because we’re the real Arizona,” he said.
The path to statehood would be long and arduous, even if the measure made it to the ballot and passed. The secession would need approval from state voters, a new constitution, and a final vote of approval from U.S. Congress and the president.
http://www.kgun9.com/story/14137897/pima-county-group-fed-up-starting-a-movement-to-start-a-new-state?redirected=true
51st statearizonaObamapecan grouptreason
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Obama to name new USAID chief
CNN Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jill Dougherty
Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama will nominate Dr. Rajiv Shah to fill the long-vacant position as head the U.S. Agency for International Development, a senior administration official confirmed to CNN Tuesday. The official spoke on background because a public announcement has not yet been made.
Shah, a physician and former executive with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is currently under-secretary for research, education and economics, and chief scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He manages the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistical Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The official described Shah as leader in global development with "deep experience" in health, agriculture, water and financial services.
At the Gates Foundation, Shah helped launch the Global Development program and directly managed the foundation's nearly $1.3 billion portfolio of investments in agricultural development. He also was the founding director of the foundation's Financial Services to the Poor portfolio, and held numerous leadership roles within the Foundation Global Health program.
Shah, the official said, also helped lead, and is an important contributor to, Obama's global food security initiative.
According to the official, at the Agriculture Department Shah manages more than 10,000 federal employees and a budget of more than $2.6 billion, working with Congress, the State Department, the White House and the international development community on issues such as health and nutrition, bio-energy and climate change.
Filed under: Obama administration
soundoff (No Responses)
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OSDS Declaration
Response to the political program of the campaign of the one democratic state in historic Palestine
Published by OSDS on 2019-02-04 2019-02-04
At the outset, we thank the campaign supervisors for their individual invitations to some members of The Constituent Committee for the “Popular Movement for Palestine One Secular and Democratic State” in order to sign the political program of the campaign. We inform you that we are responding to the invitation on behalf of the movement through the members of The Constituent Committee.
• Two-state solution and one state:
The text stems from the consideration the failure of the two-state solution is due to the intransigence of the Israeli occupation, which formed the basis for the text, along with the values of justice, liberation and democracy, which proved that the only way to achieve justice and lasting peace is to dismantle the colonial Apartheid regime in historic Palestine … to the end of the paragraph, Which gives an idea that the one-state choice comes in one form as response to the intransigence of the occupation, this may leave a wide gap as to some opportunistic people and groups with intertwined interests with the occupation or its supporters to participate in the campaign despite our prior knowledge that it is just desperate attempts to exert more pressure on the occupation and its supporters to continue negociations for the two state solution. Palestinian and PLO factions are proof of these trends, which we believe are harmful to all efforts to establish a national and humane option that will achieve justice and equality for all.
• One democratic-constitutional state:
The first item in the political program of the campaign speaks about a constitutional democratic state, whereas the earlier texts of the campaign linked the constitutional democratic system with the “bi-national” state, which sometimes hide behind the label “multicultural state”. In this new political program, the bi-national issue of the desired state has not yet emerged. Unfortunately, this political program has preserved the binational idea of this democratic state behind the label “multicultural state”.
Of course, we cannot but accept the principle of protecting minorities by confronting the majority through a constitutional system (and its executive tools), which is a supreme authority with wide powers, for example the freedom of parliament if the majority has passed laws that are unfair to a minority. Article 4 guarantees the protection of the constitution for the freedom of organization on national, ethnic and religious grounds. We can only emphasize that the invocation of this constitutional democracy is only aimed at giving up the democratic principle that is organically linked to the secular idea of citizenship, witha democratic political system and a social system of a secular state. (Democracy as a political system organically linked to a secular civil system)
The democratic state cannot be truly democratic without being secular as well, and this will protect minorities as a society and individuals (for each member of these minorities) and grant them their cultural rights and freedom to practice their religious rights without allowing them to establish exclusive religious and / or ethnic political organizations.
The “civil” parties, organizations and institutions when represents religious, national or sectarian groups cannot be granted constitutional legitimacy in the name of the collective rights and freedoms protected by the Constitution, because they are absolutely incompatible with the principle of the neutrality of the state and its superiority over ethnic, linguistic, religious and national affiliations. Hence, we cannot agree with that constitutional democracy detailed on size of the bi-national state, which does not openly mention its name in this program. The bi-national state “went out of the door to get back from the net”. This return reflects the continuous presence of a Zionist narrative that has not yet been removed from the minds of someadvocates of a binational state.
• Right of return, rehabilitation and integration into society:
We believe that compensation for the suffering years of oppression, injustice and homelessness that they have experienced since the Nakba until the present moment is an inherent/inalienable right of all Palestinians, regardless of compensation for individual and group their properties that are difficult to restore.
• Collective rights:
There is a stark contrast between this paragraph and the previous paragraph, namely, the individual rights clause. It should therefore be enough to mention that the protection of collective cultural rights is complete, with emphasis on the rejection of all forms of religious political organization in order to guarantee religious freedom and practice and safeguard the freedom and rights of other religious groups.
• Migration:
This paragraph presupposes the need for the community to open the door of migration without any reference to immigration mechanisms and the selection of migrants, while we believe that the subject is premature and it is not necessary to address it from now, but in case of need to address it, must say that the issue of migration is linked to practical needs of building and renaissance of the state and society, as the conditions of migration are set up to serve the process of construction and development only, and without any religious, ethnic, or ideological considerations.
Therefore, in the light of the previous fundamental differences and based on our adherence to our stated and known document, we believe that our acceptance of the signing of the campaign program is linked to your clear and stated answers on three main points:
1. To be signed on behalf of The Constituent Committee of the Popular Movement of the State of Palestine, secular and democratic one.
2. The Constituent Committee shall have full powers, rolesand responsibilities on an equal footing with all the founding members of the campaign, from participating in the management of the advertising campaign and the right to express our opinion, to be informed about and participatein all current and future organizational, financial and political aspects.
3. The organizational mechanisms used within the movement, which include how to modify the campaign’s program, must be clearly indicated in the light of future consensus and dialogues, and periodic mechanisms should beestablished to present the various/different points of viewdirectly or in writing.
In the end, we look forward to more cooperation and joint action that respects each other’s program and protects freedom of opinion, and we look forward to more political and practical convergence.
Thank you all and keep well!
The Constituent Committee for the “Popular Movement for Palestine One Secular and Democratic State”
Categories: OSDS Statements
OSDS Statements
Statement of the Popular Movement for One Secular Democratic State OSDS regarding the events in Gaza
Statement of the Popular Movement for One Secular Democratic State OSDS regarding the events in Gaza The Popular Movement for One Secular Democratic State OSDS of Palestine is deeply worried about the deterioration of the Read more…
OSDS Statement: Jewish Nationality Law
The Zionist Knesset approved “the law of Jewish Nationality” which recognizes that “the land of Israel is the historical land of the Jewish people, in which the State of Israel has been established as the Read more…
Popular Movement for One Secular Democratic State
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Creative Writing Jobs in Mumbai - 776 Creative Writing Openings in.
Tour Viator Daya Pune Private Guide - Sudama
fake Youtube Id Superbad Scene The Solstice Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program at Pine Manor College offers concentrations in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, comics & graphic narratives, and writing for children & young adults. Our mission is to help students reach their full potential as writers through a demanding curriculum that balances the workshop experience with the study of literary craft, criticism, and theory, and to prepare students for the rigors of being a professional writer after graduation. The Solstice Program provides a learning environment that fosters community and celebrates the individual, and ensures that all students have access to professional development opportunities— including an optional Applied Track in Pedagogy for those who wish to teach at the college level. Working with some of the best writers in the country, students of Pine Manor College's MFA program emerge with a deep, well-rounded knowledge of their art, a strategy for continuing the development of their creative vision, and a supportive circle of peers and mentors. We are co-educational, inclusive, and affordable; our diverse and dedicated faculty is committed to helping students of all backgrounds achieve their writing goals. At Solstice, students are in residence on campus for ten days, twice a year, for a total of five residencies over two years. During the 10-day residencies, students and faculty gather on Pine Manor College’s lovely, wooded campus —a mere five miles from downtown Boston— and attend workshops, classes, panel discussions, and readings. At the end of the residency, each student is matched with a faculty mentor with whom he or she will work individually during the six-month semester to follow. One-on-one communication with faculty mentors during the semester —because our student-faculty mentor ratio is never more than one to five, students receive highly focused attention from some of our nation’s best authors. Independent learning, a flexible schedule, and autonomy. Solstice students are able to pursue their writing goals while balancing the demands of work and family —we believe that learning to do so is essential for any writer who wishes to establish a sustainable creative practice. We believe that—in order to create a truly diverse environment—it is essential that program faculty members come from a variety of different backgrounds, and are themselves committed to achieving diversity of race, class, and creed in the classroom. It is our mission to create opportunities for ALL writers to pursue their creative goals. When we talk about diversity, we mean it in every sense of the word. Our students and faculty represent a wide variety of ethnic, social, and geographic backgrounds, creating a truly vibrant cross-section of America. I also think that if I hadn't gone to Solstice, I would have spun my wheels and continued to do what I was good at, and avoided grappling with those things I didn't do well. "..addition to helping me discipline myself to write regularly, my MFA experience helped me learn my craft.
Student-Led Groups Office for the Arts at Harvard
Director of undergraduate studies: Christiana Purdy Moudarres, 82–90 Wall St., 432-0597, christiana purdymoudarres; language program director: Anna Iacovella, 82–90 Wall St., 432-8299, anna iacovella; edu The major in Italian explores Italy's vital role in the formation of Western thought and culture. The core language courses bring students to a high level of aural, spoken, and written proficiency; provide a solid literary and historical background in the language; and prepare students for study in Italy. Other offerings build on the core courses to explore Italian literature, film, history, culture, and art. The Italian major is of particular relevance to the fields of art, economics, film and media studies, history, history of art, international relations, linguistics, literature, philosophy, and theology. Candidates for the major should have completed a course in Italian at the level of 130 (L3) or should have received credit for equivalent work by the end of their sophomore year. Exceptions may be made in the case of outstanding students who have not satisfied this requirement. All students who have not taken Italian at Yale are expected to take the departmental placement test, with the exception of students who have no previous knowledge of Italian. The placement examination is completed online during the summer; see the and the departmental website for details. The major normally consists of eleven term courses beyond the prerequisite. Eight term courses in the Italian department numbered 140 or above (including graduate courses) are required, at least five of which must be conducted in Italian. The courses in the department must include either ), one in the Renaissance, and two in Italian literature after 1600. The aim of these six foundation courses is to provide students with both a broad acquaintance with the major works of Italy's literary tradition and a more detailed knowledge of specific periods in Italian literature. Students are also strongly encouraged to use their elective courses to expand their knowledge of either the (sixteenth century). No more than three Italian department courses taught in English may count toward the major. Students intending to major in Italian should consult the DUS. In completing their programs, students are required to elect two courses in other languages and literatures, history of art, history, or philosophy that are related to their field of study and approved by the DUS. Any graduate course in another national literature or in linguistics may be substituted for one of these two courses. In the fall or spring of the senior year, all students majoring in Italian must present a departmental essay written in Italian and completed under the direction of a faculty adviser in . The essay should demonstrate careful reading and research on a topic approved by the adviser in consultation with the DUS. A recommended length for the essay is thirty pages. Prospectus and draft deadlines are determined by the adviser; the final deadline is determined by the DUS. The senior requirement culminates in a meeting with department faculty to discuss the thesis and the student's overall experience of study in the major. The department's course offerings vary greatly from year to year. See "Simultaneous Award of the Bachelor's and Master's Degrees" under Special Arrangements in the Academic Regulations. Students interested in planning course work in Italian that extends beyond the current academic year should consult the DUS. Interested students should consult the DUS prior to the sixth term of enrollment for specific requirements in Italian. Related majors In addition to the major in Italian literature, the department supports the applications of qualified students who wish to pursue a course in Italian studies under the provisions of a Special Divisional Major. For information about the Year or Term Abroad program, see under Special Arrangements in the Academic Regulations. Majors can devise a broad program in social, political, economic, or intellectual history as related to and reflected in Italian literature, or pursue special interests in architecture, film, art, philosophy, music, history, linguistics, theater, political theory, or other fields especially well suited for examination from the perspective of Italian cultural history. degree program Exceptionally able and well-prepared students may complete a course of study leading to the simultaneous award of the B. Prerequisite ), 1 in Renaissance, and 2 in Italian lit after 1600, at least 5 of these conducted in Italian; 2 courses in other langs or lits, hist of art, hist, or phil approved by DUS Substitution permitted Any grad course in another national lit or in linguistics for 1 of the 2 courses in other depts, with DUS permission Senior requirement Senior essay (The core language courses bring students to a high level of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension skills; provide a solid literary and historical background in the language; and prepare students for study in Italy. Discussion of social, political, and literary issues in order to improve active command of the language. Majors in Italian studies must design their programs in close consultation with the DUS and seek the guidance of an additional member of the department whose interests closely coincide with the proposed program of study. Admission to the program is limited, and students should apply through the director of undergraduate studies (DUS) no later than the last day of classes in their fifth term of enrollment in Yale College. Emphasis on advanced discussion of Italian culture through authentic readings (short stories, poetry, and comic theater) and contemporary films. Development of advanced reading skills through magazine and newspaper articles, essays, short stories, films, and a novel; enhancement of writing skills through experiments with reviews, essays, creative writing, and business and informal Italian. For further information, see under Special Divisional Majors. Giuseppe Mazzotta, Jane Tylus Assistant Professor Christiana Purdy Moudarres Senior Lectors Michael Farina, Anna Iacovella Lector Simona Lorenzini Lecturer Serena Bassi Affiliated Faculty Roberto González Echevarría ( A beginning course with extensive practice in speaking, reading, writing, and listening and a thorough introduction to Italian grammar. Classroom emphasis on advanced speaking skills and vocabulary building. Activities include group and pairs work, role-playing, and conversation. This workshop examines the intersection of translation and hermeneutics through praxis. Introduction to Italian culture through readings and films. The first half of a two-term sequence designed to increase students' proficiency in the four language skills and advanced grammar concepts. In-class group and pairs activities, role-playing, and conversation. Development of advanced writing and speaking skills. Individual and group work in translation, interpretation, and performance of short texts. Genres include the novella, opera, and film—with emphasis on the creation of a new translation for an opera being performed at Yale. Meaningful practice of creative writing and translation. Historical phenomena and literary and cultural movements that have shaped the city of Naples, Italy, from antiquity to the present. The linguistic richness and diversity that characterizes Naples; political, social, and cultural change; differences between standard Italian and the Neapolitan dialect in literature, film, and everyday life. A study of important Italian films from World War II to the present. Consideration of works that typify major directors and trends. Topics include neorealism, self-reflexivity and metacinema, fascism and war, and postmodernism. Films by Fellini, Antonioni, Rossellini, De Sica, Visconti, Pasolini, Bertolucci, Wertmuller, Tornatore, and Moretti. Strategies employed by filmmakers who adapt literary works to the screen. Detailed comparisons between cinematic adaptations and the novels, plays, and short stories on which they are based. Case studies of literary works that pose a variety of challenges to filmmakers. Introductory survey of the interaction between Catholicism and Western culture from the first century to the present, with a focus on pivotal moments and crucial developments that defined both traditions. and selections from the minor works, with an attempt to place Dante's work in the intellectual and social context of the late Middle Ages by relating literature to philosophical, theological, and political concerns. Key beliefs, rites, and customs of the Roman Catholic Church, and the ways in which they have found expression; interaction between Catholics and the institution of the Church; Catholicism in its cultural and sociopolitical matrices. Medieval understandings of womanhood examined through analysis of writings by and/or about women, from antiquity through the Middle Ages. Introduction to the premodern Western canon and assessment of the role that women played in its construction.
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Duke Kunshan University Humanities Research Center (HRC) promotes research and creative expression in the arts and humanities, and encourages interdisciplinary efforts. Working in close partnership with Duke’s Franklin Humanities Institute, the HRC functions as a key research bridge between faculty and students at Duke and DKU. In addition, the HRC facilitates co-curricular research training, treating the entire DKU campus as a laboratory for humanities research. The HRC lies at the core of DKU’s mission to reinvent liberal arts and science education in a 21st century global context. We bring students, researchers and faculty together to investigate the fundamental questions of human being, and to bring the power of the humanities to bear on the pressing questions of the present age. In particular, humanities research contributes to DKU’s seven animating principles. Humanities Research Center Suite CC2114 Duke Kunshan University 8 Duke Avenue Kunshan, Jiangsu 215316 China James Miller: [email protected] Carlos Rojas: [email protected] Zhang: [email protected] by Sinan Farooqui Philosophy, Ethics and Technology. Three fields which have been interwoven into the fabric of time, overlapping increasingly due to the unstoppable tide of globalization in the modern era. The latest in the series of colloquiums hosted by the Humanities Research Center saw a conversation between two highly respected academics––Dr. Continue reading by Sinan Farooqui Over the eons, the incessant ticking of time has culminated in our present reality: the Anthropocene, or the age of humans. This title comes with implications and indications about the state of the world, its hierarchies and underlying attitudes. And it is upon these very concepts that our distinguished speaker, Professor Whitney Bauman … Continue reading Duke Kunshan University is pleased to announce its first Undergraduate Humanities Research Conference from April 19-21, 2019. All topics broadly within the humanities and interpretive social sciences will be considered. Panels will be formed around themes based on the applications. The Humanities Research Center funds a number of labs and projects from DKU and Duke faculty with a DKU connection. Humanities Labs engage undergraduates in advanced research alongside faculty and graduate student mentors/collaborators from DKU and Duke. Organized around a central theme, each lab brings together at least two faculty and students from the humanities and other disciplines in interdisciplinary, vertically integrated research projects. Book Manuscript Workshops support DKU professors in the tenure and promotion process. Research Workshops support the production of an edited book or special issue of a journal by bringing researchers together for meetings on the DKU campus. All students at DKU are eligible to apply for positions as student fellows in a number of activities and research labs at the Humanities Research Center. Applications are now being accepted for the following projects and activities: The Humanities Research Center is led by two co-directors, James Miller at Duke Kunshan University, and Carlos Rojas at Duke University. The co-directors work with an advisory board of scholars from both universities. The center welcomes the involvement of all Duke faculty, DKU faculty, and affiliated scholars whose work has a humanistic dimension. James Miller, Ph D James Miller is a member of the undergraduate program inaugural faculty and Professor of Humanities at Duke Kunshan University. He is co-director of the Humanities Research Center and responsible for fostering interdisciplinary research in the arts, humanities and interpretive social sciences at DKU. His research lies at the intersection of religion, philosophy, culture and ecology, and he is a noted expert on Daoism, China’s indigenous religion. He has published six books including, most recently, Carlos Rojas, Ph D Carlos Rojas is Professor of Chinese Cultural Studies; Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies; and Arts of the Moving Image. His research focuses on issues of gender and visuality, corporeality and infection, and nationalism and diaspora studies, particularly as they relate to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the global Chinese diaspora. He works primarily in the early modern, modern, and contemporary periods. He is the author of three books: Writing Taiwan: A New Literary History (with David Der-wei Wang), Rethinking Chinese Popular Culture: Cannibalizations of the Canon (with Eileen Cheng-yin Chow), The Oxford Handbook of Chinese Cinemas (with Eileen Cheng-yin Chow), The Oxford Handbook of Modern Chinese Literatures (with Andrea Bachner), and Ghost Protocol: Development and Displacement in Global China Ttitas Chakraborty, Ph D Assistant Professor of History at Duke Kunshan University Member of the Advisory Board Chris Chia, Ph D (ex officio) Associate Director of the Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke University Michaeline Crichlow, Ph D Professor in the Department of African and African American Studies and Sociology at Duke University Thomas J.
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I’m from the small town of Hamilton, MT, located in a beautiful valley with lots of good fishing, hiking, and camping (which coincidentally are some of my favorite activities). I am an English education major, and a psychology minor, hoping to become a high school English teacher someday. My long answer would be the explanation of the numerous places that I moved as a child. My favorite part of my major is that reading and writing give you an opportunity to explore different worlds, different cultures, and different ideas. I am a breakfast connoisseur; writing food critiques is one of my many dreams. My name is Arnold, and I currently study computer science. And I would love to hear about yours here at the Writing Center! I have also dreamed of becoming an interior designer, a restaurant owner, a professional blogger, a published author and an investigative journalist. I grew up in rural Montana, and I chose MSU because of their fantastic engineering program. Born and raised in northern New Mexico, I still call the high desert home and go there often to hang out with my brother, liam, and his service dog, Bonnie. I spend most of my time in the library or the SUB, either hanging out with my friends, studying, or reading a good book. After a couple of years taking time off from school and starting college in Western Massachusetts, I landed here at MSU last fall. I am a liberal studies major in the quaternity option, and I’m most interested in the intersection between conservation and environmental and social justice in the American West. I’m Ellese and I was raised in the mountains of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Unable to surrender the idyllic lifestyle that ski towns provide, I admittedly moved to Bozeman because it was the school with the closest skiing. When the snow’s not falling I love to mountain bike, surf, do yoga, binge read, play guitar, and occasionally trail run. Here at MSU, I am a junior studying English writing and pre-med. My name is Emma, and I am a Post-Bac in my first semester at MSU. I graduated from Seattle University in 2017 in English literature and women & gender Studies, and I’m excited to be back in school and taking classes in preparation for my application to graduate programs in psychology. I want to meet every writer where they are and help them be confident in their writing. I am a junior studying elementary education and pursuing a reading K-12 endorsement and honors degree. Originally from Hsinchu, Taiwan, I love tea (particularly jasmine green with honey), singing, rainy days, Chinese painting, and passion fruit. And I just can’t get enough of culture and the arts. I can’t wait to dive into new learning adventures with this year’s community of inquirers and creators! I was raised by the dank forests of southeast Alaska. I’m a senior majoring in English literature and English writing, minoring in women and gender studies. I believe in writing, collaboration, and sweet, angel-faced goats. My weekends are spent on goat farm, and I love my goats more than anything. I’m from Dillon, MT, but I’ve never successfully ridden a horse or managed to sit through an entire football game. I’m a huge advocate of smelly ski socks, steaming pots of green curry, and hidden huckleberry patches. As a senior(ish) studying English education, women and gender Studies, and some art, I love interdisciplinary learning and all types of writing. I’m a mathematics major with a focus in mathematics, the university’s way to say I really love math. I’m writing all the time, whether it’s proof work, model papers, poems, or short stories. The core of mathematics is presenting your work clearly, concisely, and elegantly, and I am ecstatic to both foster my own skills in it and develop new ways to hone it in others. I’m a sophomore majoring in English lit with a minor in small business and entrepreneurship. I hail from the Crazy Mountains, the crowning jewel of MT. I chose to stay close to my dear dogs: Chief, Grace, and Reggie (all of which I’m guaranteed to mention at least once). I’m deeply in love with huckleberry hot chocolate, all things Halloween, and mindful meditation practices. I’m Isaac, and I’m glad to be back at MSU, and at the Writing Center! I’ve spent much of the last few years working on ranches in eastern California, Wyoming, and Montana. I also studied at Deep Springs College and earned a degree in animal science from MSU. Now I’m here as a post-baccalaureate, completing the courses required to apply to medical schools. When not on campus, I work as a carpenter, prepare playlists for my radio show on KGLT, spend more time than I should playing various instruments, and enjoy making useful things. My name is Jake, and I am a sophomore majoring in history and pre-med. It came about due to a combination of my love of history and a couple of shoulder surgeries. I’m from Scottsdale, Arizona and was originally drawn to Montana for the outstanding snowboarding and beautiful vistas. One of my favorite parts of life and writing is getting to meet new people and discover new forms of study. Outside of the Writing Center, I enjoy snowboarding at Big Sky, mountain biking the flatter hills around town, and hiking whenever and wherever I can. I’m Jordan, a third-year English writing and literature major. I’m excited to be working with so many people from different perspectives. I am a sophomore at MSU, and I’m majoring in cell biology and neuroscience. I am also working towards a minor in English literature. I grew up in Whitefish, MT, and so I love all things outdoors! My favorite activities are: trail running, playing soccer, hiking, and traveling. This is my first year at the Writing Center, and I’m super excited to be here! My name is Juliana and I am a junior studying English lit and writing. This will be my second year working at the Writing Center, and I’m super excited for it. In my free time I will most likely be found spending time with my puppy, Teddy. I also love creative writing, skate skiing, and lazy days. I’m Kaden, an émigré from mountain-swaddled Alaska who sought a college campus equally blessed by tectonics. I’m a senior, majoring in mechanical engineering, minoring in writing, and thinking about adding another. When not in class, I love slack-lining, skiing, dancing with flammable objects (think Lilo and Stitch), and being completely non-functional until I’ve finished the latest book I’m devouring. Born in Cedar City, Utah but having spent the majority of my childhood in Belgrade, Montana, I’m now pursuing degrees in English, economics, and honors. I’m currently trying to talk myself out of allowing the Writing Center to take over my academics, but it’s hard because I love the Writing Center—mostly because of the people who come into it but partly for its cookies and couches, too. I’m convinced it is a place for meaningful relationships, and I’m looking forward to a full semester of them! My name is Maddie, and I am a junior in political science. This will be my second year as a tutor, and I can’t wait to read what you guys have for me! My name is Madison, and I am a fourth-year student studying economics and global and multi-cultural studies. I am extremely coffee addicted (buying a coffee grinder and French press will do that to you), love backpacking, and bake like it’s going out of style. I adore Montana so much that I stayed in Bozeman, my hometown, for college. I love painting, listening to True Crime podcasts, baking mini desserts, tending to my many plants, and backpacking! On campus, I am an advocate with the VOICE Center and have been involved with Sustained Dialogue. This is my second semester at the Writing Center, and I am so excited to begin tutoring! I came to Bozeman a few years ago and am falling in love with this different, beautiful mountain landscape. I love mountains and exploring them whether it be hiking, running, or skiing. I am double majoring in civil engineering and English literature. It may seem like a funky combination, but it aligns with my passions perfectly: caring for and exploring our planet and learning through reading and writing. My name is Natalie, and I am a sophomore studying writing, literature, and French. I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and I hope to go back there one day. As far as activities and interests go, I absolutely enjoy doing nothing. I spend most of my weekends watching movies, binge watching shows, reading, and writing... I look forward to working with you in the Writing Center! My name is Nathan, and I’m a recent addition to the Writing Center and a sophomore studying history and accounting. My passions include hiking, climbing, reading, cribbage, and meeting new people. I’m fascinated by people’s wonderful ideas and the ways they choose to express their thoughts with words. I thoroughly enjoy listening to people talk about themselves and their passions. I have an intense passion for community and want nothing more than to positively impact the world. We can (respectfully) talk politics, podemos hablar un poco de español, drink some tea or coffee, and, of course, discuss your writing! I am Soumilee, and I know that name’s difficult to pronounce, but nonetheless I relish the effort that goes behind it. The majority of my writing is in the form of academic papers and written letters. I am from an over populous city in India, Kolkata, and that’s where the base of my foundation lies. My main academic concentration is neuroscience, additional to biochemistry and an honors degree. Apart from being a voracious reader, I love— talking on insanely bizarre issues, swimming, taking long walks and blissfully forgetting to do most of regular lifestyle stuff (like paying bills ^_^).
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since the early thirties, when Charles (Lucky) Luciano tamed the more anarchic impulses of the Mob, it has been an article of local faith that the greater metropolitan area is controlled by the Five Families. Melfi, started working on a therapist’s-office scene in which Tony despairs of his son and of his failures in school. “That way of waving her hand in disgust, that comes from her, too. There are, as it happens, five and a half—the half being the De Cavalcantes of Union County, the only freestanding Mob family in New Jersey. Gandolfini appears in practically every scene and, as a result, often works shooting days that run fourteen, sixteen hours. And all those lines: ‘I wish the Lord would take me now’; ‘I won’t talk to anyone on the phone after dark.’“I used to tell people stories about talking to my mother, and I got endless laughs with the shocking things she said—how she made a mandate of ‘I have to speak my mind’ and ‘Do you think you’re going to change me now? I felt sometimes that she was like a performance artist, and her act was her level of pessimism about everything.”In “The Sopranos,” the Mafia life is not so much the central subject as it is the intensifying agent. Like their more powerful cousins across the river, the De Cavalcantes have in recent years suffered the indignities of federal investigation and the decimation of their numbers, so much so that they are experiencing the of existential dread. He calls his ex-wife and begs her to take the kids off his hands. Like certain athletes, he psychs himself into concentration through a weird verbal violence: a shout, a snort, a nasty, self-directed epithet. ’ and ‘I’m no phony,’ all under the banner of honesty. The conventions of the Mob heighten the conventions and contradictions of a modern family. Tony tries to help his friend Artie Bucco, so he burns down his restaurant. National franchisers now haul most of the trash; the pharaonic earners of Florham Park and Belleville are sweating over subpoenas; and, in the city, Little Italy dissolves into Chinatown while tourists stand on Mulberry Street summoning the memory of Crazy Joe Gallo’s last supper. As the late columnist Murray Kempton once asked, “Where are the scungilli of yesteryear? planted a bug in the Kenilworth offices of the don, Simone Rizzo De Cavalcante, known as Sam the Plumber—plumbing supplies being one of his favored businesses. When he blows a scene, his reaction can be volcanic. Chase leans over and whispers, “It’s the last week of school.”Bracco has pulled such stunts before. I remember she told me, in front of my wife, ‘You’ll get bored with her.’ We’re married thirty-three years. The violence, which is horrific but rare, undermines everyone’s ambition to be normal. Carmela is full of churchly moral posturing (“What’s different between you and me is you’re going to Hell when you die! ”The first blow to the De Cavalcantes came in the early sixties, when the F. Already, in those wiretaps, one could sense that the Mob’s influence was not quite what we believed it to be. His kid needs a therapist; his girlfriend wants breast implants. Bracco was as lighthearted as Gandolfini was fierce. It began with Tony expressing his concern for a friend of the family, Jackie Aprile, Jr.“Twenty-two years old, living in a housing project. ” All the while, Gandolfini is twitching, scratching his earlobe, working out a crick in his neck, wincing, every gesture another betrayal of anxiety and dread.“In the end,” Tony says, “I failed him.” He shrugs, shrugs magnificently. ” This is Tony’s customary reaction to death, to disaster: his defense mechanism. ”And then Lorraine Bracco lets rip with a whoopee cushion that she sneaked onto the set. Not long ago, in another therapy scene, she stuck hair extensions under her skirt, and, just as Gandolfini was delivering a line, she crossed her legs, a parody of Sharon Stone in “Basic Instinct.”“I don’t think we’ve got anything here yet,” John Patterson said. At least they’re not the silent, stinky ones.”They settle down. ”), but she happily spends Tony’s blood money, and, with his skill for threat, she shakes down a woman to write a college recommendation for her daughter, Meadow. “We got thirty-one or thirty-two soldiers,” De Cavalcante is overheard saying. Gandolfini, it can be fairly said, loses his concentration.“Next line! (“I want you to write that letter,” she says evenly.) And at Meadow’s school, Verbum Dei, the soccer coach turns out to be a child molester. “Most of them are old people who ain’t making much.” In another tape, he sounds like a salaried municipal worker computing his pension: “If I can continue for two or three years, I will be able to show forty thousand or fifty thousand dollars legitimately and can walk out. learned of the family’s grandest designs, their plans to sell everything from stolen Viagra tablets on the Internet to an ersatz “original” screenplay for “The Wizard of Oz.” One can hardly imagine the omnipotent Corleones planning, as the De Cavalcantes did, to forge “vintage” Superman comic books and sell them. The great surprise is that Tony, blissed out on Vicodin and booze, doesn’t have Coach Hauser killed. An episode of “The Sopranos” typically has a primary and a secondary plot, with thirteen or so scenes, or “beats,” each; there is a tertiary plot, with five or six beats; and there are, possibly, one or two additional mini-plots, with just a couple of beats. Then my family situation will be resolved.” Sam the Plumber’s plans for his golden years were derailed only slightly—he spent 1971 through 1973 in prison. “That would kill the comic industry,” an associate named Sal Calciano says with evident satisfaction. Nobody ever [expletive] thought of it before.”Perhaps all that will be left of the De Cavalcante legacy is the plaintive tone of their wiretaps. In one of the shapeliest of Chase’s episodes, “College,” from the first season, Tony takes Meadow on a trip to look at schools in Maine. In the car, Meadow asks her father, “Are you in the Mafia? A few years after his release, he abandoned north Jersey for a condo in Fort Lauderdale. The De Cavalcante family is centered in Elizabeth, with branch offices at the Jersey shore, in Toms River, and in southern Brooklyn. took the snitch out of action, spirited him away to the witness-protection program, and arrested fifty-eight men, among them one of the family’s acting bosses, Vincent (Vinny Ocean) Palermo. Joseph (Joey O) Masella, Palermo’s driver, seems typically forlorn, an emblematic mobster at the fin de siècle. This is a signal event for a parent and child of the upper-middle classes, a period of enforced intimacy, just as the child is about to leave home forever. ” Tony confesses, up to a point, but protests that if he wasn’t doing what he was doing he’d be selling patio furniture on Route 22. ”) Meanwhile, at home in Jersey, Carmela, played with deadpan brilliance by Edie Falco, feeds baked ziti and red wine to the parish priest, Father Phil—and they have a one-night stand as they watch the repressed lovers in “The Remains of the Day” on DVD. In January of 1998, investigators started to undermine the De Cavalcantes as thoroughly as they had the Five Families. Dozens of members will come to trial soon on charges of murder, extortion, loan-sharking, bookmaking, robbery, mail fraud, and trafficking in stolen property. In Maine, Tony encounters a former rival who was in the witness-protection program, and, while Meadow is interviewing at Colby, he garrotes the rat with an electrical cord. This season, the parental theme has got even more pronounced as Anthony, Jr., descends into the murk of adolescence and Meadow, now a freshman at Columbia, dates a half Jewish, half African-American young man, whom Tony refers to, alternately, as “Sambo” and “Buckwheat.” The Soprano kids are not, as kids are elsewhere on television, funny, triumphant, or powerful; they are grotesquely, realistically confused. Federal agents wired an informer, who proved so cunning a rat that he almost won his stripes as a made man. A few days after shooting ended, I met Chase for coffee. He sat behind the director, John Patterson, as Gandolfini and Lorraine Bracco, who plays Dr. He takes a long sip of Coke and makes a call on his cell phone. “My mother was so downbeat, so relentlessly pessimistic—and that, in Livia, all comes from her,” Chase said. For all that, Chase is still dubious about television—“I always wanted to get out of the television business and would still like to”—but on the set he seemed to work in a warm zone of engagement and satisfaction. ”Gandolfini gets out of his chair and walks to the office’s antechamber. Tony’s mother, Livia (the name of Tiberius’s harridan mother in “I, Claudius”), is modelled on Chase’s own, he told me, “though I should point out that she never tried to have me killed.” Nancy Marchand, who died last year, played the role so chillingly that, with the mere wave of her hand, sons across the nation, Italian or otherwise, could feel the zing of guilt along their spines. Like the late Joey O Masella, Tony Soprano is everywhere persecuted by circumstance and the dramatis personae of his life: his demonic mother, Livia, despises him; his uncle Junior betrays him; his sister, Janice, exploits him; his wife, Carmela, lectures him; his sullen children, Meadow and Anthony, Jr., ignore him; and the F. At HBO, Chase has nearly unlimited creative control and “The Sopranos” wins, by cable standards, unprecedented ratings. Gandolfini’s Jersey accent (he’s from middle-class Park Ridge, in Bergen County) is softer than Tony’s, but it is not entirely clear from the sound of his voice who is talking. And yet the most powerful autobiographical presence in “The Sopranos” derives not from the Mob but from family. The show, a creation of a television writer and producer from north Jersey named David Chase, has none of the operatic moralism and ambition of “The Godfather” pictures but, rather, combines the camaraderie of “Good Fellas,” the free-associative comedy of “Portnoy’s Complaint,” and the kitchen-table agonies of “The Honeymooners.” Tony Soprano, played sublimely by the Gleasonesque James Gandolfini, is paterfamilias to both his crew (Big Pussy, Silvio, Paulie Walnuts, et al.) and his extended suburban family. Fox, CBS, NBC, and ABC all turned down Chase’s pilot for “The Sopranos.” And a good thing, too: with commercial breaks and network censors, “The Sopranos” undoubtedly would have become castrati. In school, he knew the son of a mobster, and he read transporting crime stories in the now defunct Newark about the Boiardo family, a Genovese crew working in Essex County. “You know, by rights, I gotta kill you,” Palermo says. On October 10, 1998, Masella was found dead in a parking lot in Marine Park with bullet holes in his pancreas, stomach, spleen, and intestine. A couple of months later, Home Box Office began broadcasting a new series about a New Jersey crime family, “The Sopranos.” Their domain is Essex County, not Union—a critical difference. And I mostly have not followed that.” Then he revamped a lingering idea: to portray a suburban American family and cloak the story in the details of an ancient genre—the gangster film. His father had a hardware store, and his mother worked for the telephone company. In June, 1998, Palermo, by way of warning, kicks Masella in the groin and tells him he’d better get square. There were some close calls with the likes of Ridley Scott and Michael Mann, but, he said, “I could never get anything going.” Soon he was making money, quite a lot of money, working in television, including some decent shows like “The Rockford Files” and “Northern Exposure,” and yet he complained all the while, to his wife, to his daughter, to his therapist. “The most important piece of career advice my wife gave me was, If it’s fulfilling for you, do it. His family, which changed its name from De Cesare to Chase, was middle class. He owes a hundred thousand dollars to various gangsters, who are not likely to forgive him or his debt. He has nightmares and panic attacks; he sees a therapist; he takes Prozac and Xanax. They wanted to distribute it as a legitimate picture, but if it failed they would do some ‘insertion footage.’ ”Over the years, Chase has written nine feature scripts, none of which have been produced. ” He goes out, and says, “I don’t know what I’m fucking talking about.”Finally, Gandolfini returns to the analysand’s chair and nails the scene. He watched “The Untouchables” on Thursday nights and “The Public Enemy” on Million Dollar Movie. On March 3, 1999, some De Cavalcante members, an enforcer named Joseph (Tin Ear) Sclafani and a capo named Anthony Rotondo, are overheard on the wiretaps remarking on the uncanny resemblance between this thing of ours and this thing of theirs. In the beginning, he worked on the crew of a few soft-core features, “pussycat-theatre stuff.” Chase said he had a job on one film “with two legitimate actors, about a senator’s daughter who meets a handsome guy at a ski lodge. David Chase grew up on Mob movies, and even with a considerable awareness of Mob reality. “I only watched it as a kid.” At Stanford film school, Chase made a gangster movie, for twelve hundred dollars, called “The Rise and Fall of Bug Manousous,” about a man who is fed up with life, escapes into a fantasy of being a twenties mobster, and then dies in his own fantasy.“I thought that maybe one day I would get to smoke Gauloises and make little dark enigmatic pictures,” Chase said. He has spent his adult life working in television, all the while dreaming of making feature films. “Television is crap, and I don’t watch it,” he told me. Chase is fifty-five, a trim, wary, almost expressionless man with hooded eyes and the sardonic wit of one who seems utterly distrustful of his current success. I visited the set a few weeks ago, as Chase was filming the thirteenth and final episode of the season. Melfi, Tony’s therapist—are shot in Queens, at the old Silvercup bakery, which has been a television studio since 1983. The interiors—the Soprano house, the office in the Bada Bing strip club, and the office of Dr. One week it was Corky, one week it was, well, from the beginning it was Albert G.”Sclafani, however, feels ignored, a Jersey guy’s anxiety. The producers of “The Sopranos” shoot the exteriors in Lodi, North Caldwell, Verona, Newark. Great acting.” He adds, “Every show you watch, more and more you pick up somebody. We talked about a particularly good scene in the season opener in which Anthony, Jr., is trying to figure out “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Meadow, with a few weeks of Columbia behind her, helps out with all the critical self-possession of Northrop Frye. She tries to get him to see that the whiteness, the snow, in Robert Frost’s scheme is symbolic of death. Anthony, Jr., cries out, “But I thought meant death! ” In “The Sopranos,” even homework is ominous.“Instead of doing ‘Eight Is Enough’ or something, we set it in a situation of life and death,” Chase said. “The Mob provides an essential set of contradictions in Tony Soprano’s character. It also gives you the possibility of danger and then hours of non-danger. And it gives you a world that is something allegedly private and secret.“I thought the Mob was expired as a movie form before we ever started,” Chase went on. I have nothing invested in Mob movies.”Does “The Sopranos,” with all its postmodern self-awareness, with all its evidence of decline, signal the end of the Mafia movie? Will the Mob movie go the way of the Western, revived rarely and only then as something nostalgic (“Unforgiven”), sensational (“The Wild Bunch”), or comic (“Blazing Saddles”)? It is remarkable to think now how such a rich movie genre came out of such a small, violent, and hermetic world. There were a few silent Mob pictures of distinction—D. Griffith’s 1912 short “The Musketeers of Pig Alley,” Raoul Walsh’s “The Regeneration” (1915), and Josef von Sternberg’s “Underworld” (1927)—but the first golden age was ushered in by two events: the advent of sound, in 1927, which gave us the jolt of gunfire and the bite of the gangsters’ slang and wit, and the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, in 1929, which made Al Capone a national media figure. Three films released between 19—Mervyn Le Roy’s “Little Caesar,” William Wellman’s “Public Enemy,” and Howard Hawks’s “Scarface”—set the standard. Both David Chase and Tony Soprano adore them and the theme they established. As Robert Warshow pointed out in his 1948 essay “The Gangster as Tragic Hero,” the appeal of these pictures, beyond their visceral excitement and their opportunity for escapism, resides in “that part of the American psyche which rejects the qualities and the demands of modern life, which rejects ‘Americanism’ itself,” the comfort and conformity, the sunny optimism and unbounded opportunity. The gangster in these movies is a man whose response to harsh circumstance is brutal and ultimately doomed. He is possessed of perverse ambition and perverse nobility. With our ids, we enjoy his murderous ascent, we delight in his malapropisms and limitless appetites, and with our superegos we are satisfied by his inevitable fall, we feel a sense of superiority and relief. The enjoyment of gangster pictures is a guilty pleasure, and, in the early thirties, Hollywood could not distribute these movies without at least making a show of contrition. Both “The Public Enemy” and “Little Caesar” begin with warning labels in the guise of sermons. for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”In both pictures, the hero (or antihero, as he would be called later on) rises from small-time criminal to singular status in the big city and is then pursued and killed. After seeing the name James Cagney and the rest of the cast list for Wellman’s picture, we read the message “It is the ambition of the authors of ‘The Public Enemy’ to honestly depict an environment that exists today in a certain strata of American life, rather than glorify the hoodlum or the criminal.” “Little Caesar” begins with a quotation from the Book of Matthew printed on faux parchment: “ . This is, more or less, the arc of all Mob pictures: the brutal man who believes himself invulnerable and then ends up dead in the gutter. Robinson, as Enrico Bandello—clearly a Capone figure—is dying and breathes the immortal line “Mother of Mercy! ”Howard Hawks, in trying to make “Scarface,” suffered worse than Wellman and Le Roy. Hawks and his main screenwriter, Ben Hecht, wanted to make a picture that somehow combined Al Capone and the Borgias. But the Hays Office, headed by the former Republican Party chairman Will Hays and his deputy, Colonel Jason Joy, would not give a movie the production seal of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America without a thorough review. Hays and Joy scoured scripts for any traces of amorality. Joy’s reading of the script of “Scarface” was particularly damning and left Hawks despondent. For weeks, it seemed that there would be no movie at all, according to Todd Mc Carthy’s biography of Hawks. Hays, for example, complained that Scarface’s mother was a “grasping virago, distinctly an Italian criminal type mother”; he insisted that the mother “present to the son a dialogue telling him what the Italian race has done for posterity and that he, Scarface, is bringing odium and shame upon his entire race.” Most galling of all to Hawks, the Hays Office threatened to withhold the production seal unless he added a finale scene with a judge condemning Scarface on the gallows. “You’ve commercialized murder to satisfy your personal greed for power,” the judge intones. “You’ve killed innocent women and children with brutal indifference. There is no place in this country for your type.” Hawks and his producer, Howard Hughes, battled with Hays and Joy for nearly a year, but there was no getting around most of these compromises. In 1933, with the end of Prohibition, the image of the mobster as a misbegotten freedom fighter became obsolete; in 1934, with the formalization of the Hays Code, it became untenable. In “Dead End” and “Angels with Dirty Faces,” the gangster became an object of sociological study and audience pity; in comedies like “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse” and “Ball of Fire,” he became the butt of the joke; and in Raoul Walsh’s “The Roaring Twenties,” made in 1939, the mobster became a figure of nostalgia. Crime films headed off in two main directions: treating the psychopathic lone criminal (Walsh’s “White Heat,” Henry Hathaway’s “Kiss of Death”) or highlighting the private detective. From John Huston’s “The Maltese Falcon” to Howard Hawks’s “The Big Sleep” and Edward Dmytryk’s “Murder My Sweet,” Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe and their like were freelance survivalists in the crepuscular urban jungle. They were quick-witted and not averse to violence, and their instinct for survival was inhibited by an internal code of ethics that pushed them, if only grudgingly, to the side of order. The first important Mafia film after “Scarface” was “On the Waterfront” (1954), in which the Mob appears in its new, postwar guise as a monkey wrench in the machinery of liberal capitalism. As the has-been fighter, Marlon Brando sacrifices himself in a last (and seemingly futile) stand against Lee J. The big-time Mafia, the Mafia of great American Romans running New York, is the subject of Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” (1972). Nearly thirty years later, “The Godfather” is still terrifying and remains, in many ways, the best of all gangster films—we are not likely to forget the solemn one-liners, the oaths, the assassinations of Luca Brasi and Sonny Corleone, or the Don’s sunlit death in his tomato garden—but, like the many operas it recalls, the film is generously dressed with the tinsel of camp. To watch “The Godfather” now is not unlike going to hear Puccini; soap opera coexists with high art. Similarly, when you see Brando in the opening scene of “The Godfather,” dispensing favors in his gloomy study, you can’t help thinking of all the parodies that followed, including Brando himself as a bulked-up version of Don Corleone in the Matthew Broderick vehicle “The Freshman.”The characters in “The Sopranos” are obsessed with “The Godfather,” but their maker is obsessed with Martin Scorsese and his street-level view of things. David Chase thought the Mafia movie had finally exhausted itself in 1990 with “Good Fellas.” Scorsese’s gangster films, beginning with “Mean Streets,” in 1973, are about guys who sit around all day eating, gabbing, and collecting money in bags, guys who intimidate truck drivers and mailmen, guys for whom no petty scam is an indignity. Chase pays homage to “Good Fellas” by having the actor Michael Imperioli, who was shot in the foot in Scorsese’s film, do the same thing to a bakery clerk in the series. Most of the criticism of Coppola’s “Godfather III” focussed on the script, which was inferior to the first two. But, by the nineties, the problem was a proper suspension of disbelief. Somehow, the sight of Al Pacino, as the aging Don, trying to lean on the Vatican in “Godfather III” is no less funny than Pacino, as a nudnik gangster in “Donnie Brasco” (1997), trying to bust open parking meters with a sledgehammer. Chase’s creative leap was to grasp the transformation of the Mob genre, its passage from tragedy to farce, and, against all odds, make something new. There are still mobsters today in racketeering, labor unions, and gambling, but no one questions that Cosa Nostra, the real one, is fast expiring. As Tony laments in the pilot episode, “I came in at the end. The best is over.” Prosecutors and gangsters agree on the reasons: federal initiatives like the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations () Act and the effectiveness of investigators, who mastered the art of wiretapping and flipping witnesses, have nearly wiped out the Five Families. David Kelley, the chief of organized crime and terrorism in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, told me, “All the old rituals and codes have eroded over time, and the reasons are simple: greed and convenience. There’s a sense now of every man for himself, a turn from ‘this thing of ours’ to ‘this thing of mine.’ ” Gangsters used to talk righteously about avoiding the drug trade, but they couldn’t resist the profit margins; and when a gangster is facing ten to life for narcotics trafficking— as opposed to a few years for hijacking a truck—he is more likely to testify for the government. Also, as Tony Soprano demonstrates, the Mafia life is highly stressful, what with all the beatings and the search warrants. Many elders would get out if they could (“I don’t want it. The whole [expletive] life”), and many of them do what they can to make sure their kids go straight. Pump-and-dump brokerage scams and truck hijackings are nice, but they are hardly the stuff of “The Godfather.”In the movies, gangsters are appealing because they embody not only a rude dominance but also a code and a sentiment, a fantasy of brotherhood. In the postindustrial world of no loyalties, of no commitments, gangsters trade blood oaths. “He’s a friend of ours”—that’s the way a Mob guy introduces a second guy to a third. Real mobsters, especially our degraded contemporaries, are not as satanically charming as Bob Hoskins in “The Long Good Friday” or as hypnotically intelligent as Christopher Walken in “King of New York.” A few years ago, a friend, a prosecutor, asked if I wanted to write about a Mob assassin who was in the witness-protection program. He was living in what the prosecutor called “a warm state.” Johnny Johnson (a bogus name, but why get him shot? ) was small and middle-aged; he had, for a living, killed people on behalf of the Gordon Chandler Mob, one of Harlem’s biggest heroin-and-numbers outfits. He had killed at least ten men, spent more than half his life in jail, fuzzed his mind with dope and angel dust, turned state’s evidence, and, thanks to “the program,” avoided a rat’s assassination. Now he was selling aluminum siding and coaching Little League. Sometimes he slipped back to the city to see a woman, and sometimes the woman slipped down to see him, a practice that is not, strictly speaking, a bright idea. For a couple of days, he talked about his life, about his horrible childhood and the squalid city institutions that made a pass at raising him, about his attraction to the glittering crooks in the neighborhood. (“My real father,” he said, “was Bumpy Johnson,” the infamous Harlem gangster, who died in 1968.) He talked about his first murder (“When it happened, I didn’t give a fuck, no remorse”), and then he talked about his second and his third and his fourth. He talked about meeting John Gotti and “Jerry the Jew” and an entire rainbow coalition of thugs and how someone got his head bashed in with a baseball bat. He cried all through lunch at the International House of Pancakes. There are more black-Mob pictures than we know what to do with: “Black Caesar,” “Hoodlum,” “New Jack City.” What’s left? Done: Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in America.” A Russian Mob picture? At times, he was terrifying to listen to, at others excruciatingly boring. The aluminum-siding business wasn’t coming through with the cash, and it certainly wasn’t giving him what he thought was his due. Try “Little Odessa.” Even David Chase thinks the genre, like the cowboy movie, like the Busby Berkeley musical, has reached the vanishing point. Finally, as I was getting ready to leave, Johnny asked me, “So, how much? It was no simple thing explaining to a retired professional assassin why I couldn’t do that. “And I don’t care if I never see another one,” he said. Am I gonna let all this love and knowledge go to waste? In one episode of “The Sopranos,” midway through the first season, the young, impetuous mobster Christopher Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, tries to write a screenplay in the hours when he is not robbing trucks or picking up cannolis for Tony. My cousin Gregory’s girlfriend, Amy, the one who works for Tarantino, said, Mob stories are always hot. ” But Tony would sooner see Christopher dead than let him spill the family secrets. He seems almost to speak for Chase.“I love movies, you know that,” Christopher tells his girlfriend. And, besides, Christopher can barely spell, much less give new life to an old genre. And, as Chase told me, there’s probably only one more season left in him before “The Sopranos” gets stale.
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fake Youtube Id Superbad Scene Writing to Heal Workshop Series Do you want to learn how to reflect inwards and unlock what you keep hidden, even from yourself? Find out how expressive writing leads to deeper self-acceptance and healing. In this workshop, participants will move through a series of writing prompts designed to explore themes connected to their lived experience. Using creative non-fiction and fiction, poetry and journaling, you will: Kat Mc Nichol is the Editor-in-Chief of Dreamers Creative Writing and the Co-Editor for the Journal of Integrated Studies. in English Literature, and an MAIS in Writing and New Media, and Literary Studies, and she is working on a Ph D in Career Writing at the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands. She is also a Director of Marketing-Communications in Waterloo and has spent the past 12 years writing marketing copy for the high-tech industry.
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The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Goddard College (BFAW) is an undergraduate degree program comprised of a community of learners, students, and faculty who aspire to integrate the following into their lives: creative writing as an art and craft done individually and with others, an engaged study of literature, an understanding of language and the social context, and reflection on the role of the artist in the world. The program is low-residency and grounded in the principles and practices of student-centered, progressive education. The BFA community values experimentation and encourages students to write in ways that might be new for them. BFAW students, in concert with faculty, design a program whereby they write in two genres (poetry, creative non-fiction, fiction, drama, hybrid forms), study works across eras and cultures, become acquainted with literary theory, write on the ethics of being a writer, and compile a senior study which contains a creative manuscript and critical writing that puts their work in context. BFAW students engage the art of literature and character-based writing rather than mass-market uses of language. Request more information from an Admissions Counselor. The BFA in Creative Writing Faculty are writers who have been published and produced internationally, and are recognized in their fields. Faculty members work one-on-one with students as faculty advisors throughout the semester, as well as facilitating group studies, teaching workshops at residency, and acting as second readers to students’ final projects. Our faculty is comprised of national and international scholar practitioners with extensive experience supporting students taking charge of their learning. Faculty members’ work with students is focused, clear, and rigorous. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is for students who will develop, or are developing, a significant practice as a creative writer in one or more of these literary genres: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, dramatic writing, or hybrid forms. Students may complete their first and second year of study in Goddard’s Individualized Studies track or transfer up to 75 semester-hour credits from one or more previous institutions. Twice a year, at the start of each semester, students attend an intensive eight-day residency at the College’s Plainfield, Vermont campus. Residencies are a rich time of exploration, connection, and planning. At the start of the semester, students attend an intensive eight-day residency in Vermont, followed by 16 weeks of independent work and self-reflection in close collaboration with a faculty advisor. Goddard pioneered this format nearly a half century ago to meet the needs of adult students with professional, family, and other obligations seeking learning experiences grounded in the real-world. Residencies are a time to explore, network, learn, witness, and share with peers, staff, and faculty. Students work with advisors and peers in close-knit advising groups to forge individualized study plans that describe their learning objectives for the semester. Working closely with their faculty advisors, and supported by fellow learners, students identify areas of study, personal goals, relevant resources, and avenues to achieve these goals. Students also attend and are invited to help organize workshops, keynote addresses, celebrations and other events intended to stimulate, inspire, and challenge. This low-residency model combines the breadth of a collaborative community with the focus of personalized learning, enhanced by insightful exchanges with a faculty advisor. All students must satisfy General Requirements for the BA/BFA at Goddard College. In addition, students pursuing the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing will demonstrate a particular competency in the arts and humanities as follows: You will leave the program with a complete draft of a creative manuscript that has gone through a number of revisions. At the same time, you will have gained a deep connection to your writing peers, many of whom will continue to sustain you as the work of writing continues.
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An inquest into the death of Dan Collins, an English and Creative Writing student at the University of Birmingham, has revealed that he was assessed by a number of mental health professionals as recently as weeks before his death. Dan had been referred following family illness and a break up with his girlfriend of five months, which was described as an "intense" relationship. His ex-girlfriend contacted the university twice to raise her concerns regarding his mental health. At the inquest, the coroner said Dan had fallen into a "black hole" in mental health services, and said there is "an on-going risk to other people who are in a period of crisis". The coroner heard Dan had spent two days in Queen Elizabeth Hospital three weeks before his death after he overdosed on paracetamol, yet was discharged following an assessment by Birmingham’s Rapid, Assessment, Interface and Discharge (RAID) team. Dan was discharged as he did not meet the criteria for sectioning, was not a risk to himself or others, had "full capacity and insight" and was willing to accept help. Zara Welch, one of the RAID team nurses who carried out the assessment of Dan, told the coroner: “My main concerns for Dan were not what he was telling us. He seemed flat – he said all the right things but he did present as someone who needed some help.” Following his discharge, Dan was visited by a senior mental health practitioner from Forward Thinking Birmingham’s crisis team, the city’s mental health partnership for people up to the age of 25. He was then referred to mental health counselling service The Living Well Consortium and given a leaflet with ways to contact the service, yet he never sought the service. Dan met with members of the University of Birmingham's student welfare team following his overdose, and had his last meeting there on the 25th April with college welfare manager Adrian Powney. Mr Powney stated that Dan told him he was going to arrange an appointment with his GP. The 22-year-old of Kensington Avenue, Sparkbrook, was found in an area of Moseley Bog on April 28th this year. The post-mortem examination revealed he had taken an overdose. The University of Birmingham's counselling service has faced much criticism recently, following a series of complaints regarding issues such as the temporary suspension of appointments in December. The Tab subsequently launched an investigation and found the university employed only six counsellors for its 30,000 students. Six months ago we reported that the University of Birmingham were aware of Uo B student Andrew Warden's mental health issues, prior to his death by suicide. His family later criticised the university's duty of care and failure to make them aware of his deteriorating mental health. James Bennett, Assistant Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, said the gap in services the inquest had highlighted meant he would write a Report to Prevent Future Deaths. He said: “I do think that Dan fell into a black hole in some way. I am concerned that there is an on-going risk to other people who are in a period of crisis.
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fake Youtube Id Superbad Scene fake Youtube Id Superbad Scene The department offers many opportunities to students interested in creative writing. We treat the study of creative writing not as an alternative to rigorous scholarly engagement in the reading of and writing about literary and critical texts nor as an exercise in easy self-expression. Rather, it is a discipline whose students practice the techniques and strategies of close reading and whatever writing is appropriate to a given genre: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and playwriting. The English Department offers electives in each of these genres, as well as one course that introduces students to the writing of nonfiction and another that introduces them to the writing of poetry, fiction, and plays. Throughout the Creative Writing curriculum, students learn to see the crucial interrelationship of reading and writing practices, as they begin to note and to take part in the myriad choices a poet or essayist or novelist or playwright makes at the level of, for example, the word, the sentence, the poetic line, the line of dialogue, the scene, the stanza, the paragraph. Over the past several years, undergraduate English majors have been admitted into seven of the top ten MFA Creative Writing programs in the U. S.; they have published novels and volumes of poetry; and their nonfiction has appeared in publications ranging from . These students attended equally to creative and scholarly studies, following the English Department’s curricular emphasis on the critical intersection of these disciplines. Many majors primarily interested not in creative writing but in literary criticism find that creative writing courses add a valuable dimension to their experience of and knowledge about literature, and many non-majors also take creative writing courses. , the undergraduate literary journal, is an outlet for students to publish their own and each other’s work, and an opportunity for English majors and students from other disciplines to work together toward a community project that involves staff meetings, public readings, practice in the editorial demands and obligations of producing a literary journal, and interaction with faculty advisors. The journal is published once a year, usually in the Fall semester, and while it takes submissions from all Queens College undergraduates, it is selective in deciding on what student work to publish. Many students whose work was included in a recent edition of the journal were accepted into nationally known MFA Creative Writing programs, including the Queens College MFA. Active engagement in the production of our literary journal provides students with the opportunity both to socialize with their classmates, and to gain insight into the editorial processes and business concerns involved in publishing an annual literary journal. There is, additionally, an online literary journal, , produced by students enrolled in the MFA program. Constructed, edited, and maintained entirely by MFA students, not as an opportunity to publish their own work but as an online site to encourage new and innovative writing, it complements As an English major, you may take as many as three creative writing courses among the six electives for the major. You may take more, and you may take any of the 300-level workshops more than once, but only three creative writing courses (and three different ones) may be applied to the major. Additional credits may be applied to the 120 needed for graduation. The courses, all of which feature reading and writing assignments in the strategies and techniques of a specific genre and the extensive use of peer review, are as follows: English 200W: Essay Writing The writing and criticism of formal and informal essays, various types of articles, reviews, and reportage, with an emphasis on the fundamentals of style and structure and the development of effective expression. This course is recommended for majors and non-majors who wish more work in the basics of essay writing. 201W: Essay Writing for Special Fields Practice in writing appropriate to a particular field, such as medicine, law, business, music, or film. The course is regularly offered as a BALA class on business writing, with enrollment limited to students in that program. When it is offered on a different topic, it is open to all students who have completed 110. English 210W: Introduction to Creative Writing An introduction to the writing of poetry, fiction, and plays, with related readings. English 211W: Writing Nonfictional Prose An introduction to the writing of nonfiction an art form, in such modes as the personal essay, the review, new journalism, the memoir, and the postmodernist pastiche, with related readings. English 301W: Fiction Workshop Intensive practice in the writing of fiction, with related readings. English 302: Playwriting Workshop Intensive practice in the writing of plays, with related readings. English 303W: Nonfiction Workshop Intensive practice in the writing of nonfiction as an art form, with related readings. In some semesters, the course focuses on one mode of nonfiction, such as the memoir or environmental writing. English 304: Poetry Workshop Intensive practice in the writing of poems, with related readings.
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The Last Wave@The Loft, Pune, October 27, 2014
Thanks to Khushru and Rustam for the pics...and to all who came for what what a very nice evening.
Organic Jarawa: An episode in a novel about the Andamans comes eerily close to reality
http://www.thenewsminute.com/lives/400#.VEzCPc8zIRY.facebook
The News Minute | October 26, 2014 | 10.54 am IST
The question of how two French filmmakers ventured into the Jarawa Reserve to make a film, has uncanny parallels with a novel about the Andamans published in May this year.
French filmmaker Alexandre Dereims has been in and out of the reserve for three years, filming within the reserve into which entry is restricted. Following news reports about the film first by Andamanchronicle.net editor Denis Giles, the local administration has lodged cases against the filmmakes and has also sent them a notice restraining the release of the film.
Read: How did two French filmmakers enter restricted Jarawa territory, shoot a full-fledged movie?
This incident, bears striking resemblance to one of the sub-plots in the novel The Last Wave, authored by journalist, researcher and photographer Pankaj Sekhsaria. Published in May, the novel is about the Andaman Islands and its people. The Jarawas are central to the novel.
In an interview with The News Minute in August, Sekhsaria described his novel in these terms: “If you see in the novel, one never really enters the Jarawa forests. It’s a story about the fringes, about that interface (between the settlers and the Jarawas), the challenges that the cultures face. My attempt is that: What happens when these two cultures interface. I don’t go to either the Jarawas, or to the settlers, even though I know the settler world more.”
This has always been at the heart of the debate about the Jarawas and also the Andamans. Scientists have called the Andaman forests as one of the most pristine forests left on earth, untouched by human activity. Until two decades ago, the Jarawas were hostile to the settlers of the islands, not permitting anyone to enter their forests. Things changed after one encounter in late 1990s, that Sekhsaria wrote about for Frontline, when it first happened.
Sekhsaria has visited the island several times in the last 20 years, and the sub-plots of the novel, are various sides of the “interfaces” among the people, and between the people and the environment.
In the novel, researcher David finds a foreign photographer inside the reserve and loses his temper with the man, who is then forced to leave.
Read: I wrote a novel because I felt this was a story that needed to be told: Pankaj Sekhsaria
In his blog, lastwave, Sekhsaria reproduced this portion of the book with the introduction:
“The ongoing 'Organic Jarawa' documentary making saga has prompted many friends to write in pointing to the uncanny similarity between what's happening now and the episode in 'The Last Wave' involving the British photographer Michael Ross and before that, the French photographer, Henri...”
Read the relevant portion on at the following link http://pankaj-lastwave.blogspot.in/2014/10/two-intruders-in-last-wave.html
Two Intruders in 'The Last Wave'
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Selected Podcast
Ask Dr. Mike: Fast Food Ban in Los Angeles & Is Vitamin C or D More Important?
Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans. Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:
Which is better, Vitamin C or D?
Your immune system is SO important for longevity. Researchers are now understanding just how important your immune system is. However, Dr. Mike doesn't want to say one vitamin is more important than the other, since they are both essential.
Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids, which enhance intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate and zinc. Vitamin D is very important in managing your immune response.
Vitamin C protects your body against immune system deficiencies and cardiovascular disease and also fosters prenatal health, eye health and skin health.
What's your take on the failed fast food ban in Los Angeles?
According to an article in the L.A. Times, seven years ago L.A. decided to do something drastic in order to reduce obesity rates in south L.A. However, this ban failed to reduce overweight and obesity rates in these neighborhoods and actually increased these numbers.
Dr. Mike thinks that everyone is starting to understand how addicting and bad fast food places can be. However, this doesn't prevent new fast food restaurants from popping up and certainly isn't keeping people from eating unhealthy foods, especially without any access to healthy and fresh foods.
If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.
PlayPlay PodcastdownloadDownload Podcast
RadioMD Presents:Healthy Talk | Original Air Date: April 6, 2015
Host: Michael Smith, MD
It's time for you to be part of the show. Email or call with questions for Dr. Mike now. Email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 877-711-5211. What are you waiting for? The Doctor is in.
DR. MIKE: Alright so my first question has to do with the immune system. It comes from a gentleman named Alan he says:
"I'm getting up there in age but I'm healthy and I know it's important to improve my immune system. So which is better-extra D or C? Thanks, Alan."
The immune system is so important to a longevity regimen. You know, I work at Life Extension, I'm the Senior Scientist at Life Extension Foundation and we are one of the leaders in longevity research. I think we're finally starting to understand the importance of a healthy immune system and any longevity regimen. And matter of fact, the last couple of years we've come out with a lot of new products supporting the immune system, research protocols; and so, I think you're on to something that's really important, Alan. So, your specific question is about D or C. And to answer your question, they're both important. I don't want to say D is more important than C.
I don't want to say that. They're both critical vitamins, co-factors to many aspects of the immune system. But here's kind of a nice way to break up what they do and to compare them. So, vitamin D is really important to managing the immune response. All of your immune cells, especially what are known as the helper cells like the CD4 cell , any cell that is involved in orchestrating and managing the entire immune response has a vitamin D receptor. I mean, that's pretty darn important. We also know, too, that vitamin D is able to help the expression of certain immune proteins that then allowed that immune response to even be enhanced. So vitamin D is in the management and the enhancement of the immune system in general, the immune response in general.
I mean, Alan, that's pretty darn important. Now vitamin C, there's some evidence that plays a role in how T cells mature. You know, when the bone marrow produces young immune cells some of those cells will travel to the thymus and vitamin C, some new evidence has shown that vitamin C is acting on the thymus gland and helping those T cells to mature and the T cells that are ready to fight viruses and bacteria. Oh, even in antibody production vitamin C probably plays an important role there and it's just a good antioxidant for the immune system. So it's hard to compare which is better. You know, if you back me up into a corner, Alan, and really made me give an answer I would say Vitamin D. I would definitely be doing anywhere from 1000 to 2000 units a day I think that's a good dose for people. You want to shoot for a level of vitamin D between 50-70 nanograms per mil and you want to do a dose that gets you to that level. Conventional doctors will tell you that's too high but they're wrong.
Most of my M.D. colleagues shoot for a Vitamin D blood level around 30. In my opinion, that's deficient. Well, it depends on what you're trying to do. If you're trying to prevent, scurvy then a blood level of 30 is fine. But if you're trying to improve cytokine production. then the management of the immune response is not enough. It's deficient. Vitamin C anywhere between 500-1000 mg/day is probably where you need to be with dose when it comes to improving the immune response. Fine. Alan, I'll answer your question. Put D before C-just my opinion.
Alright. The next question had to do with something I didn't know anything about, so I had one of the Life Extension Health Advisors help me out with this.
"What's your take on the failed fast food ban in Los Angeles?"
So we had to look this up this came from the NewsRX Health and Science Report. We found this in February 27th of this year. "Fast Food Ban in LA Fails to Improve Diets Obesity Study Finds". A Los Angeles ordinance designed to curb obesity in low-income areas by restricting the opening of new fast food restaurants, basically it was showing that it didn't work. The policy is a zoning regulation that restricts the opening or expansion of any stand-alone fast food restaurants and they list exactly where. But basically south and southeast Los Angeles. The areas subject to the rule have about 700,000 residents. While the rule was not the nation's first local regulation limiting fast food outlets, it was the first one presented as a public health measure by advocates.
And, bottom line, it failed. It failed to reduce fast food consumption or obesity rates in the targeted areas according to a new Rand Corporation study which, of course, Rand Corporation is a non-profit global policy think tank. And so, since the fast food restrictions were passed in 2008 overweight and obesity rates in south Los Angeles and southeast Los Angeles and other neighborhoods targeted by the law have increased faster than in other parts of the city or other parts of the country. So, the ban actually resulted in an increase in obesity and fast food consumption; greater than other areas which I think is very interesting. This was published in the Journal of Social Science and Medicine. Let's see I have a quote here: this is from Roland Sterne lead author:
"The Study of Los Angeles Fast Food Ban may have symbolic value but it has had no measureable impact in improving diets or reducing obesity. This should not come as a surprise. Most food outlets in the area are small food stores or small restaurants with limited seating that are not affected by the policy."
So, going back to the listener's question "What's you take on the failed fast food ban in LA?" Um, it didn't work! I think that we are coming more to understand the fast food with the preservatives and the salts and the sugars are quite addicting and just because you ban new stores from popping up it, doesn't mean people aren't going to seek out that kind of food. You can't just ban a fast food place without replacing it with areas that people can go to buy fresh food and many of the areas in Southeast LA, they don't really have access to that kind of fresh food.
So it may sound good to ban a bad type of food but if you don't help them replace it with healthy food, they're just going to seek it out elsewhere and that's exactly what happened. Apparently they really found that they ate more and obesity rates went up and so, it was quite the reverse results that they thought they were going to have. You know I've seen some shows, as a matter of fact when I was with Suzanne Somers. She had her show on the Lifetime Network, and when we were filming one day, one of the other guests that was on (and I can't remember his name I apologize for that) but he is from LA and he has bought out certain vacant lots and has turned them into gardens. And he's growing fresh produce for people and he's allowing people to come in. Of course, believe it or not the LA County tried to shut him down because he didn't have a permit, so I don't know where it stands now but maybe that's what we need to do.
So you limit the number of fast food restaurants that can open up but then you also supply places where they can go, community markets, where they can buy fresh food because that's what you're going to have to do. So just because you limit a fast food restaurant but you don't replace it with something healthy, they've still got to eat. And I think that's what they were able to show here. So, that's kind of my take. Again this was published in the Journal of Social Science and Medicine.
Real quickly before the ban I'm going back to this study that was reported in NewsRX Health and Science. Before the ban was passed, as well as 3 years later, the average body mass index and the proportion of people who were obese or overweight was higher in South Los Angeles than in other areas of the city. The gap continued to widen from 2008-2012 when they had this ban. Listen, yes, we've got to stop eating the fast food absolutely but we've got to give people healthier options. Healthy, fresh food.
This is Healthy Talk on RadioMD. I'm Dr. Mike. Stay well.
More in this show: « Ask Dr. Mike: Vitamins to Improve Cognition & More Rosemary Boosts Brain Power »
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Innovative L-A Stopa replaces hair and restores confidence Laura-Aurora Stopa is passionate about hair, but not in the way you might expect. The Northern Kentucky resident is a fearless ally for women who struggle with medical hair loss and offers personalized support through her mobile wig shop, L-A’s Wig Out. In addition to tangible services like providing education and selling wigs, her business fosters confidence and encouragement among women in the hair-loss community from someone who knows exactly what they’re going through. Living with Alopecia pre bonded hairLaura-Aurora Stopa — who prefers the nickname “L-A” — suffers from the condition Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks hair proteins and, although not a deadly condition, leads to baldness. Although she was born with a bald spot, Stopa eventually grew a full head of hair. So she wasn’t sure there was a problem until she started losing patches of hair in her twenties. Most women take their full head of hair for granted, and hair is often seen as a status symbol and necessary attribute of femininity. So for women suffering from hair loss, the struggle can be a serious blow to their confidence and self-esteem. For girls and young women who are already at a vulnerable age, it can be particularly difficult to imagine their future without hair. Stopa’s early years with Alopecia were hard, as they would be for any young woman. But the diagnosis didn’t crush her, and she grew into a confident woman, hair or no hair. “Once I got through my teens and my twenties,” Stopa says, “I got married to someone fabulous who loved me, so I had somebody who loved me whether I had hair or not.” But even as confident as she was, navigating the world of hair loss left Stopa feeling powerless and alone. She remembers shopping for her first wig and how strange it seemed to be buying it from a woman who, though kind and helpful, had a whole head of natural hair. And when she tried it, buying wigs online and learning to take care of them on her own was overwhelming.
It was such a personal purchase being made with so little personal care. It look a long time for Stopa to get into the wig business, but she’s loved wigs since the beginning. Like a pair of eyeglasses or shoes, she enjoyed matching her wig to her outfit. “I actually kinda turned wigs into a fashion statement and so my signature thing was that I’d always wear a different wig and sometimes they were really crazy,” she says. remy hair extensionsAfter college, in the ’90s, Stopa and her husband lived in Ann Arbor, Mich., and then Kansas City. During that time, she worked as a Sports Massage Therapist and grew more confident and comfortable in an environment where she was accepted with or without her wigs. But when she moved to Northern Kentucky in 2006, the climate was different. She entered a culture and work environment that demanded a more consistent, professional appearance. “All of the sudden I felt a little insecure,” she remembers, “because it wasn’t OK for me to go without my wig and I didn’t feel comfortable being who I was — the Alopecian who switches her wigs every day.” In every other place she’d lived, Stopa had participated in Alopecia support groups. But when she searched locally, she found only a single local representative with the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) who didn’t return her repeat calls. So Stopa signed on to become a local support rep with NAAF, leading support groups and becoming a telephone contact for people looking for support. She participated in training and even attended a national conference, where she sat in on focus groups about Alopecia in the workplace and how it affects professional women. “There’s never a specific policy about wigs, about whether you can wear hair at work, but there is a stigma if a woman is bald by choice, especially in a position where she is public-facing,” Stopa says. “They estimate that 2-5 percent of the population has Alopecia, so that’s a lot of people. … “So what do all these women do as they’re getting comfortable with the idea that they are no longer the woman that they remember and they don’t have hair? It’s very hard. That’s why I think it’s important to have support.”
Finding support in an unlikely place Being a bald woman in the workplace was sometimes difficult, but it didn’t stop Stopa from building a fulfilling professional career. She spent her first few years in Northern Kentucky working in publishing. In 2013, she took a position as the Director of Membership for the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, which was a perfect fit for someone with such a dynamic, outgoing personality. She was responsible for managing relationships with and connecting services to Northern Kentucky business owners, and for much of her tenure there many of the members and some coworkers never even knew she was wearing a wig. perruques cheveux naturelsShe remembers a time, early on at the Chamber of Commerce, when she had a little bit of hair that she wore in a short, bleached fauxhawk. That alone was a stretch in a work environment that valued a professional appearance. But her Alopecia flared up and, with so little hair to spare, she was preparing to shave her head over the weekend. It was be going to be obvious, she warned her boss, when she showed up wearing a wig the next Monday morning. She didn’t want it to cause any problems. In the end, the support she found with co-workers and employers was a pleasant surprise. When she left her position in December 2015 to pursue launching L-A’s Wig-Out, they threw her a surprise party complete with a room full of co-workers in flamboyant wigs. “It was really nice because the business community and my co-workers in this really conservative environment were working with me and were willing to laugh with me and acknowledge what I was doing and why it was important,” she remembers. “For someone who’s starting a wig business, that was a great send-off.” Wig out with L-A Stopa started her business in March 2015, but it’s not an average wig shop. Wig-Out is a “mobile hair loss support and wig service,” which means that, for a nominal consultation fee, Stopa pays a personal visit to her customers. She educates them about wigs, about how they’re made and how to navigate the available options. She sells wigs to those interested. And she gives pro tips about how to care for and wear them. The goal is for the women to feel “fabulous” with or without hair. Stopa’s Wig-Out customers are all different. Some are comfortable with their hair loss, but many are self-conscious. Some want their consultation done in private; some invite friends and family to join the fun. Regardless, she caters her treatment to their needs and their desires. And she always shows up to their house without her wig. During the consultation, she is always the first to show her bald head and the first to try on a wig.
She wants these women to know that they aren’t alone. “I want it to be completely equal ground,” she says. One of Stopa’s customers, Jan A. from Anderson Township, suffers from several autoimmune diseases that, coupled with steroid treatments, have left her hairless. She was thankful for the personal and discreet nature of Stopa’s business. “L-A has a special gift for relating to and understanding the emotional distress that hair loss presents for women,” Jan says. “She offers customers the personal service of being able to try on wigs in the privacy of their own homes or at a party with friends. Even admitting that you feel you need a wig can be embarrassing. Often women don’t know where to go to buy one, or they’re too embarrassed to go to a store. L-A makes the experience non-threatening, and in fact she makes it quite fun.” perruques cheveuxAnother customer, Gerry Lockhart, noticed Stopa listed as a consultant on a wig website and contacted her for a consultation. Her hair loss is due to dermatitis of the scalp, and L-A’s Wig-Out has helped her face life without her “crowning glory.” “L-A comes to you with a joyful, pleasant experience that you may not be expecting,” Lockhart says. “She is a fun, understanding person, always positive.” Not every woman who calls Stopa for a consultation has medical hair loss. Some women are dealing with thinning hair, unmanageable hair or otherwise frustrating situations. Donna Salyers of Villa Hills knew Stopa for a year or two through the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce before she even knew Stopa wore a wig. Salyers eventually became a loyal customer, but her situation is different than most — she bought a wig to make her life easier. “It’s not so much experiencing hair loss,” Salyers says. “Rather it’s a matter of the time and effort it takes to make my hair look good. I have a busy life with a full-time job, tons of business travel plus family and friends. I’d much rather focus on life than my hair. … “Traveling without all the hair products, rollers, etc. is just the beginning. I’m ready for work in minutes, side-stepping the 45 minutes drying time my own hair requires. I can work out, walk through a blizzard or jump out of the pool and be ready almost instantly. And it’s because of L-A! Love that gal.” Balancing business and service
In the year since Wig-Out was officially incorporated, Stopa has provided her consultation and wig services to about 75 women in the area. She continues to serve as a NAAF Regional Support Group Leader, as well, volunteering to provide support in other ways. The most fulfilling part of her NAAF role, she says, is the help she provides for girls and young women facing hair loss. lace front wigsIt doesn’t take more than a quick meeting to know that Stopa is confident with her identity and with her Alopecia. When she meets a young girl struggling to find that same confidence, the attitude is infectious. She is the kind of woman any girl would want on her side, and she’s happy to serve in that role. Stopa is cultivating a life of service other other ways, too. She sits on Board for the DCCH Center for Children and Families, while she and her husband are faithful supporters of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. And a few years back she began donating gently used wigs and providing consultation services to the nonprofit Be Concerned, which serves women in need. Stopa’s future is focused on investing in others and in her business. To supplement the income from Wig-Out and to continue to serve the community, she recently took a position working with Brighton Center’s Center for Employment Training, where she had previously volunteered.
She’s hoping the next season of her life brings balance between her commitment to service and her business saavy so that her customers walk away happy and her business succeeds. Stopa knows that being in the wig business can seem superficial. “It’s only hair, right?” she jokes. cosplay wigsShe understands that, for those who have never dealt with hair loss, it seems inconsequential or frivolous. But women experiencing hair loss fear losing much more than just their hair, and Stopa knows the feeling. Stopa knows what a difference a wig can make. For the women she serves, her friendly, understanding consultation and help purchasing a great-looking wig can mean the difference between a woman who may never feel like herself again and a woman who has the confidence to face the world — with or without hair.
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Reviews: Testing Object-oriented Systems Models, Patterns, and Tools
No Trading Glitches Allowed
Prove it or Else
Selling the Mobile Testing Nightmare
Resume of Robert V. Binder
About the Chariots
Who Spun the Web?
July 27, 2012 | Blog, Business, Networking, Software Products
Gordon Crovitz’s Wall Street Journal editorial “Who Really Invented the Internet?” (July 23, 2012) generated a lot of blowback owing to factual errors in his recounting of how certain network technologies were developed. As he used this story to support a broader case for limiting government intrusion into technology markets, the responses were often vituperative. Although Crovitz was wrong on some of the history, I agree with his point of view:
“It’s important to understand the history of the Internet because it’s too often wrongly cited to justify big government. It’s also important to recognize that building great technology businesses requires both innovation and the skills to bring innovations to market. As the contrast between Xerox and Apple shows, few business leaders succeed in this challenge. Those who do—not the government—deserve the credit for making it happen.”
The bile of the complaints seems to be motivated more by a dislike of Crovitz’s point of view about government than a desire to set the record straight. Many pointed to a few now-seminal results of certain government funded projects as proof positive that public R&D is necessarily a good thing, that Crovitz’s factual errors indicate he is an ignorant fool, and therefore what he has to say is simply a right-wing polemic.
The confluence of many technology streams made today’s Internet. It is now so ingrained in daily life that it is hard to grasp what an immense project it has been. Suppose, circa 1990, you had issued a request for proposal for a network system that would securely and reliably transmit millions of bits per second between any computer, anywhere in the world, for fractions of a cent per megabyte. Oh, and by the way, this network must also reach hundreds of millions of mobile hand-held endpoints (like those exotic new-fangled cell phones), all kinds of vehicles, any industrial machine, residential appliances, home entertainment systems, and medical devices. It must not have any central control, but all of its parts must follow certain rules (protocols), which will be developed on the fly. I’m sure this would have been viewed as science fiction and/or a grandiose delusion by nearly everyone at the time. So how did all this (and more) happen anyway?
What has been missed in Crovitz’s chorus of condemnation is a recognition of the unquestionably crucial role of entrepreneurs, markets, and risk capital in creating today’s incredible global Internet. I am certain that no single entity, government or private, could have achieved this and that it could only have been a product of free-market capitalism.
Some commenters wondered what kind of network infrastructure we would now have if the early Internet had been a commercial project, suggesting that (snicker, snicker) something like AOL would have been the result. The Internet is and has been realized by tens of thousands of private companies responding (rapidly) to market forces producing network equipment, services, and software.
What if all this had been only a creature of government? We have a few case studies of what happens when government takes control of a public network. In the context of European democracy (France) we get the Minitel system (shut down about a month ago after 30 plus year run.) But more often, a national Internet supports a police state in closed societies like China, North Korea, and Iran. I suspect that if “the Internet” had been wholly a US government project, it probably would resemble the US Postal Service or Amtrak. But then, what would have been the Internet of national Internets? Would we have needed a North American Free Information zone?
Also missing in the chorus of condemnation is a recognition that substantial commercial network technology evolved in parallel with the Arpanet project. (The US Department of Defense funded Arpanet in the late 1960s through the early 1970s. It produced technologies which (after much revision) have become part of today’s Internet. Crovitiz’s recounting of its history provoked the furor.) I worked with several early networks: IBM’s remote data entry and bi-synch protocol, DECNET – the Digital Equipment approach for interconnecting its computers, and ISDN – AT&Ts high speed digital data link for switched networks. I used a statistical multiplexer that achieved a screaming 9600 bits per second, full duplex, over leased lines – very bleeding edge then. The alternative was shipping reels of magnetic tape over hundreds of miles, daily. There were, of course, many others. Unlike government-funded R&D, these technologies had to make money.
Many commercial innovations that enable today’s Internet were privately developed in the 1980s, which built on commercial technology and markets established in the 1970s. I worked with several of them. Compuserve operated a widely-used X25 packet network that used PDP-8s to control many dial-up modems. IBM’s Token Ring LANs and SNA achieved broad use. The Quotron system replaced the punched paper “ticker” tape system that had used the Teletype network to disseminate near real-time market data among US stock exchanges. Cisco was founded at the end of the 1980s to provide high capacity Ethernet equipment, building on the Ethernet stack Xerox pioneered. The Williams Pipeline company (Tulsa, Oklahoma) spun off Williams Telecommunications (WilTel) to pull fiber cable through its gas pipes to create a broadband backbone network. US Sprint built out its long distance service with this, immortalized in Sprint’s “pin drop” ads. I subsequently worked with WilTel to develop automated testing for their frame-relay switching systems, the better to push bits through gas pipes. Although many of these technologies are now long gone, they informed the designs of competitors and provided proof of commercial viability for investors in start-ups like US Robotics, 3 Com, and Cisco, which subsequently took to market technologies taken for granted today.
Many competing network architectures and protocol stacks were in use during these early decades, so the realization of data communication among remote computers was not unique to Arpanet. I’m not sure why TCP/IP came to be a de facto standard in the two layers of the stack it inhabits (and hence its subsequent enshrinement and role in the “invention” of the Internet). It probably has a lot to do with fact that, by the late 1980s, it was proven, available, interoperable, and license-free. As a result of this low barrier to adoption, it was the right technology at the right time and reached dominance in a few years. By 1995, every platform vendor had to have a TCP/IP stack, or they couldn’t sell anything. The unintended lock-in became permanent by the end of the 1990s. TCP/IP is now so deeply embedded in all kinds of networking that replacing it is completely unthinkable.
Several innovations dominated networking in the 1990s: cheap personal computers drove the emergence of client/server computing, which drove demand and development of local-area network technology. Clunky standalone network interface boxes became add-in cards, which became integrated into motherboards. PCs also enabled the simultaneous rise of popular distributed apps (e. g., bulletin board systems and email) and the market for dial-up equipment. With the coincidental development of HTTP and early browsers (government-sponsored at CERN and the University of Illinois), content displayed in GUIs had a whole new dimension – it seemed magic when you first used it. It wasn’t hard to see the staggering commercial potential of “the web” (billions of eyeballs). That inflated the investment bubble of 1998 to 2000. Although a lot of technical failures and financial losses ensued, the bubble also launched technologies and businesses that are key parts of today’s Internet. It also drove an insatiable appetite for bandwidth, which spurred a rapid increase in the availability and capacity of digital broadband – so much so that we had a lot “dark fiber” for a few years. No more.
In the last decade, the US government funded network R&D in many ways, notably its recent focus on “cyber security”. We’ll have to see where this leads. I can say with certainty that today’s Internet is the result of a lot of high-risk investment in technology businesses and, increasingly, the contributions of the open source community. The extent to which markets self-organized to achieve all this is simply astounding. Publicly traded companies that provide equipment, physical plant, and services are essential for today’s Internet. In 2011, these 268 firms sold about $1.4 trillion of related goods and services. That’s real money, even in Washington D.C. Here are the numbers by sector:
Sector 2011 Revenue, $ Billions * Number of Public Companies
Communication Equipment 174.7 64
Diversified Communication Services 58.6 30
Internet Information Providers 63.2 48
Internet Service Providers 2.0 8
Internet Software & Services 10.6 24
Networking & Communication Devices 56.3 18
Telecom Services – Domestic 309.9 22
Telecom Services – Foreign 439.4 18
Wireless Communications 264.0 36
Many other key players – start-ups and private firms – are not included in this tally. While it is true that results of certain government-sponsored R&D evolved into critical pieces of the Internet as we know it today, it is ludicrous to assert that any single actor (private or public) can claim sole parentage. It is also clear only a highly competitive and profitable market economy could have engendered the dazzling array of technology that we now cannot imagine living without.
* Estimated as 4x most recent quarterly revenue for selected technology sectors, as reported at YCharts.
05/09/2012 • Panel Discussion on Open Source Testing Tools
04/17/2012 • Open Source Tools for Model-Based Testing
02/25/2012 • What I Learned Building a Software Product with Tcl
Terry Weaver
My 00.2 cents on Mr. Binder’s view….he forgets the core argument, without govt support the Internet would not have been possible. Without the govt. massive projects like sending a man to the moon simply can’t be done without govt support. THAT is the point and the rest is subterfuge, plain and simple.
…and Mr. Binder, just because technology developed extensively over the years doesn’t mean that the core technologies that was the springboard could have been created without the necessary resources that only a state sponsors effort could provide. Just look at the difference in development of aircraft vs automobiles. Both came to the US in the early 1900’s and both were creations by the private sector without govt help. Look at how each developed for the first 30 years and then watch what happens over the next 80 years. For the first 30 years aircraft development mirrored automobile development but as soon as Billy Mitchell dropped bombs on battleships the govt realized that aircraft would be the weapon of the future and just look at the innovation and technologies spawned from the research provided through govt contracts to Lockheed, Northrop, Boeing and others. We’ve gone from a biplane that flew hundreds of feet at a time a few feet off the ground to self docking space craft drones, yet we still put gas in our cars and control it with pedals and a steering wheel. That sir is the difference between govt sponsored projects and those possible being funded privately.
Bob Binder
While it is certainly true that Arpanet needed Government funding, I don’t think it follows “without govt support the Internet would not have been possible.” A lot of other viable network technology evolved in parallel – I mention several. My hunch is that Arpanet technologies ended up playing a central role because they had the fewest obstacles to interoperability compared with proprietary alternatives.
The Oldcommguy
Bob – you are right on…Vint Cerf and Rob Kahn certainly were the DARPAnet creators and proved that we could communicate network to network but without the IBM’s, Burrough’s, Shell Oil,,,,and a huge lot of domestic private and international companies we would not have the internet of today. I like you, worked with closed networks back into the 60’s, but nothing like the internet of today…I saw many of the innovations that led to todays internet and most if not the majority came from private companies. I am shocked that people want to down play the part that privtae industry played to falsely build up that all the innovation came from the government. We need to allow more freedom of the private sector, reward them, reduce the highest corporate taxes in the world and let innovations flourish. We need smaller government and much more private industry. I guess the younger generation is not getting that big government means less private industry and therefore less jobs. Wake up America, while we are still free and can do like Canada and drop corporate taxes and drop the unemployment rate or do we want to be like the old Soviat Unon where everyone worked for the government…except the criminals. Our Congress MUST wake up!
Bob Robertson
The most fun I’ve read in this massive tempest in a teapot, was how what the govt really wanted was OSI. What it got was TCP/IP, because the various research institutions, colleges, universities, and companies, who collaborated to flesh out the interoperability that TCP/IP represents, were more interested in making things work than in making bureaucratic brownie points.
So while OSI is a pretty framework, it never did produce anything that _worked_. That’s govt.
It was only after govt got out of the way, only after the ban on commercial traffic was repealed, only AFTER the restrictions on peering were taken away and the limitations on connecting to “the internet” became purely technical rather than bureaucratic, that what today is recognized as “the internet” could happen at all.
Brent Sweeny
Examples of what commercial entities like Xerox and IBM have done in network technologies, airplanes and cars, and all the rest, including existing network technologies of the 70s like SNA, Token Ring, DECnet, and even Appletalk and Novell Netware, and *especially* whether government can or cannot ever successfully make something, are red herrings: the assertion to be evaluated, I believe, is whether ‘the Internet’ as we know it today is a direct descendant of the ARPAnet, and it unqualifiedly is. One important distinction Mr Binder omits in his rose-colored reminiscences of IBM’s network technologies and DECnet is that while they could (usually) talk with other computers from the same manufacturer, they didn’t have a snowball’s chance of talking with anything else (well, maybe over RS232..) One of the things the government brought to the table, as they’ve done with other crucial technology directions before and since (and, as pointed out, not always brilliantly or successfully–see OSI) was extensive purchasing power that steered technology into a desirable direction: if you were going to get a grant to do research in the ARPAnet, you had to impelement the open standard TCP/IP, and some openly-defined applications on top of it (remember Telnet, FTP, and SMTP?) instead of SNA or DECnet or any other proprietary transport: you had to level the playing field, and play together. NONE of the companies would have done that, and networking would probably still be stuck in the petty fiefdoms of incompatible transports we had then.
Yes, of course, some companies–notably BBN at the time–also contributed expertise and development, and while I don’t have direct knowledge of the funding behind the private-sector contributions for all of the innovations that improved (either version of) the ‘net, I expect that many of those were also government-funded even as they came from powerhouses of innovation like Xerox PARC, HP, RAND, IBM, and others.
So yes, the US government unqualifiedly created the ARPAnet, and the ARPAnet is the direct ancestor of the Internet, and the Internet as we know it today–though different in many ways from the ARPAnet, could not have come into being with the ARPAnet.
Indiana University (AS89)
Thanks for the thoughtful commentary. I don’t view the early network technologies with “rose-colored reminiscences” and didn’t characterize them as such. As I’m not an expert in network history, I stuck to technologies with which I had first-hand experience.
And, I don’t dispute the now-central role that certain derivatives of government-funded R&D play. My main point is that the entirety of the Internet, as it exists today, is predominantly the result of private enterprise. It is of course true that in the absence of any private or public technology stream, it would be different (but we’ll never know in what way.) What is a gross distortion is to assert that any single contribution, including Arpanet and TCP/IP is responsible for the entirety, as in “X invented the Internet.”
rvbinder
More paternity: the contributions of Louis Pouzin to the Internet as we know it, and how his notions of datagrams influenced Cerf et al.
http://www.economist.com/news/technology-quarterly/21590765-louis-pouzin-helped-create-internet-now-he-campaigning-ensure-its
Dennis J. Frailey
What seems to be missing in all of this discussion is recognition that sometimes it’s a partnership. The government is good at some things and free enterprise at other things, and we don’t always know which is better until we try it both ways. What would air transportation be like if there were no government involvement? We’d have had huge battles over air space(and who knows how many more accidents) had there not been an entity to establish overall rules and provide a disinterested way of examining accidents. Many argue that we wouldn’t want the government to actually run the airlines, but the optimal amount of regulation is debatable. There are those of us who remember the logical pricing and hugely more civilized passenger experience back when air transportation in the US was regulated.
Now consider automobiles. Without the government we would not have the interstate highway system (and we might not even have semi-standardized road widths or traffic signals)and we would probably have much worse gas mileage and most likely would not have seat belts, air bags, and other safety features. Whether you view the latter as good or bad may depend on your ideological persuasion but I for one appreciate those safety features.
My life’s experience leads me to observe that, regardless of political persuasion, people call for government involvement when what they want to happen isn’t happening naturally, and they oppose government involvement when they perceive it as inhibiting what they want to do. So the conservatives want the government to regulate some things and the liberals want them to regulate different things.
Another observation comes from a good friend of mine: “Private industry is out to extract all they can out of you, so you can easily get screwed, whereas government generally has more honorable motives but is plagued by a higher percentage of incompetence, primarily via political appointments.”
As in most things in life, extreme positions are seldom the right answer. We don’t want the government to run everything and we don’t want them to remain totally uninvolved. Our job as citizens is to push for competent government.
Comment moderation is enabled, no need to resubmit any comments posted.
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Brenton Lane
Title: Council Member
Brenton Lane was born and raised in Robinson, graduated from Robinson High School and is a graduate of Texas State Technical College and Baylor University. Brenton began working for the Texas Department of Transportation in 2004, after obtaining his Associate of Applied Science in Architectural/Civil Design from TSTC. He worked as an engineering technician for TXDOT while he attended Baylor University part-time. In 2013, Brenton graduated Baylor with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering and became a licensed Professional Engineer in 2015. Brenton has spent the majority of his career with TXDOT in the area of Design. From 2013 to 2015, he managed the Bruceville-Eddy to Hewitt interstate reconstruction project and after completion moved back to design to help lead the Waco District Design office. Brenton and his high school sweetheart and wife, Jenna, reside in Robinson with their two boys, Evan and Eli.
Brenton expresses his excitement about being on council by stating, “We have the greatest community, the greatest schools, and the greatest residents. We have a small-town charm but are close to big city attractions. With the growth that's happening in the Waco area, decisions being made right now are more important than ever. I'm excited to be a part of our City's future.” Being new to the council, one of Brenton’s immediate goals are to learn as much as possible and gain an understanding of past decisions made by council, and the outcomes of those. He feels there is a lot of catching up to do when it comes to past decisions that were made. As for long-term goals, he would like to see the city continue to build and maintain infrastructure which he feels will encourage pride within the community, promote business growth, and eventually build tax revenue. Brenton provides an example of this with the park, “The City Park development over these last several years has been nothing but good for our community. It brings us together, gives us a place to host community events, and gives us a sense of pride. I'd like to see us expand this mindset to the rest of our town's infrastructure and start building streets and utilities that people are proud to have as well.”
Return to City Council Page
Citizen Newsletter
Community Visions 2034 (PDF)
Zoning and Future Land Use Changes
Notice of Tax Increase
Solid Waste Service
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Prosecutors open case over $750,000 in housing funds embezzlement
15:48 23/09/2011 The Prosecutor General's Office has initiated a criminal case in the embezzlement of $750,000 in public funds.
Federal Reserve violates anti-corruption law - Prosecutor General's Office
14:37 23/09/2011 A deputy prosecutor general submitted an appeal to the Federal Agency for State Reserves due to the numerous violations of anti-corruption law discovered in the agency's work.
Ex-governor's house arrest confirmed by court
11:39 23/09/2011 The court, on Friday, upheld the lower court's decision to place a former governor charged with large-scale bribery under house arrest.
Proceedings against police general charged with fraud postponed
15:08 22/09/2011 A district court, on Thursday, postponed until September 26 a criminal case against an interior ministry general, who has been charged with misappropriating almost $10 million.
Financial officers stole $3.6 million from troops in North Caucasus
14:49 22/09/2011 The Military Prosecutor's office discovered a multi-million ruble fraud in the Armed Forces.
Army officer sentenced to prison for taking $96k bribe
14:23 22/09/2011 A district military court found guilty Lt. Col. Alexei Shishkin, former chief officer of the Space Forces financial planning group, to four years in prison for taking the $96,600 bribe.
Prosecutor involved in gambling scandal to be investigated further
15:15 21/09/2011 The Prosecutor General's Office refused to approve the indictment in the case of former Moscow regional prosecutor Vladimir Glebov, who is accused of abuse of power in the infamous gambling scandal.
Appeal against ex-governor's house arrest to be heard on September 23
15:04 21/09/2011 Court postponed on Wednesday until September 23 its hearing of an appeal filed by a former governor charged with large-scale bribe-taking against his house arrest
Prosecutors to supervise investigations in cases dealing with housing and utilities
16:49 20/09/2011 Pursuant to the president's instructions, the Prosecutor General's Office will head criminal cases investigated in the housing and utilities sphere.
Verdict in official's corruption case postponed
13:09 19/09/2011 The court could not pass a sentence on Monday to the former high-ranking official as the bribery indictment was issued with violations.
August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018
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Trial of alleged Moscow region school shooter to be held behind closed doors
Teen charged with shooting in Moscow region school to stay jailed until December
© RIA Novosti, Ilya Pitalyov
Tags: Violation, Assault, The Moscow Regional Court, Moscow region, Russia
MOSCOW, November 28 (RAPSI) – Trial of a teenager charged with shooting in his school in Ivanteevka (Moscow region) will be held behind closed doors, RAPSI has learnt in the Moscow Regional Court’s press service.
A corresponding defense motion was granted today, a representative of the court told RAPSI.
The defendant is accused of hooliganism committed with the use of explosives and attempted murder. The boy has been found sane. In August, his detention was extended until December 5.
Earlier, attorney Viktor Zaprudsky said that the teenager repented all what he had done and apologized to victims. According to the lawyer, the boy's parents were ready to be financially liable for their son’s actions.
The incident took place in the town of Ivanteevka, 20km northeast of Moscow, on September 5, 2017. According to investigators, a 15-year old student attacked a teacher with an axe, then he opened fire from an air gun and threw several smoke bombs in a classroom.
As a result, the teacher received an open craniocerebral trauma. Three minors panicking jumped out of the window and were injured as well, the Investigative Committee reported.
16:51 28/11/2018 Trial of a teenager charged with shooting in his school in Ivanteevka (Moscow region) will be held behind closed doors.
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Nip this prohibitionist nonsense in the bud
Right, this is important. We are facing a potential alcohol ban on trains in Scotland. It is only a bit of flag-waving at the moment, but it needs a good hard kick in the goolies to put it off the agenda.
There has always been a streak of repressive puritanism in the Scottish Labour Party with regard to alcohol, and I’ve been in public meetings where sitting councillors have said things along the lines of “Why does anyone need to be out drinking at two o’clock in the morning anyway?”
It’s thanks to this small-mindedness that we’re not allowed to have a refreshing bottle of beer on the street in Glasgow, or to crack open a bottle of wine with a picnic in one of the city’s verdant parks.
Unfortunately, in this respect the SNP is even worse than Labour.
The SNP-controlled West Dunbartonshire Council, for instance, has a policy of granting no new licenses, the effect of which, of course, is not so much to inhibit the proliferation of squalid drinking dens, but to prevent any good new places from opening.
Now the prohibitionist hysteria has spilt over into the public transport sector. It was only to be expected, since over the last couple of decades one local authority after another has imposed a blanket ban on drinking in public. That one can still have a drink on a train has come to seem like an anomaly, rather than quite natural and ordinary as it once was.
Rail 2014, the discussion paper that Transport Scotland has put forward as a basic for renegotiating rail franchises, is a document which is going to be controversial for all sorts of other reasons, but the article pertinent to this blog reads:
“10.18 One of the most distressing ways to spend a rail journey is to be subject to the bad behaviour of other passengers. This can be fuelled by excessive drinking of alcohol. Currently BPT and ScotRail implement alcohol bans on specific services during events (such as services to/from rugby and football matches). However consideration is being given to whether there should be a ban on the consumption of alcohol on all trains in Scotland and we welcome views.”
Now a proposed ban of this kind is, as far as I know, unprecedented anywhere in Europe.
It would prevent hillwalkers having a dram from their hip flasks on the journey along the West Highland Line. It would prevent couples sharing a bottle of wine on a train. Absurdly, it would mean hen parties going to Newcastle for the weekend would have to wait to open their bottle of cava until Berwick-upon-Tweed. It would prevent thousands of completely innocent passengers legitimately enjoying a beverage in a responsible manner.
The purported benefit of a ban is extremely dubious. I’d wager that most drunk people causing trouble on trains are drunk before they get on. A ban on the train won’t affect them.
Has any research been done? Or is it just the result of prejudice on the part of people who, like the Labour councillor of old, can’t imagine why any respectable person would want to have a drink on a train?
Tourists from other countries who come to Scotland to visit the hills and glens will have no comprehension of this policy at all. It does not exist in their home countries, and can only convince them that Scotland is an odd, miserable, grey wee statelet ruled by fanatics, where you can't even have a beer on a train.
I urge all my readers to write to Transport Scotland and their MSPs opposing this proposal. You can download a response form at http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/strategy-and-research/publications-and-consultations/j203179-19.htm and read the document in its entirety here.
If you’d like to make your opinions known in person, there are a few more meet-the-managers sessions to go: 10 January at Glasgow Central railway station, 12 January at Edinburgh Waverley, 17 January at Inverness, 20 January at Perth, 24 January at Kirkcaldy, 31 January at Ayr, 2 February at Stranraer.
Ewwww
Excellent way to get the message out to punters that you are a crappy pub run by sleazy people.
Is this even legal?
Labels: hogs head, munters, only a larf innit, sexism, sleaze
Bonnie beers of Loch Lomond
As I have been saying for quite some time, you can’t move in Scotland at the moment without a new microbrewery popping up while you’re looking the other way.
One of the newest is Loch Lomond Brewery in Alexandria just south of Balloch. Fiona and Euan have been homebrewing for a few years before setting up the brewery, which made its first beer in October. I took the train up on a drizzly Sunday in December to have a look (I wasn’t the first blogger to visit – Adam got there before me).
The beers are currently being sold in the Village Inn in Arrochar and have been sighted in the Bon Accord and Pot Still in Glasgow too. The brewery is also in talks with a well-known department store about stocking bottled beer. I think bottling is a smart move – what tourist at Loch Lomond wouldn’t want a bottle or two of local beer?
Of the beers made so far, Ale of Leven is a sweetish heavy-type ale while Bonnie ’n’ Bitter is a hoppier beer somewhere between Deuchars and Bitter & Twisted. A darker ale called Kessog was being brewed when I visited.
To be honest, I was expecting an amateurish little brewery making dull beers. I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. No awards for innovation (yet), but the beers are good and polished with none of the dodgy notes that sometimes plague start-up breweries. It’s difficult to believe they’ve only been brewing commercially for three months. I look forward to tasting more of their products in the coming year.
Labels: alexandria, breweries, brewery news, loch lomond brewery, microbreweries, new breweries, you tak the high road and i'll tak the low road
Greene King Strong Suffolk
The less popular beers from big breweries, to me, often make better drinking. I’ve long suspected that this is because they don’t sell enough for it to be worthwhile reformulating the recipes to save cash.
It’s not often that I have anything good to say about Greene King, but credit where credit is due.
Old people like me who grew up on Michael Jackson’s books will have heard the story of Strong Suffolk. Greene King brew a massively strong barley wine, Old 5X, in Bury St Edmunds, age it for years in oak and blend it with a younger beer to make a strong ale they call Strong Suffolk. None of their surviving contemporaries do that any more. It’s a unique relic in British brewing.
Imagine my surprise when a local pub tweeted that they had it on draught!
This is a real slice of brewing history in a glass, worth trying for that reason alone.
What I like about these old-school strong ales is that the hopping hasn’t been dumbed down to suit the timid palate of neophytes. Rich, winey and treacley though they may be, there is a decent tongue-sucking bitterness on the finish.
I may be imagining things but I think you can taste the aged beer.
The only quibble I have is that the strength has been reduced — down to 5.0% from the old strength of 6.0% in bottle. I suppose this is excessive caution on the part of the pub company, who don’t want people downing six pints of it and throwing up behind the Christmas tree, but it does mean that it is rather more watery than the unctuous bottled version.
Nonetheless it’s a delight to see this on the bar in a pub. There may be microbreweries who are aging beer in wood now, but Greene King – albeit marketing-led blandmongers most of the time — are the only ones in England still doing it continuously since the old days. I’ll salute that.
(Listen to me Greene King. Promote this stuff. You are good at this.)
(Listen to me readers. There may still be some of this beer about in M&B pubs. Drink it if you see it.)
Labels: beer, england, greene king, old ale, strong suffolk
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Category: Breaking News Page 1 of 7
Report: Golden Knights Trade Colin Miller To Buffalo For 2nd And 5th Round Picks
In Breaking News
First went the winger, now comes the defenseman.
Renaud says LV/BUF working on a Colin Miller deal https://t.co/sr7pkEk23r
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 28, 2019
Pending trade call, BUF will send 2nd round pick in 2021 and 5th round pick in 2022 to VGK for defenceman Colin Miller.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 28, 2019
(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
The Golden Knights have continued to move pieces out to get back down below the salary cap by moving Miller to the Buffalo Sabres.
Vegas gets a 2nd round pick in 2021 (originally STL’s) and a 5th in 2022. The Golden Knights now have extra 2nd round picks in each of the 2020 and 2021 Drafts.
Miller was a healthy scratch for the first game of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Golden Knights lost to the Sharks in San Jose. He was re-inserted into the lineup following that game and played the remaining six games of the series. A few days after Game 1, head coach Gerard Gallant said this…
Well when Colin plays real solid hockey it doesn’t matter who he’s playing against. It’s not the opponents (that matter), it’s the way he gets ready mentally. We were a little disappointed he didn’t play Game 1, but since then he’s played real solid hockey. -Gallant
Miller scored just three goals in 2018-19, but did post 26 assists and was a constant on the Golden Knights power play.
The Golden Knights defense now has just five players under NHL contract. Those players are Nate Schmidt, Brayden McNabb, Shea Theodore, Nick Holden, and Jon Merrill. Deryk Engelland is an unrestricted free agent who could return to the Golden Knights, but even if he does, trading Miller certainly appears to open a space on the roster for a rookie.
Zach Whitecloud, Nic Hague, Dylan Coghlan, Jake Bischoff, and Jimmy Schuldt (who is an RFA) will battle for that spot in training camp.
Erik Haula Traded To Carolina Hurricanes For Nicolas Roy
UPDATE: The Golden Knights have confirmed this trade with the inclusion of a 2021 5th Round Conditional pick also coming to Vegas in the deal.
According to Jesse Granger with The Athletic, the Golden Knights offseason cap compliance trade bonanza is officially underway.
Breaking news: The Golden Knights have traded Erik Haula to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for prospect Nicolas Roy, multiple sources confirm with The Athletic.
Full story- https://t.co/QD9ypTqccx #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/kWNFGdQljS
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) June 27, 2019
Nicolas Roy is a 22-year-old forward who was drafted in the 4th round of the 2015 Draft. He has played the previous two full seasons with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL scoring 11 and 17 goals in 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively.
He really burst onto the scene in the Calder Cup Playoff run which eventually ended with Roy’s Checkers defeating the Golden Knights affiliate the Chicago Wolves. Roy scored six goals and tallied nine assists in 16 playoff games.
Roy is a big forward standing 6’4″ tall and weighing 207 pounds.
Let's talk about Erik Haula for Nicolas Roy https://t.co/pKG3xX1Yn4
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) June 27, 2019
Kelly McCrimmon Promoted To General Manager, George McPhee To Remain As President Of Hockey Operations
The Golden Knights announced today that Kelly McCrimmon has been promoted from Assistant General Manager to General Manager. George McPhee, who previously had the title of General Manager and President of Hockey Operations, will now simply become the President of Hockey Operations.
Truthfully, very little will change with the Golden Knights organization. McPhee remains first in command and in complete control of all hockey decisions, while McCrimmon gets a title boost, probably a pay raise, and a few added responsibilities.
The reason for this move is because of how coveted McCrimmon is by other teams. He was a lead candidate for the General Manager position in both Edmonton and Seattle. The title boost means the Golden Knights will not lose McCrimmon to either job.
Functionally, there will be a few minor differences.
In this new role, McCrimmon will represent the Golden Knights at the league’s General Managers Meetings and be the point of contact for other NHL GMs. -Golden Knights press release
As far as from the fan perspective, this move has nearly no impact on the chemical makeup of the front office. The same people are making the decisions, with the same power structure in place.
The main takeaway that should come from this move is The Creator’s continued commitment to the Golden Knights success. Rather than let a trusted person leave for a better position, the team gave him a new title to keep him with the organization. Further proving, The Creator will spare no expense to reach the ultimate goal.
McCrimmon, McPhee, and Foley are expected to meet with the media at noon today at City National Arena.
NIKITA GUSEV (F) SIGNS ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
The Golden Knights have signed 26-year old forward Nikita Gusev to a one-year entry-level contract. Gusev was the MVP of the KHL last season and will likely win the award for this season when it is handed out.
Gusev is eligible to play in the playoffs for the Golden Knights because he was on Vegas’ “Reserve List” at the Trade Deadline.
He’ll join our group tomorrow and we’ll see where it goes. I’m not going to make any promises either way right now. I like our team, we’ve played with our team all year. If we think we need him to put in the lineup we’ll see where it goes, but we are a ways from that right now. -Gerard Gallant
I’m not going to use his play in the KHL but I know he’s a very high-end player, he’s a good hockey player and we’ll see what he does in practice and we’ll see how things go. But I’m very comfortable with my lineup right now and we’ll do the job the way we are going to do the job. He’s another player to our team and that’s what really makes it good. We don’t need him right now but we’ll see where it goes. -Gallant
VGK have signed Nikita Gusev. pic.twitter.com/FXWvZjhmjD
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) April 14, 2019
Multiple Golden Knights have told us that they met Nikita Gusev this morning. Everyone described it as brief.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS SIGN JIMMY SCHULDT (D)
The Golden Knights have signed 23-year-old defenseman Jimmy Schuldt to a one-year entry-level contract.
Schuldt was the captain of the #1 ranked team in the NCAA and is a finalist for the Hobey Baker award given to the best college player.
He attended Development Camp in Las Vegas last summer. It was the fourth different Development Camp he had attended since enrolling at St. Cloud State University, the others were Montreal, Chicago, and New York (Islanders).
Schuldt is 6’1,” 205 pounds. He’s a very good skater and is terrific with the puck. He scored 10 goals each of the past two seasons at St. Cloud State and tallied 38 and 35 points the previous two seasons. He has a strong shot and is responsible in his own end, but what I remember most from Schuldt while he was at Camp in Vegas was his decision-making.
Due to the CBA, Schuldt’s contract is a one-year entry-level deal that will expire on June 30th, 2019. He is ineligible to play for the Golden Knights in the postseason, so we won’t be seeing much of Schuldt any time soon. Once his contract expires, he’ll become a restricted free agent (RFA) and remain under Vegas’ control. He can then sign a longer-term deal, which has likely already been discussed.
I think for me just the right fit, the right organization, the right culture. If the culture is the same throughout the players and there’s a lot of character that goes into it, those are the teams that have success. -Schuldt on 6/27/18
MARK STONE (F) SIGNS 8-YEAR $9.5M AAV CONTRACT EXTENSION
Mark Stone has officially signed an 8 year contract extension at $9.5 million AAV.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) March 8, 2019
Mark Stone #VegasBorn
8 year / $76M extension ($9.5M AAV)
2019-20: $3M + $9M SB
* Full NMChttps://t.co/qMdTq8guRE
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) March 8, 2019
Mark Stone's base salary in both 2020-21 and 2022-23 (potential lock seasons) drops to $1,000,000 in each of those years.https://t.co/qMdTq8guRE https://t.co/jVBPGzcfZx
GOLDEN KNIGHTS ACQUIRE (F) MARK STONE FOR OSCAR LINDBERG, ERIK BRANNSTROM, AND A 2ND ROUND PICK
According to multiple reports, the Golden Knights have acquired forward Mark Stone via trade from the Ottawa Senators for Oscar Lindberg, Erik Brannstrom, and a 2nd round pick.
Mark Stone is a 26-year-old forward who has scored 28 goals this season with 62 points. Stone has reached 60 points in four of his five full seasons in the NHL.
I’m so excited to be joining that team. Just seeing what they did last year in the playoffs was unbelievable. -Mark Stone
I’m close, haven’t quite signed it yet, but we’ve agreed. -Stone on extension
Just playing 2 games there in my career, the atmosphere, the city, the lineup they put on the ice every night and the ownership’s commitment to winning, I can’t wait and I’m so excited to be a part of it. -Stone
He’s a great player. He’s another big-time player and obviously the number he puts up. He plays in every situation and he’ll really help our hockey club. You know we lost a lot obviously, we gave up some great players. When you get superstar players on your team you have to give up a lot. -Gallant
He’s a great all-around player so we are obviously excited. He was the top guy on the board and we went out and got him. It shows our players what we want to do and to get things on track here and get it going again. -Gallant
"It’s obvious our goal is to win immediately and this proves that. This is a player that comes in and obviously helps any team in the league immediately and you have to give up a lot to get a guy like that. I think he’s going to fit in nicely in this room/on the ice." -Pacioretty
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) February 25, 2019
You don’t know if it’s possible until it happens. Obviously every team in the league checked in on Mark Stone because he’s that type of player. I heard his name a week ago but it doesn’t mean anything close. When I went on the ice today, was it possible, yes, but was it close, I couldn’t say that, I had no idea. -Gallant
From the first 35 games last year everything changed. What they talked about last year was building for the future and all of a sudden we go on a run and it’s unbelievable and everything changes. We want to win. We had a chance to win last year and everyone wants to win. When you do things like the Pacioretty’s, Stastny’s Stone’s, they are top NHL players. We are trying to find the right mix. I think people know that Vegas isn’t just an expansion team, they want to win. -Gallant
"A big trade for our organization. This type of play doesn't come available very often. We believe he is one of the best all around players in the NHL and makes our team better." -McPhee on Stone
McPhee says they like their defense depth both at the prospect level and the NHL level. Says that depth allowed him to make this type of move.
"Stone is the here, the now, the future." -McPhee on why he was willing to move Brannstrom
"Hague is a highly rated player for us. So it certainly makes doing something like this easier." -McPhee
McPhee says this deal does not effect a potential contract on William Karlsson in any way. Says they don't want to be hamstrung in any way and they won't be.
Stone is expected to sign an extension with the Golden Knights.
Extension being worked on, pretty obvious that one is coming since there appears to be no conditional picks in the deal from OTT to VGK. https://t.co/TfLYso28FB
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2019
Stone’s AAV on an eight-year deal with VGK is $9.5M.
Keep in mind, one place where VGK has excellent depth is on defense.
Schmidt (2025), Theodore (2025), Miller (2022), McNabb (2022), Whitecloud (2020+RFA), Hague (2021+RFA).
There simply weren't spots for everyone, while there is plenty of room for scoring.
In 2017-18 the Golden Knights traded a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for Tomas Tatar
In 2018-19 the Golden Knights traded a 1st (Brannstrom), 2nd, and Oscar Lindberg for Mark Stone.
Mark Stone meet the media for the first time in Vegas. https://t.co/hnOd9kpU6A
GOLDEN KNIGHTS TRADE BRAD HUNT (D) AND 6TH ROUND PICK FOR 5TH ROUND PICK
The Golden Knights have traded defenseman Brad Hunt and a 6th round pick for a 5th round pick in the 2019 Draft. The Wild have multiple 5th round picks (their own and Washington’s), Vegas will get the better pick.
The roster now sits at 22 with Smith, Carrier, and Subban on IR. https://t.co/FTTqltk2iA
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 22, 2019
For those asking, is this signaling an incoming #Brannwagon, the answer is probably no. This is almost certainly a move to open up a spot for the guys on IR. (That being said, you have to be crazy to think I'm not going to ask about Brannstrom tomorrow at McPhee's presser.) https://t.co/FTTqlt2rr2
MARC-ANDRE FLEURY (G) NAMED TO 2019 ALL STAR TEAM
Fleury is the only Golden Knight to be named to the Pacific Division roster.
This will be Fleury’s 4th appearance in the All Star Game.
Last year Fleury won the shootout competition at the Skills Challenge. He will likely defend that title on January 25th.
The All Star game is being held in San Jose on Sunday, January 26th.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS CLAIM VALENTIN ZYKOV (F) ON WAIVERS
Zykov has played with the Edmonton Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes this season. He’s scored 4 goals and tallied 7 assists (all with the Hurricanes) in 30 games this season.
Zykov was placed on waivers by the Hurricanes on November 30th by the Hurricanes, he was claimed by the Oilers. Yesterday the Oilers waived him, and VGK put in a claim.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) December 29, 2018
Zykov played for the Hurricanes in Vegas on 11/3. He took just 9 shifts for a total of 4:41 of ice time.
Zykov scored 33 goals and had 54 points in 63 games in the AHL last season for the Charlotte Checkers.
This is a scouting report from Zykov's draft year (2013) by Sportsnet. He's still 6'0" but is now 220 pounds. pic.twitter.com/P4bNAqZB2N
Zykov is signed through next season at $675,000 AAV.
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Posts Tagged: water
Drought in the Landscape: Water Conservation Q & A
[From the August 2015 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin] Q. How much water do landscapes use in California? A. Landscape irrigation accounts for only about 9% of total statewide developed water use, but the percentage varies widely among...
Posted on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 9:41 AM
Author: Dennis Pittenger
Tags: conservation (4), drip (1), drought (25), grass (3), irrigation (5), landscape (25), lawn (6), native (2), Pittenger (2), sprinkler (1), sprinklers (1), tree (16), trees (10), UCCE (10), water (19)
Small but mighty: researchers find periodically flowing streams in California are surprisingly diverse
A California newt (Taricha torosa). Photo by Michael Bogan.
When we think water in California, we tend to think big: the Sacramento River, the American, the Delta. But, the state is also filled with small headwater streams that can be particularly easy to overlook when, during the state's dry summers, they start to resemble a series of pools rather than flowing creeks. Adding insult to injury is a longstanding view that the fish and insect communities in these intermittent streams will be less diverse than those found in the larger rivers they run into.
It is against this backdrop that scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, with support from the California Institute for Water Resources, set out to study some small creeks in the northern part of the state. They have been both surprised and excited by the diversity they are encountering. For example, at John West Fork in Marin County, they observed California giant salamanders, California newts, and Pacific chorus frogs, along with imperiled steelhead trout and coho salmon. In nearby Pine Gulch, they have observed a similar suite (minus the coho salmon), including several pools supporting older steelhead trout. The presence of these larger animals is an encouraging sign of resilience. They also found an abundant and diverse range of small invertebrates like mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies—insects that are an important part of the food chain.
“These are small streams that lack flow for part or most of the year, yet they are totally filled with life. Understanding how these tiny little aquatic organisms manage to navigate this crazy and variable landscape, and thrive in conditions that most species would find very challenging, is really cool,” says project researcher Michael Bogan.
Beetle larvae, caddisflies, and mayflies at John West Fork in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California. Photo by Michael Bogan.
Previous research has indicated that intermittently flowing streams in Mediterranean climates like California's might be less diverse than streams that flow year round. However, after four years of sampling and a concentrated effort to identify more species, researchers are starting to find that at least some intermittent streams may be just about as diverse as their larger counterparts. Stephanie Carlson, lead investigator on this project, notes that “Intermittent streams that flow for only part of the year don't – on first glance – look like great quality habitat for species like coho salmon and trout, but our ongoing work suggests that these species can thrive in isolated pools during the summer, particularly following wetter winters when more pools persist.”
This finding is a great reward for difficult field work in a setting where streams can go from several months of dryness to raging flood waters with a single storm. “There's a lot of slogging up and down stream channels, crawling over downed trees & logs, sliding on wet rocks, and avoiding poison oak and stinging nettle,” says Bogan, though you mostly get the sense that he doesn't mind.
The research team sampling intermittent headwater streams in northern California. Photo by Michael Bogan.
Dry times can be tough times, as California's many residents know well during this fourth year of ongoing drought. While some stream communities might be able to withstand harsh drying conditions, they also depend on being reconnected by flowing water at critical points in the year. A long-term goal of the research is determining the target water levels that can sustain these diverse aquatic communities.
“In the long run, it's really exciting to think about how we can use this understanding of species ecology to inform water resource management and maximize our ability to support aquatic biodiversity and mindful agriculture and water use. In many situations, I do believe we can have the best of both worlds,” says Bogan.
The full study results are in: Bogan, Michael T., Jason L. Hwan, and Stephanie M. Carlson. In Press. High aquatic biodiversity in an intermittent coastal headwater stream at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California. Northwest Science. Contact mbogan@berkeley.edu for a pre-press copy.
This research was supported in part through a grant to Principal Investigator Stephanie Carlson at the University of California, Berkeley from the California Institute for Water Resources in the University of California's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 2:17 AM
Author: Faith Kearns, PhD
Tags: drought (25), Water (19)
The health impacts of sugary drinks
Refined sugar (Photo: Ann Filmer)
Americans consume nearly three times the recommended amount of sugar every day, and about half the U.S. population consumes sugary drinks on any given day.
Excess sugar consumption contributes to obesity, tooth decay, early menses in girls, and chronic diseases including diabetes and heart disease. To add to the damage, doctors are now attributing too much dietary sugar to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which can lead to cirrhosis of the liver.
It's enough to make you sit up and listen to the warnings about too much soda, sugary drinks, and sugar-laden processed foods.
What is a sugary drink? It's any beverage, more or less, with added sugar or other sweeteners, including high-fructose corn syrup. The long list of beverages includes soda, lemonade, fruit punch, powdered fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened coffee and tea drinks, and many flavored milk products.
People are becoming aware of the concerns of too many sugary drinks, and steps are being taken to reduce their consumption. Some K-12 school districts across the nation are limiting sales of soda, and the City of Davis will soon require that restaurants offer milk or water as a first beverage choice with kids' meals.
UC Cooperative Extension, the county-based outreach arm of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, is partnering with health agencies and conducting public service programs for youth and families about sugary drinks. UC ANR Cooperative Extension in San Joaquin County recently presented a "Rethink Your Drink" parent workshop in conjunction with the county's Office of Education, and Solano County Cooperative Extension is working with the California Department of public health to engage youth in "Rethink Your Drink" programs.
Sarah Risorto, UC IPM Program, refills her water bottle at a UC Davis water station. (Photo: Ann Filmer)
Lucia Kaiser, UC ANR Cooperative Extension nutrition specialist, co-authored a policy brief about California's rural immigrants who have poor-quality tap water, or perceive tap water to be bad. Kaiser, who is also a nutrition faculty member at UC Davis, noted that studies have found a link between water quality and consumption of sugary drinks, which is a concern in low-income communities that don't have resources for clean water.
As of this month (July 2015), UC San Francisco is no longer selling sugary beverages on its campus, and UCSF has launched a Healthy Beverage Initiative. UC Berkeley held a Sugar Challenge this year, and UC Davis is conducting a Sugar Beverage Study on women.
Scientists at UC San Francisco, UC Davis, UC ANR's Nutrition Policy Institute, and other universities are studying the health effects of sugar and implementing health outreach programs. And UC's Global Food Initiative is building on the momentum of excessive sugary-drink consumption.
A healthy alternative to sugary drinks? Water, of course. Many universities and public places are replacing traditional drinking fountains with water stations so that students and others can fill their own bottles and have water “on the go.” And UC President Janet Napolitano is working with the Nutrition Policy Institute on a bold and sensible request to place water on the USDA's MyPlate nutrition guidelines.
The next time you're thirsty, drink wisely to your good health.
Sugary drinks are hiding under a 'health halo'; UC ANR Food Blog, Aug. 6, 2014
Nutrition Policy Institute, UC ANR
UCSF Launches Sugar Science Initiative, a national initiative
Learn the Facts about Sugar: How Sugar Impacts your Health, UCTV Video, May 2015
The Hidden Costs of Sugar; UCSF news release, Nov. 2014
Why Sugar? Why Now?, blog article by Laura Schmidt, UCSF
Posted on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 8:23 AM
Author: Ann King Filmer
Tags: drinks (2), Lucia Kaiser (3), sugar (4), water (19)
The New California Landscape, part 1: Making the Aesthetic Shift
On March 17, 2015, the California State Water Resources Board voted to extend and expand the water use restrictions put in place last year in response to the drought. For those who escaped restrictions last year, this means limiting your irrigation...
Posted on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 1:33 PM
Author: Nadia Zane
Tags: conservation (4), drought (25), master gardeners (12), water (19)
5 key facts about the California drought—and 5 ways we’re responding to it
Drought-impacted California grasslands. by Faith Kearns
Drought has gripped much of the western U.S. this year, with a particular stranglehold in California. In 2014, the majority of the state was classified as experiencing “extreme” to “exceptional” drought. Even recent large storms, while welcome, have not made much of a dent in the state's water deficit after several hot, dry years. This drought, ongoing for three years and counting, presents several complex, important issues:
Reliance on Snowpack: California's current water infrastructure depends largely on snowpack. But this dependency will pose significant challenges in the future. Unlike the majority of the U.S., California has a Mediterranean climate with wet winters and dry summers. It uses the Sierra mountains as a natural reservoir: The snow gathers there during the wet season and continually melts during the warmer months, supplying much of the state with water during the summers. If there isn't an adequate amount of snowpack, water storage and delivery will become huge issues. Even with recent rains, many of the reservoirs continue to hover at low levels.
Climate Variability: We are learning more about California's climate from paleoclimate research (the study of past climates). For example, Lynn Ingram at the University of California, Berkeley found that the state previously experienced periods of prolonged drought. Professor Ingram's research suggests that we may be entering another period of dryness, the likes of which has not been seen in at least 500 years. Her research also shows that some portions of the state have undergone droughts that lasted decades. In fact, the last 150 years or so have likely been some of the wettest in California's history. And it's in that time period that most of our large dams (and other water infrastructure) was built. More recently, scientists Daniel Griffin and Kevin Anchukaitis used soil moisture to measure drought. They found the 2011-2014 period to be the driest on record in about 1200 years. These paleoclimate studies are helping us understand California's highly variable climate, which can help guide water management efforts. Predicting how long this drought will last, however, remains a challenge.
Climate Change: In addition to climate variability, all signs indicate that global climate change is exacerbating the drought. While it's difficult to tease out cause and effect, we do know that we are seeing less snow in the mountains and less fog in the Central Valley. We are also seeing fewer big winter storms, which we rely on for our year-round water supply. In addition, 2014 is almost certain to go down as California's hottest on record, complicating the already dry conditions. For example, Griffin and Anchukaita (cited above) found that California's reduced precipitation has been compounded by increased temperatures.
Groundwater Usage: In 2014, the agricultural community relied quite heavily on groundwater to get through the drought. They turned to groundwater because surface water allocations were greatly reduced. Many farmers pumped groundwater from old wells, dug their wells deeper, or created new wells. Research from UC Davis estimated agricultural economic losses due to the drought to be around $2 billion. These losses would have been much, much higher without groundwater. A long-term look at groundwater depletion led by Jay Famiglietti, a scientist at the University of California, Irvine and NASA, found that high levels of long-term groundwater depletion has caused land to sink in agriculturally intensive areas, such as the Central Valley. Homeowners in these areas have seen their residential wells run dry. Unable to afford digging deeper, they've replaced well water with trucked in or bottled water.
Effects on People and Animals: Not only is California the most populous state in the U.S., it's also home to Central Valley, a major supplier of the world's food. Both city-dwellers and farmers are trying to find ways to conserve. Farmers continue to work on more efficient methods of irrigation, and urban residents are being encouraged to reduce the amount water used on landscaping, which typically accounts for 50% or more of household water usage. In addition, some areas of the state where people have been the hardest hit are also the poorest, creating cumulative stressors and threatening livelihoods. Furthermore, wildlife and ecosystems have been severely impacted by the drought. For example, the endemic Coho salmon is on the brink of extinction and tricolored blackbirds have just been listed as an endangered species.
How can California even start to cope with its drought? How can it become resilient to future droughts in an arid climate? The oft-repeated phrase that crisis is an opportunity has a ring of truth to it. Although the issues are complex, there have been some achievements: This year has seen quite a bit of movement—political and otherwise—toward developing more resilient water supplies.
Groundwater Legislation: Earlier this year, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation mandating “sustainable groundwater management,” though the law leaves local entities to define that idea further. While some local agencies have been managing groundwater at a regional level for some time, this will be the first coordinated, statewide effort. However, even in groundwater basins that the state has deemed high- or medium-priority areas, it will take time to establish the agencies responsible for groundwater management. They will then have until 2020 or 2022 to develop a groundwater sustainability plan, and the plan will just be the beginning of the management process.
Spending on Water Projects: This November, Californians voted to pass a $7.5 billion water bond that will fund a variety of projects. Over a third of that bond has been allocated for water storage. The specifics of the bond spending were left quite vague. The law notes only that the funds will go to a mixture of surface storage (e.g., dams) and groundwater storage (e.g., managed aquifer recharge). Like the groundwater legislation, the water bond projects may take years—even decades—to be implemented. Research and community input will be needed to understand which projects make the most sense and to decide where they should go.
Water Independence: Over the last decade, particularly in southern California, there has been a growing focus on “water independence.” Instead of relying on water transfers from wetter parts of the state, major urban centers such as Los Angeles and San Diego have worked to invest in water that can be supplied locally. Los Angeles, for example, is rethinking how to use storm water. The water that used to clog up the drainage system during large storms is now considered a resource, harnessed through the use of permeable pavements and rain gardens, which help to recharge groundwater after a storm.
Adapting to Variable Water Supply: Due to the growing recognition of how variable our climate is, researchers, growers, and communities are looking toward more resilient approaches to managing water. For example, the state has developed an adaptation strategy for water, which stresses the importance of efficiency in the urban and agricultural sectors, advances the concept of integrated regional water management, and focuses on improving water and flood management systems.
Community Awareness and Support: People are banding together to support each other through this drought. The state's universities have been holding workshops and offering training opportunities for communities hit hard by drought, agriculture and ranching. People are starting to realize the scale of change necessary and are joining together in non-traditional alliances. Journalist Brett Walton noted that the success of a water recycling effort in Southern California over the last 20 years was not just a technological feat, but a testament to human partnership.
The million dollar question now is how wet 2015 will be. Most predictions are pretty dire. There were hopes that the El Nino weather pattern might pull us out of the drought, but they seem to be fading. Even in the midst of a series of storms, state water managers note that we would need 150 percent of our average precipitation to recover from the drought. Long-range weather predictions are notoriously tricky. Although we hope for rain, we are actively planning for another dry year, as we should be.
As Wallace Stegner wrote, “One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native home of hope.” Regardless of whether this particular drought continues, it's clear that droughts will always be a part of life in California. Preparing for that reality is one of the most hopeful actions we can take.
Severe Drought Has U.S. West Fearing Worst by Adam Nagourney and Ian Lovett, The New York Times
Zero Percent Water by Alan Heathcock
Depleting the Water by Lesley Stahl, 60 Minutes
When the Snow Fails by Michelle Nijhous, National Geographic
California drought: Scientists puzzled by persistence of blocking ‘ridge' by Gloria Goodale, The Christian Science Monitor
California drought: Past dry periods have lasted more than 200 years, scientists say by Paul Rogers, San Jose Mercury News
California Drought Saps Water Reserves Above and Below Ground, Says Satellite Data by Brett Walton, Circle of Blue
Amid drought, California and other Western states gird for a landmark year in forest fires by Reid Wilson,Washington Post
The Connection Between California's Drought and Climate Change by Molly Samuel, KQED Science
California Drought Most Severe Dry Spell in at least 1,200 Years by Alex Emslie, KQED Science
This article was originally published at Hippo Reads. Read the original.
Posted on Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2:15 PM
Author: Faith Kearns
Tags: california (29), drought (25), Water (19)
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ABOUT SLAB
Urban Visions: Art as Social Practice?
a digital media arts group exhibition
Gallery at the School for Cinematic Arts, USC
Opening Reception Wednesday, September 23, 4-6 PM
Urban Visions is a group gallery show of USC affiliated artists who re-narrate and elucidate the contemporary city. The exhibition features four media projects that question accepted forms of representation through critical cartography and new modes of mapping; community storytelling; and immersive journalism. Taken together, the projects invite participants to actively engage in media experiences in order to consider how communities shape a sense of place and cultural identity, as well as how local ethnic communities help us reconfigure our understanding of transnational identity.
The exhibition is co-curated by Professor Holly Willis, Chair of the School of Cinematic Art’s Media Arts + Practice Division.
This exhibition is made possible by the generous support of USC’s Visions and Voices program.
François Bar, Associate Professor in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, will present an installation of his Healthy Food South LA map project with collaborators Community Services Unlimited and Trust South LA. This work is part of a series of maps which has also been shown at the Guggenheim Museum and illustrates the potential for collaborative mapping to help participants re-narrate their neighborhoods.
Kristy H.A. Kang, will present Seoul of Los Angeles, an interactive website that explores the cultural history of Koreatown and the Bangladeshi and Latino communities that also reside in the neighborhood. Dr. Kang earned her PhD in Media Arts + Practice in SCA, is Associate Director of SLAB, and is an Assistant Professor at the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Nonny de la Peña, a Media Arts+ Practice doctoral candidate, has been pioneering the new field of immersive journalism. She will present Hunger in LA, a virtual reality project that immerses viewers in a dramatic experience while standing in line at a Food Bank in downtown Los Angeles.
Annette M Kim, an Associate Professor at the Price School of Public Policy, will present an immersive digital installation that illustrates how sidewalk space was re-negotiated in a neighborhood over a 10-year period; this artwork became a national discussion piece as the city considers the role of migrant street vendors in the city.
spatial analysis lab @ USC
© 2019 slab
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HATE CRIME: Girl Hit By Car Targeting Anybody African American
A woman riding her bike in Daytona Beach Monday night was hit by car driven by a man targeting African Americans, police said.Police believe Nekedia Cato, a 25-year-old African American woman, was hit by Thomas Cosby, of Port Orange.
Police said Cosby, 56, slammed into Cato, took out a nearby porch, hit a tree and then rolled three times.”He just hit me because I was black,” Cato said.Cato was riding her bike home from the store on South Atlantic Avenue.
“I actually saw him coming toward me. I tried to move my bike as fast as I [could], but it wasn’t quick enough. He came straight for me,” Cato said.
Police reported that after Cosby crashed, he got out of his car, screaming racist remarks. Cosby repeatedly used the N-word and shouted he wanted to kill black people, authorities said.
“He was screaming out he had to kill all black people because one slept with his wife,” Cato said.
Cato recently moved to the Daytona Beach area with her boyfriend, D.”If he could target me just because of the color of my skin, he could target anybody else,” Cato said.
Cato suffered several broken bones, a broken leg and other injuries. Her leg injury was so severe doctors inserted a metal rod into her leg. Cato could be hospitalized for weeks.
“I'm kind of scared walking down the street because I don't know if people hate me,” Cato said.
Cato just started a new job, but could lose it due to prolonged time in the hospital.
“I don't have hate in my heart, you know, I just don't have hate in my heart,” Cato said.
Cosby is charged with aggravated battery and simple battery under the state's hate crime laws. More severe penalties will follow if Cosby is convicted.Florida's hate crime laws went into effect in 1989, including crimes committed not only due to race, but due to religion, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, or age if over 65 years old.
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William West’s Tavern Anecdotes
It is my pleasure to publish this selection of the Origins of Signs by William West (1770-1854) from his Tavern Anecdotes of 1825 to be found in the Bishopsgate Library. “The absurdities which Tavern Signs present are often curious enough, but may in general be traced to that inveterate propensity which the vulgar of all countries have to make havoc with everything in the shape of a proper name,” West wrote contemptuously in his introduction.
THE MOON RAKERS
A house, by this sign. stands near Suffolk St, Southwark, and is well known to the inhabitants of that district. The natives of most counties are honoured by some ludicrous appellation by their neighbours and moon raker has long been synonymous with a Wiltshireman.
A party of Wiltshire smugglers having deposited their casks of contraband spirits in a pond, were in the act of raking them out on a moonlit night, when some excisemen cam near. Upon the latter demanding what they were about, one of the smugglers, with affected naivety, replied, “Whoy, don’t you zee that cheese there?” The idea that these pretended simpletons had actually mistaken the reflection of the moon for a cheese so diverted the excisemen that they laughed heartily and went away, and by this manoeuvre, they say, the smugglers’ kegs remained in safety.
BULL & MOUTH
This sign exhibits an instance of the corruption and perversion of language. Everybody knows that a bull has a mouth, but everyone does not know that is such a place as Boulogne, where there is a harbour, which necessarily must have an entrance, commonly called a mouth.
Originally the town was known as Boulogne Mouth, in allusion to the town and harbour of Boulogne, but the gne being generally pronounced by the Londoners on, it gradually became an and it only required the small addition of d to make and of it. The first part being before this made a bull of it, was ultimately converted to Bull & Mouth - the unmeaning title which it now bears. Situated in St Martin Le Grand, this is a house of much business, from whence several of the mails and various other coaches, to all parts of the kingdom, do take their departure.
There are various houses known by this name. That in Chancery Lane, nearly opposite to the gate leading in to Lincoln’s Inn Old Sq, is kept by Jack Randall, who has obtained the title of Nonpareil, having fought above a dozen pitched battles and proving the victor in every encounter. He weighs about ten stone six pounds and his height is about five feet six inches, but now he has retired from the ring, having nettled some blunt. There is also a noted ‘Hole in the Wall’ in Fleet St where compositors have long held their orgies.
THE DEVIL TAVERN
The Devil Tavern in Fleet St near Temple Bar was well known to the facetious Ben Jonson and the celebrated Lord Rochester also takes note of this notorious scene of revelry.
THE JOLLY SAILOR
This sign, like that of the Mariner’s Compass, Ship, Boat and Barge etc has been adopted in seaport towns, evidently in compliment to the seafaring man, as others have adopted the names of some favourite or fortunate admiral, commodore, captain etc.
Everyone is familiar with the history of Robin Hood. About half a century ago, there existed a debating society in London called ‘The Robin Hood Society’ which gave its name to house in Windmill St where it met.
FORTUNE OF WAR
This title is of considerable antiquity and probably originated with some veteran warrior, who had obtained prize money sufficient to enable him to retire and become publican. In Giltspur St, there is a house retaining that name, it is at the corner of Cock Lane, of Ghost notoriety.
A sign, so named, is observable on the road to Greenwich. It is a representation of the globe with a man walking on the lower part, alluding to the state of inebriation, in which a person is sometimes said to suppose himself walking on the crown of his head.
THE LONDON ‘PRENTICE
A house so styled is situated in Old St near to Shoreditch church. This may have an allusion to the rising of the city apprentices or perhaps, more probably, taken from Hogarth’s representation of the Industrious & Idle Apprentices.
THE HORNS
There are many taverns so named but the most noted are the Horns Tavern in the vicinity of St Paul’s and the Horns at Kennington. Most of the public houses in Highgate have a large pair of horns fixed on the end of a long staff, by which it has been an ancient custom for persons to swear that they will never eat brown bread when they can get white and never kiss a maid when they can kiss the mistress, after which thy must kiss the horns and pay one shilling, to be spent in the house.
THE TANNER OF JOPPA
In Long Lane, Southwark, there is a house so named, probably having its origin in the times when Scripture names were adopted for men and things. In Acts CX V. 32, we read that the Apostle Peter dwelt for some time at the house of Simon, a tanner.
Images courtesy Bishopsgate Institute
You may also like to take a look at
The Signs of Old London
There is an identical story about moon rakers 200 miles from Wiltshire in the village of Slaithwaite (pronounced Slough-it or Slathwit but never Slaithwaite) near Huddersfield. The only difference was it was barrels of rum hidden in the canal). There is a biennial festival where a moon lantern is floated on a raft, fished out and then carried around the village.
http://www.examiner.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/everything-you-need-know-slaithwaite-12551388
But the neighbouring village of Marsden has a story attached to it that suggests they were quite dim (only neighbours can be so derisory). People from Marsden are called Marsden Cuckoos. The story goes as follows: Many years ago the people of Marsden were aware that when the cuckoo arrived, so did the Spring and sunshine. They tried to keep Spring forever, by building a tower around the Cuckoo. Unfortunately, as the last stones were about to be laid, away flew the cuckoo. If only they’d built the tower one layer higher. As the legend says, it “were nobbut just wun course too low.”
Naturally there is a Marsden Cuckoo festival but, as far as I’m aware, there is no pub sign that commemorates this story.
http://www.marsden.org.uk/events/
W. H. Amos permalink
Of these pubs I suspect only the Tanner of Joppa (Simon the Tanner) on Long Lane is still standing under (almost) the same name.
The London Apprentice is still there but under a different name. The World turned upside down, which local memory was named after the experiences of the Civil War, is now a Dominoes Pizza. It survived until fairly recently.
Another source for the name of the pub could could be as follows
“The oldest of the inns in the Old Kent Road, perhaps, is one near the Bricklayers’ Arms Station, which rejoices in the somewhat singular sign of “The World Turned Upside Down.” The house is supposed to be upwards of two hundred years old, and down to about 1840 its sign-board represented a man walking at the South Pole. It may have been first set up after the discovery of Australia, Van Diemen’s Land, or Terra del Fuego; but Mr. Larwood, in his work on “Sign-boards,” interprets it as “meaning a state of things the opposite of what is natural and usual: a conceit in which,” he adds, “the artists of former ages took great delight, and which they represented by animals chasing men, horses riding in carriages, and similar conceits and pleasantries.” The old sign-board was blown down many years ago; and in 1868 the house itself was in great part rebuilt and wholly new-fronted.”
‘The Old Kent Road’, Old and New London: Volume 6 (1878), pp. 248-255
Pete permalink
I love these – is there a digital copy of the book that’s freely available?
Kitanz permalink
I LOVE these kind of pictures. they are Amazing! Thank You So Very Much!
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BUSH's GAVIN ROSSDALE: 'Every Record Is Special Because It's A Huge Mountain To Climb'
In a recent interview with Meltdown of Detroit radio station WRIF, BUSH frontman Gavin Rossdale spoke about the writing process for the band's forthcoming "The Mind Plays Tricks On You" full-length, which is tentatively due this fall. For the writing of the album, Rossdale teamed with film composer Tyler Bates, who has previously collaborated with Marilyn Manson.
"We had a good time making it," he said (audio below). "It's a really special record. 'Bullet Holes' [the album's first single, which is also featured on the 'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum' soundtrack] is one amongst many songs that I think people will love. Every record is special because it's a huge mountain to climb. It's a snapshot of your life at the time. Getting through the end of the record, every record I've done, it's true about them, it's a really big deal. It's just really special because we got a whole new team around us, we got a whole new army with us and it's been about a year now and to bring out a record with a whole new gang around us and some of the people as well, but different management, it's really gratifying. They're someone who believed in us before this record and now the spoils of the studio are coming out."
Rossdale then went on to discuss whether "The Mind Plays Tricks On You" serves as a "rebirth" for BUSH considering the group was disbanded from 2002 to 2010, and recently came back around to some of the heavier alternative sounds of its mid-1990s records. "In a weird way, every new record is a chance to be reborn," he said. "The previous record, 'Black And White Rainbows', I'm really proud of that record. It's sort of bruised. It's something about it — it's really an emotional record for me. This one is more like a true survivor, power and energy and some anger, exploration, living real life."
Rossdale also talked about the supposed "heavier" nature of the band's new output, which stems from the desire to beef up their live set with more guitar-driven songs. "Because so much of our life is on the road and so many times we wanted to think about the live set," he said. "It just helps, for me to write a mid-tempo kind of song going nowhere, there's no function to it. It's got to be next to 'Machinehead', be next to 'Comedown', be next to 'Greedy Fly', any of those songs, 'This Is War' from the last record. That means it got to be heavy."
BUSH is currently on the road with LIVE for "The Alt-Imate Tour", a co-headline summer run, which sees the two bands celebrating the 25th anniversary of their respective landmark albums "Sixteen Stone" and "Throwing Copper". The trek kicked off June 6 in Mashantucket, Connecticut and will wrap September 8 in Rochester, Michigan.
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When was the Letter to the Galatians Written?
Galatians was written after the great dissension between the believers in Antioch (Acts 15:2; Gal 2), but prior to the Church Council in Jerusalem in Acts 15, therefore somewhere in AD48-50. The letter to the Galatians therefore represents Paul’s argument before the Church Council, while the Church Council decision substantially made an end to the dispute in the letter to the Galatians.
Both Galatians and Acts 15 mention a visit by Paul to Jerusalem and a dispute between Paul and other Jewish Christians in Antioch, but the two cities are mentioned in opposite sequences:
The visit to Jerusalem in the letter to the Galatians was a private meeting with a small number of important people, while the visit to Jerusalem in Acts resulted in a large public meeting with a formal church council decision. For this and other reasons these were two different visits to Jerusalem.
But the two disputes in Antioch are the same. Both were caused by men that came from the church headquarters in Jerusalem and taught that, unless you (Gentile Christians) are circumcised, you cannot be saved.
On this basis a threefold sequence is proposed:
First an informal visit to the leaders in Jerusalem,
Followed by the public dispute in Antioch,
which was resolved through a formal Council decision in Jerusalem.
Since the letter to the Galatians does not mention the Jerusalem decision, it must have been written before that decision, therefore somewhere in AD48-50.
Purpose – To prepare for a discussion of the early development of the church, this page reconciles events in Jerusalem and Antioch, described in Acts, with the events in the same cities, described in Galatians. This will help to determine where the letter to the Galatians fits into the early development of the church.
Dates – See here for a table with dates for key events in the early church. As indicated by this table, chronologists do not always exactly agree on the dates, but they more or less agree. For that reason the dates in this article are all approximates.
The letter to the Galatians mentions:
A visit by Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem (2:1-10)
Followed by a dispute between Paul and other Jewish Christians in Antioch (2:11-24)
Acts mentions the two cities in the opposite sequence:
First a dispute between Paul and other Christians in Antioch (15:1-2)
Followed by a visit by Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem (15:4-30)
Some argue that Paul’s visit to Jerusalem in Galatians 2:1-10 is the same as his visit to Jerusalem in Acts 15. There are similarities, such as:
The key issue in both visits is whether Gentile Christians must be circumcised (Gal 2:3; Acts 15:5).
In both Barnabas went with Paul (Gal 2:1; Acts 15:2).
However, the details of the two visits are too different to refer to the same visit:
In the letter to the Galatians Paul took Titus along as an example of the work he does under the Gentiles (Gal. 2:1, 3), but there is no mention of Titus in Acts 15.
In Galatians Paul went to Jerusalem “because of a revelation” (Gal 2:2), but in Acts it was because of a decision of the brethren in Antioch (15:2).
In Galatians Paul visited “those who were of reputation” “in private” (Gal 2:2). In Acts “they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders” (15:4), and the entire church council, consisting of the “apostles and the elders” (15:6, 22) decided the matter.
In Galatians “those who were of high reputation” (Gal. 2:6, 9) simply “gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship” (2:9). In Acts there was a formal church council decision, where-after leading men from the Jerusalem church were chosen to go with Paul and Barnabas with a formal letter explaining the decision “to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles” (15:23).
Further indications that the visit to Jerusalem in Gal 2:1-10 cannot be the council decision in Acts 15, include:
If the visit to Jerusalem in Gal. 2:1-10 was the same as in Acts 15, then the council decision was taken before the incident in Antioch in Gal. 2:11-24 and therefore before the letter to the Galatians was written. But this is very unlikely because Paul would then have mentioned the Jerusalem decision in the letter to the Galatians, because the entire purpose of Galatians is to argue against the circumcision of Gentiles.
If Gal. 2:1-10 was the same as the Acts 15 church council meeting, then James would not have sent men afterwards to Antioch to preach the circumcision of Gentiles (Gal. 2:12). Also, Peter and the other Jews would not have responded in Antioch the way they did (Gal. 2:12-13).
It is therefore proposed that these two visits to Jerusalem were not the same.
It is rather proposed that the two disputes in Antioch (Gal. 2:11-21; Acts 15:1-2) are the same. Both disputes were caused by “men (that) came down from Judea” (Acts 15:1) (“from James” Gal. 2:10) and taught “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1) (“the party of the circumcision” – Gal 2:12).
On that basis the following sequence of events is proposed:
Knowing that a dispute would burst out in the open, the Spirit first led Paul to informally visit “those who were of reputation” (Gal 2:2) in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1-10).
This is followed by the dispute in Antioch, described in both Galatians 2:11-24 and Acts 15:1-2.
This is followed by the more formal visit to Jerusalem, to resolve the dispute through a formal Council decision (15:4-30)
We are now able to date Galatians relative to these three events. Since Galatians mentions the dispute in Antioch, but does not mention the Jerusalem decision, and since that decision is critical for the topic in Galatians, namely whether Gentile Christians must be circumcised and live like Jews, it is proposed that Galatians was written by Paul while on his way to Jerusalem after the Antioch incident. Since the Jerusalem council decision is dated to AD48-50 (about 20 years after Christ’s death) it means that Galatians was written during those same years. It would make Galatians the earliest of Paul’s letters.
This conclusion corroborates with the information in Gal. 2:1-10, namely that the first visit to Jerusalem was “after an interval of fourteen years” (Gal. 2:1). The key event mentioned in the previous chapter is Paul’s Damascus-conversion (1:16) in AD35. It is therefore possible that the first visit to Jerusalem in Gal. 2:1-10 was “fourteen years” after AD35, which will bring it to AD49. On the assumption that the Antioch-dispute and the Jerusalem church council decision happened within a year or two after the first visit, the Jerusalem council meeting could have been in AD50.
NEXT: Building …
TO: Galatians Table of Content
TO: General Table of Contents
CategoriesActs 15, Dispute in Antioch, Galatians, Jerusalem Council, Paul's letters TagsWhen was Galatians Written
Previous PostPrevious Festival and new moon and Sabbath day in Colossians 2:16
Next PostNext The religious leaders wanted Jesus to heal on the Sabbath
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Plans for New IDF War College on the Mt. of Olives Approved for Public Review
On July 2, the Regional Planning Committee took up Town Plan 51870, the plan to build the IDF college on the Mount of Olives. At the end of its consideration the Committee adopted a decision to deposit the plan for public review. Once it is published the 60-day review period will commence. The pace of approval of this plan has been quite rapid, and it is clear that it is being fast-tracked. Today’s decision to deposit the plan for public review will likely receive some attention since the Ministry of the Interior has already issued a press release (and coverage has already started – see hereand here).
As we noted in previous reports, the site is located opposite the Mormon University Campus and adjacent to the Lutheran World Federation/Augusta Victoria Campus, beyond the Green Line and on lands expropriated by Israel in 1968. The plan was initiated by the governmental Jerusalem Development Authority, in conjunction with the IDF and the Israel Land Authority. The plans call for an 8 story structure, 5 stories of which will be built into the ridge, with 41,480 square meters of built up space. A map can showing the location of the tendered units can be viewed/downloaded here.
As a reminder: Once a plan is referred to the Regional Planning Committee by the Jerusalem Municipal Planning Committee (this plan was referred in April), the Regional Planning Committee has the option of rejecting the plan, demanding amendments, or approving it for public review. The Regional Planning Committee operates under the framework of the Interior Ministry and is composed largely of representatives of various government ministries, meaning that the Government of Israel’s position nearly always prevails within the committee. That is, this plan could not have moved forward unless the Netanyahu government wanted it to.
The Regional Planning Committee’s decision will now appear in newspapers and the details of the plan will be available for the public to review, and file objections to, during the 60-day review period. Once that period has elapsed, there will be a new hearing (if necessary) to consider objections (assuming there are any), and then the Committee will either approve the plan or demand amendments – a process that is generally completed within 30 days of the original 60-day review period, but can take longer in cases that are complicated or politically delicate (like the Mughrabi Gate case). The bottom line being, this plan is now in the far-advanced stages, but should the Netanyahu government come to its senses, it still has the ability to slow it or stop it.
Further reporting on this from Peace Now’s Hagit Ofran can be read here.
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Imminent Eviction in Sheikh Jarrah: The Sabbagh Family
The eviction of forty members of the Sabbagh family (including 30 children) from their home in Sheikh Jarrah is closer than ever. On November 15th, 2018, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected the family’s appeal against a 2012 decision of the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court that paved the way for the eviction (that petition was rejected based on the statute of limitations - for further details/links see here). On January 10, 2019, that same court rejected the family’s request to put the eviction on hold to allow for another hearing, ordering the family to leave within two weeks (by January 23).
NOTE: As of the day of publication of this analysis, the police have not yet enforced that eviction.
On January 22, officials from the UN and international NGOs visited the Sabbagh family, issuing a statement that closed by saying:
“We call on the Israeli authorities to immediately halt plans to evict the Sabbagh family to prevent further displacement of these refugees, cease settlement construction, and abide by their obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
For an excellent summary of the background in this case, see +972’s report - “After a decade, evictions set to return in Sheikh Jarrah.” In a nutshell:
The Sabbagh family are originally refugees from Jaffa who were resettled to Sheikh Jarrah by the Jordanian government and UNRWA. They moved to the building in which they currently live in Sheikh Jarrah in 1956.
Their building is located on land in Sheikh Jarrah that was purchased more than a century ago by two Jewish organizations, the Ashkenazi Community Council and the Sephardic Community Council, which established there a small Jewish community who lived in this area until the 1948 war.
After Israel took over the area in 1967, the Israel custodian of Absentee property took control of the land but did not evict its Palestinian residents.
In 2003, a shadowy company called Nahalat Shimon Ltd. purchased the land on which the Sabbagh family lives from the Ashkenazi Community Council and the Sephardic Community Council.
In 2008, Nahalat Shimon Ltd. filed a lawsuit at Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court seeking the eviction of the Sabbagh family and a neighbor, the Hamad family, based on its claim to own the land. Strong, organized, highly visible opposition, most notably weekly Friday demonstrations in Sheikh Jarrah, succeeded in generating domestic and international interest and focus on the issue, delaying the evictions.
In 2012, notwithstanding public pressure (and with visible protests having dropped off over time) the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court ordered the eviction of the Sabbagh family; the Sabbagh family subsequently appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court to stop the eviction.
In November 2019, the Israeli Supreme Court dismissed the family’s claim (which argued that Nahalat Shimon Ltd. did not have property rights over their building, since it was built under Jordanian rule - i.e., before Nahalat Shimon Ltd. bought the land). The court did not rule on the merits of that argument, instead rejecting it based on the statute of limitations - for further details/links see here.
Against the background of the Supreme Court decision and the threat of an imminent eviction, hundreds returned to demonstrate in Sheikh Jarrah.
The tragedy affecting the Sabbagh family, whose members are about to become refugees for the second time, exemplifies the systematic discrimination inherent in Israeli law when it comes to the reclaiming of property rights. To put it simply: when it comes to property rights, Jews and Palestinians are manifestly unequal before the law.
Israel law bars Palestinians - who fled or were compelled to leave their homes during the 1948 war - from reclaiming their property or seeking compensation for their losses. This means the Sabbagh family has no rights to the home they lost in Jaffa.
Israel law entitles Jews, in contrast, to reclaim property in East Jerusalem that they lost as a result of the 1948 war. It is this law that enables Nahalat Shimon Ltd. to evict the Sabbagh family. See here and here Peace Now’s comprehensive analysis for a more detailed review of these laws.
Those seeking to reclaim historically Jewish property in East Jerusalem do not act on their own. Property rights are often acquired by companies and individuals aligned with the East Jerusalem settler organizations, which enjoy the backing of Israeli government authorities - including in their efforts to identify properties to which Jewish claims can be made. In effect, the settlers and government work together to exploit the “reclaiming” of Jewish property in order to expand the settlers’ hold in Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem at the expense of the Palestinian population.
As a result, families like the Sabbaghs, who have lived in their home for more than 60 years, are fighting a legal battle that is lost in advance.
The case of the Sabbagh family, as dire as their circumstances may be, is by no means unique. In the past year, the Government of Israel, in conjunction with settler organizations, has instituted eviction proceedings against many tens of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah and the Batan al Hawa quarter of Silwan. Hundreds of families and thousands of individuals are at risk. Israel is on the cusp of implementing large scale displacement of Palestinians on a scope unprecedented since 1967. The Sabbagh family eviction portends this new wave of large-scale displacement.
We will be taking a harder, more comprehensive look at the new eviction policies in Sheikh Jarrah and Batan al Hawa in an upcoming edition of “Insiders’ Jerusalem.”
For additional reporting and links, see this report from the Foundation for Middle East Peace.
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home > education > colleges > new york colleges
College Profile: Dominican College of Blauvelt
The aim of Dominican College is to promote educational excellence, leadership, and service in an environment characterized by respect for the individual and concern for the community. The College is an independent institution of higher learning, Catholic in origin and heritage. In the tradition of its Dominican founders, the College fosters the active, shared pursuit of truth and embodies an ideal of education rooted in the values of reflective understanding and compassionate involvement.
Committed to building its programs on a strong liberal arts foundation, the College maintains a student-centered climate and offers an array of degree opportunities in the liberal arts and sciences, business, and the professions on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Although the majority of its students are from its geographic region, to whose emerging educational needs it is particularly responsive, its diverse student body includes national and international representation of all ethnicities and religions. Dominican College is dedicated to the principle that its educational programs and services must be both challenging and supportive, distinguished both by high standards and by attention to the needs and potential of the individual student.
The College fosters relationships between students and faculty through small, personal classes. Our convenient location in the scenic Hudson Valley area, just 17 miles from New York City, feels like a home away from home, in our friendly, yet challenging and supportive atmosphere. Since 1952, Dominican College has provided students with the environment to cultivate unique bonds and life-long relationships.
With a student/faculty ratio of 13 to 1, each person receives the assistance and challenge she or he needs to realize personal aspirations and to become a contributing citizen.
The College is a liberal arts institution which provides professional programs in teacher education, athletic training, social work, business administration and the health care professions of nursing and occupational and physical therapy. Over thirty programs, many of which are nationally accredited, are offered on the undergraduate and master's level. The 8,000 members of our Alumni make a significant difference in the hospitals, schools and businesses where they serve.
470 Western Highway
Orangeburg, NY
The aim of Dominican College is to promote educational excellence, leadership, and service in an environment characterized by respect for the individual and concern for the community. The College is an independent institution of higher learning, Catholic in origin and heritage. In the tradition of its Dominican founders, the College fosters the active, shared pursuit of truth and embodies an ideal of education rooted in the values of reflective understanding and compassionate involvement. Committed to building its programs on a strong liberal arts foundation, the College maintains a student-centered climate and offers an array of degree opportunities in the liberal arts and sciences, business, and the professions on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Although the majority of its students are from its geographic region, to whose emerging educational needs it is particularly responsive, its diverse student body includes national and international representation of all ethnicities and religions. Dominican College is dedicated to the principle that its educational programs and services must be both challenging and supportive, distinguished both by high standards and by attention to the needs and potential of the individual student.
Other Names Dominican College
Campus Setting Suburb: Large
Dominican College of Blauvelt Website
1,277 Fall Admissions
Yes Doctor's degree No First-professional degree
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General.
Family Practice Nurse/Nurse Practitioner.
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities.
Health Services Administration.
Finance and Financial Management Services, Other.
Marketing/Marketing Management, General.
Occupational Therapy/Therapist.
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness.
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
Question and Answer about "Dominican College of Blauvelt"
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About Tidewater Community College
TCC is the largest provider of higher education and workforce services in Hampton Roads, enrolling nearly 33,000 students in 2017-18. We are the second largest of the 23 Virginia community colleges.
TCC at-a-glance
Tidewater Community College has served South Hampton Roads — both students and employers — for 50 years. It has grown from 1 campus into a regional educational and economic force.
4 campuses and 7 regional centers, including the Regional Health Professions Center on the Virginia Beach Campus
TCC is No. 5 in Military Times' "Best for Vets" ranking of 2-year schools. About one-third of TCC's enrollment is made up of military-related students.
TCC has the largest African American undergraduate enrollment in Virginia, and nationally is ranked 17th in the number of degrees awarded to African American students
TCC has 294 full-time teaching faculty and hundreds of part-time faculty serving more than 34,000 students a year
Founded in 1968 as a part of the Virginia Community College System, Tidewater Community College (TCC) serves South Hampton Roads with 4 campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach and 7 regional centers:
Advanced Technology Center on the Virginia Beach Campus
Regional Health Professions Center on the Virginia Beach Campus
Center for Military and Veterans Education on the Virginia Beach Campus
Regional Automotive Center in Chesapeake
Center for Workforce Solutions in Suffolk and Virginia Beach
Visual Arts Center in Portsmouth
Tri-Cities Center in Portsmouth
Skilled Trades Academy in Portsmouth
The college also boasts 2 important cultural institutions. In addition to the Visual Arts Center in Olde Towne Portsmouth, the college also operates the Jeanne and George Roper Performing Arts Center in the heart of downtown Norfolk.
The college had 3,711 graduates in 2017-2018, 40 percent of whom pursued degrees that would let them transfer to 4-year institutions.
During the 2017-18 academic year, nearly 1 in 5 recent high school graduates made TCC their “school of choice.” Of South Hampton Roads residents enrolled in higher education, 38% enrolled at TCC.
TCC’s regional accreditation is affirmed through 2027 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The college has 13 nationally accredited academic programs.
College Vision Statement
Tidewater Community College is vital to the regional economy and is the most affordable, convenient, and innovative provider of high-quality higher education and career training.
College Mission Statement
Tidewater Community College provides collegiate education and training to adults of all ages and backgrounds, helping them achieve their individual goals and contribute as citizens and workers to the vitality of an increasingly global community.
Commitments that inform the mission:
Open access to high-quality, affordable education to prepare students for transfer to a four-year baccalaureate institution, as well as for entry or advancement in the workforce.
Cultural diversity as a critically important strength for students to meet the changing needs of a pluralistic, democratic society.
Lifelong learning to heighten the awareness of students to multiple paths for achievement while helping them pursue the choices most conducive to their individual needs.
Partnerships and proactive responsiveness to develop cutting-edge programs that meet the changing needs of students and industry, while contributing to the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region, the Commonwealth, the nation, and the international community.
A comprehensive range of programs and services recognized for excellence by leaders of business, industry, and government, and by educators in K-12 education and four-year colleges and universities.
Reaffirmed by TCC College Board
Tidewater Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Tidewater Community College.
Tidewater Community College's accreditation is affirmed through 2027.
A quick history
1966: The Virginia General Assembly establishes the Virginia Community College System to provide comprehensive institutions that address unmet needs in higher education and workforce training
1968: The Beazley Foundation donates the Frederick College site on the banks of the James River to the Commonwealth of Virginia to establish a community college. It eventually becomes the Frederick W. Beazley Portsmouth Campus.
1973: The Virginia Beach Campus opens, dedicated by Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr., the “father” of Virginia community colleges. The Chesapeake Campus also opens.
1984: The Chesapeake Campus opens the region’s first robotics lab, and the Frederick Campus initiates a $126,000 computer-aided drafting program.
1995: The Visual Arts Center opens in the former Famous department store building in Olde Towne Portsmouth.
1997: TCC’s campus in downtown Norfolk opens, helping to revitalize the area.
2000: The 1926 Loews Theater, renamed the Jeanne and George Roper Performing Arts Center, becomes the fourth building in the ongoing development of the Norfolk Campus.
2007: The State Board for Community Colleges approves the TCC Business Plan for student centers on each of the four campuses.
2010: The new Fred W. Beazley Portsmouth Campus replaces the founding campus in northern Suffolk.
2011: The first of four student centers opens on the Norfolk Campus. The others follow in 2013 and 2014.
2012: Edna V. Baehre-Kolovani is named TCC's 5th president. The Regional Health Professions Center opens on the Virginia Beach Campus.
2013: TCC and the City of Virginia Beach launch the 120,000-square-foot Joint-Use Library on the Virginia Beach Campus. President Kolovani leads the development of the 2013-2018 strategic plan, "One College, One Voice, One Future." TCC holds the first regional jobs summit, "Let's Grow." TCC becomes the first regionally accredited institution to offer a full degree program using open-educational resources, freeing students from the cost of textbooks.
2014: The Chesapeake Campus grows with the addition of the Chesapeake Academic Building, which includes the Black Box Theatre.
2015: TCC creates dual-enrollment programs with Chesapeake and Virginia Beach public schools focusing on advanced manufacturing.
2016: TCC is named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE2Y) by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
2017: The TCC Educational Foundation announces the establishment of the TCC Women's Center STEM Promise Program, whose goal is to increase the number of women and minority students earning STEM degrees.
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The US Military Is All Over Africa Despite Not Being at War in Africa
Around 200,000 US troops are stationed in 177 countries throughout the world. Those forces utilize several hundred military installations. Africa is no exemption. On August 2, Maj. Gen. Roger L. Cloutier took command of US Army Africa, promising to “hit the ground running.”
The US is not waging any wars in Africa but it has a significant presence on the continent. Navy SEALs, Green Berets, and other special ops are currently conducting nearly 100 missions across 20 African countries at any given time, waging secret, limited-scale operations. According to the magazine Vice, US troops are now conducting 3,500 exercises and military engagements throughout Africa per year, an average of 10 per day — an astounding 1,900% increase since the command rolled out 10 years ago. Many activities described as “advise and assist” are actually indistinguishable from combat by any basic definition.
There are currently roughly 7,500 US military personnel, including 1,000 contractors, deployed in Africa. For comparison, that figure was only 6,000 just a year ago. The troops are strung throughout the continent spread across 53 countries. There are 54 countries on the “Dark Continent.” More than 4,000 service members have converged on East Africa. The US troop count in Somalia doubled last year.
When AFRICOM was created there were no plans to establish bases or put boots on the ground. Today, a network of small staging bases or stations have cropped up. According to investigative journalist Nick Turse, “US military bases (including forward operating sites, cooperative security locations, and contingency locations) in Africa number around fifty, at least.” US troops in harm’s way in Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan Tunisia, and Uganda qualify for extra pay.
The US African Command (AFRICOM) runs drone surveillance programs, cross-border raids, and intelligence. AFRICOM has claimed responsibility for development, public health, professional and security training, and other humanitarian tasks. Officials from the Departments of State, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Energy, Commerce, and Justice, among other agencies, are involved in AFRICOM activities. Military attachés outnumber diplomats at many embassies across Africa.
Last October, four US soldiers lost their lives in Niger. The vast majority of Americans probably had no idea that the US even had troops participating in combat missions in Africa before the incident took place. One serviceman was reported dead in Somalia in June. The Defense Department is mulling plans to “right-size” special operations missions in Africa and reassign troops to other regions, aligning the efforts with the security priorities defined by the 2018 National Defense Strategy. That document prioritizes great power competition over defeating terrorist groups in remote corners of the globe. Roughly 1,200 special ops troops on missions in Africa are looking at a drawdown. But it has nothing to do with leaving or significantly cutting back. And the right to unilaterally return will be reserved. The infrastructure is being expanded enough to make it capable of accommodating substantial reinforcements. The construction work is in progress. The bases will remain operational and their numbers keep on rising.
A large drone base in Agadez, the largest city in central Niger, is reported to be under construction. The facility will host armed MQ-9 Reaper drones which will finally take flight in 2019. The MQ-9 Reaper has a range of 1,150 miles, allowing it to provide strike support and intelligence-gathering capabilities across West and North Africa from this new base outside of Agadez. It can carry GBU-12 Paveway II bombs. The aircraft features synthetic aperture radar for integrating GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions. The armament suite can include four Hellfire air-to-ground anti-armor and anti-personnel missiles. There are an estimated 800 US troops on the ground in Niger, along with one drone base and the base in Agadez that is being built. The Hill called it “the largest US Air Force-led construction project of all time.”
According to Business Insider, “The US military presence here is the second largest in Africa behind the sole permanent US base on the continent, in the tiny Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti.” Four thousand American servicemen are stationed at Camp Lemonnier (the US base located near Djibouti City) — a critical strategic base for the American military because of its port and its proximity to the Middle East.
Officially, the camp is the only US base on the continent or, as AFRICOM calls it, “a forward operating site,” — the others are “cooperative security locations” or “non-enduring contingency locations.” Camp Lemonnier is the hub of a network of American drone bases in Africa that are used for aerial attacks against insurgents in Yemen, Nigeria, and Somalia, as well as for exercising control over the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. In 2014, the US signed a new 20-year lease on the base with the Djiboutian government, and committed over $1.4 billion to modernize and expand the facility in the years to come.
In March, the US and Ghana signed a military agreement outlining the conditions of the US military presence in that nation, including its construction activities. The news was met with protests inside the country.
It should be noted that the drone attacks that are regularly launched in Africa are in violation of US law. The Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), adopted after Sept. 11, 2001, states that the president is authorized to use force against the planners of those attacks and those who harbor them. But that act does not apply to the rebel groups operating in Africa.
It’s hard to believe that the US presence will be really diminished, and there is no way to know, as too many aspects of it are shrouded in secrecy with nothing but “leaks” emerging from time to time. It should be noted that the documents obtained by TomDispatch under the United States Freedom of Information Act contradict AFRICOM’s official statements about the scale of US military bases around the world, including 36 AFRICOM bases in 24 African countries that have not been previously disclosed in official reports.
The US foothold in Africa is strong. It’s almost ubiquitous. Some large sites under construction will provide the US with the ability to host large aircraft and accommodate substantial forces and their hardware. This all prompts the still-unanswered question — “Where does the US have troops in Africa, and why?” One thing is certain — while waging an intensive drone war, the US is building a vast military infrastructure for a large-scale ground war on the continent.
Top Photo | U.S. Air Force, soldiers of the East Africa Response Force (EARF) depart from a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules in Juba, South Sudan, Dec. 21, 2013 (AP/U.S. Air Force, Tech. Sgt. Micah Theurich)
© Strategic Culture Foundation
The post The US Military Is All Over Africa Despite Not Being at War in Africa appeared first on MintPress News.
AfricaAfricomDaily DigestForeign AffairsUnited StatesUS Military
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Vladimir Putin’s interview at Corriere della Sera, by Vladimir Putin
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Tag: Environmental Protection Agency
EPA chief attacks the media in speech to agency science advisers
June 5, 2019 user Leave a comment
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Andrew Wheeler, chose to go “off script” Wednesday morning when he warned the agency’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) against trusting the media.
“I caution you to be careful what you read in the media,” Wheeler said, concluding his remarks to the public meeting — the first time the SAB has meet in a year.
Wheeler was specifically referring to a tweet by Yahoo News journalist Alexander Nazaryan on Monday which quoted Wheeler telling the National Press Club, “‘The media does a disservice to the American public’ by reporting on global warming, says EPA head Andrew Wheeler. Wants more positive coverage.”
And indeed, on Monday, Wheeler did take time to list five things he believes the press “consistently gets wrong” — this included reporting that the environment is getting worse. Instead, the press should be talking more about how it’s been getting better since the 1970s, Wheeler argued.
Nazaryan’s tweet was quickly circulated around the internet, including by a New York Times journalist and the Sierra Club. In response, the EPA sent out a press release stating that the tweet was “misleading,” and accused the Yahoo journalist of choosing to “deliberately spread false information on Twitter.”
This argument was reiterated on Wednesday by Wheeler, who said the fact that the Sierra Club started promoting the tweet made him wonder whether the media and environmental groups were “colluding” for fundraising purposes.
Under the Trump administration, however, the EPA has actively worked to rollback environmental protections, often in line with fossil fuel or other industry interests. Most recently this includes challenging the underlying risk calculations that support clean air rules.
The media has played a critical role in reporting on, and investigating, not just these various policy decisions but also potential ethics controversies and conflicts of interest plaguing the agency.
But Wheeler urged scientists not to trust the media and come to him or other top EPA officials if they had questions or concerns.
This isn’t the first time that the Trump administration’s EPA has “fact-checked” the media or been antagonistic toward reporters. Last year, reporters from major news outlets, including the Associated Press and CNN, were banned from attending a summit on harmful chemicals; one journalist was even forcibly removed by security.
And in September 2017, the EPA’s press office sent out a press release titled “EPA Response To The AP’s Misleading Story,” which accused AP reporter Michael Biesecker of writing an “incredibly misleading story” about Superfund sites and Hurricane Harvey. (The EPA did not, however, contradict any facts in Biesecker’s story.)
Meanwhile, the EPA has used articles written by climate science deniers, including the Heartland Institute and the Daily Caller, as their own press releases rather than citing expert staff members — a move which the National Association of Science Writers labeled “unprofessional” and “unethical.”
All of this is part of the larger confrontational relationship with the press promoted by President Donald Trump, who consistently calls media “fake news” and has repeatedly encouraged violence against the media.
[ThinkProgress]
EPA announces new plan to weaken Obama-era greenhouse gas rule
December 6, 2018 user Leave a comment
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Thursday plans to roll back a 2015 rule that put strict limits on greenhouse gas emissions coming from coal plants — a tweak the agency is labeling closer to “reality.”
The change will significantly weaken the Obama-era rule in part as an effort to help jump-start new coal plant construction in the U.S.
The proposed revisions to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) would no longer mandate that plants meet the strict emissions goals of achieving emissions equal to or less than what plants would have achieved with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
The Obama administration at the time saw CCS as a feasible future technology that was important to pulling carbon out of coal plant emissions at their source. Today the technology is not generally used commercially and is pricey.
EPA acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler called the Obama administration’s focus on CCS “disingenuous.”
“Their determination was disingenuous. They knew the tech was not adequately demonstrated, which is what was required under the law. This rule sets high yet achievable standards rooted in reality,” Wheeler said at a press conference at EPA headquarters.
EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation Bill Wehrum called the old rule “wishful thinking.”
“Today’s actions reflect our approach of defining new, clean coal standards by data and the latest technological information, not wishful thinking,” he said in a statement. “U.S. coal-fired power will be a part of our energy future and our revised standards will ensure that the emissions profiles of new plants continue to improve.”
The new changes would limit coal plant emissions to 1,900 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour produced, a level they say can be met with modern technology including efficient boilers.
The original rule had set the limit at 1,400 pounds.
Despite the higher level of carbon being allowed into the air under EPA’s latest change, Wheeler told reporters that their study found it would “not result in significant [carbon dioxide] changes or costs.”
When asked whether the new rule means the EPA is ignoring the Trump administration’s latest report that declared that effects from climate change would result in unavoidable economic harm to the U.S, Wheeler pushed back.
“We’re not ignoring the government report. We’re still looking at the government report ourselves. We just got a briefing on it this morning from some of our career scientists,” he said.
The report was released two weeks ago.
The EPA chief said the new rule would actually be beneficial to human health because it would provide cheaper electricity to households.
“Having cheap electricity helps human health. If you have cheaper electricity, people are able to afford electricity for their house — that is one aspect of protecting human health,” he said, specifically referring to lower income populations.
Trump’s pick for EPA already rolling back climate change protections
Andrew Wheeler, the former coal lobbyist who is now acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, was a “driving force” behind the agenda of Sen. James Inhofe, who called climate change a “hoax,” according to people familiar with Wheeler’s work for the senator.
President Donald Trump has said he intends to nominate Wheeler as the head of the EPA, and in the past five months as acting administrator, Wheeler has moved aggressively to roll back key environmental regulations, prompting critics and environmentalists to say he is fast confirming their worst fears for the agency’s future.
Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, is an outspoken climate change skeptic who was at different times chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Inhofe told CNN last year the EPA was “brainwashing our kids,” and famously once brought a snowball onto the Senate floor to demonstrate his belief that global warming isn’t real.
Inhofe said in a 2003 Senate speech, “I have offered compelling evidence that catastrophic global warming is a hoax,” adding, “the claim that global warming is caused by man-made emissions is simply untrue and not based on sound science.”
Wheeler worked for Inhofe for 14 years, and was his chief counsel and staff director. In that role, Wheeler would have overseen hearings Inhofe held and approved reports Inhofe issued claiming humans have no direct impact on climate change, according to the sources, who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution. In videos of committee hearings at the time, Wheeler is often seen whispering in Inhofe’s ear and handing him paperwork. In the 2008 “Almanac of the Unelected,” Wheeler’s job is described as “to work on (Inhofe’s) agenda for the committee.”
At a Washington Post forum last week, Wheeler said, “I believe … that man does … have an impact on the climate. That CO2 has an impact on the climate and we do take that seriously.” At the same forum, he admitted he had not read the climate change report released by his agency, which outlined dire warnings of the impact of global warming.
Elizabeth Gore, who was chief of staff for Sen. Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, and is now a senior vice president at the Environmental Defense Fund, told CNN that Wheeler “was very high profile, he was a driving force behind Inhofe’s very dangerous agenda to attack climate change and undermine the policies that would protect us from carbon pollution.”
Wheeler declined CNN’s request for an interview, but in a statement the EPA said in part that the activing administrator, “has made it abundantly clear on multiple occasions … that humans have an impact on the climate.” An EPA official also said, “Mr. Wheeler was deeply honored to work for Senator Inhofe in several capacities, however Mr. Wheeler did not write and was not the architect of the Senator’s climate science speeches.”
Wheeler is one of six top EPA officials who either worked directly for Inhofe or on the Senate’s Energy and Public Works Committee. Others are Wheeler’s chief of staff, his principal deputy assistant administrator, his assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance, a senior adviser for policy and an associate administrator for policy. An EPA official said the staffers started working at EPA before Wheeler arrived.
Wheeler moved to the EPA’S top slot in July after then-Administrator Scott Pruitt was forced to resign amid numerous investigations, including questions surrounding his altering of federal documents, over-spending, use of security and other numerous scandals.
Like his former boss, Wheeler is seen to be focused on reversing regulations that protect the nation’s air and water and instead promoting the wishes of the industries impacted by those regulations. Critics fear that Wheeler, who works quietly behind the scenes and knows how to get things done in Washington, is more dangerous to the nation’s health than the scandal-plagued Pruitt ever was.
Michael Gerrard, faculty director of Columbia Law School’s Climate Deregulation Tracker, which follows government deregulation, believes Wheeler will be more successful at reversing environmental protections, “because he understands the administrative and legal process better and he does not have all the craziness of Pruitt’s personal proclivities that got in the way of his effectiveness.”
From 2009 until he joined the EPA last year, Wheeler was a lobbyist for energy, mining and coal companies. Bob Murray, the powerful CEO of Murray Energy, paid Wheeler’s lobbying firm nearly $3 million to, among other things, help the coal baron get access to major decision makers, such as a meeting in March 2017 with Energy Secretary Rick Perry.
When Trump was elected, Murray Energy drafted an “action plan” for the Trump administration, essentially a wish list to get the Environmental Protection Agency off the coal industry’s back.
“Not a whole lot has changed from Pruitt to Wheeler,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat who has demanded the inspector general investigate Murray’s wish list and Wheeler’s ties to industry. “Now more than ever, Trump’s EPA takes its marching orders from fossil fuel and other polluting industries. While Wheeler may not try to finagle a fast food franchise for his wife, he’s no different from Pruitt when it comes to shilling for industry and pushing whatever policies they want.”
The EPA said in a statement, “Mr. Wheeler did not lobby the Trump EPA while working for Murray Energy nor did he did work on the action plan or receive a copy of the memo.”
But in the five months since Wheeler has taken over, the EPA has pulled back on regulating the two largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, coal plants and motor vehicles.
Gerrard told CNN, “Wheeler is carrying out a wish-list of the industry lobbyists who wanted to shut down the environmental regulations, as he himself was a lobbyist with exactly the same objective. But now he is in the driver’s seat.”
In August, the EPA published the “Affordable Clean Energy” plan, designed to replace the Clean Power Plan, which was the Obama administration’s key measure to address climate change. The new rule sets far less stringent emission guidelines.
That same month, the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published a proposed rule to weaken car emissions and fuel economy standards. And in September, the EPA published a proposed rule weakening methane emission standards for some oil and gas production and changing requirements on leak repairs.
At the Washington Post forum, Wheeler said the Trump administration deserves credit for a decline in carbon emissions. “In the first year of the Trump administration, we’ve seen a 2.7% reduction in CO2 from 2016 to 2017,” he said.
Asked to name three EPA policies that are contributing to cleaner air, Wheeler struggled to answer. “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to give three off the top of my head,” he said. Of the three he later listed, two are proposed regulations that would dial-back back Obama-era rules that aimed to reduce pollution.
Trump’s new EPA chief caught liking racist and conspiratorial social media posts
October 9, 2018 user Leave a comment
The acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency was caught liking racist and conspiratorial social media posts using his personal accounts — some as recently as in the past month.
The Huffington Post reported that Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler “liked” a Facebook post showing Barack and Michelle Obama looking at a banana — a racist archetype comparing the former president and first lady to monkeys.
NEW: EPA chief Andrew Wheeler liked a racist FB image of the Obamas on an Italian meme page called "My mom is a virgin."
In an email, he told me he doesn't remember doing it.
He also repeatedly engaged with conspiracy theorists on Twitter. https://t.co/i1NfEQPNsa pic.twitter.com/Ox4tb8J9iS
— Alexander Kaufman (@AlexCKaufman) October 9, 2018
Along with liking the image from an Italian meme page that translates to “My mom is a virgin,” the EPA chief also retweeted infamous Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec.
First uncovered by the liberal American Bridge 21st Century political action committee, most of the posts Wheeler engaged with were made before he came acting EPA administrator in July 2018 following Scott Pruitt’s resignation in the wake of his ethics scandal.
Wheeler retweeted Posobiec from his personal Twitter account in February of 2018 — months after the former Naval intelligence officer had been ousted from military service. The right-wing figure’s ouster followed his promotion of the conspiracy theory that the Democrats were involved in a child sex ring and used a DC pizza parlor as a front for their nefarious gains.
In late September, after taking over at the EPA, Wheeler liked a tweet made by Infowars editor Paul Joseph Watson alleging that Twitter discriminates against conservatives.
In an email to HuffPost, the acting EPA chief defending his social media use.
“Over the years, I have been a prolific social media user and liked and inadvertently liked countless social media posts,” Wheeler said. “Specifically, I do not remember the post depicting President Obama and the First Lady. As for some of the other posts, I agreed with the content and was unaware of the sources.”
[Raw Story]
The EPA Will Dissolve Its Science Advisory Office
September 28, 2018 user Leave a comment
The Environmental Protection Agency will eliminate the Office of the Science Advisor, an entity within the agency that works to ensure its policies and decisions are based on quality science. The New York Times reports that the scientific advisory position, which currently reports directly to the head of the EPA, will be merged into another office — the Office of Research and Development. “It’s certainly a pretty big demotion, a pretty big burying of this office,” Michael Halpern, deputy director of the Center for Science and Democracy with the Union of Concerned Scientists, told the publication. “Everything from research on chemicals and health, to peer-review testing to data analysis would inevitably suffer.”
This is just the latest in a series of moves that have weakened the EPA and shifted its focus from science-driven policy to a relaxing of environmental protection regulations. The agency pulled information on climate change from its website after the Trump administration took over. It also stopped sponsoring the Climate Leadership Awards program, prohibited its scientists from giving talks on climate change and has proposed severe restrictions on what research can be used to inform regulations. Further, under the leadership of a climate change denier, it has made moves to repeal the Clean Power Plan and roll back fuel efficiency standards.
These actions haven’t gone without push back, however. A number of states have sued the EPA over both its decision to lift a ban on ozone-damaging hydrofluorocarbons and its gutting of fuel efficiency standards. The EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board also voted earlier this year to review many of the agency’s proposals.
When asked about the decision to dissolve the Office of the Science Advisor, an EPA spokesperson sent the New York Times a statement that said the move would “eliminate redundancies.” Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, who currently serves as both the agency’s science advisor and the deputy assistant administrator of the Office of Research Development, has been with the agency since 1981.
In a prepared statement Orme-Zavaleta said the move would “combine offices with similar functions” and that “the assistant administrator for [the Office of Research and Development] has customarily served as the EPA science advisor which will continue to be the case.” The EPA currently does not have an assistant administrator for that office. Among the programs housed by the Office of the Science Advisor, whose fates now remain unclear, are the Science and Technology Policy Council and the Scientific Integrity Office.
In a separate move, the EPA also put the head of its Office of Children’s Health Protection on administrative leave, a decision it said was not disciplinary. In an email obtained by CNN, the office’s director, Ruth Etzel, said the action was intended to “cause chaos” and undermine the office’s work.
Trump Administration Wants to Make It Easier to Release Methane Into Air
The Trump administration, taking its third major step this year to roll back federal efforts to fight climate change, is preparing to make it significantly easier for energy companies to release methane into the atmosphere.
Methane, which is among the most powerful greenhouse gases, routinely leaks from oil and gas wells, and energy companies have long said that the rules requiring them to test for emissions were costly and burdensome.
The Environmental Protection Agency, perhaps as soon as this week, plans to make public a proposal to weaken an Obama-era requirementthat companies monitor and repair methane leaks, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. In a related move, the Interior Department is also expected in coming days to release its final version of a draft rule, proposed in February, that essentially repeals a restriction on the intentional venting and “flaring,” or burning, of methane from drilling operations.
The new rules follow two regulatory rollbacks this year that, taken together, represent the foundation of the United States’ effort to rein in global warming. In July, the E.P.A. proposed weakening a rule on carbon dioxide pollution from vehicle tailpipes. And in August, the agency proposed replacing the rule on carbon dioxide pollution from coal-fired power plants with a weaker one that would allow far more global-warming emissions to flow unchecked from the nation’s smokestacks.
“They’re taking them down, one by one,” said Janet McCabe, the E.P.A.’s top climate and clean-air regulator in the Obama administration.
Officials from the E.P.A., the Interior Department and the White House did not respond to emails and telephone calls seeking comment.
Industry groups praised the expected changes. “It’s a neat pair” of proposals on methane, said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, an association of independent oil and gas companies that is based in Denver. The Obama-era E.P.A. methane rule, she said, “was the definition of red tape. It was a record-keeping nightmare that was technically impossible to execute in the field.”
Ms. Sgamma praised the Trump administration for turning the oil companies’ requests into policy, noting that the Obama administration frequently turned proposals from environmental groups into policy. “It all depends on who you trust,” she said. “That administration trusted environmentalists. This one trusts industry.”
The regulation of methane, while not as widely discussed as emissions from cars and coal plants, was nonetheless a major component of Mr. Obama’s efforts to combat climate change. Methane makes up only about nine percent of greenhouse gases, but it is around 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere. About one-third of methane pollution is estimated to come from oil and gas operations.
The forthcoming proposals from the E.P.A. and Interior Department would allow far more methane to leak from oil and gas drilling operations, environmentalists say. “These leaks can pop up any time, anywhere, up and down the oil and gas supply chain,” said Matt Watson, a specialist in methane pollution with the Environmental Defense Fund, an advocacy group. “The longer you go in between inspections, the longer leaks will go undetected and unrepaired.”
The proposals exemplify President Trump’s policy quest to roll back regulations on businesses, particularly oil, gas and coal companies. While significant aspects of the president’s broader agenda — including immigration and trade policy, and the proposed border wall with Mexico — remain mired in confusion, and as the administration struggles under the investigation into the presidential campaign’s ties with Russia, the E.P.A. and Interior Department have steadily pressed forward with rollbacks of environmental regulations.
“In other areas of policymaking, like immigration and health care, they appear to have brought into the administration ideologues who don’t know a lot about policymaking,” said Cecilia Muñoz, who directed the White House Domestic Policy Council in the Obama administration. “But in climate change and energy, they appear to have brought in people who know exactly what they’re doing, and know exactly where the levers are.”
The pace of the proposals has not been slowed by the resignation in July of Scott Pruitt, who left the top job at the E.P.A. under a cloud of ethics scandals. Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist who worked in the E.P.A. under the first President George Bush, is now the agency’s acting chief.
The E.P.A.’s new methane proposal, according to the draft seen by The Times, would loosen a 2016 rule that required oil and gas drillers to perform leak inspections as frequently as every six months on their drilling equipment, and to repair leaks within 30 days. The proposed amendment would lengthen that to once a year in most cases, and to as infrequently as once every two years for low-producing wells. It would also double the amount of time a company could wait before repairing a methane leak from 30 to 60 days.
It would also double the amount of time required between inspections of the equipment that traps and compresses the natural gas, from once every three months to once every six months. On the Alaskan North Slope, where oil and gas companies contend that harsh weather makes it difficult to conduct inspections, such equipment would only have to be monitored annually.
In addition, the E.P.A. proposal would let energy companies operating in states that have their own state-level methane standards follow those standards instead of the federal ones. That would include states such as Texas, where the pollution standards have been more lax than federal standards.
If implemented, the proposal would recoup nearly all the costs to the oil and gas industry that would have been imposed by the Obama-era regulation. The E.P.A. estimated that rule would have cost companies about $530 million by 2025. The E.P.A. estimates that the proposed changes would save the oil and gas industry $484 million by the same year.
[The New York Times]
Trump to Seek Repeal of California’s Smog-Fighting Power
The Trump administration will seek to revoke California’s authority to regulate automobile greenhouse gas emissions — including its mandate for electric car sales — in a proposed revision of Obama-era standards, according to three people familiar with the plan.
The proposal, expected to be released this week, amounts to a frontal assault on one of former President Barack Obama’s signature regulatory programs to curb greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. It also sets up a high-stakes battle over California’s unique ability to combat air pollution and, if finalized, is sure to set off a protracted courtroom battle.
The proposed revamp would also put the brakes on federal rules to boost fuel efficiency into the next decade, said the people, who asked to not be identified discussing the proposals before they are public. Instead it will cap federal fuel economy requirements at the 2020 level, which under federal law must be at least a 35-mile-per-gallon fleet average, rather than letting them rise to roughly 50 mpg by 2025 as envisioned in the plan left behind by Obama, according to the people.
As part of the effort, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will propose revoking the Clean Air Act waiver granted to California that has allowed the state to regulate carbon emissions from vehicle tailpipes and force carmakers to sell electric vehicles in the state in higher numbers, according to three people familiar with the plan.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will likewise assert that California is barred from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from autos under the 1975 law that established the first federal fuel-efficiency requirements, the people said.
The proposal is still in the final stages of a broad interagency review led by President Donald Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, but these major elements of the plan were not expected to change, the people said.
Messages seeking comment from OMB, NHTSA and the EPA were not immediately returned. California Air Resources Board head Mary Nichols declined to comment. Once the agencies formally unveil the proposal, the public will have a chance to weigh in, with those comments used to develop a final rule that could be implemented as soon as the end of the year.
Although the proposal will outline other options, the administration will put its weight behind the dramatic overhaul, including the revocation of California’s cherished authority, the people said.
The state’s 2009 waiver under the Clean Air Act has allowed California to set emissions rules for cars and trucks that are more stringent than the federal government’s. But the state has aligned its rules with those set by the EPA and NHTSA in a so-called national program of clean-car rules. Negotiations toward another set of harmonized rules has not yet yielded agreement.
If Trump’s plan sticks, it could be his biggest regulatory rollback yet. Agencies are expected to claim it will reduce traffic fatalities by making it cheaper for drivers to replace older, less-safe cars, while paring sticker prices for new vehicles even if motorists have to spend more for gasoline.
California, for its part, rejects the idea that its 48-year ability to write its own tailpipe emission rules should end. “We have the law on our side, as well as the people of the country and the people of the world,” said Dan Sperling, a member of the state’s Air Resources Board.
The most-populous U.S. state and 16 others plus the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on May 2 seeking to block the Trump administration’s effort to unravel the Obama-era emissions targets. Sperling said that number will grow as more and more people come to realize how fundamentally Trump is attacking the idea of states’ rights.
Caught somewhere in the middle are automakers, which in recent months have stressed they would not support freezing the federal targets and want Washington and Sacramento to continue linking their vehicle efficiency goals. While they spent the first year of the Trump administration attacking Obama’s rules as too costly, they fear the regulatory uncertainty that a years-long court battle over a rollback would create. In addition, other major auto markets such as China and Europe are pressing forward with tougher mandates of their own for cleaner cars.
“This is nothing less than an outrageous attack on public health and states’ rights,” said Frank O’Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch. “It’s a dumb move for an administration that claims it wants peace, because this will lead to an emissions war: progressive states versus a reactionary federal government. The big question: who will the car companies back?”
Some conservatives have long chafed at the rare authority granted California and welcome the effort to revoke.
“Congress didn’t intend for California to set national fuel economy standards,” said Steve Milloy, a policy adviser for the Heartland Institute, a group critical of climate science. “It’s nutty it’s been allowed to develop. National fuel economy standards are set by the federal government so that’s what we are going to do.”
[Bloomberg]
Trump’s EPA rolls back Obama-era coal ash regulations
The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it is relaxing rules for the disposal of spent coal used to fuel hundreds of power plants nationwide.
But environmental groups say the rollback of coal ash storage regulations established by the Obama administration in 2015 could affect drinking water near dozens of sites.
Dalal Aboulhosn, Sierra Club’s deputy legislative director for land and water, said legal action was being considered. “We are pouring through the rule change see what our next steps might be,” she said
The coal industry petitioned the Trump administration for the roll back, announced by Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler — a former lobbyist for the coal industry.
It’s not like EPA has granted us free pass here,” said James Roewer, executive director of the Utility Solid Waste Advisory Group, an industry organization that had pushed for the changes. “It just gives us additional time to operate those facilities and better synch them up” with the upcoming wastewater guidelines.
The EPA states that the relaxed rules will save affected utility companies $28 to $31 million a year in regulatory costs.
These amendments provide states and utilities much-needed flexibility in the management of coal ash, while ensuring human health and the environment are protected,” Wheeler said in a statement. “Our actions mark a significant departure from the one-size-fits-all policies of the past and save tens of millions of dollars in regulatory costs.”
The EPA extended the time by 18 months that the industry can use unlined coal ash ponds and groundwater-adjacent sites for dumping. The Obama administration sought to phase out those sites by April 2019.
The unlined ponds are considered by environmentalists to be the worst offenders for polluting groundwater that sometimes is tapped for drinking.
“The Trump administration is turing a blind eye to damage done to our drinking water,” said Lisa Evans, senior counsel for environmental group Earthjustice. “This is aimed at saving industry money instead of protecting the public.”
[NBC News]
EPA’s Pruitt Made Young Staffers Pay for His Hotel Stays, Then Refused to Reimburse Them
EPA administrator Scott Pruitt, already famously scandal-ridden, made even more ridiculously ethically questionable decisions than were previously known, the Washington Post reported on Monday.
Two top Pruitt aides spoke to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee about even more of what the administrator asked staffers to do for his personal gain, including pressuring them to arrange first-class travel for him and to find a six-figure job for his wife – all this against the counsel of many of his allies.
The new information comes after EPA’s chief ethics officer, Kevin Minoli, told the Office of Government Ethics last week that he thought the investigation into Pruitt should be broadened, saying: “additional potential issues regarding Mr. Pruitt have come to my attention through sources within the EPA and media reports,” the Washington Post reports.
Amazingly, a current and former EPA official also revealed that Pruitt would ask his assistants to put hotel reservations on their own personal credit cards – not his – on a routine basis.
According to former deputy chief of staff Kevin Chmielewski, during the presidential transition one staffer charged approximately $600 to her credit card for a hotel booking for Pruitt’s family. The staffer later approached Pruitt’s chief of staff to explain that the period for transition reimbursements had expired and that Pruitt had not covered the bill.
As the Hill first reported, Pruitt’s chief of staff ended up giving her $600 in cash – out of his own pocket.
“She literally went to Ryan and said, ‘Look, Pruitt needs to pay me back for this. It was $600 bucks.’ And Ryan took six $100 dollar bills out of his pocket,” Chmielewski told the Hill last month.
Scotty, for the love of God, man. There’s only so long the entirety of civilization can look down upon you. I hear in Oklahoma, the wind comes right behind the rain – neither of which may be around for too much longer if you stick around the Capitol.
Utah oil drillers won pollution break from Pruitt
Utah oil and gas producers tried for years to get the EPA to exempt them from smog rules meant to prevent ailments like asthma.
They finally got their relief after Scott Pruitt took charge of the agency, newly released emails show.
To groups opposed to President Donald Trump’s policies, the records are yet another sign that Pruitt has transformed an agency created to protect the environment into a tool for granting favors to industry. They say that’s troubling even if it falls short of the overt collusion his critics have accused him of amid revelations about his ties to lobbyists who helped him arrange housing and travel.
“The public is being shut out of the decisions that affect the air we all breathe while polluters have Pruitt at their beck and call whenever they ask to throw out a life-saving protection,” said Matt Gravatt, the associate legislative director at the Sierra Club, which obtained the emails in a lawsuit over a public records request.
EPA’s aid for the oil and gas companies in Utah came after an industry lobbyist, Marc Himmelstein, a former American Petroleum Institute executive with longstandingconnectionsto top GOP fundraisers, enlisted help from another like-minded Republican, House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah), who has pushed legislation to promote oil and gas development and ease permitting requirements.
Himmelstein coordinated a July 2017 phone call between the Utah lawmakers and Pruitt, offering specific talking points for Bishop to use, according to the records obtained in a lawsuit by the Sierra Club.
EPA was set to declare that the tribal land in the Uinta Basin in Utah was not meeting standards for smog, or ozone pollution. Once that happened, oil and gas producers wouldn’t be able to use a streamlined permitting process and would instead have to seek approval for each of the thousands of wells they aim to drill there.
“We ask the Agency to develop a streamlined permitting solution for future development of the Basin,” Himmelstein’s talking points for Bishop said.
In April, EPA proposed just that.
[Politico]
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Kristen Ahumada Sun Princess
Kristen Ahumada is a senior at the University of Texas of el Paso majoring in Biological Sciences with a concentration in medicine. She is a graduate of Coronado high school and is the daughter of Michael and Ida Ahumada. After graduation, she plans to become a physician, specializing in pediatrics, and working in the el Paso del Norte region. Kristen has been heavily involved in various organizations. This past academic year, she served as UTEP’s student body president where she represented over 25,000 students on a local, state, and national level. She has taken the position of president for the University Honors Council, served as a Senator-at-Large in the Student Government Association, and assisted as Vice-President of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, and was a teacher’s assistant for incoming students.
Other honors for Kristen include being a Dillard scholarship recipient, a 21st century scholar, and being named who’s who among students in American universities and colleges. In addition, she has been involved with the center against sexual and family violence, and the Lee and Beluah Moore children’s home. Kristen has also traveled to Spain and Morocco and conducted service abroad to help global preservation efforts.
Kristen mentioned that with her previous community service experience and her understanding of the importance of giving back to the El Paso community, as a part of the 2018 sun court, she could successfully convey the mission statement of the Sun Bowl Association.
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Regulating Religion: Secularism and Religious Freedom in the Global Era
Project Department: Uni Research Rokkan Centre (group: Health and Welfare ) period: 01.02.11 - 30.06.14
The project owner is Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI). Senior Researcher Kari Telle at CMI is the Project leader. Uni Rokkan Centre is a participating partner.
Summary of the project: The contemporary moment is marked by an unprecedented "faith" in the law (Comaroff 2009). The aim of this multidisciplinary project is to provide new and critical understandings of the dilemmas involved in both protecting and enforcing "religious freedom". What is all-too-often ignored in current invocations of this celebrated idea(l), is that in order to enforce laws guaranteeing religious freedom you must first have "religion" (Sullivan 2005). Yet defining "religion" is notoriously difficult (Asad 1993; Keane 2007). Drawing a line around what counts as "religion" and what does not is undoubtedly an exercise of power, one that fashions, regulates and positions subjects and citizens within the polity (Asad 2006). Herein lies a deep dilemma in efforts to l egislate religious freedom. Discussions of "freedom of religion and belief" are often frustratingly abstract and highly normative. By approaching "religious freedom" as produced and negotiated in encounters between citizens and legal regimes, this proje ct will move beyond familiar pieties about religious liberty as an expression of liberal tolerance. This comparative project on the intersection between law and religion consists of three case studies, each designed to address different aspects of how "re ligious freedom"- as idea and practice - operates within a given nation-state: France, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, respectively. These countries are selected as they bring out the distinct ways in which nation-states police the boundaries between the "religious" and "secular" and accommodate religious pluralism. By focusing on the "friction" (Tsing 2005) produced when a globalised idea (religious freedom) encounters specific people and legal regimes, the project will contribute to the study of the globalisat ion of religion and to broader debates on the juridification of religion, transnational legality and citizenship.
Funding Source: The Norwegian Research Council
Christine M. Jacobsen
Uni Research Rokkan Centre
Democracy, Civil Society and Participation
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Local company, community members feed troops
By The Ranger on November 25, 2014 News
The Alamo City shows its gratitude to military with Thanksgiving feasts.
By Richard Montemayor
A San Antonio-based energy company and local residents are showing they care for military members stationed here this Thanksgiving.
Valero Energy Corp. will host a Thanksgiving luncheon at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 27 at Valero headquarters for Army and Navy medical students from Fort Sam Houston.
Esther Garcia, public affairs specialist and community relations for the U.S. Army Medical Department and School at Fort Sam Houston, said this is the 10th year Valero has hosted the luncheon.
Bill Day, vice president of communications for Valero, said he expects 435 service members to attend, and 200 volunteers from Valero and their family members will cook and serve Thanksgiving dinner for the troops.
“We knew that there were service men and women who were here for basic training or for other kinds of training who were away from their families and could not get home for Thanksgiving,” he said.
“It’s a nice thing to do, and it’s a way for us to say thank you to the men and women in the military for keeping us safe.”
The Army also is participating in Mission Thanksgiving, Garcia said
Through Mission Thanksgiving, volunteer families can invite two enlisted soldiers stationed at Fort Sam to celebrate Thanksgiving at their home.
This year 600 soldiers from Fort Sam Houston and 300 volunteer families are participating.
Garcia said each family will host two soldiers.
To volunteer for next year’s Mission Thanksgiving, contact Garcia or Philip Reidinger, public affairs officer for the U.S. Army Medical Department and School at Fort Sam Houston, at 210-221–6489.
This is the 39th year the U.S. Air Force has hosted Operation Home Cooking, a similar event to the. U.S. Army’s Mission Thanksgiving.
There will be 1,400 service members from Lackland Air Force Base participating in this year’s Operation Home Cooking.
For more information, call Operation Home Cooking at 210-671-5454 or 210-671-5454.
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There's also a shirt and a hat
Official shirt, hat, health-care, vacation-time, sick-leave, much more money than I would make as the unsuccessful freelancer that I was, plus a plethora of people being officially (and also sincerely) nice. THANK YOU. I haven't, of course, had any of this "belonging" during my past 7 years in the wilderness. I need this right now. I don't know that this represents "my soul" or anything, but I need and appreciate every single bit of this simple, sincere kindness right now.
My Desired Life as a Woman
I can't think of anything with more Realistic Good Vibes than the opening credits from the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," which ran from 1970 to 1977. This version here is not the exact opening sequence (it's the original singer Sonny Curtis's extended version, complete with awkward "you're so sexy" add-ons -- the show wasn't ever about Mary being a femme fatale; she was attractive and had regular dates, but the focus, realistically, was on her everyday interactions with neighbors/friends/co-workers); YouTube doesn't have the definitive opening right now.
What opening image I was remembering right now, and looking for specifically, was from the later seasons, where she's walking along the lake -- in one version, she strides ahead as people pass her; in another, she turns to look back at them. In this video, you can see what I was looking for around 1:27 - 1:31.
What made me think of this: Weeks ago, the receptionist at work stopped me as I came in the front door after my tedious half-mile lunch-trudge back from the McDonald's up the street. Though she and I hadn't talked before, she all-of-a-sudden said, "I like how you walk! You always walk like you're going somewhere!" When I looked at her quizzically, puzzled at this out-of-the-blue epiphany, she elaborated: "You seem to walk with real purpose." I laughed and made a joke like, "Oh, it's probably because I lived in New York! You've got to be fast!" And "I think it's because I'm just late back from lunch!"
That was a couple of weeks ago. Then today, I was walking down the hall and said Hello in passing to a lady that I'd gotten supplies from in the past. Her response to my "hello": "I really like the way you walk!" This woman, I'd chatted with before, so I felt free to be honest and say, "No! Do you think I look PURPOSEFUL?! Have you been talking to [the receptionist]?" This second lady laughed politely but also looked puzzled, so I explained what the receptionist had said to me earlier. No, this lady said, she just thought I looked very confident... like I was going somewhere!
In general, I always have walked fast because I find walking between places pretty boring. I want to get there! I have never had any Sashay or Sway. I have always just had a STRIDE. While living in NYC briefly did probably contribute mildly to this, my fast walk was definitely already in place before then.
When I watched the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" as a kid (it ended when I was 12), one thing I really noticed, and liked, from the opening credits of the later seasons was how, yes, "purposefully" she was striding along the lake! I remember thinking back then that I would love to walk, and look, like that!
Up until now, no one's ever said that they liked my walk. Instead, I've almost always gotten from companions, "Slow down! WHAT is your HURRY?" No one, 'til now, has ever said, "You look like you're really going somewhere."
Rewatching this non-exact version of the opening credits to the show reminded me in general of just how good I felt as a kid while watching it, and while looking forward to watching it. At 10 or 12, I didn't know anything about shopping for meat, or greeting someone from an elevator, or strolling along a lake, or washing a car, or getting along with coworkers (much less the non-pictured reacting to a clown's death at a funeral, or having a bad hair/eyelash day), but I constantly thought while watching Mary Richards: "This is what I want to be like as a woman." At 49, I still can't think of a better role model.
This was playing while I bought donuts in the supermarket today.
If I lived in a town that wanted to spring for elevator music in the few tall buildings, I'm sure it would have been playing in them, as well. While profoundly depressing, also a bit comforting: It's all momentary fashion: The Revolution will be anesthetized.
RV'ing
Back when I was in my 20s and 30s, I constantly heard derogatory comments from my contemporaries about "old people," including the mocking of older people taking their RVs to travel the States... I always wondered what younger people perceived as "the problem" intellectually, or whichever way, of people of whatever age using their free time to travel and explore.
At 49, I've been alone forever. I can only hope and wish and pray that one day I'll have somebody to travel around in an RV with.
Slowly Unfolding
A really pleasant transformation has been ongoing for me since June.
3 months ago, I was informed by my temp boss that I was as of then on the "temp-to-perm" track, with the real job to kick in the last week of August.
And so it does kick in tomorrow. And as of Monday (yesterday), the city of Austin has also initiated a "MetroRapid" bus going exactly where I need to go. Since February, when I started the job as a temp, the #3 city bus from work to home has been a Cesspool of Crazy. This #3 still exists, but now in addition is the brand new bus route running every 15 minutes (as opposed to every half hour, which gives the psychos time to gather).
And my one-room apartment lease is up either 5 or 6 months from now. (Can't find the latest lease!) For the past year or more, the place has been quiet and great. But, please --- every human being, especially any human over the age of, say, 25, needs more than the one room/400 sq ft I've been living in for the past 4 years! Now that I know that I have a real salary kicking in TOMORROW, and a lease-end in sight, I have all the time in the world to start looking... In light of what I've been through in recent years, this whole "slow unfolding," giving me plenty of money and plenty of time to plan for a move, is miraculous. In 2010, I never quite thought I'd make it back. (Well, 40% of me did, but 60% was in full, constant, shock-and-horror mode.)
I am so grateful for this current breathing space.
Only Five More Shower Curtains
Last year when I bought a new shower curtain featuring Joan Crawford for (to me) a crazy amount of $125, I first started thinking about various patterns of life. Such as: In my adult life, I've probably changed out my shower curtain every 5 years or so. And, now that I'm 49, I've lived two-thirds of my life, and will probably have only 5 shower curtains left to go. That's it. I'll only see 5 more shower curtains in my life.
That kind of blew my mind. Reminded me of Charles Manson's jailhouse observation that, during the time he'd spent in prison, every single dog on earth had died. You don't think of it like that, but that's exactly how it is. Reality is hard-core.
I've been very lucky for the past 3 months, after being given word back in June that my boss wanted to make me a temp-to-perm employee. As I've said, all benefits kick in this coming Tuesday.
Aside from just the past 3 months as a result of good job news, I've also been feeling fairly content for the past year or so due to both a backlog of money from freelance work way back in 2012, plus an inexplicable change in the residents of the apartment complex I've lived in since 2010. Within months after I moved in to these apartments, there was first an aggressive dick next door who constantly played his music super-loud and wouldn't change his behavior even after I talked to him. Luckily, he moved out fairly quickly. He was followed by a passive young guy who was also loud and incredibly, sloppily fucked up. I once passed by his open door and witnessed garbage lying everywhere --- once he moved out, also quickly, the roaches that had been feasting on his waste quickly spread over into my apartment. It took weeks of roach treatments to get rid of the infestation. This outer disgustingness completely mirrored my inner feelings --- I was a loser who couldn't find a real job, I deserved the shitty neighbors that I had.
For the past year or so, though, my apartment complex has been almost completely quiet. Scumbags gone. It took months, though, for me to relax once I came home... I was always "on alert," waiting for something to be tense about. Similarly, when I first moved in in 2010, the neighbors living in the house behind my apartment were also aggressively obnoxious --- firecrackers 'til 3am on holidays, etc. They, too, have not been much heard from recently.
In short, I was in full PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)-mode from 2010 until about 2013. Which included my relations with Sandra. When she first contacted me in 2008 back in NYC, things were exciting and fun for about 2 months. Then, all sorts of creepy emotional shit started kicking in... What random guy she was sleeping with, etc.
While I was in "Fear Mode" in NYC, her behavior seemed to fit right in with my circumstances. I was fighting for survival there, not feeling very secure about anything. I desperately needed SOME anchor, had none, wanted her to be one... She wasn't at all. She was as flighty as what was going on around me. Same with once I was forced to come home to Austin. I then desperately needed some support from someone... Nothing. Nothing.
Things have calmed down for me now. I'm able to take a step back and look honestly at what I'd been through for the past few years... I'm actually horrified by Sandra's behavior toward me. And horrified at myself for how I let her affect me. My old poetry professor David Wevill giving a rare reading at UT a couple of years ago, for example... When I told Sandra about it, wanting her to go with me (we'd both been in his class back in the '80s), she first said that she wouldn't be able to go... and then went anyway, not telling me... while I was at home that night crying. What kind of shitty person does that? When I was feeling like shit myself, I was very tolerant of others' shitty behavior --- I felt like a loser, like I didn't deserve any better. In my current frame of mind: What she did was awful. And there were multiple "awful" things that followed.
I was desperate for some human connection, in lieu of nothing else working out in my life... My now having a new satisfying job is, on the surface, shallow... But in reality, it's actually quite meaningful psychologically: My boss likes me and appreciates my good work. I'm incredibly thankful, after years of knowing what it's like NOT to be appreciated for ANYTHING.
Wait, is that the euphemism for "menopause"? Oh, well. That, too, will probably be happening any day now.
But in this case, it means that in a few short days, I will once again be a "regular person" with a regular job, health care, vacation/sick days, and MONEY, honey!
What a GRIND these past 7 years have been! Starting with when I dropped everything and moved to NYC in early 2007. In search of adventure and excitement after approximately 7 years of having a job/(rented) house/car/cat and being bored to death (bored, that is, with all BUT my cat, Gracie).
It's a cliché about "the 7-year itch," but in my case, I do seem to be following roughly 7-year life cycles:
1980-1987: When Lennon died in December 1980, I was 15 and had been a huge Beatles/Lennon fan since only the summer before, when a local radio station was playing Beatles songs several times an hour all summer long. The Beatles made me unreasonably happy. I was trapped for the summer out in the country, too young for a car. My mother had forbade (forbidden?) me from associating with my friend next door -- which meant that I could no longer participate in ANY of the summer neighborhood-kid activities, since my friend, of course, was at all of the them. There were only 4 houses where we lived, surrounded by undeveloped land, and a total of 9 kids. We all used to organize things like softball games, relay races, dirt-clod fights, even "performances" of KISS concerts and duets from "Grease." I enjoyed all of this. Once my mother isolated me, I was completely bereft of any companionship until school started. The Beatles helped very much to relieve the utter loneliness.
So this was a point at which I first recognized a couple of things: I deeply hated my mother for her (what I realize now was) sadistic isolation of me. And I loved how immersion in an artist (in this case, the Beatles, then Lennon) allowed me to feel true happiness -- and to feel that I was somehow understood by SOMEBODY: I typed out the lyrics to "Working Class Hero" and "God" and taped them to my wall. And when Lennon was shot, that was the first time I experienced true depression. Not just blatant things like uncontrollable crying (at which teachers were troubled) that went on for days, but also a deep sense of darkness and evil that lasted for months. I'd never felt such a frightening thing, such a psychic disturbance, before, and there was nothing I could do about it but wait for it to pass.
'83, I fell in love with Ginny in the early spring, went off to college 3 hours away in the late summer (pre-Internet and e-mail); by Christmas, Ginny had found a new "best friend." My despair over the emotional loss colored what should have been fun college years. '85-86, I discovered poetry, became a real writer. (Yes, I knew I was a "real" writer even by that early point.) 1987, I discovered "Joan Crawford" -- who, like the Beatles, would remain an important source of happiness.
1988-1994: In the spring of '88, the "Ginny Fever" finally broke when I met twins, Kathy and Kris, who were the first people I'd felt a strong connection to since Ginny. I loved Kathy platonically, and I fell in love with Kris sexually, which ultimately caused huge problems. I actually left Austin in August of '88 to go live with K/K back in Fort Worth (the area where I was also from), where their mother was dying of cancer. A huge mistake. Their mother had a generic, cheap, small 2-bedroom apartment -- the twins and I all in one bedroom, the dying mother in the other. A last-minute road-trip that Kris and her mother took to a New Age cancer-treatment center in Arizona didn't help; their mother died in late September of '88, a month after I arrived. In my naivete, I then expected a "period of mourning and contemplation" -- nah. Instead, the young women (then 20) had a constant stream of people over to party. And their older sister moved into the apartment, so it was still the 3 of us in one small room, the sister in the other. And I was in love with Kris. It was a nightmare. I ended up getting my own apartment down the street, which I broke the lease on in February 1989 to hightail it back to Austin, a mere 6 months after I'd arrived in Fort Worth.
Two months later, in April of '89, I, at age 23, finally came out of the closet when I met my first girlfriend/first sexual partner at a gay pride march in Austin. She was a dominatrix, complete with various whips/chains/cuffs/what-have-you "decorating" the wall above her queen-size red-velvet headboard. And she was also an ex-con, with a 7-year stint for bank robbery 15 years earlier. I was in slightly over my head, ya think?! :) But I thought she looked like Annie Lennox, and at least I was FINALLY having sex...
The above went about as well as you might imagine: After 8 months of dating, and of her fooling around with various people, we moved in together. I was 24, I wanted to live with someone, I thought she'd stop fooling around if we were under the same roof, for Pete's sake! :) Nope. Weird phone-calls and hangups at 2am. Overtly coming on to women right in front of me when we had them over to watch movies. I moved out after 3 months.
1990 to 1993 were a weird combination of me still pining for her (and us sporadically sleeping together) AND me buckling down to finally finish up my Bachelor's degree at UT-Austin in '93 (after first entering college 10 years earlier, in '83). School was what kept me sane. I remember thinking at the time, "I am utterly miserable, but at least I'm simultaneously doing something productive!"
In '92-'93, I also had a very positive experience with my fellow-Leo friend/co-editor Brian (whom I'd met in an earlier writing class at UT) putting out 3 issues of our little Austin literary magazine --- very good, exciting vibes that were, unfortunately, also overshadowed by my obsession with the sleazy ex-girlfriend.
And for a few months in early '94, I had an "affair" with the first man I'd ever had sex with. My boss at a short-lived job.
1994-2000: In August of '94, I went off to San Francisco State's graduate writing program. Was utterly dismayed and depressed by the political correctness of both the program and the city. RE the program:
(1) A gay writing professor treated me disdainfully after I'd said, upon his initial question on the first day of class, that I'd (uncool-ly) been reading Norman Mailer the previous summer, and that I thought (crudely) that Mailer had "balls." I was ignored for several classes, until I brought in a poem with a brief mention of my own gay sexuality. After that, the professor was uber-supportive and friendly.
(2) A minimalist poet-professor was highly critical of my writing. One day, I decided to take a few hours to explore this professor's own work. Upon discovering exactly how pared-down and minimalist this professor was, I revised one of my poems and re-submitted it for class discussion: Voila! Once my poem looked and read exactly like hers, she was filled with enthusiasm for my work for the rest of the semester.
(2) The director of the program and my thesis advisor once argued with me about a poem, then let it slip that she'd only read the thing once, on her way to work. While driving. She became irritable when I suggested that perhaps she needed to spend a little more careful time with it. (This same director also asked me, when I mentioned that my mother was German, if my family were Nazis. When I explained that, yes, my German grandfather was a civil servant and did join the Nazi party because it was required to keep his job, she snidely said, "Germans always have excuses.")
I got my Master's, got out of that intellectually creepy place as soon as I could.
'96-early 2000 after returning to Austin were utter wilderness years. Back at the library where I'd worked 10 years earlier; drinking/clubbing heavily, trying to connect with the ex-girlfriend, the married man, a local singer that I'd had a crush on. Nothing Going On in any way.
2000-2007: A real Job-Life finally kicked in after getting hired at a local publishing firm. With their steady work (initially freelance), I was finally able to leave the extremely low-paying library job that I'd hated so (hated for the low pay and utter laziness of coworkers, though I liked the environment: the time and space to wander around reading and exploring ideas).
With the stability that this "real-job" money provided, I was able to rent a house for the next 7 years. Had the best car I've ever had ("best" because it had a V-6 engine, unlike the V-4s that I'd been driving up until this time, plus it was black and looked darn cool). Had my beautiful cat Gracie, who had adopted me in late '99.
And my mother bought me my very first computer, Christmas of 2000 (since I couldn't afford one myself) --- whereupon I discovered a whole online "World o' Joan Crawford." Plus, once I had "online people" to chat with, my need for going out to clubs 4 times a week faded away. All I'd wanted was some intellectual stimulation, and I found it online. Saved my life.
Created my Joan Crawford website in 2004, which has continued to be intellectually and artistically stimulating for the past 10 years...
In mid/late 2006, though, the economy started wavering and the publishing company that I worked for started having round after round of layoffs. I'd survive one round, get laid off the next, get re-hired weeks later, get shuffled from one department to another. My relationship with my boss deteriorated, and then was the time to GET OUT. Luckily, my then-boss had earlier flown me into NYC for a job interview at the office there, thus giving me a bit of comfort with the city -- a city that I immediately loved and felt comfortable in.
2007-2014: New York City, 2007 to 2010: Aw. Too soon. Well, not "too soon" if you've been reading my blog entries for the past 7 years, but "too soon" for me to coalesce just now. I remain melancholy about having been forced financially to leave. I didn't in any way want to leave. I was ripped from it. I liked it there a lot. After the Crash of September 2008, I personally experienced for the first time economic hardship beyond my control.
2010-2014: Survival in Austin. Psychologically damaging. First, having to live with my utterly denigrating mother for 3 months when I had nowhere else to go, a psychological non-home that I'd been eager to escape when I was 18. Then, back in a one-room 400-sq-ft apartment (which I hadn't lived in since the '80s). Temp jobs. Hating some high-level secretarial jobs that I was assigned to, yet weeping when I was not given the permanent position. Having to be spoken to condescendingly by bosses just because they could. Having to ride the buses that were overcrowded and filled with smelly assholes and just-plain-crazies. Bad, bad, bad online/attempted real-life "relationship" with Sandra, a woman that I'd initially met in an '85 poetry class and had reconnected with online in '08.
2014 - : After the previous 7 years of utter chaos, grateful and glad to finally be offered shelter from the storm by something, anything. And an interesting job, at that. With decent pay and benefits. I can now live where I want, travel how I want. Talk to you again about this in 2021, when I'm 55...
There, I've done it. Told my story to the ether. In lieu of anyone in real life to share with. You make do with what you have. Like waiting dumbly, interminably at bus-stops in a town that hasn't planned for public transportation. Yeah, really, pretty much just like that.
#IceBucketChallenge
Adult Milestones
A 40-something/family-man coworker returned from a 2-week vacation today and we were chatting about where he'd just been, plus the fact that the new car that's he'd ordered months ago was finally going to be ready later this week. He mentioned that it would be the first entirely brand new car that he'd ever owned.
"That means you're officially an adult now!" I said.
(I've NEVER had a brand new car. I still don't have ANY car, much less a new one, after 4 years back from NYC, but when I used to own cars (from '81 to '07), all of them were either hand-me-downs from my father or mother, or else used cars.)
He laughed and agreed: You're not a real adult until you get your first brand-new car!
But then I had to point out to him: Oh wait... This isn't YOUR first Adult Milestone, by any means! You have a wife, you have a child, you have a house... AND you have chickens!
Now I, on the other hand... of the same age as this man... have utterly FAILED at reaching every single one of said "Adult Milestones"! No wife/child/house/car/chickens. Damn.
Stop Crying Wolf.
When the Trayvon Martin shooting story first broke in 2012, my first reaction was the result of exactly what I'd, trustingly, been fed by MSNBC and CNN, complete with photos of what looked like a 12-year-old child (Martin from years earlier): "Oh my god! That poor little kid! And he was just carrying Skittles and a tea!"
Well, as it turned out, that "child" was 17, over 6 feet tall, and he'd bloodied the nose and back of the head of his neighborhood-watch pursuer before Zimmerman finally shot him once in self defense, to get Martin off of him. (Hospital records documented Zimmerman's bloody nose and the injuries on the back of his head.)
In other words, what I'd first been told by a couple of media outlets -- that a "vigilante" had randomly shot an innocent junior-high-age kid carrying a bag of candy -- was completely false.
A couple of days ago, when the Michael Brown shooting story first broke, I was immediately more wary.
According to the first thing I saw on CNN, an interview with Brown's friend who had been walking with him when the police pulled up: "We were just walking along. Big Mike was a gentle giant! He had his hands up! The man just shot him when he was running away!"
That indeed sounds terrible! What kind of monster shoots a Gentle Giant while he's running away?!
From the friend's tale, the two young men were simply "strolling" in the middle of the street when a cop car pulled up and told them to get out of the street. Big Mike didn't like that and started arguing. The Wicked Cop then tried to pull him into the squad car. Big Mike started running. And so the Wicked Cop shot him multiple times.
Just from that alone: When a cop tells you to get out of the middle of the street, then get out of the middle of the street. Cops are annoying assholes sometimes. I can think of 3 occasions in my 49 years when I personally thought I was stopped unfairly:
One: Middle of the day, I was frequently switching lanes (with blinker) while driving my Ford Pinto down Guadalupe in Austin. Cop car thought I was switching lanes too much and pulled me over. I guess my Ford Pinto with multiple bumperstickers looked poor and weird. The cop came to my window, asked me what my hurry was. When I explained, "No hurry, just trying to pass slow people; I thought I was using my blinker. Was I speeding?" he let me off with not even a warning.
Two: 4am at an Austin lake after being out clubbing all night, after doing mushrooms for the first time. Me, a fellow white-girl co-ed, and two older Middle Eastern grad students. I was wading knee-deep in the lake, "feeling the one-ness of the universe" after the mushrooms, when the cop car pulled up and shined his brights on us. One officer got out and came over to me, still in the water, and asked what we were all doing... I told him something about how pretty the lake was. He and his partner conferred and then drove off.
Three: Coming home circa 4am from a friend's house party in the west hills of Austin, I was lost. At some point on some road, some asshole in a sports car pulled up at the light next to me. After which we proceeded to RACE! He beat me, but I was overjoyed to see him get pulled over by the police a mile or so later. Only problem for me was: According to the police, while they had him stopped, they had apparently also "signaled" to me to pull over. I didn't see any such signals, so I drove on, laughing at the poor sucker who got pulled over. Well, a couple of minutes later, there were police on MY tail as I was trying to find my way back to town. When I pulled over, 4 or 5 cop cars soon joined us. 4 in the morning, 10 cops all standing around getting off on watching my sobriety tests... I passed all the tests, but got a ticket for speeding.
OK... see the difference there in the very RUDIMENTARY behavior when stopped by the police? I may have thought the cops were acting like assholes, but did I act like an asshole and attack them either verbally or physically? No, I did not. Lesson to those in the "Black Community" who are obviously teaching their kids that the police are "to be confronted": You've been teaching your kids wrong. When you teach your kids to ATTACK the police over minor slights, then -- surprise! -- the police might just attack in response.
All of the above thoughts were PRIOR to my learning via a televised video that the "Gentle Giant, Big Mike" had, minutes before being stopped by the officer, stolen some cigarillos from a local convenience store, shoving the owner when he tried to stop him from walking out.
When the officer stopped the walking pair re their jaywalking, is it inconceivable that "Big Mike" was feeling guilty about what he had just stolen and was afraid of getting busted for that? Is it inconceivable that he behaved aggressively in an attempt to avoid arrest?
Initial autopsy reports show that Mike Brown was shot 6 times IN THE FRONT. His friend lied when he said that Brown was shot in the back. And his friend lied when he said that he and Brown had simply been walking along innocently (failing to mention that Brown had just stolen something).
MSNBC and CNN have pondered tonight: "Why aren't people believing the witnesses?" Well, because the witnesses have clearly LIED. Brown wasn't simply "an 18-year-old BOY" just moseying-on-down-the-street but rather, a 6'4" thug who'd just robbed a store and was extremely anxious to get away from a cop who had just caught him.
A side-note: How many young black men were just shot in Chicago alone last week by other young black men? 90% of black homicides in this country last year were committed by black males. This dwarfs anything, ANYTHING, that ANY police officer might have done to the "Black Community." Most sane people are completely aware of these statistics. Why aren't black people out on the streets of Chicago protesting? Clean up your own backyard, folks.
Joan Crawford, 1941
"She was the perfect image of the movie star and, as such, largely the creation of her own indomitable will. She had, of course, very remarkable material to work with: a quick native intelligence, tremendous animal vitality, a lovely figure and, above all, her face, that extraordinary sculptural construction of lines and planes, finely chiseled like the mask of some classical divinity from fifth-century Greece. It caught the light superbly, so that you could photograph her from any angle, and the face moved beautifully...." -- George Cukor, first published in the New York Times 5/22/77 and later read at her Los Angeles tribute, 6/24/77.
Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney, 1974)
When you were young and your heart was an open book...
Tug of War (Paul McCartney, 1983)
We expected more.
Tomorrow (Paul McCartney, 1971)
Holding hands we both abandon sorrow.
Robin Williams in "Dead Poets Society"
I will never forget this "Barbaric Yawp" scene.
From "The Fisher King" (1991)
One of the most profound films I've ever seen. Here, Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges, Mercedes Ruehl, and Amanda Plummer.
Robin Williams making me cry in "Dead Poets Society," "The Fisher King," and "Good Will Hunting" is what I'll remember most about him.
Plus, when I was in grad school in San Francisco in '93/'94, I worked at the Alexandria theater on Geary Street in the Richmond District to make extra money on weekends. One day Robin Williams came in with a female companion to see "Braveheart." He was small, wearing a baseball cap, incognito, ducking out halfway through the show to use the bathroom.
Surprising Things
(1) My boss told me Wednesday that she liked having me around because I was "low maintenance." (!) This after I've gotten very high-strung with her at least twice! As in, when some article comes in at the last minute, due tomorrow, I have NOT been saying, "Yes, ma'am, I'll get it done right away!" I've been more like, "GOOD LORD! WHY do they give us this stuff at the last second?!" I think she must be either a very calm Cancer or Taurus, because she has not freaked out when I've inadvertently freaked out. She's understood my freaking out, and also understood that I would indeed get the unreasonable task done on time, after I'd finished my venting (i.e., necessary Leo showboating before getting down to business). Wow. I'm extremely grateful. This kind of psychological understanding is necessary in any relation.
(2) RE my past posting here about a woman on my morning bus to work that I had found attractive and been curious about. I'd labeled her "The Plath Girl," and then it turned out that she was curating a WWI exhibit back in February that MY MOTHER had contributed to... and that the woman had been over to my mother's house! 6 months later... I was on the same bus Wednesday, this time coming home. A 20-something hipster with beard and plaid shirt sat behind me, and after a minute or so he actually tapped me on my shoulder: "Do you know someone named J--- (the first name of the "Plath Girl")? Are you related to her? You look JUST like her."
My initial reaction was thinking the guy was weird and then, "Hmmmm? No. Don't know her." And then after thinking about it more, I turned around: "Do you mean J---? Who's a museum curator?"
Yes, yes indeed! We then went on and on about how odd The Universe is! :)
(3) Oh yeah, an addendum... at the bus-stop today, a Middle Eastern guy came over and asked my name and then kissed my hand when I told him. (His own name sounded like "Saman/Salmon," so I asked him to spell it: "Simon" ---ohhh.) He was having a problem: He was 25 minutes late for work, his friend hadn't picked him up like she was supposed to, so he had to take the bus. I hadn't been come on to by a Middle Eastern man since the '80s when I was a college student (what I liked about these graduate students when I knew them as an undergrad: They were very intellectual and very intense and very political. Very hard-core HONEST). This man, in his 30s, was missing a tooth, yet I found his hand-kissing a bit attractive -- Aggressive Chivalry, I guess you'd call it. No, I'm not going to sleep with a toothless Middle Eastern man rendered from a bus stop. Just saying that the behavior, given the right setting, can indeed be attractive. :)
The "girl" at the left...
Marla and I never even smoked a cigarette together. We were neighbors when we were in 6th-9th grades in the late '70s, and during that time, we put on several neighborhood "Grease" and "Kiss" shows. (I was Danny and Gene Simmons; she was Sandy and Ace Frehley.) And otherwise just hung out with everyone else in the summers, playing softball, running relay races. Though whenever it came time to pick teams for softball, Marla's older sister and other grown-ups would weirdly insist, "Stephanie and Marla can't be on the same team." Why was that? Were they threatened by our goofy synchronicity?
Before our "synchronicity" was obvious and disturbing to other people, Marla and I ran around for years as kids. Riding horses (she was fearless, and I always rode behind her), tormenting our little brothers, getting into feuds with the kids across the highway, going to church camp together, lying out on her family's trampoline topless...
By 9th grade, my mother forbade me from hanging around Marla, though she lived next door. Something about my giving my mother dirty looks, which of course were Marla's fault (!).
The picture below disturbs me because Marla was attractive when she was a 12-to-14-year-old. When we went to summer camp together as kids, the older-teen-boy counselors in the camp were all looking at HER and ignoring me. (Even the one counselor who gave us a quiz on whose birthday it was that June day... I got "Paul McCartney" right, but... I still didn't get the boy!) When we both were in high school, me a sophomore and she a freshman, all the boys were asking HER for dates...
That she turned out looking like the below-left is disturbing to me. Do people just give up?
1970s Good Times
"Faces look ugly when you're alone"
If only potential rapists/serial killers/mass murderers could be a little philosophical like this, they wouldn't get quite so... upset. "Women seem wicked when you're unwanted" -- Get it? It's a fleeting "thing" that EVERYONE feels at some point when they're not being paid attention to. Your "righteous anger" is only based on your own current feelings of emptiness. When you let such ephemeral feeling solidify into some sort of code, that's when you've crossed over into CRAZY. There ain't no "code." Everything is constantly fluid and ephemeral.
I've never surfed in my life, but I imagine that what we're all going through is like riding waves -- the utter vastness of what we're confronting, then within this vastness, our internal creations/projections of sporadic little victories of catching a wave and sporadic little disappointments of getting wiped out. None of it matters to the sea, yet we're all completely dependent on the sea as Antagonist, as a source for our stimulation. THE SEA DON'T CARE, PEOPLE. Just ride whatever fuckin' wave without taking any of it personally.
Life, Briefly
While watching a "Twilight Zone" marathon on January 1 of this year, I saw this "After Hours" episode from 1960. I've been thinking about it sporadically for the past 7 months and recently realized... It's exactly what each individual existence is about! We briefly emerge from the dumbness of the ether and get to experience colorful, organic life... when we sense (aka "get broad hints") that it's time to go back into the ether, we're extremely (understandably) reluctant to do so. Yet those of us who ain't willing to be tortured ghosts DO ultimately return to The Void, accepting the natural scheme of things, fairly giving others their turn.
Warrior at Rest, Briefly
This was playing while I bought donuts in the supe...
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180 - 5 Copies
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Olympic squeeze: Fingers continue to creep toward the panic button
The countdown until the opening of the 2020 Olympic Games has passed 500 days. Projections keep coming in about public transport in the greater Tokyo area becoming overwhelmed.
Yes, concedes Nikkei Business (March 25), hosting the Games next year can be expected to generate a windfall of 32 trillion yen into Japan's economy. But there will be downsides. On March 15, the Tokyo Metro announced that it would extend train runs in the early morning and past midnight. While construction work on the new national stadium and new sports facilities along Tokyo Bay appear to be proceeding on schedule, the railway network, expressways and regular roads face the prospect of transport meltdowns.
During the Games, a total of 33 classes of sports totaling 339 competitive events will be held at 42 venues. From July 24 to Aug 9, this will attract an estimated 10 million people from Japan and abroad. The Games' organizers and government have appealed to transportation companies; the Tokyo Metro was the first to respond.
Still, in addition to expanding its schedule and running extra trains, the metro will be obliged to cope with the city's notorious morning rush hour. The venerable Ginza Line, for example, already runs trains at intervals of two to three minutes between 7 and 9 a.m., and Metro's PR department tells Nikkei Business there's simply no way to increase the frequency. The same case would apply to most of the other commuter rail operators.
A simulation of activity at stations proximate to the various events, conducted by Professor Azuma Taguchi of the Chuo University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, estimates that passenger demand at major train stations such as Shinjuku and Tokyo is likely to double.
As a proactive measure to reduce passenger demand, major employers -- particularly those located close to sports venues -- have been requested to consider city hall's 2020 "Action Plan," which calls for greater application of flextime and working from home. However, such measures on the part of the government and private sector are already in place to some degree, so any increase is likely to be limited. As a last-ditch plan, companies may also be encouraged to simply declare an extended holiday and close their offices for the duration.
In addition to the flow of people, there is also the matter of distribution of goods, which is also likely to be severely affected. The Tokyo metropolitan government is said to have appealed to ordinary drivers to reduce traffic by at least 10% on weekdays. In response, tire manufacturer Bridgestone announced it is considering "to proactively stock sales outlets with extra inventory in advance, as well as to operate its deliveries late at night, when traffic is lighter."
While still undecided at this point, various other measures, including restrictions on entry onto the expressways or raising the tolls are said to be under consideration.
Yet another genuine concern is an insufficiency of accommodations in the city. CBRE, a major real estate service firm, estimated in 2018 that Tokyo's 23 wards could expect a shortfall of 3,500 rooms, with no hope of meeting demand by the time of the games. The law of supply and demand is likely to drive up prices: a spokesperson for the Fukukoku Life Insurance Group was quoted as saying that even ordinary business hotels in the city might get away with overnight rates of "20,000 to 30,000 yen." And a source at a major travel agency says businesses may have no choice but to significantly curtail employee business travel to Tokyo until the Olympic flame is extinguished.
© Japan Today
» Tokyo Olympic organizers unveil torch for 2020 games
» Railways to extend operating hours during 2020 Tokyo Olympics
» Tokyo 2020 Olympic volunteer drive receives 162,000 applicants
» Waterfront district to host Tokyo 2020 flame cauldron
» IOC chief calls Tokyo 'best-prepared' city for Olympics
» Japan to ban drones near venues for 2020 Olympic Games
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That Was The Weekend That Was – The FA Cup Third Round
Posted by Ian | Jan 7, 2013 | Latest | 0
Throughout the entirety of its existence, the FA Cup has acted as a barometer for the state of the game in England. From 1883, when Blackburn Olympic’s win in the final against the Old Etonians marked the end of the amateurs’ early domination of the competition, via the 1945/46 competition, which was largely played over two legs and in front of massive crowds because the Football League had been unable to resume its programme at short notice after the end of six years of war, it has reflected the health and priorities of English football, and what its current condition says about the priorities of both clubs and supporters doesn’t offer a particularly healthy prognosis for the world’s oldest cup competition. Crowds have slumped, and the weekend of its Third Round Proper was met with a collective yawn by supporters who seem to now value the Premier League – or the possibility of getting into the Premier League – above all other considerations.
There were four non-league clubs playing in this year’s Third Round. Two won and two lost, but in three of the matches – including both at which the non-league clubs won – the story very quickly became about the bigger clubs. At Moss Rose, Macclesfield Town reached the Fourth Round for the first time in its one hundred and thirty-nine year history by coming from a goal down to beat Championship leaders Cardiff City by two goals to one, but their result was somewhat overshadowed by the Welsh club’s decision to field its development team plus a couple of senior players returning after having been out for a very long time. It is less than two months since Cardiff unveiled an £85,000 statue commemorating the club’s 1927 FA Cup winning captain Fred Keenor, and irony which will not be lost on those who saw the contempt with which they chose to treat the competition this year.
At Kenilworth Road, meanwhile, there were at least no excuses to be made on account of the strength of the team for Wolverhampton Wanderers as they lost by a single goal to Luton Town. Wolves have had a dismal first half the season in the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season, and an FA Cup loss against non-league opposition with a supposedly strong team proved to be enough for the owners of the club to decide that their experiment of bringing in the Norwegian Stale Solbakken at the end of last season, news that Solbakken himself is reported to have found out by a telephone call. Receipt of a text message of support to Sokbakken during a post-match interview with the Norwegian television channel TV2 led to runours that he had been sacked by text message – not that what actually happened painted the club’s senior management in a much more positive light – but within twenty-four hours he was forgotten, with Dean Saunders having been lassoed in from Doncaster Rovers to replace him.
Hastings United of the Ryman League Premier Division couldn’t quite match these heights, falling by four goals to one at Middlesbrough, and were an agonising two people above taking the number of people that would have been every headline-writers wet dream. Of 1,068 that did make the six hundred and twenty mile journey, it will be interesting and informative to see how many turn out considerably closer to home, at The Pilot Field for the club’s home league match against Wealdstone on Tuesday night. Making a similar journey but in the opposite direction were the supporters of Newcastle United, who were travelling to East Sussex to play Brighton & Hove Albion. Newcastle’s dismal recent form and equally unimpressive recent cup record – they have got beyond the Fourth Round of the competition just twice in the last ten years, and not at all since 2006 – were ominous, and the team that Alan Pardew decided to put out hinted that improving on that didn’t rank terribly highly on Pardew’s list of priorities this year, either. Brighton won by two goals to nil, a comfortable win which marked the second consecutive season that the Albion had knocked Newcastle out of a cup competition.
None of the SuperClubs perished, though two of them do at least have to put themselves through replays in order to guarantee themselves a place in the Fourth Round of the competition. Manchester United were dependent, after a somewhat lethargic display at West Ham United, on two moments of utter genius within three seconds from Ryan Giggs and Robin Van Persie to force a replay at Old Trafford, while Arsenal had a most peculiar afternoon in South Wales, going a goal down to Swansea City before scoring two goals in three minutes towards the end and then throwing away that lead a couple of minutes after taking it. The winners of that match travel to Brighton in the next round. Elsewhere, Chelsea’s fringe players beat Southampton’s fringe players and Tottenham Hotspur managed to overlook the fact that just because Coventry City were wearing a replica of their 1987 FA Cup winning shirt (because they beat Spurs in the final that year, you see? YOU SEE?) doesn’t mask the fact that Coventry have slipped down two divisions since then. Spurs took their foot off the pedal after having scored three times in twenty-three minutes during the first half, and will travel to Leeds United or Birmingham City in the next round at the end of this month. Similarly, Manchester City swiped Watford aside in the manner of an elephant absent-mindedly flicking its trunk at bothersome mosquito.
Elsewhere, there were draws. Lots of draws. Fulham were held at home by Blackpool and Wigan at Athletic home by Bournemouth. Sunderland could only draw at Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City did the same at Crystal Palace. In total, there were eleven draws, which means that the Third Round replay week – which is the week after next, because it is apparently impossible to arrange a football match at four days notice, even if everybody knows that because these are cup matches there is a reasonable chance that this may happen – will be more congested than usual, which will probably please the television companies as the rest of the world rolls its eyes and wonders whether other leisure activities inspire such snark and ennui in roughly equal measures. The FA Cup could be “saved” by offering a Champions League place to its winners (which will never happen, since the Premier League tends to view the FA as both an enemy and as prey), or by giving a billion pounds to its winners, which won’t happen because to do that would be ridiculous. Alternatively, it could be saved by clubs realising that their worlds will not cave in if they actually send their full first teams to play one or two more matches over the course of the season and supporters start to remember that being a supporter might actually be about wanting to win trophies rather than increasing your chances of finishing in fifteenth place in the Premier League rather than sixteenth by a degree that is neither guaranteed or even measurable. These won’t happen, though.
And that was the week that was.
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PreviousNon-League Videos Of The Week: 06-01-2013
NextIf We’re Angry About Ticket Prices, We Need To Stop Buying Them
The Saturday Movie Club: A Dirty Game
Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday & Ghosts of Christmases Past
Ipswich Town: Relegation By A Thousand Cuts
Ray Wilkins: Gone Too Soon
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Ben Kendell honored with Horizon League’s Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor
University of Detroit Mercy cross country and track and field standout Ben Kendell did nothing but break records in competition and achieve high marks in the classroom and for that brilliant career, he was named the winner of the Horizon League’s 2019 Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor.
The Horizon League’s highest individual honor, the Coleman Medal of Honor is presented annually to the league’s top male and female student-athletes who best exemplify the dignity and high purpose of the league and its membership. The individuals demonstrate outstanding achievements in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. Candidates must be seniors who have exhausted their eligibility and were participants on the varsity level in a league-sponsored sport. In addition, nominees must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.
Kendell — who owns a 3.90 GPA an undergraduate and a 3.70 as a graduate in Engineering — earned the honor along with Northern Kentucky track performer BriAuna Keys.
“It’s an honor to receive this award and I am humbled to be in company with the select few who have won medal of honor, including the other Titans who have received this award,” said Kendell.
The harrier wrapped up one of the best collegiate careers in school history as a distance runner competing in cross country and track and field.
In cross country, he was All-Horizon League First Team in all four years, winning the individual conference title in 2018 as a senior, while finishing runner-up twice and fifth as a freshman. That fifth-place finish helped the Titans win the Horizon League Championship in 2014, and he was also selected the HL Outdoor Athlete of the Year following his victorious run as a graduate senior. He ended his cross country career in style taking silver at the 2018 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship — the highest place in a regional run by a Titan in school history and the best HL finish since 2008 — and placing 95th at the NCAA DI National Championship with a school 10k record.
His name is all over the Detroit Mercy record books as he owns the school mark in the 4-mile (19:39 at 2018 Running Fit-Detroit Mercy Titan Invitational), 8K (23:54 at 2018 Great Louisville Classic) and 10K (30:35 at 2018 NCAA GLR) with six career wins and five more runner-up performances.
“This is a magnificent honor for Ben and well-deserved after his tireless dedication to his training, his success in cross country and track and his outstanding academic achievements in the classroom,” said Director of Athletics Robert C. Vowels, Jr.
In track, he was a four-time Horizon League champion winning the indoor 3000-meters in 2017 and 2018 as well as the outdoor 5,000m in 2019 and the 10,000m in 2015 and was runner-up in the 10,000m in 2016 and 2018. He was also chosen the Horizon League Male Outdoor Athlete of the Year in 2019 as he broke the Horizon League record in the 5,000m with a time of 14:23.94.
He qualified for the 10,000m at the NCAA East Preliminary Championship in 2018 and 2019, taking 20th in 2018 and 21st this past season with a time of 30:06 in both years.
“I have been in the Horizon League for over 30 years as a student-athlete and coach and I believe Ben Kendell typifies what the Coleman Award is all about,” said Director of Cross Country & Track and Field Guy Murray. “He is what the Horizon League wants in our student-athletes in that he excels in the classroom, in competition, in service, is a great team leader and showcases sportsmanship to the highest degree.”
In the classroom, he was just as impressive as a five-time member of the Detroit Mercy Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and a four-time member of the Horizon League’s fall and spring academic honor rolls. He was named to nine HL Academic Team’s in cross country and track and was the Horizon League Scholar-Athlete of the Year three times in the fall (2015, 2016, 2018), once in the winter (2018) and twice in the spring (2018, 2019). Additionally, he was a USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree after his senior year in cross country and three times in track and field (2017, 2018, 2019).
Kendell was twice tabbed CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-District (2018, 2019) and was selected a Third Team CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2017 and is on the ballot for Academic All-American honors again this year.
Outside of competition and school, he volunteered at the Detroit Free Press Marathon and for the Team Fitzgerald neighborhood clean-up project while completing engineering internships with Re-sol Future Technologies and Fiat Chrysler.
Kendell is the sixth Titan to receive the Coleman Medal of Honor and the third in the last five years joining Sara Zawacki (women’s soccer) in 2016 and Matt Ybarra (men’s soccer) in 2015. The other Titans who have earned the accolade include Mary Parker (women’s soccer) in 2007, Lori Caloia (softball) in 2000 and Ken Dubois (cross country/track and field) in 1988.
— Original story by Detroit Mercy Titan Athletics.
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Home » Health Problems » dolutegravir and lamivudine
dolutegravir and lamivudine
London – 18 October 2018 ViiV Healthcare today announced it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a single-tablet, two-drug regimen of dolutegravir (DTG) and lamivudine (3TC) for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
The submission is based on the global GEMINI 1 & 2 studies that included more than 1400 HIV-1 infected adults with baseline viral loads up to 500,000 c/mL. The results of these studies were presented at the 2018 International AIDS Society meeting in July.
Deborah Waterhouse, CEO, ViiV Healthcare, said, “We have now entered an exciting new era of treatments for people living with HIV. ViiV Healthcare believes that a two-drug regimen has the potential to be an important option for many who may spend their lifetime taking drugs to control their virus. This regulatory submission is the next step in the two-drug regimen journey and reinforces our belief that many patients can control their disease with two drugs instead of three or more.”
John C. Pottage, Jr., MD, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of ViiV Healthcare, said: “This NDA, if approved, will provide a single-tablet, two-drug regimen option with DTG and 3TC that we believe could have an impact on the existing HIV treatment strategy and serve as a valuable option for people living with HIV. ViiV Healthcare is committed to challenging the status quo with innovations that are based on our belief that no one should take more medicines than they need.”
A priority review voucher was submitted to the FDA along with the NDA. Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the anticipated target action date for this NDA with a priority review voucher is six months after receipt of the application by the FDA. A marketing authorisation application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) was submitted in September and other global regulatory submissions for DTG and 3TC as a single-tablet, two-drug regimen for HIV-1 therapy are anticipated in the coming months.
GEMINI 1 & 2 Study Design
GEMINI 1 (204861) and GEMINI 2 (205543) are duplicate, phase III, randomised, double-blind, multicentre, parallel group, non-inferiority studies. These studies evaluate a two-drug regimen of dolutegravir and lamivudine compared with a three-drug, first-line regimen of DTG + TDF/FTC in HIV-1 infected, antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve adult participants with baseline HIV-1 viral loads up to 500,000 copies per mL. The trials are designed to study the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of once-daily dolutegravir and lamivudine compared to once-daily dolutegravir and the fixed-dose combination of TDF/FDC at 48 weeks in HIV-1-infected, ART-naïve participants. The GEMINI studies are ongoing for 148 weeks. For more information please search for NCT02831673 (GEMINI 1) or NCT02831764 (GEMINI 2) on www.clinicaltrials.gov.
ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 by GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV and for people who are at risk of becoming infected with HIV. Shionogi joined as a shareholder in October 2012. The company’s aim is to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV/AIDS than any company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and innovative medicines for HIV treatment and prevention, as well as support communities affected by HIV.
For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline, and commitment, please visit www.viivhealthcare.com.
ViiV Healthcare Limited, the global specialist HIV company, is majority owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc, with Pfizer Inc. and Shionogi Limited. GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 3.D 'Principal risks and uncertainties' in the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2017.
GSK – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com.
Source: GSK
Posted: October 2018
dolutegravir and lamivudine FDA Approval History
anddolutegravirlamivudine
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The Forerunner
Buy on Audible £6.29
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Also available as a book
Kahlil Gibran wished to write small books that could be read in one sitting and carried in the pocket. Between 1918 and 1926, he wrote four such books, and these were his first in English: The Madman (1918), the Forerunner (1920), Sand and Foam (1926) and The Prophet (1923). Like Sand and Foam and The Madman, The Forerunner is a collection of parables and aphorisms, which in true Eastern style draws on a world of kings, hermits, saints, slaves, deserts, animals that talk and wind that laughs.
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) best selling author and spiritual guide, was a man in search of himself and his place in the world. He was a writer and painter, based in the United States. An immigrant from Lebanon at the beginning of the 20th century, he wrote with one eye on his homeland, and with a restless questioning spirit. ‘He had an impetuous soul, a rebellious mind and an eye mocking everything it sees,’ one of his teachers said. ‘Half of what I say is meaningless,’ Gibran wrote. ‘But I say it so that the other half may reach you.’ Through Gibran’s writing, much has reached many.
Sand and Foam
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Beacon Approves First 5-Story Building
June 8, 2015 •
The plans for a total of 62 new residential units on Churchill Street on Beacon’s east end are on the fast track, with the zoning board of appeals, the planning board, and the city council all granting support, variances, and approvals. The 1.9-acre parcel known as Lot #1 is set to include construction of Beacon’s first building over 4 stories since the Forrestal Heights apartment complex in 1969. It will also feature a smaller 4-story structure, while Lot #2 will consist of 6 luxury loft apartments to be created in an existing factory building.
While We Were Sleeping
This development is far from the only project wending its way through the various city agencies—there are in fact almost 500 such units in various stages of the approval and design process at the moment, with a large majority, including the Churchill Street project, falling along the banks of the Fishkill Creek.
Some citizens may think these developments are just what the doctor ordered (obviously to a man and woman everyone on the various boards and the city council does). Some may have concerns. Many citizens may simply be unaware of the plans going on. Even those who know of all the various projects have sparse information on which to form an opinion.
Among the many red flags that all this development is waving for us to look at—and there are plenty—the lack of information is disturbing. Not only information about how these projects might impact the lives of citizens current and future, but also, even more fundamentally, the almost non-existent public notice given for the various meetings where major decisions about the future of the City of Beacon are being made.
For example, the developer of the Churchill Street sites, Weber Projects III, LLC, sought relief on Lot #1 from the 35-foot maximum building height allowed in the General Business (GB) zone, where the parcel is located. This required an appearance before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). The meeting was held on the evening of March 17th (which, as some of you may know, is St. Patrick’s Day).
Letter of the Law, But Not the Spirit
of the Comprehensive Plan
As required by law, the City took out a classified ad in its paper of record, the Poughkeepsie Journal, and sent letters to all property owners within 250 feet of the parcel. And that’s it, end of story, the legally required minimum public notice. Four of the seven ZBA members managed to make it, along with a couple of nearby property owners. This was for a decision that would involve a building going up in the heart of the East End that will be 50 percent taller than allowed in the GB zone.
We’ll take a closer look at the zoning board of appeals’ decision in the next post, along with a look at the city council’s subsequent decision to grant a special use permit. We’ll also look at other key issues involving not only this project on Churchill, but the other developments around the city. Today is about asking the City going forward to make a true effort to engage the public more fully in the planning process.
There are any number of ways to accomplish this. First and foremost would be to reinstate the Beacon Free Press as the paper of record for the City of Beacon.
The previous council and city administrator switched over to the Poughkeepsie Journal, with the main rationale being that, since it was a daily paper, there would be no chance of missing a news cycle. This is unlikely with 95 percent of city business, since planning board and zoning appeals meetings are monthly, and agendas for most development matters undertaken by the city council are known well enough in advance. The city could still use the Journal as well. (It appears the Beacon Free Press is still the paper of record for the Town of Fishkill.)
Second is to make sure the ZBA meetings with agendas are posted on the city website, along with minutes. Training for this is apparently in progress, but it was not in place at the time of the St. Patrick’s Day meeting. Putting a synopsis of the agenda of planning board meetings or city council meetings into one of the slides on the website front page would also be helpful.
Here are some other suggestions from our key document developed by the public to guide us in these matters, the City of Beacon Comprehensive Plan. While this document is by its nature flawed and, by its own requirement, past due for an update, this general advice is key to the democratic process. (We’ll also be looking at the Comprehensive Plan, designed to be dynamic and changing and constantly at hand. Unfortunately it has become so static and dusty that the new city administrator was unaware of its existence.)
From the City of Beacon Comprehensive Plan:
Goal: Encourage meaningful public participation in local decision making through broad dissemination of clear and pertinent information. The identification of the human consequences of alternative public actions, including identification of positive social and cultural values to be preserved, as well as social costs and benefits of alternative courses of action must receive wide exposure so that those who are affected have an understanding of such factors and the opportunity to express their views as a part of the decision making process.
A. Dissemination of Information
Information on planning decisions should be made available through a wide variety of channels: the local press and communication systems, the schools, and through various religious, health, social and club organizations, the internet and through annual ‘town meetings.’
Next: A look at the variance granted by the zoning board of appeals and the city council’s decision to grant a special use permit for Lot #1.
Feature photograph: A view of the existing factory building on Lot #2 from Creek Drive (the sign says Creek Rd.) It gets a tidy-up in preparation for being converted to 6 luxury loft apartments.
Planning • 1 Comment
One Response to Beacon Approves First 5-Story Building
infodissemi says:
More communication is obviously needed to the public.It seems there is an effort to get caucasian YUPPIES into Beacon. Beacon is such a beautifully DIVERSE community. Beacon should strive to keep/celebrate its diversity. Diversity is why Beacon is thriving compared to other towns in the immediate area. Homes are becoming way over priced for the space, acreage;Go for Affordable homes instead of mini mansions. The new lofts planned for example are way over priced for a working people’s town. The town was made by working people, kept going by working people should be a working people town in the future as well. Remember its the working people that keep the wheel moving the rich only funded when they make a profit.
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Gazette-Mail filing for bankruptcy; Ogden Newspapers current high bidder
Brad McElhinny/MetroNews
The Charleston Newspapers building was the combined home of The Charleston Gazette and The Charleston Daily Mail for many years.
By Jeff Jenkins in News | January 29, 2018 at 6:02PM
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Charleston Gazette-Mail is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and Wheeling Newspapers is in the front of the line to purchase it. The change in ownership could result in layoffs.
According to a Monday evening story in the Gazette-Mail, the bankruptcy filing will occur Tuesday opening up a 60-day window when another company could come in and outbid Wheeling Newspapers.
The City of Charleston received the WARN Notice Monday afternoon:
“Charleston Newspapers is being sold to Wheeling Newspapers, Inc. or such other entity that may place a higher bid for the company’s assets at an auction. As a result of the sale, the employment of 206 employees will be terminated no sooner than 60 days from today on or about March 30, 2018. The termination will impact all job titles and job classifications of Charleston Newspapers.”
A WARN Notice has to be issued if more than 50 people could be laid off. The newspaper currently employs 209 workers.
Wheeling Newspapers, Inc. is the parent company of the Ogden Newspaper chain which owns the Wheeling Intelligencer, the Elkins Inter-Mountain, the Martinsburg Journal and the Parkersburg News and Sentinel.
A lot of uncertainty right now. All I really know is to keep doing my job. But we’re all pensive, sad and in shock. https://t.co/xlG6gET7eG
— Ben Fields (@BenFieldsWV) January 29, 2018
Earlier court filings said bankruptcy would be a part of any sale.
“The Charleston Gazette, now the Charleston Gazette-Mail, has been my family’s passion for the last century,” said publisher Susan Chilton Shumate in a letter to employees that was part of a Gazette-Mail story Monday evening. “To follow in the footsteps of Ned Chilton, my father, and Betty Chilton, my mother, as publisher of this paper has been a tremendous honor for me and my family. At the end of this process, we will be letting go of that passion.”
Charleston Mayor Danny Jones said it was difficult news to receive.
“It’s an incredible era that’s ending in Charleston,” Jones said. “I hope that we have a stable newspaper in the area. We’ve heard about it for a long time. To me it’s very sad.”
Jones remains confident the newspaper would still be strong.
“I think Charleston will end up having a viable newspaper,” Jones said. “I think like so many other things that are going on in this era, this is just another transition we are going through. Hopefully it will work out.”
Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper echoed Jones’ comments in a statement released Monday evening.
“I join Mayor Danny Jones in recognizing that this is truly the end of an era, and I also urge the new owners to provide the current employees with an opportunity for employment.” Carper said. “We can not quantify the benefit that the Charleston Gazette, the Daily-Mail, and recently the Charleston Gazette-Mail provided to the Kanawha Valley and its people. During times of war, times of tragedy, and times of great joy, our local paper always brought to the public true, professional journalism. Today is a sad day.”
The newspaper’s history dates back to the late 1800s with the publication settling on the name “The Charleston Gazette” in 1907.
The Chilton family first acquired formal interest in the paper about 1912 and has held the majority interest since. Trip Shumate is married to Susan Chilton Shumate, the current publisher. Her mother, Elizabeth Chilton, is president of the Daily Gazette Company.
The Gazette combined with The Charleston Daily Mail 2015, with owners describing a more efficient operation as one of the reasons.
MediaNews Group, now doing business as Digital First Media, filed a breach of contract claim. The company had sold its minority share in Charleston Newspapers a decade earlier but continued to be paid a management fee for its continued association with the Daily Mail.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston upheld $3.8 million arbitration ruling against the newspaper in a decision that came down last Friday.
Ogden Newspapers was founded in 1890 by H.C. Ogden and is still operated by descendants, the Nutting family, which owns the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ogden operates newspapers in Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia, serving mostly small markets.
Ogden was a potential buyer of the Charleston Daily Mail in 2004 but the Gazette took its first right of refusal option.
Jeff Jenkins
jjenkins@wvradio.com
@JeffJenkinsMN
The award-winning native of Pratt, W.Va, took over as head of the news division of MetroNews in August 2000.
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WVS wave 7
Findings & Insights
Data & Documentation
Home › Announcements
31 Dec 2019 Season's Greetings from WVSA On behalf of the World Values Survey Association, we thank all members of the WVS community, our partners and friends for your constant support and wish you a great festive season!
27 Nov 2018 New Rules for WVS Database Citation Dear scholars, authors, students, journalists and all colleagues who use WVS data in your research, analysis, journal publications and books! We would like to attract your attention to the new rules for citation of the WVS data-set when using it. When making a publication, please, make sure that it includes a reference to the WVS in the following format:
25 Nov 2018 WVS team in Australia releases WVS-7 analytical report WVS team in Australia releases WVS-7 analytical report. The Australian component of the World Values Survey is referred to as the Australian Values Study or AVS. The Australian National University has been responsible for the AVS since 2005, with data collection carried out by the Social Research Centre. In 2018, 1,800 Australians were surveyed as a part of the WVS-7 global survey round.
18 Nov 2018 The Rise of Trump and the Xenophobic Populist Parties: The Silent Revolution in Reverse - Lecture by Ron Inglehart at the University of Toronto Professor Ingleharts’ recently published book, Cultural Evolution: People’s Motivations are Changing, and Reshaping the World, argues that people’s values and behavior are shaped by the degree to which survival is secure; it was precarious for most of history, which encouraged heavy emphasis on group solidarity, rejection of outsiders, and obedience to strong leaders. This book explains the rise of environmentalist parties, gender equality, and same-sex marriage... and the current reaction producing Trump, Brexit, and France’s National Front, through a new, empirically-tested version of modernization theory.
17 Nov 2018 Remote Internships at the World Values Survey Association The World Values Survey Association invites interested students and young post-graduate researchers to apply for a Remote Internship at the WVSA Secretariat. Remote Internship is a volunteer (unpaid) feasible contribution to the WVSA activities of 2-8 hours per week organized from the applicant’s place of residence/ study. Internships are possible for the period of 1 month and 3 months.
14 Nov 2018 The World Values Survey and UNDP strengthen collaboration on SDG 16 indicators research Oslo, 18 June 2018 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Values Survey Association (WVSA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to facilitate cooperation on measuring Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 indicators.
13 Nov 2018 A new publication by Ron Inglehart: The Silent Revolution in Reverse - Trump and the Xenophobic Authoritarian Populist Parties More than forty years ago, The Silent Revolution (Inglehart, 1977) argued that the unprecedentedly high levels of existential security experienced in developed democracies during the postwar decades was bringing an intergenerational shift from Materialist values that emphasized economic and physical security above all, to Postmaterialist values that gave to priority to individual autonomy and self-expression. During the past three decades, a growing share of the publics of high-income countries has experienced declining real income and job security, in context with a large flow of immigrants. This has fueled support for xenophobic populist authoritarian movements such as British exit from the European Union, France’s National Front and Donald Trump’s rise to power.
09 Sep 2018 Annual Meeting of the Executive Committee of the World Values Survey Association The annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the World Values Survey Association took place on August, 31, 2018 in Boston, USA in conjunction with the annual conference of the American Political Science Association. Main issues discussed: program of WVS-7 survey round; new funding applications to support survey fieldwork in Africa and Asia; future activities and events and the 2020 public data release.
09 Sep 2018 WVSA featured panel at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting in Boston At the recent American Political Science Association Annual Meeting in August, 2018, World Values Survey Association held a featured panel organized in cooperation with the International Political Science Association on "Democracy Facing the Challenges of the 21st Century: New Evidence from Comparative Survey Research".
01 Sep 2018 WVSA Featured Panel at the ECPR general conference at the University of Hamburg took place on August, 23! World Values Survey Association organized a featured panel at the recent General Conference (Hamburg, Germany, August 22-25, 2018) of the European Consortium for Political Research entitled “Political Values and Norms Shaping Political Behaviour: Evidence from Comparative Social Research”. Panel was co-sponsored by the Research Committee 17 “Comparative Public Opinion” of the International Political Science Association. Speakers' presentations available for downloading now.
01 Sep 2018 WVSA completes a joint research project with the World Bank In July 2018 WVSA has completed a research project in the Middle East in cooperation with the World Bank. Within the framework of this project, WVSA team developed and implemented a module of questions exploring the issues of social contract; the module was introduced into the WVS-7 survey fieldwork in 4 MENA countries: Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt. WVSA expects to continue the study of social contract in other countries in the Middle East in 2018-2019. WVS-7 fieldwork will be completed in December 2019; over 10 MENA countries are expected to join WVS wave 7.
12 Aug 2018 A New Book by the WVSA Vice-President Alejandro Moreno: The electoral change. Voters, surveys and democracy in Mexico In this work, the electoral behavior of Mexican citizens from 1988 to the present is analyzed in detail. The author resorts to surveys as research tools, through his interpretation, he gives an account of the psychology, rationality and emotions of the voter, in his behavior, his opinions, his attitudes, his beliefs and in the aspects that influence in his decision to vote. Likewise, it is studying the change in the Mexican electorate over the years, where factors such as the level of schooling, ideologization, the media, the Internet, social networks, have transformed the way of doing politics in the country.
11 Jul 2018 WVS-Bolivia team releases WVS-7 analytical report! The team of Ciudadania-Bolivia - the first WVS team to complete WVS-7 survey fieldwork (January 2017) has launched the full analytical report containing the survey findings and outputs. Public launch of the report took place on June, 26. The survey was designed, implemented and analyzed by Ciudadanía, Comunidad de Estudios Sociales y Acción Pública, a local private research and social action center, with the support of Oxfam in Bolivia, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the commitment of the Vice Presidency of the State of Bolivia, through the editorial contribution of the Center for Social Research.
12 Jun 2018 Scientific workshop "The World Values Survey (1981-2018): Exploring the Cultural Change. Organization, History, Findings" in Astana, Kazakhstan Scientific workshop "The World Values Survey (1981-2018): Exploring the Cultural Change. Organization, History, Findings" took place in Astana, Kazakhstan on May 29, 2018. The workshop was organized by Dr Botagoz Rakisheva, WVS-7 PI for Kazakhstan, and featured presentations of the WVSA President Christian Haerpfer and Head of the WVSA Secretariat Kseniya Kizilova. The workshop attracted several dozen scientists, researchers, policymakers and scholars in Kazakhstan.
11 Jun 2018 WVSA releases WVS-6 report on "Social Values and Attitudes in the MENA Region" (2012-2014) The World Values Survey Association releases WVS-6 report on "Social Values and Attitudes in the MENA Region". Report is based on the WVS (2012-2014) survey data collected in 12 countries and societies in the Middle East. Project has been implemented with the support of Silatech Foundation (Qatar) and Economic Research Forum (Egypt). WVS wave 7 begins in the Middle East in Summer 2018.
06 Jun 2018 WVS-Brazil team begins WVS7 survey fieldwork! In May-June, 2018 the WVS-Brazil team under the leadership of Henrique Carlos de Castro will complete the 7th wave of values study. This will be the 5th time WVS survey will take place in Brazil. There will be done 2000 interviews in Brazil, distributed in 141 towns of 24 states plus the Federal District. The questionnaire application team is composed of about a hundred interviewers, intending to start the field work on May 16th and to closure on June 2nd, 2018.
06 Jun 2018 WVS-7 in Kazakhstan: Working meeting with the WVSA Secretariat WVS-7 planning working meeting with the team of the Public Opinion Research Institute under the leadership of its Founding Director and the new WVS-7 Principal Investigator for Kazakhstan Dr Botagoz Rakisheva took place on May, 28, 2018. WVS round 7 will begin in Kazakhstan in June 2018.
05 Jun 2018 WVS7 planning meeting in the Middle East: Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon go into the field! WVSA Secretariat and WVSA-MENA team held a methodological seminar and a working meeting this week in Amman. Issues discussed: survey planning in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq; WVS-7 regional module in MENA; data analysis, publications and future events.
06 May 2018 Interview with the WVS-7 PI for Jordan Dr Fares Braizat “Successive governments have failed in the eyes of the public,” said Fares Braizat, chairman of NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions, a research, polling and consulting firm based in Amman. “This is a statement about bad public economic policy planning and execution.”
19 Apr 2018 Nigeria: First in Africa! WVS-7 completed in the first African country! World Values Survey round 7 has been completed in the first country on the African continent – in Nigeria. The survey was conducted in December 2017 – January 2018 and was organized by Professor Bi Puranen from the side of the WVSA. WVS-7 fieldwork in Nigeria was conducted by TNSRMS Nigeria Limited; survey fieldwork was coordinated by Mariam Fagbemi; a total of 1237 interviews have been completed in Nigeria.
14 Mar 2018 WVS-7 survey round: summarizing achivements and lookging for new opportunities WVSA invites expressions of interest from new survey teams, universities and research institutes in Venezuela and Paraguay, Guyana, Suriname, and Nicaragua, Guatemala and Panama, Cambodia and Vietnam, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan as well as in a number of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
08 Feb 2018 International conference "Popular Evaluation of Well-Being in the Arab World, East Asia, South East Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America" International conference "Popular Evaluation of Well-Being in the Arab World, East Asia, South East Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America" took place at the United Arab Emirates University in Al-Ain, UAE on February, 4-6, 2018. The event was organized by the Global Barometer Survey Group with the support of the Department of Sociology of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at UAEU and the World Values Survey Association.
20 Jan 2018 Open lecture by Ronald Inglehart: Cultural Evolution - How People's Motivations are Changing and How this is Changing the World Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan, USA, and the Founding President of the World Values Survey, Ronald Inglehart gave an open lecture at the United Arab Emirates University in Al-Ain, UAE, on January, 31, 2018. The topic of the lecture: 'Cultural Evolution - How People's Motivations are Changing and How this is Changing the World'
SECRETARIAT & PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
Institute for Comparative Survey Research
Vienna - Austria
Prof. Christian W Haerpfer
Email: christian_haerpfer@univie.ac.at
Ms Kseniya Kizilova
Email: ksenniya.kizilova@gmail.com
EXTERNAL RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS
Institute for Future Studies
Stockholm, Sweden 101 31
Secretary General, World Values Survey
Associate Professor Bi Puranen
Email: bi.puranen@worldvaluessurvey.org
c/ Libertad 19 1B
Alcobendas, Spain 28100
Director of the WVSA Archive
Engineer Jaime Díez-Medrano
Email: jdiezmed@jdsurvey.net
WVS links
Index of news & events
Index of publications
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