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Wittenborg University Executive Board in the Public Eye
News Overview Page
Wittenborg Executive Board in the Public Eye
As part of a series outlining the day-to-day workings of business families, the Birdsall family were interviewed at home along with their son, Marlon (11). Maggie Feng, CEO of Wittenborg, describes coming to the Netherlands as a language student and meeting her future husband. Maggie grew up in Beijing and after graduating from Beijing university in engineering, she came to the Netherlands to study at Saxion University where Peter worked as head internationalisation. "Then you all did wrong things, didn't you? Ha-ha!" she jokes!
Peter, Chair of the Executive Board at Wittenborg, already in the Netherlands with a daughter from his previous marriage, told how he got his life together through a teaching post at Saxion, after finding himself living as a single parent in a caravan [1999]. Peter was soon head of internationalisation and "After a chance meeting with Maggie, I decided to become a host family for international students, with a friend … all my friends' choices [of student] did not go through, but Maggie came to us."
The couple acquired Wittenborg, a private university and placed it under a family-owned trust in 2008. Since then they have developed it into one of the most respected and international private universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands.
How is it, juggling the demands of a business with family life?
Maggie’s job is 'personnel, housing and maintenance of networks at municipal and provincial level'. "It is a large company, we hardly see each other during the day. I am on the road a lot."
Peter works on 'national politics', education, ICT, sales and finance. “The school's a foundation, and there we work with a third person on the board. There is also an advisory board with five non-family members. There are about 40 teachers and we have 850 students from 90 different countries.
"Every morning I cycle with Marlon to Apeldoorn," says Peter "where he goes to the gymnasium [Grammar Secondary School]. At 7 o'clock, we get on the electric bikes and cycle the seventeen kilometres. We'll be back at three o'clock. I always do the cooking. The kitchen is my domain."
Maggie: "I get up around 7:30. I need an hour for myself in the morning, with coffee and the FD. I'm in Apeldoorn around nine o'clock. We never have breakfast together, sometimes on Sundays if Marlon does not play tennis. I app when I leave: on my way home.”
After dinner they watch the BBC news, especially now with Brexit, then RTL4, and sometimes a nice BBC-detective series. Maggie relates: "Twice a week I help Marlon with his homework. On Friday, I play sports when I bring Marlon to jiu-jitsu-les." Peter tries to get to bed before midnight. "I don’t sleep for more than five hours." Maggie is in bed at half past ten. "I try to read a few more pages, but I usually fall asleep. Maggie: "I am really the sleeper of the family."
Peter: "Then I also have a little time for myself."
WUP 29/10/2018
by James Wittenborg
©Wittenborg University Press
Staff at Wittenborg
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by: MARY HUDETZ, Associated Press
Posted: Jul 13, 2019 / 12:19 AM EDT / Updated: Jul 13, 2019 / 08:41 PM EDT
Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in Stanley, N.M. is shown Monday, July 8, 2019. Epstein is entangled in two legal fights that span the East Coast, challenging his underage sexual abuse victims in a Florida court hours after he was indicted on sex trafficking charges in a separate case in New York. (KRQE via AP)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — At the center of Jeffrey Epstein’s secluded New Mexico ranch sits a sprawling residence the financier built decades ago — complete with plans for a 4,000-square-foot (372-square-meter) courtyard, a living room roughly the size of the average American home and a nearby private airplane runway.
Known as the Zorro Ranch, the high-desert property is now tied to an investigation that the state attorney general’s office says it has opened into Epstein with plans to forward findings to federal authorities in New York.
Epstein, who pleaded not guilty this week to federal sex trafficking charges in New York, has not faced criminal charges in New Mexico. But the scandal surrounding him has still sent a jolt through the rural southwestern state as it comes under scrutiny for laws that allowed him to avoid registering as a sex offender following a guilty plea a decade ago in Florida.
“New Mexico continues to lag behind the rest of the country in strengthening outdated and weak laws that fail to protect our children from abuse,” New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press. “This is a huge black eye for our state.”
In addition to confirming his office had interviewed possible victims of Epstein who visited his ranch south of Santa Fe, Balderas’ spokesman also said Friday that the attorney general would renew his push for legislation requiring anyone with a sex trafficking conviction to register as a sex offender in New Mexico.
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution under an agreement that required him to spend 13 months in jail and register as a sex offender. The agreement has been widely criticized for secretly ending a federal sex abuse investigation involving at least 40 teenage girls at the time that could have landed him behind bars for life.
Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta said Friday he’s stepping down amid the tumult over his handling of the 2008 deal with Epstein. Acosta was the U.S. attorney in Miami when he oversaw the non-prosecution agreement.
The indictment filed in New York this week accuses Epstein of paying girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them at his homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and New York from 2002 through 2005. The charges carry the potential for up to 45 years in prison.
In New Mexico, the attorney general said he has been in touch with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York. Balderas’ office has not said, however, how many accusers his office has interviewed and he has not elaborated on what they say took place at the ranch.
In a 2015 court filing in Florida, a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Epstein said she had been abused at several locations, including the New Mexico property.
Records show Epstein purchased the ranch, valued by county officials at over $12 million, from the family of former Gov. Bruce King, who died 10 years ago. A 1995 Santa Fe New Mexican story about his plans to build a mansion on the property said the home would be 26,700 square feet (2,480 square meters) with a 2,100-square-foot (195-square-meter) living room.
Aerial images of the property show an airplane hangar and landing strip. Closer to the east edge of the property, several structures that appear to serve as small homes and stables stand in public view.
The King family still owns land surrounding much of Epstein’s ranch near the town of Stanley, a rural outpost on the plains that stretch east of the Sandia Mountains.
Gary King, the son of the former governor, was the state attorney general from 2007 to 2015, and was among a handful of candidates in the state who returned Epstein campaign donations.
King had received $15,000 from Epstein in 2006 during his first-bid for attorney general, and then received $35,000 from firms linked to Epstein in 2014.
Former Gov. Bill Richardson donated $50,000 in 2006 gubernatorial campaign contributions from Epstein to charity.
In neighboring Arizona, Epstein donated $50,000 to the University of Arizona in 2017, the Arizona Republic newspaper reported Saturday.
Epstein gave the money to the university through his foundation Gratitude America Ltd., the Republic and the Daily Beast website reported. The money was designated for a 2017 Science of Consciousness conference, the Daily Beast reported.
The university didn’t know of Epstein’s involvement in the foundation, Pam Scott, the university’s associate vice president of external communications, told the Republic. The university does not plan to return the donation, Scott said.
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Arctic mission will trap scientists in ice to study climate
by: FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press
The German Arctic research vessel Polarstern is docked for maintenance in Bremerhaven, Germany, Wednesday, July 3, 2019. Scientists from 17 nations are preparing for a year-long mission to the central Arctic to study the impact that climate change is having on the frigid far north of the planet. Mission leader Markus Rex said that researchers plan to anchor the German icebreaker RV Polarstern to a large floe and set up camp on the ice as the sea freezes around them, conducting experiments throughout the Arctic winter. (AP Photos/Frank Jordans)
BREMERHAVEN, Germany (AP) — Cranes hoist cargo onto the deck, power tools scream out and workers bustle through the maze of passageways inside the German icebreaker RV Polarstern, preparations for a yearlong voyage that organizers say is unprecedented in scale and ambition.
In a couple of months, the hulking ship will set out for the Arctic packed with supplies and scientific equipment for a mission to explore the planet’s frigid far north. The icebreaker will be the base for scientists from 17 nations studying the impact of climate change on the Arctic and how it could affect the rest of the world.
“So far we have always been locked out of that region and we lack even the basic observations of the climate processes in the central Arctic from winter,” said Markus Rex of Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute, who will lead the 140-million euro ($158 million) expedition.
“We are going to change that for the first time,” Rex told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday aboard the Polarstern at its dock in Bremerhaven, Germany.
Scientists plan to sail the ship into the Arctic Ocean, anchor it to a large piece of sea ice and allow the water to freeze around them, effectively trapping themselves in the vast sheet of white that forms over the North Pole each winter.
As temperatures drop and the days get shorter, they’ll race against time to build temporary winter research camps on the ice, allowing them to perform tests that wouldn’t be possible at other times of the year or by satellite sensing.
“We can do a lot with robotics and other things but in the end the visual, the manual observation and also the measurement, that’s still what we need,” Marcel Nicolaus, a German sea ice physicist who will be part of the international mission, said. “We need to go out, establish that ice camp.”
Dozens of scientists from the United States, China, Russia and other countries will be on board the Polarstern at any one time, rotating every two months as other icebreakers bring fresh supplies and a new batch of eager researchers.
The mission is considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many scientists, even those who are veterans of multiple Arctic expeditions.
It is receiving substantial funding from U.S. institutions such as the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and NASA.
By combining measurements on the ice with data collected from satellites, scientists hope to improve the increasingly sophisticated computer models they use to predict weather and climate.
The interdisciplinary work spans several fields of science, including physics, chemistry and biology. Its overarching purpose – to answer key questions around global warming – means there’s no time for national rivalry, said Rex.
“The different geopolitical interests don’t play a role in our research community,” he said.
The mission’s international collaboration and scope have drawn comparisons with the International Space Station, the most expensive and remote outpost mankind has yet created.
“Actually, we’ll be farther away from civilization because the space station is in an orbit only 400 to 500 kilometers high,” Rex said.
Once the Polarstern is carried into the depth of the Arctic night, far off the coast of northern Greenland, the scientists will be on their own, making any emergency evacuation almost impossible.
“We’ll be isolated,” Rex said. “No other ice breaker can then reach us because the ice will be too thick.”
While the ship has a fully equipped medical station, the aim is to avoid any calamity on board, said Verena Mohaupt, a logistics expert who has spent months preparing safety measures for the mission.
This includes creating a perimeter fence on the ice that will sound a loud alarm if a polar bear approaches. “We’re going to have to experiment and hope it works,” said Mohaupt.
The MOSAiC mission, which stands for Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate, comes about 125 years after Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen first managed to seal his wooden expedition ship, Fram, into the ice during a three-year expedition to the North Pole.
Since then, scientific understanding of the role the Arctic plays in the world’s climate has grown, though so has concern about the changes being observed, such as increasingly early sea ice melts .
Scientists now believe the cold cap that forms each year is key to regulating weather patterns and temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere. Anything that disrupts the Arctic will be felt further south , they say.
Rex cited the polar vortices that blasted cold air as far as Florida last winter and the early summer heat wave in Europe as prime examples of the impact that a change in the Arctic weather system might entail.
“The dramatic warming of the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic,” he said, adding that understanding the processes at play in the far north is crucial if world leaders are to make the right decisions to curb climate change.
“We as scientists, I think, have the obligation to produce the robust scientific basis for political decisions,” Rex said.
MOSAiC mission website: https://www.awi.de/en/focus/mosaic-expedition.html
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A fisherman said on Wednesday he was looking for the author of a message in a bottle found off the southern Australian coast 50 years after it was written.
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For Kelley Square redesign, lights, roundabouts and street redirections on the table
Bill Shaner Reporter @bill_shaner
Oct 10, 2018 at 8:22 PM Oct 11, 2018 at 6:35 AM
Traffic signals, roundabouts and the redirecting streets are all on the table as the state considers how to change Kelley Square.
Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation gave a quick presentation on what they’re considering as they start to plan a redesign of the square during a two hour meeting which mostly centered on taking feedback in small groups.
“We don’t have solutions yet,” said John Bechard, MassDOT official, to a packed crowd at the Crompton Collective White Room. “We’re starting to work on concepts.”
What’s not on the table, he said, are land takings, pedestrian tunnels or bridges, or any changes to the bridge over I-290. However, in a group conversation after the meeting, a MassDOT official said plans for the bridge over I-290 are a priority in the long run.
As has been often repeated since the announcement of the Worcester Red Sox ballpark, state officials view the square as the most dangerous in the state in terms of volume of crashes. Data provided by officials at the meeting showed 403 crashes between 2013 and 2016. The state’s definition of Kelley Square includes the I-290 interchange, where 148 of those crashes occurred, and the intersection of of Madison and Washington Street, where there were 81. In the square itself, 195 crashes occurred. The majority, at 80, were angle crashes. The next highest category were rear end fender benders, at 49. There were no reported head-on crashes. Between the square, the Washington Street intersection, and the I-290 interchange, there were 22 pedestrian accidents.
The square handles about 30,000 cars a day, according to MassDOT data. If a roundabout were to be constructed, it would have to be two lanes, similar to the Washington Square roundabout outside Union Station, according to multiple MassDOT officials at the meeting,
MassDOT is planning at least two more meetings on the subject, on Oct. 24 and Nov. 15. Officials said they were taking until the end of the year to come up with a plan, and then move to design then construction by fall, 2019. They hope to have the project completed by February, 2021.
“This is an accelerated schedule for a project of this nature,” said Don Cooke, MassDOT official.
Officials did not take public comment from the roughly 150 attendees in the room, save for those made in the group workshops, but allowed elected officials to speak.
Mary Keefe, 15th Worcester District state Rep., called Kelley Square the “people’s way.”
“It’s the most democratic experience you could imagine going through Kelley Square,” said Keefe.
She also said the underlying problems were the result of the placement of I-290 decades ago. She said the project should focus on mending the divide between neighborhoods.
“I’d like to see this project not be about a destination alone but about the people who live here, work here, shop here,” she said.
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World Bank Group President Kim and Pope Francis Meet to Discuss Mutual Efforts to End Poverty
Pope Francis receives World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim.
Photo: © L'Osservatore Romano
ROME, October 28, 2013 - World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and His Holiness Pope Francis met today at the Vatican to discuss their mutual efforts to end extreme poverty and provide greater opportunities for the poor and vulnerable.
“I was so grateful to meet with the Holy Father and was inspired by his passion and commitment to help the poor, the sick, and the hungry,” Kim said. “We talked about ways we could work together with faith leaders to make a preferential option for the poor, so they can have greater opportunity and justice in their lives.”
Kim thanked Pope Francis for his strong statements encouraging humble service to the less fortunate, as well as his support for better education, health care, environmental protection, and jobs with fair wages to help the poor lift themselves out of poverty.
Following the 20-minute meeting, Pope Francis and Kim agreed to explore ways to work together to end extreme poverty.
“At the World Bank Group, we have set a goal to end extreme poverty in less than a generation, and to boost shared prosperity for the bottom 40 percent of people in developing countries,” Kim said. “Pope Francis and I agree on the urgent moral imperative to lessen the suffering of over 1 billion people and to end the scandal of poverty. We share a vision of a world with greater compassion for all people in need.”
During his visit, Kim also met with Monseigneur Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States, and discussed closer collaboration between the Church and the World Bank Group.
“Pope Francis unites us all with the moral clarity of his message on poverty,” Kim said. “We must address the root causes of poverty by giving the poor access to education, health care, and good jobs--benefitting women, young people, and those denied opportunities in the past.”
Derek Warren
Tel : +44 207 5928402
dwarren1@worldbankgroup.org
David Theis
dtheis@worldbankgroup.org
Transcript: Vatican Press Conference with World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim
PRESS RELEASE NO:
2014/153/ECR
View All newsletters »
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PRESS RELEASE October 31, 2018
Doing Business Report: New Record Set as 314 Reforms Introduced to Improve Business Climate Around the World
WASHINGTON, October 31, 2018 – Governments around the world set a new record in bureaucracy busting efforts for the domestic private sector, implementing 314 business reforms over the past year, says the World Bank Group’s Doing Business 2019: Training for Reform report, released today.
The reforms, carried out in 128 economies, benefit small and medium enterprises as well as entrepreneurs, enabling job creation and stimulating private investment. This year’s reforms surpass the previous all-time high of 290 reforms two years ago.
“The private sector is key to creating sustainable economic growth and ending poverty around the world,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “Fair, efficient, and transparent rules, which Doing Business promotes, are the bedrock of a vibrant economy and entrepreneurship environment. It’s critical for governments to accelerate efforts to create the conditions for private enterprise to thrive and communities to prosper.”
The report finds that reforms are taking place where they are most needed, with low-income and lower middle-income economies carrying out 172 reforms. In Sub-Saharan Africa, a record number of 40 economies implemented 107 reforms, a new best in number of reforms for a third consecutive year for the region. The Middle East and North Africa region scaled a new high with 43 reforms.
The indicator Starting a Business continued to see the most improvements, with 50 reforms this year. Enforcing Contracts and Getting Electricity saw milestone reforms, with 49 and 26, respectively.
In the World Bank Group’s annual ease of doing business rankings, the top 10 economies are New Zealand, Singapore and Denmark, which retain their first, second and third spots, respectively, for a second consecutive year, followed by Hong Kong SAR, China; Republic of Korea; Georgia; Norway; United States; United Kingdom and FYR Macedonia.
In notable changes to the top 20 ranked economies this year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) joins the grouping for the first time, in 11th place, while Malaysia and Mauritius regain spots, in 15th and 20th places, respectively. During the past year, Malaysia implemented six reforms, Mauritius five, and the UAE four. The reforms in Mauritius included the elimination of a gender-based barrier to equalize the field between men and women in starting a business.
This year’s top 10 improvers, based on reforms undertaken, are Afghanistan, Djibouti, China, Azerbaijan, India, Togo, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Turkey and Rwanda. With six reforms each, Djibouti and India are in the top 10 for a second consecutive year. Afghanistan and Turkey, top improvers for the first time, implemented record single-year reforms, with five and seven, respectively.
“The diversity among the top improvers shows that economies of all sizes and income levels, and even those in conflict can advance the business climate for domestic small and medium enterprises. Doing Business provides a road map that different governments can use to increase business confidence, innovation, and growth and reduce corruption,” said Shanta Devarajan, the World Bank’s Senior Director for Development Economics and Acting Chief Economist.
This year, Doing Business collected data on training provided to public officials and users of business and land registries. A case study in the report, which analyzes this data, finds that mandatory and annual training for relevant officials is associated with more efficient business and land registries. A second study finds that regular training for customs clearance officials and brokers results in lower border and documentary compliance times, easing the movement of goods across borders. Two other case studies focus on the benefits of accrediting electricians and training of judges.
“This year’s results clearly demonstrate government commitment in many economies, large and small, to nurture entrepreneurship and private enterprise. If the reform agendas are complemented with training programs for public officials, the impact of reforms will be further enhanced, new data show,” said Rita Ramalho, Senior Manager of the World Bank’s Global Indicators Group, which produces the report.
Since its inception in 2003, more than 3,500 business reforms have been carried out in 186 of the 190 economies Doing Business monitors.
By region, East Asia and the Pacific is home to two of the world’s top 10 Doing Business economies, Singapore and Hong Kong SAR, China. Additionally, China is one of this year’s top 10 improvers, advancing more than 30 spots to 46th place in the global rankings. The region’s economies carried out a total of 43 reforms in the past year, with a major push seen in the areas of Starting a Business and Getting Electricity.
Europe and Central Asia also hosts two of the world’s top 10 economies this year, with Georgia moving up to 6th place (from 9th last year), and FYR Macedonia edging up one spot to 10th place. The region also hosts two of this year’s top improvers, Azerbaijan and Turkey. The pace of reforms accelerated in the region, with 54 reforms implemented during the past year, compared with a revised number of 43 reforms the previous year. While reforms in the region covered all areas of Doing Business, many improvements focused on easing construction permitting and cross border trade.
A total of 25 reforms were carried out in Latin America and the Caribbean in the past year. Brazil made the most improvements, with four reforms. The bulk of the reforms in the region were aimed at improving the legal rights of borrowers and lenders with respect to secured transactions, and the process of starting a business.
Economies of the Middle East and North Africa significantly accelerated the pace of reforms in the past year, with 43 reforms, compared to 29 the previous year. This year, the region hosts an economy in the global top 20 grouping, with the United Arab Emirates’ maiden entry in 11th place and one top improver, Djibouti. However, the region continues to lag on gender-related issues, with barriers for women entrepreneurs in place in 14 economies.
In a first for South Asia, two of the region’s economies earned coveted spots in the global top improvers. India continued its reform agenda, implementing six reforms in the past year and advancing 23 spots to 77th place in the global ranking. India is now the region’s top-ranked economy. Afghanistan, with five reforms, moved up 16 spots to 167th place in the global rankings. Collectively, the region’s economies carried out 19 reforms in the past year. Many of the reforms focused on improving starting a business, access to credit, paying taxes and resolving insolvency.
Sub-Saharan Africa set a new milestone for a third consecutive year, implementing 107 reforms in the past year, up from 83 the previous year. In addition, this year also saw the highest number of economies carrying out reforms, with 40 of the region’s 48 economies implementing at least one reform, compared to the previous high of 37 economies two years ago. The region is home to four of this year’s top 10 improvers – Togo, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire and Rwanda. While reforms in the region were wide-ranging, many improvements focused on easing property registration and resolving insolvency.
The full report and its datasets are available at www.doingbusiness.org
PRESS RELEASE NO: 2019/053/DEC
In Washington:
Indira Chand
ichand@worldbank.org
For Broadcast Requests:
Huma Imtiaz
himtiaz@worldbankgroup.org
Doing Business Website
Download the Doing Business 2019 Report (PDF)
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Tony Orlando Variety Show
Buy Tony Orlando tickets from the official Ticketmaster.com site. Find Tony Orlando tour schedule, concert details, reviews and photos.
Welcome to DiningGuide.Network’s list of International Drive restaurants and reader reviews. The overall reader score of the restaurant, when available, is.
Tony Randall, Actor: The Odd Couple. Tony Randall was born on February 26, 1920 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as Aryeh Leonard Rosenberg. He attended Tulsa Central High School and later Northwestern University and New York City’s Neighborhood Playhouse.
Every year, we feature a wide variety of exclusive collectible MEGACON Orlando swag at the Expo Store. We have some great custom goodies to check out annually, and in limited quantities.
. Dawn on ShareTV. Complete episode/character guides, track DVD releases, get show updates and trivia (18 fans). Tony Orlando and Dawn tv show photo.
A Christmas show that plays a residency in the Christmas City. He also had the television variety series "Tony Orlando and Dawn" from 1974-76.
Candida by Tony Orlando & Dawn song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart. I remember the Tony Orlando & Dawn TV show when I was a mere tot.
Jul 23, 2015. Tony Orlando's mother told the now-iconic singer to have a backup. their own CBS variety show on TV in the '70s, performing regularly on.
The thunderous beats of New Yorker Tony Moran have resonated throughout clubs and arenas around the world, and have dominated the Billboard dance charts for decades.
In 1993 Orlando moved to the Ozarks to perform in a variety show in Branson, Missouri, where he opened his own theater, the Yellow Ribbon Music Theater.
CBN.com Tony Orlando's career has spanned more than four decades, and. Orlando: We were the first multi-racial group to ever do a variety show primetime.
As the backing duo for singer Tony Orlando, Dawn was among the biggest pop acts. In 1974, the trio got their own variety show on CBS, which ran until 1976;.
Early history. Tony Orlando was born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis on April 3, 1944. Orlando recorded through the 1960s with only moderate chart success. He had three Top 40 hits, two in 1961 and another in 1969 as the lead singer for the studio group Wind. While recording through the 1960s, he also became a producer and a successful music executive with Columbia Records and.
Mar 2, 2016. That was my impression of Tony Orlando on his 1970s television variety show, and he said his happiness was genuine. The musician known.
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Orlando Coupons Free.com provides free discount restaurant coupons for Orlando area buffet,steakhouses,pizza,seafood and. Print and present for savings.
Tony Orlando on TMZ, your go-to source for celebrity news, photos, & videos. Oak Tree" as part of the trio Tony Orlando and Dawn and for their hit variety TV…
The #NRA Show is in full swing! Have you stopped by our booth yet? Menù srl has partnered with Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center and our talented Chef Maurizio will be at the Marra Forni Oven booth #2068 today from 11-1pm showcasing #MENU pizza topping items on trendy pizzas!.
Growing up in the "dawn" of the variety show era, one of my favorites had to be the "Sonny. mainly because he was another Italian American with a great voice. At least I thought so! Tony Orlando is.
Orlando later was presented the Patriot Award by Gen. Colin Powell. Tony Orlando and Dawn also had its own television variety show from 1974-76 that was a Top 20 hit. Its last No. 1 hit was "He Don’t.
A no-host bar will be available. The Tony Orlando and Dawn TV variety show ran from 1973-77 on CBS. It catapulted the duo from popular recording artists into major stars. They rank among the Top 100.
From million selling records (five number one hits), a popular television variety series, movies and Broadway, Tony Orlando has conquered every facet of show.
With a more than 15 year history as a professional session vocalist, her recording credits include countless lead and backing vocal tracks for a variety. His last show was nominated for nine NAACP.
He has two Platinum albums, three Gold albums and 15 Top 40 Hits. The popular Tony Orlando and Dawn variety show ran for four seasons on CBS in the 1970’s, catapulting the duo to fame as the first.
TV variety shows of the seventies. BONUS: 1966 Carol Channing Special. The Seventies saw a glut of variety shows trying to capture some of the ratings success that Carol Burnett and Sonny &.
He continued to open for Elvis’ International Hotel and road shows through 1972. Shore also opened for such acts as Barbra.
Tony Anselmo, Actor: Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Tony Anselmo was born on February 18, 1960 in Salt Lake City, UT, and formed an early fascination with all things Disney sparked by a screening of Mary Poppins (1964) at the age of five. His family moved.
Orlando Community & Youth Trust The Orlando Community & Youth Trust, Inc. is a non-profit organization created to support the mission of the City of Orlando Department of Families, Parks, and Recreation (FPR).
Music Hall Of Fame Nashville Tennessee There has never been a better time to come visit Music City. Named "One of the Top Destinatons for 2016" by Forbes Travel Guide, Nashville is booming and the Music City Center is the new pulse of it all. This is a list of the 139 inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame and
Twenty years after Tony Orlando’s single “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round. tribute to the true meaning of Christmas for all ages.” The 90-minute show includes a wide variety of favorite Christmas songs,
May 22, 2019. Tony Orlando and Dawn of the Dead: That 70s Zombie Musical! Halloween, 1977. Tony Orlando is a man at a crossroads. His variety show.
"Most variety shows at the time would tape certain scenes and audience. There was just so much love in the air at the Tony Orlando & Dawn show at The Arcada. The expressions on the faces of the.
Dawn eventually became Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando, and then Tony Orlando And Dawn, and that’s the version that eventually got a mid-’70s variety show on CBS. Hopkins went on to become a pretty.
TV Shows featuring Telma Hopkins, listed alphabetically with photos when available. All of the TV. Tony Orlando and Dawn was a television variety show.
Tony Orlando and Dawn had taken the stage at Sands Bethlehem. with a five-minute introductory film that included clips of the trio’s 1970s television variety show, the entire presentation was just.
Sep 30, 2014. Submitter: Nothing brings the youth to the library like Tony Orlando. I think they had a TV variety show too, as did so many singers in the 70's.
Born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis on April 3, 1944 in New York, NY Tony Orlando grew up in New York near Hell’s. The trio’s popularity led to a CBS variety show that lasted four seasons,
Apr 6, 2016. Baby Boomers will remember him best from Tony Orlando and Dawn, the TV variety show he hosted from 1974-1976, but he's also inspired.
Entertainment King Tony Orlando has spent 58 years in. ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree”, a popular television variety series and appeared in movies and Broadway, Orlando has worked in every facet of show.
Agatha Christie No Meitantei Poirot To Marple 2" (Drama CD) (Japanese) Lloyd Irving in "Tales of Symphonia ~a long time ago~ vol.3" (Drama CD) (Japanese) Lloyd Irving in "Tales of Symphonia: Ratatosk no Kishi" (VG) (Japanese) Lloyd Irving in. Book Club Reading List Apr 2, 2019. Works by Ángela Lago, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, and Omaima Ezadeen are on the first reading
Market Street Theatre Woodlands Eventful Movies is your source for up-to-date Cinemark at Market Street showtimes, tickets and theater information. View the latest Cinemark at Market Street movie times, box office information, and purchase tickets online. Sign up for Eventful’s The Reel Buzz newsletter to get upcoming movie theater information and movie times delivered right to your inbox. Jane
Oct 25, 2018. Tony Orlando's Great American Christmas. Branson's most popular Christmas variety show returns for its 26th season, starring The Lennon.
Name Tony Orlando & Dawn; Artist or Band band; Formed New York City, New York, CBS gave the group a television variety show (entitled Tony Orlando and.
Jan 22, 2019. Tony Orlando & Dawn – “Knock Three Times”. Orlando And Dawn, and that's the version that eventually got a mid-'70s variety show on CBS.
Book Club Reading List Apr 2, 2019. Works by Ángela Lago, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, and Omaima Ezadeen are on the first reading list announced by the United Nations' new. His words have delighted Love Island viewers for years – but today Iain Stirling gave This Morning viewers a shock when he. “I’m not saying that you have to
He continued to open for Elvis’ International Hotel and road shows through 1972. Shore also opened for such acts as Barbra Streisand, Tony Orlando, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Tom Jones,
Tony Orlando’s mother gave him some crucial advice early in his. The trio became huge stars — one of the first multiracial groups to do so — landing their own CBS variety show on TV in the ’70s,
Mr. Shore opened for many others, including Tony Orlando, Barbra Streisand. and “Life Stinks” (1991). He also appeared on.
Orlando plans to open his four shows on Monday and Tuesday. day of the 1974 fair — came right on the heels of the debut of the CBS summer variety TV series "Tony Orlando and Dawn," a replacement.
The Distracted Preacher Thomas Hardy
Book Review On Pride And Prejudice By Jane Austen
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Puchevillers British Cemetery
I - R
4633 Private
Alfred James Jackson
48th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
6th August 1916.
Plot I. E. 71.
Son of Alfred Augustus and Enorah Jackson. Native of Beverley, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription. "He Died That We Might Live."
A labourer of Beverley, WA, prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 14th Reinforcements from Fremantle on HMAT Miltiades (A28) on 12 February 1916.
Edward Edwin Jennings
31st August 1916, aged 23.
Plot III. F. 33.
Son of Edward and Ada Jennings, of 42, Biggerstaffe Rd., Stratford, London, England. Native of Middlesex, England.
Originally from Stratford, England, Pte Jennings was a labourer of no fixed address prior to enlistment and embarked with the 15th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Anchises on 14 March 1916. Whilst serving in France, he was wounded in action and, on 31 August 1916, aged 23, he succumbed to his wounds.
14353 Private
9th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
2nd July 1916.
Plot I. C. 51.
His headstone bears the inscription. "He Never Will Be Forgotten, Never Will His Memory Fade."
Son of Robert and Margaret Jones, of 98, Union St., Lurgan, Co. Armagh.
His headstone bears the inscription. "He Never Will Be Forgotten; Never Will His Memory Fade."
Pictures courtesy of Douglas Mowbray (Great Nephew) The pictures of the headstone were taken on 11th November 2018.
Click on images below to enlarge
Clark Mansfield Joy
6th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
20th August 1916, aged 26.
Plot II. F. 47.
Son of William and Johanna Joy. Native of Dargo, Victoria, Australia.
A salesman prior to enlisting on 7 August 1915, Joy embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ceramic on 23 November 1915. He was wounded at Pozieres, France, and died on 20 August 1916, aged 26 years.
Reginald Lambert
2nd/1st Bucks. Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
18th January 1917, aged 27.
Plot V. A. 17.
Son of Hezekiah and the late Susan Lambert, of Sherborne, Dorset.
142319 Private
Frederick Llewellyn Lanceley
1st Bn. Canadian Infantry
25th September 1916, aged 33.
Plot IV. E. 12.
Son of William and Jane Lanceley, of Hamilton, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription. "Make Us To Be Numbered With Thy Saints In Glory Everlasting." (From the hymn - Te Deum.)
Delphise Lapointe
21st Bn. Canadian Infantry
17th September 1916.
Plot IV. F. 46.
Leonard Barton Leece
15th Bn. Australian Infantry. A. I. F.
29th August 1916.
Plot III. F. 28
Son of Alexander Ellis and Rose Leece, of Casino, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription. "He Died To Keep Us Free."
In the first photo, Bart is on the right and his brother Jim (James Andrew Leece) is on the left and in the second photo Bart is with a couple of mates. The third photo is of his grave.
The Life and Times of Leonard Barton Leece
(Text and Images by Christopher Albertson)
Leonard “Bart” Barton Lecce was born in Glen Innes, near Maclean in northern NSW on the 4th of March 1897 to Alexander Ellis Leece and Rose Hutton, and was the fourth born of nine kids. Sadly in 1902, when Bart was five years old, his younger brother Harold died of pneumonia not yet aged four. His family then left Maclean at the end of 1903, arriving in Casino on New Year’s Day 1904. When the family arrived in Casino, which was severely drought affected with Scarlet fever raging, his mother Rose declared that she “would not live in such a dreadful town.” She lived there for the next fifty years until she died aged 85.
Bart attended Casino Public School and later Casino Grammar. After school he choose not to go into the newspaper business like his father or his eldest brother Leslie, and didn’t play a major part in the family’s paper the “Casino and Kyogle Courier” which his father had started and was the editor for. Instead he trained to be a pharmacist, and at the age of just sixteen, he passed his preliminary exams for pharmacy. After school, he did twelve months with W.W. Evans Chemist in Casino and he later took a job as a bank clerk, but continued his pharmaceutical training at night school whilst working these jobs.
When the First World War broke out, Bart was working as a bank clerk for the Casino branch of The London Bank of Australia Limited. He had previously served with the Senior Cadets in Casino and with the 12th Infantry. Bart and his elder brother Jim (James Andrew Leece) enlisted in the AIF together in Brisbane on the 9th of August 1915. It was a decision made after much family discussion during their last Christmas holidays which they spent together at Evans Head. His mother gave permission for him to enlist as he was only eighteen years old, however in her consent letter she wrote allowing her son to enlist on the condition that he worked as a chemist’s assistant or volunteer.
Bart was posted to the 9th Reinforcements to the 15th Battalion with the rank of Private. Later in 1915, Jim and Bart embarked together on a troop ship from Sydney Harbour, when Jim became very sick with meningitis. Bart and a friend rowed Jim ashore to go to hospital. Bart left Sydney aboard HMAT Ayrshire on September 1st 1915, and Jim embarked aboard HMAT Kyarra from Brisbane on January 3rd 1916.
Bart was initially stationed in Egypt where he underwent training and was regularly stationed on guard duty on the canal. He did however manage to do a bit of sightseeing, and visited the Sphinx and the Pyramids and he bought himself an ensignette camera. He also spent time with friends at the pictures and the YMCA. He regularly sent postcards home to his little sister Nellie, of the Pyramids and the Sphinx.
From Zeitoun, Bart proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on October 31st 1915, and embarked for Gallipoli aboard the Minnewaska on November 4th. He was taken on strength on November 13th at Gallipoli, where his 9th Reinforcement met up with the 15th Battalion. Whilst at Gallipoli Bart served with his battalion at Hay Valley. He became sick with influenza on December 8th and was admitted to the casualty clearing station on December 11th where he was transferred to Mudros and then made it back to Heliopolis.
Jim met up with Bart in Egypt in 1916, however they were in different regiments, with Bart serving in B company of the 15th Battalion and Jim the 2nd Pioneers. Bart wrote in his diary that on Saturday February 19th 1916, he along with a few “Casino boys,” “strolled to Zeitoun to meet some new troops, and the first man I recognised was Jim who spied me first and sang out, and I was quite surprised when I saw him standing there in bold relief behind a black MD.”
On April 2nd 1916 in Serapeum, Bart reported to the doctor after a mate found ringworm in his neck the previous day. He was transferred to Ismailia and treated with silver nitrate which “burns very much,” as he described in his diary. After various other ringworm breakouts, dysentery and frequently vomiting blood, he was finally discharged from hospital on May 8th and left Ismailia for Serapeum.
After getting out of hospital, Bart re-joined the 15th Battalion still in Egypt. He was told there was no chance of getting back into the signallers, so on May 10th 1916 he was put into No.6 Platoon and issued with rifle and equipment. He left Serapium for Alexandria on May 31st and arrived the next day. He was taken aboard the Transylvania, which he described in his diary as “a two funnel ship of about 1500 tons and speed 19 knots.” They slipped anchor on June 2nd, disembarking at Marseilles on June 8th.
In France he worked as a signaller and spent time setting up communication lines. He wrote in his diary on July 1st 1916 “Doing shift work on the phone. We are stationed in a wine cellar and are connected up with all companies and headquarters.”
Bart arrived in the Somme district on July 13th 1916. He wrote about some of his tasks which included “Doing running from relay station to headquarters” (August 7th 1916). He continued work as a signaller in the lead up to the Battle of Pozieres, and on August the 8th 1916, he was in the first wave attack against the German trenches in front of Mouquet Farm. He wrote about the day’s experiences in his diary, writing “The usual ceaseless bombardment with high explosives and wiz-bangs. No rifle or machine gun fire. We received instruction to charge at 9.30pm and during the day made every preparation. The barrage started at appointed time and we advanced in three waves capturing the first and second German lines advancing about 400 yards. Went out with first wave.”
The 15th Battalion was destined to undertake a second tour of duty in the trenches at Pozieres, and it was during this time that Bart was mortally wounded. On August 28th 1916 at Mouquet Farm, Pozieres, Bart was wounded in action when he received a gunshot wound to the head which also shattered his jaw. He was evacuated to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station where he died of his wounds the next day. He was only nineteen years old. Bart was buried at Puchevillers British Cemetery 7½ miles SSE of Doullens, France, where he lies today. His family was sent his personals which included his diary, a pocket bible with a bullet hole in it and his dogtag still stained with his blood.
Looking across the battlefield of 1916 from the AIF memorial at Mouquet Farm and Memorial
17/321 Private
Sydney Leeming
17th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
16th July 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. E. 7.
Son of John Robert and Henrietta Leeming, of West Hartlepool, Co. Durham.
7245 Serjeant
George Love
2nd Bn. Royal Irish Rifles
Plot V. B. 21.
Son of Robert James and Rachel Love, of Scotch St., Downpatrick, Co. Down.
His headstone bears the inscription. "Third Son Of Robt. J. & Rachel Love Scotch Street, Downpatrick Co. Down."
Picture courtesy of Lorraine Rea, George Love was her husbands great-uncle
Thomas Nicholas Lynch
21st Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
31st July 1916.
Plot II. C. 38.
Son of Alexander and Elizabeth Lynch, of Toorak Rd., Camberwell, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription. "Requiescat In Pace."
He was admitted to No.44 Casualty Clearing Station on 30th July 1916 with multiple wounds, he died of these wounds the following day.
George A. Matthews
28th Bn. Canadian Infantry
Plot III. D. 12.
Francis Vincent McCraith
9th Bn. Essex Regiment
4th July 1916, aged 24.
Plot I. C. 10.
Son of Patrick and Ellen McCraith, of 65, Avenue Rd., Southend-on-Sea.
His headstone bears the inscription. "May The Sacred Heart Of Jesus Have Mercy On Him. R.I.P."
Norman John McLeod
Son of John and Caroline McLeod, of 80, Lennox St., Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia. Native of Melbourne, Victoria.
His headstone bears the inscription. "My Dearly Loved Only Son. Loved Brother Of Marion Law. Sadly Missed."
A 23 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 20 July 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 11th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 11 October 1915 aboard HMAT Nestor. After further training in Egypt, he joined the 14th Battalion and proceeded to France. Pte McLeod was wounded at Mouquet Farm, France on 28 August 1916, dying of his wounds one day later.
Information from No.3 Casualty Clearing Station records; "He was admitted, 28.8.16., suffering gun shot wound head (perforating cranium). Died 29.8.16. He was unconscious while in this C.C.S. The Rev. G.S. Duncan officiated at the burial, 30.8.16."
289 Private
Archibald Joseph McSparron
5th August 1916, aged 26.
Plot II. B. 75.
Son of George and Jane McSparron. Native of Straid, Straidarran, Londonderry, Ireland.
A shunter prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard the HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 25 June 1915. He was wounded in action at Pozieres, France, on 5 August 1916. He died of his wounds that day at the 44th Casualty Clearing Station, France, aged 26.
Sidney Claridge Millican
21st September 1916, aged 21.
Plot IV. D. 23.
Son of John and Florence Millican, of Liverpool, England.
Joseph Nelson Morrison
Plot IV. B. 44.
Son of Mary Jane and the late Erwin Morrison, of Copper Cliff, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription. "He Gave His Life For The Loved Ones At Home."
The image shows from left to right; Joseph, William and Fred.
Joseph and Fred were killed during the Battle of the Somme. Fred is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. It is believed that William survived the war.
James Mullins
Plot II. D. 8.
Son of Michael and Joanna Mullins.
A builder's labourer prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Ballarat (A70) on 6 September 1915. He died at No 3 Casualty Clearing Station, France on 6 August 1916 from wounds received in action.
David Airel Murphy
Son of David and Annie Murphy, of Guelph, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription. "At The Battle Of The Somme In His Eighteenth Year; May His Soul Rest In Peace."
Karl Fletcher Murray
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)
Son of Charles H. and Meuta K. Murray, of Clyde, Alberta. Born at Nova Scotia.
3756 Sapper
Francis Walter Newell
7th Field Coy. Australian Engineers
Son of Richard and Catherine Newell, of 19, Brown St., Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription. "A Loving Son One Of God's Noblest & Best Loved By All; A Hero At Rest."
From Stanmore, NSW. Son of Richard and Catherine Newell, of Newtown, NSW. A bricklayer prior to enlisting, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 30 November 1915. He died of wounds, received in action, on 29 July 1916 in France, aged 24.
3741, Sapper Baines gave the following information of the last hours of Francis Newell;
"I saw this man with both legs broken by machine gun fire and his arm also. He was lying in the cemetery about 50yds in front of the village of Pozieres. He was wounded during the attack on July 28th or 29th. It was when the 6th or 7th Australian Brigade made the charge. He was conscious and he rations with him to last 48 hours and two full bottles of water, but the shelling was terrifically bad at the time, he was in a deep shell hole. The attack failed and we were repulsed, so unless we have taken the ground since, he would be reported missing. He would be about 100yds from our line."
In fact Sapper Newell was evacuated from his shell hole but sadly succumbed to his wounds at the Casualty Clearing Station, Puchevillers.
Geoffrey Vaughan Noaks
"D" Company, 1st Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment
Plot III. A. 8.
Son of Edward and Annie Catherine Noaks, of Wynberg, South Africa. Rhodes Scholar of Oriel College, Oxford.
His headstone bears the inscription. "From Far He Came At Honour's Call For King & Right To Fight & Fall."
Bertrand Thomas Nock
16th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F
Plot II. E. 38.
Son of Arthur William and Cecilia Ann Nock, of Belmont Avenue, Belmont, Western Australia. Native of Albany.
2496 Driver
James Cecil Oliver
3rd Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
23rd August 1916, aged 27.
Son of William and Flora Oliver, of Berridale, New South Wales.
A telegraph linesman from Berridale, NSW prior to enlistment, Pte Oliver embarked with the 7th Reinforcements from Sydney on HMAT Orsova on 14 July 1915. Following service at Gallipoli, he was re-mustered as a Driver. Whilst serving in France he was wounded in action. On 25 August 1916, aged 27, he succumbed to his wounds.
James was admitted to No.44 Casualty Clearing Station at Puchevillers on 19th August 1916, he was suffering from shrapnel wounds to the shoulder and chest, the latter also penetrating the abdomen. He was operated upon and the internal injuries dealt with. He lived until 23rd August when his condition gradually worsened and he died at 8.30p.m that night.
Cecil Stewart Owen
Plot II. C. 2.
Son of Charles Stuart Owen and Elizabeth Greenaway Owen. Native of Sydney, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription. "Thy Will Be Done."
A 20 year old Queensland Government Railways porter prior to enlisting on 9 September 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 10th Reinforcements from Brisbane on 28 March 1916 aboard HMAT Commonwealth. While serving on the Western Front, he was wounded in action near Pozieres, France on 29 July 1916 and died of those wounds that same day at the 44th Casualty Clearing Station.
The Chaplain of No.44 C.C.S. gave the following information about the death of Cecil Owen;
"He was admitted on the 29-7-16, with shrapnel wound leg, amputation, and died 29-8-16. I can find no record that any particular message was left or details of his last hours. He was buried with all possible military honours in the cemetery close by."
John Harley Paul
3rd Div. Signal Coy. Canadian Engineers
Son of Jessie A. Paul, of 83, Fairview Avenue, West Toronto, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription. "Born Sept. 30th 1889."
John Pearson
8th Bn. Canadian Infantry
Son of Daniel and Mary Eleanor Pearson, of Cartmel Fell, Grange-over-Sands, England.
4th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment
14th November 1916, aged 19.
Plot VI. A. 26.
Son of Harry and Julia Radford, of 9, Windsor St., Luton, Beds.
His headstone bears the inscription. "A Young Life Nobly Ended. Une Vie Courte Couronee De Gloire."
Sydney Ratcliffe
64th Bde. Machine Gun Corps
3rd July 1916, aged 19.
Plot I. B. 42.
Son of Richard and Elizabeth Ratcliffe, of 100, Leabrook Rd., Wednesbury, Staffs.
His headstone bears the inscription. "Thou Wilt Keep Him In Perfect Peace. Isaiah XXVI 3."
Evan Selwyn Richards
5th September 1916, aged 26.
Plot I. D. 54.
Son of Thomas Henry and Edith Richards, of "Southmoor," Wentworth Rd., Vaucluse, Watson's Bay, New South Wales. Native of Sydney, New South Wales.
His headstone bears the inscription. "Eldest Son Of The Late T.H. And Mrs. Richards Of Vaucluse Sydney."
A fire insurance inspector prior to enlisting on 5 May 1915, he embarked from Sydney, NSW, aboard HMAT Berrima on 25 June 1915. He died of wounds on 5 September 1916, aged 26.
William Stanley Charles Richards
Plot IV. B. 8.
His headstone bears the inscription. "Tho' Absent In The Body Ever Present In Our Hearts."
Frank Rigney
Plot IV. A. 12.
Son of William Henry and Thirza Eliza Rigney, of 19, Worshop Avenue, Adelaide, South Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription. "Greater Love Hath No Man That He Lay Down His Life For His Friend."
A 19 year old packer prior to enlistment on 9 February 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 6th Reinforcements from Adelaide on 23 June 1915 aboard HMAT Borda. After serving at Gallipoli, he went on to serve on the Western Front where he was wounded in action at Mouquet Farm, France on 21 August 1916. Pte Rigney died from his wounds on 4 September 1916.
Francis Henry Roberts
24th Bn. Australia Infantry, A. I. F.
Plot II. D. 31.
Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Roberts. Native of Drouin, Victoria, Australia.
18923 Serjeant
1st Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Son of James and Mary Jane Robinson, of Preston; husband of Mary Jane Robinson, of 33, Tennyson Rd., Preston, Lancs.
His headstone bears the inscription. "May He Rest In Peace Till We Meet Again From Wife And Children."
(The images above show Edward and his wife, Mary.)
He was wounded on the 14th/15th July 1916 whilst attacking German trenches in the Mametz Wood area during the Battle of the Somme. He died of his wounds on the 18th July 1916. I have added a picture of his widow Mary Robinson. Mary would eventually re-marry to Sidney Carr, Royal Army Medical Corps, who also served in France but survived the war. Mary did not know anything about how Edward died, she did not receive his medals or anything else.
Image courtesy of Steve Cartmell, (Ex Lance Sergeant S Cartmell, 2nd Bn. Scots Guards).
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Gilead Makes Long-Awaited Splash With $12B Bet on Kite, Cell Therapy
Ben Fidler
@benthefidler
Xconomy San Francisco —
Investors have been waiting for years for Gilead Sciences to make another big splash. This morning, it finally did, agreeing to buy Kite Pharma for close to $12 billion in a significant bet on the success of an emerging, cutting edge type of cancer immunotherapy known as CAR-T.
Gilead (NASDAQ: GILD), of Foster City, CA, is paying $180 per share in cash for Santa Monica, CA-based Kite (NASDAQ: KITE), a 29 percent premium to the company’s $139.10 per share closing price on Friday and a deal that values the company at $11.9 billion. Kite shares promptly climbed 16 percent, to $162 apiece, early Monday. The agreement was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. It is expected to close during the fourth quarter. Kite’s lead product, to treat desperate cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is expected to get FDA approval by the end of 2017.
For Gilead, the acquisition shows a renewed effort by the big drugmaker to make a dent in the oncology field. Gilead is known for its HIV drugs and more recently hepatitis C treatments, thanks to an $11 billion buyout of Pharmasset in 2011 that gave it the mega-blockbuster drugs sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) and sofosbuvir-ledipasvir (Harvoni). But over the years, Gilead has also steadily made a series of business development moves in oncology, among them an acquisition of Calistoga Pharmaceutials that gave the company its first, and to this point, only marketed cancer drug, idelalisib (Zydelig). In 2016, the drug generated $168 million in sales.
Gilead has been hoping for much more than that in cancer, and the pressure for the company to do something significant to generate excitement about its future has been building over the past few years as competing hepatitis C treatments have arrived and eroded its market share. Shares of Gilead are down almost 40 percent from their all-time highs in the summer of 2015 as calls for Gilead to use its pile of cash—it had $36.6 billion on hand at the end of June—on a transformative deal have intensified.
Will the Kite buyout be the jumpstart Gilead has been searching for? The deal is a gamble on a field of high promise, but substantial risk: a type of cancer immunotherapy treatment known as CAR-T, in which a patient’s immune cells are removed, modified, and re-infused into the body to find and kill cancer. The approach has shown promise in certain forms of blood cancer, in some cases wiping out leukemias or lymphomas in patients at death’s door, and is close to its first FDA approval. Novartis (NYSE: NVS) could bring the first CAR-T product, CTL019, to market later this year, and Kite’s axicabtagene ciloleucel (or axi-cel for short) could follow close behind. Kite has also filed for approval of axi-cel in Europe; a decision is expected next year.
“The acquisition of Kite establishes Gilead as a leader in cellular therapy and provides a foundation from which to drive continued innovation for people with advanced cancers,” said Gilead president and CEO, John Milligan, in a statement.
Milligan added that the cell therapy field has “advanced very quickly, to the point where the science and technology have opened a clear path toward a potential cure for patients.” And Gilead appears to be going all in, saying in its statement that it wants to build an “industry-leading cell therapy franchise.” But there are lingering questions about CAR-T’s overall potential. It comes with safety risks, namely figuring out how to harness the altered cells without causing the body significant harm in the process. A common reaction to treatment, for instance, is an immune system reaction called cytokine release syndrome that has proven deadly in some cases. Kite and Seattle competitor Juno Therapeutics (NASDAQ: JUNO) have also seen certain instances of brain swelling—Juno had to abandon its most advanced treatment after the side effect led to multiple deaths in clinical testing.
In addition, CAR-T treatments haven’t yet worked in solid tumors, which include more prevalent cancers of the breast and lung. They also involve a complex manufacturing process and are likely to be very expensive; their commercial prospects are uncertain.
“We are encouraged that Gilead has finally executed an acquisition and we think that the Kite deal is a major strategic positive,” wrote Barclays analyst Geoff Meacham, in a research note. “[T]he question will be if Kite will be big enough to move the needle and re-accelerate earnings growth to Sovaldi/Harvoni-launch levels.”
Here’s more on CAR-T’s promise and the questions that lie ahead for its developers.
Gilead will hold a conference call this morning to discuss the deal.
Ben Fidler is Xconomy's Deputy Editor, Biotechnology. You can e-mail him at bfidler@xconomy.com Follow @benthefidler
Allogene’s IPO Raises $288M for Tests of “Off-the-Shelf” Cell Therapy
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Bio Roundup: Opioids in Court, IPO Parade, Brain Cancer Bet & More
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New Islamic Cultural Centre to be built in Croatia
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islamfor the week ending 14 November 2016 (14 Safar 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.
ALITRIP MALAYSIA TOURISM PAVILION SETS TO BOOST TOURIST ARRIVALS FROM CHINA
Chinese travellers can now access Malaysia’s travel and tourism products and services through an e-marketplace in China. This is made possible by the introduction of the Malaysia Tourism Pavilion (MTP) on Alitrip by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group. Alitrip MTP will be managed and operated by Beijing Xinlian Mobile Technology, appointed by Alibaba and endorsed by Tourism Malaysia. The travel products and services that Malaysian tourism merchants promote and offer directly to Chinese travellers via MTP include local tour and hotel packages (with or without flight tickets), shopping and dining mobile vouchers, local attraction and event tickets, and local transportation and communication services. Alitrip MTP provides an excellent platform for Malaysian travel trade players to get a bigger slice of the Chinese outbound market. Last year, tourist arrivals from China to Malaysia increased by 4%, reaching 1.68 million against 1.61 million in 2014. The first six months of 2016 already recorded a 32% growth in arrivals from the Chinese market, with a total of 992,463 tourists. Malaysia is now gearing up to achieve 2 million Chinese arrivals by the end of this year, and 8 million by 2020. Therefore, the Alitrip Malaysia Tourism Pavilion couldn’t have come at a better time for the country to achieve this ambitious target.
Malaysians must envision agenda of becoming a class one nation
Malaysia’s Terengganu-Born Lecturer Completes World Solo Cycling Tour
Malaysian Prime Minister to visit Japan Nov 15-17
Philippines President visits Malaysia
Malaysia an important gateway and investment hub – Deloitte
Clinical Research Malaysia creates waves in its global missions
Petronas seeks expanded business in India
Malaysia’s Malindo Air introduces new route to Phuket
Vietnam seeks to lure Malaysia Finance, Industry Business
New Look, Improved Navigation in Malaysia’s Central Bank Website
Malaysia: Services Sector Revenue up RM356.7 BLN in Q3
Nippon Express to promote sea, rail transport from Asia to Central, East Europe
LEAD STORY: New Islamic Cultural Centre to be built in Croatia
Jordan launches strategy to boost ICT Sector
Dubai Plans to build First Hyperloop Track
Indonesia: Bogor Zoology Museum most complete in Asia
Singapore Amends Constitution, Paving way for First Malay President
China One of Most Important Trade Partners of Lebanon
IMF approves 3-year US$12 bln Loan for Egypt
Oman to host Regional Statistics Workshop
Saudi Seeks to Promote Sports Development
South Africa, Kazakhstan Commit to Boosting Bilateral Trade
Kazakhstan, South Korea sign agreements worth US$640M
Muslim Elders, Anglican Church meeting ends on high note in Abu Dhabi
Morocco reveals its first electric pickup truck
First Somali-American Muslim woman elected to US Senate
Festival to promote Indonesian pearls to the world
Indonesia unveils policy package to facilitate development of e-commerce
Indonesia promotes kolintang, wants it in world heritage list
Indonesian govt taking steps to tackle growth of e-commerce industry
Indonesian-made electric motorbike prototype completes test drive
Indonesian President promises to build “inward infrastructure”
Indonesia, China agree to check unprofessional tour operators
Chinese tourists visiting Indonesia up 20 percent
OIC to discuss appointing goodwill ambassadors for women empowerment
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PENAMPANG, Malaysia, 12 November 2016, (NNN-Bernama) — Najib Tun Razak urged Malaysians to look forward and envision the bigger picture so as to fulfill the agenda ofbecoming a class one nation.
The Prime Minister said Malaysians must not be trapped and embroiled in minor issues because such action would only result in the population losing the race to other countries that are ready to move forward.
“We have a big agenda. We do not want to be a second rate country, no. We don’t want to be a mediocre country. We want Malaysia to be among the best,among the best nations on this earth.
“That is why I had proposed the 2050 National Transformation (TN50) agenda.TN50 is a dialogue process from the grassroots. What is the objective?
“The objective is to determine the road map to place Malaysia at the peak of success and become a ‘first rate nation’ that all of us can be proud of,” said Najib when opening the Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Bersatu Party’s (Upko) Convention at Pusat Kebudayaan Sabah, here today.
Also present were Sabah state Chief Minister Musa Aman, Upko actingpresident Madius Tangau, Upko honorary president and Malaysian ambassador to Vatican City, Bernard Dompok and leaders of BN component parties.
According to Najib who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, Malaysians must always look forward and as for him as the Prime Minister, he would continue to be open minded and humble when handling grievances andrequests of the people to ensure the bigger agenda is achieved.
“For example, I am open in the issue of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and if there are differences in opinion, the door is always open for discussion.
“I do not want to take away the rights of the people of Sabah. I want to defend the rights of the people of Sabah instead. But do not say we want to leave Malaysia.
“No..no..no. we are in a family, we will always be together in Malaysia,” he said to a loud applause from the 1,750 Upko delegates.
KUALA TERENGGANU, Terengganu State, Malaysia, 13 November 2016, (NNN-BERNAMA) – A Terengganu State-born lecturer, today ended his world solo cycling tour, after he completed his 22,000km journey, within 16 months.
Sofian Mohd, 55, who is also a lecturer and General Studies Department head, at Kuching Polytechnic, Sarawak, East Malaysia, arrived at SMK Tengku Bariah, at about 11 am.
He was greeted on arrival by State Youth, Sports and Human Resource Committee chairman, Rozi Mamat, Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency development officer, Mohd Sabri Alwi and over 500 students and alumni of the school.
The father of two children, who hails from Kampung Telaga Daing, Seberang Takir, near here, began his journey on July 29 last year (2015).
Recounting his experience, Sofian said, he was grateful to be able to complete his mission, which was also aimed at promoting Malaysia and the Terengganu State, in conjunction with the Visit Terengganu Year 2017.
“When I arrived at Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan State on Thursday, I felt very relieved as I no longer need to worry about my safety. when I was in other countries, I was always thinking about my safety, as I was all alone.
“Alhamdulillah (praise to Allah), my mission, in which I was only accompanied by a bicycle, carrying a load of more than 80 kg, had run smoothly…I brought along all the equipment needed, including a pot for cooking and bike repair tools.”
Sofian said, solo cycling was not easy because he had to deal with the four-season weather and different terrains, including mountains and deserts.
“Throughout my journey, I read a lot and able to see the way of life of Muslims in the countries which I visited.
“I also had a glimpse of the ancient Quran, during the time of Caliph Uthman, visited the tomb of Imam al-Bukhari in Uzbekistan, and the memorial of Prophet Ayub (Prophet Job in the Bible).”
The cycling tour went through 22 countries, including Thailand, Laos, China, Kazakshtan, Uzbekistan, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Brunei.
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, 13 November 2016, (NNN-BERNAMA) – The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, will be undertaking a working visit to Japan, from Nov 15-17, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe.
The Prime Minister will be accompanied by his wife, Rosmah Mansor, cabinet ministers and senior government officials, from the relevant ministries and agencies.
The Prime Minister’s programme in Tokyo includes a meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan and a courtesy call by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan, Keiichi Ishii. The meetings are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two countries, as well as, regional matters and issues of mutual interest.
The Prime Minister will also receive courtesy calls by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Japan External Trade Organisation, Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige, and members of the Japan-Malaysia Parliamentary Friendship Association, to exchange views on bilateral cooperation and regional issues.
This upcoming visit will be the fourth working visit by Najib to Japan.
This visit will continue the momentum of high level discussions between Malaysia and Japan on issues and matters at bilateral, regional and international levels. Malaysia and Japan continue to enjoy close cooperation in key areas such as, economy and trade, investment, science and technology, higher education, human capital development, culture, air services and taxation.
In 2015, Japan was Malaysia’s fourth largest trading partner globally, with total bilateral trade recorded at USD 32.77 billion (RM127.4 billion).
Japan continues to be the largest foreign investor in the manufacturing sector, with more than 1,400 Japanese companies currently operating in Malaysia.
In 2015, a total of 60 projects with Japanese participation were approved, with investments amounting to RM 4.0 billion (USD 0.93 billion). These projects are expected to generate 5,201 job opportunities.
PUTRAJAYA, 9 November 2016, (Bernama) — The President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Rodrigo Roa Duterte will be undertaking an Official Visit to Malaysia from 9 to 10 November 2016. This will be the first visit by H.E. President Rodrigo Duterte to Malaysia since taking office as the President of the Philippines on 30 June 2016. During the visit, he will have a discussion with YAB Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak to take stock of the progress of the on-going bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and the Republic of the Philippines. Both leaders will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. Presiden Duterte will also be hosted by YAB Prime Minister and YABhg Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor at an Official Dinner.
Malaysia and the Republic of the Philippines enjoy warm and cordial relations. Both countries also cooperate on various issues of common interests at the international level. For the period of January to August 2016, Malaysia’s total trade with the Philippines increased by 5.4% to RM13.5 billion (USD3.22 billion), as compared to the same period in 2015 which stood at RM12.48 billion (USD3.36 billion). In 2015, the Philippines was ranked Malaysia’s 5th largest trading partner in ASEAN and 10th largest trading partner globally.
The visit will provide the opportunity for both leaders to explore ways to further strengthen the existing cooperation between the two countries.
KUALA LUMPUR, 9 November 2016, (Bernama) — Deloitte Malaysia successfully held its annual TaxMax Conference 2016 on 8 November 2016, a full-day seminar led by Deloitte’s tax experts. Themed ‘Brave decisions, Brave Actions’, the seminar provided an indepth analysis on Budget 2017 and discussed how businesses can leverage on recent tax and economic developments to maximize the opportunities and embark on the right steps under current economic conditions. The seminar was attended by more than 600 finance professionals and industry players.
The key highlight of the seminar was the Economic Forum which discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and the enhanced diplomatic relationship between China and Malaysia which gives rise to multiple bilateral trades and investments opportunities. Other headlines of the seminar included corporate and personal income tax, changes to the Companies Act and its implications on the corporate tax regime, the Tax Amnesty programme and the GST tribunal.
Deloitte Malaysia Country Tax Leader, Yee Wing Peng led the Economic Forum with a comprehensive discussion on the importance of Malaysia joining the TPPA, its impact to foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic direct investment (DDI) , and the challenges and opportunities local businesses will face.
When the TPPA comes into force, there will be allocation of government procurement for Bumiputera vendors. However, a large proportion of the tenders will be opened to all local and international vendors. Director of Strategic Negotiations Division of Ministry of International Trade (MITI), Syahril Syazli Ghazali shared that the Government has rolled out several initiatives to help local businesses to prepare themselves for the opportunities. As of March 2016, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has organised 150 export production programmes for SMEs. MITI has also been working closely with the SMECorp to assist SMEs with branding, labelling, packaging and capacity building.
Yee opined that compared to other ASEAN countries, Malaysia is a competitive location for shared-service centres as the nation has a good pool of talent and infrastructure. The softening Ringgit against the major currencies in the region has made Malaysia more compelling as a regional service hub.
Additionally, Malaysia is well-positioned to embrace more Chinese investments. Business and language proficiencies inherent within Malaysians provides the ease of doing business with China players and establishes high chances to attract Chinese MNCs to set up their regional service centres in Malaysia. Notably, there are several large Chinese multinational developers already embarking on mega mixed development in Malaysia. These developers can play a leading role in bringing in more Chinese MNCs to operate in the facilities they will set up.
Some of these major Chinese development projects in West Malaysia include the Bandar Malaysia (486 acres), the Melaka Gateway (600 acres), the MalaysiaChina Kuantan Industrial Park (1500 acres), and Forest City in Johor Bahru (3425 acres).
“Potentially, the economies of Malaysia and China can be comprehensively intertwined. We were the first ASEAN country to develop a diplomatic relationship with China in 1974. Rooms for collaboration is enormous,” Yee added.
Regional Vice President of Country Garden Holding Co. Ltd., Dr Runze Yu echoed off Yee’s positive outlook of the Malaysia-China dynamic.
“Malaysia is a great middle ground between China and the Western countries. In terms of policy, Malaysia has maintained a very delicate and well-balanced relationship between China and the U.S. There are multiple trade agreements that Malaysia has signed with China and other ASEAN countries. So, it will definitely attract more investors.”
“Malaysia has built a very strong momentum in attracting China companies to invest here. Moving forward, in addition to property development, the presence of Chinese players will also be felt in the manufacturing sector including electrical and electronic, textile and solar power and property,” said Runze.
During the Economic Forum, Yee also noted that the weakening Ringgit can act as a silver lining for several National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs), mainly tourism and retail in terms of ASEAN buyers. Thus, businesses should look at opportunities within these two sectors to further strengthen the country’s economy.
Whilst the Ringgit has depreciated by more than 20% compared to the US Dollar in the past two years, Chief Economist of RHB Banking Group, Lim Chee Sing noted that oil prices have stabilised and China can’t re-evaluate the Renminbi (RMB).
“In this perspective, over time, the Malaysian Ringgit is hoped to hit 3.80 against to the U.S Dollar by end of 2017,” said Lim.
Now in its 42nd year, the TaxMax Conference 2016 included other guest speakers such as the Head of Unit in Regulatory & Legal Services Division, Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, David Yap and Deputy CEO, Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN), Dato’ Noor Azian Abdul Hamid.
HONG KONG, 10 November 2016,(Bernama) — Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM), a non-profit company owned by the Ministry of Health (MOH) made its presence at the recently concluded The 3rd International Conference on Phase 1 and Early Phase Clinical Trials (ICPOEP) held on 3rd – 4th November 2016 at the Hyatt Regency, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. This year’s conference organized by The University of Hong Kong Clinical Trials Centre (HKU-CTC) attracted over 400 delegates from five continents and 20 countries. This event provided a platform for experts around the to share the latest trends on early & Phase 1 drug development in various diseases.
CRM also participated in Drug Information Association (DIA) in Philadelphia, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in Rome and the annual European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) congress held in Copenhagen. It was CRM’s third time participating at DIA US while its first at the ESC and ESMO since its inception in 2012 as an enabler and facilitator to the industry and medical fraternity for the conduct of industry sponsored clinical research.
CRM showcases Malaysia’s capabilities at ESMO particularly in Oncology from 7th till 10th October 2016 to some 20,000 participants form 134 countries, 80 exhibitors and 460 invited speakers. CRM led by the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Akhmal Yusof, and Head of Business Development, Dr. Khairul Faizi Khalid, was at ESMO to create awareness on CRM and also to to showcase what Malaysia can offer to sponsors and contract-research organizations to bring in more clinical trials into Malaysia.
CRM had the opportunity to meet with sponsor’s global team such as Novo Nordisk and Astra Zeneca to shed some light on the start of more Industry Sponsored Trials coming into Malaysia in the future. The meetings with the sponsors involved clinical operations and medical affairs team from the sponsor companies and an officer from MIDA Copenhagen, Puan Roslina Othman.
Earlier in the same year, CRM had participated in three other international clinical research-related conferences including the BioPharma Asia, DIA Japan and DIA China. These events empowered CRM to reach out to the global audience from both the medical fraternity and industry to promote Malaysia’s potential and its available resources to conduct clinical trials. Due to CRM’s global presence, the company has seen an increase in the numbers of new sponsors & CROs submitting feasibility studies to Malaysia.
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 November 2016, (Bernama) — PETRONAS is committed to explore business growth opportunities across all segments of the oil and gas value chain in India, said President and Group CEO, Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin during a series of receptions held for partners and customers in Mumbai and New Delhi.
“India has always been an important market for PETRONAS as we see great potential to grow further with our partners and customers,” said Wan Zulkiflee.
As part of its business strategy, PETRONAS will continue to invest in expanding its capacity in commodity chemicals and refined products, and enhance its product offerings to include differentiated and specialty chemicals for its customers worldwide.
This will be supported by the Sabah Ammonia Urea project in Sabah, Malaysia, which is on track for commercial operations in Quarter 4 this year. SAMUR will have an estimated annual output of 2.6 million metric tonnes, making PETRONAS the second largest granular urea producer in South East Asia.
Further to that, PETRONAS is also embarking on the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) located in Malaysia’s southern state of Johor. It is a single largest integrated downstream investment in the country to date, scheduled to commence in 2019.
India, one of the most competitive economies and the fourth largest LNG market in the world also presents vast potential for PETRONAS. Wan Zulkiflee said PETRONAS is keen to explore opportunities in the Indian LNG market and is working to establish a liaison office to help grow its business in the country.
With decades of experience as an integrated end-to-end LNG player and currently the third-largest producer of LNG in the world, PETRONAS also boasts a sterling reputation of being a reliable supplier among its LNG customers.
“Over the years, we have also expanded the scale of our production facilities in Bintulu, and invested in new projects. I’m also exceptionally proud that our world’s first floating LNG facility, PFLNG Satu, was completed earlier this year. PFLNG Satu is a true industry game changer that allows us to monetise stranded gas assets and is currently undergoing commissioning. The first cargo is expected in the first quarter of 2017,” he said.
PHUKET, Thailand, 11 November 2016, (NNN-Bernama) — Airline company, Malindo Air yesterday introduced Phuket as its third route in Thailand with four weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Malindo Air Public Relations and Communications director, Raja Sa’adi Raja Amrin said the first inaugural flight to the island with 89 passengers and crew onboard, arrived at the Phuket International Airport at 3.10pm (local time).
“Malindo Air has seen a significant growth by expanding our regional footprint rapidly to provide more opportunities for business and leisure travellers alike.
“Our services will foster the development of the tourism industry in Malaysia and Thailand, as we are able to provide connectivity from Thailand not just to Malaysia but also to Indonesia, Australia and India which are within our network services,” he said at a press conference, here, yesterday.
Another two Malindo Air’s route services to Thailand are Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Raja Sa’adi said for this new Phuket route, the introductory promotional fares for economy class would start from RM139 and business class from RM599, one-way fares all inclusive.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, 11 November 2016, (NNN-Bernama) — Vietnam is an attractive destination for Malaysian finance and industry businesses, CK Lim, Director of the ASEAN Business Community said at a function to connect Vietnamese and Malaysian businesses, here Thursday.
He noted that the Vietnamese Government’s investment attraction policies andtax incentives offered to foreign businesses are the attractions of the Vietnamese market, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.
With over 90 million people, Vietnam is a potential consumption market that is being eyed by regional countries, CK Lim commented.
Several Malaysian banks have made their presence in Vietnam’s finance–banking sector with efficient operations and possibilities to grow robustly, he said.
Malaysian businesspeople saw Vietnam a top choice in the ASEAN region when they plan to build plants to manufacture industrial goods in the coming time, he told participants.
Assessing Vietnam-Malaysia cooperative ties, Ho Xuan Lam, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, said Malaysia is always a crucial, promising partner of Vietnam.
Being members of the ASEAN Economic Community, which forms a single market and production centre with free movement of goods, services, skilled labourers, investment and capital flows, will allow the countries to boost bilateral trade and investment, he said.
Ho Chi Minh City has been offering flexible and competitive investment attraction policies and mechanisms, he noted, saying this enables foreign businesses, including Malaysian ones to expand their investment and business scope.
Malaysia is one of Vietnam’s strategic partners in ASEAN. In the past ten months of this year, trade between the two countries hit US$6 billion and it was targeted to reach US$12-15 billion by 2020.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 11 November 2016, (NNN-Bernama) — Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will introduce its newly-redesigned website, www.bnm.gov.my, which is more intuitive, efficient and user-friendly beginning Nov 14, 2016. (BNM is Malaysia’s central bank)
In a statement today, BNM said, navigation has been redesigned with an efficient multi-level menu, more interactive features and streamlined content.
“Additionally, users can keep up-to-date with new developments by signing up for email alerts for press releases, speeches and announcements,” it said.
The central bank said the refreshed corporate look and feel was complemented with relevant images to better highlight key messages and contents.
“The website also offers an improved mobile browsing experience through responsive design features, which will make it adaptable to smartphones and tablets.
“It will also provide quick links to the bank’s initiatives as well as its social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr, it said.
KUALA LUMPUR, 11 November 2016, (NNN-Bernama) — The services sector’s revenue increased 5.6 per cent or RM356.7 billion in the third quarter of 2016 as compared with the same quarter last year, said the Department of Statistics.
The increase was contributed by health, education and arts, entertainment and recreation (8.7 per cent) and professional and real estate agent (8.3 per cent) segments.
“The total revenue on quarterly basis increased by RM6.9 billion or 2.0 per cent,” it said in a statement.
The total number of persons engaged in this sector was 3.5 million persons,an increase of 78,840 persons or 2.3 per cent year-on-year (yoy).
In the third quarter 2016, salaries and wages paid amounted to RM22.3 billion, up 4.3 per cent yoy and 1.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter.
On segmental basis, the total revenue for wholesale and retail trade, food and beverages and accommodation segment registered a growth of 5.6 per cent (RM282.9 billion) as compared to the same quarter of 2015.
“The increase was driven by wholesale and retail trade (5.8 per cent), food and beverages (2.6 per cent) and accommodation (2.1 per cent) sub-sectors.
“This segment showed an increase of 2.1 per cent as compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year,” the department said.
The number of persons engaged in this segment increased by 2.7 per cent or 69,767 persons as compared to the third quarter of 2015.
Salaries and wages paid grew by 5.2 per cent to RM13.4 billion while for quarter-on-quarter, number of persons engaged and salaries and wages paid
increased 0.8 per cent and 2.3 per cent, respectively. (US$1=RM4.27)
TOKYO, 10 November 2016, Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet –NIPPON EXPRESS CO., LTD. will step up its sales of through container forwarding services from Asia, including India, to Central and Eastern Europe via Koper, Slovenia, from November 1, as “ADRIA DIRECT.”
The route from Asia to Budapest, Hungary, via Koper has less distances of sea and land transportation, by approximately 3,700 kilometers and 550 kilometers, respectively, from the route via Hamburg, Germany.
Advantages of the services:
The route from Singapore to Central and Eastern Europe has less transit days required for freight transportation — by up to about four days — and charges for a 40F container by up to about 10% from the Hamburg route, in the company’s comparison.
NIPPON EXPRESS has been in cooperation with Koper Port since 2014. NIPPON EXPRESS launched “Danube Express,” consolidation services from Japan to Budapest, Hungary, via Koper, in 2015. NIPPON EXPRESS thus became the first Japanese company to launch such forwarding services, and has since steadily gained experiences in this field.
Based on its experiences in this field, NIPPON EXPRESS is determined to expand its forwarding services from Asia, including India, via Koper Port.
NIPPON EXPRESS will provide high-quality combined transportation services by having its group companies handle cargo from the origin to the final destination.
Background of the services:
The route from Koper Port to Central and East European countries has been well known with Japanese subsidiary companies operating in Hungary in recent years because the route has reduced the distance of inland transportation.
Based on experiences it has gained so far, NIPPON EXPRESS will step up its sales promotion for transportation services from Asia to Central and Eastern Europe via Koper as “ADRIA DIRECT.” This service may be the first among Japanese transportation companies, according to NIPPON EXPRESS.
Sisak City, Croatia, 13 November 2016, (IINA) – In a ceremony attended by about 2,000 Islamic faithful from Croatia and neighboring countries, including religious dignitaries, state and local officials, diplomats and other guests, the construction of the fourth Islamic Cultural Centre in Croatia started on Saturday in Sisak city.
The center, which is estimated to cost around 5.5 million euros, will be built in phases by the Islamic Community in Croatia. The new facility, with the area of 2,500 square meters, in addition to the prayer area, will also include a number of other facilities for cultural, social and educational activities.
In addition to a mosque with a large dome and a minaret, there will be a multi-purpose hall, library with reading room, classrooms, a Muslim restaurant, accommodation area and other facilities, Total Croatia News reported.
This is a great day for Islamic believers, said Head of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Reis-ul-Ulema Husein Kavazović, who welcomed attendees on behalf of the Muslims from the neighboring country.
“From the future spiritual home, we will demonstrate and express harmony and a new quality of life, not only for the Muslims in this town but also for their good neighbors, Catholics, and others. This act is also our hope for the vision of a better world, united in good and communion. Croatia today allows everyone to live as believers”, said Kavazović.
From his side, President of the Islamic Community in Croatia Mufti Aziz Hasanović said that such an example of religious coexistence could be found only in Sisak.
He said that the ceremony was a confirmation of high democratic values in Croatia, which allows full religious freedom. The new center would benefit everyone, not just Muslims, he added.
Catholic Bishop of Sisak Vlado Košić expressed confidence that the Sisak mosque would be a place where God will be celebrated, a meeting place for Muslims and Christians under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother, and Queen of Peace.
The ceremony was attended by the envoy of the Emir of Kuwait, the envoy of the Turkish Diyanet, head of the Government Office for Relations with Religious Communities, Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect, the Sisak Mayor and others, while the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico, led the diplomatic representation.
AMMAN, Jordan, 10 November 2016, (NNN-PETRA) – Jordan, on Wednesday, launched a strategy to boost the country’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector, which contributes about 12 percent to its gross domestic product.
The plan was launched, during the MENA ICT Forum 2016, which King Abdullah II of Jordan opened, in the presence of international and regional experts and decision-makers in the field.
The strategy, called “Reach 2025,” seeks to create some 150,000 new digital jobs by 2025.
It is a collaboration of public and private stakeholders and institutions, spearheaded by the Ministry of Information and Communications and Technology, and the ICT Association of Jordan.
It targets increasing the overall gross domestic product growth, between 6-8 percent.
Experts at the event will discuss several key issues, in the ICT industry, regionally and globally.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 9 November 2016, (NNN-WAM) – The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said on Tuesday, it will build the first prototype of the high-speed “Hyperloop” train solution.
RTA Chairman, Mattar Al-Tayer, and Rob Lloyd, CEO of Hypeloop One firm, signed an agreement to work through the Dubai Future Accelerators (DFA) programme, and develop a prototype of self-driving cars, powered by Hyperloop technology.
The company will also test the feasibility of connecting Dubai with several destinations, and determine the project’s economic viability. If feasible, the technology will be implemented and stands to change the transport and logistics sector worldwide.
Dubai’s daily Gulfnews reported that, the prototype ought to be ready by 2020.
Hyperloop stations will be set up across the city, to ensure accessibility and reduce travel time between Dubai and the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, to less than 12 minutes.
Hyperloop One revealed its vision, for the future of the transport sector, citing Dubai as an example, during a presentation.
“Dubai has become a model for the cities of the future, launching one revolutionary initiative after another and drastically reshaping strategic economic sectors,” said Al-Tayer.
“The DFA programme, though only a few months old, is now a gateway for the world’s most innovative companies to materialise their ideas and achieve tangible results, that can change the future and benefit mankind,” said Rob Lloyd.
BOGOR, West Java Province, Indonesia, 9 Nov 2016, (NNN-Bernama) — The museum of zoology, named Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB), under the Indonesian Science Institute (LIPI) management in Bogor, West Java province has millions of fauna specimens.
It is considered the most complete such museum in Southeast Asia,Indonesia’s Antara news agency reports.
“We are proud of this museum as besides commemorating its 122nd anniversary, the museum has the best collection in Southeast Asia,” Professor of the University of Indonesia, Prof.S.Somadikarta, said here on Tuesday.
He added that people should understand the importance of this museum and what it offers so that they can benefit from it.
“The museum provides knowledge and serves the people honestly. Museum ethics should be understood by all people,” he pointed out.
Zoologicum Bogoriense Museum’s Director Hari Sutrisno noted that the museum has 3,030,657 speciments; including 3,007 mollusks, 134 nematode (worms), 15,804 insects and arthropods, 70 crustaceans, 1,300 fish, 498 reptiles, 334 amphibians, 1,200 birds and 460 mammals.
“The collections have attracted many scientists, including those from abroad,” Hari noted.
He added that the museum was established in 1894 under the name of Landbouw Zoologish Laboratory.
In order to commemorate the 122nd anniversary of the museum, the Indonesian Science Institution would hold various events, such as talk shows and field trips.
SINGAPORE, 10 November 2016, (NNN-Xinhua) — Singapore Parliament on Wednesday passed the bill to amend the Constitution to raise bar for presidential candidates and ensure multi-racial representation in the Presidency, which paves the way for the country to have its first Malay president in more than 40 years.
After a three-day intense debate in the Parliament, 77 Members of Parliament (MP) gave approval to the bill, while all six MPs from the opposition Workers’ Party cast opposing votes.
Under the new Constitution, an election will be reserved for a particular racial group if no one from that group has been president for five continuous terms.
This means next year’s Presidential Election will be reserved for candidates from the Malay community.
Since Wee Kim Wee became the first Elected President in 1991, Presidents in Singapore have come from the Chinese and Indian community.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made clear for the first time the government’s intention to trigger the proposed mechanism for reserved election in the next polls, and explained the broad reasoning behind the decision.
“If the president, who is the symbol of a multiracial nation, always comes from the same race, not only will he cease to be a credible symbol of our nation, but the very multiracial character of the nation will come under question,” said Lee.
The prime minister added that even though the minority communities have not pressed for it in Singapore, such arrangements should be made to ensure the presidency will be multiracial.
President Tony Tan Keng Yam also stated that he “will not be standing in the next presidential election” as it would be for Malays via his Facebook post.
Other changes on Elected Presidency include raising the bar for candidates to keep up with the times. Prospective private sector candidates would have to have helmed companies with 500 million Singapore dollars (359 million U.S. dollars) in shareholders’ equity, up from 100 million Singapore dollars (71.83 million U.S. dollars) in paid-up capital.
The President of Singapore is directly elected by popular vote. Potential candidates for office have to fulfill stringent qualifications set out in the Constitution.
The city state is a multiracial country comprising Chinese, Malay, Indian and other races. The majority of the population are Chinese which take up about 74 percent, while Malay account for 13 percent and Indian for 9 percent.
BEIRUT, 12 November 2016,(NNN-Xinhua) — Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian said on Friday that China was one of the most important trade partners of Lebanon during the past three years, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Trade between the two countries topped 2 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, the report said.
The Chinese ambassador made the remarks on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and the People’s Republic of China.
“The Chinese embassy will continue to work in order to strengthen the bilateral relations and cooperation for more fruitful results,” he said.
Regarding the military relations, the ambassador said China offered logistic and field equipments worth about 6.6 million dollars between 2013 and 2015.
CAIRO, 12 November 2016, (NNN-Xinhua) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board approved on Friday Egypt’s request for a three-year 12 billion U.S. dollars loan, Egypt’s state TV reported.
Meanwhile, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Tarek Amer told official MENA news agency that Egypt has received Friday an initial 2.75 billion dollars from the IMF.
Egypt reached an initial deal with the IMF on a 12 billion dollars loan in August, a move seen by many experts as a necessary step to help the country’s ailing economy.
“This will make our foreign currency reserves jump to 23.5 billion dollars,” Amer affirmed.
The foreign currency reserves at the CBE declined since the 2011 uprising that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak from 36 billion dollars to 19.6 billion dollars as of the end of September 2016.
Earlier this month, the CBE announced the devaluation of the Egyptian pound by 48 percent which would allow the pound to float in the financial market based on supply and demand.
The move was meant to limit the hike and shortage of dollar, boost foreign investments and meet a key demand of the IMF to provide Egypt with the loan.
Meanwhile, the Washington-based IMF board said in a statement that further disbursements following the immediately released 2.75 billion dollars will depend on the country’s economic performance and implementation of reforms.
“The reform program will help Egypt restore macroeconomic stability and promote inclusive growth,” said the statement.
Policies supported by the program aim to correct external imbalances and restore competitiveness, place the budget deficit and public debt on a declining path, boost growth and create jobs while protecting vulnerable groups, said the statement.
Egypt has been struggling to survive severe economic recession that led to a decline in foreign currency reserves, a growing budget deficit and rising foreign debts.
MUSCAT, Oman, 13 November 2016, (NNN-ONA) – The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)’s Statistical Centre, in collaboration with the Statistics Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), on Monday (tomorrow), will organise a workshop on the principles and recommendations for the development of vital statistics system.
Twenty Arab countries will take part in the workshop, which focuses on accelerating the process of improving civil registration and vital statistics.
The vital statistics play a key role in securing necessary population data, for the development and statistics of health planning and evaluation, in addition to the protection of rights and access to services, and improving governance through the identification data.
The four-day workshop will contribute to, increasing the knowledge of statisticians and those responsible for civil registration, in governments and revised international principles and recommendations, with a view to compiling, process and disseminate vital statistics, and improve their ability to identify gaps and challenges, in the application of international standards, to improve the vital statistics system in their countries.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 13 November 2016, (NNN-SPA) – Prince Abdullah bin Massa’ad bin Abdulaziz, President of the General Authority of Sports and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, met the Deputy President of the International Olympic Committee and President of the International Court of Arbitration (CAS), John Coast, and the Deputy Director General of the International Olympic Committee, Peru Miro.
At the outset, Prince Abdullah welcomed the IOC officials, who are currently visiting the Kingdom, at the invitation of Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, stressing the desire of the General Authority of Sports and the Saudi Olympic Committee, to promote sporting ties and joint work, in all Olympic related aspects.
Subsequently, the chief executive of the Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia, Hussam Al-Qurashi, opened a plenary meeting between the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee, presenting an overview of the Saudi Olympic Committee’s objectives and future aspirations, noting that work is under way to achieve advanced positions, in the Asian Masters 2022, through the implementation of a number of steps that will contribute to the development of administrative and technical work, in the Olympic Committee and sports federations, notably recruiting the best talents and merger of national and international capacities, in terms of sports’ science and sports’ medicine.
PRETORIA, 14 November 2016, (NNN-SA NEWS) — South Africa and Kazakhstan have expressed satisfaction with the trade and economic relations between the two countries but say that there is still considerable potential to increase bilateral trade.
“Both parties agreed to work towards a closer co-operation in the fields of mining, energy and agriculture. It was further agreed that these sectors will be reviewed on an annual basis to allow further expansion in terms of economic cooperation,” the two countries said in a joint communique issued after the 5th Round of the South Africa-Kazakhstan Bilateral Political Consultations held last week.
The consultations, which were co-chaired by International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo and her Kazakhstan counterpart, Akylbek Kamaldinov, were held in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, from Wednesday to Sunday.
The two sides noted the potential of both countries in exploring business opportunities in the corresponding regions — Kazakhstan as a hub for central Asia and the Eurasian Economic Union, and South Africa as the hub for southern Africa and the Southern Africa Development Community.
In order to achieve the desired levels of co-operation, the two sides agreed to maintain the political dialogue, through the exchange of official visits, including high-level visits, as well as facilitating engagements and cooperation on all levels, including civil society and inter-parliamentary co-operation.
They also discussed perspectives of co-operation in higher education, science and technology and the promotion of cultural relations and co-operation. They agreed to explore a programme to exchange representatives from universities and institutions of higher learning from both countries. Both parties will promote scholarship programmes.
BAKU, 12 November 2016, (NNN-Bernama) — Kazakhstan and South Korea signed 23 documents worth US$640.2 million during a bilateral business forum held in Seoul, the Kazakh National Export and Investment Agency Kaznex Invest reported, as quoted by Trend news agency.
The forum, attended by 350 businessmen from the companies of both countries, was held on Nov 10 during the visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to South Korea.
The agreements were signed in the spheres of healthcare, information technologies, construction, finance, trade, tourism and others.
The major documents signed include a memorandum on establishment of a cluster of pharmaceutical and medical-biological plants Nefertem worth US$350 million in Kazakhstan, a memorandum on cooperation between Korean SEOHA and Kazakh Investment and Development Ministry worth US$150 million, as well as a memorandum on creation of the Kazakh-Korean Consortium to attract investment for the construction of a clinic worth US$80 million, designed for 504 beds.
Today, 465 South Korean companies are operating in Kazakhstan in the spheres of production, trade and services, construction, agricultural and industrial complex, consulting and finance, subsoil use and exploration.
There are also 27 South Korean-Kazakh joint ventures that operate in chemicals industry, energy production, mechanical engineering, pharmaceutics,information and communication technologies, mining and metallurgical complex, infrastructure and light industry in Kazakhstan.
09 Nov 2016, Abu Dhabi (IINA) – A two-day meeting of the Muslim Council of Elders and the Anglican Church hosted by the United Arab Emirates, ended recently here, with participants emphasizing the necessity to work on building a world based on mutual understanding.
In addition to the Muslim-Christian dialogue, with an aim of effectively bridging the gap that hinders the understanding of others and agreed that the dialogue will contribute to the efforts of combating both extremism and the undermining of minority rights, WAM reported. The historical meeting between the Episcopal/Anglican communion and the Muslim Council of Elders, was chaired by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al Tayyeb, and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. It was the fourth round of meetings between elders from the East and the West titled “Towards an Integrated World”.
The two-day meeting included four sessions that focused on the dialogue between religious leaders, religious pluralism, experiences of coexistence and promoting a culture of peace. The meeting witnessed speeches from the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and the Archbishop of Canterbury on the role of religious leaders in addressing the current challenges facing the World.
The meeting covered four main themes: religious pluralism, the experiences of common co-existence, the role of religion in promoting citizenship and consolidating principles of human flourishing, and the obstacles facing dialogue and co-existence and their possible remedies.
During the meeting, discussions and interventions focused on the vital role of religious leaders and adherents in peace-building, sustaining human values, disseminating religious concepts that encourage tolerance, cooperation between religious followers in combating extremism, hatred speech, and restoring hope in peoples’ hearts and minds, and empowering young people to be effective actors in their communities.
The participants stressed the importance of promoting the principle of citizenship as people enjoy the same entitlements and responsibilities towards their countries and communities.
We concluded with some recommendations as follows: – The necessity of working on building a world based on understanding including the Muslim-Christian dialogue, with the aim of effectively bridging the gap that hinders the understanding of others.
The dialogue will contribute to the efforts of combating both extremism and the undermining of minority rights. As such, we encourage our wider communities to develop similar dialogue based initiatives as among the mostly powerful tools in consolidating societal peace in all communities.
Organize Mutual youth based meetings between Muslim and Christian university students, which embrace intellectual discourses on tolerance and coexistence.
Produce documentary films in various languages that track, document and underline the historical and contemporary experiences of co-existence. These will be suitable materials to be broadcast or air on TV channels and other forms of social media that have been proven effective more than gatherings and meetings.
Develop a five-year academic research program on the pillars and values of tolerance and coexistence. Researchers from both sides, Muslims, and Christians, will be invited to contribute to the research and produce publications in various languages. The program will help the Muslim-Christian Dialogue through articulating it with post- graduate studies in the concerned universities.
Digitize all the Muslim-Christian dialogue initiatives, including audio-visual materials, studies, and conferences’ proceedings, and upload them on the internet, to be accessible to the participants in this conference, and other concerned people.
Highlight and benefit from the multiple initiatives in promoting the values of tolerance, co-existence, participation, primarily the experience of the Ministry of Tolerance in the United Arab Emirates, and the experience of the House of Family in Egypt. These initiatives characterized by working on the ground through a variety of communities including work encompassing women and young generation. We affirm the work of these initiatives in establishing a model of genuine citizenship including Muslims and Christians in Egypt.
The necessity of work promoting a culture of dialogue at different levels. We affirm the importance of respecting each other’s faith at all levels.
We commit ourselves to work together for the common interest in fighting illiteracy, poverty, and disease.
Lastly, the participants from both the Muslim Council of Elders and the Anglican Church call on all religious leaders, politicians, decision-makers and influential community leaders to encourage the values of justice, peace and cooperation for all nations and peoples regardless of the difference in religion, gender, race, or any other factor.
10 Nov 2016, Marrakesh (IINA) – The National Transportation and Logistic Company (SNTL) of Morocco revealed the world’s latest and newest innovation of the first electric pickup truck ever made.
The innovation, which is 100 percent electric, is also a 100 percent of Moroccan origin in terms of concept and assembly. The creation, which took nine months to complete, was revealed at SNTL’s center of technology and innovation “Tamayuz Supply Chain,” in Marrakesh. The center chose and accompanied Engima, the Moroccan consulting firm specializing in automotive engineering, to work on the development and manufacturing of the electric pickup’s design.
The electric vehicle prototype, which was adapted to fit the Moroccan market, does not require the creation of electric stations for it to be recharged. The pickup can be recharged in less than 7 hours at the comfort of one’s home using a 220V power outlet, or in a mere hour if a supercharger is used.
The vehicle’s rechargeable batteries are placed in a balanced manner on the chassis allowing more stability and an autonomy of 180 to 200km. The designers of the vehicle claim that it is perfectly suited for urban journeys, with frequent stops, during which its speed can reach 129km/h, and its rear bed can bear up to 800kg of the load.
However, the most highlighted element of this innovation is that the users of the electric pickup truck can easily upgrade their vehicles without having to purchase a new one. The modular design allows integrating a new version of a component on an earlier version of the car, without it hindering any of its standard functions.
To top it off, the electric pickup and its features, such as temperature control that could harm or spoil transported goods, can be remotely controlled by the driver using an all in one tablet.
Although designed, manufactured, and assembled in Morocco, the electric pickup innovation is intended to be primarily sold in the European market while Morocco, until it is fully ready, will only be acting as a carrier market.
10 Nov 2016, Minneapolis (IINA) – An American hijabi Democrat and former refugee called Ilhan Omar made history after winning race into senate from Minneapolis and becoming the first Somali-American Muslim woman in the U.S. to be a legislator, according to media reports.
Omar faced little Republican opposition, local daily The Star Tribune reported, yet some believe that the 34-year-old’s win is “huge.”
“I am excited about our progressive values and to be able to be on the ground at the Capitol representing the diverse people of my district and being a champion with them and for them,” Omar told the Daily Star Tribune.
Omar came to the United States after escaping the Somali civil war with her family and spending four years in a Kenyan refugee camp.
The newly elected Senator is also the director of policy at Women Organizing Women Network, an organization dedicated to pushing East African women into positions of civic leadership.
10 November 2016, Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti hopes that the Indonesian Pearl Festival (IPF) 2016 will introduce Indonesia’s original pearls to the world.
“I hope the Indonesian South Sea Pearl (ISSP) would be introduced to pearl stakeholders and enthusiasts. The exhibition which has been held regularly would open access to the people,” the minister said when opening the IPS in Jakarta Wednesday.
The exposition displays the Indonesian sea kept pearls to the public she said.
It was the duty of everyone to introduce the Indonesian pearl to pearl stakeholders and enthusiasts, the minister said.
If the ISSP is recognized as a new commodity which has a high value, it would benefit Indonesia, as it would serve as a new source of economy to Indonesia.
The Indonesian pearl has good potential for the world market and therefore, noted designers are called on to present the latest pearl designs, she stated.
“Many people will come to know and love the pearl when they see the creative and up to date designs,” the minister added.
If the Indonesian pearl potential is cultivated properly it would boost the Indonesian economy, Minister Susi reminded earlier.
Pearls have become the target of illegal export practices, she said, and added that in 2014 the pearl exports to Hong Kong were worth US$49.8 million.
The figure is very different from the Indonesian pearl export data.
In 2015, Hong Kong imported pearls from Indonesia worth $34.2 million. But Indonesias pearl export data to Hong Kong showed that it was worth only about $1 million.(*)
10 November 2016, Jakarta (ANTARA News) – The Indonesian government on Thursday announced the 14th economic policy package that carries a roadmap for the development of e-commerce industry in the country.
“The policy package is aimed at encouraging people all over Indonesia to expand their economic activities efficiently and to connect them to the rest of the world. With this roadmap, they will be able to enhance their business in a better way,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution said while announcing the package at the Presidential Office, along with Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.
Darmin expressed the hope that the roadmap for the development of e-commerce industry will encourage younger generations to come up with new and innovative products and services.
The roadmap is also expected to induce certainty in business besides facilitating the e-commerce industry. Therefore, with strategic direction and guidance, the electronic-based national trade system can be put in place during the 2016-2019 period, he noted.
The roadmap is also expected to accord priority to and protect the national interests, particularly the interest of small and medium entrepreneurs and startups, he commented.
“It will also help the human resources and e-commerce agents to improve their knowhow. Also, it will provide terms of reference to the government and all stakeholders for determining or adjusting sector-based policies as part of the effort to develop the e-commerce industry,” he explained.
Darmin pointed out that the policy package deals with at least eight issues, including funding, taxation, consumer protection, human resource development and education besides cyber security.
Meanwhile, Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara underlined that digital economy has a huge potential in Indonesia.
“The Indonesian digital economy is so huge that all transaction services using digital technology will continue to develop,” he observed.
He reminded that the package also covers several provisions to address seven key issues, including human resources and education, access to capital, tax incentives, consumer protection, cyber security, logistics and communication infrastructure. (*)
11 November 2016, Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Indonesia is promoting kolintang, a musical instrument made of wood from Minahasa, North Sulawesi, so that it is included in UNESCOs world heritage list.
This was stated by the Indonesian Consulate General in a press release received by Antara here on Thursday.
A kolintang concert and a batik fashion show were held at theSydney Opera House Studio on Wednesday (Nov 9). These events were organized by the National Kolintang Insan Group (Pinkan) Indonesia, the Purnomo Yusgiantoro Foundation, Jaya Suprana Performing Arts, and IT Foundation. These were supported by the Indonesian Embassy in Canbberra and the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney.
“Efforts to promote Kolintang is another proof of the wealth of art and culture that Indonesia has, in addition to batik and angklung musical instrument which are already part of UNESCOs world heritage list,” Indonesian Ambassador to Australia, Najib Riphat Kesoema, noted.
According to him, kolintang is unique as it has a range of low to high tones which are produced when one beats the instrument.
The event was attended by more than 300 guests, including Australians and members of the Indonesian diaspora.
Seven kolintang musicians of Pinkan Group have been taking Indonesian traditional music across the nation.
In 2013, the government declared wooden kolintang as part of Indonesian cultural heritage, an important step for this traditional musical instrument to be recognized by UNESCO.
Ambassador Najib reminded that such efforts to promote the countrys music was go beyond the recognition granted by UNESCO. In diplomacy, music is a universal language which plays a very important role in improving understanding among the peoples of the world.
“When words fail, music speaks,” the ambassador commented.
He hoped that the kolintang concert and the batik fashion show would help open another window for Australians to know Indonesia better.
12 November 2016, Jakarta (ANTARA News) – The volume of e-commerce transactions in Indonesia is still relatively small but the government is taking anticipatory steps in the face of e-commerce industry growth as it is developing as a global trade model.
Indonesias e-commerce transactions still account for about one to two percent of retailer transactions or much lower than the global average of eight percent. However, it is predicted that e-commerce transactions in Indonesia will increase drastically from US$12 billion in 2014 to about US$24.6 billion this year.
Therefore, the government sees that the e-commerce industry is one of the business sectors that has good prospects in the future, and for this it is issuing an e-commerce development roadmap through an economic policy package.
The roadmap is appearing in the 14th economic policy package announced by the government on Thursday, November 10, 2016.
“The policy package is aimed at encouraging people all over Indonesia to expand their economic activities efficiently and to connect them to the rest of the world. With this roadmap, they will be able to enhance their business in a better way,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution said while announcing the package at the Presidential Office along with Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.
Therefore, the next economic policy package is expected to sufficiently address the issue.
“E-commerce should not be treated as a general form of trading. The tariff should be lower as it is a fledgling industry, an early adopter,” Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto underlined while speaking on the sidelines of the launch of a book on “Developing Populist Economy and Winning ASEAN Economic Community” recently.
Indonesian businesses hope that the tax tariff for e-commerce business will be lower than that of the non-e-commerce industry.
The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) hailed the issuance of the package. Businesses badly need the governments support, particularly on the fiscal system with regard to the issuance of the economic policy package on e-commerce, Fredy Ongko Saputro, chairman of Apindo for East Nusa Tenggara, said.
“The tax tariff should be lower than non-e-commerce because this is a new industry. We hope the tax traffic is set at a modest rate,” the Apindo chairman for East Nusa Tanggara, said.
The regulation to be issued would determine the success of e-commerce in Indonesia as it has the potential to guarantee the survival of fledgling businesses using e-commerce, economic observer Agustinus Prasetyantoko said, elaborating the point.
Agustinus is also of the opinion that tax exemption would help boost e-commerce in the country.
“In certain cases, tax could even be abolished during the start-up phase,” he underscored.
Singapore could be used as the reference country to study ways to develop and expedite the expansion of e-commerce. It provides tax facilities and a low tax for start-ups in addition to assistance in the form of access to cheap capital.
The e-commerce market has begun to grow in Indonesia. In 2014, transactions were valued at $12 billion. E-commerce spending in Indonesia was only 1 to 2 percent of the total retail sales as against 16 percent in South Korea, 12 percent in the United States and the world average of 8 percent.
However, it is worth noting that the performance in 2014 represented a significant increase from $8 billion in 2013. In 2016, the value of transactions is predicted to rise to $24.6 billion.
Therefore, it is being predicted that Indonesia would be among the top ranked countries in e-commerce in the future after China and India in Asia, which is why the government drew up a roadmap.
Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution expressed the hope that the roadmap for the development of e-commerce industry will encourage younger generations to come up with new and innovative products and services.
He reminded that the package also covers several provisions to address seven key issues, including human resources and education, access to capital, tax incentives, consumer protection, cyber security, logistics and communication infrastructure.
12 November 2016, Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) – National electric motorbike prototype units, called Gesits, completed a test drive on Saturday, covering more than 1,000 km from Jakarta to Bali.
The arrival of Gesits, short for Garansindo Electric Scooter (ITS), was welcomed by Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education M. Nasir in Denpasar on Saturday.
“Gesits electric motorbike prototype units performed well during the test drive and did not face any significant problem during the journey,” Minister M. Nasir said.
Gesits is expected to go into mass production in 2018, the minister stated, adding that a production permit must be issued in 2017.
Gesits is a research product of Sepuluh November Institute of Technology Surabaya (ITS) and PT Garansindo Surabaya.
The Director General for Innovation Strengthening at the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, Jumain Appe, noted that the ministry offers incentive for research on electric motorbike prototypes.
It was part of the government’s initiatives to boost research in the industrial sector as it can produce innovative products.
So far, five prototypes have been produced for test drive and five others for crash test.
Five Gesits prototype units began the test drive from Jakarta on Monday (Nov 7) at around 10:00 a.m. local time and arrived in Denpasar on Friday at 05:00 p.m. local time.
During the test drive, the prototypes, which could have touched more than 100 km per hour, maintained an average speed of 60 km per hour.
Gesits prototype is equipped with two types of Lithium-ion batteries.
A 6 kwh battery is installed to push the motorbike to more than 100 kph, while a smaller 3 kwh battery is designated for traveling below 60 or 70 kph.
“We changed the battery 12 times during the journey. There was no problem of any short circuit even when it rained,” Yoga, a test driver, disclosed.
However, at times, the electric motor could heat up until 90 degree Celsius and turned off, he observed.
The overheating problem was fixed by creating a channel to allow air flow to the motor, thus reducing the heat to 50 or 60 degree Celsius.(*)
13 November 2016, Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said while Indonesia has been focusing on physical infrastructure, the government will also work towards ensuring that the citizenry is mentally and emotionally strong.
He called it “inward infrastructure,” vis-a-vis the physical infrastructure.
“Currently, we are focusing on physical development, but the inward infrastructure is also important (to build),” the president stated before thousands of people at a prayer event in Ancol, North Jakarta, on Saturday.
The President admitted that such “inward infrastructure” development is required as a foundation for developing sound and accomplished human resources in the country.
Therefore, he appreciated all those who have been pursuing the goal of national character while the government was focusing on improving the physical infrastructure.
He reiterated the importance of physical infrastructure development, being carried out as part of the five-year program of the government of Joko Widodo and M. Jusuf Kalla (Jokowi-JK).
“I want to say that our focus is now on physical development,” reminded the president.
Under the leadership of Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla, Indonesia has switched from the Java-centric development pattern and shifted focus a more even development across Indonesia.
The objective is to unite the Indonesian nation that is made up of thousands of islands, from Sabang to Merauke.
“We have built toll roads from Lampung to Aceh, and work has been going on for two years. All this development should not remain confined to in Java but must be pursued outside Java. Such development needs to take place from Balikpapan to Samarinda and from Manado to Bitung. Thank God that everything has been running well. Now, people should wait for the completion of these projects,” he counselled.
The infrastructure development achieved by the government is now expected to bring down the cost of transportation, and the president hopes that as a consequence, commodity prices will be more affordable in the country.
“The physical infrastructure is indeed expected to lead to cheaper transportation costs,” he explained.
On the occasion, the President also expressed his gratitude to the scholars, especially of the National Awakening Party (PKB), which has initiated the program of “Nusantara Mengaji” or Quran recitation initiatives throughout Indonesia.
It is seen as being in line with the vision of the Indonesian government that wants to build a model Indonesian citizen.
Several cabinet ministers attended the event, including Minister/State Secretary Pratikno; Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Imam Nahrawi; and Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri, who hails from the PKB.
PKB General Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar also attended the event, which was a national friendly gathering of ulemas and the people.
13 November 2016, Shanghai, China (ANTARA News) – The Indonesian Tourism Ministry and the China National Tourism Administration have agreed to check certain tourism operators who are unprofessional and harm tourists interests.
“We are ready to blacklist such operators since tourism is a service-based business. Managing the tourism business ecosystem with a sense of commitment and professionalism is crucial. What is at stake is to keep the tourism business sustainable,” Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said at a meeting with the Chief of the China National Tourism Administration, Lin Jinzao, on the sidelines of the China International Travel Market (CITM) held in Shanghai from November 11 to 13.
Travel operators and agents who violate commitment made to their customers must be dealt with sternly, he stated, adding that unprofessional tourism operators will have a detrimental impact on the future of the tourism sector.
The China National Tourism Administration has taken several steps to control such unprofessional elements, including travel agents, as part of the efforts to make tourists feel comfortable while on vacation in China, he noted.
“First of all, we express our gratitude to China as more and more Chinese tourists visit Indonesia,” he underlined.
China is now the biggest source of tourist arrivals in Indonesia, overtaking Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
“We have set ourselves the target of attracting 20 million tourists in 2019 and nearly 50 percent of them will come from China,” he disclosed.
In this regard, he underscored the importance of stepping up tourism cooperation with China to achieve the target.
In addition, he pointed out that his ministry will also focus on promoting the “Great China” branding which covers China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
He also invited Chinese investors to invest in the Indonesian tourism industry.
“We invite Chinese investors engaged in the tourism sector to invest in Indonesia which offers natural and cultural attractions. Now is the time to make long-term investments in the tourism sector,” he observed.(*)
13 November 2016, Shanghai (ANTARA News) – The number of Chinese tourists visiting Indonesia so far this year rose 20 percent from a year earlier, Chief of the China National Tourism Administration Li Jinzao said.
“At the turn of 2016, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Indonesia reached more than one million,” he said on the sidelines of China International Travel Mart (CITM) held in Shanghai from November 11 to 13.
Over the same period, the number of Indonesian tourists visiting China increased 16 percent, Li Jinzao said.
“This suggests that tourism cooperation between the two countries has been running well,” he said.
He expressed the hope that the existing good cooperation in the tourism field could be stepped up in the future.
Earlier, Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said China is currently the biggest source of tourist arrivals in Indonesia, overtaking Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and Korea,”.
“We invite Chinese investors engaged in the tourism sector to invest in Indonesia which offers natural and cultural attractions. Now is the time to make long-term investments in the tourism sector,” he observed.
01 Nov 2016, Istanbul (IINA) – The 6th Session of the Ministerial Conference on the Role of Women in the Development of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) kicked off Tuesday in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
The three-day conference will discuss a draft resolution on the appointment of OIC goodwill ambassadors for the empowerment of women, the defense of family values and the marriage institution as well as combatting early marriage.
The draft resolution will be presented on Wednesday to the ministers, in conformity with the decision of the 43rd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on October 18-19, requesting the secretary general to appoint OIC goodwill ambassadors.
Muscat, Nov.13 (ONA)—- The college of Education at Sultan Qaboos University will organize on forthcoming Tuesday the 4th International Conference under the theme ‘ Academic Accreditation, the way to ensuring sustainability of education’ under the auspices of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah al- Hinai, State Advisor.
The conference reflects the importance of the academic accreditation and its role in developing the program related to the preparation of teachers. The conference provides an opportunity for networking and sharing experiences among researchers and those interested in educational issues to come out with recommendations and proposals that may enhance the level of the teachers’ preparation programs and ensuring sustainability of education.
The conference covers a number of key themes that are related to the main theme of the conference namely the accreditation of academic programs, the role of data driven decision management (DDDM), the role of educational leadership in enhancing quality and development of education, the role of institutional research centers in managing quality and accreditation, the technological experience in the academic accreditation and quality assurance, the quality practice and accreditation in higher and institutional education.
Dr. Sulaiman bin Mohammed al- Balushi, Dean of the College of Education said that 275 individuals from 24 Arab and foreign countries will take part in the 6 main sessions and 36 parallel sessions that will cover 180 working papers. There will be also five seminars on academic accreditation for the schools and higher education institutions.
SHARJAH, 12th November, 2016 (WAM) — Sharjah Museums Department, SMD, has played a significant role in the World Travel Market London, using the prestigious annual event to highlight the upcoming 20th anniversary of Sharjah Art Museum.
This year’s participation marks the tenth time that SMD has attended one of world’s leading events for the travel industry, which provides the global trade with an opportunity to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business.
SMD participated at the event in partnership with Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, SCTDA, to showcase Sharjah’s diverse array of unique cultural and historical offerings.
Their discussions with trade delegates and tourism chiefs focused on the upcoming milestone anniversary of Sharjah Art Museum, which was founded in 1997. SMD’s team outlined the permanent collections and paintings by renowned artists and how visitors can learn about the history of the region through the fascinating masterpieces of local painters and Arab artists who have left an important mark in the local and Arab art world.
Manal Ataya, Director General of Sharjah Museums Department, said, “The World Travel Market London offers us an incredible platform to showcase our family of museums to an international audience. One of SMD’s key aims is to expand the outreach of our museum portfolio in order to form new partnerships and bring the world’s best collections to Sharjah.”
“The contacts that the team has developed at World Travel Market London today will also be vital in attracting more visitors from a wider geographical area.”
ABU DHABI, 13th November 2016 (WAM) – HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center in Abu Dhabi organizes the 3rd International Annual Diabetes Meeting for Primary Care on November 18, 2016 at Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi. Under the theme, Innovation and New Technologies in Diabetes, the conference will attract over 200 attendants from the medical field from the region.
International and local speakers at the one-day conference will discuss the latest global trends in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and ways to prevent its complications as well as the latest scientific studies and a number of case studies in dealing with complex cases for patients with diabetes.
Majd Abu Zant, CEO of HealthPlus Network of Specialty Centers in Abu Dhabi, said, “UEMedical group though its different healthcare facilities is keen to hold this medical conference about diabetes every year providing continuous medical education to the medical community, and keeping them informed on the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and to help transfer global expertise of the latest treatments used for diabetes management to the region. Alongside the scientific conference, an exhibition will be held showcasing the latest technologies and innovations in the field of diabetes.”
From his side, Dr. Mohammed Al-Khatib, Consultant Endocrinology and Diabetes at HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center and the Chairman of the conference stated, “the main session at the conference will be delivered by Professor Siegmund Thorsten from University of Munich in Germany about the new treatment options and the new generation of medications including injections or oral medications in treating patients with diabetes.”
He added that experts and specialists in the treatment of diabetes from Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Al Mafraq Hospital, the Ambulatory Healthcare Services – SEHA as well as HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center and other healthcare providers will speak at the conference and participate in case studies discussions.
He said, “One of the sessions will be dedicated to review and discuss the most complex cases that suffer from diabetes and how physicians managed the cases in controlling blood sugar levels to be close to normal levels.”
Speakers will discuss sleep apnea in patients with diabetes type 2, as well as the relation between diabetes and erectile dysfunction, and the psychological impact of diabetes. The conference is accredited for 6.5 hours of CME hours by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi.
Geneva, 14 November 2016 (UNCTAD News release) – Nestled on a peninsula overlooking the world’s biggest graveyard of ships, the port of Nouadhibou may hold the key to a better future for Mauritania’s 3.9 million people, of whom 42% live in poverty.
For years, Mauritania’s economy ran on the iron ore buried deep beneath its Sahara desert sands. But Chinese demand for iron ore has fallen, and the government is putting more hope in its Atlantic coastal waters, some of the richest fishing grounds in the world.
“Mauritania’s fishing industry could boost exports and create jobs, but its ports will need to become more competitive,” says Mark Assaf, in charge of UNCTAD’s port management programme, active in some 200 ports around the globe.
In 2016, Mauritania became the 34th country to join the programme, aiming to promote Nouadhibou as a door to the world, through which to export its processed fish.
Foreign boats may fish in Mauritanian waters, but they currently take their catch elsewhere. Every year, some 1.2 million tons of tuna, shrimp and other fish are caught in Mauritania’s waters. But just 5% of this is processed locally.
According to industry executives, landing fish in Nouadhibou, Mauritania’s only fishing port, is more expensive than in the Canary Islands nearby.
In 2013, Mauritania’s government launched the free zone of Nouadhibou to improve the port’s competitiveness and to attract fish processing industries such as tuna canning. In 2014, it completed an $18-million extension to accommodate bigger vessels.
“Upgrading a port needs new infrastructure but also investment in human resources,” Mr. Assaf says. “Ultimately, a port’s performance depends on the quality of its management.”
The UNCTAD TrainForTrade Port Management Programme took a first crucial step last month when 11 senior port managers completed a workshop for instructors held at the port of Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital.
These newly-trained instructors will then deliver the first cycle of training to around 25 middle managers over the next two years, working closely with UNCTAD experts and managers from other ports in the programme.
“In the port of Douala in Cameroon, a manager took what he learned from our programme, reorganizing the cargo loading and unloading operations to speed the port’s work by 30-40%,” Mr. Assaf says.
According to World Bank data, delays in ports add roughly 10% to the cost of imported goods, more in many cases than tariffs. For exports the harm is worse.
Damascus, 10 November 2016, SANA –”From Homeland’s Memory” exhibition held at Damascus Citadel provided a precious opportunity to bring Syria’s oldest traditional handicrafts into the spotlight.
45 exhibitors took part in the three-day exhibition, which was organized by the General Establishment for Exhibitions and International Markets in cooperation with the General Union of Syrian Craftsmen.
The showcased objects included handmade mosaic, sea shell, Ajami, brocar and silk items, in addition to drawing on glass, engraving on copper, embroidery, weaving, basketry, leather products, ceramics, bags, potteries and documentary works such as photographs, stamps and medals dating back to the 1950s.
Director of General Establishment for Exhibitions and International Markets, Fares Kartli said that the location of the exhibition was carefully chosen since the Citadel of Damascus gives a living testimony on Syria’s civilization and historical heritage.
The participants underlined the importance of this exhibition in preserving and documenting the Syrian heritage as a reminder of the Syrian craftsmen’s creativity over thousands of years.
Representative of the General Union of Craftsmen, Khaldoun Messotti revealed that some master craftsmen and local heritage association are preparing to enter the Guinness World Record with a large number of stunning Syrian handmade products to show the world the successive civilizations of Syria and the creativity of its people despite all circumstances.
The participants called for raising children’s awareness through mass media and the National Heritage Office to enable them to get acquainted with the heritage of their grandfathers since these artworks represent a memory of their homeland, and demanding to establish an academy to teach traditional handicrafts in order to protect them from extinction.
Damascus, 13 November 2016, SANA – A wide range of food, clothes, plastic products, perfumes, detergents, stationery and cosmetics showcased at the monthly shopping festival “Made in Syria” which kicked off Saturday at al-Jalaa sports complex in Mezzeh area in Damascus with the participation of 125 national companies.
In a statement to journalists, Minister of Industry Ahmed Al-Hamo highlighted the importance of the festival in terms of items and products offered at affordable prices to meet citizens’ needs.
He noted to the Ministry’s continuous support to industrialists to provide them with all necessary requirements in order to continue work and production, adding that the discounts help manufacturers increase their sales volume on one hand and enable low-income citizens to buy what they need on the other one.
In turn, Chairman of the Damascus and Damascus Countryside Chamber of Industry Samer al- Debs said that this is the 30th session of this monthly festival organized by the Chamber of Industry in Damascus and other provinces, indicating to the wide participation of private industrial sector, side by side to the General Consumption Establishment.
He noted that the festival allows direct communication between producers and consumers, not to mention the reasonable prices and discounts which exceeded 50% on some products, including textiles.
The festival, organized by Damascus and Damascus Countryside Chamber of Industry, lasts till the 17th of November 2016.
Damascus, 12 November 2016, SANA – The Syriatech 2016 IT expo opened on Saturday at Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus, organized by the Communications and Technology Ministry in cooperation with Syriatel and Creatives for Expos and Conferences, with the participation of around 30 local companies.
The 4-day expo features services, offers, and products from various IT companies, including internet services providers and software companies, as well as direct retail of IT products.
In a statement to journalists, Communications and Technology Minister Ali al-Zafir affirmed that the Ministry is working to support the IT sector which suffered setbacks due to the crisis in Syria, and that there are efforts being exerted to work on the IT infrastructure in terms of the e-signature and e-payment projects.
Al-Zafir noted that one of the most notable things about Syriatech 2016 is the presentation of fiber optics services that provide high-speed internet ranging between 20, 50, 75, and 100 mbps, noting that this technology is being applied in Damascus, Homs, Tartous, and Lattakia, with the rest of the provinces to follow later.
During the expo, Syriatel announced that it will launch IPTV (internet protocol television) services soon.
Kabul, 13 November 2016,(BNA)— To increase and improve products and food safety, the European Union (EU) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have assisted $76mln to Afghanistan’s Amo project. In a ceremony held last week, the contract was signed by the finance minister, Eklil Hakimi and Tom Manilla, the ADB chairman. A Kabul University professor, Saifuddin Sayhoon said that there was no doubt that the international community has always assisted Afghanistan to grow agriculture. However, it is laudable, but the assisted money should be properly spent, Sayhoon further said. He believes that Afghanistan is faced with many agricultural problems, however it is rich of water. Unfortunately, lack of water management has caused the farmers cannot use the waters appropriately, he added. He stressed that if the waters are managed properly, it can undoubtedly be effective on economic development and agriculture growth of the country.
$26 million of the assistance is of the ADB and the rest from the EU.
While signing the contract, finance minister, EklilHakimi said that the government would transparently practice one of its priorities which is expansion of irrigation system in Amo zone provinces, such as Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kunduz, Takhar and Bamyan. The money of the project will be spent through the national budget. Tom Panila, the ADB chairman said that through the project, the income of almost 55000 agriculturist families would increase. He also added that the project will provide job opportunities to about 9000 inhabitants and will continue for twenty years. The EU deputy to Afghanistan said that these long-term assistances and cooperation of the European Union will strengthen the Amo zone areas from the viewpoint of water management. He added that it shows the EU and international donors joint efforts with finance ministry. The finance minister said that agriculture was the main source to develop Afghanistan economically. Lack of food safety is felt throughout the country, particularly in Amo zone provinces such as, Badakhshan, Takhar, Baghlan, Bamyan and Kunduz. It is worth mentioning that the project is consisted of water management system, reconstruction of canals, teaching of farmers to properly use the waters, etc.
Bishkek, 10 November 2016, Kabar — Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in the United Kingdom with the support of the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO), Kyrgyz travel company “Ak-Sai Travel” and the British company Norton Rose Fulbright organized on November 7 the presentation “Kyrgyzstan – Heart of Asia” in order to promote and develop tourism in Kyrgyzstan, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
The event, which was attended by representatives of the British Foreign Office, the British company, the company TheCityUK, BritishExpertise and other travel agencies of various countries, held discussions and exchanged views on the projects and opportunities in the tourism sector of Kyrgyzstan.
During the presentation, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UK Gulnara Iskakova told the participants about the history and prospects of development of independent Kyrgyzstan, and explained the importance of tourism in economic development.
Kokshetau, 10 November 2016, AZERTAC – A festival commemorating USSR People’s Artist, outstanding Azerbaijani opera and popular singer Muslim Magomayev has been held Kokshetau, Kazakhstan. The festival was part of a series of events marking the 25th anniversary of the restoration of state independence of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Counselor of Azerbaijan`s Embassy in Kazakhstan Agajavid Ramazanov said the genius of Muslim Magomayev attracted worldwide attention, including of the Kazakh people.
Young Kazakh singers performed Muslim Magomayev`s songs.
The event also featured the screening of a documentary on the outstanding singer`s life and career.
Murcia, 1 November 2016, AZERTAC — A conference titled “Contribution of the interreligious dialogue to peace and multicultural environment” has been held in Murcia, Spain.
The event was arranged with support of Azerbaijan`s Embassy to Spain and Catholic University of Murcia.
The conference brought together State Adviser on Multinational, Multicultural and Religious Affairs, Academician Kamal Abdulla, Chairman of the Caucasian Muslim Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahashukur Pashazade, Head of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli, Rector of Baku State University Abel Maharramov, as well as, scientific and art figures.
As part of the event, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between Baku State University and Saint Anthony Catholic University of Murcia.
Addressing the event, Azerbaijan`s Ambassador to Spain Anar Maharramov said the country attached great importance to peace, religious and multicultural values.
State Advisor Kamal Abdulla highlighted Azerbaijans experience in the field of multiculturalism. He pointed out that President Ilham Aliyev declared 2016 as the Year of Multiculturalism in Azerbaijan. On the countrys tolerance traditions, as well as its multiculturalism and religious tolerance, the State Advisor spoke about the policy carried out by the State on this front. “This policy carried out and supported by President Ilham Aliyev plays an important role in development of civil society in the country.” He added.
Cardinal, Archbishop emeritus of Madrid Antonio María Rouco Varela highlighted the visits of Popes to Azerbaijan, adding representatives of difference religious confessions live in the country in peace and in stability.
Chairman Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahashukur Pashazade spoke about Azerbaijan’s rich history, as well as co-existence of different nations in the country. Mr. Pashazade highlighted the state support to religious and national tolerance, as well as multiculturalism and state-religion ties.
The Chairman provided an insight into the cause and consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Head of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli said that Azerbaijan has developed an exemplary model of multiculturalism, adding that representatives of different religions live in peace and harmony in Azerbaijan.
Rector of Catholic University of St. Anthony Jose Luis Mendoza thanked the participants for the event, adding religion promoted peaceful life among the nations.
Rector of Baku State University Abel Maharramov highlighted tolerance environment in Azerbaijan. The Rector stressed the significance of the agreement signed between the two Universities. The rector said Baku State University was interested in strengthening ties with the Spanish higher schools.
Then a group of participants received special awards.
Beylagan, 12 November 2016, AZERTAC — President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has viewed the newly-renovated Birinji Shahsevan-Ahmadli-Dunyamalilar highway as part of his visit to Beylagan district.
Chairman of Azeravtoyol OJSC Saleh Mammadov informed the head of state of the technical indicators of the highway.
The opening of the 22km part of the highway was held with participation of the head of state in 2014. The two-lane highway is 39 km in length and 6 m in width.
Eighty culverts were built, traffic signs were installed along the road.
President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the highway.
12 November 2016, Borneo Bulletin —KEEPING up the spirit of the Heart of Borneo Declaration, Brunei has been effectively managing its forest resources through commendable conservation efforts over the past years that have gained global recognition for the Sultanate.
Brunei Darussalam has also gained international acclaim for having bio-rich tropical rainforests, majority of which are still in pristine condition and protected by effective legislation, despite occupying just one per cent of the total forest in the island of Borneo.
Brunei Darussalam is among those countries with a leading forest area, according to Asia Development Bank (ADB).
According to ADB’s Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2016 (Key Indicators 2016) report published this week, Laos topped the list with a forest cover of 81.3 per cent followed by Bhutan (70 per cent), Brunei (70 per cent) and Papua New Guinea (70 per cent).
The report was prepared by the Development Economics and Indicators Division (ERDI) of the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department (ERCD) of the ADB.
Forest area is a crucial foundation for maintenance of biodiversity, management of sustainable water sources, and even in mitigation of harmful consequences of extreme weather conditions, the report said.
Estimates based on the latest data suggest that about 22.2 per cent of Asia and the Pacific’s total land area is covered by forest.
Forest cover in East Asia is estimated at 30.9 per cent and in Southeast Asia at 28.6 per cent. On the other hand, forest cover in Central and West Asia is estimated at 2.6 per cent.
According to the report, the economies with air pollution levels that are below the maximum air pollution level set by the World Health Organization (WHO) include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, the Federated States of Micronesia and New Zealand.
Brunei now has the highest proportion of intact peat swamp forests in Southeast Asia. According to the Forestry Department, about 80 per cent of the peat swamp forest is still in good quality, covering around 16 per cent of the country’s total land area.
The department said last year that forest law and the national forest policy have been further strengthened with the formulation and implementation of the National Master Plan or Vision 2035.
Embedded in the five-year national plan are the implementation strategies and programmes of the forestry sector that provide allocation of government funds for projects that would facilitate economic and environmental development as envisioned under the Vision 2035.
In Brunei Darussalam, there has been a strong political will at all levels of the society to manage and conserve its forest resources since 1934 when the Forest Act was formalised in the country.
The high appreciation for forest and the role of forestry in the Bruneian society have ensured active participation from a wider range of stakeholders in the protection and conservation of the Sultanate’s natural forests.
Meanwhile, commitment by three governments in Borneo to a common conservation vision to effectively manage the island’s forest resources was further strengthened with the International Conference on the Heart of Borneo, which ended on Wednesday (November 9, 2016) in Sabah with a promise not to let the future generations down.
Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia had made a commitment nine years ago to secure a sustainable future of Borneo’s highland rainforest by signing the historic Heart of Borneo Declaration that committed them to a common conservation vision.
Under the common vision, the countries are to ensure the effective management of forest resources and the creation of a network of protected areas, sustainably managed forests and land-use zones across the 22 million hectares which constitute the Heart of Borneo – an area which covers almost one third of the island.
Tehran, 13 November 2016, IRNA – Iranian national team snatching a gold and a silver medal won men’s section of 2016 World Fitness Championship which was held on Nov 12-13 in Poland.
The event was held with attendance of some 131 athletes from 49 countries in Białystok, Poland.
Khodadad Shafi Pour and Hamidreza Bagheri received gold and silver medals respectively.
China, Portugal and Oman received 1 gold medal while Kuwait, England and Spain snatched 1 silver medal and Japan got 2 bronze medals.
Ahvaz, Khuzestan prov,. Nov 13, IRNA – President Hassan Rouhani inagurated three development plans in the oil fields located west of Karun river in the Khuzestan province.
Rouhani attended a ceremony held to celebrate the official launching of the first phase of the development projects in Yadavaran, the first phase of north Azadegan and north Yaran oil fields.
The first phase of Yadavaran oil field with the production capacity of 85,000 barrels per day, north Azadegan oil field with production capacity of 75,000 barrel per day and North Yaran with the production capacity of 30,000 crude oil went on stream on Sunday.
Totally, the production capacity of oil fields located west of Karun river reaches 300,000 bpd after launching the projects.
Tehran, Nov 13, IRNA – Spokesman for organization in charge of Arabeen ceremonies affairs Hamidreza Goudarzi said over one million pilgrims have crossed into Iraq through four official Iranian outlets so far.
Talking to IRNA on Sunday, he noted that based on latest information today, about 1,050,000 Iranians have passed through the four border checkpoints on the Iraqi border namely Shalamche, Chazzabe and Mehran as well as air borders.
The official referred to Mehran as the busiest border checkpoint with close to half a million pilgrims having used it to enter Iraq.
Goudarzi further stressed the need for all Iranian pilgrims seeking entry into Iraqi soil to attain visas.
He said 35 Iranian pilgrims who lacked sufficient legal documents have been arrested and sent to jail by Iraqi officials.
The official further noted that the Iranian foreign ministry officials are in talks with the Iraqi side on the release of arrested pilgrims.
He explained those who embark on illegal entry into Iraq will face 6 months in jail and cash punishment.
The official also said a total of 1,390,000 Iraqi visas have so far been issued for Iranian pilgrims with another 743,223 ones still going through the procedures.
Goudarzi said he anticipated about 2,500,000 pilgrims to travel to Iraq for the Arbaeen rituals, showing an increase of about half a million in number compared to last year.
Ahvaz, Khuzestan Prov. Nov 13, IRNA – President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated new terminal hall on Shalamche border point on Sunday.
President visited the border point of Shalamche with Iraq and inaugurated a new terminal hall for the pilgrims going to Karbala, Iraq, from the border post.
The northern site of the terminal covers an area of 7,500 square meters, built at a credit of 282 billion rials at a period of 16 months.
The terminal hall has the capacity of stopover services for 50,000 pilgrims going to Iraq a day.
12 November 2016, (MENAFN – Muscat Daily) Muscat- High-end collectors are locked in bidding wars for prized ‘khanjar’ watches which feature a dagger in a sheath, superimposed upon two crossed swords – the emblem of Oman – on their dials.
Some of these antique watches, which were commissioned by the Government of Oman, and typically given as presents to dignitaries, are making their way to the world’s top auctions such as Christie’s Patek Phillipe Nautilus 40 Part I, which was held in Dubai last month.
A stainless steel ‘khanjar’ Patek Phillipe Nautilus was sold for US193,500 (RO74,478) at that event.
Experts from the auction house expect an even more valuable 18k gold ‘khanjar’ Patek Phillipe watch to break records at the upcoming Nautilus 40 Part II auction to be held in Geneva on Monday. It is expected to sell for between US200,000 and US400,00 (RO76,980-RO153,960).
Well looked after khanjar watches tick all the boxes for collectors, according to Remy Julia, watch specialist, head of watches, Middle East, India and Africa, Christie’s. ‘It was an honour to offer such a collectible watch in the Middle East as the opening lot of our Nautilus 40 Part I in Dubai. The excitement was in the room as well as on the telephone with bidders from three continents.’
The watch eventually sold for US193,500.
Julia said the gold Patek Phillipe Nautilus Khanjar could break records in Geneva, as it has all the features appealing to collectors. ‘It’s fresh to the market, it’s in exceptional condition – stock condition unpolished and untouched. It is an extremely limited production of a vintage watch enforced by the emblem of Oman, and a special order by the Government of Oman.’
13 November 2016, (MENAFN – AFP) – Iranian investors are pouring money into Kish island in the Gulf, hoping its white sand beaches, coral reefs and more relaxed Islamic rules, could make it a major tourism destination.
From the pristine beaches of Kish, it is only 200 kilometres (120 miles) across the water to Dubai — and it is the booming city state’s tens of thousands of wealthy expats that the investors are hoping to lure.
The wide, palm tree-lined boulevards that circle the island of 100 square kilometres (nearly 40 square miles) are full of top-end cars, including luxury American models.
The buildings are modern, the hotels comfortable and new shopping centres are sprouting everywhere.
Diners pack late-night, roof-top restaurants. Women sit with cigarette in hand, wearing colourful headscarves pushed right back to reveal plenty of make-up and expensive hair-dos.
During the day, the men walk the long jetties in bermuda shorts — forbidden in most parts of Iran. Under the warm autumn sun, one man is even shirtless.
A motorboat zooms past, techno music blaring, with men and women sitting together.
In many ways, it looks as if little has changed since the days when the shah and his family holidayed here before the Islamic revolution of 1979. The green and white cars of the morality police are rarely seen.
Still, even though Islamic rules are less strict on Kish, they are still in force — creating a major obstacle for investors hoping to attract Western expats for short breaks from Dubai.
There are no bars or clubs — or any alcohol at all — while men and women must use separate beaches, splitting up families.
‘Halal tourism’ –
Massoud Gilani, an investment consultant who divides his time between Dubai and Kish, tries to put an optimistic spin on the issue.
Iran is in the midst of a tourism boom, thanks to the efforts of the current moderate government under President Hassan Rouhani to rebuild ties with the West.
Visitor numbers have leapt from 2.2 million a year in 2009 to 5.2 million in 2015, the government says, and an even bigger increase is expected this year.
But most Westerners are drawn by Iran’s ancient cities and historical treasures, rather than a beach break.
Ali Jirofti, one of the managers of Kish’s free trade zone, recognises that the island’s best hope is to focus on Muslim holidaymakers.
The priority is “high-end halal tourism,” he said.
Kish already attracts some 1.8 million visitors per year, mostly Tehranis hoping to escape not just social strictures but also the horrendous traffic and pollution of the capital.
Shopping is another big draw — Kish was the first and most significant of seven free-trade zones set up during the 1990s to attract investment and help with the import of consumer goods.
There are now some 40 hotels, and US-style malls are everywhere.
The company also wants to double the number of international flights by Kish Air and create a car-free “ecological paradise” on the nearby island of Hendorabi, where an airport, port and hotel have already been built.
Investors are also pushing health tourism, with two top-end hospitals already running on the island, boasting leading doctors, particularly plastic surgeons.
“Forty more luxury hotels of four to five stars are under construction,” said Jirofti. “Our aim is to reach 2.6 million tourists within 10 years.”
12 November 2016, (MENAFN – Khaleej Times) – Active tourism market backs industry; remains firm on growth trajectory With the GCC hospitality industry remaining firm on its projected annual 7.6 per cent growth trajectory, the region is pressing ahead with projects with a combined value of 104.4 billion despite the headwinds posed by falling oil revenues, tourism industry experts said.
A bulk of the tourism and hospitality projects underway are in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, collectively valued at 23.5 billion, as the region’s hospitality market is expected to grow at a 7.6 per cent compound annual growth rate to 36.7 billion in 2020 from an estimated 25.4 billion in 2015.
Organisers of the upcoming Hotelier Summit UAE & KSA said the regional governments support the tourism sector that they consider as a strong economy growth driver. Several measures have been taken such as building new attractions, involving private investments, and launching several international promotional campaigns. Of the ongoing projects in GCC, 15 of them are either in UAE or Saudi Arabia.
Analysts at Alpen Capital said in the long-term, aided by upcoming events, robust fundamentals and government efforts, the hospitality sector in the GCC is anticipated to recover on the back of sustained rise in tourist arrivals and a robust pipeline of hotels and serviced apartments.
Backed by an active tourism market, the GCC hospitality industry remains firm on its growth trajectory. Though drop in oil prices and currency depreciation is currently affecting demand, the sector’s long-term outlook remains strong, Alpen said.
Government measures to bolster tourism activities in the region like encouraging private sector investments, building new attractions, expanding airport capacity, and increasing international promotion campaigns are providing impetus to the growth of the hospitality sector in the region, Alpen said.
A thriving segment of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), spate of technological advancements, and brisk development of midscale hotel properties are amongst the key factors elevating the appeal of the GCC hospitality sector, she said.
The GCC region holds one of the largest hotel development pipelines in the world. Driven by the bright prospects of the tourism industry and government support, international hotel chains as well as domestic players have laid down robust hotel and serviced apartment development plans.
Dubai is likely to witness an addition of nearly 57,000 rooms in hotel and serviced apartments in the five years to 2020, whereas Saudi Arabia has a pipeline of over 47,000 rooms. Addition of such massive capacity is expected to extensively scale up the region’s hospitality sector. Large-scale international events, upcoming tourist attractions, and a growing MICE market are likely to accelerate tourist arrivals to the GCC region. International tourist arrivals to the GCC are anticipated to grow by 5.7 per cent annually in the next four years to 2020, Alpen said.
Ganesh Babu, Director, India & Middle East, IDE, organiser of the Hotelier summit, said the event’s previous edition in Qatar had such a huge impact and generated a lot of good echoes among participants and in media as well as important business deals. “We could present more than 345 projects and reunite over 120 hotel owners, operators, developers, architects, interior designers, consultants and service providers.”
12 November 2016, (MENAFN – Muscat Daily) Muscat- Residents of Oman can now apply for visas to France at the visa application centre launched for the Embassy of France in Muscat.
Applicants can visit VFS Global’s modern and well-appointed centre to submit visa applications and enrol for biometrics. With France being a popular tourist destination with Omanis, the opening of this new centre will bring added convenience and ease to applicants through quicker and more streamlined application processes.
The new centre joins five other client governments served at the same premises, making it convenient for travellers planning multiple business or leisure trips abroad. Oman is the third country in the Middle East, after Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in UAE, from where applicants can apply for a visa to France. Since commencing visa processing operations in Oman in 2005, VFS Global now serves nine client governments in the country.
VFS Global has been serving France since 2004, and currently serves clients in 15 countries from 52 visa application centres globally. H E Roland Dubertrand, Ambassador of France to Oman, said, ‘In order to ensure an excellent quality of service to an ever increasing number of visa applicants and to attract more Omanis and foreign residents to visit France, the French Embassy has selected VFS Global for collecting visa applications.’
Yummi Talwar, regional head – Middle East, VFS Global, said, ‘The opening of this centre and our longstanding association of over 12 years with the Government of France reflects their trust in our abilities to deliver uncompromising service quality.’ The centre is located at Muscat Grand Mall. For further details visit www.vfsglobal.com/france/oman
12 November 2016,(MENAFN – Muscat Daily)- Muscat- Omran signed an agreement with Oman Motorhomes recently to set up the first campgrounds for Recreation Vehicles (RVs) in various key tourist areas.
It falls within Oman’s national Tourism Strategy 2040 that aims to make tourism account for six per cent of the country’s GDP.
The agreement provides another dimension to the development of the tourism industry, and will enable visitors to experience the sultanate’s attractions in a new way. The first campgrounds will be established in Al Ashkhara and Salalah.
Eng Khalid Mirza, director of Projects Development, Omran said, ‘We look forward to working with Oman Motorhomes on setting up the first campgrounds across the sultanate. It’s the right time to furnish the tourism sector with new creative ideas such as the entrepreneurship concept offered by Oman Motorhomes which will help in boosting tourism and offer new activity for internal and external tourists in Oman. This will create jobs for Omanis and support Omani SMEs at the local communities around the campgrounds.’
He added, ‘With Omran’s aim to continue implementing its Local Development Investent (LDI) strategy, which looks beyond the short-term goal of immediate returns; this kind of collaboration bolsters the investment in the strategic vision of Omran. We want to ensure a stronger local supply chain, working with local skills and talent and consequently improving the quality of our end product. And this is a great example of doing that.’ Oman Motorhomes is the authorised dealer in Oman for the world’s largest manufacturers of RVs including Thor Motorcoach and Forestriver which guarantee the highest standard.
‘Oman Motorhomes strives to create a positive touristic experience while exploring the beauty of Oman in a convenient and affordable way for all customers. After a day of sightseeing, families can return to their RVs, cook their favourite meals at leisure and relax in a comfortable and familiar atmosphere,’ said Eng Nasser al Saadi, owner and managing director of Oman Motorhomes.
‘Oman Motorhomes will also seek community participation in operating campgrounds which will bring substantial economic benefits to local communities and residents and create community awareness and understanding,’ Eng Saadi added.
13 November 2016, (MENAFN)- Suez Canal traffic data showed that 270 ships crossed the canal with a load of 14.9mn tons from 5-10 Nov.
Moreover, an average of 45 ships transited the canal per day amid that period, with an average load of 2.48mn tons per day.
Compared to July of last year, before the inauguration of the New Suez Canal, the average daily number of transiting vessels reached 47 vessels.
Recently, 135 ships transited the new channel coming from the south, with a daily average of 22.5 vessels and a total load of 7.9mn tons.
12 November 2016, (MENAFN – Morocco World News), Casablanca — A new report by INDC Maroc (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) on projected contributions for the 2010-2030 period has determined that Morocco would need 50 billion dollars in order to attain its climate change goals.
The document describes how Morocco plans on reducing its gas emissions by 17 percent by 2030. 4 percent of those reductions are set to be handled by the AFAT (agriculture, forestry, and other land use).
The report also determined that an additional 25 percent reduction on gas emissions is possible if Morocco gets investments amounting to 50 billion dollars between 2010 and 2030 (495 billion dirhams).
Morocco intends to invest between 15 and 20 percent in fighting climate change, but pans on asking the international community to contribute as much as 38 billion dollars over the next 15 years.
Morocco is highly vulnerable when it comes to climate change given its geographical positioning. Unfortunately, its ‘contribution to the causes of climate change is extremely low,’ says the INDC report.
The contribution numbers were determined with global ambitions, and the Paris Agreement, in mind.’In coherence with Article 3 of the Paris Agreement,’ says the report, ‘Morocco’s INDC presents the country’s efforts in its battle against climate change in terms of adaptation and mitigation for all sectors of the country’s economy.’
13 November 2016, (MENAFN – Khaleej Times)- Millennials account for almost half of Dubai’s total population of 2.5m Millennials in Dubai are increasingly getting onto the property bandwagon – and that’s good news for the emirate’s real estate sector in general and for certain up-and-coming suburbs in particular.
Born between the early 1980s and 2000, millennials account for almost half of Dubai’s total population of 2.5 million (2015 data), according to the Dubai Statistics Centre.
With high disposable income, Dubai’s millennials make up the bulk of first-time buyers, a fact that holds true more for Western and Arab expats than for Asians, who prefer to make their first property purchase in their home country.
Also known as Generation Y, these professionals are increasingly choosing to invest in Dubai property as a hedge against rental inflation, mostly opting for studios, one-bedroom apartments and townhouses, say experts.
“Young families show a preference for townhouses as there are gardens and rooms to expand should their personal circumstances dictate,” said David Godchaux, CEO of Core Savills.
The launch of affordable townhouses such as Town Square by Nshama and in Jumeirah Village Triangle has certainly piqued the interest of millennials and first-time buyers. Other townhouse options on their radar include The Springs and Arabian Ranches Phase 2.
“Townhouses are very attractive for those with young children. Emaar’s Mira development is one such good example of a new community. In some ways, it is what The Springs used to be five to seven years ago,” said Sanjay Chimnani, managing director of Raine & Horne Dubai.
Property and community requirements vary for a couple with children and those without kids. While a young family is on the lookout for parks, communal pools and proximity to schools, singles and DINK (double income no kids) couples seek restaurants and the convenience of daily chores around their new abodes.
Facilities in demand
New homeowners are sticklers for some basic facilities in the building such as a pool, gym, parking, etc.
“Community facilities such as convenience retail, F & B, clinics, pharmacies, schools, salons as well as easy access to main highways are important factors in their consideration. In terms of floorplans, millennials look at efficient layouts with open kitchen rather than closed kitchens,” according to Mansoor Ahmed, director of healthcare, education, development solutions and PPP at Colliers International Mena.
In terms of size, young people are looking for studios or one bedroom units. Most of them are price-conscious, so would be prepared to sacrifice on size in order to potentially pay less.
“This constitutes almost 60 to 70 per cent inventory of several new projects. Home sizes have also changed over time. A typical one-bedroom apartment seven to 10 years ago was 1,000 sq ft to 1,200 sq ft and these are now around 700 sq ft. This is more in line with big cities in international markets,” added Raine & Horne’s Chimnani.
Besides a way out of the rental trap, most millennials buy homes for investment purposes as well (think capital appreciation and rental returns).
Barometer of wealth
“Given a choice, most people’s dream would be to own their property. But in Dubai, this is not necessarily possible. Property ownership is seen as a barometer of wealth, and young first-time buyers would prefer to buy an investment if they cannot afford an end-user property. There are also those who want to put roots down and get out of the rental trap, so the drivers are wealth building and/or owning one’s home,” explained Mario Volpi, chief sales officer, Kensington Exclusive Properties.
Meanwhile, with developers getting creative with post-handover payment plans, millennials and first-time buyers are seeing the benefits of committing EMI to a mortgage rather than wasting money on rent.
“Even if a person takes a five-year view of staying in Dubai, s/he will find it very attractive to own as opposed to rent. If the lending cap is reduced to 10 to 15 per cent down payment and 85 to 90 per cent mortgage as against 25:75 today as per central bank guidelines, end-user ownership would boom,” suggested Chimnani.
“What has happened over the past two years is the formation of a growing pool of underlying demand because of the very high level of yields in Dubai. Some of this underlying demand is starting to translate into transactions as there is a perception that prices have or are starting to reach the bottom. This, in turn, is pushing more renters to move to ownership as there is anticipation that prices will progressively grow over the next few years,” Core’s Godchaux concluded.
DHAKA, 8 November 2016, (BSS)-A two-day Bangladesh Denim Expo-2016 began at Bashundhara International Convention Centre in the city today.
A total of 55 organizations from 15 countries are taking part in the event. The theme of this year expo is ‘Natural Denim’.
Around 5000 global denim experts from different countries, including the USA, the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Egypt, Belgium, China and the UAE, have joined the expo.
As part of the programme, a seminar was held today. German ambassador Dr. Thomas Prinz and Swedish ambassador Johan Frisell attended the seminar which was conducted by BGMEA vice-president Mohammad Nasir.
DUBAI, 10 November 2016, (BSS/AFP) – Dubai inaugurated a new canal Wednesday after a three-year construction project costing $735 million, in a fresh boost for tourism and commerce in the booming Gulf city state.
The Dubai Water Canal creates a 6.4-kilometre (four-mile) waterfront in the area running from the city’s growing Business Bay commercial district to the Gulf.
The waterway, between 80 and 120 metres (260-400 feet) in width, will “add a unique tourist and commercial showpiece” to the city, said the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) chief, Mattar al-Tayer.
RTA said three bridges were built and that the project would provide “a new residential district, tourist attractions and recreational facilities including several hotels, restaurants and entertainment”.
It will add a new shopping centre, four hotels and 450 restaurants to the city, according to local media.
Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum attended the canal’s grand official opening ceremony, as the city state which attracted 14 million tourists in 2015 aims for 25 million visitors a year by 2020 when it hosts the global trade fair Expo 2020.
In 2013, Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the Gulf country’s vice-president and prime minister, promised that the water canal will be Dubai and the UAE’s “biggest landmark.”
Following a spectacular show of acrobats and dancers, he boarded a boat with his guests and sailed in the canal towards the commercial centre amid applause from inhabitants who gathered at its banks as fireworks lit up the sky.
The emirate is also working on a skyscraper that when completed will stand even higher than its Burj Khalifa — the world’s tallest tower at 823 metres (2,700 feet).
DHAKA, 13 November 2016, (BSS) – Dr Kazi Hanium Maria, associate professor of the Department of Physics of Dhaka University (DU), has been Awarded “Rowshan Innas Ali Research Award-2014” for her outstanding research work.
DU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique handed over the award to Dr Maria as the chief guest at a function at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of the university.
Donor of the Trust Fund Dr Husne Ara Ali and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Syed Nazmul Huda also addressed the function.
Prof Arefin congratulated Dr Maria and also paid his glowing tribute to the memory of late Prof M Innas Ali.
The VC recalled the outstanding contributions of Prof Ali to develop scientific research and education in the country.
He urged the students to equip themselves with moral values by following the ideals of Prof M Innas Ali.
Prof M Innas Ali was the Chairman of DU Physics Department. He had donated money to DU authorities for setting up “Rowshan Innas Ali Trust Fund” at the university in memory of his wife. He died on May 3, 2010 in Dhaka at the age of 94.
SIRAJGANJ, 13 November 2016, (BSS)- Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim today said the Awami League government would not let any quarter to destroy communal harmony asserting no one would be spared who carried out attacks on the minority community.
“Let us not destroy the thousand-year-old tradition of communal harmony of the country. A vested quarter is hatching conspiracy to instigate the communal disturbances,” he told a meeting of district law and order committee at Deputy Commissioner’s office here this afternoon.
Nasim, also Awami League presidium member and 14-party spokesman, called upon the administration, the party leaders and workers and the peoples’ representative to remain alert so that none can carry out further attack on the minority community people to create instability in the country.
The minister said the members of different religions, including the Hindus, have been performing their respective religious festivals peacefully and with much festivity under the rule of the present government.
“But, a vicious circle suddenly carried out attack on the Hindus to destroy the communal harmony,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner Kamrun Nahar Siddique chaired the meeting while Tanvir Imam, MP, Superintendant of Police Miraj Uddin Ahmed and District Awami League President Abdul Latif Biswas, among others, joined it.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, 12 November 2016, (Anadolu Agency)— Azerbaijan’s state news agency AzerTac will take over the presidency of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) and of the World Congress of News Agencies (NAWC) for three years.
The opening ceremony of the meetings, the 16th general assembly of the OANA and the fifth congress of the NAWC, will be held at the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku on Nov.16.
“We are sure that Anadolu Agency and AzerTac, two friendly agencies, will achieve greater success by cooperating during our presidency of the World Congress of News Agencies in 2016-2019.” Aslan Aslanov, director general of the AzerTac told Anadolu Agency on Saturday.
The two events will bring together more than 200 heads and representatives of over 100 reputable news agencies, speakers specialized in media, and officials from the UN and UNESCO.
In the World Congress of News Agencies, they will discuss hot topics such as the opportunities of the new technologies and social media, innovation of the news agencies and journalism training for the future of the multimedia.
At the events, executives of the news agencies such as Associated Press, Reuters, Anadolu Agency, TASS, Xinhua will give speeches.
OANA was run by Russian news agency TASS for the 2013–2016 period. Turkey’s Anadolu Agency held the presidency between 2010-2013
Established in 1961 under a UNESCO initiative, OANA is comprised of 44 Asia-Pacific news agencies from 35 countries.
The NAWC was established in 2004 in Moscow. This year Azerbaijan will take over the presidency from Saudi Arabia.
ISTANBUL, 13 November 2016, (Anadolu Agency) – It was third time lucky for Kenyan-born Azerbaijani runner Evans Kiplagat who finished first in Sunday’s Vodafone Istanbul Marathon’s men’s race.
Crossing the line with a time of two hours, 13 minutes and 28 seconds, Kiplagat finally took first place after finishing second last year and third in 2012.
Ethiopian athlete Shura Kitata Tola finished second and Kenyan runner Peter Kiptoo Kiplagat came third.
Kenyan athlete Agnes Jeruto Barsosio won the women’s marathon with a time of two hours, 28 minutes and 24 seconds. Ethiopian runner Sechale Adugna Dalasa came second and her compatriot Rahma Tusa Chota finished third.
July 15 martyrs remembered
Thousands of people are still taking part in the Istanbul Marathon where this year’s theme is: “We are running for the July 15 martyrs.”
Sunday’s marathon hosted 90 elite athletes, including 28 top Turkish runners, as well as thousands of people who just want to challenge themselves by running 42 kilometers (26 miles).
Turkey’s Sports Minister Akif Cagatay Kilic, Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas gave the starting signal at 9.00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT).
Starting pistols were not used out of respect for the hundreds of martyrs killed in the deadly July coup plot.
More than 240 people died and nearly 2,200 others were injured during the events of July 15.
The Istanbul marathon also features 15km and 10km events.
A free 8km Heroes Run will see people casually race or just walk along the Bosphorus. A race for wheelchair-bound competitors is also underway.
The races started on the Asian side of the July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge, formerly known as the Bosphorus Bridge, and will end on the historic European side.
Sports Minister Kilic told Anadolu Agency he was walking in the Heroes Run to commemorate the people who were martyred on the bridge during the night of the coup attempt.
“Our people are together. Those who have different opinions and favor different political parties are in unity,” Kilic added.
The marathon will end in Sultanahmet Square; the 15km and 10km races will finish in the nearby Eminonu district. The Heroes Run will end in front of the Ottoman-era Dolmabahce Palace.
This year’s elite athletes were mostly from Turkey, Belarus, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Russia and Ukraine.
KARACHI, Pakistan, 13 November 2016, (Anadolu Agency) – The departure of a Chinese ship from Pakistan’s southwestern Gwadar port on Sunday meant a much-vaunted economic corridor between the countries began to transition from bilateral agreements to reality.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended a ceremony held at the port, a key part of the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), to celebrate the arrival of a Chinese trade convoy that had travelled 3,000 kilometers from China’s northwestern Xinjiang province.
Flanked by powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif, cabinet ministers and ambassadors from 15 countries, Sharif formally saw off the first ship from the deep-sea port.
Describing the much-publicized CPEC project as “game-changer” for the entire region, Sharif said his country was harnessing its geo-strategic location for economic benefits.
“This is the beginning of shared benefits, shared prosperity and shared cooperation between Pakistan and China,” he said, adding that his government planned to transform Gwadar into a small port city to serve as a trade and economic hub for the entire region.
The Chinese ambassador to Islamabad, Sun Weidong said: “CPEC has entered its full implementation. It is a sign of mutual benefits, mutual construction and win-win cooperation between Pakistan and China.”
During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan last year, the two countries sealed a total of 51 agreements under the CPEC umbrella, increasing their cooperation on energy, security and infrastructure issues.
The corridor, which is part of Beijing’s most ambitious foreign economic initiative, One Belt, One Road, will connect northwest China to the Gwadar port through a network of roads, railways and pipelines, to transport cargo, oil and gas.
It would provide the shortest route for Chinese cargo destined for the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa while earning Islamabad $5 billion annually.
One of the most serious barriers to the completion of the 2,000-kilometer corridor has been Pakistan’s security problems, with Chinese workers having been attacked or kidnapped by Taliban militants or Baloch separatists operating in the province Gwadar is located in.
Baloch separatists have accused Islamabad of taking Chinese help to steal resources from the mineral-rich Balochistan province.
After a request by the Chinese president, the Pakistani army has created a 10,000 strong force to provide protection to hundreds of Chinese workers, technicians and experts working on projects linked to the economic corridor.
Beijing is already Islamabad’s largest trade and defense partner but the two countries hope the project will increase their trade volume from $16 billion to $20 billion.
LAHORE, 13 November 2016,(APP)- Pakistan Veterans Cricket team will visit South Africa from November 15 to play a four match series against the veterans teams in different cities.
“It will be an interesting series and a test of potential and abilities of our team”, said prominent veteran and club cricket organizer and member of the team, Salman Khan while talking to APP here on Sunday.
He said Pak veterans team will be playing matches in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth during the ten day tour.
“This tour is of greater significance as it will help in promoting veteran cricket ties between the two countries and we will also be aiming to portray a soft image of Pakistan being a sports loving country with a rich history of having organized elite sports events not only in cricket but also in other sports”, said Salman.
He said there is dire need of bringing back international cricket to Pakistan and from the platform of the veteran cricket they will be making efforts in this regard.
The veterans team comprises, Ashiq Hussain, Salman Khan, Amer Ilyas Butt, Hamad Maqbool, Saleem Elahi, Bilal Khilji, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamil Khan, Kamal Ghani, Asim Jah, Zubair Butt, Muhammad Shakeel, Zia uddin and Qaiser Khichi.
Shakeel and Saleem are the two ex test cricketers in team, he said.
He said the touring side will open its tour with a 30-overs match at Newlands, Cape Town, second match at Western Province Cricket Stadium, Cape Town, third match at George Cricket Stadium and the fourth and last game at Port Elizabeth stadium.
He said Veterans team is in good shape as its members are engaged in veteran cricket at Lahore and Karachi. “The team is a mixture of players mainly from Lahore and Karachi and they have warmed up for the tour by taking part in number of veteran cricket matches and events held at their respective centres”, said Salman.
He said Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association was doing a lot to develop veteran cricket and it was arranging foreign tours for its team on regular basis to create healthy activities for the former cricketers.
Salman said being involved in veteran cricket it does not mean that they will be utilizing their energies and resources only on the promotion of grass root cricket.
“From the platform of the veteran cricket I will be organizing youth cricket tournaments by involving local clubs of Lahore to identify new cricket talent and to play a due role in a national cause”, he added.
He said they will also be inviting the respective South African veterans teams to visit Pakistan in due course of time to develop veteran cricket ties on reciprocate basis.
Pak veterans team will return home on November 27.
ISLAMABAD, 11 November 2016,(APP)- British Council will launch a short film in collaboration with Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy Films during August 2017 in connection with 70th anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence.
The film intends to explore migration between the United Kingdom and Pakistan since 1947, said a news release issued here.
It will focus on telling families’ stories and will examine how understandings of the period of Partition and Independence affect subsequent generations’ cultural understandings and identities.
This exciting project will explore the rich and complex relationship between the UK and Pakistan through personal narratives.
The film would explore how family histories of migration affect peoples’ relationships to their ancestor’s ‘home’ countries and to their own countries in this case, how grandparents’ or parents’ experiences of migration from Pakistan to the UK around 1947 are perceived and internalised.
The film will explore several distinct family stories it will aim to feature several diverse stories, including stories of families who migrated to the UK but who have since returned to Pakistan.
LAHORE, 12 November 2016, (APP) – Newly produced Pakistani film, Rahm, is based on a novel of great British poet and playwright Shakespeare and it will be released in the cinema houses all over the country on Nov 18.
The special aspect of this film is that the old songs of Madam Noor Jahan and Reshma have been picturised in it according to the situations of the story.
Heroin of the film, Sanam Saeed, told APP here on Saturday that film ‘Rahm’ is her fourth film to be released during this year, while her fifth film, Azad has also been completed.
Besides, Sanam Saeed, Nayyar Ejaz and Rehan Sheikh and others performed in this film.
A Mujra dance has been picturised on an old beautiful song of Madam Noor Jahan. Sanam saeed claimed that this film will hit the box office.
ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (APP): Pakistan has potential to enhance its exports to Turkey up to $5 billion, with the greatest capacity of $329 million in the trade of instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical and veterinary sciences, says the latest report of Pakistan Business Council (PBC).
The PBC in its “2016 Second Review of the Feasibility of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Turkey,” urged that Pakistan should emphasize on pressing for tariff reduction on its high potential export products.
“While the tariffs faced by the top 10 high potential items of Pakistan are low (9.6 percent or below), there is a significant difference between tariffs placed on Pakistan and Turkey’s Free Trade Agreement partners, Egypt and Jordon,” it said.
Turkey’s FTA partners Egypt and Jordan enjoy tariffs significantly lower than those currently faced by Pakistan; while the tariffs on Turkish exports, though high, are at par with those on the exports of Pakistan’s FTA partners including China, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
The report said that Turkey has the potential to export $12.8 billion to Pakistan, with the greatest potential $346 million in trade of motor cars and other motor vehicles.
According to the report, tariff and trade simulation shows that had both the countries signed an FTA that eliminated all tariffs in 2015, Turkey’s exports would rise by 32% while Pakistan’s exports would only rise by 22%.
The Study finds that the benefits of a bilateral FTA are skewed in favor of Turkey and its export portfolio fits the import needs of Pakistan better than vice versa, hence Turkey is more likely to experience increased exports post FTA.
Looking at the potential for both countries to increase their exports to each other, Turkey’s export potential is over 2.5 times larger than Pakistan’s export potential, the report observes.
The report urges that negotiations need to focus on tariff elimination across high potential exports, particularly those in which the exporter has a comparative advantage.
Pakistan should also be wary of non tariff barriers, it says, adding tariff elimination alone cannot increase Pakistan’s exports to their 2011 level; those exports can be partly recouped if trade remedy provisions are made part of the FTA.
According to the study,Pakistan’s exports to Turkey are concentrated in cotton while its imports consist of machinery, electrical, electronic equipment, plastic, chemicals, synthetic staple fibers, and iron/steel.
Pakistan benefits from a positive, though sharply declining,bilateral trade balance, the report adds.
The report urges both the countries to do away with discrepancies in their reported data on which the bilateral trade policy is made, which would help promote trade.
ISLAMABAD, 13 November 2016, (APP) – Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday said start of trade operations through cargo ships from Gwadar Port would start a new era of economic prosperity and global integration.
This was the start of the period that would be epochal in the history of Pakistan, as an era of economic prosperity and global integration, she said in a statement.
The minister said the Prime Minister had inaugurated the start of trade operations through cargo ships from Gwadar Port.
The Government of Pakistan under the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had opened a corridor of progress and development for Pakistan, especially for the province of Balochistan, she added.
She said China Pakistan Economic Corridor in the near future would provide opportunities for the youth that would encourage and inspire those who have to go abroad to look for opportunities.
The mega project, she said, would change the destiny of the nation by utilising vast national resources effectively that would be an enabler to deliver high quality of services and amenities to the people.
GWADAR, Nov 13 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Sunday said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had become a reality with starting off the first shipment of trade cargo from the Gwadar Port to international destinations.
Terming the arrival of the first trade convoy at Gwadar Port ‘a watershed event’, the Prime Minister said the CPEC project, conceived by the leadership of China and Pakistan, had materialized, bringing a dawn of immense trade and commerce opportunities for the whole region.
Addressing a ceremony of the launching of the first mega pilot trade cargo, he said Pakistan was a proud partner of China and assured that his government would leave no stone unturned to complete all the development projects under the aegis of CPEC on time.
He said the CPEC also manifested the desire of the leadership of two countries for shared prosperity through a broader and solid cooperation.
He also lauded the Chinese President for his vision of regional prosperity which coincided with Pakistan’s vision of development of 2020.
He said President Xi’s vision of shared prosperity through greater connectivity was need of the hour in the conflict ridden and increasing polarized world.
The CPEC was the fusion of Chinese President’s concept of ‘one belt and one road’ project which came as integrating the trade and commerce activities of various regional countries through enhanced connectivity, thus transforming Pakistan into a major hub of trade and commerce, he added.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan enjoyed the unique geo-strategical location, standing at the crossroads of three major engines of growth, including South Asia, China and the Central Asia, and changing fate of three billion people of the region and in future would serve as the hub of a major trade zone.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahmood, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zakaullah Khan, federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and Abdul Qadir Baloch, Advisor on National Security Nasir Khan Janjua, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, a number of ambassadors, FWO officials, Chinese dignitaries, Sino Trans company officials, members of provincial assemblies, notables and elders were present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said today they had gathered to witness the dream of CPEC turning into reality and further strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries that stood the test of times.
Terming the Gwadar Port a ‘jewel in the CPEC crown’, he expressed the confidence that due to its geo-strategic prime location, it would play a pivotal role in future trade and cargo activities.
He said the vision of exclusive and sustained development must reach to those who had been mired in poverty and backwardness and in that regard, the CPEC would provide benefits to the all the under-developed areas of the country, including Balochistan, KPK, FATA, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Prime Minister said the construction of new roads had brought peace and prosperity in the province linking the major coastline of the country, which had been erstwhile virtually inaccessible due to lack of road network.
He said the federal government was spending Rs 74 billion for numerous development projects in the province whereas projects, including Khuzdar-Quetta and D I Khan road dualization, worth Rs 200 billion would be launched soon.
He lauded the services of Frontier Works Organization (FWO) for the operationalizing of Gwadar Port by laying three major road networks through the rough and difficult terrains of the province over which the federal government spent Rs 49 billion.
He paid tribute to the brave 40 FWO men who laid down their lives in the construction of the road projects.
The Prime Minister also commended the personal support and indulgence of the Chief of Army Staff and Balochistan Chief Minister for executing the development projects, adding the maritime security was being looked after by the Pakistan Navy.
He announced that Khuzdar-Gwadar-Ratodero road would be made operational in 2017 whereas Chaman-Khyber road had been rehabilitated.
The federal government, he said, had allocated land for the Free Trade Zones whereas a project worth Rs 25 billion was being executed for the development of Gwadar city, keeping in view its importance.
He said an amount of Rs 11.5 billion was being spent for the clean drinking water supply to Gwadar. In that regard, Shadi Kaur dam was completed whereas work on Basol dam was underway.
The existing 50-bed hospital, he said, was being upgraded to 300-bed facility, while a university, and a technical and vocational training institute were also being set up in Gwadar to produce required manpower.
He said under the CPEC, the government had prioritized energy and road infrastructure. To meet the electricity needs, a 300-megawatt power plant was being installed in Gwadar, he added.
The Prime Minister said the government had already allocated land for the Gwadar Free Trade Zone with special concessions.
Moreover, he said, the projects of Exclusive Industrial Park Processing Zone and Mineral Economic Zone were also being executed on priority basis.
He underscored the significance of the political stability and said the CPEC was a leapfrog in this regard. The Prime Minister said the CPEC was a national programme and its enemies were the enemies of Pakistan and China.
Speaking on the occasion, FWO Director General Major General Muhammad Afzal said the first pilot trade convoy had reached Gwadar after covering a distance of 3000 Kms from Kashghar.
He said under the concept of modern times maritime trade activities, the CPEC would usher in socio-economic transformation of the whole region.
Maj General Muhammad Afzal said the Prime Minister’s patronage was vital for the realization of the project. He said Pakistan army provided security to the trade convoy from China to Gwadar and would ensure security of all the trade routes in future.
He thanked the Sino-Trans, a Chinese company, for lending help and cooperation to the FWO and said the synergy among all the stakeholders proved to be a catalyst in operationalizing the port.
Executive member of the Sino Trans company, in his remarks, said the completion of the CPEC would have far reaching effects upon all the countries of the region.
Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong conveyed the warm felicitations on behalf of the Chinese government to the Pakistani nation and the government on the commencement of first trade cargo.
He said it was a significant development as for the first time, a trade convoy had passed through the western route to the south and north of the country, showing the greater connectivity.
It proved the capacity of the port to handle the shipment of the trade cargo to international destinations, he added.
Weidong said it was ‘the win-win opportunity’ for both the countries and commended the security and law enforcement agencies for providing security to the convoy.
He said about 60 different projects of the CPEC were under construction, creating jobs for the tens of thousands of local people.
A duet was also presented by the Pakistani and Chinese singers to celebrate the occasion.
DUBAI, 13th November, 2016 (WAM) — To enhance mutual collaboration and promote economic, trade and investment relations, Dubai Wholesale City, a member of TECOM Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ningxia province of China.
Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Wholesale City, Abdulla Belhoul and Governor of the Ningxia province, Wang Heshan, signed the MoU in the presence of Department of Commerce representatives and international relations officials from the Ningxia province, in addition to other senior government officials from the two sides.
The visiting delegation from Dubai Wholesale City met with representatives of more than 300 major institutions, companies and investors. They briefed the Chinese companies and investors about Dubai’s leading role in Islamic economics and explored possibilities for jointly developing the Halal food sector.
The strategic agreement will help promote investment opportunities and trade cooperation between the two sides. It will also enable Ningxia to leverage Dubai’s strategic location as a global hub, to gain access to various international markets around the world. It will also encourage mutual investment cooperation through introducing traders and investors, to the potential benefits and opportunities of joint investment projects.
Speaking on the new partnership, Abdulla Belhoul said, “Through this collaboration, we will enhance our efforts to support our trading industry and strengthen our ties with the Ningxia region that is a key trading partner for the UAE. Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia, is strategically important to China’s One Belt One Road initiative that plays a highly significant role in strengthening economic ties with Asia and the Middle East.”
Wang Heshan, Governor of the Ningxia province said that Dubai Wholesale City offers a competitive and attractive investment opportunity and is a key factor in forging ahead with the partnership. He added that Dubai’s position as the Middle East and Africa region’s foremost hub for re-export, will allow trading entities within Ningxia to step-up their operations and foray into new markets.
SHARJAH, 11th November, 2016 (WAM)–The area around the university city of Al Qasimia University in Sharjah was alive with the spirit of 142 women, young ladies and girls from 32 nations as they participated in the first edition of the Sharjah Ladies Duathlon on Friday morning.
Organised by Sharjah Ladies Club (SLC), the event witnessed the participation of 14 girls aged 15-19, 42 young ladies between 20 and 29 years, 54 women aged 30-39 years, 28 women aged 40-49 and 4 women aged 50-54. A range of nationalities took part, in the race, including a high number of Emiratis.
Participants included Khawla Al Serkal, Director General of SLC, Nada Al Naqbi, Director of Women Sports Department, Amna Al Shanasi, Manager of SLC branches, Hanan Mahmoud, Director of Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre and celebrity athlete and women’s trainer Manal Rostom.
The contestants competed in two formats – as individuals and as part of a team – to accomplish the objectives, which were set out before them in three phases. Starting with a 2.5 kilometre run, followed by cycling for 9 kilometres, the duathlon finished with another 2.5-kilometre race on foot, with the event paving the way for all women to practice this interactive sport and lead a healthy lifestyle.
The race saw a fierce competition between participants who were keen to perform well in all phases. In the individual category, Liz Verheyden took the first place, Sioned Taylor ranked second and Lynette Wam won third place, while in the team category, Skydive Dubai won first place, Team Emma and Kieran took the second place and Lorna Jane Super Stars ranked third.
The winners of the race were awarded medals by Khawla Al Serkal, Director General of SLC. Place holders also received cash prizes. In the individual category, the winner received AED 7,000, the runner-up AED 6,000 and the third position winner AED 5,000. In the team category, the prize for the first place was AED 9,000, the second AED 8,000 and the third AED 6,000.
“The first edition of the Sharjah Ladies Duathlon was a huge success, reflecting that women are aware of the importance of sports in enhancing physical and mental health. SLC works to encourage women to take care of themselves and lead a healthy lifestyle by organising a spectrum of challenging and engaging activities for women and girls in the UAE,” said Khawla Al Serkal.
Al Serkal extended her gratitude to all partners and sponsors who played a key role in the success of the event, including Sharjah Environment Company Bee’ah (Gold Sponsor), Tilal Properties (Silver Sponsor), Sharjah Sport Council (Silver Sponsor), the University City of Sharjah, Barakat Juice, Bioderama and ‘Liv’ – the official bicycle sponsor. She also thanked Collage Cafe and Fitness bar for having booths at the event, which provided healthy snacks for all throughout the competition.
DUBAI, 10th November, 2016 (WAM) — The parade of boats participating at The 25th Dubai to Muscat Sailing Race, the longest offshore race in the region covering over 300 miles, left on Thursday the start line at docks of Umm Suqueim 1 Fishing Harbour.
The race is organised by the United Arab Emirates Sailing and Rowing Federation (UAE SARF), in association with Oman’s Ministry of Sports Affairs, and recognised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). The race is scheduled for 5 days and 20 hours, departing from Dubai Offshore Sailing Club in Dubai on 10 November and ending at 6:00 p.m. on 14 November at Al Mouj Marina in Muscat. The sailors can expect to spend from three to five days at sea, racing 24 hours a day in pursuit in a variety of challenging conditions.
Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Sailing and Rowing Federation, joined by Ahmed Obaid Al Falasi, Executive Director of Human Resources, Finance and Administration Division, of Dubai Customs, and Khalifa Hareb, General Manager of the Fishing Harbours, greeted the skippers and their first mate along with the 43 children from the Gems Sohar Education Programme.
The ceremony at the Umm Suqueim 1 Fishing Harbour, which will host the race village until the 13th November, was attended by friends and family of the 151 crew on 21 boats, including one from Kuwait, two professionally crewed Farr 30 from Oman Sail and the Pindar Volvo 60.
World famous offshore and multihull sailor from France, Sidney Gavignet will skipper EFG Bank Monaco from Oman Sail. Sidney holds the single handed world record for Round Britain and Ireland.
This year in particular, the competition is fierce, with professional sailors mixed with experienced club sailors. Many have expressed their hopes for strong winds. Tom Way, skipper of the Pindar Volvo 60 stated clearly, “We need a strong wind to move, and if we get it we would really like to break the current record.”
The Dubai to Muscat yacht race record was broken in 2013, for the first time in 13 years, and was smashed the following year by two boats. Current record holder is Doug Hassell in Diablo, Commodore of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club.
“We are so proud that the race endures and it is thanks to the collaboration of Dubai Customs, Dubai Offshore Sailing Club and Al Mouj Marina that the build up to this race has proven so successful. All of this is thanks to the sponsorship and support and of Dubai Customs and we thank them for their role in this most prestigious race in the region,” said Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Ahmed Obaid Al Falasi, Executive Director of Human Resources, Finance and Administration Division of Dubai Customs, commented: “Dubai Customs is pleased to have been a principal sponsor of the prestigious Dubai to Muscat Yacht Race which celebrates its silver anniversary this year. We are committed to our partnership with UAE Sailing & Rowing Federation to help them organize a successful race. They have our support by making available all necessary requirements and facilities at Dubai Customs’ Umm Suqueim 1 Fishing Harbour which has been hosting educational and entertainment activities for school students and visitors as part of the race’s 25th edition.”
Dubai Customs’ newly-revamped infrastructure at the Fishing Harbour have been put at the disposal of the Dubai to Muscat Race organizing committee to ensure smooth and efficient organization of the event and its parallel programs, he added.
“We are particularly proud that Dubai Customs has been a key part of the exciting program of community events organized from September to November in conjunction with the Dubai to Muscat Yacht Race. The Umm Suqeim Fishing Harbour is hosting the Dubai to Muscat Race Village which caters to the visiting boats and racers, and welcomes members of the community interested to know more about sailing sports, but more importantly will be the stage of so many children’s activities, including the education program, facilitated by Gems Education.”
The race village from 10th November to the 13th November, will include Try Sailing, Safety demonstrations, a dhow, and many children’s activities, trendy food trucks and is free to enter.
The race village will also be the centre of activity for the children of Gems who have taken part in the Sohar Education Programme.
Amman, 02 November 2016, (IINA) – Doha to host a Jordanian industrial fair and a business forum in December with the objective of enhancing investment opportunities in the Kingdom’s various economic sectors. Jordanian and Qatari officials will hold talks on further boosting bilateral business ties during the event.
Representatives from the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, Amman Chamber of Industry and Jordan Investment Authority, will be organizing the business forum in Doha to promote made-in-Jordan products and highlight the business climate in the Kingdom.
Jordan Chamber of Commerce President Nael Kabariti said in a statement that the three-day forum, due to start on December 14, is a key opportunity to get Qatari businesspeople acquainted with the investment opportunities in Jordan’s various economic sectors and the prospect of forging business partnerships between the two countries.
He said Jordanian-Qatari ties had largely grown due to their governments’ measures to bolster cooperation, noting that Qatar has $1.6 billion in investments in the Kingdom and stressing Amman’s vested interests in maximizing the benefits from signed agreements with the Gulf Arab state.
London, 03 November 2016, (IINA) – The increasing economic importance of banks in Muslim-majority countries has made Islamic finance a useful skill. And the globalization of business education means that many schools now have campuses in countries where Islamic finance is a significant part of the local banking sector.
The number of courses being offered by business schools is swelling partly as a result of this, but also to meet demand from students.
The catalyst for introducing the Islamic finance elective at London Business School (LBS) Dubai Centre was the opening of the school’s Dubai campus in 2006, Financial Times reported.
Like many business schools, LBS had opened its overseas base to capitalize on the school’s brand value beyond Europe. But the faculty was also keen to teach courses of local relevance, according to Narayan Naik, who is course tutor and professor of finance.
Applications have come from everywhere, he adds. Only a fifth of last year’s intake of 36 students, which arrived from 22 countries, including Peru, Hungary, Ireland, China and Bulgaria identified themselves as Muslim.
LBS is planning to introduce a London-based course, possibly as an executive education program, Prof Naik adds, noting that applications are up for this year’s Dubai-based course.
Specialist teams within banks, such as those dealing with Islamic finance, are regarded as relatively safe amid widespread cost cutting by large financial services groups, Prof Naik adds. Deutsche Bank, for example, is in the middle of a cull of 9,000 positions across its global operations.
George Osborne, when he was the British chancellor, pledged to make London the world center for the Islamic finance industry after the UK became the first country outside the Muslim world to issue an Islamic bond, known as Sukuk, in 2014.
British higher-education institutions lead the non-Muslim world in the teaching of Islamic finance, with longstanding courses run by Durham, Aston, Bangor, Salford and Cass Business School. More than 60 institutions in the UK now teach Islamic finance, up from fewer than 10 a decade ago, according to the University of East London, one of the early adopters of the subject.
London Metropolitan University is the latest UK institution to add an option to learn about the subject, relaunching its MBA in January with Islamic finance as one of four specialists.
The university has run courses for the Commercial Bank of Qatar at Doha that involved a comparative evaluation of Islamic and conventional banking. The MBA is aimed at satisfying demand from would-be students, according to Hazel Messenger, the MBA course leader.
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management has developed an online certification course for Islamic microfinance, which launched in September in partnership with the charity Islamic Relief Worldwide and the Islamic Relief Academy, a UK-based training body.
Hossam Said, managing director of the Islamic Relief Academy, describes the six-month program as a significant contribution to fill an “educational gap” in the market for helping some of the poorest people in Muslim countries.
Timur Kuran, a Turkish-American economist and professor in Islamic studies at North Carolina’s Duke University, believes there is a problem with transparency in the teaching of Islamic finance as a business discipline.
“It is one thing to offer degrees in finance, it is another to teach people how to manipulate matters to make the underlying transactions acceptable to a constituency that wants to avoid interest,” he said.
New York, 01 November 2016, (IINA) – As part of the annual “Twinning” series of events, which encourage partnerships between Jewish and Muslim groups, the Brotherhood Synagogue in New York City held a program on Sunday where volunteers put together food packages in conjunction with the Muslim Hunger Van project.
“Hunger is a big issue, and nobody fights it,” said Zamir Hassan, the president and founder of Muslims Against Hunger.
Muslims Against Hunger Project is a non-profit that educates Muslims about the hunger issues in this country and helps feed the homeless and hungry in more than 20 cities throughout the U.S., JP Updates news reported.
Far too many people live each day without knowing where their next meal will come from. In fact, according to Feeding America, 42 million people out of around 324,720,797 faced hunger last year.
The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU), which is a New York-based nonprofit, created the Twinning program in 2008 with a goal to unite the Muslim and Jewish communities.
The event featured about 50 attendees, where 10 people were stationed at five tables putting rice and lentils in bags. According to Hassan, each bag will make eight to nine meals, and a total of 10,000 were made. Most of the food was brought to the elderly.
“It’s my dream come true when I see this,” Hassan said. “This is something I envisioned 20 years ago. It’s not about food; it’s about engaging people.”
Bob Wolf, the president of the Interfaith Committee at the shul and his wife, Penny participated in the program. They both echoed the sentiment that it is important for Jews and Muslims to come together and help others in need.
“There are too many hungry people in this country, and it’s a shame,” Penny said. “We can’t be divided by religion, ethnic backgrounds or race; that will destroy the fabric of this country. I’m here to support Muslims and Jews.”
“I think particularly in this day and age when there’s a lot of dissension between certain religious groups, both in our country and around the world, that we get to know each other on a personal basis,” Bob added. “Intolerance toward any religious group is unacceptable.”
Among the attendees was 12-year-old Chloe Metz. She had participated in events like this before but didn’t realize the hunger problem was as big as it is.
“It’s kind of surprising that so many people live in hunger,” she remarked. “It is good to help people who are hungry and nice to have people come together.”
Lanao, Philippines, 04 November 2016, (IINA) – The International Organization for Holy Qur’an Memorization, an affiliate of the Makkah-based Muslim World League, in collaboration with Message Association, organized the holy Qur’an memorization competition in Philippines Wednesday.
Secretary General of the Organization Dr. Abdullah Basfar said that the competition had several categories, which included memorizing the Qur’an with word interpretations; memorizing the Qur’an and 152 Hadith from Riyad Al-Salihin; memorizing the Qur’an with Tajwid; memorizing 15 chapters of the Qur’an; 10 chapters; and 5 chapters. Basfar also urged participants to continue their studies of the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet.
As many as 67 contestants participated. The closing ceremony was attended by representatives of the Saudi Embassy in the Philippines, a number of scholars and the Qur’an teachers in southern Lanao province in Philippines.
Oak Lawn Village, Illinois, 13 November 2016, (IINA) – On Saturday, more than 100 people of different faiths thronged the parking lot of First United Methodist Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois to denounce the anti-Muslim vitriol spurred by the election season.
Community members listened to Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders speak and brought signs sprinkled with hand-drawn hearts that read: “We stand with our Muslim neighbors!” and “United against hate.”
After a brief rally, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and other interfaith groups, community members split up into teams and traveled to businesses across Oak Lawn, asking owners to post signs in their windows that read “We support our Muslim neighbors.”
Those who spoke at the rally congratulated Trump and commended the democratic process. But they demanded Trump’s administration denounce the verbal attacks on Muslims and revoke his pledge to deny entry to the country to all Muslims. Religious tolerance, they said, is among America’s core values, Chicago Tribune News reported.
Michael Kooy, of the Oak Lawn Clergy and Religious Workers Association, said it’s important for his fellow Christians to stand alongside those of other religions because it makes them more compassionate. Working with Muslims, he said, has made him a “better Christian.”
“Certainly it’s the job of the government to protect us from violence, the violence of terror, the violence of defamation, the violence of assault,” he said. “And some perceive they are threatened or see the harm that may come their way. Mercy urges me to stand up with people who are threatened in these ways.”
Barbara Lyons, a 79-year-old member of Jewish Voice for Peace who works on its anti-Islamophobia Committee, led a group of 10 community members up and down 95th street, visiting businesses and asking their employees to post fliers supportive of Muslims in the windows of their shops. An employee at Chimera’s Comics said the business has several Muslim customers, and that they should always feel welcome. Lyns said community members should make every effort to support those who feel attacked or marginalized, no matter their religion.
“Anything you can do can make a difference,” she said. “The difference between doing nothing and doing something? It’s everything.”
Bamako, Mali, 13 November 2016, (IINA) – The 8th Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research will be kicked off Monday in Bamako, capital of Mali.
The two-day conference is co-organized by the General Secretariat of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), a specialized organ of OIC. It is expected that many high-level delegations, including ministers, deputy ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research from the OIC member states, as well as from observer states and representatives of international organizations will attend the conference.
The conference is set to adopt important decisions identifying priorities and follow-up actions pertaining to Higher Education and Scientific Research among the OIC member states including establishing an Islamic World Observatory of Science, Technology, and Innovation; launching of an integrated platform for promoting quality-accreditation and exchanges; cooperation among the universities as well as launching the pan-Islamic Research and Education Network (PIREN) web portal.
The conference will also review progress on the Islamic network of women scientists and the activities of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic world.
ISESCO prizes in science and technology for 2016 will also be awarded during the conference. The meeting will also discuss the use of modern technology for enhancing higher education and scientific research.
Jeddah, 11 November 2016, (IINA) – The Information Department of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has organized a training workshop this week on Mobile Journalism and Social Media for staff from its General Secretariat as well as from its affiliated and specialized institutions.
The workshop was held from Sunday through Thursday at the training center of the International Islamic News Agency (IINA) and OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah.
The workshop facilitated by the Thompson Foundation was designed to equip OIC staff with requisite skills on shooting videos on smartphones, social media promotions and creating successful media campaigns.
In a letter seen by the International Islamic News Agency, Director of OIC’s Information Department Maha Akeel said: “OIC places special importance on training and re-training of its staff to enhance their professional skills to meet the demands of their daily jobs in serving and protecting the interest of its member states.”
Participants at the course said they are now more equipped and ready to further enhance the image of the OIC and its institutions in both the conventional and social media platforms.
ALGIERS, 12 November 2016 (ALGERIA PRESS SERVICE)-Minister of Interior and Local Assemblies Noureddine Bedoui announced Saturday in Algiers that the biometric driving licence and the electronic vehicle registration card will progressively enter into force as of 2017.
Speaking at the Government-Walis meeting, Bedoui said that his department will pursue the development of biometric and e-services, particularly the biometric driving licence and the electronic vehicle registration card as of 2017.
“These two strategic projects seek to implement before the end of the current year will enter into from 2017,” the same official added.
Actually, he added, the aim of these projects is to be in line with the goals provided by national polices in order to “reduce the impact of car accidents, ensure road security and protect the national economy,” the Bedoui said.
These two projects aim at providing citizens with a new public, developed and quality service and saving them bureaucratic complications, said Bedoui, who announced “the activation of remote services following the launch of e-signature.”
CAIRO, Egypt, 13 November 2016, (ALGERIA PRESS SERVICE) – Film directors Karim Traidia and Hamid Benamra will represent Algerian cinema at the 38th Cairo International Film Festival, to be held Nov. 15-24 in the Egyptian capital, the event’s organizers said.
Came out in 2015 “Chronicles of my Village,” by Karim Traidia, will compete in the feature-length fiction films and documentary section.
The movie relates childhood stories dating back to the national liberation war era (1954-1962) as well as the construction and identity of independent Algeria.
Filmmaker Hamid Benamra will compete with his latest film “Hizam” (Belt), which deals with the women’s realm and the oriental dance.
Benamara’s film, produced in 2016, tackles the femininity theme depicting woman body as a “man’s refuge and mirror.”
Instituted in 1976, the 38th international film festival of Cairo will pay tribute to Egyptian actress Faten Hamama, died in January 2015.
ALGIERS, 13 November 2016, (ALGERIA PRESS SERVICE)- The bill on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) was presented Sunday at the People’s National Assembly by Minister of Industry and Mining Abdessalem Bouchouareb in a plenary session chaired by Mohamed Larbi Ould Khelifa, the speaker of this parliamentary institution.
This bill, presented after the code of investments which has been recently promulgated, will amend the law of 2001 relating to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The bill introduces several measures of support to this category of companies notably in terms of their creation, research and development, innovation, development of subcontracting, financing of rescue actions and resumption of SMEs’ activities in difficulty.
It particularly plans for the implementation of seed funds to encourage the creation of innovative start-up.
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Bekesbourne with Patrixbourne
Map for Walkers
History of Bekesbourne
History of Patrixbourne
Other Links and Old Pictures
Parish Facilities
Recreation Ground
Mobile Library Van
Clubs, Societies & Associations
Shops and Amenities
Bridge and Patrixbourne CE Primary School
Littlebourne CE Primary School
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Bekesbourne Recreation Ground Charity
The Recreation Ground was sold to the parish of Bekesbourne in 1957 by the Conyingham family estate. Under a charitable scheme created in 1997 the ground is owned by the parish council of Bekesbourne-with-Patrixbourne as custodian trustee and managed on its behalf by a committee of trustees appointed annually.
The object of Bekesbourne Recreation Ground charity is ‘the provision and maintenance of a Recreation Ground for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Bekesbourne and Patrixbourne and neighbouring areas’.
Most of the funding for the grounds maintenance is by way of a Concurrent Function Grant from Canterbury City Council. This amounts to about £3500 per year. The grass is cut up to 22 times a year to keep it short for sports matches. The edges of the ground and the copses are strimmed at least once a year.
The silver birch copses were planted in the 1970s at the instigation of the parish council and the late Wilfred Mowll of Mulberry Cottage in particular. There are several specimen trees: the red oak beside the playarea; a tulip tree which was awarded to the parish in 2002 for its community spirit; oaks planted in remembrance of the late Mike Lee, a founder member of the Management Committee and the late John Ash, local farmer and long time Chairman of the Parish Council.
The play area is dedicated to the late Albert Wilson who ran the village youth club for many years. It was once fenced but the fence was constantly vandalised and was therefore removed. The wooden equipment and toddler slide installed circa 1994 replaced a larger slide, climbing frame and roundabout dating from the 1950s. The play area is insured and maintained by the parish council. The play area bin is emptied regularly by a local resident.
The ground is used for general recreation and for organised football matches. The ground is also used for village events such as fetes and boot fairs. It is also used for car parking for events at St Mary’s church, Patrixbourne.
The entrance to the ground is kept bumpy deliberately to slow cars coming on to the ground. The Committee has explored repairs in the past and rejected them as the cost would be excessive. Cars drive on the Recreation Ground at their own risk and there is a speed limit of 5 mph.
The Management Committee is actively considering other uses of the ground and pavilion and would welcome suggestions.
In the early days the pavilion was on the other side of Old Palace Lane. The Sports Club build the current pavilion in the 1980s. It was extended in the 1990s to include a bar area. The bar is now closed as the pavilion is unlicensed. There is a plan to convert the bar into a toilet with access from outside with facilities for the disabled and baby changing equipment.
The pavilion is available to rent for all kinds of occasions. If you have any questions about rec management, bookings, rates etc, the please do make contact by simply clicking here…
Private functions (eg family parties) £30 for a 4 hour session and £9 per hour thereafter.
Football Matches – £40 adult match – £30 junior match
Rates for community groups may be significantly reduced.
Removal of dog faeces
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the ground. Removal of dog faeces is controlled by a byelaw made by Bekesbourne-with-Patrixbourne Parish Council in pursuance of Sections 12 and 15 of the Open Spaces Act 1906 at a meeting of the council held on October 1993. The bye law was confirmed by the Secretary of State and came into force in June 1994. A dog-poo bin is provided at the main gate. The bin is emptied by Canterbury City Council’s contractors.
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Home » Police Story DVD - Seasons 1-6 - Complete TV Show
Police Story DVD - Seasons 1-6 - Complete TV Show
Product Code: POLS
This is your chance to relive one of your favorite 1970s shows with the Police Story DVD.
Classic anthology series, which details the personal lives of the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department. The stories ranged from highly dramatic to extremely funny.
All 6 Seasons
Numerous actors, sports figures and former real cops who were familiar to audiences in the 1960s and 1970s made appearances on the series, including Ed Asner, David Janssen, Claude Akins, Robert Stack, Mike Connors, Stuart Whitman, Lenore Kasdorf, John Saxon, Cameron Mitchell, Martin Milner, Vince Edwards, Robert Forster, William Shatner, Dean Stockwell, Jan-Michael Vincent, Alex Cord, George Maharis, Wayne Maunder, Howard Duff, Chad Everett, Don Meredith, Steve Lawrence, Gabe Kaplan, Robert Goulet, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Cole (2 episodes), Joe Garagiola, and Eddie Egan.
-Presented in English
-Brand new and sealed
-Contains every episode of Police Story.
-Region Free - The Police Story DVD will play on any DVD player worldwide
-Order now and relive your memories of this classic show
A Man Called Sloane DVD
Baretta DVD Box Set - 3 Seasons - 1970s TV Series
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Carrie Muehling June 26, 2019
JCB set a new British speed record for tractors with a modified version of its JCB 8000-series Fastrac. The tractor achieved an average maximum speed of 103.6 mph over two runs at Elvington Airfield in the United Kingdom. Television and motorsports personality Guy Martin was behind the wheel.
The ARA Invitational Golf Tournament will again be part of the 2019 ARA Conference & Expo in New Orleans on Dec. 3-5! Register before the early bird rate expires Oct. 15 and join the leaders in ag retail in “The Big Easy.”
The Soil Health Institute announced that Dr. C. Wesley (Wes) Wood has joined its Board of Directors. Dr. Wood is a Professor and Center Director of the West Florida Research and Education Center with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
At this year’s Bio World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and AgTech in Des Moines, Iowa, the Consider Corn Challenge II winners will be announced. The National Corn Growers Association is also a sponsor of the event and will be participating in a number of sessions.
Nutrien Ltd. announced it is now a Founding Member of the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium, a collection of private-sector and nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing sustainability throughout the agricultural supply chain.
Ceres Imaging announced the release of a new Variable Rate Application Zone Tool. The tool combines the highest accuracy aerial imagery on the market with patented data analytics to automatically generate management zones for variable rate applications of nitrogen and other inputs.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture
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Camels and what we got wrong about them.
April 2, 2019 angelika1 Leave a comment
Today we are going to be talking about Camels. Camels are Loved by many, idolized by some, and utilized by others. I have always been fascinated by them and at one point in time, wanted one. As Children, we were taught about Camels. However, as this post will prove, we were given some inaccurate information. Please follow me as I re-educate the masses on Camels.
Teachers told us that Camels store water in their humps. The Camels then use that stored water to survive when they are without water. Scientists have proven that this is inaccurate.
IF CAMEL HUMPS DON’T CONTAIN WATER, WHAT’S INSIDE?
While camels can drink as much as 32 gallons of water in less than 15 minutes, the humps on their backs do not hold H2O. Instead, the animals store fat in their odd-looking protrusions, enabling them to traverse the desert for days when food is scarce. Camels can survive a week without drinking water and several months without eating.
An adult camel can store up to 80 pounds of fat in its humps. When the animals tap into the stored nutritional fat, the humps decrease in size and slump to the side. They become upright again after the camels eat and sleep. The dromedary camel has one hump while the Bactrian camel has two humps.
The reason why camels store fat on their backs and not throughout their bodies may be because the humps are used for insulation and to protect the animals from solar radiation, according to Lunds University in Sweden. Fat conducts heat more gradually than water. Dromedary camels have thick fur on their backs to protect them from the sun’s heat, while the fur is thinner on other parts of their body, allowing heat to escape.
Camels drink a lot of water when they are dehydrated, but they do not store water to use later on. Their bodies are built to conserve liquid. They urinate infrequently, and their pee is very concentrated. A camel’s droppings are also very dry.
Camels have the ability to function with body temperatures over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and they don’t sweat or pant like other animals, who lower their temperature by using water from their bodies. Camels cool down at night when temperatures drop. The desert-dwelling animals aren’t impervious to the heat, but they can lose 30 to 40 percent of their body weight in water and still ward off dehydration. In addition, the mammal uses the air that it inhales and exhales to create water vapor.
Whatever you do, try to avoid being spit on by a camel. Their spit is a mix of saliva and the contents of their stomachs—basically, vomit. They spit when threatened, and the telltale sign is puffy cheeks (so get out of the way!) They also have powerful breath because they regurgitate their food like cows.
Camels also have other interesting abilities. Their super-long eyelashes and inner eyelids protect their peepers from desert sand. They can also close their nostrils to prevent sand from entering their bodies.
Camels are vocal animals who make lots of noises and make various gestures with their heads, necks, ears, and tails to communicate with the herd. They also blow into each other’s faces as a way of greeting one another. Baby camels are born without humps.
Two-humped camels are critically endangered. One named Zehra was born at the Toledo Zoo in Ohio in 2018 and was the first Bactrian camel to be born in captivity in recent history. This species of Camel is indigenous to Central and East Asia, and there are reportedly just under 1,000 currently in existence.
RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! — MARCH 14, 2019
The Above Quotes were taken directly from RIPLEY’S article titled “IF CAMEL HUMPS DON’T CONTAIN WATER, WHAT’S INSIDE?” https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/camel-humps/#
Camels: Facts, Types & Pictures
Camels are mammals with long legs, a big-lipped snout and a humped back. There are two types of camels: dromedary camels, which have one hump, and Bactrian camels, which have two humps. Camels’ humps consist of stored fat, which they can metabolize when food and water is scarce.
In addition to their humps, camels have other ways to adapt to their environment. They have a third, clear eyelid that protects their eyes from blowing sand. Two rows of long lashes also protect their eyes. Sand up the nose can be a problem, but not for camels. They can shut their nostrils during sand storms.
Humans have used camels as a means of transport for thousands of years. They can carry about 375 to 600 lbs. (170 to 270 kilograms) on their backs, according to National Geographic. This earned these beasts of burden a nickname, “ships of the desert.” Domestic camels are often the main source of meat, milk and even leather or wool products.
Most camels tower above humans. A Bactrian camel, according to the San Diego Zoo, grows to a shoulder height of 6 feet (1.8 meters) and a body length of 10 feet (3 m). They normally weigh 1,320 to 2,200 lbs. (600 to 1,000 kg) when they are fully grown.
Dromedary camels get up to about 6.5 feet (2 m) tall at the shoulder and weigh 880 to 1,325 lbs. (400 to 600 kg).
Camels aren’t picky about what they eat. Their thick lips allow them to eat things that most other animals couldn’t, such as thorny plants. Camels are herbivores, though, so you won’t find them eating meat.
Filling up on water, when it’s available, is very important for camels. They can drink 30 gallons (113 liters) of water in just 13 minutes. Their bodies rehydrate faster than any other mammal.
When there is little food and water, the camel’s hump fat releases water; 9.3 grams of fat releases 1.13 grams of water, according to research by the University of Singapore. Camels can survive up to six months without food or water.
The two types of camel are found in different parts of the world. The dromedary camel, also called an Arabian camel, can be found in North Africa and the Middle East. The Bactrian camel lives in Central Asia. No matter the type, camels are usually found in the desert, prairie or steppe. Though many people think that camels only live in hot climates, they do well in temperature ranges from 20 degrees F (minus 29 degrees C) to 120 degrees F (49 degrees C).
Camels like to stay together in groups called herds. The herds are led by a dominant male, while many of the other males form their own herd called a bachelor herd. Camels are very social and like to greet each other by blowing in each other’s faces.
After a gestation of 12 to 14 months, a mother camel will find a private spot to have her young. Female camels usually only have one baby, but sometimes camels have twins.
Baby camels are called calves. The newborn calf is able to walk within 30 minutes, though the two won’t rejoin the herd until around two weeks later. Camels become fully mature when they are 7 years old. Camels live around 17 years.
Classification/ Taxonomy
Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) and the domestic Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) were named in 1758 by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus, who only knew of the domestic variety. Wild Bactrian camels (Camelus ferus) were discovered in 1878 by Nikolai Prejevalsky, a Russian geographer who explored Mongolia and Tibet.
For many years, the wild Bactrian was thought to be a subspecies of the domestic Bactrian. However, in recent years, DNA analysis confirmed that C. ferus was a separate species, according to the San Diego Zoo. The main difference between the two species is that the wild Bactrian has three more chromosome pairs than the domestic Bactrian.
Here is the classification of camels, according to Integrated Taxonomic Information System:
· Kingdom: Animalia
· Subkingdom: Bilateria
·Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia
· Phylum: Chordata
·Subphylum: Vertebrata
·Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
·Superclass: Tetrapoda
· Class: Mammalia
·Subclass: Theria
· Infraclass: Eutheria
· Order: Artiodactyla
·Family: Camelidae
· Genus: Camelus
· Camelus bactrianus (Bactrian camel)
·Camelus dromedarius (one-humped camel)
Subspecies:
· Camelus bactrianus bactrianus
· Camelus bactrianus ferus (wild Bactrian camel)
Other facts
· Camels can run at 25 mph (40 kph) for long periods. If their owner is in a hurry, they can kick their speed up to 40 mph (67 kph).
· The camel’s hump is like a storage container. When camels use their stored fat, their hump will diminish. When they eat and drink again the hump will refill with fat.
· Camels have oval-shaped red blood cells that help continue blood flow during times when water is scarce.
· Camels are known for spitting on people. In fact, the animals are throwing up the contents of their stomach along with spit. This is a defense tactic when the animals feel threatened.
By Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor | July 11, 2017
The above quote was taken from Live Science’s article titled,” Camels: Facts, Types & Pictures”. https://www.livescience.com/27503-camels.html
Photo taken from National Geographic
Arabian Camel (Dromedary)
Woolly coat, caramel in color that often looks shaggy from seasonal shedding. Both sexes have a single hump on the back.
Male: Males are considerably larger than females and have an inflatable soft palate which they use to attract females. (It looks like a frog’s throat when inflated.)
Shoulder Height: 1.8 to 2.3 m (5.8 to 7.5 ft.) Body length: 3 m (10 ft.)
300 to 690 kg (661 to 1,521 lbs.)
Desert vegetation
Gestation
12 to 14 months; weaned at 1 to 2 years
Sexual Maturity
Male: at 5 years
Female: at 3 to 4 years
Around 40 years
The Dromedary Camel can be found in North Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and India; introduced to Australia and Namibia
Arid and semi-arid regions
Global: 15 million; largest populations are in Somalia (7 million) and Sudan (4 million); Ethiopia and Kenya also have substantial population.
IUCN: Least concern
CITES: Not listed
USFWS: Not listed
The Dromedary camel is capable of drinking 100 L (30 gal.) of water in just 10 minutes.
Dromedary Camels can tolerate water loss equal to over 30% of their body weight.
Camel’s store fat in the hump, not water. They are born without a hump because the layer of fat does not develop until they eat solid food.
Dromedary Camels may browse for 6 to 8 hours every day.
Unlike most mammals, a healthy camel’s body temperature fluctuates throughout the day from 34°C to 41.7°C (93°F to 107°F.) This fluctuation is important because it allows the camel to conserve water by not sweating as the environmental temperature rises.
The Dromedary camel is no longer considered a wild animal. In Africa and Arabia, it is a semi-domesticated animal that free ranges but is under the control of herders.
Dromedary Camels may be occasionally preyed upon by wolves.
(Sea World)https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/mammals/dromedary-camel/
A critically endangered bactrian camel, Camelus bactrianus, at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.
Bactrian camel
Two Humps
Bactrian camels have two humps – like the letter “B”. The humps are used to store fat that converts to energy when needed. Bactrian camels are shorter and heavier than the one-humped dromedary camels found in Africa and the Middle East.
Big Gulp
Camels have a remarkable ability to survive for long periods (months!) without any water. When camels drink they can drink up to 35 gallons of water at a time. To keep moisture in their body, camels do not sweat very much, and they also have very concentrated urine.
Bactrian camels have long eyelashes in double rows and a third eyelid which acts as a windshield wiper to wash sand or dirt out of their eyes. Their nostrils can close to provide protection from blowing sand. Their broad, flat feet have leathery pads and two toes on each foot which helps prevent them from sinking into sand or snow.
Bactrian camels are up to 10 feet (3.0 m) long.
Weigh 1300-2200 pounds (590-1000 kg).
Wild Bactrian camels are smaller and more slender.
Their fur color varies from beige to dark brown.
They have thick, wooly coats that provide warmth during the cold months and insulation from the desert heat, and they shed this for the summer months. Bactrian camels have two humps on the back.
What Does It Eat?
In the wild: Thorny plants, and plants that are salty, bitter and prickly.
At the zoo: Hay and a grain mixture.
(Denver Zoo) https://www.denverzoo.org/animals/bactrian-camel/
In the wild what do they eat?
“Bactrian camels are omnivores, but are primarily herbivores that constantly graze on grasses. As ruminants, these camels have four separate stomachs, one of which is a three-chambered ruminating stomach. Ruminants eat their food followed by regurgitation, allowing them to chew it up a second time.
Camels thrive on all desert vegetation, which includes salty, dry, thorny, and bitter plants. Halophytic plants, which are plants that have been growing in water with a high saline concentration, are a necessary part of Bactrian camel’s diet. Their dietary needs and preferences make them ideal candidates for desert life.
In times of environmental stress (little/no available vegetation), camels may eat fish, different types of flesh, bones, skin, and even shoes or other items of fabric. In the winter months, camels often push and dig under the snow to find food, a practice observed only in Bactrian camels”. (Animal Diversity)
Camelus bactrianusBactrian camel
Cutshall, E. 2017. “Camelus bactrianus” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 02, 2019 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Camelus_bactrianus/
‘What Eats It?
Wolves prey on the Bactrian camel.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
Domestic camels travel in groups of up to 20 individuals. The groups are led by a dominant male and include several females, sub-adults and young.
Camels are sexually mature by five years. Mating occurs year-round. After a gestation of 12-15 months females give birth to a single calf weighing up to 100 pounds (45 kg). Calves can stand soon after birth, are weaned at one to two years and stay with the mother until they reach maturity. Life span of the domestic Bactrian camel is approximately 40 years.
Camels can walk up to 30 miles a day
Bactrian camels are the largest animals in the desert
These camels can survive in temperatures ranging from 122 degrees to minus 20 degrees.
Bactrian camels provide nomads in Asia with wool, meat, and milk. They also carry heavy loads and provide transportation.
The humps of a Bactrian camel store fat, they do not store water!” (Denver Zoo) https://www.denverzoo.org/animals/bactrian-camel/
Camels are celebrated as an authentic symbol of the desert lifestyle of the people of the Arabian Peninsula. They are connected to Arabs’ history and life throughout the ages. When the Arabs in the Arabian Peninsula relied heavily on nature, the camels were strongly present in their daily routines. With modern urbanization, the Arabs did not get along without camels. In the past, camels were mates, now, they become basic icons of Arab heritage, life and economy.
Many people of the Arabian Peninsula, thus, have taken the camel as a symbol of their lives; with the camel, they have recalled the memory of the place and revived its full characteristics. Hence, the camel has become an ever-existing heritage mate. In addition, it provides them with food resources such as meat, milk, and leather as well as with a renewable economic resource.
Throughout the history of Arabian Peninsula, camel breeders have their own characteristics that distinguish them from others. The most prominent characteristics are that of pride of their dispositions and their trust in camels as animals involved in their schemes of pride and glory that they sing praises for.
Being highly interested in camels, only Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula more than others, can recognize the qualities of the camels and deal with their peculiar characteristics. So, they differ in their attitude towards this animal. Only Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula can distinguish between camels as they have special criteria according to which they describe camels”. (Alaibil Festival )
For more information regarding
CAMEL RACING
CAMEL BEAUTY CONTEST
ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES
Please click on the Link Below. http://www.alaibilfestival.com/en/Jimal.php
Camels in the News
A Dozen Camels Disqualified From Saudi Beauty Pageant Over Botox Injections
(NPR)
Some pageant contestants hit a hump in the road this week. That is, a camel beauty contest in Saudi Arabia disqualified a dozen camels for receiving Botox injections to make them more attractive.
Saudi media reported that a veterinarian was caught performing plastic surgery on the camels a few days before the pageant, according to UAE’s The National. In addition to the injections, the clinic was surgically reducing the size of the animals’ ears to make them appear more delicate.
“They use Botox for the lips, the nose, the upper lips, the lower lips and even the jaw,” Ali Al Mazrouei, a regular at such festivals and the son of a prominent Emirati breeder, told the newspaper. “It makes the head more inflated so when the camel comes it’s like, ‘Oh look at how big that head is. It has big lips, a big nose.’ “
Real money is at stake: About $57 million is awarded to winners of the contests and camel races, The National reports, with more than $31.8 million in prizes for just the pageants.
The festival provides a number of informative graphics about camels, including a diagram titled Standards of Camel Beauty. It is sadly unspecific about what makes for handsome nostrils and withers, though it does mention a “leathery mouth.”
The beauty contest, launched in 2000, is a centerpiece of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival. Last year, authorities moved the festival from a remote location in the desert to a site an hour and a half from Riyadh, and this year attendance has increased by a third, according to Reuters.
“The camel,” the chief judge of the show, Fawzan al-Madi, told the newswire, “is a symbol of Saudi Arabia. We used to preserve it out of necessity, now we preserve it as a pastime.” https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/01/24/580228837/a-dozen-camels-disqualified-from-saudi-beauty-pageant-over-botox-injections
Australia Exporting Camels for Saudi Diners
“The ranchers of Oz gained the most obvious, but perhaps unlikely of customers when they shipped 119 animals from the northern port city of Darwin to the desert kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi camels are the equivalent of thoroughbreds, he said, while the ones in Australia are like draft horses. Both countries’ camels are the dromedary, one-humped camels. The Bactrian, or two-humped camels are found mostly in Central Asia. But there’s very little difference in the taste of the animals — thoroughbred or draft, Bactrian or Dromedary, Seidel said. “It’s all very much the same.”
The camel has always been part of the traditional Muslim diet. Every year, hundreds of thousands of camels are slaughtered during the Muslim pilgrimage, or Hajj, in Mecca. The Saudis traditionally imported camels from North Africa, but various factors, including disease, drought and political instability led them to look elsewhere. Plus, Seidel said, Australia has the world’s only remaining herds of wild camel. In the rest of the world, camels are domesticated and managed in private herds.
Today, Australia has a population of 500,000 camels. In some places, they’re becoming a nuisance. But Seidel’s organization has found a market for them. Most of his ranchers ship their animals to neighboring Muslim countries like Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia. The city of Minneapolis, on the windswept plains of the Midwest, contains America’s largest population of Somalis. And the Somalis, overwhelmingly Muslim, from a land just across the Red Sea from Saudi Arabia, love their camel.
Randy Weinstein, of RW Meats in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, provides most of the stores in the area with their supply — from Australia as well. At the wholesale price of $3.50 per pound, camel is a specialty meat — expensive compared to other traditional favorites, like goat, which costs about $1.20 per pound, Weinstein said. But for the Somalis, he said, “it’s a taste of home.” It’s not only the local Somali population that goes for the camel, he said. Minneapolis-area Ethiopians are also big consumers, as well as Saudi Arabian Arabs. He said he hardly saw any Lebanese, Iraqis or Egyptians partake. Camel meat tastes like beef but it is quite a bit tougher, he said. “You’ve got to roast it and cook the hell out of it,” he said, comparing it to preparing a piece of beef brisket. Unfortunately, people often make the mistake of treating it like goat, he said, which takes much less cooking time to make tender. The cuts of camel are no different than the cuts of a steer. There’s a tenderloin, a flank steak, a rump roast. Much of the rest of the camel is also used in the same way as beef. They have hides for leather, udders for milk, Weinstein said. The main thing that distinguishes camels — their hump — is used as well, he said. The hump is a piece of solid white fat and provides the animal with sustenance when food is scarce, Seidel said. Weinberg said it appears like a hump of gristle or tendon and is eaten. “The Arabs like the hump but only if it’s fresh,” he said. “Unless it’s like just been slaughtered yesterday, they don’t want it.” (ABC News) https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=79943&page=1
Camel Meat and where you can try some
Camel meat is surprisingly easy to find in Minneapolis, sold not only at Holy Land and most halal grocery stores in the city, but as a popular burger at Safari Express in Midtown Global Market. Starting in February, its sister restaurant, Safari, is adding camel to the menu, according to owner, Abdi Ahmed. (City Pages) http://www.citypages.com/restaurants/plate-or-pass-camel-meat-6595439
Can I buy it online?
Yes, Camel meat can be purchased online and delivered right to your door. The biggest shipper of Camel meat that I could find was, exotic meat markets. The meat is available in the same cuts as Steaks. For 2 pounds of ground Camel meat, you will pay $29.99. If you are interested, you can browse the link below. (Exotic Markets)https://www.exoticmeatmarkets.com/Camel-Meat-from-Exotic-Meat-Market-s/137.htm
I hope that I have enlightened you today. I know that I have learned a lot about Camels while doing this Research. If you found this Post to be Helpful, please feel free to Share this post with your Class, Friends, Family, and groups. You can also Subscribe to this Blog on our Home page. If there is a Subject you would like me to Research and post, let me know and I will do what I can to provide the most in-depth Research that I can for you. As always, Thanks for your support!
Posted in: Uncategorized Filed under: #Bactrian, #Camels, #Dromedary
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“Yes. I saw it [an execution] in France, at Lyons. Dr. Schneider took me with him.”
“Do they hang them?”
“No, in France they always cut off their heads.”
“Do they scream?”
“How could they? It’s done in an instant. They make the man lie down and then a great knife is brought down by a heavy, powerful machine, called the guillotine. . . . The head falls off before one has time to wink. The preparations are horrible. When they read the sentence, get the man ready, bind him, lead him to the scaffold – that’s what’s awful! Crowds assemble, even women, though they don’t like women to look on. . . .”
“It’s not a thing for them!”
“Of course not, of course not! Such a horrible thing! . . . The criminal was an intelligent, middle-aged man, strong and courageous, called Legros. But I assure you, though you may not believe me, when he mounted the scaffold he was weeping and was as white as paper. Isn’t it incredible? Isn’t it awful? Who cries for fear? I’d no idea that a grown man, not a child, a man who never cried, a man of forty-five, could cry for fear! What must be passing in the soul at such a moment; to what anguish it must be brought! It’s an outrage on the soul, that’s what it is! It is written ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ so because he has killed, are we to kill him? No, that’s impossible. It’s a month since I saw that, but I seem to see it before my eyes still. I’ve dreamt of it half a dozen times.”
Myshkin was quite moved as he spoke, a faint color came into his pale face, though his voice was still gentle. The footman followed him with sympathetic interest, so that he seemed sorry for him to stop. He, too, was perhaps a man of imagination and strainings after thought.
“It’s a good thing at least that there is not much pain,” he observed, “when the head falls off.”
“Do you know,” Myshkin answered warmly, “you’ve just made that observation and every one says the same, and the guillotine was invented with that object. But the idea occured to me at the time that perhaps it made it worse. That will seem to you an absurd and wild idea, but if one has some imagination, one may suppose even that. Think! if there were torture, for instance, there would be suffering and wounds, bodily agony, and so all that would distract the mind from spiritual suffering, so that one would only be tortured by wounds till one died. But the chief and worst pain may not be in the bodily suffering but in one’s knowing for certain that in an hour, and then in ten minutes, and then in half a minute, and then now, at the very moment, the soul will leave the body and that one will cease to be a man and that that’s bound to happen; the worst part of it is that it’s CERTAIN. When you lay your head down under the knife and hear the knife slide over your head, that quarter of a second is the most terrible of all. You know this is not only my fancy, many people have said the same. I believe that so thoroughly that I’ll tell you what I think. To kill for murder is a punishment incomparably worse than the crime itself. Murder by legal sentence is immeasurably more terrible than murder by brigands. Anyone murdered by brigands, whose throat is cut at night in a wood, or something of that sort, must surely hope to escape till the very last minute. There have been instances when a man has still hoped for escape, running or begging for mercy after his throat was cut. But in the other case all that last hope, which makes dying ten times as easy, is taken away FOR CERTAIN. There is the sentence, and the whole awful torture lies in the fact that there is certainly no escape, and there is no torture in the world more terrible. You may lead a soldier out and set him facing the cannon in battle and fire at him and he’ll still hope; but read a sentence of certain death over the same soldier, and he will go out of his mind or burst into tears. Who can tell whether human nature is able to bear this without madness? Why this hideous, useless, unnecessary outrage? Perhaps there is some man who has been sentenced to death, been exposed to this torture and has been told ‘you can go, you are pardoned.’ Perhaps such a man could tell us. It was of this torture and of this agony that Christ spoke, too. No, you can’t treat a man like that!”
Posted by mentor noci at Sunday, October 17, 2010
Do you think in the USA electric chairs are (were?) used not to reduce the pain of the condemned but because it was less disgusting to watch and then to dispose of? More entertaining? It does seem more hurtful than guillotine...
And on a light touch:
http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2023#comic
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Sci-Fi Characters with the Best Optic Visors
Science fiction has plenty of characters sporting cool and trendy eyewear. However, these visual accessories do not really do much and are generally there for aesthetic purposes.
No one believes that Clark Kent’s nerdy glasses are actually the reason why nobody can figure out that he is Superman. However, ever so often, a sci-fi character comes along sporting a visor that is feature-packed and has fanboys salivating over the prospect of owning a replica. Here are three sci-fi characters that don the best visors in the business:
It is well known that Star Trek has inspired numerous real-world technological marvels. From the mobile-phones to mp3 players, real life scientists have often taken a cue from technologies featured in Star Trek. One gadget that scientists are trying to replicate is Geordi La Forge’s VISOR (Visual Instrument and Sensory organ Replacement). Blind since birth, the Chief Engineer from Star Trek: The Next Generation depends upon the VISOR to be able to perform his duties on the USS Enterprise. Besides allowing Geordi La Forge to live a normal life (as normal as life can get in an episode of Star Trek), The VISOR allows La Forge to see the full range of electromagnetic spectrum, which often helps him see and find minor things that would never be detected by human eyes. Geordi’s VISOR was undoubtedly one of the most important prop pieces that defined Star Trek for an entire generation of Trekkies.
Cyclops (Scott Summers)
One of the most-underrated X-Men characters, Cyclops can find solace in the fact that he sports the most ridiculously awesome visual accessory in the franchise. In a universe where mutants with superpowers are quite common, Cyclops stands apart thanks to his “optic blast” ability. Sure it makes looking into a lover’s eyes a hard thing to do, but does that really matter when you can harness as much power as a nuclear reactor? If not kept under control, his powers can end up causing massive havoc (ironically, Havoc is his brother’s mutant name). This where is uber-cool visors step into the picture. The visor allows Scott Summers to harness the power of his optical blast and focus them onto a target with spectacular results. A blast from his visor may not cut through Wolverine’s adamantium claws, but is strong enough to pierce through almost every other material known to man. The visor also allows Cyclops to manipulate the intensity of the blasts, allowing him to cause varying degrees of damage and letting the beams bounce of reflective surfaces. When not blasting Sabertooth or Sentinels into oblivion, the visor allows Cyclops to view his surroundings normally, albeit with a red tone.
Iron Man / War Machine
Okay, so admittedly the armor suits are the main reason why anyone bothers to follow the adventures of Tony Stark. However, the visor in his helmet is undoubtedly the most crucial piece of equipment in his armor suits. Most fanboys will be up-in-arms at this point. How could the visor possibly outshine all the impressive firepower that the suits pack? Anyone who pilots the armour suit needs to be fed with important and relevant information all the time. From flight controls to weapons system status, all the information is fed to the pilot using the visor. What makes it exciting is that is a very similar system to the visors employed currently by fighter and attack helicopter pilots. No one would like to see the results of Tony Stark trying to pilot the Iron Man suit without a properly functioning visor. The new Iron Man 3 movie will feature new armored suits for Iron Man and War Hammer, but the trusty old visor, complete with JARVIS, continues to be an integral part of all the suits.
Fully-functional visors may seem like an object that can only exist in the world of science-fiction. But in reality, scientists are taking inspiration from science-fiction and are working tirelessly to develop real-world applications for them.
Tony Blair has contributed a number of articles on health care. With his experience of 10 years in eye surgery, he highly recommends cataract surgery in Melbourne for their excellent results.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
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ADB Holds Fourth Capacity Building Forum on Successful Project Design and Implementation
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (23 October 2018) — The Forum for Successful Project Design and Implementation: Implementing Strategy 2030 on the Ground opened today at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters. This is the fourth forum since 2013 to support capacity building of executing and implementing agencies. This year, the forum brings together more than 100 representatives from 37 ADB member countries.
“Successful project design and implementation with high development impact are the shared responsibility of ADB and the executing and implementing agencies,” ADB President Mr. Takehiko Nakao said at the forum. “ADB will continue to help executing and implementing agencies strengthen their capacity to plan, design, implement, and monitor ADB projects.”
This year’s forum is especially important as it takes place as ADB begins the implementation of Strategy 2030, which sets the future direction for the bank’s efforts to respond to the region’s changing needs. ADB expects to commit $61.8 billion across 428 sovereign and nonsovereign projects over the next 3 years.
Mr. Nakao highlighted six areas in which ADB is collaborating with executing and implementing agencies to deliver successful projects. First, ensuring speed and efficiency in project delivery is a high priority, supported by recent procurement reforms and new mechanisms for project readiness. Second is the importance of incorporating climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk, and environmental considerations. Third, ADB and partner agencies must always consider ways to include gender elements into projects and programs. Fourth is promoting innovation and advanced technologies to address complex problems. Fifth is strengthening financial management to ensure accountability and financial sustainability. Sixth is aiming to increase the use of country systems in procurement, and environmental and social safeguards.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2017, ADB operations totaled $32.2 billion, including $11.9 billion in cofinancing.
New ADB Loans to Help Rebuild Critical Infrastructure in Central Sulawesi
ADB to Support Philippine Secondary Education Reforms with $300 Million Loan
Republic of Korea Pledges $355 Million to Support ASEAN Green Infrastructure and Ocean Health
ADB, Ireland Establish Fund to Boost Climate, Disaster Resilience in Pacific
New Facility to Mobilize $1 Billion for ASEAN Green Infrastructure
ADB Supports Private Sector Solar Power Development in Mongolia
Regional Cooperation Can Help Asia Tackle Rising Cross-Border Challenges
ADB, AECID Sign MOU for Further Collaboration, Knowledge Sharing
ADB Seminar Considers Challenge of Technological Change, Globalization, and Jobs in Asia
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Home » Arbitrator Articles » Federal District Court Compels Arbitration in Torbit vs. Datanyze, Despite the Company’s Non-signatory Status
Federal District Court Compels Arbitration in Torbit vs. Datanyze, Despite the Company’s Non-signatory Status
Thursday, February, 28, 2013
Ilya Semin, the founder of the software development firm Datanyze, won a motion to compel arbitration in a lawsuit filed against him and his company by Trobit, Inc., a company for which he formerly worked. This decision came as a surprise for many considering the fact that Datanyze, as a company, was not a signatory to the original arbitration agreement that had been signed by Semin before the inception of Datanyze. However, the California court indeed ruled to enforce the arbitration agreement for both defendants under the doctrine of equitable estoppel.
Semin was the original signatory to the arbitration agreement when he was employed by Torbit. The employment contract he signed also contained a proprietary information non-disclosure provision, along with a commitment not to compete against Torbit while he was in their employment. The specific wording on the arbitration clause in the employment contract was that arbitration would be mandated for “any dispute or claim relating to or arising out of the employment relationship.”
The dispute that prompted the lawsuit by Torbit concerns actions taken by Semin before he founded Datanyze. According to the lawsuit, Semin allegedly used Torbit’s network before resigning his position with them and moving on to begin his own company. During this time, according to Torbit’s claims, Semin downloaded Torbit’s trade secrets onto his personal computer and proceeded to use them to create his own company as a competitor of Torbit’s using the information he gleaned from the download.
Following the resignation and alleged trade secret theft, Torbit filed a lawsuit in federal court against Semin and his company, Datanyze. The suit alleged that Semin had violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and that Semin’s company was guilty of trade secret misappropriation. Semin, both on his own behalf and on behalf of Datanyze, moved to compel arbitration due to the arbitration clause he had signed. However, since Datanyze was not a signatory to the agreement, Torbit objected to arbitration.
A federal District Court in the Northern district of California overruled Torbit’s objection and granted Semin’s motion to compel arbitration. The case is Torbit, Inc. v. Datanyze, Inc., Case No. 5:12-CV-05889-EJD (N.D. Cal., Feb. 13, 2013).
While he was employed with Torbit, Semin was responsible for assisting with developing technology which Torbit claims was part of its “most valuable trade secret and one of its top competitive advantages.” In its move to compel arbitration, the court showed that the alleged CFAA violation and common law accusations were fully arbitrable.
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We Hope They'll Show This During The Superbowl!
Drew Brees for Team Gleason from Team Gleason on Vimeo.
Thank you, Drew Brees!
Wish We Used Stats To Scare Up Support
In yesterday's Wall Street Journal, The Numbers Guy, Carl Bialik, has another interesting column. This time he writes of health not-for-profits who find ways to present scary statistics to state their cases for support.
Article (subscriber content)
Here is a comment posted below the article --
Unfortunately disease prevalence has traditionally been used to establish relative priorities for much research funding, and prevalence simply doesn't tell the story for some diseases. I've been involved in the fight against ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) for a number of years. It has a relatively low prevalence and a high incidence, and therein lies the problem. It's like a cruel game of musical chairs where we keep pouring people into the room and when the music stops, there are very few chairs. The only exit is a door labeled "death." Many of our ALS organizations are resigned to the fact that disease prevalence has been the gold standard for government and private research funding priorities. That attitude will never bring ALS the attention it needs to be handled as an urgent, fatal, and mysterious disease with a horrific throughput. I wish the ALS cause had some of those numbers people who can express the odds in a way that would make every healthy person squirm!
Here Are Some Realistic Goals
Occasionally ALSadvocacy is chided by some people who work for ALS organizations. Some ideas such as inter-organizational coordination, awareness programs with global punch, a case study of the cost of the disease, educational programs at many levels, normalized reporting on annual investments in research, or a new standard for measuring a disease's impact are perceived as not being realistic.
Perhaps we can agree on a few goals for 2012 that are completely "realistic" from any perspective. Here are two.
Insure that every newly diagnosed ALS patient in the United States
1. Is immediately advised of the importance of self-enrolling in the CDC's national ALS Registry.
2. Is immediately advised of all clinical trial options available.
Those are simple. They are deliverable. They are measurable. They are important. They are not happening today. If they're not "realistic" then perhaps our organizations should find an easier disease to fight.
Remember The Over 5,000 American Lives Lost to ALS in 2011
Thanks to ALSA Philadelphia Chapter for pointing this opportunity out to remember loved ones and to raise some huge ALS awareness in The New York Times --
http://submit.nytimes.com/lives-they-lived
Please spread the word to all who have lost loved ones to ALS in the last year. The holidays are rough, and this is a good way to remember and teach others about the toll that this beast of a disease takes.
Who Represents Patients In This Puzzle?
Here is an interesting perspective on clinical trials --
http://bioworld.blogs.bioworld.com/2011/12/13/it%E2%80%99s-about-the-patient/
ALS certainly poses a completely different set of challenges for the drug companies trying to move a therapy forward, yet the question about remembering the patient has a special sting with ALS.
Nothing Is Easy With ALS
And sometimes the obstacles are just wrong.
http://www.alsa.org/news/archive/fda-approves-neurx-diaphragm.html
There has been an interesting saga described on the forum at patientslikeme.
A man with ALS recently made arrangements to go hundreds of miles to Cleveland to have the DPS described in the article at the above link "installed."
At the 11th hour in Cleveland his insurance carrier denied this treatment. He packed up his things and went back home.
Note that this man has ALS and travel is difficult and the breathing that he is trying to preserve with the DPS diminishes every day in the relentless ALS downhill slide.
Now he has finally found out what the difficulty was with the insurance coverage. The insurance company was not aware of the FDA approval of the DPS for ALS. The insurance company hasn't learned how to Google? Everything is fine now and he can go back to Cleveland for the procedure.
No, everything isn't fine now. The patient was jerked around by a healthcare delivery system that included an insurance company that made a big mistake at his expense. Precious time was lost. Precious resources were spent by the patient because an insurance company made a big mistake.
Nothing is easy with ALS, and we have a healthcare delivery system that continues to show its weaknesses at the expense of people trying to deal with this disease. Just as they introduced stress tests for banks during the banking crisis, perhaps ALS could be the stress test for healthcare delivery. Few organizations would pass.
And Walks Are More Than Fundraisers
They are reasons to talk about ALS in communities and in the media. They are a means to generate the awareness that will finally impress the urgency of the problem upon the healthy. They are a way to put ALS in the spotlight it needs so that we can break out of our rut of still having no known cause and no cure.
Are We Literally Protecting People With ALS To Death?
Here is an important perspective from a man with ALS. It was posted on the ALS TDI forum where patients with scientific backgrounds are collaborating and experimenting and sharing data.
I have a slightly different perspective than most coming from the radiation oncology field. The things we put our patients through would seem downright medieval to most. We expose people to enormous amounts of radiation that often makes them so sick they almost die form it. We have perfected the dose to bring them to the edge of death but not beyond. We all know what chemotherapy patients go through. They lose all the cells in their stomach and can barely eat for weeks. Again, we bring these people to the brink of death because that is what it takes to kill the cancer cells.
People with ALS are in no less dire straits than people with cancer. Getting sick from a potentially life saving cure should not deter us from trying. No doubt there is a risk with this sort of thing, perhaps even death, so only those willing to risk it all should attempt it, but we risk it all by doing nothing.
Now THIS Is Awareness
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/8172828/World-Aids-Day-Bono-turns-Sydney-red.html
Since the top leadership from ALS and MND organizations worldwide are in Sydney at this very moment for their annual summit, perhaps they'll get some ideas about how to raise awareness. It is important. The AIDS cause knows that. When will the ALS cause figure it out?
If any of the ALS delegates or researchers went to see Bono light up Sydney, lets hope that they went to be inspired and not simply entertained.
There's More To Chicago Than The Travelogue
We hope that the scientists will come to Chicago for more than the restaurants and the skyline and the shopping.
This is Chicago, too... a great American city with ALS on its mind!
http://www.lesturnerals.org/international-symposium/
There Is Redeeming Social Value in Twitter
We are getting an interesting window in to what is happening at the International ALS MND Symposium in Australia via twitter. Watch for hashtag #ALSSYMP ... and thanks to @alstdi and @mndaustralia for their interesting tweets from the Ask the Experts session.
Perhaps this will plant a seed that people with a disease that steals their ability to speak and travel and be mobile deserve more opportunities to be a part of the conversation with those who are searching for a treatment. Surely there would be some synergies to these parties knowing each other better.
Yes, twitter is for more than self-serving organizational announcements.
Ask The Experts, But Don't Count On Asking Too Much
Tomorrow night (U.S. time) the big international symposium on ALS kicks off, and the traditional "Ask the Experts" session is being hosted by MND Australia, the host organization. This year we are pleased to see that people will be able to participate online.
http://www.mndaust.asn.au/uploads/30227/ufiles/Final_AtE_programmme_and_papers.pdf
Take a look at that agenda. An expert moderator and four subject-area experts, each of whom will speak for 20 minutes. They have left a whole 60 minutes at the end of the agenda for Q and A.
Ok, experts, let's think about this. The title of the session is "Ask the Experts," yet you're doing most of the talking. The asking part isn't until the very end, and if it's anything like last year's session, there won't be time for over a couple of questions. Perhaps "Listen To The Experts And Ask A Question If You're Incredibly Lucky" wasn't a catchy enough title?
Let's hope that the experts keep things on schedule and don't have another commitment that will keep them from answering all the questions that may be sent their way.
People with ALS are constantly fighting the ticking clock and a healthcare delivery system that doesn't listen. Hmmm.
For those in the U.S. who are interested, timing is 10pm start EST... Access information is can be found with the agenda at the above link.
And We Wonder Why ALS Clinical Trials Aren't All Full
Pretend you were just diagnosed with ALS and are googling to find out what you can do to fight it. Your family members are probably doing the same thing. Have them join us in some experiments.
You go to the trusted sites of the big organizations to get information.
Go to www.alsa.org ... www.mdausa.org ... www.als.net ...
Look around at their information for new patients. Are clinical trials brought to the forefront as something that you should be considering now, before your short window of eligibility closes?
This time forget about them suggesting clinical trials to you proactively. This time pretend that you're on a mission to get some information about clinical trials. Look directly for clinical trial information and try to find a resource that you can email or call to discuss the clinical trial process. NEALS and ALSA have a dedicated clinical trial expert available. It's not easy to find the contact information, is it?
Find the most promising clinical trial for your situation.
And we wonder why ALS clinical trials aren't all full.
In recent months we have seen patient advocates take on the mission of filling clinical trials themselves by e-word-of-mouth. They realize that every day that a trial is unfilled is another day's delay in having clinical trial results. Why can't our trusted ALS organizations make clinical trial information a clear part of every new patient's action kit?
If you were stumped by Experiment 2, the information is --
An ALS clinical trial expert can be reached at (877) 458-0631 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. eastern time and by e-mail atalstrials@partners.org.
Sarah Fisher Is Living Generously
http://www.theindychannel.com/video/29802468/index.html
Every American Needs To Hear This Today
Here is a 30-second message that is direct, clear, and important. Please listen, then pass it along.
This Is Outrageous
Shame on us.
http://www.king5.com/news/investigators/Veteran-dies-waiting-for-benefits----133338928.html
Perhaps this Veterans' Day we need to stop patting ourselves on the back for the past work done for veterans with ALS and start fixing a few things!
Millions of People Looking for Bargains Are Made Aware of ALS
Thanks, Walgreens and NOVA, for helping good business intersect with vital ALS awareness in today's ad.
Wish We Could Go Back To GI-Bill Education And A Great Home Loan
... rather than having our vets get the awful fringe benefit known as ALS.
Reverse Engineering To Defeat ALS
Consider a disease that seems to find very smart people. The disease strips them of their motor functions, but it lets them remain very smart. The disease has no known cause. The disease has no cure.
Consider a disease with a history of disappointing clinical trials... trial after trial after trial... until this summer when one product (Neuraltus NP-001) seemed to have some positive effects on some individuals. It wasn't a miracle of biblical proportions, but it was like a parting of the Red Sea by ALS standards.
Consider a disease whose clinical trials involve a placebo group and have a timeline that is longer than the life expectancy of many patients. Consider a disease that leaves thousands of patients on the bench because they have had the condition too long to qualify for a clinical trial.
Should it surprise anyone that the same smart people whose lives are at stake have turned out to be a pretty impressive online band of reverse engineers? Give them a slight glimmer of hope and they don't sing and dance. They put their minds to work figuring it out. Smart people from every walk of life get ALS, and it has been pretty impressive how they found each other and decided not to be spectators in a life that dealt them a really bad hand.
Take a look --
http://www.als.net/forum/Default.aspx (Oral Sodium Chlorite thread)
https://sites.google.com/site/alschlorite/home
Certainly it's risky. There is no doubt that these are courageous people who are cornered by a relentless disease and a drug development system that has failed them in the past. They're not going without a really good fight and an attitude to do something so that the next person will have a fairer fight.
This Is Why The Great Nolan Ryan Is Still Great
Thanks, Nolan Ryan. Thanks, Texas Rangers. Thanks, MLB.
I'm still for the Cards but feeling awfully guilty about that now ;-) This is huge visibility for ALS.
Here Is A Perspective On A Birthday
Oh, that some creative minds might find effective ways to increase self-enrollment and patient participation in the supplemental surveys for the CDC's ATSDR National ALS Registry!
Here is some perspective on a "birthday" and on keeping our eyes on the prize --
http://alsspreadtheword.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-project-for-petes-sake.html
Let's make this registry work to provide the epidemiological clues that scientists need. Let's not sing until the data speak.
Labels: ALS Advocacy, ALS Registry
Is This A Sign Of New Things To Come?
On the main page of http://www.thehill.com/ ... there was a scrolling ad about a veteran with ALS. It had an ALSA logo and was promoting PDUFA.
We can't wait to see if this is a sign that ALS is about to have some in-your-face awareness!
Veterans - Time To Be Seen And Heard!
Here is a nice website from the ALS Association...
http://www.alsa.org/advocacy/veterans/
If you are a veteran who has ALS or you have lost a loved one to ALS who served in the military, please add a picture. This will give the mysterious connection between military service and ALS some much-needed visibility!
Please pass this word along. Thank you.
Let's Hope
Let's hope that Jason Alexander noticed the new shoes on the man with ALS. Those shoes will never be worn out. Let's hope that Jason Alexander noticed that the man with ALS didn't sip on coffee like the others in the room. Let's hope that Jason Alexander takes Steve and his disease personally. Lets hope that Jason Alexander will talk off-script about this outrageous disease. Let's hope.
From the statement from the ALS Association :
"Over the coming weeks the ALS community will begin seeing these materials launched as part of The Association’s more aggressive public awareness efforts. 'We are determined to bring ALS out of the shadows and into the light of public awareness' said Gilbert."
Let's hope that it will be aggressive and part of everything ALSA does. Let's hope.
Let's deliver.
YOYO (You're On Your Own)
For the recently diagnosed ALS patient, it's not quite as easy as it sounds. Here are some things that may help.
Some neurologists aren't current on the status of clinical trials. Some neurologists discourage clinical trial participation lest the trial may do harm to the patient (like ALS isn't the ultimate harm). Some neurologists advise patients only of clinical trials in which they are investigators. Some neurologists advise patients only of clinical trials in which they are not investigators. Some physicians have the human "not invented here" frailty. Patients shouldn't stop with the neurologist. Ask questions and ask more questions and contact the Clinical Trials Expert (who is a physician sponsored by several ALS organizations and should be able to provide objective information) alstrials@partners.org or (877) 458-0631. That contact information isn't easy to find on any organization's website, yet it's probably one of the single most important resources for a patient who might qualify for a clinical trial. Go figure. Nothing is easy with ALS.
Going to the ALS Association website isn't going to provide you with a current or comprehensive list of clinical trials. Try www.clinicaltrials.gov and search for "amyotrophic." There you will find the most current list of trials and their locations and current status. It's a more up-to-date database of trials than any other organization's website provides.
Look at forums at www.patientslikeme.com (also includes patient data reported by patients in formal clinical trials and in diy treatments) and www.als.net and www.alsforums.com ... and realize that not everybody there is an expert (and it's always easy to fall into the trap of listening to what you want to hear)... but you may find some information that will help you make a more informed decision about a clinical trial.
Time is of the essence. Many trials limit participation to those within 24 months of onset. Many patients have lost much of that eligibility window just trying to get a correct diagnosis.
ALS is unfortunately the ultimate YOYO disease. You're on your own to dig and find answers. Don't stop with one neurologist and one website.
p.s. To ALS organizations lurking here... Please try an experiment. Pretend you were just diagnosed with ALS and want to find out about clinical trials. Do it when you're exhausted and after you've whirled like a dervish for three minutes since that's the feeling that a lot of people with ALS and caregivers have all the time. Google. Look around at websites. Confused? Try to find the phone number or email address for the Clinical Trials Expert. Confused? Look at the CDC's website. Should you expect a phone call telling you that you are a candidate for a trial? Confused?
Now We're Cooking
Video from a recent "Ask The Experts" ALS research conference in California is available here .
Thanks to the organizers and the organizations for finding a practical and considerate way to deliver information for patients, families, and other interested people.
This Red Sox's Fan Is A Champion
Thanks, Clear Channel Outdoor!
http://www.boston.com/Boston/businessupdates/2011/10/clear-channel-billboards-help-umass-and-cellucci-fight-als/ctFFUD67WW6i78aAPSiKlK/index.html
Last week the Diaphragm Pacing System (DPS) was approved by the FDA for people with ALS.
For years patients who were in the clinical trial of this pacemaker to keep the diaphragm working attributed it to enhancing their quality of life. Finally all patients have access to this option which could be a valuable tool as an early intervention. It's a simple concept.
This week patients are asking their physicians about the DPS and some of the docs don't seem to know about the DPS. "I'll have to look into that," translates into wasted weeks for a person dealing with the ticking ALS clock.
If there were a new prescription drug for ALS, you can be sure that docs would be ready, able, and willing to get patients started. Why the DPS, only the second FDA approved product for ALS, is such a secret among healthcare professionals is just incredible.
So, in case this is of help for those reading this, here are some links with information --
ALSA Announcement
Synapse Biomedical Information (site includes Medicare information and locations with expertise)
Important Patient Q&A Document (Dr. Onders at The Cleveland Clinic is the developer of the DPS for people with ALS)
C'mon healthcare delivery system. It's past time to start delivering for people with ALS! This is an early intervention that is a much simpler decision than those later interventions. When dealing with ALS, "first do no harm" involves some added responsibilities.
Is There A Lesson For The Fight Against ALS Here?
Now, Can The Organizations Execute?
That was "organizations" (plural). Please. It's all in the execution now.
"The Facts Are Not Discouraging"
And that's a big deal with an ALS trial.
CNN covers news from the Neuralstem Phase I trial --
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/health/early-als-trial-results-encouraging/index.html
Are The Right Agencies Doing The Right Things?
A perspective on some of the proposed "enhancements" to the CDC's ATSDR ALS Registry...
http://alsspreadtheword.blogspot.com/2011/09/whoa-government-is-moving-too-fast.html
It's troubling to see such expensive "feature-itis" growing from a project that needs to be focused on a successful core mission.
Labels: ALS Registry
NFL ALS Roll Call Grows - September, 2011 Edition
Steve Gleason
Eric Scroggins
O.J. Brigance
Glenn Montgomery
Pete Duranko
Peter Demmerle
Tony Proudfoot (CFL)
Matt Hazeltine
Orlando Thomas
Wally Hilgenberg
Kevin Turner
Bob Hohn
There are thousands more who have played college football.
This mystery needs to be solved!
p.s. If anyone knows of other NFL players who have been stricken with ALS, please let me know. Thanks.
He Continues To Wow Us
Five years ago Steve Gleason wowed his city and a world of football fans with a blocked punt. Today he wows everyone involved in the fight against ALS with his attitude and courage.
Dan Dierdorf broke the news on the CBS pregame show, and he was visibly moved.
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/09/new_orleans_saints_cult_hero_s.html
The troubling list of NFL players with ALS grows. In the meantime, we watch Steve Gleason make some remarkable good come from the rotten cards he was dealt.
http://www.team-gleason.com/
When Dealing With ALS, It Pays To Read Things Twice
When I read Tuesdays With Morrie, I found warm messages on values and life. When I read it a second time, I found wisdom that I didn't see the first time. I saw a wise man's path through the ALS journey.
Yesterday there was a beautiful, short biographical piece on Lou Gehrig written by Reinhardt Krause in Investor's Business Daily --
What Put Gehrig First? Quiet Dignity, Iron Will - Investors.com
The first reading reminded me of much that I knew about the remarkable Lou Gehrig. The second reading turned on some lights in my mind on how much Lou Gehrig's life teaches us personally on winning and achieving greatness. The fight against ALS has not yet been won, and "greatness" is not a concept would be associated with our teams fighting ALS today.
Please read the article. If you are involved in the fight against ALS, please read the article twice. The self-help is right under our noses.
We Remember
As we remember the all of the heroes lost ten years ago today, here is a piece that speaks volumes about the American spirit --
HETRICK: Ten years after 9/11, keep doing what you do | 2011-09-10 | Indianapolis Business Journal | IBJ.com
May we achieve the national greatness that we saw in so many individuals ten years ago today. May that greatness include finding a treatment for ALS. We have lost over 60,000 Americans to ALS in the last decade, many of whom served bravely defending our country (and were never counted in our casualties of war) or served us all in public safety roles.
Will People With ALS Get The FDA They Need From This?
Here is some reading about the FDA's latest PDUFA reauthorization proposal. If you're not familiar with PDUFA, google and enjoy the trip on how we have chosen to fund and improve the FDA over the past decades. Here is some overview information on the PDUFA V Technical Agreement.
Below are some organizational perspectives.
National Health Council Announcement
The National Health Council applauds the FDA for agreeing to include in its recommendations three proposals championed by patients: the development of an objective, qualitative benefit-risk framework that includes robust patient input; the advancement of new therapies through the expanded use of biomarkers and patient-reported outcomes in clinical trials; and the creation of regulatory policy, procedures, and guidance to encourage the development of treatments for rare diseases.
All three of these components are necessary for advancing access to desperately needed treatments and cures. To exclude any one of these elements would be to offer a reauthorization package that would not meet the needs of patients – particularly those with few or no treatment options.
Since July 2010, The ALS Association participated in monthly meetings with FDA officials to bring the perspective of people with ALS to the discussion on the reauthorization of PDUFA. Three key provisions advocated by The Association were included in the proposed agreement. They include:
•Developing Treatments for Rare Diseases: Directs FDA to issue regulatory policies and guidance that encourage the development of drugs to treat rare diseases and to include patients as active participants in this process.
•Assessing Risk-Benefit: Instructs the agency to develop an objective and qualitative framework for assessing risk and benefit during the drug review process and to ensure patient involvement. The provision takes into account the fact that people with ALS who have no treatment options and who will die in just two to five years have a much different view of risk and benefit than does someone with a treatable or chronic condition.
•Utilizing Biomarkers in Clinical Trials: The proposal encourages greater use of biomarkers and other markers, or “sign-posts,” to help determine risk and benefit when reviewing new drugs. Biomarkers have the potential to significantly accelerate access to new drugs by helping to determine much sooner whether a treatment works and in which patients.
Comments From A Pharmaceutical Industry Representative
PDUFA is only part of larger FDA reforms needed to improve public health.
It's not a done deal. There are aspects that are a matter of life and death for people with ALS who are currently without an effective treatment and without a biomarker. It's important that we all pay attention as this proposal moves forward. Mission has not been accomplished.
Also, for ALS, a disease without biomarkers, are we going to slow down trials that might be mixing biomarker theories with efficacy theories? Sure, it would be great to use proven biomarkers in efficacy trials, but ...
Here Are Some Words On Health Activism
...from a health activist.
http://barbarabrenner.net/?p=299
It's terrible that ALS has drafted another, but we're glad for Barbara Brenner's perspective. The fight is perhaps changing for the better very soon.
The plot definitely thickens.
...and Ron Leuty continues to pay attention to how the course of a disease may be changed thanks to enabling technologies...
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/biotech/2011/09/als-lou-gehrig-facebook-twitter-youtube.html
Don't you love it when the plot really thickens?
Patients Are Changing The Same Old Same Old
Organizations are joining the conversation.
Many thanks to Ron Leuty of the San Francisco Business Times for an interesting piece of journalism on patients taking the lead in clinical trial enrollment. Very seldom have we seen so many important perspectives reflected in one article related to ALS.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/print-edition/2011/09/02/patients-enlist-in-fight-against-als.html
It's definitely worth your time to read!
ALS often steals a person's ability to speak. These patients will not let it silence their voices.
People With ALS Deserve A Little Good News!
...and they got some really good news tonight.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/biotech/2011/08/neuraltus-als-lou-gehrig.html?s=print
By Ron Leuty in the San Francisco Business Times
Neuraltus ALS drug wins FDA orphan and fast-track status!
Now to fill the few remaining seats in the trial so that we can see how fast the fast-track is.
Hot Off The Press - ALS Registry Annual Meeting Summary
The meeting notes from the 2010 annual ALS Registry meeting were put on the CDC's website last week, over nine months after the meeting.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/als/Download/2010%20ALS%20Annual%20Meeting%20Summary%20Report.pdf
We believe that the 2011 meeting may be happening this week. We hope that it doesn't again take almost a year to see the summary of the proceedings. People with ALS don't have that kind of time to wait!
Lights, Camera, Action To Defeat ALS
It's that time of year again for entries in the American Academy of Neurology 2012 Neuro Film Festival
http://www.aan.com/press/index.cfm?fuseaction=release.view&release=978
http://patients.aan.com/go/about/neurofilmfestival
Please spread the word. This is a great opportunity to raise some critical ALS awareness and have a little fun, too.
If You Were Recently Diagnosed With ALS, Your Best Friend May Be alstrials@partners.org
You need to get to a neurologist doing clinical trials because anything the
least bit "promising" would be experimental.
Jose Biller, M.D. upon diagnosing a patient with ALS in 1996
That was guidance that unfortunately not every patient hears on the day of diagnosis. It is important because every patient deserves the opportunity to make informed decisions regarding options to fight the incurable disease and to contribute to the knowledge of that disease for future patients. Those informed decisions cannot be made after the window of clinical-trial eligibility has slammed shut, and in the case of ALS, many patients are not even diagnosed until much of their eligibility window has passed. After 24 to 36 months after first symptoms, even if you're lucky enough to still be alive and kicking, most clinical trials won't accept you.
People with ALS get spotty information from their neurologists regarding clinical trial opportunities. Some are actually discouraged because a trial might have bad side effects. Some docs don't mention trials outside of their own institutions. Others don't mention clinical trials at their institutions. This is nuts. People with ALS are perfectly capable of making their own medical decisions. Having information is a critical part of making medical decisions. Withholding information does not help.
There is a well-kept secret that can be of immense help to patients and families who would like to make their own informed decisions. There is a clinical trial expert available via email at alstrials@partners.org or via phone at (877) 458-0631 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. eastern time. This person is a physician and is knowledgeable on all ALS clinical trial possibilities. The position is funded by ALSA and NEALS (an ALS clinical trial incubator) and is a source for objective information to assist patients in their decisions.
Last week a message board told of a patient who was pursuing a clinical trial that was filling fast. She could not get a response from the investigator's email contact at clinicaltrials.gov. She contacted the clinical trial expert and got some action. That's progress!
Show Some Compassion
If You Can Cure ALS, Then You Can Cure _____________ (Fill In The Blank)
The headline on the following article may seem ironic:
"Cause of ALS is Found, Brings Hope for a Cure for Alzheimer's Disease"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/08/23/prweb8736207.DTL
My first reaction was, "Well, what about hope for a cure for ALS?" ... then I read the article.
Moving Pictures, Inc. (MPI) has doubled the percentage of their profits that they donate to Alzheimer's and dementia research, excited by the recent scientific breakthrough from Northwestern University. A new University study published in Nature identifying evidence of a common cause in all forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease), a neurodegenerative disease causing fatal paralysis, opens a door to a cure for a disease that has long stumped scientists.
True scientific breakthroughs that address ALS have been few and far between. It is acknowledged as a nettlesome, complex neurological challenge. Many feel that if you can solve the ALS problem, then you can solve a lot of neurological problems. This article was a testament to that theory.
It's wonderful that the wave of scientific ALS interest in the last week is leading to related scientific excitement for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and other neurological conditions. Perhaps if we can unravel ALS to its common denominators then we can unravel a lot of other diseases that will make new drug development for ALS an attractive proposition.
Let's hope that companies like Neuraltus and Biogen Idec can bring their current "promising" ALS clinical trials to successful conclusions quickly so that possible therapies for ALS can be evaluated and delivered... then perhaps, they can leverage ALS success into success in other much larger patient groups. After all, if you can cure (or even treat) ALS, then you can cure ______.
Here Is A Nice Honor And Awareness-Raiser
Paul Wicks is indeed an innovator, and it's nice for people who read an MIT publication to see his work in the context of ALS.
http://www.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?trid=1080&p1=TR35
In a time when ALS clinical trials finally may actually be doing something, the role of PatientsLikeMe will be interesting.
Let's Hope This Discovery Lives Up To The Headlines
Over the weekend we saw a lot of news coverage of the article in Nature regarding Dr. Siddique's work on a biomechanical commonality among the variations of ALS.
Short Article in Time
Helpful Explanation from MNDA
The headlines imply that "the cause" has been found. It's a biomechanical cause. It's not so actionable as when we learned that smoking caused cancer; however, it's an important element of understanding a disease that has been a medical mystery for far too long.
THIS Is Why DOD Medical Research Makes Sense
Earlier this year Senator John McCain said,
“The aspects of the Defense Appropriations bill that need to be taken away, eliminated, are $300 million for medical research. I am sure the medical research is important, but it has nothing to do with national defense.”
Now take a look at this Marine's obituary --
http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/advocate-for-veterans-in-camp-lejeune-tainted-water-case-dies-at-age-72/1185584
Joe Moser is exactly why the DOD should be doing medical research.
If a defect in airplanes were causing those serving our country to be killed, you can bet the DOD would swarm over that problem, and rightly so. If a defect in a rifle were causing our soldiers to be killed, you can bet the DOD would be investigating and correcting that problem. If uniforms were causing horrible rashes, surely the DOD would be figuring that problem out. Why would we ignore ALS and breast cancer?
When service-related diseases are killing our Marines, medical research is a defense issue.
This Is Pretty Cool
...but we hope not too cold. We love people who make waves!
They Had No Idea That This Was Service-Related
And there is no excuse for our legislators to have no idea. This is an unacceptable "fringe benefit" of serving our nation in our military.
Mike keeps fighting for our country in ways that he never expected.
It's Still A Mysterious And Deadly Disease
http://www.wtae.com/r/28744335/detail.html
Interesting video from Pittsburgh's South Side.
Governor Cellucci's Public Service Continues
After All, It's All About The Patients
In the last few days patients have continued to lead the way.
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ has traditionally been the best database of clinical trials, yet it was not completely accurate on the eligibility window for one ALS trial. Since ALS patients are seldom diagnosed quickly (that's a whole other story), they often have very little time in their clinical-trial eligibility windows by the time they know they have ALS. It's a big deal if a trial will accept patients up to 36 months (rather than 24) from onset. Patient communication to the trial sponsor resulted in an important update to an important clinical trial's listing -- Neuraltus NP-001 -- http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01281631?term=neuraltus+amyotrophic&rank=1
A new location was announced for the same clinical trial and within hours, our patient mapmaker had updated his work and communicated it to dozens of ALS websites.
Several patients chided ALSadvocacy for not being more specific when referring to an important phase III trial in a prior posting. Here you go. -- Biogen Idec Dexpramipexole http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01281189?term=dexpramipexole&rank=3
The facebook commentary regarding clinical trials has increased significantly. Patients are encouraging each other to "try out." Patients may or may not qualify, depending on how much damage the ALS has already done to them. The support and information being exchanged on facebook are impressive.
Patients are hearing from their own trial coordinators of an uptick in inquiries based on patient referrals.
Some trials provide unadvertised assistance with travel expenses. Patients are learning to ask.
Finally, there are rumblings that some ALS organizations may finally be working together to make a single best information source of clinical trial possibilities. Based on past performance, that's a refreshing new goal to prove that it really is all about the patients. If a reliable, up-to-date, easy-to-use source of ALS clinical trial information emerges, then there may still be hope that all organizations might cooperate on having one excellent source of information. Patients have been begging for inter-organizational cooperation for years. This is a chance to help patients and leverage resources.
There continue to be reports of large groups of patients at support groups and clinics who are not being informed of clinical trial options by their organizations and healthcare professionals.
The online information regarding clinical trials has been updated on some ALS organization sites but not on others, and obsolete information is worse than no information! ALSA chapter sites are not accurate at this time. There is an old saying that everything is harder with ALS, and this is an ironic source that reinforces the adage. ALSadvocacy hopes that organizations will remove the red-herring information and simply supply a link to http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=amyotrophic&recr=Open It's all about the patients, right? It seems unconscionable that a patient might miss a trial opportunity based on wrong information on a trusted organization's site.
Not all trial locations supply email addresses in addition to phone numbers for the contact people. A disease that steals the ability to speak would be served well with more appropriate communication options for patients to inquire about clinical trials.
Clinics that are holding trials may occasionally be forgetting to tell patients about other clinical trial options that are available elsewhere. In the same vein, are not-for-profit trial sponsors forgetting to tell patients about trials sponsored by for-profit pharmaceutical companies?
It should be all about the patients. There are some current clinical trials that actually may provide improvements to patients, but we'll never know until the trials are filled and completed. There are therapies that will be huge if they live up to their promise, but only the data will tell. Patients are leading the way in getting the information to their peers so that the seats will be filled. Our ALS and healthcare delivery and clinical trial organizations have a perfect opportunity to prove that they are all about the patients. Simply listen to your patients and act, quickly, please.
Wow ... The Patients Are Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands
And they're making a big difference.
Right now there are some very interesting clinical trials being conducted for ALS. Over the years there have been hundreds of such "promising" trials, always with the quotation marks around "promising," and the disappointments and failures have been heartbreaking. This year it seems different. There are anecdotal reports of improvements in one trial. There is another that is a Phase III trial. Both are being led by some of the finest neurologists throughout the country. After all of the recent buzz and hope of finally removing the quotation marks from "promising," one fact remains -- we'll not know if these drugs will live up to the promise until the clinical trial seats are filled and the trials are completed.
One would think that patients with an untreatable, terminal disease would be knocking down the doors to get to these clinical trials. One would think. It seems that the process for getting information to ALS patients regarding clinical trials is horribly flawed. Many rely on their neurologists for information and guidance, yet often trials aren't introduced to patients and when they ask, the physician may not be familiar with the possibilities. Many rely on their trusted ALS organizations for information and guidance, yet we find a melange of outdated and incomplete information on their websites.
In the last few weeks, we have seen patients enrolled in trials taking matters into their own hands with some impressive results. Any patient who is enrolled in a clinical trial can be highly motivated to get the other seats in that trial filled so that it can move ahead. We see patients contacting others via social networking to encourage and inform regarding trials they are in. We see patients and caregivers asking trusted ALS organizations to speak up to patients regarding enrolling trials (and there have been some results). We see patients contributing to information online so that their peers can understand the relative advantages and disadvantages of trials. We even saw one patient who had traveled away from home for his monthly clinical trial infusion who dropped into a support group meeting in the clinical trial city. He found peers who were not aware of what was happening in their own back yard. One patient published a map online to show his peers all of the cities offering his trial. Facebook friends are posting information on walls wherever people with ALS and families might visit, and patients who do not qualify for trials are being a huge help to spread the word to others who might. Patients are posting their data at http://www.patientslikeme.com/ so that others may learn.
The system for spreading clinical trial information is broken. Some say there is no system. There is no excuse for a patient who qualifies for a clinical trial to be unaware of the possibility. Patients are leading the way right now. We hope that organizations and clinics and physicians will follow their lead and step it up a notch or ten!
Bob Is Still A Silent Leader
Matt June Knows How To Ask A Question
Barbara Brenner - Activist, Breast Cancer Survivor, Woman With ALS
Also, there is a beautifully written feature in USA Today by Liz Szabo --
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/breastcancer/story/2011/07/Breast-cancer-activist-struggles-to-preserve-her-voice/49472752/1
A Gifted Writer With ALS Just Keeps On Teaching
Dudley Clendinen wrote "The Good Short Life" in Sunday's New York Times.
David Brooks wrote "Death and Budgets" in today's New York Times.
Both are enlightening. Thank you, Dudley Clendinen.
Oh, That More People Would Become Emotionally Attached!
Diesel Pete, Rest In Peace
Pete Duranko has died from ALS.
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_18446945
Diesel Pete made this college freshman think that national championships were the normal part of a college football experience. Many years later he showed this ALS advocate the meaning of courage when facing this beast of a disease.
Another of our best and brightest has been taken. When will we stop this madness?
We Hope And We Pray
Over the last two decades there have been hundreds of clinical trials for ALS drugs that have delivered nothing but disappointment. We continue to raise funds and awareness so that research may continue.
Over the last several weeks there have been early reports of some positive results. It's way to early to know if early reports mean anything, but it is a most encouraging buzz among some of the trial participants.
If you have ALS or if you know someone with ALS, this Neuraltus NP001 trial might be worth some serious consideration. One must be within 36 months of disease onset to be eligible. If travel is required to get to a trial site, we understand that there is some assistance available.
We hope and we pray that this portends a viable treatment for ALS that can be delivered quickly. Around 500 Americans with ALS die every month.
Swim The English Channel to Defeat ALS
This is pretty cool...
I'm writing to you because I hope will will help spread the word about a remarkable man taking on a remarkable effort for the benefit of ALS research .....
In August, Doug McConnell, 53, of Barrington, Ill, will attempt to become the 48th person over the age of 50 to successfully cross the temperamental English Channel. He will be swimming more than 21 grueling miles in memory of his father who passed away from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Doug is using this epic effort to educate the public about ALS and raise funds for medical research at Northwestern University ’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
McConnell truly loves swimming and appreciates physical challenges. As a child, during a family vacation to England, he saw the Channel and thought to himself that one day he'd swim across the busy waterway. He and friend Don Macdonald committed to this endurance challenge and have been training for this event for approximately two years.
In late 2009, Doug developed a medical setback – a severely herniated disc between two cervical vertebrae, resulting in the loss of all use of his left arm. After physical therapy and other unsuccessful treatments, Doug underwent a cervical disc replacement procedure. The surgery was successful. Today, Doug has regained strength in his arm and the ability to move his neck to breathe while swimming, and he swims without pain. This was not enough to stop Doug's pursuit of his dream.
Medtronic, the manufacturer of the disc that was implanted into Doug's body, has pledged up to $50,000 in support of Doug's efforts. He is well on his way to raising a significant amount of money.
We hope you will post the press release on your blog. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or if you need additional information.
Beth Richman
Les Turner ALS Foundation
Here Is More On The Theme, "Let Patients Help!"
Please read the article at this link!
http://fastercures.blogspot.com/2011/07/building-bridges-across-valley-of-death.html
...He talked about how CFF’s successes – more than 30 drugs in the development pipeline, four of them already FDA-approved – have been a result of holding its partners’ feet to the fire, and keeping patients at the table every step of the way to create the urgency Feigal talked about.
But it goes beyond just having a seat at the table. While patient presence is critical to humanizing research and speeding progress, patient voices can’t just be loud, they also have to be smart on the science and knowledgeable about the regulatory environment. The recently released paper Back to Basics: HIV/AIDS Advocacy as a Model for Catalyzing Change, co-authored by FasterCures and HCM Strategists, distills lessons learned from the HIV/AIDS movement that can be replicated to address today’s medical research advocacy challenges. HIV/AIDS activists were successful because they refused to accept that the system was unchangeable, and instead took the time to figure out what it should be and how it should work.
In case you didn't click on that Back to Basics: HIV/AIDS Advocacy as a Model for Catalyzing Change link, please do so. Perhaps there really is a roadmap after all.
Here's A Wonderful July 4 Article
Thank you, Fay Vincent!
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/jul/04/fay-vincent-fourth-of-july-a-time-to-remember/
We'll Never Hit A Home Run If We Don't Swing The Bat
Two years ago this weekend something happened in the United States that was wonderful. As we approached the Independence Day celebrations, traffic on this site was astronomical. People were searching for information on ALS. Each major network was doing news features on ALS, Lou Gehrig, or the 4 ALS celebrations being held on July 4 in all of our Major League Baseball parks. It was a good buzz that permeated our nation on a weekend when we feel good about being a nation that can do good things. It raised awareness of Lou Gehrig's Disease in a generation of baseball fans who weren't all that familiar with Lou Gehrig. It was a weekend when people talked to each other about ALS.
Michael Goldsmith was a remarkable man who made all of this happen with the wonderful help of Major League Baseball.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/sports/baseball/02mgoldsmith.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Goldsmith
We need to rekindle the spirit delivery of Michael Goldsmith and make ALS an important part of every July 4 in our country. It's not about short-term fundraising. It's about raising ALS on America's radar on an important day when baseball and good works are as important as fireworks. It takes media savvy and interorganizational cooperation and hard work.
It's interesting. People like Michael Goldsmith with ALS understand the "how" and "why" of ALS awareness. Unfortunately they die all too quickly. Michael Goldsmith pitched a nice fastball right down the center for us to hit out of the park. Our ALS organizations need to get the bats off the shoulders and learn how to hit a home run like Michael Goldsmith.
With ALS, Patients Have To Take The Healthcare Bull By The Horns
Interesting perspectives from an empowered cancer patient...
"Let Patients Help!"
What If Major Organizations Declared A Global Awareness Day...
...and nobody actually did anything?
http://alsspreadtheword.blogspot.com/2011/06/calling-day-global-awareness-day-isnt.html
It's Good To Remember Lou on His Birthday
And it will be great if we can rid the earth of this beast of a disease before his next birthday!
Eight Years... 50,000 American Funerals Later
Remember June 19, 2003? It was Lou Gehrig's 100th birthday. We passed out baseball cards and gathered donations for nice commemorative pins. We started to realize that there are a lot of young baseball fans who don't realize who Lou was. We raised awareness the way we always raised awareness -- with modest and diligent and sporadic efforts at small events.
We have lost around 16 Americans to Lou Gehrig's Diseae every day (seven days a week) in the last eight years. We still try to raise awareness in very modest ways, the way we always have.
ALS is a big problem. It's time for some big, effective, continuous efforts to bring the ALS problem into serious focus. If most people don't know ALS is still around, we certainly can't blame them for ignoring it.
Shame on us if we keep raising awareness the way we always raised awareness.
Michael Bloomberg Gets It
Take Ten Minutes to Think About ALS
Advocacy Action Requested
Following is from an email received from ALSA:
Earlier this year, we requested that you contact your Members of Congress to urge them not to eliminate the ALS Research Program at the Department of Defense. Thanks to your outreach, Congress provided $8 million for the program this year! You made a difference. But we need your help again.
The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to vote on the FY 2012 Department of Defense Appropriations Act on Tuesday, June 14 and we have learned that an amendment may be offered that would eliminate the ALSRP next year. We cannot let this amendment pass. If it passes, at least $8 million that is so urgently needed for research no longer would be available. It would mean that research specifically designed to find a treatment would not take place.
Please contact your Representative TODAY! Tell them to save the ALSRP and work with the Appropriations Committee to make sure our government continues to support the fight to find a treatment and cure as soon as possible!
You can email your Representative directly from our website, here. Do it today. And tell your friends, family and everyone else you know to do the same. Your outreach made a difference earlier this year and we are confident that it can again -- but only if you take action today.
Let's Stop Shooting Our Cause In The Foot
Years ago a really smart person came up with the tagline, "Every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS. Every 90 minutes someone else dies from ALS." That's a great, concrete, attention-grabber. Unfortunately it doesn't tell the whole story.
That "90 minutes" is based on U.S. statistics only. Around 6000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS every year and a like number die from ALS. That's around 16 U.S. diagnoses and deaths per day, or one every 90 minutes. Great. But it's U.S. only!
ALS is a global problem.
The United States has around 4.5% of the world's population according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
So... assuming that the incidence of ALS is similar globally, let's try some arithmetic...
6000 / .045 = 133,333 new cases and funerals annually worldwide. Whoa.
133,333 / 365 = 365 new cases and funerals daily worldwide. Wow.
365 / 24 = 15 new cases and funerals per hour worldwide. Holy moley.
60 / 15 means that every 4 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS. Every 4 minutes someone else dies from ALS. Yikes.
So let's get it right. Either "Every 90 minutes someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with ALS. Every 90 minutes someone else in the U.S. dies from ALS," or "Every 4 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS. Every 4 minutes someone else dies from ALS."
Tick, tick, tick.
Or maybe, "There are well over 100 thousand new cases of ALS annually. There are well over 100 thousand others who died from ALS last year."
p.s. If my arithmetic is off, I'm all ears.
p.p.s. Check out the first paragraph http://lillypad.lilly.com/corporate-responsibility/fighting-hunger-bold-goals-moral-obligation They made a problem come to life!
p.p.p.s. 1pm EDT Fixed the arith. Got carried away with zeroes. Sorry about that. Phew!
We Need More Of This Attitude!
It Doesn't Take Long
Two years ago this coming July 4 we celebrated the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's farewell speech.
Today is the 70th anniversary of Lou's death.
It didn't take long for a man to go from baseball mega-superstar to the grave. This disease persists. The outcome today is much the same that Lou Gehrig experienced.
Perhaps our tagline should be, "ALS -- I'll bet you thought someone had cured it by now."
In the time since 1941 think of the advances in science and medicine and life. Polio and smallpox were conquered. Cancers are often treatable. MS patients have a long life expectancy. We have tiny cellphones and make long distance calls at will. We have an internet. We have dishwashers and wonderful television pictures and trash bags. Why have we not figured out ALS?
These Are Not Sickly People
They are hale and hardy and playing golf and sailing one month, and suddenly ALS hits. We need more ways to show this. Here is one created by a gentleman with ALS.
Every healthy person needs to squirm a little. Nobody is immune.
We Hope Scott Pelley Remembers Steve and ALS
If you saw the 60 Minutes piece on the 21st Century Snake Oil , then you saw Steve Watters. He was an ALS patient who went undercover with Scott Pelley to expose the con man with a bogus stem cell cure for a price. Steve was always a thoughtful contributor on ALS message boards, and he turned out to be a huge contributor to the awareness of ALS in his role on that 60 Minutes segment.
Steve Watters has died.
Another nice person. Another achiever. Another contributor. Another funeral.
ALS advocacy involves starting the simple conversations that cause so many connections to ALS to come to light.
Last week alsadvocacy was in seminars with 20 people. Wearing a www.stealingpieces.org shirt to breakfast one morning was a conversation starter. A couple said that they had known General Tom Mikolajcik, a hero in the fight against ALS who enabled the service-related benefits for veterans stricken with ALS.
Later the next day prayers were requested for a friend of a meeting leader who had just received a serious diagnosis. It was ALS. Unbelievable.
That caused even more conversations in the group about the disease. One gentleman shared that he had lost a college roommate to ALS. Another talked of his uncle who died from it.
Twenty people. So many ALS connections. This disease is not as rare as people like to think. It strikes and kills quickly. It then moves on to strike and kill more people. We must keep the conversations and connections alive so that the world might realize that it is a problem urgently in need of a solution. We must speak up for all of those who have been silenced by ALS.
The Leadership And Results Are Clearly Refreshing
This message was posted on the ALS Association's facebook wall... from the ALSA President and CEO --
I had the distinct pleasure this afternoon of receiving a phone call from Eddie Martiny, General Manager, and Marc Sherman, FM Operations Manager, of the Clear Channel stations in Houston. They were calling at the request of Mr. John Hogan, President of Clear Channel Radio, who received my letter asking for a public apology. They were interested, compassionate and want to help us with an awareness campaign through their sister stations. They also gave me permission to share with you the words of the public apology that was made on KKRW station on Tuesday:
“KKRW and Walton & Johnson would like to apologize for insensitive remarks about Stephen Hawking’s physical condition that have caused distress to people with disabilities, including those with ALS – which Professor Hawking suffers from – and their families. We recognize that there are many people in Houston who suffer from serious, debilitating illnesses and no offense to them was intended.”
They are working on producing public service announcements, and will run them on all of their stations during the next couple of weeks. I urge all of you to join me in thanking them for their concern and their response to the ALS community. I want to go on record with a huge thank you to the management of Clear Channel Communications, who recognizes the mistake that was made and are now doing everything they can to help us.
Clearly the use of online media to get Clear Channel's attention along with the refreshing ALSA leadership to meet the problem head-on made a difference.
This is ALS advocacy. This is ALS awareness. This is newsworthy. This is a huge step in a good direction.
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Home /RUDOLPH TANZI
DR. RUDOLPH E. TANZI, DIRECTOR, GENETICS AND AGING RESEARCH UNIT, MASSGENERAL INSTITUTE FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE & JOSEPH P. AND ROSE F. KENNEDY PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
Genetic and Aging Research Unit
Charlestown, Massachusetts
University of Rochester BS/BA, Microbiology/History 1976 – 1980 Activities and Societies: Sigma Chi Harvard University Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), NeuroscienceBIO
Dr. Tanzi is the Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), which includes eight laboratories that do research on the genetic causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Since the 1980s, Dr. Tanzi’s studies were mainly on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In 1987, he was behind the isolation of the first familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) gene, known as the amyloid beta-protein (A4) precursor (APP), and in 1995 of another gene called presenilin 2. He also collaborated on the isolation of the second FAD gene, presenilin 1. In 1993, Dr. Tanzi isolated the gene responsible for the neurological disorder known as Wilson’s disease. Over the past 25 years, he has collaborated on studies identifying several other neurodegenerative disease genes including those causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and neurofibromatosis. Dr. Tanzi’s laboratory first discovered that the metals zinc and copper are necessary for the formation of neurotoxic assemblies of the AD-associated peptide, A-beta, the main component of beta-amyloid deposits in brains of AD patients. These studies have led to ongoing clinical trials for treating and preventing AD by targeting A-beta metal interactions. Dr. Tanzi was also involved in the first studies implicating gamma-secretase modulators as therapeutics for AD. These trials were carried out by Prana Biotechnology, LTD, for which Dr. Tanzi served as a co-founder. Dr. Tanzi is currently carrying out genome wide association screens to identify novel genes associated with AD and autism spectrum disorders, he spearheads the Alzheimer’s Genome Project. This achievement was named one of the “Top Ten Medical Breakthroughs of 2008” by Time Magazine. Dr. Tanzi is one of the ten most cited researchers in AD, having co-authored over 340 research articles. He is also a co-author of a popular trade book on Alzheimer’s disease entitled “Decoding Darkness: The Search for the Genetic Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease”. In 2012, he co-authored the book “Super Brain” with Dr. Deepak Chopra, it is a New York Times Best Seller for 8 weeks. Dr. Tanzi has received several awards for his work, including the two highest awards for Alzheimer’s disease research: The Metropolitan Life Foundation Award and The Potamkin Prize. He has also received the Reagan National Alzheimer’s Disease Research Award, an NIH MERIT Award, and the “Oneness of Humanity” Global Award, and is an AAAS Fellow. In 2007, he was included on the list of the “Harvard 100: Most Influential Alumni” of over 220,000 living alumni. His invited honorary lectures include a Nobel Forum Lecture, Smithsonian Institution Distinguished Lecture, and the Society for Neuroscience Public Lecture. Dr. Tanzi is the Chairman of the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund Research Consortium and serves over 40 editorial and scientific advisory boards.
The disease
Alzheimer.tv Copyright 2017
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Real talk about single fathers
Jasmin K. Williams | 4/12/2011, 5:23 p.m.
Rodney Harraway
"There is also a lot of communication breakdown between the custodial and non-custodial parent. This has been coined as 'baby mama drama' and has been blown out of proportion. I see mothers that don't have support orders keep the hope alive that the relationship will be rekindled with the father. Once the father has gone on with his life or remarried, there is a revenge factor that takes place. Some women are not able to handle that.
"The men, in general, are getting a raw deal, but the kids just want their fathers. These kids cry because their fathers are not there. It's so unfair to deny them their other parent."
Harraway has discussed this issue with mothers, fathers and the children who still clearly want their fathers in their lives.
"There were two young ladies, ages 16 and 18, and two young men ages, 17 and 18. I asked them if they would rather have the money from their dad or their dad in their life. In most cases, the mother has built a barrier. During the course of the interview, the boys were disrespectful and inattentive, texting on their Blackberries. They suppress their feelings. The girls were more emotionally attached. The young men wanted the money. They wanted the material things. The girls wanted their fathers," he said.
Harraway raised interesting issues when he talked to the mothers.
"There were a lot of contradictions. They said that the men were deadbeat dads. 'He never comes around to see his child.' But it has to be done on their terms and by their rules. It's unfair. A man might be working two jobs or on the weekends. If it's not conducive to the mother's schedule, then he is denied visitation. If he wants to be there, then why not let him be there. The umbilical cord to the relationship is still there with hope that he might come back.
"I'm not against child support," Harraway said. "If you have them, you need to take care of them, but some men may not have the monetary means to do that. But he can help out in other areas like picking the children up from school or taking them out to give their mother a little down time. There are other ways to be a good father besides just giving money.
"According to New York State Law, if you pay your child support, you are considered to be a good father. The Clinton administration made non-child support a crime but it did not fix the problem for fathers. The system needs to be revamped so that these guys do not go from mother to mother.
"We only hear the bad part about these fathers, when in fact, according to the 2008-09 Census statistics, only 10 percent of them are truly deadbeats, resisting to comply with the court order to actively be involved in the care and support of their children."
President Obama released a bill in June for $130 million for programs to improve father/child relationships. New York City was the first to receive these funds. Mayor Michael Bloomberg started a program called NYC Dads as way to open up better relationships for fathers and their children.
<< Previous Page | Read More >>
Fatherhood awards—Great dads honored
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The Last Warning to Moscow
According to the “On Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act” (adopted in August, 2017), on January 29, 2018 the US Department of the Treasury provided for the consideration of US Congress the so-called “Kremlin List”, which includes 210 people close the President of Russia V. Putin. At this, the secret appendix to the document contains information about their commercial relations and relatives and friends who can become formal owners of enterprises and financial assets of the Russian elite to withdraw them from under sanctions.
According to the official explanations of the US Department of State, the publication of the “Kremlin List” does not mean an automatic introduction or strengthening of sanctions against its figurants. At the same time, it creates the basis for the US secret services' more in-depth investigation of the facts of the involvement of the RF authorities in Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, interference with the US elections, as well as corruption, money laundering and various forms of illegal activity, in both, the United States of America and other countries.
Taking into consideration the totalitarian and systemic corruptive nature of Putin's regime, all the key figures that are the initiators and leaders of its policy, are placed under the threat of new sanctions. Moreover, the inclusion of Russian oligarchs into the “Kremlin List” (and this is almost all of Putin's environment) has already caused them significant image and, consequently, business losses. This includes increasing the distrust of the individuals listed from their business partners and financial-credit institutions.
At the same time, the risk of Russian oligarchs' losing their property, financial and other assets in the USA and EU countries (hundreds of billions of dollars) sharply increases. And not just that. As shown by the arrest in France in November last year of a member of the RF Federation Council, billionaire Suleiman Kerimov for illicit financial transactions, the United States and their partners are ready to apply the whole range of rigorous and decisive measures against the Russian establishment.
Of course, all this could not help causing panic in the ruling elite of Russia, which began immediately after the adoption by the US Congress of the “On Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act”, and peaked after the release of the “Kremlin List”. Thus, according to sources in the US State Department and the US Department of the Treasury, last autumn most Russian oligarchs sent their representatives to Washington asking the American side not to include them in the list. At this, as usual, were used traditional methods of bribery and corrupt lobbying of their interests, which in this case did not work.
Under these circumstances, in Putin's environment, disagreements keep growing between the representatives of the big business, who suffer the greatest losses from sanctions and advocate for the change of the Russian policy (including reaching compromises with the West over the Ukrainian issue) and the siloviki who are adherents of Russia's hard foreign course (as the basis for maintaining their positions and influence). In particular, after the adoption in the USA of the above-mentioned “Act”, it was the Russian oligarchs who persuaded Putin to make certain concessions in terms of agreeing to the deployment of the UN mission in the Donbas, including on the Ukrainian-Russian border. However, in the aftermath under the pressure by siloviki, the Russian President abandoned this and agreed only to the deployment of a mission on the line of separation of sides.
Since the USA's publishing the “Kremlin List”, Russia's position on peacekeepers in the Donbas has undergone another change, which has become an obvious manifestation of Putin's move to the side of the oligarchs under the influence of the joint threat of Western sanctions getting tougher. Thus, during a meeting of the Special Representative of the US State Department for Ukraine, K. Volker and Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation V. Surkov on January 28, in Dubai, the Russian side again agreed to the gradual deployment of the UN mission throughout the conflict zone in the Donbas. Thus, on the eve of the release of the “Kremlin List”, Moscow showed willingness to make certain concessions in exchange for the USA's easing sanctions policy.
Against this background, a joint visit by the Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia S. Naryshkin, the Director of the FSB A. Bortnikov and the Chief of the Main Intelligence Department of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, who are precisely the top of the siloviki in V. Putin's environment and are under the Western sanctions. According to official reports of both sides, during their meeting with the CIA Director M. Pompeo the plans of the joint fight against terrorism and key problems of the Russian-American relations were discussed.
Well, very relevant questions and an appropriate opportunity to discuss them right now. In particular, if we take into consideration that today the main problem in relations between Russia and the USA is the “Kremlin List”, which directly affects the interests of the leadership of the Russian Federation, including the heads of Russian special services. In fact, it is exactly this and the firmness of the USA's position (demonstrated by M. Pompeo during negotiations with Russian counterparts) that became the main reasons for the siloviki's retreat from their positions.
However, the next demonstration of concessions by Russia does not mean a radical change in its course. Moscow's agreement on the gradual deployment of the UN mission in the conflict zone in the Donbas means only that this process may be suspended by it at each stage, under any trumped-up pretext.
Nevertheless, the USA's measures aimed at making Russia go to concessions and dialogue under the consistently increasing pressure on it, already produce results, including in the form of a gradual shift in Moscow's attitude to the UN peacekeeping mission in the Donbas. Moreover, the USA has already shown readiness to take new steps to implement its sanctions policy.
In particular, at the end of January 2018, a new bill “Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines Act” was submitted for consideration by the US Congress. The document contains a list of penalties against any country that will try to interfere in the US elections. One of the sections of the bill is directly related to Russia.
All this is critical for the leadership of the Russian Federation in the context of preserving significant problems in the Russian economy, which in no way “has adopted to Western sanctions” as the Kremlin claims. Thus, according to the Bloomberg agency, since the middle of last year, Russia's GDP keeps steadily falling, including by 0.2 % in the third quarter and by 1.5 % in the fourth quarter. At an even faster pace, the volumes of industrial production decrease — by 3.6 % on the results of last year. On February 1, 2018, the Russian Reserve Fund officially ceased to exist, and since the beginning of the year, there began the planned reduction of Moscow's last hope — National Wealth Fund.
On the one hand, this will somehow force the Putin’s regime to make further concessions over the Ukrainian issue, but on the other — it will, to its last minute, endeavor to achieve his goals in Ukraine. At this, with the aggravation of problems in the Russian Federation, such efforts will be becoming more and more active.
In particular, the evidence of this is the launch of Russia's next campaign to counter anti-Russian sanctions in the EU countries through its lobby in their political and business circles. At the same time, through all sorts of pro-Russian and populist forces, new attempts are being made to shake loose the situation in Ukraine.
However, all this will not help Moscow. The firmness of the USA's intentions to remove Russia from the world arena as its geopolitical rival, in fact, does not leave the latter any chance. Lately, such intentions have been confirmed in the new US National Security Strategy and in US President D. Trump's annual speech before the US Congress on January 30, 2018.
© 2012 Analytical center "Borysfen Intel". All right reserved.
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Heidi Heikenfeld
Heidi Heikenfeld is a Portfolio Manager on the OppenheimerFunds Emerging Market Innovators Fund. She focuses on investing innovative small and mid-sized companies within the Emerging Markets. Before launching the Emerging Market Innovators Fund, Heidi worked for 10 years on the Global Opportunities Fund as a Senior Equity Analyst specializing in the healthcare, technology and consumer sectors. From 2000 – 2002, Heidi worked as a Bond Analyst.
Heidi completed her undergrad from Susquehanna University in 2000. She earned her CFA Charter in 2003 and received her MBA from Oxford University in England in 2004.
Heidi’s outside interests include volunteering. She has completed over 100 volunteer projects with a New York based charity called New York Cares and has traveled to Central America with both Habitat for Humanity and Cross Cultural Solutions.
Heidi is a world traveler. Though she only left the continent for the first time at age 20, she has now visited more than 70 countries, most more than once.
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Old Problems, New Solutions: Film Fest Rock & Blues
July 01, 2010 / tedhope
Today's guest post is by director Allison Anders (Mi Vida Loca, Grace Of My Heart), co-founder of the "Don't Knock The Rock" Film Festival" Seven years ago I was given one of the greatest opportunities of my opportunity-rich life -- a tenured post at UCSB as a distinguished professor in the Film And Media Department at UC Santa Barbara, where I remain on faculty, teaching one quarter each year. My first quarter I created a class on rock 'n' roll films since this had long been my private passion, and called the course "Don't Knock The Rock", named for the 1956 Alan Freed, Sam Arkoff, Columbia film of the same name. I loved the experience of sharing these music rich movies so much I didn't want it to end.
With the help of producer Elizabeth Stanley who was at that time at the DGA, and who connected me to festival producer Gianna Chacere (now with The Hamptons Film Festival) , I began to lay out plans for a festival in Los Angeles showcasing rock 'n' roll movies. My musician daughter Tiffany Anders was returning to Los Angeles, after living in Brooklyn for a good chunk of her 20s, so I immediately welcomed her home and enlisted her to curate live music for my hair-brained idea. The first year she delivered Sonic Youth, J Mascis, The Tyde, Dead Meadow, Wayne Kramer, and Ariel Pink before I even knew he had been born!
We are now launching our 6th annual (we took one year off) DKTR Fest July 8th and will run every Thursday of July and August at The Silent Movie Theater, Los Angeles. From our first Don't Knock The Rock Film And Music Festival, our agenda was, and remains, the same: to showcase music films and live music performances for die-hard fans and music nerds and to get the word out to them. We are dedicated to that agenda, even though the struggles of the niche film festival like ours are many, well actually, money; the struggle is always money.
We are blessed to have returning sponsors who have been supporting us every year since our beginning, BMI Music, Criterion Collection, Globe Shoes and more. But we are finding it harder to survive, and have watched well-heeled festivals disappear while we remain the little festival that could. This year, just when we wondered if we could go on, we discovered community funding as an option. In particular, Kickstarter! We weren't sure if we qualified since we have already been established but our project was accepted and we launched our pledge drive on Kickstarter to raise additional funds to bring filmmakers to us so they can see their film with a live audience (which for many filmmakers these days is becoming a rare experience) and to be able to compensate our musicians, who perform live for far below their quote, with a token of our appreciation for giving our audience a one-of-a kind experience.
The model for Kickstarter is brilliantly simple and effective: if everyone kicks in a donation to projects they'd like to support, these films, events, books, music, art will all see the light of day. And the even more beautiful part of it is that by donating to each other, we can help bring to life a culture we want to share. For every pledge to donate money to a Kickstarter project, you will get something tangible in return. We are loving our Kickstarter project and urge everyone to check it out cause we think we have some of the very coolest rewards ever from our awesome sponsors!
And we are very excited about our line-up this summer! Whenever possible we try to open our festival with a film which exemplifies an artist band or genre of music born right here in So Cal. "The Wrecking Crew", "Chicano Rock", "Gram Parsons: Fallen Angel" and "Ghost On The Highway: A Portrait Of Jeffrey Lee Pierce" have been a few of our LA-centric openers. This year we are so happy to launch DKTR 2010 with a beautiful film by Italian filmmaker/musician Cosimo Messeri, "The One Man Beatles: Something About Emitt Rhodes" Hawthorne's own son. In 1967 upon hearing and falling in love with the first 2 singles ("Live" and "You're A Very Lovely Woman") of Emitt's band The Merry-Go-Round, I ached for more till his long lost solo records were rediscovered in the late 80s and distributed on a collection by Rhino. These are melancholic yet accessible pop melodies that will stay with you, and a story that will move you as much as the music. Emitt Rhodes himself will be in attendance and we are thrilled to be able to celebrate his work in person with him. A tribute concert will follow the screening! Merry-Go Round/Emitt Rhodes expert Rhino's own Andrew Sandoval will DJ a brilliant set including never before heard Emitt Rhodes material.
From Australia we have a restored print of 1984's "Dogs In Space" with Inxs singer Michael Hutchence, a film not screened in LA in ages, along with the LA premiere of "We're Living On Dog Food" by director Richard Lowenstein on the vibrant Aussie punk and post punk scene of the early 80s, co-sponsored by "Part Time Punks" with DJ Michael Stock spinning tunes. We also have an amazing film of one man's quest to reunite the not-on-speaking-terms band The Kinks, in the film "Do It Again", and will follow up with a unique live Charles Beardlsey Kinks clips-mix from his private collection. And speaking of private collections of clips, Target Video pulls together a unique mix of Joe Rees video live performances late 70s early 80s "So Cal Uber Alles".
And following in a tradition of honoring our electronic music pioneers, to kick off the month of August we have the LA premiere of "Deconstructing Dad", a film by Stan Warnow about his father Raymond Scott with a special tribute to Scott's varied career followed by an incredible feast of WB Looney Tunes bearing the music of Raymond Scott curated by Jerry Beck, animation historian! Scott pal Skip Heller DJs! On Saturday afternoon Aug. 7, we will host as we do each year our ever popular BMI Music Roundtable Chat with pros in the music and film businesses discussing how to get your music into films, and for filmmakers how to find affordable music for projects. Aug 12, we have a full night Lee Hazlewood blow-out with 2 ultra rare titles "Cowboy In Sweden", "Nancy And Lee In Las Vegas" coming from the estate of Swedish filmmaker Tor Axelman.
And Also in August, an evening with legendary LA filmmaker and LA cultural historian Thom Andersen (LA Plays Itself) premiering his new film "Get Out Of The Car" and 2 rare music-filled LA pieces "--- -------" and "Olivia's Place" as well as other music-related films curated by Andersen who will be present for Q&A's and hangs! And closing night we will premiere a film by songwriter Mark Sebastian and filmmaker Todd Kwait "Vagabondo" a film about legendary Greenwich Village folk singer Vince Martin. Martin will also be present for a lively Q&A, and a tribute concert to his beautiful songs will follow the film.
In a world in flux in terms of film financing and distribution, festivals have changed too. Sales agents have become far more powerful and their budgets smaller. Unless you're a major festival where they can sell their movie, and recoup for the investors, they cannot be bothered to even answer an inquiry from a smaller niche festival (this happened to us repeatedly this year). It's a shame cause this means that the very audience who would care don't get to see the film, it means the filmmakers don't get to experience their film with as many audiences, and it means that when the film comes out, if ever, no one goes to see it, cause no one knows about it, and it perpetuates this idea that music films don't make money, so less of them get made. When in fact, people would come, if they knew about it and if they were targeted as the viable audience that they are.
This is clearly a dead model. I'm looking forward to new models. And community-based funding and supporting local venues for niche festivals are a step in the right direction ahead!
For the DKTR Kickstarter page go here: http://kck.st/cmuBAi
For the complete DKTR 2010 line-up and to buy tickets go here: http://cinefamily.org/calendar/thursday.html#july
July 01, 2010 / tedhope/ 1 Comment
Allison Anders, CineFamily, crowdfunding, Don't Knock The Rock, Emitt Rhodes, film festivals, KickStarter, live events, The Kinks
Add More Indies To The NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY
January 11, 2009 / tedhope
I have to admit that I generally like what films get selected for preservation via the National Film Registry. I don't know if you saw the latest list of what got selected for 2008, but you can look at it here. They add twenty five titles a year.
But what I bet you didn't know you vote for what is to be added. Or so their website says. All you need to do is send your nominations in to:
sleg@loc.gov
You can only nominate 50 films a year. They have a handy dandy list of suggestions too. They generally do a pretty great job. There are a few areas though that need greater emphasis.
Indie films definitely need help. Without the studio support, they tend to be a little less organized and being held under worst conditions. The studios aren't going to let a moneymaker fall into disrepair. A filmmaker who may own their negative but not the house they live in might just be a little different story from the one owned by the mega corp.
I have suggested they add in 2009:
Melvin Van Peebles' SWEET SWEETBACK'S BADASSSS SONG (1971)
Susan Seidelman's SMITHEREENS (1982)
Bette Gordon's VARIETY (1983)
Alex Cox's SID AND NANCY (1986)
Spike Lee's SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT (1986 )
Whit Stillman's METROPOLITAN (1990)
John McNaughton's HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1990)
Todd Hayne's POISON (1991)
Hal Hartley's TRUST (1991)
Gregg Araki's THE LIVING END (1992)
Allison Anders' MI VIDA LOCA (1993)
Ang Lee's THE WEDDING BANQUET (1993)
Tom Noonan's WHAT HAPPENED WAS... (1993)
Terry Zwigoff's CRUMB (1994)
Todd Solondz's HAPPINESS (1998)
Not bad for an initial fifteen. Granted quite a few serve my self interest, but... Let me know what I should suggest for the next 35.
January 11, 2009 / tedhope/ 4 Comments
Alex Cox, Allison Anders, Ang Lee, Araki, Bette Gordon, film preservation, Hal Hartley, Haynes, John McNaughton, Melvin Van Peebles, Seidelman, Solondz, Spike Lee, Tom Noonan, Whit Stillman, Zwigoff
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State EdWatch on Hiatus
By Sean Cavanagh July 25, 2011 at 10:34 AM
State EdWatch is taking a break for the week of July 25-29. I'll be back the following week. Thanks for your tips and comments, and please keep them coming....
Fighting Over 'Red Tape Reduction' Law in Louisiana
A judge declares that a state law, meant to give districts the right to ignore certain state education laws, is unconstitutional.
Governors Lawsuits School Finance State Policy State superintendents
Ohio Voters to Decide Fate of Collective-Bargaining Law
By Sean Cavanagh July 21, 2011 at 4:03 PM
An Ohio law that would strip teachers and many other public employees of significant collective bargaining will be the subject of a public vote to overturn it in November, a top state officials has ruled.
Governors Legislatures
Legal Fight Takes Shape in Florida Over Constitutional Amendment
By Sean Cavanagh July 21, 2011 at 9:15 AM
A teachers' union and a group of religious leaders are suing to block a proposed amendment to Florida's state constitution from going on the ballot in November of 2012.
Governors to Congress: Get a Deal Done on Debt Ceiling
The nation's governors have urged members of Congress to reach an agreement to raise the debt ceiling.
Incumbent Wins First Recall Election in Wisconsin
Wisconsin state Sen. Dave Hansen defeats his GOP opponent in the first of nine recall elections, fallout from passage of a new law restricting collective bargainig.
Collective Bargaining Hovers Over Wisconsin Recall Elections
Wisconsin is hosting nine recall elections for state legislative seats this summer, in races that may serve as a referendum of Republican Gov. Scott Walker's controversial policies.
Elections Governors Legislatures
Decision Coming on Ohio Bargaining Law Making the Ballot
By July 26, voters in Ohio will know whether an item to repeal a controversial measure that limited collective bargaining will appear on the ballot in November.
Stand for Children Leader Catches Heat
Jonah Edelman, the chief executive officer of Stand for Children, apologizes for remarks he made at an event describing his group's work securing political support for legislation that tied teacher advancement to performance in Illinois.
Minn. Deal Would End Shutdown by Delaying School Aid
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has apparently reached a deal with Republican lawmakers to end his state's government shutdown.
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K-12 Spending Climbed From 2015 to 2016, NCES Reports
Does Moving to a Brand New School Building Improve Student Learning?
States Are Spending Way Too Little on Schools, Report Concludes
Survey Finds More State-District Collaboration on School Turnarounds Under ESSA
School Funding Fights Ramp Up as State Legislative Sessions Near Finish
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Home » New managers ready for season at Harmony Golf Club
New managers ready for season at Harmony Golf Club
Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 05/09/2019 - 1:37pm
CHARLIE WARNER/NEWS LEADER Tim and MaryBeth Ostrom are the new managers of the Harmony Golf Club.
Charlie Warner
After nearly two decades, the Harmony Golf Club is now under new management. Steve and Connie Lindstrom, who oversaw the operations of the popular golfing venue for 19 years, handed over the reins to Tim and MaryBeth Ostrom in February. The Ostroms have years of experience in golf course operations and the game of golf. They are very excited with this new challenge.
Tim, a third grade teacher at Fillmore Central Elementary in Preston, worked at the Preston Golf Club for about 12 years. Part of the time Tim worked with his brother, Eric, who managed the Preston course and later with Jay Harstad.
“Jay asked me if I might consider co-managing the Preston course with him,” Tim said last week. “And it was something I was considering. But then one of the members from the Preston course said he heard that Steve and Connie were retiring and that MaryBeth and I were going to work there. That was news to us.”
Shortly after that, Tim was approached by a Harmony member while the Ostroms were attending church. He was told the Lindstroms were indeed retiring and the board of directors at Harmony was looking for someone. This caused the Ostroms to begin thinking seriously about taking over management of the course.
“It seemed like a good fit for us,” MaryBeth said. “We felt we could work it into our schedules and it would be a good place for our son, Graysen, to grow up in.”
MaryBeth (Armstrong) has worked as a Title One instructor at the Fillmore Central campus in Preston. Next year she will be teaching first grade. While in high school, MaryBeth was active in the very successful Fillmore Central girls golf program at the Harmony course.
“It’s going to be difficult in the spring and probably in the fall, with both of us teaching during the day,” Tim said. “But we will have help during those times. Jim Taubert (who managed the Harmony course for many years) and Steve and Connie all said they would help out in any way they can to help us get things rolling here.”
Taubert plans to help with the ongoing mowing process and Steve will help Tim out with the maintenance of the greens and fertilizer application.
“We both agreed to give up some things we really enjoyed to do this,” Tim admitted. He has been a seventh and eighth grade coach for football and softball at Fillmore Central for years. And MaryBeth has worked part-time for the Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Ostroms took over management on Feb. 1, which is usually a very quiet time at a golf course in Minnesota. Unfortunately, the record-breaking snowfall this year, coupled by some heavy rains in March, caused the main part of the clubhouse to be inundated with floodwaters.
“The entire dining area was covered with water,” Tim recalled. “We had tons of volunteers helping to remove the large snow banks around the building and mop up the water. We were able to save the carpet and didn’t suffer any major damage. But what a way to start out.”
The Ostroms said the flood was just an example of how the members support their golf club. The outpouring of volunteers was remarkable. Following the April ice storm, the course was covered with branches and limbs. Several work days were scheduled and members turned out in droves to help clean up the mess. The Fillmore Central golf teams, which use the Harmony course in the spring, also spent several days helping to rid the course of all the sticks, branches and limbs as well.
While many small town golf courses are experiencing a drastic decline in memberships and some have been forced to close, the Harmony Golf Club has seen its membership stay fairly constant. Tim said they will have about 150 members again this season.
With the golf courses in Mabel and Spring Valley closing recently, the Harmony course has picked up a number of new members from those areas. Quite a few golfers from Iowa are members as well.
Special tournaments throughout the golfing season are another way the course generates revenue. Tim said 12 tournaments are scheduled for this year. And the clubhouse is rented out for graduation parties, bridal showers, wedding, anniversaries and family reunions on a regular basis.
“We’re just now getting settled in here,” Tim said. “For me, it’s a challenge having worked at the Preston course to get to know the equipment we have here, the course and also all the new faces. In some ways, at least for me, it’s like starting over. It’s brand new, but it is going quite well.”
Bluff Country Newspaper Group
507-346-7365 | 112 N. Broadway Ave Spring Valley, MN 55975
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Completely free of spoken words, this program delivers a unique combination of Alpha, Beta, Theta and Delta binaural beats that produce an extraordinary “mind-awake/body-asleep” state through brainwave entrainment. Negative thoughts are dramatically swept away by brilliant flashes of insight and understanding as you experience untold depths of inner peace.
Well, I finally listened to “Equisync III” after listening to “Equisync I” & the “Equisync II” several times. Let me just say that this put me in another state of consciousness within 7 minutes(guessing) it was beautiful! I meditated throughout the entire 70 minute CD set! It didn’t feel like 70 minutes. I could feel energy in my neck, my solar plexus area and at the brow of my head! Definitely NOT for beginners!
Hi Jason, thanks for all the uploads to youtube. I’ve been using them in work recently to help me concentrate and relax. I like the music tracks that you’ve chosen to overlay the tones. A couple of times in the last 2 weeks I’ve experienced the wavy pulse like sound, similar to the tones in my left ear. I wasn’t listening to tracks at the time or that day. It doesn’t last but it feels a bit strange. I wondered if I might have been listening to the tracks too loudly and that it was almost like a type of tinnitus. I’m curious to know if anyone has been in touch with you in the past to say they’ve had a similar experience?
A newer alternative to binaural beats is isochromatic tones. These are tones that are interspersed with periods of brief silence, creating a similar effect to binaural beats but without the two frequencies playing in different ears. Because isochromatic tones do not need headphones, they are gaining popularity as the newest method of brainwave entertainment.
I have discussed these findings with my sister, and two nice which are professionals in the fields of psychology, and medicine respectively (my sister and older nice have vast experience on the psychology arena, and my younger nice is a pediatrician), and they all agree this therapy can be of a great benefit applied in conjunction with traditional self-improvement programs.
Beta – Throughout the day our brains are in the beta range with a frequency of about 13hz and up. At this level we are active, busy, and all our emotional responses are at this level. People who are over active, or often depressed, irritable, angry etc., often lose out on the recuperation and recharging that takes place when we are relaxed in the alpha, theta, and delta levels.
For example, if a 530 Hz pure tone is presented to a subject's right ear, while a 520 Hz pure tone is presented to the subject's left ear, the listener will perceive the auditory illusion of a third tone, in addition to the two pure-tones presented to each ear. The third sound is called a binaural beat, and in this example would have a perceived pitch correlating to a frequency of 10 Hz, that being the difference between the 530 Hz and 520 Hz pure tones presented to each ear.
The objectives and inclusion criteria of the review were clear. Relevant sources were searched for studies, although the restriction to published studies in English meant that the review was prone to publication and language biases. The authors did not state whether steps were taken to minimise the risk of bias and error in the processes of study selection and data extraction (for example, by having more than one reviewer independently make decisions). The authors mentioned which studies were blinded, but it did not appear that study validity was systematically assessed, which made it difficult to judge the reliability of the review findings. The decision to combine studies by narrative synthesis appeared appropriate given the strong clinical heterogeneity between the studies, but the authors failed to quantify the size or statistical significance of the findings reported. The evidence presented appeared to justify the authors’ conclusions that further research was justified, but in view of the dearth of good-quality evidence and problems with methodology and reporting in the review, the conclusions regarding efficacy did not appear reliable.
When tuning instruments that can produce sustained tones, beats can be readily recognized. Tuning two tones to a unison will present a peculiar effect: when the two tones are close in pitch but not identical, the difference in frequency generates the beating. The volume varies like in a tremolo as the sounds alternately interfere constructively and destructively. As the two tones gradually approach unison, the beating slows down and may become so slow as to be imperceptible. As the two tones get further apart, their beat frequency starts to approach the range of human pitch perception[1], the beating starts to sound like a note, and a combination tone is produced. This combination tone can also be referred to as a missing fundamental, as the beat frequency of any two tones is equivalent to the frequency of their implied fundamental frequency.
This blog was created from an interview with Joseph Kao, creator of iAwake’s Journey to the Center of the Self, and iAwake’s CEO John Dupuy, by Heidi Mitchell, who has been working with John for 11 years as assistant and editor. John introduced her to Integral theory and practice and brainwave entrainment enhanced meditation in 2007. Heidi is also a freelance editor of nonfiction books, blogs, and web sites. She can be reached at www.heidimitchelleditor.com.
From a brainwave entrainment effectiveness perspective, it’s my understanding that the response from isochronic tones stimulation starts to diminish over 30Hz and that 40Hz is about the limit for using them. So from what I’ve read on the topic a 100Hz beat wouldn’t work, probably because it’s too fast for the brain to process and synchronise with it.
The main point is, you can be asleep while listening to any of them, but you won't be awake to feel anything. If you fall asleep while a beta binaural beat is playing, you may start to get anxious and start sleeping restlessly, you may even have a bad dream. This is because too much use of the higher beta range is associated with anxiety and stress, it's the “fight or flight” response you will experience.
Brainwaves are the collective electrical signal of millions of neurons working together in a living brain, producing our sense of alertness – or lack thereof - and producing our experience of reality. As brainwaves change, so does our perception of the world and our inner perception of ourselves. By learning to control our brainwaves, we can achieve specific, desirable mental states, such as feeling more relaxed, less anxious, more creative, more focused, or sleepier.
How does brainwave entrainment work? Consistent, precisely engineered audio frequencies in the form of binaural beats cause the brain’s frequencies to match the stimulus. Your brain perceives two beats with slightly different frequencies (which are inaudible to the ear) through your headphones. It takes the difference between the two, and matches its own frequency to it. This is called the “frequency following” response.
Brainwave Entrainment is an assisted form of meditation using pulses of sound. Entrainment is a process of synchronizing two different beats to become harmonious. Brainwave entrainment works by pulsing a different sound in each ear to stimulate the brain into altered states of consciousness. Examples including Binaural Beats and Isochronic Tones, which are best experienced with headphones to assist with relaxation, deep sleep and focus.
^ Jump up to: a b Fox, Kieran C.R.; Nijeboer, Savannah; Dixon, Matthew L.; Floman, James L.; Ellamil, Melissa; Rumak, Samuel P.; Sedlmeier, Peter; Christoff, Kalina (June 2014). "Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners". Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 43: 48–73. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.03.016. PMID 24705269.
I was recently asked a question by my nephew, regarding binaural beats. Because of my involvement with meditation and relaxation techniques, he felt comfortable asking about the safety of it and what it was, exactly. I provided him with some information that I felt would assist him in his choice, as to whether or not to listen, and I decided to do a little more research on the subject, in order to better educate myself. I know a little about the topic, but I wanted to know more about it.
A newer alternative to binaural beats is isochromatic tones. These are tones that are interspersed with periods of brief silence, creating a similar effect to binaural beats but without the two frequencies playing in different ears. Because isochromatic tones do not need headphones, they are gaining popularity as the newest method of brainwave entertainment.
To fall asleep we need to go from our normal waking state, to a relaxed theta, and then finally all the way to delta. Binaural beats are a scientifically proven way to speed up this process, so you get to the delta state quicker and as a result fall asleep faster. For more about the science of binaural beats, have a read of the article Fall Asleep Fast With Binaural Beats.
Going deeper into a trance-like state of meditation, you enter the mysterious Theta state where brain activity slows almost to the point of sleep, but not quite. Theta is one of the more elusive and extraordinary realms you can explore. It is also known as the twilight state which you normally only experience fleetingly upon waking, or drifting off to sleep.
Your brain cells reset their sodium & potassium ratios when the brain is in Theta state. The sodium & potassium levels are involved in osmosis which is the chemical process that transports chemicals into and out of your brain cells. After an extended period in the Beta state the ratio between potassium and sodium is out of balance. This the main cause of what is known as "mental fatigue". A brief period in Theta (about 5 - 15min) can restore the ratio to normal resulting in mental refreshment.
Isochronic tones work just the same in delta as they do in alpha, theta and beta and they are widely used in the brainwave entrainment community to help people sleep. Like you, I’ve also seen some websites saying they don’t work in delta, but it’s a bit like the game of Chinese Whispers, where someone makes a comment and then after it gets passed around and shared a lot the message gets distorted and appears to be a fact. I don’t know of any scientific reason why they wouldn’t work in delta. I remember some people talking about this on a brainwave entrainment forum many years ago. They were saying they found isochronic tones a bit too abrupt for using to help them sleep and they preferred binaural beats, as they thought they were a more soothing sound. That was just a personal preference shared by a couple of prominent forum members at the time and some people then took that as a fact for everyone. That’s where I think that belief originated from.
Because the mind and body are a single system, changing our brainwaves and spending more time in harmonious, relaxed, and restorative mind-states also affects our physical health. Physical health then reinforces our mental-state, and a feedback loop of either positive or negative processes becomes established. Research studies have shown beneficial effects of using brainwave entrainment for treating migraine headaches, premenstrual syndrome, and for managing physical pain.
The mechanism for this is that when your eyes or ears are exposed to a particular frequency of pulses or beats, the thalamus first distributes this information to the entire brain, including the visual and cerebral cortex where neural activity begins to synchronize to the incoming frequency, producing hemispheric synchronization and a balance of brainwave activity across the brain.
Hi i’m just writing to let you all know that your Equisync CD’s are amazing! Just last night i was meditating to “Equisync II”. The one that has mostly theta binaural beats in it. I gotta tell you i have never had a meditation like i experienced with this CD. At certain points during the meditation it felt like my whole damn body was vibrating! That very night when i went to sleep I also had lucid dreams! It was so relaxing! I’ve tried “Equisync I” too, that one is amazing as well! I haven’t tried “Equisync III” yet. I can only imagine what that is going to be like!
Some research suggests that the benefits from brainwave entrainment can last a lot longer, and still be seen for some time after you've stopped using it. Study participants have still maintained improved test scores a few weeks after the stimulation had ceased. Research on the long-term benefits has so far been minimal though, so how long the effects last is still up for debate.
Theta waves have another interesting characteristic. The Earth has a measurable resonance of 7.83 hertz known as the Schumann resonance. Because the Schumann resonance is a constant background frequency surrounding all life, it may play a special role in biological activity. The Schumann resonance frequency falls within the range of theta brainwaves and may have something to do with why these brainwave frequencies are so powerful.
4. Be hesitant committing to any BWE system making wild claims. Profit fueled marketers with little to no experience in the BWE field have created a slew of low-quality entrainment systems on the market. These products typically make outrageous promises such as permanently enhancing the brain within minutes of use. Although BWE is a powerful method to improve the mind, it’s not a magic bullet.
A person driving on a freeway, who discovers that they can't recall the last five miles, is often in a theta state - induced by the process of freeway driving. This can also occur in the shower or tub or even while shaving or brushing your hair. It is a state where tasks become so automatic that you can mentally disengage from them. The ideation that can take place during the theta state is often free flow and occurs without censorship or guilt. It is typically a very positive mental state.
Our state of mind, mood, energy level, motivation, and overall well-being all emerge out of the electrical energy produced by our brains. Do you want more control of your moods and thoughts every day? If so, brainwave entrainment is a method which greatly assists many people in finding greater relaxation, better moods, and less anxiety in a way similar to how music uplifts and rejuvenates us, and brainwave entrainment techniques are available embedded into musical arrangements, giving you the benefits of both modalities.
Binaural beats are a type of brain entrainment technology. Entrainment, by the way, is a fancy way of saying "matching". The beats influence your brainwaves, which in turn alter the states of your consciousness. They were first discovered in 1839 by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove, but were considered a scientific oddity until 1973, when Gerald Oster published an article called, "Auditory Beats in the Brain". Oster's work offered new insights, as well as some laboratory findings, to Dove's research; hence, a revolution was started in the field of neurophysiology. Binaural beats are of interest to neurophysiologists investigating the sense of hearing.
Brainwave Power Music dedicates ourselves to creating original sound therapy music, using unique Musical Compositions, Binaural Beats and Isochronic Tones as our primary sound elements mixed with different instruments and soundscapes to create a relaxed audio environment. We have one main goal: To help others through our music, be it for physical, emotional, mental or spiritual purposes. We constantly upload new music, and continue to work hard to provide new quality music for everyone.
Binaural beats are created when two tones are played simultaneously, one in each ear. As long as the difference between the two frequencies is less than 30 hertz, the brain perceives the difference in the tones as a “beat” which, if listened to with enough focus, the brain will begin to follow (this is known as the “frequency following response”). By changing the difference between the two beats, the brain will change its wavelength and enter into different “states” of being.
You may have experienced Theta right before drifting off to sleep, during a lucid dream, or during a deep meditation. In Theta, you no longer sense the outside world, but you are aware and conscious of your internal world. All of your subconscious fears, hopes and judgments are hidden in the Theta state. Theta is a difficult state to achieve because you often drift out of it very quickly either becoming conscious in Alpha or moving on to the next deeper state. By staying in Theta, you can learn endless information about yourself and your consciousness.
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In Alabama, Community Founded by Former Slaves Now Under Siege By Tar Sands
posted by Karen SavageAug 20 2013View Comments
Some people might stand in the shadow of Mobile, Alabama's Cochran-Africatown Bridge and see nothing but the sprawling tank farms, barges and coal terminals that clutter the Mobile River's banks, stretching northward from south of downtown to historic Africatown and beyond.
Others might see Plains Marketing’s looming terminal and wonder if its giant storage tanks hold some of the millions of gallons of toxic tar sand oil (also known as bitumen, dilbit or heavy crude) that arrive in Mobile each day on Canadian National trains.
But Lorna Woods, a 5th generation direct descendant of Africatown’s original residents sees the place where her great-great granddaddy Cha-lee and his brother Cudjoe first set foot on North American soil after a long, harrowing journey from Africa. She knows that Africatown’s roots grew out of these formerly lush marshes along the mighty and once-pristine Mobile River.
“That’s the trail that when they brought the slaves off the Clotilda…they brought a boat under where the Cochran Bridge is now, they took ‘em off and brought ‘em up the hill”, she explained, pointing toward the river.
The trans-Atlantic slave trade had been outlawed for more than fifty years when wealthy Mobile businessman Timothy Meaher brought the last known ship filled with captured Africans into the United States. Some say he lost a $100,000 bet that he could do it without being caught.
Authorities were already on to Meaher and his co-conspirators by the time the Clotilda arrived in Mobile Bay. Under the cover of darkness, the crew and cargo – including the Africans – were smuggled up the Mobile River in smaller boats. They landed on the river’s verdant banks, near land owned by the Meaher family, where Africatown sits today. Although Meaher lost his bet and was brought to trial, he was never convicted.
With few exceptions, the Africans remained in the area, kept as slaves by individuals who had invested financially in the "Clotilde’s" voyage. And then slavery ended - just five or so years after their arrival.
After slavery, the newly-freed Africans worked together to build a tight-knit community called Plateau or Africatown, which they designed and governed to feel like their African home. They built houses, cultivated the land, owned businesses and still retain many of their traditions and culture.
Woods remembers hearing her ancestors speak in their native tongue, and her grandmother made it a point to teach her their African ways and history, carefully telling and retelling stories before she even started school.
Her grandmother had grown up in Lewis Quarters, an Africatown neighborhood named for Woods’ great-great grandfather, who purchased the land from plantation owner Thomas Buford.
Once connected to a large and vibrant community, today Lewis Quarters is a physically isolated "island" surrounded by Gulf Lumber and other industry, railroad tracks and Interstate 165. There is only one way in or out of the community, a small lane that winds between Gulf Lumber’s mill and storage lot. The lane leads visitors up a slight hill and around a bend to a welcoming oasis of homes and greenery still owned and occupied by descendants of Cha-lee Lewis.
“They would just eat enough to stay alive, so they could buy land," Woods explains. “They found out if you owned land you could vote. Even back then, you could have a say so in your area. So Uncle Cudjoe and them worked for the Meahers and different people and they were able to buy the land and secure it for their children. That’s why we still have Lewis Quarters. They sectioned it off…and the children were each given a lot and told ‘Don’t ever sell this land, whatever you do.’ “
Africatown and the surrounding area was mostly a swampland back then, but the residents hunted, fished, raised livestock, planted fields and learned to live off the land.
Since then things have changed. What was once a Gulf Coast paradise and self-sufficient community has grown more and more industrialized. Paper mills owned by Scott and International opened in the 1940's, drawn to the area by it's proximity to the Mobile River and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the low tax rates and low-wage labor.
Residents remember the mills with mixed emotions. They were a source of income and good jobs for many of the men in the area, and as a child, Woods remembers going to Christmas parties for the families of men who worked there.
Joe Womack, whose father moved to Africatown when he was 16 to look for work, describes the mills as a place to make a living, saying they would hire anybody who showed up and who was serious about working.
But soon residents began to notice changes. Woods, who is in her sixties, remembers fishing and crabbing in the river.
“When I was young, you could go up there, behind Scott Paper Company and, in about a couple of hours, you could have a tub full of fish and crabs. But then it got so that you could stay all day and all you might catch is a couple crabs, and the fish wasn’t plentiful like they once were.”
Womack recalls the air pollution. “We used to see that stuff falling from the air – it looked like snow falling in the summer time, ate up a new car in two years if you didn’t wash it on a regular basis.”
Woods also remembers stuff falling from the sky and the horrible smells.
“Right here in Africatown on the main streets, we could smell the odor from International Paper Company. It would be so bad you’d have to cover your mouth…I remember my grandmama would tell us to come in the house, it would smell like what you call ammonia now, it would be in the air so strong.”
She also remembers the trains that ran a few hundred feet away from her grandmother’s house in Lewis Quarters, “Sometimes those trains would leak and we would be playing in the Quarters and the smell from the trains would just about stifle you and you would have to go in the house.”
Residents of Lewis Quarters and Africatown are no strangers to the harmful effects of industrial invaders, but today they are under siege like never before.
Recently, Canadian National rail cars began carrying tar sand oil into Mobile and soon 120 car loads - totaling more than 2 million gallons every day - are expected to transport the toxic sludge along those same tracks, just steps from the Lewis Quarter homes where Woods’ grandmother lived and where her brother and many family members live today.
According to its permit applications, ARC Terminals intends to build an off-loading facility just a little further south, near downtown Mobile. The proposed facility would use a controversial steam-heating process to convert the semi-solid tar sand sludge from the rail cars into a chemically liquified form. The toxic and corrosive material would then travel by pipeline under the Mobile River to storage tanks owned by ARC on nearby Blakely Island.
Residents and others fear that the tar sands would be shipped from the Blakely Island storage tanks through a more than thirty-year old pipeline that runs under Africatown, Prichard and other communities - and just behind Africatown’s Mobile Training School – to Plains' Ten Mile Terminal, then out to the Chevron refinery in Pascagoula, MS through a controversial Plains Southcap pipeline, currently under construction.
Plains Southcap was granted its federal permit by the US Army Corp of Engineers, which the Alabama Public Service Commission (AL-PSC) also approved, with virtually no public input. The pipeline route runs through several wetlands and twice crosses the Escatawpa River after traveling through the watershed of Big Creek Lake, the Mobile area’s only source of drinking water.
Jarrod White, attorney for Plains Southcap says the pipeline currently under construction is “not designed to carry tar sand oil”, but despite several inquiries, the company has yet to explain what about this particular pipeline’s construction makes it different from one that is designed to carry tar sand oil.
Teresa Bettis, Executive Director of the Center for Fair Housing, says the danger to Africatown far outweighs any potential benefit. “In 2012, the Africatown Historic District was recognized by the National Park Service and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In spite of this recognition, Africatown is surrounded by industry and is already disproportionally impacted by the effects. To put corrosive, toxic tar sand oil, a substance rejected by communities across the country, in a thirty-plus year old pipeline under our homes, parks and schools only further overburdens this historic community, and it’s unacceptable.”
Womack and many other residents oppose tar sand oil being transported through their community, no matter what the method. "We grew up in Africatown with the paper mills, International Paper, Scott Paper, for fifty years. We're still burying most of our people between the age of 40 and 50 right now. We don't want this hazardous stuff around Mobile, we want it stopped.”
Woods isn’t surprised by the lack of public input. She says residents of Africatown are rarely consulted when new industry moves in. “The people in this neighborhood never know anything about it. This is the way it’s been happening here for a long time, when we get the news it’s all done…and we never knew there was paperwork on it.”
About living in Africatown, she says, “You know, you don’t just live here, this is your place. This is where your roots begin. You should love where you live, put all you have into where you live, and keep it up. Now when I walk through these different areas I can see older people from years ago. I can almost picture them sitting on their porch saying to me ‘Be good now’. And we still love where we came from and we don’t want to see it destroyed. We want our children and our grandchildren and those who come after them to know that we had pride and we tried to keep this little place."
Karen Savage teaches middle school math in the Boston Public Schools. She began volunteering in Mississippi's Turkey Creek community nearly ten years ago, and now volunteers for Bridge the Gulf, the Gulf Coast Fund, Turkey Creek Community Initiatives and the Gulf Restoration Network.
environmental racism
Plains All-American
Plains Marketing
Plains Southcap
tar sands oil
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Chicago to host 2019 NWSL College Draft
CHICAGO (Nov. 8, 2018) – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today the 2019 NWSL College Draft will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019 at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago.
2019 NWSL College Draft
United Soccer Coaches Convention
McCormick Place – West Building
2301 S. King Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60616
Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019
Start time: 12 p.m. ET
Room: Skyline Ballroom
The draft will be held in the Skyline Ballroom at McCormick Place and will be open to the public and media. In addition, NWSL will once again live stream the draft with more details to be announced. The latest order for the 2019 College Draft and all past results from the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 drafts can be found on NWSLsoccer.com.
The United Soccer Coaches Convention will take place Jan. 9-13, 2019 in Chicago — bringing thousands of coaches, administrators and other soccer enthusiasts together in one place. For a complete schedule of events and more information about the convention, please visit the official website at unitedsoccercoachesconvention.org.
— www.NWSLsoccer.com —
— Round 1 — — Round 3 —
Team Team
No. 1 Chicago Red Stars No. 19 Sky Blue FC
No. 2 Sky Blue FC No. 20 Washington Spirit
No. 3 Sky Blue FC No. 21 Houston Dash
No. 4 Washington Spirit No. 22 Houston Dash
No. 5 North Carolina Courage No. 23 Utah Royals FC
No. 6 Chicago Red Stars No. 24 Chicago Red Stars
No. 7 Chicago Red Stars No. 25 Orlando Pride
No. 8 Washington Spirit No. 26 Chicago Red Stars
No. 9 Seattle Reign FC No. 27 Utah Royals FC
No. 10 Sky Blue FC No. 28 Sky Blue FC
No. 11 Sky Blue FC No. 29 Washington Spirit
No. 12 Houston Dash No. 30 Orlando Pride
No. 13 Houston Dash No. 31 Washington Spirit
No. 14 North Carolina Courage No. 32 Utah Royals FC
No. 15 Chicago Red Stars No. 33 Chicago Red Stars
No. 16 Houston Dash No. 34 Sky Blue FC
No. 17 Portland Thorns FC No. 35 Portland Thorns FC
No. 18 Houston Dash No. 36 North Carolina Courage
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The American Hemp Council was formed in 1989 by Chris Conrad and Mikki Norris to facilitate the Business Alliance for Commerce in Hemp and Family Council on Drug Awareness campaigns. Within a year it had been replicated in small groups around the country and over the next five years, the AHC was one of the major organizations working for legalization in the USA.
People were invited to attend “A common meeting ground to devise and implement a program to re-legalize and regulate the use of hemp/marijuana.”
A core group of cannabis reform activists met on a monthly basis at the “Power Couple of Pot’s” home in Silverlake, California. It served as a focus group, task force and coordinating committee for events and activities nationally. The LA efforts were often centered at rallies at the federal building in westwood, such as winter and springtime faires and hempseed breakfasts. Organizers created scores of local organizations, usually with a designated BACH (Business Alliance for Commerce in Hemp) representative dedicated to the four goals of the organization. It also provided support materials for local activists as well as for “Hemp Club” reform groups on college campuses all over America. By the time the AHC stopped holding meetings in Southern California, it had launched hundreds of satellite groups working on cannabis reform, each having a local and national focus.
The core principle of the AHC was to define, test and disseminate organizing and educational literature that empower local activists to do their own networking among the community, academia and political powers that be. The group also sponsored events, press conferences, film screenings (Hemp for Victory) and provided volunteer personnel for events and to staff the Hemp Hotline, a telephone hotline service sponsored by BACH, to respond to activists and other inquiries nationally with information, literature and direct involvement.
Among the core support documents the AHC provided were:
Five things you can do right now to help
Standard Agenda for local activists to use at a cannabis hemp / marijuana reform group meeting
Talking points for cannabis activists who discuss or debate policy.
(More documents to be uploaded at a later date)
When Conrad and Norris moved to Holland in 1993, they kept the American Hemp Council active through letters to the group who continued the Los Angeles coordination campaign, including Ellen Komp and Lawrence Serbin. The Los Angeles organization moved to Contra Costa County in 1994 and ceased having monthly meetings.
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Have you looked on eBay?
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20070309/APA/703092833
Data on Border Soldiers Stolen
The Associated Press Mar 9, 2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A computer hard drive containing Social Security numbers and other personal information on nearly 1,300 California National Guard troops deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border has apparently been stolen.
The hard drive was reported missing Feb. 23 from the Guard's border mission headquarters inside San Diego Naval Base, said California National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Jon Siepmann. It contains home addresses, birth dates and other identifying information for all soldiers serving long-term assignments on the border.
The Guard notified the soldiers Feb. 28 that their information had been compromised. It advised them to begin checking credit statements and take other protective measures.
The Guard has turned the investigation over to the Navy's Criminal Investigative Division, Siepmann said.
"Our theory right now - and obviously this is an investigation that's ongoing - is that it was taken for its intrinsic value," Siepmann said of the computer. "It cost us about $450."
Investigators are focusing on whether a Guard member stole the drive, Siepmann said. It was inside a building controlled by keycard access, but about 20 Guardsmen have regular access to the room.
There must be something here that I'm missing...
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_067192821.html
Mar 8, 2007 6:25 pm US/Central
Attorney Distributes Criminal Records By E-Mail
Police Say Records Included Social Security Numbers And Other Sensitive Information That Could Leave People Vulnerable To Identity Theft
Rafael Romo Reporting
(CBS) HIGHWOOD, Ill. An e-mail newsletter in north suburban Highwood is raising eyebrows. An attorney in the area included the criminal records of reputed gang members in the message.
As CBS 2's Rafael Romo reports, a police investigation is now underway.
The report contains not only the full names and birthdates of more than two dozen minors and young adults. It also includes some Social Security numbers and other sensitive information.
Highwood Police Chief John Kearin is fuming.
“It opens them up to potential identity theft and so there's a myriad of problems from this, civil and criminal,” said Kearin said.
He says the information was only intended to be used by his police officers.
“We are going to try to do what we can to find out where the leak is and we are going to take whatever actions appropriate,” he said.
Highwood attorney Paul Diambri published the reports in a newsletter he distributes to about 500 people. He says there's a very valid reason why he disclosed the information.
“My motivation was to publicize the fact that there was this gang activity so people would be aware of it, and secondly, hopefully, to motivate the police department,” Diambri said.
The Highwood Police Department has launched an internal investigation to find out who provided the reports to Diambri.
But Diambri says there's no need for an investigation because the reports were openly available.
“Several copies of these reports were sitting out in the open in the open in the City Council Chambers at City Hall for about two months,” he said.
“He's got connections in the city that he's known for years and someone could've given them to him,” Kearin said.
The newsletter, which is distributed by e-mail, may now be in the hands of thousands of people in Highwood and other places; identity theft is a real concern.
The state's attorney office has also launched an investigation to assist the Highwood Police Department with theirs.
Attention laptop users! See, it can be done.
http://www2.csoonline.com/blog_view.html?CID=32364
Anonymization: Protecting Customer Privacy While Sharing Data
Jeff Jonas, the chief scientist and distinguished engineer at IBM’s entity analytic solutions group, has developed a means of sharing corporate data without revealing what that data contains.
Attention drug sniffing dogs! (Glade will offer a Mary Jane scented candle you can send to people you don't like.)
Does this mean “search by odor” is out?
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/03/10//news/state/14_11_293_9_07.txt
Saturday, March 10, 2007 Last modified Friday, March 9, 2007 7:24 PM PST
Utah court: Drug odor didn't justify search without warrant
By: Associated Press -
SALT LAKE CITY -- The odor of burning marijuana didn't justify a search of a trailer without a warrant, the Utah Supreme Court said Friday.
Police officers broke through the door of a trailer in April 2003 because they believed the suspects were eliminating evidence by smoking it. The court, however, said there was no sign that Bernadette Duran knew authorities were around.
"Most significantly, there is no indication that the law enforcement officers engaged in any effort, much less a reasonable one, to reconcile their ... needs with the demands of personal privacy," the court said in a 4-1 decision.
The Supreme Court upheld a ruling by the Utah Court of Appeals. The case originated in 7th District Court in Price, which had refused to throw out evidence. Police seized guns and drugs.
The dissenter on Utah's highest court was Associate Chief Justice Michael Wilkins, who said "this was not a close call" that would require a search warrant.
"Protecting the rights of citizens does not necessarily require the handcuffing of police," he wrote.
This was obvious in the reported numbers... Wasn't it?
http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6202763&nav=QEMt
FBI Illegally Used Patriot Act, Audit Says
03/09/2007 7:59 AM ET; UPDATED 1:51 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CBS/AP)- The FBI improperly and, in some cases, illegally used the USA Patriot Act to secretly obtain personal information about people in the United States, a Justice Department audit concluded Friday.
And for three years, the FBI has underreported to Congress how often it forced businesses to turn over the customer data, the audit found.
FBI agents sometimes demanded the data without proper authorization, according to the 126-page audit by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine. At other times, the audit found, the FBI improperly obtained telephone records in non-emergency circumstances.
The audit blames agent error and shoddy record-keeping for the bulk of the problems; it did not find any indication of criminal misconduct.
[Specifically:
A Review of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Use of National Security Letters (Unclassified), March 2007 PDF (Full Report)
A Review of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Use of Section 215 Order for Business Records (Unclassified), March 2007 PDF (Full Report)
Cute short, but reading the comments is more amusing.
http://digg.com/security/Big_Brother_State_GENIUS_animation_about_surveillance_society
Big Brother State -- GENIUS animation about surveillance society
Big Brother State' is a nice animation about surveillance society with examples of trusted computing and CCTV. This is brilliant -- some of the best work on the subject I've ever seen. Watch it NOW.
http://www.fh-augsburg.de/~thedude/bbs/small.html
[It's easier on Youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jJTLL1UjvfU
Do you suppose the Chinese/North Koreans/flavor of the month, could do better?
DNS Attack Factsheet Released
March 9, 2007 News Release
ICANN has today released a factsheet concerning the recent attack on the root server system on 6 February 2006. The factsheet is intended to provide an explanation of the attack for a non-technical audience in the hope of enlarging public understanding surrounding this and related issues.
Download the DNS attack factsheet here [PDF, 289K].
If you can attend in person, you can use technology to extend your senses (hearing, sight, even memory)
New Jersey Says People Must Be Allowed To Videotape Government Meetings
from the citizen-journalists,-start-your-cameraphones dept
Remember how Virginia Republicans were upset at Democrats for videotaping them in the State House and putting the videos on YouTube? Apparently, that's not the only place where government officials have been worried about being caught on tape. Over in New Jersey, the state Supreme Court has now said that governments in the state cannot prevent citizens from videotaping public meetings (assuming that the taping doesn't interrupt the progression of the meeting). This certainly seems like a reasonable rule for a governing organization -- but politicians aren't known for being reasonable very often, which is why this case had to end up in the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Citations made easy? What next!
WorldCat.org Citation Feature Helps Students and Researchers
News: "Item records in WorldCat.org, WorldCat’s open-Web interface, now include a Cite this Item link that provides bibliographic citations in five common styles: APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA and Turabian. Displayed in a separate pop-up window, the citations follow the reference standard for each style. The citations window cautions users that "formatting rules within a style can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study," and that they should apply the specific requirements of a reviewing body."
For clueless types like me...
Civil Law Dictionary Wiki Project
From Vicenç Feliú: "Civil Law Dictionary Wiki project based on an article previously published in the Louisiana Law Review, Volume 54, Number 5, May 1994, for the use of Common Law practitioners unfamiliar with Civil Law terminology."
See also "JurisPedia, an encyclopædic project of academic initiative devoted to worldwide law, legal and political sciences."
I heard about this on NPR. Perhaps some of our data breach companies could use it...
http://www.writeexpress.com/apology-letters-ebook.html
Apology Letters eBook
Say "I'm sorry" with elegance and grace!
[Just a couple of samples...
... Apologize for betrayed trust
... Apologize for poor or inadequate service
I like this! Lose information, get a specific set of required actions from the Privacy Commissioner! Probably costs more than a fine, and helps secure the data!
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2007/08/c8227.html
Stolen laptop sparks Order by Commissioner Cavoukian requiring encryption of identifiable data: Identity Must be Protected
TORONTO, March 8 /CNW/ - Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian is ordering Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) to introduce a number of specific protections following the off-site theft of a laptop computer containing the personal health information of 2,900 patients of the hospital. The most notable measure required is the need to encrypt any personal data taken out of the hospital on a laptop or other remote computing device.
... The hospital must also develop and implement a hospital-wide endpoint electronic devices policy, applicable to both desktop and portable devices (laptops, PDAs), which mandates that any personal health information not stored on secure servers must either be de-identified or encrypted.
Going further, the Commissioner is telling all health information custodians in Ontario that they should never store any personal health information on their laptops or mobile computing devices unless they have taken strong steps (such as encryption) to ensure that the information is protected against unauthorized access, if the device is lost or stolen.
The Commissioner's health order is available at: www.ipc.on.ca.
[Go direct to the PDF: http://www.ipc.on.ca/images/Findings/up-1ho_004.pdf
Unspecified “costs,” but another way to “fine” the offender.
http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsID=8204&pagtype=all
Outsourcer to pay over laptop theft
IT firm to cough up for security breach
Tash Shifrin, Computerworld UK 08 March 2007
IT services firm Serco has apologised and agreed to pay costs after one of its laptops, containing sensitive data on more than 16,000 Worcestershire council staff, was stolen.
... But in a report to the council’s cabinet, financial services director Mike Weaver confirms that the sensitive data should not have been kept on the laptop, describing the security breach as “regrettable and entirely avoidable.”
... The incident had resulted in unplanned costs “which in due course will be reimbursed by Serco,” the report confirms.
I make this $574 per person just for looking at a credit report. Now if TJX compromised 40 million...
http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/m-news+article+storyid-20688.html
New York Attorney General Cuomo Obtains Compensation For New Yorkers Whose Credit Reports Were Accessed Illegally
Posted by Patriot on 2007/3/8 7:48:31 New York
New York insurance company to pay $229,600 in compensation to nearly 400 consumers
NEW YORK, NY (March 7, 2007) - New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a settlement affecting nearly 400 New York consumers whose credit reports were unlawfully accessed by an insurance company. Under the settlement, Administrators for the Professions, Inc. (AFP), a New York insurance company, is paying $229,600 in compensation to those consumers.
Another reiteration of the obvious?
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/03/businessguidance_pii.htm
For Release: March 8, 2007
FTC Unveils Practical Suggestions for Businesses on Safeguarding Personal Information
The Federal Trade Commission is offering a new guide for businesses with practical suggestions on safeguarding sensitive data.
“Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business,” available at www.ftc.gov/infosecurity, is built around five simple phrases:
TAKE STOCK. Know what personal information you have in your files and on your computers.
SCALE DOWN. Keep only what you need for business.
LOCK IT. Protect the information you keep.
PITCH IT. Properly dispose of what you no longer need.
PLAN AHEAD. Create a plan to respond to security incidents.
[Go direct to the PDF: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/privacy/bus69.pdf
Featured Story: Privacy's Other Path: Recovering the Law of Confidentiality
Thursday, March 08 2007 @ 05:43 PM CST - Contributed by: PrivacyNews - Other Privacy News
Editor's Note: Great thanks to Dan Solove for letting me know that he has a new article out. The entire article can be downloaded for free and addresses a fascinating question about the divergent development of American privacy law and English privacy law.
The familiar legend of privacy law holds that Samuel Warren and Louis Brandeis “invented” the right to privacy in 1890, and that William Prosser aided its development by recognizing four privacy torts in 1960. In this article, Professors Richards and Solove contend that Warren, Brandeis, and Prosser did not invent privacy law, but took it down a new path. Well before 1890, a considerable body of Anglo-American law protected confidentiality, which safeguards the information people share with others. Warren, Brandeis, and later Prosser turned away from the law of confidentiality to create a new conception of privacy based on the individual’s “inviolate personality.” English law, however, rejected Warren and Brandeis’s conception of privacy and developed a conception of privacy as confidentiality from the same sources used by Warren and Brandeis. Today, in contrast to the individualistic conception of privacy in American law, the English law of confidence recognizes and enforces expectations of trust within relationships. Richards and Solove explore how and why privacy law developed so differently in America and England. Understanding the origins and developments of privacy law’s divergent paths reveals that each body of law’s conception of privacy has much to teach the other.
Source - SSRN
Interesting combination of hardware, lottery and liquor...
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/CityandRegion/2007/03/08/3713809-sun.html
Swiping licences called no threat to buyers' privacy
By CHINTA PUXLEY, CP
HAMILTON -- A new practice in which convenience store clerks will check ID by swiping driver's licences through a lottery terminal won't violate customer privacy as suggested by government officials, Ontario's privacy commissioner said yesterday.
... Called "We Expect ID," the system would require convenience store clerks to swipe ID through lottery terminals to verify a customer's age when buying alcohol, cigarettes, adult magazines, lottery tickets or fireworks.
... "(There are) really no privacy implications because no information is being stored," [but what an attractive target! Bob] Debra Grant, a senior health privacy specialist with the privacy commissioner's office said
"It's actually more privacy protective than someone examining the driver's licence and looking at all the personal information."
... McGuinty suggested the issue might pop up again should a new high-tech driver's licence be rolled out as an alternative to passports.
“Those who have not considered the “Streisand Effect” [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect ] are doomed to experience it first hand.”
Surprise: Attempt To Suppress Security Research Blows Up In Company's Face
from the instant-karma dept
The big story out of last week's Black Hat security conference was that HID Global, a maker of RFID-based door entry cards, managed to prevent a demonstration of how their products were vulnerable to cloning. What made their threats particularly odious was their claim that the presenters were somehow engaging in patent infringement by demonstrating the attack. More broadly, however, this kind of intimidation is almost always a mistake. It only made the company look like bullies with something to hide. It seems that the company may already be paying the consequences for its heavy-handed actions, as the DHS is said to now be examining the vulnerability further. HID Global is now backtracking, saying that it never intended to prevent the presentation from happening, although they don't seem to explain how everybody got that impression. Either way, any hope that the company had in keeping this threat quiet is now totally lost.
Can your computer be secure in this environment?
http://www.heise-security.co.uk/news/86429
Report of 08.03.2007 17:34
All Microsoft updates phone home
Possibly as a reaction to heise Security's report that Windows Genuine Advantage Notification sends back data to Redmond even when users choose to terminate its installation, a Microsoft developer using the pseudonym alexkoc has now posted an entry in the WGA blog. There he reveals that every update that flows through Windows Update at the very least informs Microsoft about whether the installation was successful or not.
In the Privacy Statement of Windows Update Microsoft grants itself fairly far-reaching rights.
WGA Notifications and download and install telemetry, entry in Microsoft's WGA developer blog
WGA notification just doesn't stop, report by heise Security
Fun reading?
FBI Releases Annual Report to the Public
Press release: "The arm of the FBI that investigates financial crimes ranging from underground pyramid schemes to institutionalized fraud in the nation’s corporate suites has issued its annual report detailing the most prevalent types of schemes investigators tackled in 2006. The Financial Crimes Report to the Public is prepared each year by the Financial Crimes Section of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division. The report, which covers a 12-month period ending September 30, 2006, explains in detail dozens of fraud schemes, tallies FBI accomplishments combating the crimes, and offers tips the public can use to protect itself."
Financial Crimes Report to the Public Fiscal Year 2006, October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006 - Table of Contents
http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1889?ref=rss
Notes On Vista Forensics, Part One
Jamie Morris 2007-03-08
... What does BitLocker mean for forensic examiners? In a recent, and highly recommended, Cyberspeak podcast [ref 5] Jesse Kornblum talks in some detail about the impact of BitLocker and the growth in importance of memory analysis for first responders. In the discussion with the show's hosts which follows, the suggestion is made that now may be the time when memory capture (and subsequent analysis) becomes the accepted norm for forensic examiners when first approaching a suspect machine, rather than the more traditional option of "pulling the plug." Undoubtedly, BitLocker presents a challenge - after all, one of Microsoft's goals with BitLocker is to protect data even when the storage device has been removed from the user's physical control, a scenario not entirely dissimilar to lawful seizure!
Could be useful...
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/coffee-talk-in-teachers-lounge.html
Coffee Talk in the Teachers' Lounge
3/08/2007 11:45:00 AM Cristin Frodella, Manager, Google K-12 Programs
Since we launched our resource for educators in October, many of you have been in touch with us. "Hey, Google," you've said, "Thanks for the site. Now how 'bout letting us talk to you--and more importantly, to each other?"
You wanted a place where you could send feedback, lesson ideas, and classroom activities, or just meet some of your fellow teachers. Ok, ok! We're good students. We know how to learn from the experts. Thanks to your input, we've created the Google for Educators discussion group. We invite you to visit the group today, to let us know your thoughts and to reach out to other folks in the world of classrooms and libraries. Help us understand how to make Google for Educators a more valuable tool for you—and share the kind of information that can help give students the best education possible.
Oh, and, while you're at it, why not give our site another visit? We've added tools, activities, classroom posters, and a new RSS feed to the Infinite Thinking Machine, a Google-sponsored blog written for teachers by teachers. We look forward to seeing you there.
Labels: Google for Educators
This could be most interesting. Apparently still in Beta and keeping a low profile...
http://www.adamap.com/adamap/2007/03/google_keyword_.html
Google Keyword Tool Showing Number of Previous Month's Searches
Just caught this development this morning.
Surprise! You could see this one coming from a mile away!
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0307071palfrey1.html
Feds Seek To Gag D.C. Madam
Prosecutors fear leak of sensitive client, escort information
MARCH 7--Federal prosecutors want to gag an indicted former Washington, D.C. madam who has recently threatened to go public with details about her former customers.
... In their motion, a copy of which you'll find below, government lawyers claim that some discovery documents contain "personal information" about Palfrey's former johns and prostitutes that is "sensitive." The prosecution filing does not detail the nature of this confidential information,...
Labels: Identity theft, security
“Inadvertent” means, “We didn't know it worked that way.”
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1155AP_Census_Data_Mix_up.html
Census Bureau admits privacy breach
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER Wednesday, March 7, 2007 · Last updated 11:23 a.m. PT
WASHINGTON -- The Census Bureau inadvertently posted personal information from 302 households on a public Internet site multiple times over a five-month period, the bureau said Wednesday.
... The information was on and off the public Web site from October to Feb. 15 as Census employees working from home tested new software, Cymber said. The workers were supposed to use fictitious information to test the site, but they inadvertently mingled data from the bureau's Current Population Survey, a monthly survey best known for generating the nation's employment statistics.
Cymber said the real and fictitious data were indistinguishable. [The test file is probably not labeled “Real Data” Why would employees working from home even have access to this data? Bob] The information could have been accessed through a search engine on the Census Bureau's Web site used to disseminate large data files. She said she didn't know whether the data actually was accessed by anyone. [Look at your logs! Bob]
... The affected households were located in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Connecticut and Washington, D.C.
Not Google's problem.
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/133870.html
Google shock for Los Rios
By Eric Stern and Dorothy Korber - Bee Staff Writers Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, March 7, 2007
A community college student who was "Googling" himself last month found some disconcerting information when he typed his name into the popular Internet search engine.
A Los Rios Community College District database popped up that included his name, birth date and Social Security number. The file also contained data on about 2,000 other students.
"We didn't think [all too common. Bob] the information was open to Google," said Susie Williams, a spokeswoman for the Los Rios schools. "It was a shock to learn they were able to do it."
... A Web site by Johnny Long, johnny.ihackstuff.com, includes a database of hundreds of sneaky Google-search tips, such as adding "not for distribution" or "confidential" into query searches. Typing "filetype:xls" will spit out Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
In the case of Los Rios, staff members were testing a new online application system and "just grabbed some files" to upload, [“Live” files are not the recommended way to test applications. For one thing, they rarely contain all possible variations of the data – and should never contain “bad data” that the application must detect and “handle.” Bob] said Williams, the college spokeswoman.
"Google had come along and indexed this little test batch," Williams said. "The data was on what we thought was a secure part of our Web server." [“we thought” translates to “we assumed” Bob]
... After checking the Los Rios Web logs, which track computer addresses of people accessing the school's site, Williams said only the one student who spotted the information -- and his wife -- clicked on the file. [Have they checked the Google archives? Bob]
In case you don't know it, I like free stuff. Professor Alexander tipped me to this one... Registration required!
http://www.kmworld.com/Webinars/Details.aspx?EventID=204
What You Don’t Know Can Kill You (or At Least Your Organization)
Register now for this FREE live Web broadcast.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 11 AM PDT / 2 PM EDT
Heavy fines and penalties await those who don’t “know what they should have known.”
* A major oil company was fined more than $2 million for not knowing and acting on the circulation of sexually harassing emails.
* A major aerospace company estimates that it averages two discovery requests a day from legal, at a cost of $1 million for every 15 emails retrieved. [Now that I don't believe. Bob]
* Companies are fined millions of dollars every year for failure to archive information — and at least 20% of these fines are not due to intentional misconduct.
I wonder if anything useful will be generated? Would be nice to see this as a webinar like in the previous article.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/03/07/HNvisadc_1.html
Visa summit will counter data breach hype
D.C. event will argue breach fallout not that widespread
By Matt Hines March 07, 2007
Credit-card payments giant Visa is hoping to shed new light on problems like consumer data theft and identity fraud through a conference that will bring together leaders from the business, government, and technology communities to discuss security for the electronic payments industry.
Hosted in partnership with the publishing arm of Harvard Business School, the day-long set of briefings is being held March 8 in Washington under the banner "Maintaining Trust in Payments Summit."
In a series of panels, controversial topics like the amount of time companies should be allowed to wait before disclosing data breaches to card issuers and consumers will be up for debate, as will the role of the government in providing protection for consumers and industry.
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2101683,00.asp
Report: Some Companies Lose Data Six Times a Year
By Lisa Vaas March 7, 2007
TJX's massive data loss is just the tip of the iceberg.
Almost seven out of 10 companies—68 percent—are losing sensitive data or having it stolen out from under them six times a year, according to new research from the IT Policy Compliance Group. An additional 20 percent are losing sensitive data a whopping 22 times or more per year.
... The good news to come out of the group's survey is that 12 percent of surveyed organizations are losing sensitive data less than twice each year.
... "In the high-90 percent of these organizations that have very few losses consider the IT security-side data as their most important and sensitive data," he said in an interview with eWEEK. "The rest of the universe doesn't value IT and audit information as highly."
As a matter of fact, the respondents that rated financial data as their most important and sensitive data turn out to have high data losses, Hurley said.
... The takeaway is that those organizations that focus in on protecting the keys to the kingdom—i.e., those that track who has access to data and also protect the knowledge of how to get access to data—are doing "very well," comparatively, Hurley said.
... "Frequency of monitoring appears to have been stepped up by organizations doing well with lack of high data losses," he said. Those organizations doing poorly aren't paying attention to IT security controls and evidence logs of what happened during a data loss incident, he said.
Another finding: Losing data is expensive. Companies that publicly reported a data loss or breach had to shell out, on average, 8 percent per customer to report the loss, notify the customers and restore the data. The average loss of revenue was 8 percent as well. The cost on average to notify customers and to clean up and restore data was $100 per record.
[An excerpt is available at: http://www.itpolicycompliance.com/research_reports/data_protection/read.asp?ID=9
No surprise. It has to be simple enough for bureaucrats to understand.
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/07/1817243&from=rss
RFID Passports Cloned Without Opening the Package
Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Wednesday March 07, @02:05PM from the step-one-cut-a-hole-in-a-box dept. Security Technology
Jeremy writes to tell us that using some simple deduction, a security consultant discovered how to clone a passport as it's being mailed to its recipient, without ever opening the package. "But the key in this first generation of biometric passport is relatively easy to identify/crack. It is not random, but consists of passport number, the passport holder's date of birth and the passport expiry date. The Mail found it relatively easy to identify the holder's date of birth, while the expiry date is 10 years from the issue date, which for a newly-delivered passport would clearly fall within a few days. The passport number consists of a number of predictable elements, including an identifier for the issuing office, so effectively a significant part of the key can be reconstructed from the envelope and its address label."
This could never happen here...
Computer Foul-up Breaks Canadian Tax Filing System
Posted by samzenpus on Thursday March 08, @02:00AM from the great-white-mix-up dept. Bug IT
CokeJunky writes "During a weekend maintenance window, the Canada Revenue Agency (Fills the same role as the IRS south of the border) experienced data corruption issues in the tax databases. As a precaution, they have disabled all electronic filling services, and paper based returns will be stacking up in the mail room, as returns cannot be filed at all until the problem is fixed. Apparently on Monday they discovered tax fillings submitted electronically where the social insurance number, and the date of birth were swapped."
Business opportunity: HIPAA Privacy Plan generator! “No need to take action! Just enter a few facts (right off the complaint) and this software generates a 96 page plan that you can submit to HHA, then ignore!”
http://www.fortherecordmag.com/archives/ftr_03052007p12.shtml
Is There Bite to HIPAA’s Privacy Rule?
By Selena Chavis For The Record Vol. 19 No. 5 P. 12 March 5, 2007
Chew on this: 24,000 HIPAA-related complaints, zero fines to covered entities. Sounds like a toothless rule, but some say misconceptions mask the fact that it’s doing its job.
It’s been the typical scenario for valid privacy complaints under HIPAA, say many legal experts. Consider that a nurse leaks sensitive information about a patient’s health status to someone outside the scope of the person’s medical care. Whether malicious or accidental, it’s a privacy breach that definitively falls under the protection of the HIPAA privacy rules that were fully enacted in 2003, says attorney Heather Fesko, partner with Chicago-based McGuireWoods law firm.
In this real-world scenario offered by Fesko, a complaint was filed with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of Health and Human Services (HHS) by the individual who was the subject of the privacy breach. HIPAA requires that the complaint be filed against the covered entity where the offense occurred rather than an individual—in this case, a hospital client of McGuireWoods.
In an effort to show voluntary compliance, the hospital submitted a plan for necessary corrective action to the HHS. The plan satisfied the HHS, and a letter of closure was submitted to the hospital.
... The scope of HIPAA allows for CMPs of up to $100 per violation and up to $25,000 per year for each requirement or prohibition violated. Criminal penalties apply for certain actions such as knowingly obtaining protected health information in violation of the law. Criminal penalties can reach up to $50,000 and one year in prison for certain offenses; up to $100,000 and five years in prison if the offenses are committed under “false pretenses”; and up to $250,000 and 10 years in prison if the offenses are committed with the intent to sell, transfer, or use protected health information for commercial advantage, personal gain, or malicious harm.
... Attorney Kevin Paul, HIPAA privacy expert with Denver-based Parsons, Heizer, and Paul, notes that the HHS never really considered that CMPs would be the initial course of action toward their efforts to enforce compliance. “In part, that made sense due to the size of the privacy rule,” he says, adding that the rule is filled with jargon and many new processes and procedures. “It was thought that there might be some misconceptions about the scope of the obligations.”
... A clear picture of whether entities are doing the “right thing” is exactly what is missing from the HHS, says Goldman. Relaying that there is currently no hard data available from the HHS that details the nature or severity of the complaints or the number of repeat offenders, Goldman emphasizes that it’s impossible for the general public or entities such as the Health Privacy Project to know whether voluntary compliance is truly addressing the problem.
“It would be great if OCR would audit how the voluntary compliance is working,” she says, adding that without any civil enforcement actions, the only big enforcement news has been on the criminal front involving the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
The HHS spokesperson also referenced these cases, noting that complaints considered more criminal in nature are most often referred for review by the DOJ. Since HIPAA, three criminal cases have been filed by the DOJ invoking HIPAA, two of which ended in convictions.
... Fesko believes that if there were more focus on individuals rather than covered entities, it would be easier for covered entities to enforce HIPAA. The OLC opinion does find that the law can apply to a few individuals, including certain directors, officers, and employees who may be criminally liable. The opinion emphasizes that criminal liability will apply especially when “the agents act within the scope of their employment.” For example, in a case where a covered entity makes a decision to sell patient data in violation of HIPAA, employees who act criminally but within their job description could be criminally liable.
Now that's good lawyering...
http://digg.com/tech_news/EFF_Lawyer_gets_Google_to_reverse_her_unfair_YouTube_DMCA_takedown
EFF Lawyer gets Google to reverse her unfair YouTube DMCA takedown
"On Chilling Effects we see many DMCA takedowns, some right and some wrong, but very few counter-notifications. Part of the problem is that the counter-notifier has to swear to much more than the original notifier."
http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2007/03/06/we_have_putback_super_bowl_warnings_back_online.html
Geek stuff? Another example of a company offering proof that they know more about a subject (computing) than any of their competitors. Try a search on Privacy or Identity Theft...
Free Access to Current and Historic IBM Systems Journals Online
Via Metafilter, this link to current issues of the IBM Journal of Research and Development and the Systems Journal (no fee) as well as to a Special Report - Celebrating 50 years of the IBM Journals: "Since the first publication of the IBM Journal of Research and Development in 1957 and the IBM Systems Journal in 1962, these Journals have provided descriptions and chronicles of many important advances in information technology and related topics ranging from atoms to business solutions. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the IBM Journals, this report highlights a selection of significant papers published in the Journals, along with brief commentaries."
So, what are you going to do about that?
Law Students Say Message Board Postings Are Costing Them Job Offers
from the if-it's-online-it-must-be-true dept
As people increasingly live and document their lives online, stories about potential employers doing web searches on job candidates and turning up information candidates would rather not have them see -- information that often costs them a shot at the job -- are becoming more common. The Washington Post has a front-page story on this topic today, focusing on some law-school students who aren't having a lot of luck finding jobs, and blaming it on message board postings. What makes this story a little bit different is that the students didn't make the postings themselves, they're just the subject of certain threads and messages -- some which could possibly be viewed as defamatory, while others are simply unbecoming (such as a discussion of a female student's breasts). The employers weren't finding the students' MySpace pages or blogs, or other sites documenting their personal lives, but rather their inadvertent digital resumés were being created by other people. The article seems to put the blame on the owner of a particular site that's popular among law students, but that's misplaced -- perhaps the more questionable activity is on the part of employers who are using this information. If they're going to search the web, they need to have the understanding that people can't control what other people say or post about them (similar to the idea of hearsay in a courtroom), and that not every mention that casts a student in a poor light is true, or an indication of their character. It's also not entirely clear why potential employers should consider many of these comments relevant to their hiring decisions, though one person says law firms are afraid of candidates who could attract controversy. Of course, it's also possible that comments a person labels as "defamatory" may be unflattering, but true. While site owners have no legal liability for what third parties post on their sites, thanks to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, at least one company senses an opportunity here, and searches for potentially damaging content online and "destroy it on behalf of clients", which we'll assume to mean they drown site owners with cease and desist orders and threats of lawsuits akin to legal bullying. All in all, this sounds like quite a bit of overreaction -- not just on the students' parts, but from their potential employers, too.
As if using cell phones while driving isn't bad enough... (Perhaps we could get a few BMWs to test-drive?)
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/google-maps-send-to-car.html
Google Maps Send to Car
3/07/2007 09:40:00 AM Posted by Thai Tran, Product Manager
On the Google Maps team, our goal is not only to help you find local businesses, but also to enable you to quickly connect with those businesses, wherever you are. To that end, we recently introduced the ability to call businesses in the U.S. directly from Google Maps, and, as of today, users in Germany can send a business listing found on Google Maps Deutschland directly to cars enabled with the BMW Assist service. Drivers can then set it as the destination for the in-car navigation system, or they can call the business from within the car. No more having to write down the address and re-enter it in the car -- now you can just click and drive! Here's a video showing how this feature works (German version). We've partnered with BMW because they're a leading innovator in the automotive space, and they share our vision for a network-connected world.
As additional devices come online, we're excited to see what is possible, and we'll continue working to make the information that you need available to you when and where you need it.
Google hacks. Perhaps you should look in your back yard?
http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2007-03-07-n12.html
Super-Close Google Maps Zooms
Holy moly that is a close up zoom of a camel (see my screenshot above) – and it works for other place on Google Maps too! Yes, it turns out that you can zoom in much more deeply onto Google Maps by doing this:
Select a location and switch to satellite view
Zoom in as far as you can, and click “link to this page” at the top right
Now replace the “z” parameter in the URL with a higher value, e.g. 20, 22, or 23, and wait. Some locations will now show more detailed imagery
The French Ecrans website and Geotrotter have more on this.
If you can't figure out how to comply with the law – change the law so you are already in compliance.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4605118.html
House votes to allow release of SS numbers
Associated Press March 6, 2007, 1:06AM
AUSTIN — The state House approved a measure Monday that would allow county and district clerks to release Social Security numbers under the Texas Public Information Act, despite an opinion to the contrary last month from the Texas attorney general.
The bill by Rep. Jim Keffer, an Eastland Republican, would change existing law to declare that a Social Security number is not confidential.
It states that county or district clerks can disclose those numbers contained in information held by their offices without being subjected to civil or criminal liability. The measure also would require the public official to establish a procedure for redacting a Social Security number if a person requests it. [This is an after-the-fact Opt-Out procedure Perhaps we could work recall of politicians the same way? Bob]
Many local officials had interpreted the current law, which was designed to prevent identity theft, as a suggestion more than a requirement. But Attorney General Greg Abbott clarified last month the numbers must be removed before a document is made public. After his ruling, county clerks rebelled, saying they didn't have the staff nor money to redact all the numbers right away.
Is any of this new?
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid14_gci1246423,00.html
Gartner: IT departments lack finances to protect data
By Bill Brenner, Senior News Writer
06 Mar 2007 | SearchSecurity.com
Data breaches like the one TJX recently disclosed are starting to take a heavy toll on consumers, according to the newly-released results of a Gartner Inc. survey.
The Stamford, Conn.-based research firm said in a report released Tuesday that 15 million Americans suffered from identity theft between mid-2005 and mid-2006. That's a 50% increase since 2003, when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported 9.9 million American identity theft victims. The people Gartner surveyed weren't affected by the more recent TJX breach, but that company's mistakes mirror the failures of other merchants to protect customer data, said Avivah Litan, a vice president at Gartner.
"This survey shows that the efforts of IT professionals to protect customer data aren't working very well," she said. "It has taken a lot of work to get companies compliant with the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and in many cases IT departments aren't getting the necessary financial support from upper management."
Litan's research included an online survey of 5,000 U.S. adults. Based on feedback from those respondents, she found that:
The average victim lost $3,257 in 2006, up from $1,408 in 2005.
The percentage of funds consumers managed to recover dropped from 87% in 2005 to 61% in 2006.
The average loss on new account fraud more than doubled from $2,678 in 2005 to $5,962 in 2006.
Unauthorized charges to credit cards rose nearly fourfold from an average of $734 in 2005 to $2,550 in 2006.
... Using the TJX breach as an example, she said one of the retail giant's biggest mistakes was storing credit card data it didn't need to store. Several auditors who check companies for violations of the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) made the same observation last week, and said TJX will almost certainly pay a heavy financial price for its PCI DSS violations.
... Regardless of the method used to steal data to commit new account fraud, Litan said this kind of fraud can be largely prevented if companies use identity verification and scoring services.
I wonder if bureaucracies are incapable of a non-political, straight answer? (same problem with VA and FBI?)
USDA Gave Lawmakers False Data on Security Breaches (updated)
Tuesday, March 06 2007 @ 04:43 PM CST - Contributed by: PrivacyNews - Breaches
The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave erroneous information to lawmakers about its security compromises, understating thefts of computers that contained confidential data on farmers' social security numbers and payments, according to an audit by the USDA's Inspector General.
The department responded to a congressional inquiry last July by saying there had been eight instances of lost or stolen federal laptops from its offices since 2003, a copy of the USDA letter shows. In fact, there were at least 17 instances between October 2005 and May 2006 alone, the Inspector General said in the audit, which was released today.
The agency also failed to notify the farmers, ranchers, small businessmen and Agriculture Department employees whose personal information was in the stolen files, the Inspector General said.
Source - Bloomberg
Related - Reuters: USDA lacked controls to protect stolen data: report
Related - Report No: OIG74.02: Information Technology – Stolen Computer Equipment Containing Sensitive Information [PDF]
Attention Security Managers, e-Discovery lawyers... Your Word Processor is calling...
Microsoft Office finds its voice
By Marguerite Reardon Story last modified Wed Mar 07 04:45:46 PST 2007
After months of anticipation, corporate customers will soon get their hands on a beta version of Microsoft's voice over IP software, an event that marks an important step in the evolution of corporate communications.
... But more than adding a new competitor to the mix, Microsoft's entry into the corporate telephony market also marks the next evolution in communications. Tying voice services into Microsoft Office applications turns telephony into another software feature rather than making it a separate and standalone product that requires its own hardware and team of technicians to purchase, install and manage it.
... "Users just want an easy and intuitive way to communicate," O'Sullivan said. "So that means that we have to bring communications to different applications. Whether they use Microsoft, Lotus Notes, SAP or Oracle, we can easily integrate our technology."
Gee golly gosh, what a great idea! I bet we could do that here too!
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/security-agencies-could-access-health-card-data/2007/03/07/1173166706356.html
Security agencies could access health card data
ANNABEL STAFFORD, CANBERRA March 7, 2007
Asio and the Federal Police will not need a warrant to get information held on the Government's new health and welfare Access Card or on its related databases - including one holding the biometric data of almost all Australians - a parliamentary inquiry has heard.
I wonder what (if any) guidelines these employees were given? I suspect this practice is quite common.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=local&id=5098488
Illegal snooping suspected
WTVG-- March 6, 2007 - Lexus Nexus provide a wealth of information on people's background. The website isused to dig into the backgrounds of people and it may have been misused by Lucas County employees.
Now there are reports of them using the site improperly. Employees are accused of logging onto their computers, pulling up the website and surfing for information on people they weren't authorized to check out. The information obtained could be sensitive and personal, like addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers. The department took out the system for its investigative department to help detect welfare fraud and to conduct employee background checks. The team has been able to confirm higher-ups in the department were tipped off to the possible problem this past November, and to date, five employees have been put on administrative leave with pay in connection with the investigation.
At this time, administrators say they aren't sure if there was any misuse of the search engines. They are working with Lexus Nexus to see who exactly employees were checking out. They hope to have that information later this month.
If you can't get the laws you want in this country, get them elsewhere, then point to them as a model for new laws here. “See! Everyone else is doing it!”
Cybercrime Treaty — Hidden Costs For All
Posted by kdawson on Tuesday March 06, @08:02PM from the externalizing-costs dept. The Internet
linuxtelephony writes in with an article at CIO Insight about a cybercrime treaty drafted in Europe with help from the US. It has implications for just about everyone with a network.
From the article: "Civil libertarians are especially concerned about the sweeping authority given to participating countries to seize information from private parties as they investigate cybercrimes, even when the activity being investigated isn't a crime in the country where the data is located... Telecommunications companies object to provisions that require member countries to establish and enforce potent data-retention policies for network traffic, and require any operator of a computer network to respond to requests for information from any participating country without compensation of any kind... The provisions for data retention and production apply to any operator of a computer network, not just telecoms... Worldwide law-enforcement agencies, in other words, may now avail themselves of the opportunity to outsource their most expensive problems to you."
Interesting comment: “Too many people are trying to make others do work for them for free. There's only so much attention to go around. And we're running out.” (The graph of government expenses is interesting...)
IBM Many Eyes After One Month
Posted by Hemos on Tuesday March 06, @01:59PM from the measuring-the-web dept. The Internet IBM
ReadWriteWeb writes "IBM's Many Eyes app, a 'shared visualization and discovery' service, has been running for a month now. In this article two of the IBM researchers behind Many Eyes, Martin Wattenberg and Fernanda B. Viégas, showcase some of the best visualizations so far. They also talk about the future of 'social data analysis' on the Web. Wattenberg and Viégas believe that Many Eyes is not just social software, but 'societal-scale software.' They say that Many Eyes represents a break from conventional visualization research. Traditionally, computer scientists concentrate on scaling in terms of data, making visualizations work for bigger and bigger databases. IBM's agenda with Many Eyes is to scale the audience, not the data."
I doubt Bill Gates will give up flying...
http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/07/0234217&from=rss
FAA May Ditch Vista For Linux
Posted by kdawson on Wednesday March 07, @08:07AM from the hello-Google dept. Linux Business Microsoft
An anonymous reader writes "Another straw in the wind: following last week's news that the US Department of Transportation is putting a halt on upgrades to Windows Vista, Office 2007, and Internet Explorer 7, today comes word that the Federal Aviation Administration may ditch Vista and Office in favor of Google's new online business applications running on Linux-based hardware. (The FAA is part of the DOT.) The FAA's CIO David Bowen told InformationWeek he's taking a close look at the Premier Edition of Google Apps as he mulls replacements for the agency's Windows XP-based desktop computers. Bowen cited several reasons why he finds Google Apps attractive. 'From a security and management standpoint that would have some advantages,' he said."
Life just gets easier...
New, Free Searchable Database of Federal Register Rules and Notices
Tim Stanley and the Justia team keep rolling out new services for the legal community that assist us in accessing essential government documents via user-friendly websites, with accompanying RSS feeds and customized search capabilities. Today news is about the launch of a free, searchable database of Federal Register Regulations, Proposed Rules and Notices. This site parses the subject and topical content, as well as document type, from each daily Federal Register Index, and allows users to browse the content, and create a custom filter of specific content of interest. The site supports RSS feeds for each agency's respective documents, specific to document type as well.
Bill Gates is NOT on this list.
http://www.pcworld.com/printable/article/id,129301/printable.html
The 50 Most Important People on the Web
Here's who's shaping what you read, watch, hear, write, buy, sell, befriend, flame, and otherwise do online.
Christopher Null, PC World Monday, March 05, 2007 01:00 AM PST
My picks...
Each week First Look summarizes new working papers, case studies, and publications produced by Harvard Business School faculty.
Slippery Slopes and Misconduct: The Effect of Gradual Degradation on the Failure to Notice Others' Unethical Behavior
Authors: Francesca Gino and Max H. Bazerman
Brightcove and the Future of Internet Television
Harvard Business School Case 707-457
Check the one on “anti-Smiley Face” emoticons... 'cause I'm a ( e=mc2 )
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/06/scribd-youtube-for-text-gets-300k/
Scribd “YouTube for Documents” Gets $300K
Nick Gonzalez
Scribd , a site for sharing documents, is coming out of private beta this morning with a fresh Angel investment of $300K on top of their original Y Combinator nest egg of $12,000. Scribd is most easily described as a text version of YouTube. It is a social network that lets you tag, share, and comment on uploaded documents (.doc, .pdf, .txt, .ppt, .xls, .ps, .lit).
Scribd is not just a carbon copy of YouTube. They borrowed a lot of the basic design principles, but also took advantage of the written format by including flexible file formats for download and upload along with some interesting analytics tracking. Documents can be displayed and embedded as html or the under-utilized, and faster-than-a-pdf, Flash paper format. They can be downloaded as .pdf’s, .docs, .txt, and even .mp3 files. The mp3 version is created by Scribd’s text-to-speech package (powered by Nuance ) that lets you listen to the text of your document [No doubt my students will use this to “read” their textbooks Bob] in a quivering British accent (downloadable example here ). People have uploaded all sorts of documents for the private beta, like this guide to dating and seduction for dummies , or this less than legal copy of Visual C++ in 21 days . Scribd also lets you “geek out” on all the analytics generated by documents you post, such as how many votes and views your piece gets, as well as geographic location and http referrer that brought the reader there.
We’ve seen a lot of different social networks pop up around different mediums, photos, video, and even audio, but dominating a medium is no guarantee of an easy business model, as the “For Sale” sign on audio-focussed Odeo reminds us. So far social sites around the written word have dealt with books, rather than user generated, or at least user-uploaded content. Scribd lets people do something new, we just need to wait and see how far people go with it.
See our coverage of SlideShare as well.
Sometimes you need sophisticated scientific/technological tools like this one..
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/06/the-much-needed-beer-calculator/
The Much Needed Beer Calculator
If you want to know exactly how many kegs of beer, pounds of ice and number of cups you need to get everyone at your party hammered, give Kegulator a whirl. Tell it how many guests you are having, use their Ajax slider to set how drunk everyone will get, and the site will spit out the supplies necessary to achieve your goal. If you’re Canadian, use Beer Hunter afterwards to figure out where to buy all that stuff. Or use the open source beer recipe and make your own.
Labels: e-Discovery, law, Privacy, security
Have you looked on eBay? http://www.tuscaloosanews...
I like this! Lose information, get a specific set...
“Inadvertent” means, “We didn't know it worked tha...
If you can't figure out how to comply with the law...
Note: This blog is available (I'm not subversive e...
Oops! (Not all information disclosures are large ...
Mid-sized companies are targets because they don't...
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Marilyn Ramenofsky
(1946-08-20) August 20, 1946 (age 67)
5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
134 lb (61 kg)
Stroke(s)
Template:Infobox medal templates
Marilyn Ramenofsky (born August 20, 1946) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder.[1] She is currently a researcher at the University of California at Davis, studying the physiology and behavior of bird migration. She has previously done research at the University of Washington in Seattle.
1 Swimming career
2 Life after swimming
Swimming career
Ramenofsky was named to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) All-America women's swimming teams in 1962, 1963 and 1964.[1] International Swimming Hall of Fame national director Buck Dawson wrote: "[Ramenofsky] was the first female to swim a perfect freestyle stroke."[2] She attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, and trained with the Pomona College men's swim team because the college had no women's team.
Ramenofsky set new world-record times for the 400-meter freestyle three times in 1964, including once at the U.S. Olympic Trials, reducing the record to 4:39.5.[1][3] She also set a new U.S. record in the 220-yard freestyle in 1964, at 2:17.3.[1]
At the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, she represented the United States. She received a silver medal for her second-place place performance in the women's 400-meter freestyle, breaking the existing Olympic record with a time of 4:47.7, but finishing behind American teammate Ginny Duenkel.[1][4][5]
At the 1961 Maccabiah Games she won a gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle relay and a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle. At the 1965 Maccabiah Games she won gold medals in both the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyles.[1]
Life after swimming
Ramenofsky, who is Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.[1][4][5][6][7]
Ramenofsky has published numerous peer reviewed articles on the physiology and behavior of migratory birds, most notably the White-crowned Sparrow.[8][9] Much of her research has focused on how glucocorticoids may orchestrate the suite of life history changes associated with bird migration. She now works at UC Davis studying the migration of birds, and changes in their muscle physiology during stages of migration.
Olympics portal
Swimming portal
List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women)
List of Pomona College people
List of select Jewish swimmers
World record progression 400 metres freestyle
Marilyn Ramenofsky – Athlete profile at National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Marilyn Ramenofsky – Olympic athlete profile at Sports-Reference.com
Template:Footer USA Swimming 1964 Summer Olympics
Name Ramenofsky, Marilyn
Alternative names Wingfield, Marilyn
Short description American swimmer, Olympic silver medalist, former world record-holder
Date of birth August 20, 1946
Place of birth Phoenix, Arizona, United States
1965 Maccabiah Games
Ramat Gan, Israel, Ramat Gan Stadium, Maccabiah Games, Iran, Jamaica
Tokyo, 1960 Summer Olympics, Water polo at the 1964 Summer Olympics, Basketball at the 1964 Summer Olympics, Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics
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Franchises: Godzlla. Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
Well, here we are. After months and months of reviews, we've reached the (so far) final entry in the Japanese Godzilla film series, which is this wild, extravagant, and utterly insane 50th anniversary film. While I wasn't too privy about the majority of the movies made after Godzilla 2000, I did hear quite a bit about this one since it got a fair amount of press for being both an anniversary movie and for being the supposed final film in this long-running series. It even had a premier in Los Angeles, whose release date I saw marked on IMDB's main page, making it the first movie since Godzilla 2000 to get any type of stateside theatrical engagement. I knew that 2004 was going to be a major milestone in the character's long history but I was surprised at how much hype there actually was around it. The celebratory mood that accompanied this movie and the occasion it signified was fairly palpable, and it actually managed to temporarily pull me out of my late high school period of snobbishness in regards to this major aspect of my childhood and make me remember exactly why this whole world grabbed me to begin with. I remember hearing that Godzilla received his long-awaited star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame right before the film premiered, an occasion that was marked by the presence of an actual guy in a steam-spouting shoot (I really wish I had seen the news footage of that), which made me very happy, as did the very notion the Big G was being celebrated in such an awesome way. It was a celebration that came and went rather quickly, and I didn't hear anything about what kind of a movie Godzilla: Final Wars was or how well it did, but regardless, it was still quite nice to be privy to all of this and experience it for just a little bit. Now, as for the movie itself, I didn't know much about the details other than it was Destroy All Monsters cranked up to eleven, that it was a very big movie with a lot of monsters running around and Godzilla kicking a lot of ass. At least, that's what I heard from that friend of mine who, at the time, was more into the series than I was and had informed me of some of the other Millennium films. He also told me that the director behind the film had made some pretty wild movies before and that this film would more than likely be the same way. After that, though, I moved on and didn't think much about Final Wars until I just came across it on DVD in Wal-Mart sometime in 2006, which I was very surprised to see since I didn't know that it or the other Millennium films past Megaguirus and GMK had even been released over here yet. I didn't buy it at that time, however, and although I attempted to later that year when I was shopping around, using money my relatives had given me for my birthday, the one copy that I found at that particular time had the disc rolling around inside it and I didn't want to risk wasting money on a scratched DVD. Not long after that, I met up with that friend of mine and he told me that he found Final Wars to be very disappointing, that the director took too much inspiration from the cheesy 70's films and didn't make it serious enough. At that time, I wasn't too willing to embrace the cheesy aspects of Godzilla as I had before as a child and so, wasn't thrilled upon hearing that. After that, I once again put Final Wars out of mind until I stumbled across it again at the beginning of 2007 and this time, I did pick it up and eventually checked it out.
After the movie was over, I was left sitting there on my futon thinking, "Well, that was... different." That's the thing about Godzilla: Final Wars: it's a very hard movie to quantify when you're trying to describe it for those who haven't seen it. It's by far the most out there, over the top, quirky, and visually crazy movie of the entire franchise. Nothing else comes close. You thought Godzilla vs. Hedorah was bonkers with its psychedelic animation sequences and nonsensical visuals like people with fish-heads and multicolored split-screens? No, as bizarre an imagination as Yoshimitsu Banno has, Ryuhei Kitamura, the director here, makes him look feeble. This film is like if you took The Matrix films, Jet Li's The One, Star Wars, the X-Men, comic books in general, and Japanese kaiju flicks and put them all into a blender. It's that crazy. I can definitely see why my friend was put off by it because if you're not in the mood for a movie like this, you will not know what the hell you just watched when it's over. Alright, enough description, you want to know what I personally think of this film, right? Well, to be honest, it depends on the mood I'm in whenever I view it. Sometimes I've come out of it feeling rather empty, irritated, and unsatisfied, whereas other times I've come out feeling fairly entertained. There is a lot of good in this movie, with its epic scope, well-done effects, many moments of genuine bad-assness, especially when it comes to Godzilla himself, and the nostalgia factor of seeing a lot of monsters that haven't been in a movie since the Showa era. At the same time, though, the film's size and over the top nature does cause it to buckle underneath its own weight as the third act draws near. With a running time of 125 minutes, the longest of any of the Japanese Godzilla films, and so much stuff crammed into it, it feels like the film begins to burn itself out about 3/4 of the way through since, by that point, the highly stylized look and feel and the overlong action sequences have overstayed their welcome. So, for now, I'll say that, if you're in the mood for a movie that's just crazy and bigger than life, this is the flick for you, but don't be surprised if you find yourself getting tired by the time the movie begins to wind down.
By 2004, with endless warfare and unchecked pollution having resulted in the awakening and creation of countless monsters, the Earth Defense Force is formed. In addition to the latest technology and weapons, as well as the best soldiers, the organization also has the services of mutants: human beings capable of incredible feats of strength, speed, and agility. Their greatest opponent, the mighty King of the Monsters, Godzilla, is finally dispensed with when the EDF's best combat vehicle, the Gotengo, manages to bury him alive at the South Pole. Forty years later, the Gotengo is caught up in a dangerous undersea battle with the monstrous serpent, Manda. Although they manage to defeat the monster, the ship's captain, Gordon, is ultimately court-martialed for his reckless handling of the mission and his overall violent and insubordinate disposition. Meanwhile, the mummified body of a huge is discovered and the United Nations sends biologist Dr. Miyuki Otonashi to study it, with mutant soldier Ozaki tasked with acting as her bodyguard. During their research, they're visited by the Shobijin, who tell them that the monster is Gigan, an alien cyborg that was sent to the planet 12,000 years ago to conquer it but was defeated by Mothra. The Shobijin also tell Ozaki that soon, the time will come when his mutant capabilities will force him to choose siding with either good or evil. Not too long afterward, the Japanese UN Secretary General, Daigo, disappears while on his way to New York, followed by monsters popping up all over the world and attacking major cities: Rodan attacks New York, Anguirus appears in Shanghai, King Caesar begins destroying Okinawa, Zilla attacks Sydney, and so forth. The EDF engages the monsters but aren't having much luck when, suddenly, they vanish just as abruptly as they appeared. That's when an enormous UFO appears in Tokyo and beams down Daigo, who claims that the aliens rescued him. The beings, who call themselves the Xiliens, say that they come in peace and warn the humans of an oncoming planet called Gorath that will soon collide with Earth and destroy it. At the same time, the United Nations is disbanded and the Space Nations is formed instead in an attempt to unite the universe. However, while the majority of the planet's population are taken with the Xiliens, Ozaki, Otonashi, and the latter's talk-show host sister, Anna, have their suspicions. Their suspicions are confirmed when evidence suggests that Daigo and EDF commander Namikawa are actually Xilien imposters, that they were the ones who had the monsters attack, and that the story about Gorath was a lie. After busting Captain Gordon out of his cell, the group exposes the aliens for the villains that they are, with the impulsive, violent second-in-command killing his superior and taking over the invasion force. The new leader then uses his influence to turn the humans' mutant allies, save for Ozaki, against them, and unleashes all of the monsters, turning the entire planet in an all-out warzone. With no more weapons and allies at their disposal, the group decides that they only have one option left: release Godzilla and have him battle the monsters while they deal with the Xiliens in a mission that Gordon dubs Operation Final War.
Whether or not they had ever intended to make a third chapter of the story told in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., there was one fact that Toho couldn't deny: while the former had done fairly well, the latter had been a big flop. Not even being paired up with another Hamtaro movie could save Tokyo S.O.S., which ultimately sold less tickets than Godzilla vs. Megaguirus. By that notion, doing another Godzilla movie altogether, second sequel or not, seemed like a waste of time and money but, since the following year was going to be the 50th anniversary, Toho felt like it had to do something. And here's where history once again repeats itself: as had happened when Megaguirus bombed, Toho decided that they needed to do something outside of the box and bring in a director who could shake things up. That's when they made the rather risky decision of hiring Ryuhei Kitamura, a director whose wild visual style and penchant for insane, over-the-top violence and action scenes weren't exactly elements that the Godzilla movies had employed before (indeed, some critics have felt that Kitamura was completely the wrong director for the job). But, Toho and Shogo Tomiyama felt that they needed to do something special for the occasion of the 50th anniversary and so, other than assuring that the film wouldn't be an absolutely ultra-violent, mean-spirited movie that would turn away family audiences, they pretty much gave Kitamura carte blanche, resulting in Godzilla: Final Wars being the only other Millennium film that has a director's personal stamp, with the other having been GMK.
Out of all the directors who have ever held the reigns to Godzilla, Ryuhei Kitamura is probably the most rebellious in regards to his relationship with the Japanese film industry, mainly since he's not one of those who came up through the ranks of the studio system and endeared himself to the big wigs. Instead, he was a high school dropout who had studied at an Australian-based school of visual arts and whose filmmaking idols were people like George Miller, Russel Mulcahy, Peter Weir, and, most significantly, John Carpenter and Sam Raimi; in other words, filmmakers whose independent sensibilities, especially in the case of the latter two, were at odds with those of the Hollywood studio system (although Raimi, of course, would find huge mainstream success with his Spider-Man films). Someone with that same mindset would have an even tougher time finding work in the very stringent, "take no risk" Japanese film industry but Kitamura, like his heroes, was undeterred. When he returned to Japan after graduating, he established his own independent production studio and produced his first two films there before raising enough money with everyone else he knew (family, friends, ex-girlfriends, etc.) to make his first notable movie, Versus. This was the flick that put him on the map due to its major cult success, especially when it was released on DVD outside of Japan. It got him more high-profile jobs, including directing a feature film adaptation of the popular manga Azumi and a prequel to the television show Sky High. After his film Longinus, Kitamura was ready to head to Hollywood when Shogo Tomiyama contacted him about Godzilla: Final Wars. Being a huge fan of the franchise, Kitamura jumped at the opportunity and set about correcting the mistakes he felt that the previous few films in the series had made and make this one the biggest and the best. Although, as I mentioned up above, Kitamura was told that he couldn't make the movie too dark and violent, which were his natural instincts, he was otherwise allowed to do whatever he wanted and so, like Shusuke Kaneko before him, he produced a film that, if nothing else, is a true artist's vision (the fact that he was given the biggest budget ever for one of these films, $19.5 million, didn't hurt either). If you don't like Kitamura's previous films, you won't like this, because it's that same crazy, out there style that he showed off in Versus. Since Final Wars, Kitamura has relocated to Hollywood, where he has had limited success as a director. His first American film, a very well-made and true adaptation of Clive Barker's Midnight Meat Train, didn't do much at the box-office in 2008 and No One Lives was released in only a limited capacity in 2013. He's also recently made his Japanese comeback film, a live-action, modern day adaptation of the legendary manga, Lupin III, and has other projects in the works including a slasher film called Black Friday 3D and has written a script for a sequel to Versus.
In talking about Godzilla: Final Wars, what you have to understand is Kitamura's mindset behind making the film. He has described it as a "Best Of Godzilla" album movie, taking what he considers the best elements from the past films and combining them in a new way. Specifically, he wanted to make a movie that was in line with the energetic, fast pace that he felt the latter Showa films had, specifically Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, which is his personal favorite. In other words, this is nothing less than a huge, sprawling love-letter to the franchise from a life-long fan who has the money and manpower to make it with. The story and characters are secondary because this is a movie that is virtually nothing more than a series of high-octane, over-the-top battles and effects sequences, involving both humans and monsters, that doesn't dwell on the issue of what should be done about the situation, as Kitamura felt the previous films got bogged down with. The story being nothing more than an updated retelling of the alien invasion plots in movies like Godzilla vs. Monster Zero and Destroy All Monsters, with the aliens themselves being new versions of the people from Planet X in the former movie, should be a sign of the director's intentions in and of itself. The reason I bring this up is to, one, let you know ahead of time that this is probably going to be the biggest of all of these reviews since there's a lot to mention here (the breakdown of the monster and action scenes will probably be so big that it could make for a blog post by itself) and, also, that we're not going to be getting into any deep, philosophical discussions here because that's not in Kitamura's vocabulary. Anybody wanting the original Godzilla's significant themes about the dangers of atomic weapons or the discussions of Japanese business society and the current state of living in the country that were seen in some of the later films is in the wrong movie!
It may seem pointless to talk about the characters in a movie like this where thrilling action and stunts, as well as breathtaking visuals, are everything but, regardless, there are some people here who are very noteworthy so I'd be remised to not stay the course and talk about them. Our lead, Ozaki (Masahiro Matsuoka), is a fairly bland, heroic character but that doesn't matter because he gets to kick more than his fair share of ass. He's one of this new breed of people with special physical abilities called mutants but, unlike his more aggressive partner Kazama, Ozaki is compassionate and does not feel that he needs to kill in order to protect people, something that Kazama gives him a hard time over (you know that's going to come into play later on the minute you hear it). Another predictable aspect of his character is that, when he's assigned to act as a bodyguard for UN biologist Miyuki Otonashi and the two of them don't exactly get off on the right foot, you know that they're eventually going to become an item, which they do... well, to the degree that these movies will allow, anyway. Despite his soft side, Ozaki is also a little bit cynical, scoffing at the Shobijin when they warn him that he, like all mutants, have a potential for evil in their blood cells, and his attitude about a leggy woman being a scientist is what initially puts him at odds with Dr. Otonashi. This cynicism, however, comes in handy after the Xiliens arrive and he thinks it's a little too convenient for them to have shown up just when they discover that the monster Gigan is proven to be from space as well. This hunch is soon verified when they discover that Secretary General Daigo and Commander Namikawa have been replaced with Xilien imposters and the aliens' story about Gorath was a lie, prompting Ozaki and the others to form a resistance group from the Earth Defense Force and make it their mission to stop the Xiliens. When they reveal the aliens for the villains that they are, Ozaki gets the first hint that there's something special about him when his M-base (I'll explain later) is not affected by the Xilien leader, who uses it to gain control of the other mutants. It's not until the third act that he learns that the reason for that is because he's a special creature known as a Keizer and his true potential has yet to be awakened. The Xilien leader attempts to awaken this hidden power in order to bend him to his will and while Ozaki does at first succumb to it, he's ultimately able to overcome it thanks to the amulet given to him by the Shobijin and what they said about his having a choice about serving either good or evil. He then uses his gift to defeat the leader. He also uses his power to give Godzilla the strength that he needs to defeat the Xiliens' ultimate weapon, Monster X, and end the war. A bland hero he might be, Ozaki is still worth rooting for and it's nice when he finally does come out on top, even though it's predictable that he ultimately will.
Dr. Miyuki Otonashi (Rei Kikukawa) has the thankless role of being little more than a good-looking scientist who provides some information on the proceedings but, at a given point, she doesn't do much else other than sit off on the sidelines. As I said up above, she and Ozaki don't start off liking each other that much, Ozaki having a rather arrogant attitude about a woman being a scientist and Otonashi thinking that Ozaki is more flippant the tough guys she thought all mutants were, telling him to not talk or even look at her unless absolutely necessary. After that, she researches the mummified Gigan with Dr. Jinguji and joins up with the small resistance group from the Earth Defense Force when the Xiliens show their true colors. She does act as bait to prove to those in the EDF who are unconvinced that Commander Namikawa and other members have been replaced with imposters but, once that's done, she spends most of the movie sitting around during the big action sequences. They do try to bring back up the bond that's been formed by her and Ozaki to try to keep her important in the plot but it doesn't much other than her using the Shobijin's amulet to break the Xilien leader's control over Ozaki; otherwise, she's little more than a bystander during the big final fight (the only major thing she does is help the Gotengo in pulling out of the Xilien mother-ship when one operator gets injured). While not a bad character, she simply can't help but fall into the rut that most female actors tend to fall into these films. And while we're talking about her, we might as well mention her sister, Anna (Maki Mizuno), who works as a talk show host in Tokyo and is the one who shows them footage of Daigo that shows that there's something weird about him and that he might not be what he seems, per their suspicions. On that note, Anna takes it upon herself to prove that Daigo is an imposter, attempting to feel him out in a conversation since she had talked with him before he disappeared. She lucks out, however, when he gets attacked and stabbed by a would-be assassin and her sister is unable to obtain a blood sample, which she confirms as to be inhuman. Now that they know for sure what's going on, Anna tricks the fake Daigo into exposing himself by presenting him with a dog whom he immediately takes for the real Daigo's. As if his inability that he can't remember the dog's name isn't enough of a tipoff, Anna eventually reveals that it was in fact her dog all along, prompting the aliens to realize they've been caught and drop the act. After that, though, Anna does do much else in the film since she stays behind in the ruins of Tokyo and doesn't partake in Operation Final War. Ironic, given that she accomplished a lot more than her biologist sister!
Far and way, the best character in the film is former MMA fighter Don Frye as Captain Gordon. There are no other words I can think to describe this guy other than two: badass and cool. He's got all the stuff necessary for a quintessential action movie hero: a gruff voice, an impressive build despite his relatively short stature, a long overcoat, a rocking moustache, and a big, "fuck off" kitanna sword. A lot of his lines are rather cliché and perhaps a little too typical for the type of character he's trying to be but Frye is so cool and smooth in the way he says them that he makes them work. You can't help but smile when he says stuff like, "Ozaki... nice work," which he says upon seeing Miyuki and Anna for the first time, "I like to play the odds," "See you, sweetheart," and, "There's two things you don't know about the Earth: one is me, and the other is Godzilla." I like his gestures, like when he raises his eyebrow at certain point, does some nice swishes and poses with his overcoat and sword during the fight scenes, as well as just how much of an awesome fighter that he is, but I think my favorite moment of his is near the end of the movie when he gets into a fight with two Xilien soldiers, one of whom is a female. After knocking out the male, Gordon is about to clock the female when she says, "Would you hit a lady?" Gordon looks at his fist, opens it up, looks back at the alien, smiles, and says, "Yeah," before putting her lights out, which he follows up with, "Sorry, sweetheart." That's just the epitome of cool. There's not much else to say about Gordon other than his badassery since he's not a very deep character, aside from his personal connection to Godzilla, which is that he was the one who fired the missile that imprisoned him in the ice at the beginning of the film, but he's just so awesome and, despite his reckless and volatile attitude (you hear that he struck his superior in court, which landed him in a cell), dependable and fearless leader that it doesn't matter. Case in point: it's his idea to free Godzilla from his icy prison and let him take care of the other monsters while they take care of the Xiliens, a plan that seems futile since human civilization has already been squashed by the massive invasion. He, however, chalks it up to being a matter of pride, that they can either die hiding or die fighting. I don't think I need to say anything else other than to reiterate that this guy is one tough mofo and is the one human that you believe could take Godzilla!
On the villains' side, you have the two Xilien leaders: the general and his younger second-in-command. Interesting thing about the general is that he's played by Masato Ibu, who played the treacherous Sugiura back in Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, but for some reason, he's credited here as Masato Eve. That confused me when I read up on this film because I was sure I recognized the guy from Megaguirus but that had me thinking that maybe I was wrong and these two people just simply looked alike. However, a quick check on IMDB confirmed that it is the same guy and that the "Masato Eve" name is apparently some type of pseudonym he and some other actors have used on a few films. It's really weird. In any case, while both of them intend upon taking over the Earth and using humans as nourishment (cattle, as they describe it), the general is more interested in gaining the humans' trust and gradually taking over that way (although I wonder what the point would be), whereas his younger, more violent and impatient subordinate feels that they should use the power that they have to wipe them out in one fell swoop. And sure enough, when he gets the chance, the second-in-command (Kazuki Kitamura; no relation to the director) kills the general, takes over as the leader of the invasion force, and uses his ability to control both mutants and the monsters via M-base to completely destroy human civilization in one all-out war, leaving behind only that ragtag group of people from the Earth Defense Force to stop them. Not only that, but when this guy takes over, he proves just how completely crazy and deranged he is. He is without a doubt the nuttiest non-monster villain this series has ever seen. When he's not throwing over-the-top, stomping tantrums whenever something doesn't go his way, he's cackling like a maniac and doing a number of unexpected, wild hand and body gestures. You really have to see this guy's performance to get what I'm talking about, especially during the final battle when his hair's sticking up, making him come across as all the more crazy. Besides his insanity, he also genuinely feels that humans are beneath him and his race because of their role as cattle for them, feeling that they need to be put in their place and know who their masters are. To that end, he awakens Ozaki's untapped power in an attempt to control him and turn him against his friends but when that fails, he's disgusted with him for using his great power to serve "lowly humans." You learn that he himself is also a Keizer, which further compounds his feelings of disgust and betrayal towards Ozaki, leading into their final battle. While Ozaki, of course, does win the fight, the leader still refuses to let him emerge victorious and sets the mother-ship to blow in an attempt to ensure that they'll both die. Ozaki, however, uses his Keizer abilities to make it back to the Gotengo before mother-ship blows up in an enormous explosion. This bad guy is definitely an over-the-top villain for an over-the-top movie but, if nothing else, he's one of the series' most memorable non-monster characters.
As I said when I talked about Ozaki, I mentioned that his fellow mutant, Kazama (Kane Kosugi), gives him a hard time over his compassion and resistance to killing in order to finish a mission. The minute you read that, you probably rolled your eyes at the idea of yet another character who's antagonistic towards the lead but he's actually not as annoying or cliché you would expect him to be. Yes, when you first meet him, Kazama does come across as arrogant and obnoxious, telling Ozaki that all mutants were born to fight and that's their only purpose, not to defend people, and he also makes fun of him when he's assigned to act as Dr. Otonashi's bodyguard, saying that babysitting a girl suits him, but once those first scenes pass, he actually proves himself to be really cool. During an extended fight that the mutants have with Ebirah, Kazama shows how much of a badass he can be with his physical abilities and his handiness with a weapon as he and Ozaki manage to severely injure and subdue the giant crustacean. When they've got him on the ropes, Kazama climbs atop Ebirah and says, "Sorry, I'm a vegetarian," in English, no less, before preparing to finish the monster off. He doesn't get to kill Ebirah, however, since the Xilians then begin getting rid of the monsters but I still thought that was a cool line and a nice delivery. And that's another thing: Kazama speaks English a couple of times, even in the Japanese version. I don't know if it's Kosugi's real voice or not but, nevertheless, it's another aspect of him that I think is cool and he gets another great line when he and the others are facing off with some Xilien imposters. One of them acts like he's going to lunge at them and Kazama says, "Hey, watch it, X-man!" Again, it's a nice delivery. Predictably, though, Kazama succumbs to the influence of the Xilien leader like all of the other mutants except Ozaki and proves to be a major threat to the heroes when they attempt to get to the Gotengo in order to escape, getting into a high-speed motorcycle chase and fight with Ozaki. Ozaki manages to win the fight and knock Kazama unconscious, taking him with them in the Gotengo. When Kazama asks why he saved him, Ozaki says that it's because they're a team. Kazama doesn't do much else in the movie until the third act when he sacrifices himself to help the heroes by flying into the Xiliens' mother-ship and knocking out the shield that's keeping them from getting inside. He may have started off as arrogant but Kazama, despite his momentary manipulation by the Xilien leader, ultimately proves to be a likable and kind of cool guy.
Since Mothra is in this movie, that naturally means that the Shobijin (Masami Nagasawa and Chihiro Otsuka, the same women who portrayed them in the previous film) are here as well, although, to be honest, they could have been removed from the final movie because their presence doesn't amount to all that much. The most important thing that they do is inform Ozaki of the potential for malice within him, adding that he has a choice about which side he'll serve. They also give him an ancient amulet that ultimately breaks the Xilien leader's momentary control over him, although you could have just easily removed that and had Ozaki make the decision himself and break the control with a strong will (to that end, you could have given Dr. Otonashi more to do in the final act by having her remind him of who he's allied with, giving him the incentive to defy the leader). Aside from that, the Shobijin don't have much other purpose in the film aside from informing them of Gigan, which I don't think was necessary for them to know since Gigan hardly turns out to be the major threat of the film, and summon Mothra to help in the final battle, which, as I'll elaborate on later, could also have been removed to give Godzilla more opportunities to kick ass. One other thing I will say for all of you who get annoyed with the Shobijin's singing is that they don't do that here, which I think is an absolute first. And here's a little bit of useless trivia for you: this is the only movie to involve any version of the twin faeries that also doesn't have a larval Mothra (I am such a nerd!) In any case, while I don't hate them as I'm sure some people do, I still think that the Shobijin didn't need to be in this movie and couldn't have easily sat out along with Mothra herself.
Since it's a big anniversary film, you've got a lot of series' veterans present and accounted for, with some of them even getting to do more than simply pop up as cameos. Akira Takarada, whom we last saw in Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth, plays the UN Secretary General Daigo and, besides coming across as charming and likable as he always did (he smiles and laughs a lot in the film), he actually gets to take part in the big finale of the movie where he's running around with an alien gun and helping the heroes escape from the Xiliens' mother-ship. Plus, when he plays the Xilien imposter of his character, not only is he what arouses the heroes' suspicions that the aliens might not be as trustworthy as they claim but he's also the center of the movie's, and the entire series', most graphic effect where his head splits open and reveals what he truly is after he gets fatally shot. It's really cool that they actually gave him something to do other than just be there simply as a cameo. Kumi Mizuno is also here again, this time as EDF Commander Namikawa (the same name as her character back in Godzilla vs. Monster Zero), and while she doesn't have quite as much to do as Takarada, she still manages to get her good licks in, coming off as a bit threatening when she plays the Xilien imposter of her character and, like Takarada, taking part in the finale and firing an alien gun (although she gets injured during said firefight). Our old friend Kenji Sahara, who's been absent since Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, is here again in the very small role of Dr. Jinguji, whom Otonashi assists in studying the mummified body of Gigan. He doesn't do nearly as much as Takarada and Mizuno, appearing in only a few scenes and just standing around, talking and observing at that, but it's nice to see him again. Akira Nakao and Koichi Ueda are here again briefly at the beginning of the movie as the captain and first mate of the Gotengo during the ship's battle with Godzilla and, according to IMDB, there are at least two other actors from the Heisei series here as well as at least one actor from each of the previous Millennium films. Don't ask me who they are, though, because I couldn't begin to tell you, although I do know that Shiro Sano is here briefly as the guy who stabs the imposter Daigo, providing the heroes with the blood sample they need to prove that he is indeed an imposter. As you can see, though, they really went all-out in making this the biggest anniversary film the series has ever seen.
As for what past films Godzilla: Final Wars acknowledges and which it ignores, your guess is as good as mine. All we're told in the intro is that endless wars and environmental pollution have resulted in the awakening and creation of hordes of giant monsters and we see clips from movies like Varan the Unbelievable, Frankenstein Conquers the World, and War of the Gargantuas, so we know that those films are counted as having occurred in this continuity, and we know for sure that, like all the previous Millennium films, the original Godzilla is counted... or is it? The narrator acknowledges that Godzilla, the Earth Defense Force's greatest enemy, made his first appearance in 1954 but nothing is mentioned about the Oxygen Destroyer or how a second Godzilla appeared in the first one's place afterward. Plus, during the film's dizzying opening credits sequences, we're bombarded with very fast, split-second clips from a lot of the past films, from all three series I might add, even though that would be impossible given the different timelines we've been through by this point. Maybe those clips and the revelation that Godzilla first appeared in 1954 are not meant to suggest that all of those specifics films occurred in this continuity but are merely there to represent past encounters and attacks the Earth has suffered from him. And then, if that's the case, maybe the same goes for the clips of those non-Godzilla films, in that they simply show what other monsters have popped up throughout the years in addition to the Big G, which would make sense you also see shots of Titanosaurus from Terror of Mechagodzilla and Megaguirus herself, monsters from two movies that couldn't possibly exist in the same continuity. Or maybe we should take these clips' presence simply as a sign that our director is a big fan and is showing how much he loves this genre and this franchise in particular. That's ultimately how I look at it, because you've also got the years counting up to 2004, which could be seen simply as a lightning-fast recap of all the years that Godzilla's been in the public eye. You could wrack your brain and try to figure out where this film fits but I'd suggest not doing that because you really will drive yourself crazy. (I think Shogo Tomiyama himself realized that early on because one idea was to have this Godzilla be Junior, whom we saw as an adult at the end of Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, but they ultimately decided not to open that can of worms and overcomplicate things.)
As a big, sprawling movie filled with lots of monsters and, without a doubt, the most special effects ever seen in one of these films, it goes without saying that Godzilla: Final Wars is all over the map. However, that's not limited simply to the action, visuals, and the fact that there are a number scenes that take place on other continents (with most of them having been filmed in those actual locations). The tone of the film tends to jump around as well, which is something I know a lot of people have problems with. Sometimes the movie is fairly serious, whereas other times it goes so over-the-top that it almost becomes a farce. The most blatant example of this is a scene in "New York City" where a cop confronts a pimp. Not only does this cop not talk the way a cop from New York would (he says words like, "freaking," and, "bust you up," when you know he's dying to say something else; in fact, he may have because he looks dubbed, even in the Japanese version) but this pimp looks like he's from the 70's, with his ridiculous fluffy coat, red tie, and Elton John-like glasses. And his car is this tacky, pink thing that reminds of what Robocop had use to in a chase in RoboCop 3. The first time I saw that, I was put off by it, thinking, "Are you serious? Is this what the Japanese think New York is like?" Not to mention that you have scenes with Godzilla kicking a lot of monster ass interspersed with cutesy stuff involving Minya trying to get to his dad and joining up with this old hunter and his grandfather in doing so. And I can't forget the scene at the South Pole where, in the station built next to the spot where Godzilla is buried in ice, you have these two goofy-looking guys (one's wearing a Hawaiian-style shirt and the other a bright-red muscle shirt) who are listening to the soundtrack to Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla! I like that music and can see myself listening to it whenever I'm lounging around the house, so it was a nice treat to hear that, but still, when you put it into context, it's plain weird. Besides that, the Western touches and mixing of genres in this film really throw me sometimes. We've had American actors in lead and supporting roles in these films before, as well as the Japanese actors speaking English from time to time, especially in the Heisei series, but it's strange for me to see a former MMA fighter in a movie like this when you'd expect to see him in some big, American action movie like The Expendables, not to mention the moments where people seemed to be dubbed in English even in the Japanese version. And would you ever expect to a song from Sum 41 on the soundtrack of a Godzilla movie, let alone in the original Japanese version? Well, you do here. All of these elements, plus others that we'll get more into presently like the Matrix-esque fight scenes involving the mutants and the highly stylized look of the film, help make Final Wars often look and sound like no other Godzilla movie. While it doesn't completely ruin the movie for me, I can see why it would turn off so many others.
Back in my introduction, I said that a couple of the ingredients that make up Final Wars were the X-Men, comic books in general, and The Matrix, and the main reason for that is the inclusion of mutants. Does this concept of select people born with special powers not sound straight out of the X-Men and similar comic books? The only difference is that, instead of being shunned by society at large, they're instead embraced by the Earth Defense Force and used as the main method of defending the planet from giant monsters. They may not have the same powers as the actual X-Men but they do have the essentials: accelerated strength, speed, and agility, which lead into those wild, insane fight scenes that we'll get more into later. Plus, Ozaki, being a particularly powerful type of mutant known as a Keizer, is able to do more advanced stuff, including redirecting a wall of laser-blasts in a shot that's virtually identical to the famous bullet-time sequences in The Matrix. As for the mutants' origins, you find out that they're the interbred descendants of humans and Xiliens, which is why they share a piece of DNA known as M-base. The M-base is what gives them their special abilities and apparently, it's also found in the genetic makeup of a number of monsters. The downside to the M-base, though, is that beings who have it within them can be controlled by a Keizer, which is how the Xiliens were able to gain control of both the monsters (they even reorganized the genetic structure of some of them to include M-base) and the mutants and why it took another Keizer such as Ozaki to ultimately defeat them. Bet you never expected me to describing this in a Godzilla review, did you? It's stuff like this that makes Final Wars unique.
Giving us another over-the-top, comic book ingredient as well as a callback to the series' heyday are updated versions of the people from Planet X, dubbed here as the Xiliens. While they're very different from the aliens seen in Godzilla vs. Monster Zero in both visuals and concept, the black visors that they wear are a definite throwback to their 1960's predecessors. In any case, like the aliens in that previous film, the Xiliens make their presence known with a message of peace and friendship towards the people of Earth and even offer to help save them from an oncoming planet known as Gorath that will collide with Earth and destroy it if it's not stopped. Predictably, though, their true intentions are much more sinister, since, like all alien races, they want to take over the Earth through the use of monsters and mutants. However, unlike all previous alien races that we've seen in these movies, the Xiliens' purpose comes down to nourishment: they feed on the mitochondria within our cells and plan to turn Earth into an enormous farm, using the human race as mere cattle. Not only are they able to control anything with M-base within it through telepathic means but they're also able to create imposters of important people like Secretary General Daigo and EDF Commander Namikawa in order to further ensure the human population's trust. Their ruse, however, is revealed since the imposters, like the Xiliens themselves, don't blink, and when they're killed, the human flesh breaks open to reveal their true form, which is a silver, android-like look. It's hinted that this is the real form of the actual Xiliens as well, given the moment when Gordon asks the leader to show his real face and he responds, "Well, I rather like this face." They have an enormous invasion fleet that allows them to teleport the monsters under their control to wherever they want as well as to fight off any human resistance, as demonstrated when all-out war breaks out during the film's latter half. The mother-ship is an enormous sphere with little landing legs on its underside that make it look like a big, swelled up tick and the inside of it is just as enormous and out there in design with the orange color and interesting look of the walls and whatnot (although, you have to wonder if even it was big enough to store all the monsters when they weren't using them).
You'll notice that, up to this point, I haven't mentioned Godzilla himself all that much and that's because he's but one of a myriad of different elements that make up this movie, which I think was a bit of mistake. While the other stuff going on is entertaining, it would have been nice if Godzilla was focused on a little more than he is. In fact, after the opening where you see him get buried in ice at the South Pole, he doesn't come back into the film for another hour and while that's not entirely uncommon, so much other stuff has happened since then that you could easily forget that you're watching a Godzilla movie. But, all that said, when Godzilla finally does get into the movie full-time, it's well worth the wait because, like Captain Gordon, this iteration of the Big G is an absolute badass. He's stronger, more agile, and more powerful than he's ever been before, able to wipe out 98% of the monsters he takes on here with no trouble whatsoever and in less than two minutes each. He also has a defined personality to him, which is refreshing after two movies of him being just a blank slate and finally gives Tsutomu Kitagawa something to do performance-wise besides just going through the motions. This Godzilla takes no shit, will vanquish anyone that dares to challenge him, monster or otherwise, never gives up during a fight, and, most significantly of all, has a well-defined, searing hatred for mankind. Not only does he hate humans for their experimenting with atomic weapons that turned him into what he is now and also caused massive destruction, as the old man traveling with Minya and his grandson describes, but as soon as he's released from his icy prison, he recognizes the Gotengo and goes after it, remembering the battle they were caught up in before they buried him. The heroes are able to use his aggression to their advantage by having him follow them back to Tokyo, battling any monsters that he runs into on the way, where he unknowingly helps them defeat the Xiliens by battling their ultimate weapon, Monster X, while they take on the aliens themselves. But, once the war is won, Godzilla shows that he hasn't forgotten who his original enemies were and goes on the attack against the Gotengo again. He almost finishes off the crew but Minya quickly intervenes, standing between him and the humans and holding his hands out, as if he's telling him, "Dad, that's enough!" Even the grandfather who's been traveling with Minya tells Godzilla that, saying, "You must forgive them." I don't know for sure if Godzilla does forgive mankind for how they wronged him in the past or if he's just tired after all of the fighting he's been through and also doesn't want to risk hurting his son but, whatever the case, he does decide to let it go and heads home, with Minya joining him.
As you can see, Godzilla is quite physically fit in this movie, with much less bulk to his body in favor of a more athletically trim look. Ryuhei Kitamura wanted to harken back to the slimmer design that he had throughout the majority of the Showa era and, judging from how it turned out, I think it's safe to say that he succeeded. With more slender arms and legs and less bulk and muscle to slow him down, Godzilla is able to move faster and with more agility than he ever has before, allowing for more physically impressive fight scenes rather than simple energy beam exchanges. I know that Tsutomu Kitagawa appreciated the nature of this suit since it allowed him more freedom of movement, with his arms, hands, and legs fitting perfectly inside it, and wasn't nearly as heavy as the previous ones that he wore. I know I've heard him describe it as the best one he ever had to work with. The dorsal plates are also a callback to the way they looked in the majority of the Showa films, with a large middle row in-between two smaller ones (although, those left and right rows here are not as tiny as those in the classic films were) and are quite pointy as well. Like a lot of the past suits, the most distinguishing thing about this one is the head. While it vaguely looks like the general head design that had been used for the Millennium series, it's a bit smaller, isn't as wide, and is much meaner-looking with its furled eyebrows and dark eyes. Godzilla's face isn't as expressive in this film and always comes across as looking mad at the world, which fits with his portrayal here, as do the dark eyes, which I'm usually not a fan of but am willing to let slide in this instance. I also think that this head has the more prominent ears of any of the suits since they really stick out even in wide-shots. His atomic blast is extremely powerful here, able to incinerate his enemies in massive explosions and he has such great aim with it that he can use it to blow up objects that haven't even entered Earth's atmosphere yet! The addition of Ozaki's Keizer energy enables him to very easily, and brutally, kill the newly transformed Keizer Ghidorah, topping it off by throwing its body up into the sky, past the atmosphere, and then blowing it up with one last mighty blast (Godzilla even does a nice body turn before he fires). And as you've probably guessed, they keep the loud, bell-like roar that he's had throughout the Millennium series along with the vocalizations that are straight out of the Showa films, including that metal-creaking sound he sometimes makes.
Well, it's time for the full monster role-call because there are a ton of kaiju running around here, more so than any other Japanese monster movie ever made (as a result, you'll notice that many of the suit actors are pulling double or even triple duty). A lot of these guys haven't been seen since the Showa era and while most of them don't have much to them other than acting as weapons for the Xiliens and getting beaten up by Godzilla, it's a great nostalgia trip to see them again after so long. They all have the same general design as before, just updated, and most of them have their classic roars and abilities, which is nice. Rodan (Naoko Kamio) is here with a design that's very similar to the way he looked back in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, just with a brighter color scheme, and he uses his classic supersonic shockwaves to wreak havoc in New York City and in other parts of the world. He's shown flying with much more speed and agility than he ever has before but he's still no match for Godzilla, who manages to trounce him along with Anguirus and King Caesar in a three-on-one fight. Speaking of Anguirus (Toshihiro Ogura), he makes his first appearance in a movie in 30 years here, sporting a nice redesign with a different color scheme (olive, to be precise), a bulkier body, and a wider, more wedge-shaped head. While he still has no special powers and has to rely on his teeth, claws, and spikes in order to fight, he's now able to roll himself up in a ball and fire himself at amazing speed and with devastating results (a move they took from the video games). And out of all of the monsters that Godzilla battles here, Anguirus, instead of immediately attacking him, appears to recognize him and the two of them have something of a roaring conversation before it apparently goes south and the fight begins. King Caesar (Motokuni Nakagawa) is mainly here because Ryuhei Kitamura loves Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla and also because, according to Wikipedia, he's actually his favorite kaiju. To each their own, I guess, but man, Kitamura sure can pick them up. In any case, there's nothing special about King Caesar here. His redesign looks nice (as nice as he can look, anyway, although his face is really dopey-looking), not coming across as ratty or moldy as the original suit did, but he mainly just destroys stuff (in Okinawa, where the climax of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla was set) with the other monsters and takes part in the three-on-one fight with Godzilla. Like Anguirus and Rodan, he only has his physical abilities and agility to fight with and while he does last the longest of the three, Godzilla still ultimately kicks the crap out of him and sends him onto the heap with the rest of them. I would have never imagined that Ebirah (Toshihiro Oruga), the giant crustacean from Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster, would ever appear in another movie since he's such a generic creature but, nope, here he is. His redesign is more akin to a real animal, with a smaller head and more realistic-looking claws, and he actually comes on land and destroys a factory near Tokyo, something that he never did before, but he's very easily killed by Godzilla, along with Hedorah (I'll get to him in a bit). Kamacuras and Kumonga, the giant mantis and tarantula that both first appeared in Son of Godzilla, make brief appearances here and are both created by a mixture of puppets and CGI. Kamacuras is green now instead of orange, moves much more fluidly and more like a real insect thanks to the CG, is able to fly, which it couldn't before, and now has the ability to blend in with its surroundings using very effective camouflage. While it does some damage in Paris, it ultimately proves to not even be a match for Godzilla, who kills it without breaking a sweat. As for Kumonga, its design is virtually unchanged and, besides being able to jump fair distances, it can also now shoot webbing that expands into a net to cover Godzilla. Godzilla, however, manages to turn the tables on it when it does this and swing it around before throwing it over the horizon. Kumonga is also the monster that we see do the least amount of damage, which is destroying a trailer in Arizona.
While many of the monsters I think were used as effectively as they could have been, there are others who I feel either got the short end of the stick and had more potential or didn't need to be here at all. The one that I really feel is wasted is Gigan (Kazuhiro Yoshida). This is the first time this really cool monster has been in a movie since the Showa era and he's built up as a legitimate threat, being described as evil by the Shobijin, battled Mothra centuries ago, and has a lot of M-base within him. Not only that but his redesign is by far the best of any of the monsters in this movie, with his slimmer body, larger and more angular claws, and a myriad of razor-sharp points on his body, and he also has some new weapons to play with, including an eye-laser (the first time he's ever actually had this in a movie, although he was depicted firing it on the promotional materials for past films), chained hooks that he can fire from his claws, and spear-like tail that serves him well in combat. And yet, despite all of this promise, Gigan does very little in the film. He causes a little bit of havoc when the Xiliens turn the Earth into a warzone once their real intentions are revealed and he's dropped at the South Pole after Godzilla is released from his icy prison but their fight is very short, lasting less than a minute and results in Gigan getting his head blasted off. That fight should have been a lot longer and should have shown Gigan making better use of his weapons. Now, Gigan is repaired and is given an upgrade, with double-chainsaws on each of his limbs and the ability to fire razor-sharp discs from his pectorals, but he fights Mothra here more than Godzilla, although he does briefly assist Monster X in battling him. He manages to fatally injure Mothra by setting her aflame but Gigan ends up cutting his own head off with those discs, which is followed by Mothra using her flaming body to cause Gigan to explode. Again, that could have been a much better fight than it was and it sucks that this new, awesomely redesigned Gigan got killed so easily and never got a real fight with Godzilla. Speaking of Mothra, I still feel that she and the Shobijin didn't need to be in this movie. All she does is fight Gigan during the climactic battle, isn't able to do much against him except use her speed and agility, and ends up getting herself killed along with the cyborg. I know it helped out Godzilla, who currently had his hands full with Monster X, but it would have been more dramatic if Mothra had been left out and Godzilla had to take on both Monster X and Gigan by himself and would have made for a bigger cheer moment when he finally does come out on top. I don't why they even bothered putting Hedorah (Kazuhiro Yoshida) in this film because he does absolutely nothing other than get killed. He's not part of the Xiliens' initial attack on Earth with the monsters, he doesn't fight Godzilla at all, and, in fact, as some sources have suggested, it seems like he was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time and got caught up with Ebirah in the beam the Xiliens use to teleport the monsters. Ebirah ultimately ends up piercing his eye and Godzilla vaporizes them both, which is embarrassing since, if you remember back in Godzilla vs. Hedorah, he was one of the toughest opponents Godzilla ever faced. A deleted shot of him firing his sulfuric acid is seen during the ending credits but it's not enough to redeem him, nor is his decent, albeit not as creepy, look here. Manda, the giant serpent from the movie Atragon who had a supporting role in Destroy All Monsters, isn't even part of the Xilien invasion and never crosses paths with Godzilla since he's seen battling the Gotengo after the opening credits, a fight that he ultimately loses since he can't do anything other than swim really fast and constrict the ship like a snake. And finally, you have Zilla, the American Godzilla from the 1998 film who is portrayed here as his own character. The reason I put him in this section is because, while I know they had Godzilla kill him so easily in order to show how inferior he was as well as to simply give a middle finger to Roland Emmerich and company, I think it would have been more satisfying for fans to have Godzilla really make him suffer and put him through a lot of pain before finishing him off. It would have distracted from the point of the movie but, the fights with the mutants and Xiliens can count as such so what would have been the harm of seeing Godzilla brutalize this imposter? That would have been much more telling on Toho's part and more of a joy for fans in my opinion, but that's just me. (By the way, note that Zilla is the only monster here that's rendered completely in CGI and is done so fairly poorly. I don't know if that was all due to the budget and wasn't actually intentional by the filmmakers.)
Only two of the other monsters have more importance to the plot other than acting as mere weapons for Xiliens and opponents for Godzilla. One of them is Minya (Naoko Kamio), whose presence here made a lot of people roll their eyes, I'm sure, given how hated he is (although, if you remember back, I've never held any ill-will towards him myself). In any case, I like the nice updating of his classic design from the Showa series, in how it honors the way he looked before and is close enough to where you can identify him as Minya but, at the same time, is still a more sophisticated and modern take on it. Plus, I think it makes him look cuter and not quite as homely as he was before. His powers and abilities here are odd, though, because they make for something of a combination of his portrayals in both Son of Godzilla and Godzilla's Revenge. As in the former movie, he can mostly just spit radioactive smoke-rings but is occasionally able to shoot a beam of atomic energy, and as in the latter, he can actually change his size from that of a human to a quarter the size of Godzilla (he doesn't talk, though, thank God). Instead of the cooing and chittering sounds he made before, his vocalizations here consist of more animalistic noises that sound like several different noises that have been overlaid in the mixing. As for his role in the movie, it seems at first to be nothing more than to provide comic relief via the cute interactions he has with the old man and the kid who find him and escort him across the countryside in order to follow his father. However, at the very end of the movie, Minya and the two humans arrive in the destroyed Tokyo just as Godzilla is about to attack the band of heroes and stands between them, holding his arms out like he's telling his dad, "Don't hurt them!" This instance of Minya standing up to his father, combined with the boy standing up to his grandfather when he attempts to shoot Godzilla, is what ultimately defuses the war from going on any further, with Godzilla deciding to let the humans live and heading home, with Minya right behind him. Other than giving Godzilla something else to actually care about back in Son of Godzilla, this has to be the most significant action Minya has ever taken in any of his film appearances. Like I described earlier, whether or not he actually inspired his father to let go of his hatred for mankind is debatable but, if nothing else, he kept him from attacking the heroes and making the battle drag on more than it needed to.
The other really significant monster in the film is the Xiliens' ultimate weapon whom Godzilla battles during the climax: Monster X, who's eventually revealed to be Ghidorah in a particularly powerful iteration called Keizer Ghidorah. Monster X (Motokuni Nakagawa) first appears out of a comet that Godzilla blows up in outer space with his atomic blast, slowly descending from the sky behind him and landing on the ground to begin their fight. Monster X's design is utterly bizarre: it's a skeletal, bipedal creature with a smaller, elongated head on either side of its large, main one, creepy-looking red eyes, and a long, skinny tail whose tip curves off in two directions. The creature, however, proves to be as formidable a fighter as it is strange-looking. It's very agile and is able to match Godzilla physically and in combat, to the point where it's able to literally bring Godzilla to his knees for one moment during their fight. It can fire gravity beams from the eyes of its heads that are just as potent as Godzilla's atomic blast (which, I might add, Monster X simply shrugs even when it gets blasted at point-blank range, while every other monster got instantly incinerated by it) and is also able to levitate for short moments. Monster X proves to be the one opponent that Godzilla faces here that he has a hard time defeating, particularly when Gigan joins up with it in kicking him down at one point, and, like I said, even manages to get him on the ropes a few times. And even though Godzilla does manage to get his second-wind and turn the tables on Monster X, the beast then shows that it's far from beaten when it transforms into the even more powerful Keizer Ghidorah (Toshihiro Ogura). (If you're a major Godzilla fan, it probably won't be that much of a surprise that Monster X turns out to be Ghidorah since that codename is much like Monster Zero and we are dealing with the Xiliens again.) As you can see, there's no other way to describe Keizer Ghidorah other than to say that it's King Ghidorah on steroids and a little more demonic-looking (I like that it has front limbs now, adding a feeling of height and power to it). Like before, Ghidorah's ultimate weapon are the beams that it shoots from its mouth, which can now be definitively called gravity beams whereas before, they were just lightning bolts. Not only are they perhaps even more powerful than Godzilla's atomic blast but Ghidorah can also manipulate the direction they travel in and can use them to throw objects at Godzilla. Once it changes into this form, Godzilla is absolutely helpless against it, with Ghidorah beating him down and then grabbing hold of him with its mouths in order to suck his energy. This very nearly kills Godzilla and it's only when Ozaki gives him some of his Keizer energy that he's able to turn the tables and kill Ghidorah. Monster X's vocalizations sound akin to those of big cats, whereas Keizer Ghidorah lets out a cackling that sounds like a much more diabolical and maniacal version of its classic Showa voice.
Believe it or not, all of these monsters are not the only concrete throwbacks to past films here. The heroes' main ship, the Gotengo, is from the 1963 film Atragon, the same movie that the monster Manda first appeared in, and its design here is more or less a modern update of the way it looked originally. While it's no match for Godzilla, save for the beginning of the movie when they get lucky and an earthquake helps them bury him in ice, it does prove itself to be a pretty tough ship, able to destroy Manda and take on a number of Xilien fighters at once with its missiles and freezing maser cannon. This is what makes for some battle sequences here that are right out of Star Wars. The other ships that the Earth Defense Force has at its disposal are similar to the Gotengo and do manage to hold their own against the monsters that they're sent out to battle but they're overwhelmed and destroyed when the all-out war breaks out an hour in. In addition, the planet Gorath that the Xiliens claim will soon crash into the Earth, completely destroying it, is straight out of a 1962 movie of the same name (said movie is most notable for a sequence in the original Japanese version that features a giant walrus creature called Maguma).
Even for an entry in a series that has built a good chunk of its popularity and success on special effects, the effects work in Godzilla: Final Wars is truly something to behold. There are more effects shots here than in any previous entry (or possibly in any Japanese sci-fi movie ever made, for that matter) and not a penny is wasted. Every shot counts. The monster suits are real knockouts, with great animatronics built into them for realistic expressions; the matte shots are absolutely stunning, with a number of them being so good that they would make for great paintings (the part where the Xiliens show a group of the humans a hologram of Gorath traveling through space is particularly unreal); the model-work and miniature sets are the best that the series has ever seen; and even the CGI, the effects department that the Millennium series has had the most problems with, looks great, save for some wonky shots here and there. The film's enormous scope makes the effects even more spectacular and lets you know that you're not watching a cheap, bottom-of-the-barrel monster movie, like some of the more unimpressive past flicks like Godzilla's Revenge and such, but a big-budget love letter to the entire kaiju genre (think Pacific Rim, only not as big as what Guillermo del Toro had to work with). There are pretty nice makeup effects as well, particularly a quite graphic one where the imposter Daigo's head splits open to reveal its true form after he's fatally shot. And, as you can tell from the screenshots you've seen so far, and from those you will see in the following paragraphs, the film has a unique, visual style all its own. Ryuhei Kitamura gives the movie an exaggerated, comic book look to it, with the individual scenes having very rich, vivid color palettes ranging from very bright blues and oranges to deep greens. Even those scenes that are shot more or less like a normal film have a heightened feel to them, with the lighting being very bright and often flaring, like the Earth is right next to the sun in those instances. That really threw me the first time I saw the movie because I'd never seen a Godzilla movie that looked like that, letting me know that this was going to be something I'd never experienced before. I have mixed feelings about the visual style, though. While it is nice to look at and gives the film its own identity, I've always preferred that movies look normal rather than like graphic novels put to film. I know that this stylized look is necessary for films like Sin City and 300 but, still, I don't know why but there's just something about this exaggerated visual style that kind of turns me off. I don't know what it is but it's just the way I feel, even though there are films with this look that I do enjoy (Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead comes to mind). One thing I can't deny about Godzilla: Final Wars, though, is it's the series' most visually distinctive entry and has some of the most amazing effects work it's ever seen as well.
Oh, boy, as if this review wasn't long enough already, now it's time for the breakdown of the monster and action scenes and, with a movie that's 125 minutes long and is almost continuous action, this going to be lengthy as hell. This breakdown will probably involve the most non-monster action and chase scenes of any of these reviews since they're just as big a part of the movie as the fights involving the monsters, with extended, over-the-top, Matrix-style fight scenes with the mutants and the Xiliens and a few spaceship battles that are more akin to something you'd see in Star Wars (I apologize for the sparseness of images pertaining to those scenes; most of the images I found focused on the monster action). Also, the editing-style in this movie is often very rapid and lightning-quick, including the opening credits, which whiz by so fast that I can't read all of them or watch the images accompanying them unless I pause every single one, so that's going to make things all the more interesting. Well, I think I'd better quit stalling and get started here. You ready? Here we go.
You know from the start that this is going to be a big love-fest for the franchise because it begins with the classic Toho-Scope logo and Akira Ifukube's first rough iteration of the Godzilla theme that was heard in King Kong vs. Godzilla. Following a drawing of Godzilla, the movie itself begins with a push-in of a shot of a snowy landscape with a wrecked tank in the foreground, followed up by some cuts and dissolves that reveal the Big G backlit against the night sky. Some more cutaways reveal other destroyed weapons such as a maser and we finally see Godzilla in the full light, with small explosions and sparks popping around him. He roars at the camera as the Gotengo drills its way through the ice to confront him, while a location card informs us that we're at the South Pole. They begin firing on him with their gun turrets as he stomps towards them, which he retaliates with an atomic blast that hits the ship dead on. While it doesn't destroy the craft, it shakes up those inside of it and shorts out some of the equipment. They end up crashing into the snow, with Godzilla looming in front of them, but the captain tells them to fire again. Before they can, though, the place begins shaking from a violent earthquake and a huge rift shreds through the ice and snow around Godzilla, dragging him down into a large fissure. Seeing their chance, the captain orders the ship's missiles to be fired at the nearby mountain, which one of his mates does while yelling loudly. The missiles hit the peak, starting a massive avalanche that completely seals Godzilla within the fissure. Everyone aboard the Gotengo cheers upon having finally defeated the King of the Monsters, as the camera pulls back from a shot of the ship stuck in the ice, up through the clouds and settling on a shot of the Earth itself. We're then given a history lesson about the awakening of numerous monsters, the foundation of the Earth Defense Force, the discovery of mutants and the foundation of their own unit known as the M Organization, and the revelation that their greatest enemy is Godzilla. Following Godzilla's thunderous roar from the original Godzilla, we get the dizzying opening title sequence with lightning-fast clips from many of the past movies and credits that, again, you have to pause in order to read. After the opening credits, we get a couple more glimpses of Godzilla, with the film cutting back and forth between a backlit shot of him (actually of Junior from the end of Godzilla vs. Destoroyah) and shots of him still frozen in ice.
We then get our actual story underway, cutting to the ocean floor off the coast of Normandy as the Gotengo drills up through seabed with the giant serpent Manda wrapped around it. This is when we get our first shot of Captain Gordon and the main mutants, Ozaki and Kazama, as they to wrench the monster off of them. One of his subordinates says that they must surface but Gordon orders for them to stay on course towards an underwater volcano. As they chug onward through the murk, Manda tightens his grip around the Gotengo, shorting out some of the equipment, while the technicians say that they've reached the ship's maximum depth. Increased pressure allows surges of water to enter the control room and more pieces of equipment to explode in sparks but Gordon is unfazed by this. Upon approaching the crater of the volcano, Gordon orders missiles to be fired, which hit the rim of the crater and cause a small eruption. Gordon orders the Gotengo to be piloted right into it. The ship travels right above the agitated lava but, despite the rise in temperature, Gordon again tells them to stay on course. Manda continues attempting to bite the ship's hull while the technicians begin to drop from the heat and the spreading damage. However, that's when Manda fills the full force of the heat, with his head catching on fire, and untangles the Gotengo in order to swim away from the lava. Gordon orders them to now surface but, as they head up, they see that Manda is still chasing them. He orders the ship to be turned around to face the monster and once it is, with the force of it sending one guy flying across the control room, Kazama heads directly at Manda. As Manda approaches, Gordon is told that the automatic lock-on is down, prompting him to order Ozaki to switch over to manual. Ozaki then takes off the targeting helmet he'd been wearing up to that point and right when Manda is almost on top of them, Gordon orders him to fire the maser. With one blast of the weapon, Manda's entire body is frozen solid, with the Gotengo then smashing it to pieces by plowing through it. Everyone is relieved that they've survived the battle when Gordon is told that they've got a call from the base. The image of a very perturbed Commander Namikawa appears on the video screen in front of him and she proceeds to tell that, due to his reckless actions, he won't escape court martial. Gordon, however, is not at all intimidated and tells Namikawa to shut her mouth before ordering the Gotengo to return to base.
From there, we cut to a training exercise between Ozaki and Kazama in a very tight training area back at HQ. The two kick at the same time and then trade a number of swift punches and blocks before Ozaki gets kicked against the wall. He manages to dodge Kazama's next kick and lays in some of his own before the two of them trade in some more shots. Kazama jumps up and knocks Ozaki off-balance but when he goes in for a kick, Ozaki grabs his leg and flings him up towards the wall. Ozaki swings his leg at Kazama but he jumps off the wall and lands behind him, blocks a kick, and gives him some swift punches to the gut that slam him against the wall. He turns around and manages to dodge and grab Kazama's leg again, slamming against the wall to the left before throwing him off to the right. Kazama lands on his feet and the two then run along the walls before jumping at and catching each other in mid-air. Kazama manages to get Ozaki in arm-lock and after a camera spin where see them frozen in this position in mid-air, they fall to the floor, with the rough impact causing Kazama to loosen his grip and allowing Ozaki to turn the tables momentarily. After an arm snap, Ozaki gets off and goes in fro a dropkick but Kazama catches his leg and flings him up in the air, with Ozaki managing to do a flip to land on his feet. They trade a couple of more kicks when Ozaki jumps straight up and lands on top of Kazama, putting his hand to his throat in a threatening manner. Ozaki, however, doesn't follow-up on this threat, allowing Kazama to knock him up against a chain grill on the nearby wall. Kazama then charges and jumps at Ozaki, grabbing him around the collar of his uniform and squeezing. That's when the training is ended by the arrival of one of their superiors, who tells Ozaki that if this were a real scenario, he would be dead. After putting Kazama in his place when he acts arrogant over having won, the commander tells Ozaki to report to him later. Everyone then leaves, and that's when Ozaki and Kazama have a tense conversation about what mutants are supposed to do and what they're born for, with Kazama telling Ozaki that his softness would get him killed on the battlefield. Things slow down to a casual pace for a bit, with Ozaki being assigned to act as Dr. Miyuki Otonashi's bodyguard, with the two of them getting off on the wrong foot immediately, and their arrival at the Defense Force Museum, where we first see the mummified Gigan. Following a brief scene where we see Anna Otonashi talking to UN Secretary General Daigo, we get a scene where the Shobijin reveal themselves to Ozaki, Miyuki, and Dr. Jinguji by giving them a vision of a cave on Infant Island. They explain to them what Gigan is, how Mothra battled him 12,000 years ago, and warn Ozaki that mutants have the same potential for evil in their blood. After telling him that he has a choice to serve either good or evil, the Shobijin transport them back to their lab, where Ozaki then realizes that he's holding an ancient talisman, while the Shobijin's voices tell him to take it.
All hell begins breaking loose next as Daigo's plane is destroyed by an enormous, flying creature on the way to New York. The film then cuts to Manhattan, where that pimp I mentioned earlier comes outside to find his car being towed and threatens the cop with his self-proclaimed "hand-cannon," declaring, "I'll blow yo ass all the way back to Jersey!" The cop pulls out his own gun in response but the standoff doesn't go more than a few seconds when a nearby drunk who's watching the action yells, "Holy shit! It's a big birdy!" (Again, watch the cop's lip movements in this scene; he's been dubbed and seems to be saying, "Fuck," in his dialogue.) That's when the cop sees the pimp look up as a terrified expression spreads across his face. Keeping the gun on him, the cop slowly turns around to see Rodan come flying above the buildings at them, with the gusts of wind he creates blowing both his and the pimp's hats off before the sonic boom blows them away along with the vehicles. Rodan circles the Empire State Building and lands on a nearby building, crushing through the roof, before he unfurls his wings and screeches up into the sky. A roadblock of onlookers forms on the nearby street and Rodan responds by flight down the side of the building, with his sonic boom shattering it and sending debris flying across those cars, crushing a couple of them, before zooming straight down block and destroying all of the buildings he passes. He then flies off, as the Earth Defense Force HQ get word of his attack. As they decide to deploy Operation Rumbling to deal with Rodan and also try to figure out what happened to Daigo, reports of other monster attacks come in. Anguirus is reported in Shanghai, with Commander Namikawa responding by ordering Karyu, one of their attack vehicles, to be dispatched to take care of him. They're then told that King Caesar is attacking Okinawa, Kamacuras is in Paris, and Sydney is under attack as well. Cutting to a Sydney, a tower is destroyed and people are sent running as Zilla stomps into view. One guy is so panicked that he slams into a display of soda cans, while Zilla grabs a truck with his mouth and begins shaking it back and forth (an obvious nod to a moment in Godzilla '98). More people run as Zilla destroys the truck by crunching it in his mouth, with several chefs running down an alleyway. Cutting to Shanghai, we see Anguirus marching down a street, honking loudly, as hundreds of panicked people clog a nearby street in an attempt to escape, with one guy slamming into a fruit-stand. Next, we cut to Okinawa, where King Caesar marches through a factory, causing massive explosions all around him as he does so. Going back to Sydney, the panic is still on, with a large blast of fire heading down the street as two frightened guys in an another street see Zilla round the corner in front of them. Upon seeing them, he charges down the street after them and although they do run, one guy trips and falls, with his buddy running back to try to get him up. This proves to be fatal for both of them as Zilla lunges down at them with his mouth.
Kamacuras flies through the skies above Paris, circling the Eifel Tower and causing some small fires from the force of its flying before coming to land on top of an arch. It looks around for a bit and then flies at the camera, with the film cutting to the surprised expression on some American guy's face. The guy, however, is mad because his TV reception went out and, after an outside shot and a location card inform us that he's sitting in a trailer in Arizona, Kumonga makes its presence known by destroying the trailer with a swipe of its claw before hopping off. Another cut shows a kid violently playing with monster action figures and actually throwing one into a fireplace after calling it a loser (note that the figure was of a turtle, which may have been a not so subtle swipe at Gamera). After a location card tells us that this is Vancouver, the kid then sees a news report on TV about the global monster attack, getting real excited when he sees footage of Anguirus stomping through Shanghai (by the way, is it me or did I briefly hear Ghidorah cackle right before Anguirus honked on the TV?) The kid, who has chocolate all over his mouth, then gets up and runs for his mother, as we cut back to the panic in Shanghai, with people running for their lives as Anguirus continues to tear the place up. He then stops and looks up to see the EDF combat vehicle Karyu appear in the skies above him. The captain orders missiles fired and while they do hit their mark, Anguirus brushes them off. They then attempt to hit him with the maser but he jumps out of the way of the beam, causing them to blow up a building instead. They continue firing the beam, attempting to hit him as he lands on a nearby street, but he jumps again and shows off his talent for curling up into a ball and through the heart of the city to outrun the beam. They continue chasing him with the beam but, again, all they manage to do is blow up buildings while trying to zap him. Back in New York, Rodan is being chased by another attack vehicle, which manages to get him from behind with some missiles. Meanwhile, at Mt. Fuji, an old hunter comes across Minya, who peeks from behind a rock and quickly ducks back behind it when the guy points his rifle at him. He gets the little monster in his sights and threatens to shoot him but his grandson steps in front of him and holds his arms out, telling him not to shoot. It takes a little bit of persuading but the old man does lower his rifle and his grandson turns around to comfort Minya, while the hunter demands to know what he is. In Paris, Kamacuras has landed atop the EDF vehicle sent to kill it and is smashing into the armor with its claws. Things begin to look bleak for them as they begin to take extensive damage but they manage to fire some missiles that swing around and hit Kamacuras on the back, although this doesn't dissuade its attack one bit.
At the Tokai Petrochemical Complex, Ebirah has come ashore and is smashing everything in sight with his claws. Defense forces made up of tanks arrive and fire on the giant crustacean but he responds by smashing more parts of the factory and crushing the tanks with the debris. As more explosions erupt through the complex, the soldiers attempt to evacuate, with a van driving much too fast for its own good in an attempt to escape an explosion, which leads to it jumping a ramp, smashing into some overturned vehicles, getting knocked on its side, and sending one of those vehicles flying through the complex, with soldiers just barely managing to dive out of the way. More chaos ensues with another vehicle turning over, enormous fuel tanks exploding, and three soldiers almost getting crushed by big chunks of concrete. With the battle not going well for the humans, it's decided to give the mutants a turn. They get their weapons ready and are told that Ebirah must be stopped before he destroys the nearby energy plant. Ozaki and Kazama are told to lead the attack while the other mutants are to provide cover. They head out as Ebirah continues smashing his way through the place. They all get into position and the three other mutants fire bazookas upon Ebirah, which is followed up with Ozaki and Kazama hitting him with phasers. This does irritate Ebirah a little bit but he recovers enough to smash a storage tank, exasperating the condition of the environment and forcing the mutants jump off the column there on before it blows up. They all charge at Ebirah as he continues smashing everything around him, while a line of explosions travels alongside them. The three other mutants stop and fire on Ebirah again while Ozaki and Kazama run ahead to get to the opposite side and fire their phasers on him. Ebirah smashes a warehouse, forcing the other mutants to dive for cover, while Ozaki and Kazama dive out of the way as well. Kazama grabs a nearby dangling line, swings on it towards another storage tank, and then runs across the side of the tank while firing on Ebirah. Ozaki, at the same time, jumps and blasts Ebirah as well, with him and Kazama landing side by side. Kazama tells the other mutants to give them cover as they prepare to attack again. Once again, they attempt to distract Ebirah but this time, he isn't fooled and attempts to skewer Ozaki and Kazama with his claw, although he ends up missing them as they jump in either direction. He attempts to get them with his other claw and does manage to send them flying through the air from the force of it skidding across the ground. The two of them quickly roll over on their backs and fire on Ebirah's right claw as he tries to skewer them again, blowing the tips of it off in the process. As the two mutants run in front of him, Ebirah tries to smash them with his other claw but they jump out of the way again, with Kazama landing atop his arm before jumping up and firing on the side of Ebirah's face with everything he has, apparently blowing one of his eye-stalks off and forcing Ozaki to dodge the debris. Ozaki then fires on Ebirah's underside and the giant crustacean finally goes down, with Ozaki having to avoid being crushed as he collapses. Kazama lands on the right side of Ebirah's head with the other mutants gathering in front to prepare to blast him in the face. But, just as they're about to finish him off, Ebirah vanishes in a sudden blast of blinding light, causing Kazama to fall through thin air, although he manages to land on his feet. They all try to figure out what just happened, unaware that the same thing is happening across the globe.
In New York, Rodan dodges a maser blast by flying straight up and maneuvers himself behind the ship, when he suddenly vanishes. The same thing happens in Shanghai when Anguirus uncurls himself from his ball, skids across a street as he slows himself down, turns around to face the Karyu, and gets up on his hind legs in a battle stance. The captain of the ship is mystified to see an oddly-shaped craft appear in the sky and then depart the area when this happens. At EDF HQ, they learn of the UFOs and how they've gotten rid of all the monsters, followed by the information that the main UFO is heading in their direction and has actually appeared right above headquarters. The enormous ship deploys landing legs while hovering above headquarters, with many armed soldiers on the roof now having trained their rifles on it while hundreds of curious onlookers watch from the street. Commander Namikawa and Dr. Otonashi are on the roof as well and are soon joined by Ozaki, Kazama, and the rest of the mutant squad as they wait to see what the enormous ship will do next. A ray of light beams down from the ship's underside to reveal Daigo, much to everyone's astonishment. When Namikawa and one of her subordinates approach and ask what happened, Daigo says that the people in the ship saved him. He goes on to say that they're indeed aliens and that they're peaceful, calling this a historical moment. The three of them are then beamed onboard the ship and are introduced to the Xilien General and his young second-in-command, with the former reassuring them they are friendly, that they could have easily attacked rather than eliminate the monsters, and that they come to befriend everyone on Earth. After revealing themselves to be Xiliens, the general shows them an all-encompassing holographic vision of the planet Gorath heading towards and destroying Earth. The scene then transitions to Daigo at a summit meeting where the General describes the best way to destroy Gorath and the Secretary General declares that the United Nations will become the Space Nations for unity of the entire universe. Everyone in the place applauds at this but we see that Anna Otonashi is in the crowd and she doesn't seem too enthusiastic about all of this. Things slow down to a leisurely pace as love for the Xiliens spreads across the globe, with one guy going on a radio talk show while pretending to be one of the aliens and simply referring to himself as "X" (incidentally, the DJ in this scene is Ryuhei Kitamura himself) and another show having panelists debate about whether or not they really are aliens.
The next section of the film has Ozaki and Miyuki Otonashi, with help from Anna, discovering evidence that the Xiliens might not be as friendly as they seem. Upon reviewing footage of Secretary General Daigo at that meeting, they discover that he never blinks. Anna says that they ought to go talk to Daigo and when they do, they discover that he doesn't remember Anna at all even though they spoke right before he disappeared. As they talk about a possible interview about the proposed Space Nations, and Daigo seems perplexed when Anna asks him about his dog, a man in a robe walks up to him and attacks him with a knife. He manages to stab him in the arm but is quickly restrained by Ozaki and turned over to Daigo's bodyguards, all the while screaming and calling Daigo the aliens' lackey. Miyuki wipes Daigo's bleeding wound but he staunchly refuses to go to the hospital and quickly walks away. Realizing that they've obtained a blood sample, Miyuki later analyzes it and discovers that it isn't human. Ozaki goes to Commander Namikawa to warn her of the imposter in their midst but realizes from her fixed, unblinking stare that she's an Xilien infiltrator as well. After a brief scene shows that there's tension amongst the Xiliens themselves, with the second-in-command not agreeing with the general's more peaceful way of taking over the Earth, Dr. Jinguji shows Ozaki and the others proof that Gorath doesn't exist and was merely a ruse by the Xiliens to gain the Earth people's trust. With the knowledge that Daigo and Namikawa are, in fact, imposters, Ozaki goes to one man he knows hasn't been replaced: Captain Gordon, who's spending his team in lockup punching a bag. Ozaki gets him out of his cell and brings him into the group, which he's rather impressed with upon seeing Miyuki and Anna. The next day, Anna holds a special live interview with Daigo and the two heads of the Xiliens, with people across the globe watching. Meanwhile, Miyuki begins accessing confidential files in the EDF database when she's confronted by the imposter Namikawa and another bogus superior. She gets them to confirm out loud that they're Xiliens and turn around upon hearing Ozaki's voice say that they've exposed themselves. They turn around to see him, Gordon, another superior, Kazama, and three other mutants and, upon realizing they've been tricked, the one imposter lunges towards them but Kazama tells him to watch it. After issuing a threat, he pulls out a weapon but Kazama pulls one out quicker and shoots him down. He and another mutant do the same to the imposter Namikawa when she attempts to shoot them. Ozaki runs to comfort the frightened Miyuki but the other imposter rises up and shoots him in the shoulder, although he's immediately put down by the other superior in the group. After Ozaki and Miyuki ask each other if they're okay, the Xilien bodies begin to convulse and make rather disgusting hocking and crunching sounds, followed by an alien screech. We don't see what happened but we know from the sounds and from the others' expressions that it's not good. After it's over, Gordon remarks that they have a nice memento.
Back on the talk show, Anna tricks Daigo into revealing himself as an imposter by making him think that her dog is the secretary general's. The second-in-command can't help but laugh at this and upon asking her what her point is, Ozaki, Gordon, and Miyuki come marching into the study, with Gordon carrying the exposed body of one of the Xilien imposters and throws in front of the aliens. Upon realizing they've been found out, Daigo attempts to get up but Gordon fatally shoots him, leading him to reveal his true form by coughing up blood and by his head splitting open to reveal the real one underneath (again, this has to be the most gruesome effect the series has ever seen). This horrifies the studio audience as well as everyone else in the world who's watching (save for a couple in a white room somewhere who just sort of stare at the TV screen), as Anna confirms that this is the Xiliens' true form. When Ozaki demands that the Xiliens explain themselves, the general stands up to continue with the plan of taking over peacefully but he's quickly silenced when the second-in-command blasts him through the head with a laser weapon, killing him instantly and prompting the studio audience to run out in a panic. The second-in-command then takes over as leader and tells the group that the Earthlings' only purpose is to act as their food supply. Four other Xiliens beam into the room and the new leader tells them that they don't have a chance to resist them since they have technology that's far more advanced than theirs and that they have control of the monsters. Gordon, however, likes to play the odds and that's when the entire force of mutants runs into the room, followed by their human commander. The leader is initially taken aback by this but, when his subordinates attempt to fight, talks them down and says that the "cattle" need to be taught a lesson. He then raises his hand and a high-frequency whine comes over the soundtrack, doing something that causes the mutants to writhe and convulse in apparent pain as well as the lights to continuously dim. Ozaki flies at the leader to engage him in combat but he manages to easily block all of his attacks and put him in an arm lock. He then lets him go and flings him across the room in front of Gordon before giving an order to, "take care of the rest" before he and his subordinates beam out of the room. The heroes soon realize what this meant when the mutants stop writhing and look at them in a very threatening manner, now under the control of the Xiliens. The other superior says that he'll hold them off and tells Gordon to go with the others, that they need to save the Earth. He then charges into the fray with the mutants while the others make it out the door. Ozaki gets one last reassuring look from the superior as he manages to hold his own with the mutants before closing the door, leaving him to continue the fight and get some more good licks in before he's inevitably overwhelmed.
Everyone makes it outside and is picked up by another superior. Major Komuro, in an armored van, with Ozaki jumping up and grabbing onto the back of the van. They make it to the freeway when they're jumped from the front by Kazama on a motorcycle, who drives across the roof and, after jumping off the back, turns around and shoots one of the tires. The van falls on its side and skids across the road a little ways before coming to a stop, with Kazama waiting nearby to make sure everyone's dead. That's when Ozaki bursts out of the back on his own motorcycle and the two of them face-off before engaging in a high speed chase down the highway. Getting far ahead of Ozaki, Kazama turns the bike around and drives right at him, with the two then circling around each other and firing their weapons. After they dodge each other's bullets, they throw their weapons away and peel off down the road, with Kazama now chasing Ozaki. The two of them race for a little bit while Gordon and the others make it out of the totaled van. Kazama catches up to Ozaki when they enter a tunnel and engage in hand-to-hand combat while still driving their motorcycles, going so far as to stand up on their bikes while continuing to fight. Ozaki manages to gain the upper hand and knock Kazama back with some hits to the throat as they exit the tunnel. The two of them race down the street for a little ways when Ozaki suddenly cuts his bike around and stops in front of Kazama, causing him to fly up into the air and fall off the bike. The bike crashes nearby while Kazama lands on his feet ahead of Ozaki, who guns the bike at him. Kazama runs and does a flying kick at Ozaki, who manages to dodge it but Kazama is able to grab onto the back of the motorcycle. He attempts to slow Ozaki down and the two of them exchange kicks before Kazama jumps onto the seat behind Ozaki and puts him in a headlock. He almost loses control of the bike and swerves back and forth to try to fling Kazama off. He manages to make him lose his grip, elbow him a couple of times, and grab him and fling him around to the front, which he grabs onto in another attempt to make the bike stop. Kazama grabs his throat and tries to choke him out but Ozaki manages to blast him off the bike (I'm not sure how he did it, though), causing him to skid backwards in front of him before finally stopping. Kazama charges and flies at Ozaki again as he drives towards him, guns the bike to the point where its rear sticks up, and maneuvers it around so Kazama slams into it, sending him flying and tumbling across the road, putting him out of commission. He tries to get back up but is ultimately too injured to continue the fight and collapses.
The Xilien leader, meanwhile, begins an enormous attack on Earth by telling Gigan to rise. The mummified cyborg activates within the museum he's being kept at it, with the layer of earth covering him shaking off as his single, red eye lights up and he scrapes the walls with his claws. Hunkering down and crossing his arms in his battle stance, he smashes his way up through the roof and makes his way outside with a screech. The leader then orders all the monsters to be unleashed to show the humans that they're nothing more than livestock by destroying their civilization. The entire planet turns into a warzone, with thousands of Xilien fights pouring out of the mother-ship while Gigan trounces through Tokyo and uses his eye laser to blow the EDF HQ. In Shanghai, Anguirus is unleashed once again and is this time aided by an army of Xilien fighters in completely annihilating the city. The Karyu is completely overwhelmed by this frenzy, unable to destroy all of the fighters attacking it, with Anguirus then finishing it off by rolling into a ball and flinging himself at the ship, breaking it in two and with one piece slamming into the top of a tower, as Anguirus watches from nearby. As the Xilien leader cackles evilly, another EDF ship attempts to attack Rodan in New York again but is destroyed instantly by his sonic boom in a shot where you can see that the Statue of Liberty and most of the city has been destroyed. The same goes for Paris where you see Kamacuras looking over the devastated city. The leader gloats about how the humans are about to be wiped out. At Mt. Fuji, the hunter and grandson who found Minya become aware of what's going on when they see explosions in the distance and three Xilien fighters zoom right above them after the grandfather unsuccessfully tries to get a signal on the radio. The grandfather decides that they'd best get out and all three of them pile into his pickup truck (Minya has to sit in the back) and take off down a dirt road. Back in the devastated Tokyo, the group of heroes manage to make it to the Gotengo's underground emergency dock and meet up with all that's left of the Earth Defense Force. They're told that the Xiliens, luckily, haven't discovered the dock yet and that the Gotengo has been repaired and is ready to go. As everyone gets onboard and prepares to leave, with Ozaki bringing the injured Kazama aboard as well, they try to decide what to do next, with Gordon commenting that the Gotengo is not their last hope, as Maj. Komuro says. According to him, their last hope is to go to the South Pole and awaken Godzilla. After Miyuki confirms that Godzilla can't be controlled by the Xiliens since he has no M-base within him, Gordon says that they'll have him battle the monsters while they take care of the Xiliens, and then, when it's over, lock him back up at the South Pole, just as he did before, with a flashback revealing that he was the one who shot the missiles that buried him there in the first place. He says that, with the war already lost and the world in ruins, what's left is pride: whether they die hiding or fighting. Once everyone is made clear on the lofty mission they're about to undertake, they say goodbye to Anna, who's staying behind, with Gordon giving her a camera to use to tell the story to the next generation, the Gotengo prepares to lift off. Gordon orders a message about their intentions to wake up Godzilla to be sent to the base at the South Pole and decrees this mission as Operation Final War. With that, the Gotengo takes off, drilling its way to the surface and flying off into the skies above the destroyed Tokyo. Spotting the Gotengo, the Xilien leader sends Gigan after it.
After we're introduced to the station at Area G, the location at the South Pole where Godzilla lies buried, and the two guys there who like drinking coffee and eating croissants while listening to the soundtrack to Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (one of whom does a spit take with his coffee when he hears that the Gotengo is coming to wake up Godzilla), the heroes arrive but, unfortunately, so does Gigan. The cyborg flies underneath them and fires his eye laser, which shakes them up a little bit inside but Gordon tells them to hold on since they're almost there. The guys at the station, meanwhile, open up the dome covering the exact spot where Godzilla lies frozen. Gigan is continuing to attack the Gotengo, flying around them and skirting their top with his buzz-saw, killing the main engine and sending the ship heading towards the ground. They descend above the frozen Godzilla with Gigan hot on their heels, which is when Gordon orders Ozaki to fire the missiles. The missiles fire out of the Gotengo's sides, flying right past Gigan, and as the ship comes to rest on the ground, the missiles curve back around in the sky and destroy the spot where Godzilla lies frozen in an enormous explosion. Gigan lands near the Gotengo and prepares to attack when an atomic blast shoots out from within the smoke and fire, knocking him back. As those aboard the ship watch, Godzilla lets out a mighty roar upon being freed, as we get a nice shot of fire reflected in his eye. He turns and takes his anger out on the nearby station, obliterating it with one mighty blast. Gigan then flies in and blasts Godzilla from the front, who turns to face him as he lands nearby. Gigan deploys a couple of grappling lines from under his left claw, which Godzilla easily catches. The cyborg then fires two more from his other arm, which lasso Godzilla's neck. He then starts up his buzz-saw and attempts to pull Godzilla into it. Godzilla does struggle to keep from being pulled towards the saw but he manages to quickly end the fight by blowing up Gigan's head. The headless cyborg falls forward and Godzilla pulls the one grappling cable off his neck before roaring triumphantly. The Xilien leader is not at all happy about this after seeing it back on the mother-ship, actually roaring back at Godzilla before wondering what he is. Gordon then contacts him and tells him that he and Godzilla are two things he doesn't know about the Earth, which is followed up by a parade of images of Godzilla roaring as lightning flashes around him and the leader saying that he'll deal with Gordon personally while Godzilla can deal with a flaming comet that's shown heading towards Earth. Back at the South Pole, Godzilla spots the Gotengo and marches toward it, intent upon finishing the fight they had years before. With repairs to the ship complete, they take off and fly past Godzilla, just missing him. He fires at them but they manage to dodge it and swing around, with Godzilla keeping them in his sights and chasing after them. Now that Godzilla's doing what they want, they head back to Japan, flying through a powerful rainstorm in the ocean with the Big G right behind them. After a brief shot of Minya traveling with the hunter and his grandson, we see the Gotengo and Godzilla arrive in the destroyed Sydney.
The Xilien leader decides to see what Godzilla's made of and teleports Zilla down by the Sydney Opera House, which Godzilla stomps past when he comes ashore. The two of them face off and Zilla charges at Godzilla, who fires at him. Zilla dodges the blast and jumps at Godzilla, who swings around and whacks him with his tail, sending him crashing into the Opera House. Godzilla then completely incinerates him and the building with one last mighty blast, while the leader throws a stomping temper tantrum and proclaims that he knew Zilla was worthless. The Gotengo next leads Godzilla to New Guinea, where he runs into Kumonga while stomping through the jungle. The spider shoots a line of silk up in the air that opens up into a net that falls down and covers Godzilla. As he tries to get the webbing off of him, Kumonga hops behind him and sprays another net onto him before hopping off to the side. Godzilla turns and faces the spider and when it fires another line, he grabs it in mid-air, uses it to swing Kumonga around in the air a few times before finally sending it flying over the horizon. Again, the Xilien leader is frustrated but undeterred and, when the Gotengo and Godzilla arrive in Kanazuru, Japan, he sends Kamacuras out on a bridge to face him. However, the mantis is forced to fly off the bridge in order to avoid getting swept away with it by a large tidal wave that Godzilla causes when he surfaces. Upon doing so, Godzilla senses an enemy hiding in the nearby hills and fires across them, forcing Kamacuras to drop its camouflage and fly out of the trees it was hiding amongst. It zooms at Godzilla but he catches it and flings it backwards, causing its body to get impaled on an electrical tower. Godzilla walks right past the dying insect once that little distraction is taken care of. While the Xilien leader now thinks it's interesting that Earth does indeed have a powerful creature in the form of Godzilla, the old man, his grandson, and Minya watch him plow through the town from nearby. When the boy asks why Godzilla is doing this, his grandfather explains that long ago, mankind did something to him that angered him, something that he'll never forgive them for. Minya then suddenly runs back to the truck and throws a little bit of a fit, smacking the passenger's window and shoving the vehicle while gesturing back at them. While they try to figure out what he wants, we get a quiet scene between Ozaki and Miyuki as he gives her the amulet the Shobijin give him and tells her that the reason he keeps fighting even when he has no chance is because he's her bodyguard. After that, we get a cute scene where the old man and his grandson are driving in the truck with Minya, who's sitting in the passenger seat and about gives the old man a conniption when he grabs the steering wheel.
Meanwhile, as Godzilla approaches Mt. Fuji, the Xiliens unleash Rodan, King Caesar, and Anguirus to intercept him. When he enters a big valley nearby, he's confronted with Anguirus and the two of them seem to recognize and call to each other. But, during the conversation, things apparently go south and the two charge each other, with Rodan and King Caesar coming in from either side. Right when they're about to meet, Godzilla steps on Anguirus' head and jumps up into the air, causing Rodan and King Caesar to crash into each other. Godzilla skids to a halt nearby and turns to face King Caesar, who charges at him but then runs right past him and up the hillside behind him. He then jumps off at Godzilla, who catches him and throws him on top of Anguirus. Minya and his two human friends arrive nearby to watch the fight, as Anguirus curls up and rolls at Godzilla while Rodan flies at him from behind. This attack is effective, with Godzilla getting spiked in the chest and then tagged in the back of the head but he quickly recovers and turns around in time to see Anguirus hurdling back towards him. Godzilla whacks him with his tail and causes him to hit Rodan, who crashes roughly onto the ground nearby. As Anguirus continues hurtling through the air, King Caesar does a running kick and sends him back at Godzilla, who attempts to stop him but misses and hits the ground while King Caesar lands on his feet nearby. Anguirus crashes into the hillside behind Rodan and falls on top of him, with King Caesar's ears flaring straight up as he attempts to take Godzilla on by himself. He charges and tries to hit him with his knee but Godzilla grabs his leg and flings him into that same hillside, causing him to fall on top of Anguirus' spikes when he slides off. Godzilla looks at all three of his wiped out foes, who moan in pain, and lets out a victory roar with Mt. Fuji behind him. Minya, who excitedly cheers Godzilla's victory from nearby, lets out a radioactive smoke ring before he begins to glow and, as you can tell from his ascending POV shot, grows in size.
With the sun setting, the Gotengo approaches the Xilien mother-ship, which hasn't gone unnoticed by the leader. He sends out a welcome party of hundreds of fighters that position themselves into a blockade in front of the mother-ship and head for the Gotengo. As everyone onboard holds their breath, Gordon says that this is it. As the fighters reach them, they begin firing lasers upon the Gotengo, which responds with shots from laser turrets on all of its sides. While the battle rages outside, Kazama suits up for his own private mission. As the Gotengo wades through the hail of laser fire and approach the mother-ship, Ozaki fires the maser, only for it to blast harmlessly against an energy shield surrounding the ship. That's when they realize that a fighter is departing from the Gotengo, with the pilot revealing himself to be Kazama, who says that he's paying his debt to them. Ignoring Ozaki's pleading to stop, he maneuvers amongst the Xilien fighters, dodging laser blasts with incredible position, and makes it through the opening they deployed out of before the doors close. Two Xilien fighters chase him inside, with two others joining them, one of which gets behind him to join the pursuers while the other hovers in front of him while taking shots. He manages to evade them and their laser fire, as well as blow up the one in front of him, with the wreckage crashing into two of the fighters after him, and make his way to the shield generator. After he takes some hits from behind, Kazama says that the rest is up to Ozaki and flies full throttle at the generator, smashing into it and destroying it in a big explosion, resulting in the shield outside evaporating. Ozaki is crestfallen over Kazama's sacrifice but Gordon tells him to get a grip, that they're going in. Continuing to fend off the assault of the hundreds of fighter crafts, the Gotengo makes its way towards the ship and drills through the hull. Once their halfway inside, Ozaki prepares to fire the maser when some Xiliens beam aboard and hold them at laser gunpoint. The leader comes over the monitor and, after taunting the heroes, tells his subordinates to kill the crewmembers, which they do before quickly training their guns back on the others when they attempt to attack. The leader tells them to bring the rest to him. A quick glimpse on Infant Island shows the Shobijin summoning Mothra with their prayers, with her flying straight up and then banking across the ocean, creating waves with her wings, as she heads for Tokyo.
At Tokyo Bay, with a flash of light that heads from the ocean up into the sky, Hedorah drops down and slams into a building, followed immediately by Ebirah, who slams into the Smog Monster and pierces his right eye with his claw. Godzilla then erupts out of the water and lets out a mighty atomic blast that cuts a line of explosions towards the two helpless monsters, with the force of it blasting both them and the building behind them backwards through the city, ultimately smashing into another, much taller one, with a massive explosion finishing them both off. Onboard the mother-ship, the Xilien leader once again freaks out over this but decides it's not worth crying over spilled milk. With Gordon and the others now in his presence, and with an Xilien woman taking Gordon's kitanna sword and his captain's cap to taunt him, the leader explains that they feed on their mitochondria and that they will raise and harvest them like livestock on a farm. He then says them to get ready for the main event, which is to be the end of Godzilla. The comet that was seen earlier reaches Earth and is about to enter the atmosphere when Godzilla senses it while he's stomping through Tokyo. Looking up and seeing it coming, Godzilla stomps his feet, bends over and thrashes his tail, and builds up a very powerful atomic blast that he shoots straight up, through the sky and past the atmosphere, and hitting the comet. It takes a lot of struggling and power for Godzilla to finally destroy the comet but succeeds, creating a massive explosion and shockwave through the sky. Although it at first seems like Godzilla has foiled whatever the leader hand in, as he stands at the center of the huge crater that he's made in the middle of the city, Monster X descends to the ground behind him. Godzilla turns and growls at this new opponent, who growls right back at him. After a fancy shot of the camera circling them during their standoff, followed by a wide-shot of them as lightning crackles in the background, the two monsters charge at each other, jumping and slashing one another on the sides before landing and skidding to a stop. Monster X then runs at Godzilla, whom stomps towards it, and jumps up and punches him on the side of the face, following it up with a whack from its tail. It then lands in front of Godzilla, grabs his wrists, forces his arms straight down, and lifts him up, causing him to scream in agony. Godzilla does manage to get back down to the ground and shove Monster X away. It dodges him when he tries to whip it with his own tail but isn't quick enough to avoid an atomic blast to the face, which forces it back. Monster X retaliates by firing gravity beams from the eyes of its heads, which hit Godzilla in the chest and cause him to stumble backwards, groaning in pain, before falling to his knees. Despite his pain, though, Godzilla looks up and snarls at Monster X, refusing to give in.
As the Xilien leader laughs at Monster X having the upper hand, Mothra arrives at the battle-site, prompting the leader to send the upgraded Gigan after her. Gigan is deployed from beneath the ship and, after showing off the double-chainsaws he has on both hands, flies off to intercept Mothra. He comes up behind her and after flying past her, the two of them slam into each other a couple of times while circling the destroyed Tokyo Tower. Mothra gets blasted back and hovers in the air as Gigan skids to a stop and approaches her. She begins creating strong winds to try to blow Gigan back but he uses the chainsaws to stab into and then propel himself across the ground towards her. While she flies up to avoid him, he grabs her abdomen with his tail and pulls her backwards a bit before flinger her up into the air. Mothra flies up into the sky, with Gigan giving chase, and when he catches up to her, he manages to slice off the bottom part of her left wing. Unable to fly as a result, Mothra crashes to the ground. Back onboard the ship, the leader reveals the relationship between Xiliens and mutants, as well as explains that Ozaki is a Keizer whose power has yet to be fully awakened. After revealing that he himself is a Keizer too, the leader blasts Ozaki with a beam of energy in an attempt to awaken his power. Back outside, Monster X fires upon Godzilla again but this time, he manages to keep his footing and stomp towards his opponent. That's when Gigan blasts him from behind and then lands, brandishing his chainsaws. Godzilla turns around and realizes that it's a two-on-one match, turning back to face Monster X. Onboard the ship, Ozaki is still getting blasted by the leader, who tells him to wake up and be a Keizer. After he's done zapping him, he allows Ozaki to stand up, with his full power now coursing through him. He tells him to kill the humans and he slowly turns around and looks at them menacingly. Gordon tries to stop Ozaki but gets backhanded in the face and when Maj. Komuro tries to stop him, he gets punched in the face. Miyuki grabs him from behind but gets knocked to the floor, while Gordon grabs Ozaki from behind to try to restrain him. Ozaki easily manages to break the grip and grabs Gordon by the throat, lifts him up, and begins to squeeze. Outside, Monster X has restrained Godzilla from behind, allowing Gigan to stomp up to him and slash him across the chest with his chainsaws. Godzilla, however, manages to move himself around so Gigan ends up slicing Monster X on the back when he comes in for another swing. While they're distracted by this, Mothra suddenly comes flying in and knocks them both to the ground (I guess she figured out how to fly with a clipped wing). Godzilla turns and roars in satisfaction upon seeing this. Meanwhile, Ozaki is still strangling Gordon when Miyuki, hearing a sound emitting from the amulet she has within her coat, pulls it out to see that it's glowing. She runs to Ozaki and touches him with it, creating a glow of energy that makes him drop Gordon and momentarily incapacitates him. While Godzilla rushes Monster X outside, Ozaki comes to his senses and asks what he did before turning his sights on the leader. Mothra, meanwhile, is again being chased by Gigan, who's using his chainsaws to zip across the ground once more. She flies up into the sky and comes back around him, with Gigan turning and firing two razor-sharp discs at her. These miss but Gigan's eye laser doesn't, which engulfs Mothra in a big explosion. Gigan turns back around and screeches triumphantly, when the discs come back like boomerangs and hit him on either side of his neck. Gigan turns back around to face Mothra, revving up his chainsaws, but then his circuits blow out and his head falls off (he might be the only character in history to have ever been beheaded twice in one movie!) Although the headless body stomps forward, Mothra then flings her burning body at him and crashes into him, destroying him utterly in an explosion.
Since Ozaki couldn't be turned, the Xilien leader decides to have him exterminated. His subordinates open fire on him and everyone else with their laser guns but Ozaki demonstrates a new power by stopping the lasers in mid-air and flinging them back, forcing every Xilien except the leader to shield themselves. Seeing a challenge in Ozaki's eyes, the leader has his subordinates watch the others while he and the mutant prepare to battle one-on-one. Charging up with power, he engages Ozaki, with the two of them trading punches and kicks for a bit before they face off again and move parallel to each other. Ozaki jumps at the leader, who knocks him down to the floor and while he lands on his feet, he jumps again only to get caught by the throat and forced to the ground. The leader lifts him up by the throat while squeezing and flings him against a pillar. Miyuki tries to help but one of the guards puts the kitanna blade to her throat, as Ozaki gets back to his feet while the leader cackles like a maniac and the two run at each other. Outside, Godzilla manages to shove Monster X back and down to the ground. Getting on top of it, he charges up but, before he can fire, Monster X knocks his head up, causing him to blast the underside of the mother-ship. The impact knocks everyone inside off-balance and gives Gordon and the others the chance to turn the tables on the guards. While Miyuki, unsurprisingly, has trouble dealing with her guard, Gordon and Maj. Komuro are more than able to knock the guards around. Distracted by what's going on, Ozaki gets grabbed from behind by the leader but is able to break the lock and continue the fight, as do his friends (Miyuki slaps the one she's fighting but only succeeds in getting slapped harder). While tangling with two at once, Gordon sees that his friends need help and so, when they both attempt to laser-blast him, he turns their hands and forces them to shoot at the other two Xiliens. He then gives the two he's fighting knee-kicks to the gut and throws them away, managing to wrench their laser-guns from their hands. As the four of them prepare to attack, Gordon fires on them but the female Xilien manages to use both his sword and her own blade to block the blasts. Gordon raises an intrigued eyebrow at this and continues firing as she charges at him, all the while deflecting the laser blasts. She manages to get up to him and knock the guns from his head before training the sword on his neck. She's about to deliver the killing blow when the sword suddenly gets blasted out of her hand. The blade flies straight up and Gordon jumps up, catches it, and goes to town on two of the Xiliens, slicing the crap out of them, while the other two get back in combat position. The others then see that the person who fired on the female Xilien was none other than Daigo, who's standing in the doorway with Commander Namikawa and another superior. Daigo vaguely explains that they managed to escape somehow and then boasts that they used to call him, "Mr. One Shot." As everyone stands off, Ozaki tells Gordon to get the others back to the Gotengo and that he'll finish the leader. Gordon says, "Don't miss the train," and he and the others take off down the hall, with the other two Xiliens following them.
Outside, Godzilla is punching Monster X's middle head repeatedly and although it does manage to grab his arms, it's too weak to maintain a grip and he pulls them free. Back onboard, everyone's running to the ship when Gordon, knowing that they're being followed, tells Komuro to get them all to the ship while he stays behind. The group heads on down the corridors but runs into a big squad of Xilien soldiers before they can reach the ship. They're immediately fired upon, with Komuro getting hit in the arm, and are forced to take cover behind some pillars and fire back on them. Meanwhile, Ozaki is still battling the leader, blocking kicks from him and getting his own punches blocked, with the leader having his back turned to him, when he gets kneed in the gut. The leader puts him in a headlock but Ozaki manages to fling him across the room. The leader jumps at him and kicks him in the chest, sending him flying back, but Ozaki retaliates by jumping off the wall and flinging himself at the leader. The bad guy, however, manages to knock him to the floor by causing him to run into his outstretched arm. Elsewhere, the two Xilien guards reach Gordon and they face off, with the one pulling out his laser blaster. Gordon, however, sticks his sword into a pillar and opts to fight them hand-to-hand, a challenge they both accept. At the same time, the others are bristling from the barrage of laser blasts near the Gotengo, holding them off as best as they can. Back at the main battle, Ozaki gets kneed in the head, punched repeatedly in the face, and kicked to the floor. He struggles to get back up, all the while spitting up blood while the leader laughs at his pain. Cutting back to Gordon, we see him facing off with the male Xilien, managing to easily block his blows, take those that do land, and put out of commission with a head-smash and throw his limp body to the floor. The female then comes up behind him, kicks him to the floor, and then knees him in the head three times. Getting back up, he catches a punch that she throws and that's when you get the cool moment when Gordon acts like he's contemplating hitting a woman and then knocks her out with a chop to the neck. After saying, "Sorry, sweetheart," he picks up his sword and heads to join the other. As that's going on, the leader uses some telekinetic powers to lift Ozaki up and fling him up against the wall. Confident that's he won, the leader reiterates that his kind only live to serve him, but Ozaki gets back up and, glowing with power, says that he has a choice about how to use his power and says that they're not cattle, they're humans. The leader is unimpressed and charges at Ozaki, only to get whacked in the throat. Taken aback by this momentarily, the leader attempts to punch him several times but Ozaki blocks the blows and grabs his hand. After strongly pulling it away, Ozaki chops him in the gut and then gets down and kicks him in the chest before getting back up and delivering a number of punishing blows to the head. The leader goes in for a kick but Ozaki grabs his leg and flips him down onto the ground. Ozaki jumps onto him and begins punching his head repeatedly, with the guy futilely trying to block the punches. A nice juxtaposed shot with a video screen shows Godzilla doing the same thing to Monster X outside. The leader manages to grab his neck and fling him away but Ozaki lands on his feet while the leader struggles to get back up. Once he does, they both charge and jump at each other, meeting in the air. Ozaki dodges the leader's punch, delivering his own blow to the guy's gut, sending him flying backwards and against the wall. He falls to the floor and groans in agony, while Ozaki comes down to rest in front of him. He rolls over onto his back and then begins to cackle maniacally, which worries Ozaki. He then says that he wont die alone, just as an explosion rips through a nearby wall. Ozaki realizes that the ship is self-destructing and runs to join his friends.
Back near the Gotengo, everyone is still caught up in a huge firefight and Commander Namikawa gets blasted in the shoulder. Things look bleak for them when the self-destructing ship causes an explosion that blows away the Xilien soldiers. As everyone steps out from behind the pillar, shocked at their sudden good fortune, Gordon comes strolling by and says, "Hey, I thought I told you guys to get back to the ship." As the place blows up around them, everyone makes it back to the Gotengo and climbs aboard, with Namikawa being taken to the sick bay. At that time, Ozaki charges through the exploding mother-ship and makes it back aboard as well. As everyone prepares to get out of their, Maj. Komuro gets knocked into a guardrail by the impact of an explosion, severely hurting his arm and forcing Miyuki to take the set of controls that he was about to. It takes her a bit but she manages to pull the Gotengo out of the hole in the ship's hull right before it blows up in an enormous fireball. On the ground, Godzilla and Monster X are surrounded by fire as they both shoot their energy, causing another huge explosion that sends them both flying backwards. Aboard the Gotengo, everyone watches as Godzilla gets back to his feet and shakes off any pain he feels while Monster X goes through a horrific transformation, sprouting wings (in this shot, it looks like Destoroyah), separating its three heads, becoming a quadruped with its arms turning into front legs, and growing long necks beneath its heads as it fully reveals its new form as Keizer Ghidorah. Godzilla roars upon seeing this while Ghidorah screeches as lightning flashes around it. Once again, both monsters fire their beams at the same time but here, Ghidorah's gravity beams overpower Godzilla's atomic blast and manage to reach him and blow him backwards onto the ground. Ghidorah blasts the helpless Godzilla across the ground, causing him to slam into the base of a building, before it uses the gravity beams to lift him up into the sky and drop him onto the building head-first. Ghidorah then uses the beams to roll Godzilla across the ground, causing him to smash small buildings before hitting the base of another tall one, which collapses on his head. Still not through causing him pain, Ghidorah lifts Godzilla up again and brings him over, dropping him to the ground in front of it. The dragon stomps and kicks Godzilla with its front legs, sending him crashing backwards onto another destroyed building. Before he knows what hit him, Ghidorah stomps towards him and grabs ahold of his neck and thighs with its mouths, lifts him up, and proceeds to attempt to drain the energy out of him. Godzilla's arms go limp as a sign that he's losing energy and any will to fight. Aboard the Gotengo, Miyuki realizes what's happening and says that they must give him more energy. Ozaki then jumps into the maser chair, charges the weapon and the entire ship up with his Keizer power, and blasts Godzilla with it.
Now imbued with newfound power, Godzilla grabs ahold of Ghidorah's middle and left heads and, using the power coursing through his body, forces the dragon to let go of him. Dropping down, Godzilla grabs one head and bites the other, while the middle shoots him in the face to make him let go. Godzilla retaliates by blowing the middle head up with an atomic blast and, when the left head tries to zap, he points it at the right one to blow it off. Throwing the severed head away, Godzilla grabs the one that's left and throws Ghidorah's body over his shoulder, causing it to crash into the destroyed buildings in front of them. Godzilla then stomps over to Ghidorah, roughly steps on the throat of the remaining head, and then kicks the body before grabbing the tail and flinging it back and forth. He then flings it up into the air, does a swish, and fires on it with a crimson-colored blast, sending Ghidorah's body up into the sky and through the atmosphere, where it explodes. After watching the fire fade, Godzilla roars triumphantly and then turns around to face the Gotengo. He blasts it, sending it flying backwards, smashing through the charred hull of a building, and skidding across the ground before coming to rest and powering down completely. Gordon growls, "Son of a bitch! He just won't quit!" Everyone grabs what weapons they can and heads outside, as Godzilla comes stomping towards the downed Gotengo. They all face him as he looms over them, growling menacingly, when suddenly, Minya and his two friends show up. Minya puts himself between Godzilla and the humans, with his dad looking at him and growling lowly. The grandfather tells Godzilla that he must forgive them but he doesn't appear to have any intention to do so, roaring at them and prompting them to prepare their weapons. Angry at his stubbornness, the old man points his rifle at Godzilla when his grandson gets in front of him and he holds his arms out, refusing to move. Minya takes a cue from this and does the same, refusing to let Godzilla harm the heroes without hurting him first. After a big pan-around shot that shows everything that's going on, Godzilla slowly relaxes and, deciding it's not worth it, turns around and heads back to Tokyo Bay. Minya runs after his father, stopping momentarily to show his human friends that he's now able to shoot his own atomic blast, while everyone begins to relax after this long battle. As everyone watches Godzilla and his son walk off into the sunrise, Miyuki comments that the war is over. Ozaki, however, says that a new war is beginning (I'm not sure what he means by that, though). The film's final shots are of Godzilla and Minya swimming home into the rising sun, with Godzilla turning back around and giving one last roar, while outtakes and scenes from the movie play behind the closing credits. The last sound is Godzilla's roar from the original 1954 film, which was the first thing heard there and truly brings the series full-circle.
One thing I wasn't too sure about when I first watched Godzilla: Final Wars was the music score, composed by Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, Nobuhiko Morino, and Daisuke Yano (the latter two's work is what you mostly hear in the actual film). It didn't sound like the correct type of score for a Godzilla movie, and I particularly didn't care for the upbeat, zydeco-type of theme that you hear during the opening narration and throughout the ending credits. While it has grown on me in recent viewings, including that particular theme, I don't think it's one of the best scores this series has ever heard. I do really like the theme that you hear at the beginning of the movie during Godzilla's battle with the Gotengo and whenever he does something particularly awesome later on. It's a great, pounding, driving theme that's accentuated by some vocalizing voices and really gives the feeling that this Godzilla is very powerful and is not to be taken lightly. The rest of the music, though, is generic and forgettable, ranging from downright silly, as in the scenes between Ozaki and Miyuki and such, to out and out noise that doesn't punctuate the drama and the action that well, like what you hear during most of the action scenes. I cannot, for the life of me, remember a single tune from the film's climax. It all blended together and just sounded like the same, unmemorable music being played continuously throughout the climax. I did like the rock music you hear when Gordon's punching the bag in his cell, though. It really shows what a badass he is. Like I said earlier, there are also a tune by Sum 41 to be found here: the song, We're All To Blame, which is played during Godzilla's very brief fight with Zilla. I'll admit, while I'm not interested in that type of music, I actually liked hearing that song in this movie because it felt like Godzilla had broken through to the mainstream when he had a rock song playing in his movie. I know it's a bit petty but that's the reason I liked it... plus, it goes well with seeing Godzilla annihilate his American counterpart. (Zebrahead also composed a song called Godzilla vs. Tokyo, although it was never put into the actual film and didn't appear on the official soundtrack album either, which was also the case for the Sum 41 song.) There are some tracks from the past to be found here to enhance the nostalgia. I already mentioned the presence of Masaru Sato's music from Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla but, when Minya first appears, you can also hear one of his themes from Son of Godzilla. And as I mentioned earlier, the first piece of music you hear is Akira Ifukube's original rough Godzilla theme from King Kong vs. Godzilla.
The English dub for the film is actually quite entertaining, even if it does tend to stray from the subtitles on the official Sony DVD release. They picked some really good, personality-filled voices for the important characters, especially in the case of Ozaki and the Xilien leader. Ozaki's voice has the right tone and attitude for the type of character he is, while the guy who plays the Xilien leader really amps up the crazy for his performance, even more so than Kazuki Kitamura. During the latter half of the film, he really gets to go over the top with his maniacal cackling and I like the nuances he gives the performance, like when he's watching Godzilla fight Hedorah and Ebirah, is frustrated that they're losing, and when his prisoners are brought to him, he says, "Just a minute!" Then, when he sees them get destroyed, he just goes, "Oh, well." Also along for the ride is the guy who dubbed Akira Nakao many times. Not only does he do his voice here during the opening but he also dubs Daigo and the old man who runs across Minya, and while the latter voice was kind of a stereotypical old man voice, I though he did a fair job voicing Daigo. The downside of the dubbed voices is the women, none of whom sound particularly memorable, especially Commander Namikawa (Kumi Mizuno got another bad dub job back in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla) and the Shobijin, who sound like soulless robots when they talk here. What's more, they dub Kane Kosugi as Kazama, even during the moments where he spoke English originally (which sounded like a dub job in and of itself before), but they don't dub the other, cringe-worthy English voices, such as that cop in New York. They really should have gotten someone to dub that guy's dialogue. Fortunately, though, Don Frye's voice isn't touched at all, so you get to hear his gravelly, tough guy voice in all its glory with the great dialogue that he says in both versions. All in all, I think the English dub for Godzilla; Final Wars is by far one of the more entertaining of those done for the Millennium films and is one I do recommend.
You have to be in the right type of mood for Godzilla: Final Wars. It's by far the most wild, insane, and out there film in the series and if you're not into that type of stuff, you will not like this movie. While I can say that I ultimately enjoy the movie, I do think it suffers from being jam-packed with so much stuff and being almost nothing except constant action, to the point where, by the time the third act rolls around, it really begins to burn itself out and the over-the-top fight scenes and visual style become tiresome. What's more, I think the action scenes focus a little too much on the fights between the heroes and the Xiliens rather than on the monsters, especially during the climax, where you don't see much of Godzilla's fight with Monster X. And the music score is nothing special. However, there is a lot of good in this movie as well. While it does get tiring after a while, the action is well choreographed and fun to watch; some of the characters are fun, especially Captain Gordon and the Xilien leader; the director's heart is in the right place; the film definitely has a healthy budget, with an enormous scope and top notch special effects, as well as a visual style that's uniquely its own; it's nice seeing a lot of monsters that haven't been in a movie since the Showa era, as well as some music cues from past films; and Godzilla himself is in good form, looking great in design and being portrayed here as a badass who never backs down from a fight and is more powerful and agile than he's ever been. In conclusion, it might not be everyone's taste but, if you're in the mood for a wild, energetic flick that is entertaining at the end of the day, I would recommend it. Let me put it to you this way: I'd rather watch it than Godzilla '98, simply because, while they're both overblown, dumb movies, Godzilla: Final Wars is at least one that's done by a fan of the character and the franchise.
And with that, we've at long last wrapped up this almost year-long trek through the Godzilla franchise. I'm sorry if you got tired of it after a while but, I love this series, I had made a commitment to review all of these films, and, damn it, nothing was going to stop me. Ultimately, I hope you enjoyed it and it prompted you to check out these movies if you'd never seen them before or, if you're a fan like me, I hope you enjoyed this stroll through this awesome film series. So, now that everything's said and done, what's next for Godzilla? Well, even though I have some qualms with the 2014 Legendary Pictures film, I'm glad that it did very well, proving that there is still love for the character after all these years. What's more, there are two sequels for it in the works, which I think is great because it means that Godzilla's going to stay in the public eye for a while. Who knows, maybe Toho will start up again and we'll get more Japanese Godzilla films along with the American ones (Godzilla: Final Wars didn't do that well but, regardless, maybe the success of the latest, Hollywood film will be enough incentive for him to bring him back). But, whatever happens, I'm glad that there are still fans for him out there, and I know that he'll be around for many years, probably even after I'm gone. But, in any case, thank you for joining me on this big project, the biggest one I've ever tackled, and I'll see you next time. Sayonara.
Posted by Cody at 11:05 PM
Labels: franchises, Godzilla, Godzilla: Final Wars
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Posted on September 7, 2016 by davidswanson
U.S. Groups, Citizens Ask World: Help Us Resist U.S. Crimes
The following letter is being delivered to the New York U.N. consulate office of every nation on earth:
This year’s UN General Assembly comes at a critical moment for humanity – 3 minutes to midnight on the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock. Recognizing our country’s primary role in this crisis, 11,644 Americans and 46 U.S.-based organizations have thus far signed this “Appeal from the United States to the World: Help Us Resist U.S. Crimes,” which we are submitting to all the world’s governments. Please work with your colleagues at the General Assembly to respond to this appeal.
The appeal has been signed here: http://bit.ly/usappeal The first 11,644 individual signers and their comments are contained in a PDF document here: http://bit.ly/usappealsigners
Since the end of the Cold War, the United States of America has systematically violated the prohibition against the threat or use of force contained in the UN Charter and the Kellogg Briand Pact. It has carved out a regime of impunity for its crimes based on its UN Security Council veto, non-recognition of international courts and sophisticated “information warfare” that undermines the rule of law with political justifications for otherwise illegal threats and uses of force.
Former Nuremberg prosecutor Benjamin B. Ferencz has compared current U.S. policy to the illegal German “preemptive first strike” policy for which senior German officials were convicted of aggression at Nuremberg and sentenced to death by hanging.
In 2002, the late U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy described post-September 11th U.S. doctrine as “a call for 21st century American imperialism that no other nation can or should accept.” And yet the U.S. government has succeeded in assembling alliances and ad hoc “coalitions” to support threats and attacks on a series of targeted countries, while other countries have stood by silently or vacillated in their efforts to uphold international law. In effect, the U.S. has pursued a successful diplomatic policy of “divide and conquer” to neutralize global opposition to wars that have killed about 2 million people and plunged country after country into intractable chaos.
As representatives of civil society in the United States, the undersigned U.S. citizens and advocacy groups are sending this emergency appeal to our neighbors in our increasingly interconnected but threatened world. We ask you to stop providing military, diplomatic or political support for U.S. threats or uses of force; and to support new initiatives for multilateral cooperation and leadership, not dominated by the United States, to respond to aggression and settle international disputes peacefully as required by the UN Charter.
We pledge to support and cooperate with international efforts to stand up to and stop our country’s systematic aggression and other war crimes. We believe that a world united to uphold the UN Charter, the rule of international law and our common humanity can and must enforce U.S. compliance with the rule of law to bring lasting peace to the world we all share.
CategoriesUncategorized TagsPeace and War
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Song of Solomon 4:16
Song of Solomon 3:5
Ecclesiastes 12:14
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Proverbs 1:7
Friday, November 25, 2016 |
Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
For further study - Isaiah 51:1-23
This chapter in the prophetic book of Isaiah is like a "songbook" that contains great songs with lyrics, made up of Bible doctrine.
Our key verse is a prime example. Read slowly verse 11 and you can almost hear the melody that has been assigned to these words. In fact, the words of the verse speak of "singing and joy" as the way those that have been redeemed will return to Zion, to Jerusalem.
Notice the "joy", it is "everlasting joy", joy that is forever. This is not "happiness" which is based upon "happenings" but instead "joy" that comes from the Lord. When you have "Godly joy", joy that comes from the Lord, "sorrow and mourning" shall flee away.
The One that gives us that "joy" along with a "song" for us to sing is the Creator of all things, verses 13 & 15. He is the "Lord thy maker". "The One who stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations for the earth, the One who divided the seas."
As the Creator, He can give us a song to sing and "everlasting joy". The Creator is the same One who will protect His people, verses 16 & 23. The phrase "cup of trembling" is speaking of those who are "intoxicated with power", the ones the Lord will bring back to reality through judgment.
Before we leave this passage, look back to verse 3 and let me explain the "truth" found in this passage. This verse is speaking of the most sacred piece of real estate in the world, "Eden, the Garden of the Lord".
The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the original sight of the "Garden of Eden". (See my audio series, "Return to Eden".) This fact has been known by all Orthodox Jewish academic scholarship from the "beginning," 5,777 years ago.
Judaism believes that the original Garden of Eden is on the location of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem today. God's Word says that this is where all joy, gladness, thanksgiving, and the "voice of melody," singing, emanates from in our old world.
But notice the verse again, the Lord will return this spot to the Jews in the last days, Ezekiel 36:35 and Joel 2:3. This of course is the reason for Islam's strong desire to take control of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Where the Lord began all things, the Temple Mount, He will return there in the last days. It will be the restored "Garden of Eden" on the location of the Creator's Kingdom headquarters, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Islam’s continuing effort to explain away the Jewish presence on the Temple Mount, at anytime in history, and it’s effort to keep Jews off the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is evidence Bible prophecy is moving closer to being fulfilled.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for the Word of God that explains current events in light of Biblical prophecy.
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Documentary Storytelling: Creative Nonfiction on Screen
From idea through editing; from shorts to features... documentary storytelling describes the organic use of narrative tools (including three-act dramatic structure, essays and more) to create documentaries that are rigorous, honest, challenging....and compelling.
Getting Paid for Content
A post I made to the Doculink listserve got a bit garbled, so I'm revising it here. There was a discussion about Current TV relying heavily on user-generated content, holding out the promise to "have your voice broadcast in 51 million homes in the US." It appears that some completed productions are rewarded after the fact (i.e., the filmmaker assumes all upfront costs and risk, on the chance of getting some pay later). But other programming offers no payment at all. The "make TV in <10 minutes" solicitation, for example, says, "We generally don't pay for these (look for those that do) but they're the easiest way to TV! "
If this were an issue at this one site, it would be one thing. But it's a problem across the new media landscape, and it's mirrored by a growing problem within more traditional cable and broadcasting venues as well. Independent producers creating works for hire for television (virtually all documentary programming is outsourced) face ever-shrinking budgets and schedules. They're expected to bear not only the cost of self-employment but also the burden of production insurance, overhead, licensing fees and more.
And then, as independents working on their own films, as many are, these same producers may find that they have no choice but to ask others to accept minimal or deferred salaries, because what little money they've earned as freelancers or raised from funders has to go to equipment , licensing, and other "unavoidable" expenses: it costs money to make documentaries.
And so the cycle continues, and the sense that the content creators can and even should be the last paid (if at all) becomes ingrained.
But here's the thing: This is not a low-earning industry. The revenue just goes to more prioritized areas. How many of the advertisers, marketers, lawyers, salespeople, and executives working in broadcast and cable venues would be willing to forego living wages and benefits for the sake of working in television? According to today's Washington Post, Discovery's new CEO, David Zaslav, was paid more than $18 million in 2007. Chairman Jon Hendriks was paid in excess of $30 million. Isn't the thrill of bringing nonfiction media to 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers around the world enough? And Current TV, founded only in 2002, has yet to make a profit, according to the Financial Times, but founder Al Gore earned $1 million from the company in 2007.
Some documentaries can be made inexpensively. But many cannot; their subject matters and complexity require time and skill if they are to be meaningfully researched, with innovative, relevant, and up-to-date content. It takes additional time and skill to tell these stories both effectively and ethically; to find drama within the story, and not simply warn of sharks around every corner. All of this requires that the content creators -- the filmmakers -- have sufficient resources. That they, too, earn a reasonable living in the ever-expanding media marketplace. In fact, most can't; the number of talented, senior producers leaving the field is disheartening, or at least it should be.
In a speech made fifty years ago, reporter Edward R. Murrow warned about the danger that excess commercialism posed to a medium that had tremendous potential: "This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful."
Fifty years later, with a multitude of channels and media outlets Murrow couldn't possibly have imagined, the potential remains. But only if those creating meaningful content are given the resources they truly need to do the job. It's up to us as documentary creators to insist on being paid fairly for our work, and to do a better job of educating audiences, teachers, and policy makers about the work we do--and what it takes to do it well.
And to those tempted to uplink documentary material for free, I'll end with a reference to an opinion piece in The New York Times by computer scientist Jaron Lanier: "Pay Me for My Content." There's got to be a way.
Posted by Sheila Curran Bernard at 6/12/2008 3 comments: Links to this post
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Sheila Curran Bernard
Award-winning filmmaker, writer, consultant, educator.
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Intelligent Legislation
Just to drop in on the Florida legislature, vying for the title of stupidest in the nation, Michael Mayo of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has a scorecard:
Starting July 1, it will be legal to bring your gun to work, but you'll have to keep it locked in your car. No word yet on whether companies will replace Casual Fridays with Winchester Wednesdays.
It's still legal to hang fake bull testicles on the bumper of your pickup truck, but a state senator wants to neuter displays of the so-called "Truck-Nutz" by imposing a $60 fine.
It's still legal for Floridians to have sex with animals.
It's still illegal for gays to adopt, even if they've been a child's foster parent for years. ...
Very much alive are proposed bills that might allow the mention of intelligent design and creationism in science classrooms and a bill that would compel women to pay for and view an ultrasound before having abortions.
In a classic understatement, State Sen. Nan Rich, a Democrat from Sunrise, said: "Our state is very confused ... " That's all the more obvious when you consider:
The real heavy lifting — finalizing budget cuts in a lean fiscal year — is yet to come.
Last year, the Legislature passed a $71.9 billion budget that shrunk to $70 billion because of the slumping economy and sales tax shortfalls. This year's budget will be in the $65 billion range.
That means a lot of pain, especially for those who can't afford good lobbyists. That's bad news for the infirm, poor and most vulnerable.
Two weeks to go in their session and Florida's politicos are still going for the gold in the Twit Olympics.
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Electronic Music in France
What is electronic music?
The ecosystem
Play live
Manage your author's rights
You are Artist
You want to Organise an event
Setting up an event requires a venue, equipment, flawless organisation and competent partners, but you must also know all the regulations. Here's everything you need to know to make your event a success.
Finding a recording or rehearsal studio
Authorisation to broadcast music
Playing and composing electronic music, yes, but on what?
You need equipment to compose, to play, and to broadcast.
With electronic music, the electronics are just as important to the style of music as the composition itself. Electronic music is the genre that has increased the interaction between music and technology to an enormous extent. The race for progress and more advanced equipment is never-ending. The only limits are often financial ones.
Composing often starts on a basic computer, laptop or desktop - Mac or PC. It's all about practicality and how much you can afford. As your finances improve and you develop your own style, you will certainly want to improve your hardware set-up.
A computer is now a basic requirement for any set up. There are three types of approach:
Some people do everything on the computer, using virtual effects and synthesizers.
Others prefer to use a control panel connected to their computer, with interfaces such as Native Instrument and Ableton
More traditional musicians prefers to use stand-alone equipment and synthesizers.
These three approaches can also be combined in different proportions.
Electronic music, however, originally started with synthesizers and bass lines. Legendary drum machines and synthesizers absolutely determined the sound of certain electronic styles.
The TR 808 and TR 909 drum machines created in the 1980s by Japanese manufacturer Roland are considered essential constituents of techno and house sounds. The Manchester group 808 State was named after the TR 808.
Also from Roland, the SH101 synthesizer is one of the most famous bass synths in electronic music, along with the Odyssey Arp and the Pro One from Sequential Circuits.
On top of this, there's a whole range of other effects machines and pedals for distortion, reverb, echo, etc. It's a consuming passion for those who succumb to it.
All the vintage gems are rare and expensive nowadays. But it is possible to simulate them using software. Most musicians use the Live software from Ableton, which has revolutionised electronic music. Designed in the 1990s and released in 2001, it revolutionised the world of electronic music. A combination of a workstation and sampler, it allows you to create live samples, play them and add lots of different effects. It has made it possible to create electronic music spontaneously and given rise to the concept of live electronic music, which has been added to the traditional DJ set.
The DJ set nevertheless still forms the basis of electronic music - the king of mixing and remixing. The technology has evolved, and vinyl turntables are now set up next to new controllers in the form of CD players, USB sticks, Ableton software or Traktor software, produced by a competitor of Ableton - Native Instruments. Ownership of one of these pieces of software and a laptop is the essential equipment for mixing all over the world, without question. Nowadays, clubs are often equipped with CD-USB decks and mixing desks as standard, often from leading Japanese manufacturer Pioneer (its CDJ 1000 or 2000 CD players and its DJM 800 or 900 mixers are very common in clubs) or sometimes American company, Rane.
Experience of playing in clubs will enable you to master your equipment and adapt it to these standard configurations.
Buy or rent?
The main criterion for answering this question is budget. If you don't have the money to buy it, you can rent it from "backliners", ie backline providers, anywhere in France. Some equipment may be included in your rider, which you or your agent can negotiate with the club or festival where you are performing. This is quite common and it's much easier than transporting everything yourself.
Even though equipment has become smaller and more standardised, when it comes down to basics you only need a USB flash drive to play music through a club's sound system. However, to personalise your sound, you may still want your own set-up, with instruments and controllers.
If you're lucky enough to be asked to play all over the country or around the world, however, you will have to take it all with you. Don't forget when you're buying your equipment - bags and flight cases are bulky and heavy. Instruments are fragile too, so it's risky to check them in as luggage when you fly. It's better to take them on as cabin luggage.
Anyone who still plays vinyl will know the difficulties and risks involved with transportation, even through vinyl constitutes the appeal of the genre.
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Thursday | 09 October, 2008
According to CRRC’s dataset, about 25% of the adult population in Armenia and Georgia, and 20% of Azerbaijan’s citizens say they are unemployed. Further analyzing these numbers shows that 18% in Georgia, 14% in Armenia and 12% in Azerbaijan are actually interested in looking for a job.
[Note: excluded are “students", "housewives", "disabled" or "retired" - even if they are looking for a job.]
Yet the data shows sizeable differences across the countries, depending on whether you ask in rural areas, urban environments, or the capital. Let's look at what people say when asked whether they consider themselves to be employed. Note that housewives, pensioners, disabled and students are also considered "not employed".
Do you consider yourself to be employed? This employment may be part-time or full-time, you may be officially employed, informally employed, or self-employed, but it brings you monetary income.
If you analyze the data of by settlement type, it reveals that of those that describe themselves as not employed a relatively low number of people look for work in Baku (22%), compared with Tbilisi (29%) and Yerevan (32%). Besides, about the same share of people (again, of those describing themselves as not employed with monetary income) in the three countries look for a job in rural areas (nearly 30%).
However, the data impressively illustrates that the major interest -- among those that are not employed -- in a workplace can be found in urban areas, where about 40% of Armenians and Georgians, and almost 50% Azerbaijanis try to find work. This figure powerfully underlines the desolation of Caucasian cityscapes.
Of those that are not employed, what percentage is looking for a job?
Finally, the DI statistics show that the same number (once you factor in the margin of error) of people is unemployed and interested in a job, but not currently looking: 6% in Armenia, and 5% in Georgia and Azerbaijan. A slightly lower number of the unemployed is not looking for a job at all. Have those already given up?
Now the definitions of unemployment always are a little complicated (are pensioners looking for work considered unemployed?), but here is an article that can help. If you are interested to check the datasets yourself , please download it from CRRC’s homepage. For more information on the Data Initiative project, please click here.
The development of Azerbaijani think tanks and their role in public policy discourse
[Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of blog posts co-published with On Think Tanks. The views expressed within this blog series are the authors alone, and do not represent the views of CRRC-Georgia.]
By Zaur Shiriyev
The development of local think tanks in Azerbaijan has taken a different route to that followed by most other post-Soviet states and Eastern European countries. In the Eastern Bloc countries, research institutes modeled on Western think tanks became increasingly popular following the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, in Azerbaijan this did not happen, largely due to domestic political developments in the early 1990s.
Online data analysis (ODA)
Home appliances in the South Caucasus: Purchasing trends, 2000-2013
A fair share of the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian population still lives in poverty and cannot afford to buy certain durable goods. According to CRRC’s 2013 Caucasus Barometer survey (CB), in Georgia, 28% of the population reported they did not have enough money for food; 33% had enough money for food, but not for...
What do CB interviewers’ ratings of respondents’ intelligence tell us?
CRRC’s Caucasus Barometer (CB) surveys regularly collect information about how the interviewers assess each of the conducted interviews – so called paradata that provides additional insight into the conditions surrounding the interviews (e.g., whether someone besides the respondent and the interviewer was present during the face-to-face interview), as well as interviewers’ subjective assessments of, for example, level of sincerity of the respondents.
Citizenship in action in the South Caucasus
Citizenship is a difficult concept to define as its definition changes over time, depending on social, legal, and political contexts. Importantly, it not only encompasses structural (legal and institutional) aspects, but also the everyday practices through which people relate to the state and other citizens. This blog post examines some of the perceptions as to what makes a good citizen across the South Caucasus and the extent to which people’s actions match up with their stated opinions on good citizenship.
Trust in institutions in the South Caucasus – generating a combined score
Trust in institutions is a widely studied subject in the social sciences – typing 'trust in institutions' into Google Scholar yields roughly 2.5 million results. It is generally believed to have multi-directional relationships with different aspects of social life, with high levels of trust associated with positive phenomena – acceptance of innovation and a good business environment just to name two.
Deserving to be beaten and tolerating violence: Attitudes towards violence against women in Azerbaijan
This blog post looks into how the attitudes of the representatives of various socio-demographic groups differ towards these two statements, which are jointly referred to as “violence against women”.
Islam in Azerbaijan: A Sectarian Approach to Measuring Religiosity
Azerbaijan is arguably one of the most secular countries in the Muslim world. Nearly seven decades of official atheist policy as part of the Soviet Union, along with isolation from the rest of the non-Soviet Muslim world, diminished Islam's position in the country. According to many, including .salamnews.org/ru/news/read/39100/gadi-shaxin-gasanli-laquoprivyazannost-lyudey-k-...
Attitudes towards Homosexuality in the South Caucasus
LGBTQ issues are difficult to discuss throughout the South Caucasus. For example, this year’s International Day against Homophobia on May 17th was not without challenges in Georgia. An anti-homophobia rally in Tbilisi was violently met with thousands of anti-g...
Community Support and Volunteerism in the South Caucasus
Donating, volunteering or simply helping a relative with daily chores can help strengthen communities and boost trust. Data from the 2012 Caucasus Barometer (CB) shows that helping friends and neighbors with household chores is relatively common, while volunteerism remains low in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan even though the latter is recognized as important and meaningful. A previous blog ...
Museum Popularity in the South Caucasus
In the South Caucasus there is a tension between the desire to leave the Soviet past behind and the desire to re-evaluate history. Museums are one of the arenas in which the past, culture and history of any country (or nation) are captured. The International Council of Museums defines a museum as “A p...
Freedom of Press in the South Caucasus
Freedom of press is one of the indicators of a free society (e.g., immunity of communications media from censorship or governmental control). Freedom House’s 2012 analysis of Freedom of Press found that only 14.5% of the world’s population live in countries with a free press, while 45% have a partly free press, a...
Attitudes Towards Public Opinion Polls in Georgia (Part 2)
Increasing knowledge of and trust in polls are clear challenges for pollsters in Georgia. Even though public opinion polls are regularly criticized, there is still a public demand for them. A majority of Georgians believe that they don't have a proper understanding of how public opinion polls are conducted, but they agree that polls help everyone to better understand the society they live in.
Changes in the Level of Trust and Political Institutions in Georgia
This blog post looks at how reported levels of trust in the president, local government, executive government, parliament, the army, healthcare system, police, educational system and courts have changed over the years in Georgia, using CRRC’s Caucasus Barometer (CB) survey data from 2011 to 2015 and NDI-CRRC polls.
Positive Public Attitudes in Georgia
In November 2013, CRRC conducted a survey on public attitudes in Georgia for the National Democratic Institute (NDI), with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The survey shows that Georgians are generally positive about the direction in which their country is going, the state of democracy in Georgia, and the current ruling coalition.
Income Levels in Georgia from 2008 to 2013
Following the world financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the global recession of 2008-2009, GDP growth slowed and unemployment increased in many countries. From a peak of 12.34% GDP growth in 2007, Georgia’s GDP contracted by 3.78% in 2009, leveling out to an average of 6.4% GDP growth over 2010 to 2012. Official unemployment in Georgia also worsened over that period, starting at 13.3% in 2007, peaking at 16.9% in 2009 and falling down to 15% by 2012.
Health in the South Caucasus
With the recently concluded Olympics in Sochi and the controversies surrounding them, one might be interested in understanding how populations in the South Caucasus think about health and sport. What factors are related to perceptions of health in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia?
Well-being of the elderly in the South Caucasus: A problem today, a bigger problem tomorrow
The world population is getting older, and this trend will likely continue as a result of decreasing mortality and declining fertility. International organizations predict that the aging of the population will cause economic problems in countries that already have difficulties in providing proper welfare for the elderly. The countries of the South Caucasus are no exception in this regard.
Knowledge of Russian in Azerbaijan
Although over 20 years have passed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russian remains the most commonly spoken language in Azerbaijan after the official language (Azerbaijani).
Smoking in the South Caucasus and tobacco policy in Azerbaijan
May 31st is World No Tobacco Day as declared by the United Nations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco usage is the primary reason for chronic diseases including “cancer, lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases” among other diseases.
CRRC Methodological Conference on Measuring Social Inequality in the South Caucasus and its Neighborhood
The second annual CRRC methodological conference took place on the 25th of June at Tbilisi State University. With over fifty attendees and a packed program of presentations, the conference drew together policy practitioners and researchers from the South Caucasus and beyond.
In the South Caucasus, the Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend
The three countries of the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) are geographically, historically and politically bound closely together. Nevertheless, these countries often find themselves in disagreement when faced with broader geopolitical questions regarding alliances, threats and visions about the future of the region.
Georgians Have High Hopes but Little Information about the Association Agreement with the EU
Optimism abounds with regards to the recently signed Georgia-European Union Association Agreement (AA). Most Georgians, however, lack information about the EU and its relation to the country, including the details of the agreement which directly concern the future of Georgia’s economy. The AA covers many areas including national security, migration, human rights and the rule of law but is primarily a free trade agreement with potentially major implications for employment.
The Wave of the Future: Optimism, Pessimism and Fatalism in Georgia
A recent CRRC regional blog post analyzed the presence of fatalism in Georgia. The post cited CRRC Caucasus Barometer (CB) data which shows that in 2013, 28% of Georgians agreed that “everything in life is determined by fate.” While the CB findings demonstrate that a sizeable portion of the adult population is fatalistic about the future, Georgians are increasingly likely to see that future in a positive light, whether it be determined by fate or not.
Perceptions of Court System Fairness in the South Caucasus
Ann Bennett Lockwood, an American attorney, politician and author once said that, “If nations could only depend upon fair and impartial judgments in a world court of law, they would abandon the senseless, savage practice of war”. For many, the credibility of a government is judged by the fairness of itsjudicial system. For instance, Michel Rosenfeld (2001) argued that a fair justice system creates respect and faith in government by saying that, “If a citizen implicitly or explicitly endorses a law or legal regime, the latter can be considered subjectively fair.”
Active and Employed
Does having more free time mean that you can do more? According to the 2013 CRRC Caucasus Barometer (CB) survey, the answer is not that simple. Being unemployed may mean that you have more time at your disposal, but it may also mean that you have fewer opportunities to get involved and resources to use for various activities than those who work. This blog looks at activities people get involved in and describes the differences between those who have a job and those who do not.
State capacity in the South Caucasus: How do you measure how much the state can do?
State capacity is a concept which has gained wide interest from political scientists in recent years as an important concept for economic development and regime classification, yet it still lacks agreed upon definitions and indicators. Its definitions vary, with different scholars highlighting different aspects of the concept based on their angle on the subject, but some definitions of state capacity are broader than others. A good example of a broad definition of state capacity is “the state’s ability to implement public policy” (Rogers and Weller, 2014)
Does public opinion accurately gauge government performance in the South Caucasus?
Robert Putnam’s 1993 work Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy marked a seminal moment in the development of institutionalism. Putnam’s exhaustive study of the relationship between the governed and governing in the Italian regions contained the discovery that public opinion provides an accurate picture of actual government performance: “The Italians’ gradually increasing satisfaction with the regional governments … corresponded to real differences in performance,” and in each region Putnam’s measurement of performance was “remarkably consistent with the appraisals offered by the regional attentive public and by the electorate as a whole.”
Common challenges, common solutions
[Editor's note: This is the sixth in a series of blog posts co-published with On Think Tanks. The views expressed within this blog series are the authors alone and do not represent the views of CRRC-Georgia.]
So far, in this series think tankers working in the South Caucasus have reflected on the issues challenging their countries’ think tank sector. In many ways, some fundamental problems lie at the heart of the specific problems, and I think they can more or less be summed up as problems with language and audience; quality of research; funding; and transparency. This post takes a look at one of these challenges – language and audience – and considers some things that might nudge the region’s think tanks forward.
Household income and consumption patterns in Georgia
After the collapse of the Georgian economy in the 1990s, the country slowly started to recover, and between 2000 and 2014, the gross national income grew from $3.4 billion to $16.7 billion (in current USD). According to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, the official unemployment rate in Georgia was 12.4% in 2014, but according to numerous surveys the rate is much higher.
2015 EU survey report: Major trends and recommendations
The Knowledge of and Attitudes towards the European Union in Georgia 2015 survey report was presented today by Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) in Tbilisi.
ODA Keyword Search
Most CRRC users know about our Online Data Analysis tool, ODA. It is easy to use, continues to be popular, and in less than a year we have had nearly 70.000 charts generated.
Georgia and the EU’s Economic Woes
Why hasn’t the economic crisis in Europe deterred Georgia’s desire to join the European Union? The majority of Georgians (and the Georgian government) want to join the EU despite crisis in the Eurozone. Yet, the continued crisis, including the Eurogroup’s recent (and second) rescue of Greece’s economy and Hungary’s harsh austerity measures, illustrates that the crisis is not isolated to the Eurozone.
ODA – CRRC Data Analysis Online
CRRC is happy to announce its new Online Data Analysis (ODA) program! Crunching numbers from CRRC surveys is now easier than ever.
If You Were Asked What Everyone Else Thought of Your Country...
By Sarrah Bechor
CRRC recently completed its 8th annual Caucasus Barometer survey, gathering data about perceptions of trust, livelihood and social realities during face-to-face interviews in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Some of the results from these countries have been compared to results from 22 other countries that were surveyed as part of the 2010 Pew Global Attitudes Project Survey.
Blood Donation in the South Caucasus: Refill, Please!
With the upcoming World Blood Donor Day on June, 14, the question about current attitudes towards blood donation in the South Caucasus is worth examining. While there are considerable efforts in all three countries to increase donation rates and improve blood screening, donation rates remain below 1%, according to WHO data for Armenia and Georgia, and thereby stand at the lower end in international comparison.
Carnegie Research Fellowship Program | Winners Announced
Six scholars from the South Caucasus have been selected to join a prestigious program administered by CRRC and the National Council for Eurasian and East European Research (NCEEER). Carnegie Research Fellowship Program (CRFP) offers local scholars in the social sciences non-degree research opportunities at universities and institutes in the United States.
Class in the Caucasus | Article by Ken Roberts and Gary Pollock
Using data from the Caucasus Barometer, Ken Roberts and Gary Pollock argue that ...
Fancy Living Abroad? 39% of Young Armenians Say "Preferably Forever"
Last year, Ani Navasardyan asked, “Why do so many Armenians leave Armenia?” Migration is also an issue in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Data from the CB 2010 reveals that around half of the respondents in Georgia (47%) and Azerbaijan (52%) are interested in temporary migration. Still, Armenia stands out since 64% of the adult population is open to the idea of temporarily leaving the country.
Gender | How Does the South Caucasus Compare?
CRRC’s report “How Does the South Caucasus Compare?” aims to put attitudes towards gender in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, the three countries of the South Caucasus region, into a global context.
A Further Look at Material Deprivation
Continuing to explore standards of living in the South Caucasus, this blog looks at the between four sources of household income and material deprivation using data from the 2010 Caucasus Barometer. Each of the four sources of income (salaries, pensions or government transfers, sales from agricultural goods, and remittances) are categorized by their importance to the household and then cross tabulated with material deprivation. The findings suggest that families reliant on salaries and remittances are better off, while families receiving pensions and government transfers, or those who sell agricultural products as their primary source of income have higher than average rates of material deprivation.
Labor Migration Article | Zvezda Dermendzhieva
In a recent article in Post-Communist Economies, Zvezda Dermendzhieva uses Caucasus Barometer data to compare labour migration from the South Caucasus.
Georgia: A Liberal or Socially Conservative Country?
How justified is it for Georgian women to bear a child or have sex outside of wedlock? Is the Georgian population tolerant towards homosexuals? What are views on issues such as these in the light of the western-oriented political course of the country? How do men and women compare in terms of liberal attitudes? To address these questions, this blog post presents the results from two waves of a nationwide public opinion survey entitled “Knowledge and Attitudes toward the EU in Georgia” conducted by CRRC in 2009 and 2011.
Insight to Georgian Households | CRRC Data on Economic Wellbeing in the Caucasus
How are Georgians doing financially, how much do they earn and what do they spend on? CRRC’s Data Initiative allows for an in-depth analysis of these and similar issues on the economic status of the population across the South Caucasus.
Obstacles for Civil Society Development in the South Caucasus
What are the reasons for low public engagement in the South Caucasus? Why, despite the large number of non-government organizations, civil society remains weak in all three countries?
Women in Parliament: How Do Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan Compare to Other Countries?
Expanding on the topic of a previous blog, this post compares statistics on the number of women in national parliaments in the South Caucasus and other areas of the world. The countries of the South Caucasus rank low on women’s participation in parliament compared to many other countries.
Caucasus Barometer | A New Name for the CRRC's Data Initiative
The CRRC’s annual Data Initiative Survey will be renamed into the Caucasus Barometer starting from 2010. At CRRC, we think that the new name better reflects the essence of the survey and is more understandable for the general public and the journalists.
Greatest Threats Facing the World | Data from the 2009 CB & the Global Attitudes Survey
By Jesse Tatum and Vazha Burduli
From environmental catastrophe to violence, our world currently faces serious challenges with long-term consequences. In this context, what do people in the Caucasus consider to be the most acute problems?
Regarding the greatest threats to the world today, the spread of nuclear weapons and poverty are foremost on the minds of people in the South Caucasus, according to the 2009 CB.
Attitudes toward the West | Caucasus Analytical Digest
Following an article on Georgians’ attitudes toward Russia, CRRC Fellows Therese Svensson and Julia Hon have written a new piece for CAD, entitled “Attitudes toward the West in the South Caucasus”. Their article looks at citizens’ views on three areas of relations — political, economic and cultural — between the South Caucasus and the West, in particular NATO, the US and the EU. The data were derived from the South Caucasus–wide 2007 and 2008 Data Initiatives (DI), as well as from the 2009 EU survey that was conducted in Georgia.
Ask CRRC!
When presenting our work, or talking about it informally, we are asked fairly similar questions: do you do your interviewing in all of the country? How do you select the respondents? How do you know they are not lying to you? Are people willing to say things critical of the government? How do you design a questionnaire?
Is the Caucasus in Europe or Asia? | Tim Straight at TEDxYerevan
A particularly intriguing talk at TEDxYerevan was given by Tim Straight, Honorary Consul of Norway and Finland to Armenia. Is the Caucasus in Europe or in Asia? Tim highlighted that there are five countries that defy easy categorization: Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and also Turkey. Tim explores how the dividing lines fall according to corporations, mapmakers and values.
Friends Are Hard To Come By: Friendship Divides by Gender in Azerbaijan
Close friends are an important part of life, whether we are starting a new school year as a child, a new job, or in the context of a stable and familiar environment. Whatever the backdrop, close friends help provide a social safety net where individuals can feel understood and protected against perceived obstacles and hardships. In short, friends are an important part of a sense of well-being and belonging, which affects attitudes across a wide spectrum of issues.
Policy Attitudes towards Women in Azerbaijan: Is Equality Part of the Agenda?
By Yuliya Aliyeva Gureyeva, Baku
The paper published in the 21st edition of the Caucasus Analytical Digest presents an account of how two competing policy approaches coexist in the policy attitudes towards women in Azerbaijan.
Alpha Version of CRRC Data Initiative now online!!!
The alpha version of our Data Initiative data set, broad household data, covering lots of household data, but also political attitudes, social development, some health, education, migration, and social capital questions (and more) is online now. We interviewed more than 8000 people, so this really is the single largest dataset that is available on developments across the South Caucasus.
Georgian Election | ODIHR Preliminary Report and its Percentages
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CRRC Publication Research Fellowship 2008 Available
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Bidzina Ivanishvili resigned from the post of prime minister of Georgia on November 20th 2013, and in his own words, “left politics“. Speculation about his continued informal participation in the political decision-making process began even before he resigned and still continues. Some politicians think that Ivanishvili gives orders to the Georgian Dream party from behind-the-scenes, while others believe that he actually distanced himself from politics. Politicians, journalists and experts continue to discuss the situation. Meanwhile, a majority of Georgia’s population thinks that Bidzina Ivanishvili is still involved in the governing process and that his informal participation is unacceptable.
Which groups name Russia as Georgia’s main enemy?
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Resisting Populism
Breandán Mac Suibhne
Under the Starry Flag: How a Band of Irish Americans Joined the Fenian Revolt and Sparked a Crisis over Citizenship, by Lucy E Salyer, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 316 pp, $29.95, ISBN: 978-0674057630
In autumn 1883 the pension fund of the New York Police Department was running low. Gus (properly Augustine) Costello, a native of Killimor, Co Galway, was then in charge of the Herald police bureau. From his office opposite police headquarters, he routinely despatched reporters to cover stories that came over the police wires or “through other police sources”. Now, hearing of the trouble with the pension fund, Costello spied an opportunity. He himself would write a history of the department; the book would be sold by the police, with the proceeds from advertisements and sales (bar Costello’s 20 per cent) going to the fund. His tome, Our Police Protectors (572 pages, not including advertisements), duly appeared in 1885. And it was no great success. Inspector Thomas F Byrnes, the headline-grabbing chief of the NYPD’s detective bureau, had also decided to write a book, and it was his sensational Professional Criminals of America (1886), not Costello’s survey, that the patrolmen pushed on the streets of New York.
Still, Costello had found a niche. Within two years, he had published Our Firemen: A History of the New York Fire Departments, Volunteer and Paid (1887), which, not including advertisements, ran to 1,112 pages, and he was soon at work on histories of the Minneapolis police department (1890; 336 pages) and the fire department of Chicago (1890; 524 pages). These books were followed by volumes on the police of Jersey City (1891; 428 pages), New Haven (1892; 201 pages), and Syracuse (1892; 222 pages), and the fire and police departments of Paterson, New Jersey (1893; 173 pages). In all, his eight histories comprise some 3,500 pages.
Gus Costello’s later books are hack administrative histories. Sold by cops and firemen to replenish their pension funds, they were no more intended to be read than the small print on lottery tickets. However, Our Firemen has merit, and Our Police Protectors, on the department that Costello knew best, is an accomplished work. A well-written survey of policing in New York, the latter book includes a particularly valuable account (over two chapters) of the Draft Riots of mid-July 1863 that benefits greatly from the author’s acquaintance with officers involved in their suppression. For Costello, who had served in the Union army during the Civil War (1861-65), this was the NYPD’s finest hour: “They fought for the Union in the streets of New York,” he writes of the city’s cops, “just as truly as the soldiers of the Republic did upon the banks of the Potomac.” Indeed, the title of Costello’s book is adapted from a striking illustration, “Their Brave Protector”, by Constantin de Grimm, the great Vanity Fair illustrator, who the Herald’s publisher, James Gordon Bennett, had brought to New York in 1884. It depicts a burly white cop protecting an African American family. Costello displays great sympathy for the city’s “negroes” and he is scathing about the “mob”. Interestingly, he does not acknowledge the central role of Irish people in that mob, but his own account, with its litany of policemen with names like Farrell and Kennedy, McCarthy and Walsh, and his labouring of the point that patrolmen had to leave their own homes, wives and children to obey the call of duty, serves as a reminder that the riots were an expression of a civil war within the city’s Irish communities.
Elsewhere in Our Police Protectors, readers may discern the shoots of Progressivism, the social reform movement that was to sweep the US in the late 1890s. For instance, Costello is particularly absorbing in discussing wild claims about Chinese involvement in crime. Chinese people had first started to arrive in numbers in the US in the 1850s to mine and build railroads out west. There, in the years after the Civil War, they found themselves in increasingly bitter competition with European workers. White politicians, in turn, stoked anti-Chinese racism in the hopes of getting votes from Europeans, not least the Irish. Indeed, in 1882, with the Chinese Exclusion Act, the United States, for the first time, expressly prohibited the immigration of workers belonging to a specific national group; the act, the provisions of which were extended to other Asians in the 1920s, would remain on the statute books until 1943. The years immediately after the passage of the act, the very time when Costello wrote Our Police Protectors, witnessed a spike in anti-Chinese sentiment. Through the mid-1880s, New York’s press frothed about the dangers which the city’s opium joints posed to the morals of white Americans. Costello devotes the final chapter of his book to an extended account of the rise of opium-smoking in the city, but, while he is patronising about “Chinamen”, he resists populism. Notably, he approvingly quotes Captain John McCullagh of the Sixth Precinct, who had observed the ravages of opium in the Chinese community, dismissing lurid allegations in the press “about Chinamen dragging young girls to their dens and stupefying them with the drug”: “The Chinamen are one of the most harmless classes of dwellers in New York. They interfere with no one, they never fight or hurt one another, and you never find them drunk or disorderly on the streets.”
For many observers in the 1880s, opium-smoking was a vice that the Chinese would never shake. “Raiding the joints won’t stop the smoking,” Costello was told by another police captain; “It only drives the Chinamen from one house to another, that’s all. As long as Chinamen are Chinamen they will continue to smoke it.” But for Costello himself, opium smoking could be traced not to some racial weakness but to the same source as much of the “vice and crime” in the city: the “promiscuous herding together of human beings in tenements”, where the “refining and restraining influences of family life” were degraded. The Galwayman, who claimed to have been the first newspaperman to use the term “Tenderloin District” for the section of Manhattan where the police tolerated (and profited from) vice, ends this concluding chapter of Our Police Protectors with a trenchant appeal for urban reform.
If Costello’s resistance to populism intrigues, Our Police Protectors is made thoroughly enjoyable by the honey-sweet irony of its author, who goes into great detail on detective work, the cells in police stations and the like, having been himself, less than twenty years earlier, a celebrated political prisoner. In short, the historian of the NYPD was a convicted “terrorist”, a Fenian who had been jailed in Ireland and Britain. There are associated ironies too, not least Costello’s inclusion of illustrations commissioned from Thomas Nast, whose stock-in-trade had included cartoons depicting ape-like Fenians corrupting American democracy. And so Our Police Protectors is a particularly enjoyable history when you know the author’s own story.
The story of Gus Costello’s capture, conviction and confinement is, by any measure, a good yarn ‑ so good, in fact, that it is a marvel that it has not yet been the subject of an underfunded documentary on TG4, RTÉ or BBC NI. It can be summarised succinctly. On April 12th, 1867, some forty young Irishmen, both Irish-born and Irish Americans, boarded a steamer at Canal Street, Manhattan. The steamer chugged through New York harbour, passing between Staten Island and Brooklyn, before coming to anchor off Sandy Hook, New Jersey. There, the passengers boarded an 81ft brigantine and one of them, John Kavanagh, who had served with distinction in the US Navy in the Civil War, took command of the vessel, setting a southerly course, as if bound for the Caribbean. Then, when confident he was clear of Coastguard patrols, Kavanagh steered east, out into the Atlantic.
In the hold of Kavanagh’s ship, in crates and barrels labelled “wine” and “machinery”, was a vast consignment of weapons, estimated to have comprised over 8,000 rifles and 1.5 million rounds of ammunition, that had been gathered up by the Fenians in the aftermath of the Civil War ‑ a conflict of which most (if not all) the men on board were veterans. On Easter Sunday, April 21st, just over a week out of New York, Captain Kavanagh called his passengers and crew together, took down the Union Jack, under which they had sailed, and hoisted a green flag with a golden sunburst; three small artillery pieces were fired as all on board saluted the flag of Ireland. Then, opening some sealed orders that he had been given in New York by Captain John Powell, the Fenians’ “chief of naval affairs”, Kavanagh detailed their mission: they were to sail to Donegal Bay and land their cargo at Sligo, where they would join a Fenian insurrection. Their mission now clear, Kavanagh renamed the ship Erin’s Hope.
Having battled heavy seas and storms, the ship arrived in Donegal Bay in the third week of May. Kavanagh cruised the bay for some days, making signals given him in New York. But there was no answering signal from the lonely Sligo shore. By then, the Crown had effectively crushed the Fenian insurrection that had begun in March. At length, Kavanagh decided to send some men ashore. However, before they could depart, Michael Gallagher, the pilot at Teelin, Co Donegal, observing the ship’s odd behaviour and assuming that the captain needed assistance getting her into port, had rowed out to the vessel. After letting Gallagher come aboard, the Fenians arrested him and ordered him to pilot the vessel to Streedagh strand in north Sligo. Yet again, before any landing could be made, another visitor arrived: Ricard [sic] O’Sullivan Burke, an Irish-born veteran of the Civil War who was now deputy head centre of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Later described by John Devoy as “by long odds the most remarkable man the Fenian movement produced and also one of the ablest”, Burke had been sent from America to England to arrange a raid on Chester Castle in February 1867, intended to secure a major arsenal for immediate shipment to Ireland. When the raid was abandoned, Burke was ordered to Waterford to lead the insurrection there. Few men turning out, and the rising collapsing, Burke, disguised as an English artist, had been despatched to the northwest to intercept the Erin’s Hope and direct the captain to land the weapons in Cork.
Divisions were now growing on board the ship about the prospects of the mission. In a row, one of the Fenians, Daniel J Buckley, a twenty-five-year-old Cork-born New York jeweller, shot and wounded two others. Kavanagh put the two wounded men with another to assist them ashore in Streedagh, along with the Teelin pilot, Gallagher; they were soon detained by the authorities. The Erin’s Hope, meanwhile, now pressed south along the coast of Mayo and Galway and, without encountering any British vessels, skirted Clare, Kerry and Cork, where it was decided not to land the weapons, before finally reaching Waterford. There, on June 1st, off Helvick Head, Kavanagh got fishermen to take some thirty Fenians (there is uncertainty as to the exact numbers involved), without arms, ashore. These men, who had been seven weeks at sea, were to make contact with local republicans and arrange to land their cargo. However, a Coastguard officer spotted them disembarking and raised the alarm. Within a few hours, the constabulary had picked up most of these unarmed men, with the last two to be arrested taken up on June 4th; according to oral sources cited in a well-researched essay by the maritime historian Sylvester Ó Muirí, four managed to avoid detection. As for the Erin’s Hope, having disembarked most of the Fenians, she had sailed out to sea. Kavanagh brought her back to the Waterford coast on June 7th, when, receiving no signals, he cruised for a few days and then sailed for America. On August 1st, the ship reached New York with thirteen of the men who had embarked on her in the second week of April.
The Crown had been lucky but now it had a problem. The men who had come ashore in June had committed no serious crime in Ireland; while they were understood to be “foreign fighters”, to borrow a phrase from the Afghan War of our own time, they had done no fighting on Irish soil. The authorities opted to intern them under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act, but that move and a later decision to prosecute some of them under the Treason Felony Act raised another question: were these fighters foreign? For sure, they all professed to be American, but the Crown distinguished two groups, native-born and naturalised Americans, and it refused to accept that men in the latter category, who had been born in Ireland and later taken out US citizenship, had any right to renounce their status as subjects of Queen Victoria; it was a case of once a subject always a subject. Here, there was the making of a major controversy, with the detainees protesting that they were Americans and demanding the support of the US diplomatic service, which was grudgingly accorded to them.
Ultimately, three principals ‑ John Warren, a native of Cork, and Gus Costello, the Galwayman, and William Nagle, the American-born son of a Corkman ‑ were tried under the Treason Felony Act, despite all three being US citizens. Warren and Costello, who were tried in Green Street, Dublin, in October and November 1867, were convicted and got fifteen years and twelve years respectively. They were transferred to England to serve their sentences. Buckley, the jeweller who had shot two comrades off Sligo, had turned informer after his arrest, and he had given a detailed account of the expedition, including the administration of an “unlawful oath” to the unfortunate Teelin pilot that proved pivotal in the case. The trial of Nagle, at Sligo in February 1868, collapsed when the sheriff was unable to meet his demand for a jury of six British subjects and six aliens; there was, it seems, a shortage of aliens in Sligo. There too, in March, the trial of a less prominent participant, Patrick Nugent, also collapsed, when a juror took ill with “English cholera”, a euphemism for diarrhoea; the press speculated that it was Irish liquor, provided by the sheriff, not English cholera that afflicted the unfortunate juror.
Nagle and Nugent were remanded in custody after their trials collapsed. By then, the majority of the rank and file detainees had agreed to accept a passage back to New York. There, and in other cities across the US, Irish republicans had made a catch-cry of “expatriation” (the right to renounce citizenship of one country and become the citizens of another) and they were stirring up considerable animosity to the UK beyond their core constituency: immigrants of all nationalities grasped the import of the issue. In February, just before Nagle’s trial, the House of Representatives had carried an Expatriation Bill that asserted native and naturalised citizens were equally entitled to the protection of the US government if unfairly treated when travelling abroad: the right of expatriation, it declared, was “a natural and inherent right of all people, indispensable to the enjoyment of the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. The bill empowered the president to suspend commercial relations with countries that unlawfully detained US citizens and, controversially, it included a “hostage” clause, allowing the retaliatory detention of subjects of a foreign state to secure the release of US citizens unjustly jailed overseas. Later, in July, an amended bill passed the Senate. Gone now were the hostage and commercial retaliation clauses, replaced by language empowering the president to use any “necessary and proper means … not amounting to acts of war” to secure the release of US citizens. Still, for the first time, the United States had declared in law that individuals had a right to determine the country to which they owed allegiance.
By then, July 1868, only Warren and Costello remained in custody: in May, the Crown had released Nagle and the last six untried men from the Erin’s Hope, when they acknowledged their reasons for coming to Ireland and agreed to return to the States. Ultimately, in February 1869, Gus Costello was transferred from Portland back to Mountjoy and released. Warren, who had been held in Millbank and Chatham, was released in March. After visiting their home places, and making defiant speeches at public meetings, they sailed together from Cork for New York on April 29th.
The Erin’s Hope has been well-remembered by Irish people of a certain political stamp. Sports clubs and fife and drum bands around the country took the name “Erin’s Hope” and in both Waterford and southwest Donegal, song and story, that long survived in oral tradition, illuminated local involvement in the affair. Speeches that Warren and Costello gave in Green Street earned them a place in the pantheon of Irish republican orators included in the Sullivan brothers’ Speeches from the Dock, the forty-eighth (and not last) Dublin edition of which appeared in 1890. Costello himself serialised a jail journal in the republican press and the expedition features in the memoirs of prominent Fenians such as John Devoy and O’Donovan Rossa. The latter, in his often reprinted Irish Rebels in English Prisons (1876), recalls being incarcerated with Warren and Costello in England and he recounts, in great detail, how they and other Union veterans, with their “Yankee notions”, were the most inclined of the Fenian prisoners to kick against rules and regulations. From the Irishman in the late 1860s through the Wolfe Tone Annual in the mid-1900s to An Phoblacht/Republican News in the late 1900s and early 2000s, republican journals and periodicals regularly revisited the Erin’s Hope, and it has been the subject of at least one pamphlet and several essays, including the fine piece by Ó Muirí mentioned above. The affair also figures prominently in scholarly histories of Fenianism, including The Fenians: Irish Rebellion in the North Atlantic World, 1858-76 (Kentucky UP, 2013) by Patrick Steward and Bryan McGovern, as well as studies of US foreign policy and citizenship; prominent among the latter is Bernadette Whelan’s American Government in Ireland, 1790-1913 (Manchester UP, 2010), a thorough analysis of the development of the American consular service in Ireland.
Lucy E Salyer’s Under the Starry Flag explores the ramifications of the expedition in the newly re-United States, that is, its blasting of expatriation to the forefront of politics in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. It combines a short account of the expedition and the court and prison experiences of a few of those arrested with a detailed but accessible analysis of the politicking that resulted in the passage of the Expatriation Act, hailed by the republican Irishman as “Our Victory”. Crucially, Salyer emphasises that the controversy occasioned by the Erin’s Hope (and, indeed, by the detention of other American Fenians in the UK) occurred when America was about to experience an extraordinary surge in immigration: “Almost 13 million immigrants arrived in the United States between 1868 and 1900”, she writes, and “another 14.5 million followed between 1901 and 1920”. As America became more urban ‑ by 1920, 50 per cent of its people lived in towns and cities ‑ and industrial, a new nativism emerged, “stirred by fears that America was under siege by foreign forces”. And so, while Irish republicans might claim to have “woke up the American people” and to have secured the “sacred” right of expatriation for all Americans, succeeding decades would see that right become strained. In an insightful conclusion, Salyer traces the evolution of citizenship in the decades that followed the act. Herself the author of a well-received study of Chinese immigration, Laws Harsh as Tigers: Chinese Immigrants and the Shaping of Modern Immigration Law (1995), she details how the Exclusion Act of 1882 “migrated” to other countries, becoming a “global colour line” to keep the Chinese out of the western hemisphere and “white settler nations”.
To her credit, Salyer gets the original name of the Erin’s Hope correct: it was called the Jacmel, after a city in Haiti, not the Jacknell, as many Irish writers, polemic and academic, have rendered it, replicating an error in the contemporary press and an early edition of Speeches from the Dock. Still, elementary mistakes in an introductory chapter will irritate readers. The United Irishmen did not begin as a “small elite movement” in 1789; it was established as a society dominated by merchants and professionals in 1791. The Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 did not allow Catholics “to vote and hold limited offices” ‑ it allowed them to sit in parliament; male Catholics, meeting certain property qualifications, had the right to vote and hold “limited offices” since 1793. National schools were not “set up by England in 1830”; Westminster was then the parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, yet the national school system was established not by any statute carried there, but rather on foot of a letter, composed in October 1831 (not 1830), by cabinet member Edward Stanley, the chief secretary for Ireland, outlining government policy for state-funded elementary education in Ireland. Finally, Thomas Davis died in 1845, making the description of him as “the leader of the ‘Young Ireland’ movement of the late 1840s”, a little off. All this is small beer ‑ albeit small beer that should cause Harvard University Press some concern about its review process.
It is not such sins of commission but one of omission that is, for this reader, the most baffling feature of the book, namely, Salyer’s decision to build the narrative around Warren to the almost complete exclusion of Costello. Warren’s name was twinned with Costello’s as surely as Butch Cassidy’s is tied to that of the Sundance Kid. Costello was tried separately from Warren, but immediately after him, and later writers often mistakenly referred to “the trial of Warren and Costello”. A great banquet in Cork celebrating their release was “the Warren and Costello Banquet”. They returned together to the States and a reception was arranged in New York for “Warren and Costello”. Meanwhile, in the UK, the Naturalization Act, carried by Westminster in 1870, that allowed subjects of the Crown to renounce their British status, was popularly known (“in Ireland at least”, as AM Sullivan put it in his widely-read New Ireland [1877]) as “the Warren and Costello Act”.
But here the reader learns less of Gus Costello than William Nagle (a connection of Nano Nagle, foundress of the Presentation Order of nuns) who had sailed with them on the Erin’s Hope ‑ including the intriguing detail that Nagle’s father, David, by then a Whig politician in the States, in a letter to government offering to provide information on the Fenians if his son were released, had revealed himself to have been prominent in the Captain Rock disturbances in the early 1820s. In fact, there is no mention in Under the Starry Flag of either Costello’s journalistic career or his histories and, after the initial feting of “Warren and Costello” on their return to the US, he performs only two small walk-on parts, both at funerals: Salyer notes that, in 1869, he acted, with Warren, as a pallbearer at Nagle’s funeral (he had killed himself) and that, in 1895, he delivered a “stirring eulogy” for Warren after he was killed by falling masonry.
Salyer’s focus on Warren (there is, inter alia, a full chapter on his home town of Clonakilty) and neglect of Costello is very hard to understand. In truth, Warren was far less interesting than the man who spoke at his grave. After a brief involvement in an Irish republican newspaper in Boston, Warren, as Salyer concedes, took “no prominent part in public affairs” and became, of all things, a real estate agent, a prosaic profession for a revolutionary. By contrast, Gus Costello, who had been an actor before enlisting in the Union army during the Civil War, remained a popular speaker at Irish republican events in New York into the early 1900s, and, it seems, he had a lively private life: in 1889 he sent his friend (and sometimes patron) John Devoy a curious note discussing how best to deal with “a very dangerous woman” who, assisted by a clergyman (“Who can the priest be? Can we not find out?”), was demanding money of either himself or a mutual friend. Most importantly, as chief of the Herald’s police bureau in the early 1880s, Costello had a ringside seat on the politics of gilded age New York and, between the Herald and Irish republican newspapers on which he worked, as well as his histories, he left a considerable paper trail. Hence, Salyer’s sin of omission constitutes more than a lapse in storytelling, for, as evidenced by his own treatment of “negroes” and “Chinamen”, the convicted Fenian-cum-historian would have given her greater scope for probing issues of race and “terror”, rights and citizenship.
And for sure, Gus Costello would have given Salyer rich material for an epilogue tracing the de facto limits put by the police on the rights that citizenship bestows, a subject of enduring significance to many Americans, not least African Americans. As mentioned, after publication of Our Police Protectors in 1885, the Galwayman set to writing a history of the FDNY, with the proceeds to benefit the firemen’s pension fund. But, much as happened with his book on the NYPD, the department’s support was withdrawn and the city’s firemen opted to hawk a book by a better-connected author. Meanwhile, men employed to sell advertisements in Costello’s book were routinely arrested, only to be released without charge, in order to “kill” his project. On one occasion, in early November 1888, following a complaint by a fire captain, two of his sellers were arrested for using an illegal document (a recalled approval letter used to solicit advertisements). Costello took himself off to police headquarters to secure their release. There, he encountered an old nemesis, Inspector Alexander Williams, who, when “Czar of the Tenderloin”, had resented Costello for publicising his tolerance of vice. Williams had him arrested and taken to the Old Slip police station (now the home of the New York Police Museum), in what was then a lonely and dangerous section of the city, where Captain William McLaughlin and two other police officers inflicted a severe beating on him with brass knuckles. Convinced that the police would kill him, Costello secreted a note in his sock: “If I am found dead here tomorrow, I want it known that I am murdered by Captain McLaughlin and his crowd.” He was charged with attempting to destroy evidence (the sellers’ letters) and dragged to court the following day, but so severely had he been beaten the authorities considered it best to drop the case.
If battered and bruised, Costello was also deeply “humiliated and disgraced” by the beating. Historian Daniel Czitrom, in his riveting New York Exposed: The Gilded Age Police Scandal that Launched the Progressive Era (Oxford University Press, 2016), a work not cited here, observes that the Galwayman never sought to publicise what happened to him or to prosecute the offending policemen. There was, he would only say, “no use to go to law with the devil and court in hell”. But his Irish republicanism was doubtless a factor too: according to one contemporary, the journalist WT Stead, “being a revolutionary Irishman, [Costello] had a morbid horror of doing anything which could in any way lead any one to accuse him, no matter how falsely, of being an informer”.
Ultimately, Costello did make a sensational appearance before the Lexow Commission on police corruption in New York (1894-95) to testify about the beating he had received in the Old Slip, but he only did so, as Czitrom emphasises in New York Exposed, after being subpoenaed by its chief counsel, an old friend, John W Goff. A native of Wexford, Goff had himself been active in Irish republican organisations in New York for several decades, including, irony of ironies, chairing the committee that arranged the Fenians’ other great maritime venture, the Catalpa rescue of prisoners from Fremantle, western Australia in 1875. Costello proved a reluctant witness, reminding his interlocutors that he was there under protest. Still, pressed by the commission to compare his treatment in Ireland and Britain with his treatment by the NYPD, and asked specifically if he had ever been beaten, he replied: “I never was. They treated me within the rules with a great deal of rigor, but they never assaulted me.”
While the dark street to the Old Slip is one that, regrettably, Salyer opted not to take, she has produced a fine study of the politics of citizenship in post-bellum America. In the Age of Trump, when Muslims have become the “new Chinese”, as Salyer rightly describes them, it deserves a wide readership in the United States. And it deserves a readership in Ireland too, not least in the South, where, in a cruel and ungenerous act, people voting in the 2004 referendum shamefully decided that a child born in Ireland is not Irish unless one parent is an Irish citizen, thus diminishing, for the children of non-citizens, “the right to have rights”.
One is loath to be harsh on what is in many respects an exemplary political history. Still, the book’s somewhat breathless subtitle led this reader to expect a more rounded tale of the men who crossed the Atlantic under the sunburst flag of Ireland only to be compelled to take refuge under the starry flag of the United States. And, even as a study of the politics of citizenship in the States, there can be little doubt but that Under the Starry Flag would have been a fuller, more complete book if Salyer had concerned herself less with the realtor John Warren and more with the actor, journalist, historian, victim of police brutality, and, latterly, lawyer and lobbyist (for New York’s optometrists) Gus Costello. Galway’s “terrorist” historian would have taken the reader to places that Salyer does not go.
Breandán Mac Suibhne is the author of The End of Outrage (Oxford University Press, 2017)
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Interpol begin work on album three
by Mike Diver November 23rd, 2006
New Yorkers Interpol have begun recording their new album, their third following Turn On The Bright Lights and Antics.
The as-yet-untitled long-player will be the band's first for Capitol, following their recent move from indie label Matador, home to those aforementioned releases. The record's expected to be released in late 2007, and of it the band comments (via their website):
"The atmosphere and environs of a recording facility affect the sound and feel of an album in the subtlest ways. And we are affected. And it is subtle."
Said environs equal the Soho area of New York, rather than, like, Dean Street. Which last we looked - last night, since you asked - hasn't been relocated from central London to NYC just yet.
If you're yet to really 'get' Interpol, you might be interested to hear that soon you'll have the opportunity to win some of their songs, in something we're likely to call a 'competition'. It might have something to do with Our 66, if you can remember back a whole month. Yeah, maybe...
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Every Time I Die 'Ex Lives' (album stream)
Buffalo, NY hardcore outfit Every Time I Die recently announced that they would be releasing their sixth studio album on March 6 via Epitaph, but now you can stream Ex Lives in its entirety before it hits shelves.
The new record is the band's follow-up to 2009's New Junk Aesthetic, and if you haven't already, you can watch the video for lead single "Revival Mode" over here.
Featuring a tracklist that includes titles like "Partying is Such Sweet Sorrow" and "Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space," it's hard not to be intrigued.
Check out the band's upcoming tour dates over here and stream Ex Lives in the player below.
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Reviews of 'Labor Day,' 'That Awkward Moment' and '12 O'Clock Boys' Lead This Week's Film Roundup
By Melissa Ross
Too many exceptional new movies to choose from this weekend? We hear you. If you're overwhelmed, don't fret: as is our weekly custom, we've rounded up this week's reviews in an easy-to-read write-up below so you can choose the best film for you. For more reviews, don't forget to visit our Recently Reviewed section weekly.
Directed by Jason Reitman and starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, Labor Day takes place over a hot labour day weekend and tells the tale of a depressed single mother, her son and an escaped convict. Wondering if this romantic thriller is worth your time? You'll have to read the review to find out.
Lighthearted chick flick That Awkward Moment follows Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan while they live it up playing the field in New York City, but if their hi-jinx are too superficial for you, you might find 12 O'Clock Boys more to your liking. The documentary film by Lotfy Nathan captures three years in the life of Pug, a young teenage boy who finds solace in an urban subculture of dirt bikes and trouble in the slums of West Baltimore.
Still haven't found what you're looking for? Paolo Sorrentino's The Great Beauty, which topped critic's lists as one of the best films of 2013 and was nominated for 'Best Foreign Language Film' at the upcoming Academy Awards, focuses on aging playboy Jep Gambardella as he coasts through life with booze, sex, drugs and the endless Roman nightlife.
Finally, Jeff Barnaby's award winning directorial debut Rhymes For Young Ghouls centres on a Mi'kmaq reserve in the mid '70s, and tells the tale of a young girl and her plot for revenge. Although it's a fictional story, the film meditates on the history of abuse of First Nations people by government agents. Think this might be the one for you? Check out our review to be sure.
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← Wolf’s Moon Epilogue 3
Blind Eye 4.2 →
Blind Eye 4.1
Where are we going again? Snowflake asked me.
I glanced around to make sure there was nobody around. I get enough weird looks without people seeing me talking to a husky. “We’re going to see my friend Mohammad,” I replied aloud. I’ve long since given up on pretending that Snowflake doesn’t understand English, and talking is easier than telepathy.
I don’t know him.
“Nope,” I agreed. “You haven’t met him. I haven’t seen him in years. He teaches at the college I went to.”
Oh. What’s he want?
“Now that is a question,” I said. “He was…less than clear over the phone. Whatever it was, it sounded like he wanted to talk to me. Hell if I know why.”
So why are you bringing me?
“You’re the only thug I could find on short notice,” I explained. “And, strangely enough, these days I have a thing about going somewhere based on sketchy phone calls without a thug.”
As though to illustrate my point, the bulb of a streetlight exploded above and behind me. Not an explosion in the typical sense, you understand; there was no noticeable heat, very little concussive force. Just a rapidly expanding cloud of shrapnel, which was plenty dangerous on its own.
Snowflake and I both dove forward instantly. That’s actually sort of unusual, as people go. Most people, confronted with danger, will spend at least a tiny instant shocked, trying to figure out what’s going on. I used to be like that, before my life turned into a roller coaster between “surprisingly happy” and “living hell.”
These days, not so much. I’d been exposed to so many assassination attempts—and, by virtue of being near me, so had Snowflake—that violence and destruction no longer came as a surprise. Not even an interruption in routine. Which probably is, itself, the sign of a serious and troubling psychological problem. On the bright side, it meant that I reacted nearly instantly to such events, and usually in a remarkably efficient way. I’ve gotten good at staying alive.
Which I’m pretty sure is the whole point of the exercise. I liked to think that I was obtaining a certain amount of psychological insight into the person targeting me, and it really did feel almost like a training exercise. Granted it was one which, if I made a mistake, would be more than happy to kill me, but it was still meant to be survivable if I reacted correctly.
In this case, that meant diving away from the source of danger instantly, before I was even aware what had happened. Once I realized what it was, I reached out with a semi-instinctive blast of wind, pushing against the shards of glass and throwing them the other way. The few that got through I caught in a thick layer of condensed air well before they touched us.
It wasn’t a perfect defense. Bullets, for example, have too much kinetic energy relative to their size for me to stop that way. I’d done the math once and estimated that, in order to stop the average medium-caliber bullet with my best density of thickened air, I would need almost fifty yards. That, as should be pretty obvious, isn’t something I’m terribly likely to have available when somebody’s shooting at me.
But for this? Yeah, I could make it work.
I stood up, brushed myself off, and turned to look at the wreckage. There were itty-bitty pieces of glass scattered for about ten yards in all directions from the epicenter, excepting about a ten-degree arc around Snowflake and myself. The shards of glass still hanging in the air were actually kind of pretty, too. Almost like a prism. I relaxed and they dropped, hitting the ground with a gentle tinkling sound.
“Scoreboard,” I said, just now feeling the adrenaline rush. “Them: zero. Us: five hundred eighty-two. You know, I think they’re really starting to grasp at straws here. That’s the third explosion this week.”
What? Everybody needs a hobby.
Mohammed met me at the door. He looked…old, and tired, with more lines on his face than the last time I’d seen him. I was betting he hadn’t slept in a while; he had the sort of worn, quietly desperate feel I associated with people under stress and near the end of their rope. In spite of that he managed a weary smile when he saw me.
“Winter,” he said. “Please, come in. Are you well?”
I stepped across the threshold, hanging my coat and hat on the stand near the door. I didn’t really need them, but camouflage is second nature to me. “I am,” I said to him. “And yourself?” Mohammed obviously had bigger things preying on his mind, but he wouldn’t skip the politnesses. That was the kind of man he was.
He waved one hand dismissively. “A passing flu. It is nothing. Can I get you something? Some tea, perhaps?”
“As tempting as that sounds, perhaps business should come first?”
He nodded gratefully. “Yes, I think that may be the case.”
“So what did you need? And why are we here, for that matter?” Here being a small, rundown house in the middle of a small, rundown neighborhood. It was scrupulously clean inside, and felt intensely homey, right down to smelling of spice and baking. It was also very definitely not Mohammed’s house. He did quite well for himself teaching at the college, and had a nice place not far from it. I had a hard time believing he’d gone from that to living here.
“Ah,” he said. “That is where things become…complicated.”
I sighed. “Somehow I just knew you were going to say that.” I glanced at Snowflake, silently telling her to wait here, and followed Mohammed up the stairs.
Upstairs was more of the same. There were cracks in the walls and the paint was faded, but everything was clean and well-maintained, the flat and colorless carpet scrupulously vacuumed. Mohammed led me down a short hallway and into what was very obviously a young man’s bedroom.
Here, the unfailing cleanliness was abandoned. Oh, it wasn’t anything like as bad as some rooms of its type; it didn’t even smell. But there was a little clutter, things that hadn’t been put back in their proper places. Posters on the walls showcased a fondness for extreme sports and classic rock. This room, too, felt homey, comfortable and welcoming. Places really do have an aura of sorts, which I’d been more sensitive to ever since I visited the spirit world, and this home felt well-loved.
There were two things out of place. One was the chair pulled up next to the bed. A woman sat on it, head bowed in prayer. I wasn’t sure what language she was whispering in; Arabic or something similar, probably, given that she knew Mohammed. She had the same worn, weary look that he did.
The second was the person on the bed. He looked about seventeen, and this was obviously his room. He was also very obviously the woman’s son. He lay atop the covers, fully dressed. It didn’t look like he was asleep. It looked more like he was dead. His eyes were closed, his hands folded on his breast. Aside from the faint motion of his breathing, he moved not at all, not even a reflexive twitch or murmur.
While I looked around Mohammed walked over to his mother. He said a few words to her in the same language she’d been using. She nodded stiffly, stood up, and walked out of the room, closing the door gently behind herself. I pretended not to notice the tears in her eyes.
I walked over to stand next to the bed. There was magic present, I noted, human in origin with a touch of bitterness underneath, and strong enough to make my sinuses itch. More like bleach than the normal disinfectant. Interesting.
“Has he been like this long?” I asked Mohammed.
“Nearly a day now,” he replied. “Fatima—his mother—she says that yesterday Abdul seemed tired when he returned from school, progressing to dizziness and confusion. About an hour later he collapsed.”
“Have you contacted a doctor?” I asked, focusing on sorting out the layers of magic hanging around Abdul.
“Yes, of course,” he said. “That was the first thing she thought to do. They could find nothing wrong. They suggested more tests, perhaps a stay in the hospital, or consulting a psychiatrist, but they have no money for such things. And I think not even the doctors thought that it would be of help.”
I passed a gentle wave of magic over the boy, raw energy that hadn’t been forced by my will into an actual spell. The scent didn’t waver or shift in the slightest, and I frowned. “Probably right,” I said absently. “How about an exorcist?”
Mohammed smiled without much humor. “That was the second thing,” he said. “He seemed to stir and even to cry out, but afterward returned to…this. The imam said that he could feel a presence in the boy, but it didn’t seem to respond to the words of the Prophet.”
“Interesting,” I said absently. “So medicine didn’t work, the imam couldn’t fix it, you called me…why? Because I’m a werewolf?” It wouldn’t be the first time people assumed that somehow, by virtue of not being quite human, I knew everything there was to know about the supernatural. Granted, that wasn’t as false of an assumption in my case as some, but still. It’s kinda weird to pick a total stranger, based purely on them being a werewolf, and ask them to recommend a good medium. That’s just asking to be conned.
“You are many things,” Mohammed said, a gently chiding note in his voice. “And a werewolf is not, I think, first among them.” He regarded me levelly. “I know that you are a man of power, Winter. You do not wish to speak of such things, and I respect this.” He nodded at Abdul. “This man needs your help. Please.”
I sighed. “Of course, of course. You didn’t need to fight dirty, you know.” For a man with no real connection to the supernatural world, Mohammed was pretty perceptive, and surprisingly open-minded. I’m pretty sure he knows that a good portion of his students and coworkers alike aren’t human by any traditional definition, although he would never say so openly.
“I’ll do what I can,” I said after a moment. “Although it isn’t likely to be much. And…I would appreciate it if you could perhaps…keep this between us?”
“Of course,” he assured me.
“Okay,” I said. “How well would you say you know Abdul here?”
“Quite well, I would say. Why?”
“Somebody’s gotta make some decisions here,” I said. “And since Abdul doesn’t appear to be at home right now, I figure you’re as good a pick as anybody.”
“Perhaps his mother should be here.”
I shook my head. “I’m not looking for someone to chart his path for him or impose their beliefs on him. Just somebody who knows him well enough to tell me what he’d want, if he were able to choose himself. I trust you for that.”
He hesitated, then nodded resignedly. “Very well. Do you think that you can help him?”
“Maybe,” I said. “There’s magic at work here. Human, I would say, or a very close relative…not werewolf, but….” I shook my head. “Not important right now. From the way that it reacts I think he’s almost certainly not exhibiting a developing talent himself, which means that someone else is responsible.”
Mohammed’s lips tightened. “A curse? Black magic?”
“That’s a possibility, yes.”
“Can you find the one who did it?”
I shrugged. “Given three or four hours to examine this, a chance to compare it to similar spells cast by the same person, an object bearing their scent, and a healthy dose of luck, maybe. Which means no.”
“You said a curse was a possibility,” he said after a moment. “What other possibilities are there?”
“Well,” I said, “it could always be black magic, like you suggested. Or it could be an accident—sometimes kids, who don’t know what they’re doing or even that they have magic, can cause problems like this without meaning to. Or, heck, could be something beneficial.”
“I fail to see how this,” Mohammed gestured vaguely at the boy on the bed, “could possibly be of benefit.”
“Well, it could be that someone felt they needed to incapacitate him for some reason. It’s generally considered preferable to put someone out for a day or so than kill them outright. Of course, the fact that it apparently took more than an hour to activate makes that seem unlikely. Or it could be that they were attempting to prevent something worse—like, if they knew that going to school today would get him shot they make sure he can’t.”
“I see,” he said thoughtfully. “But you do not think this is the case?”
“Nope,” I said cheerfully. “If I had to guess, I’d say that you were right the first time. Somebody put a curse on him.”
“What is to be done about it?”
“Ah,” I said. “Now, that is where the choices come in. The first thing you could try is another exorcism. This isn’t quite what those are meant to deal with, but magic does react to prayer sometimes. A sufficient concentration of faith and the desire to heal might be enough to deal with this. I’m not sure how big you’d have to get, but definitely a lot more than last time.”
“That would be…difficult to arrange,” Mohammed said reluctantly.
“I know. That leaves us with a variety of less…palatable options. First off, I could summon a demon and see if it can help him.”
Mohammed shook his head vehemently. “No. Absolutely not. Abdul is a very devout young man. He would absolutely not want you to condemn your soul on his behalf.”
“What?” Suddenly I realized my mistake and shook my head. “Sorry. Poor wording. I don’t really deal with that kind of demon. I mean more…it’s a nonphysical being which embodies a given concept. If I could find one whose nature is of healing and compassion, and if the malady afflicting him is spiritual in origin, then that spirit might be able to help him.”
Mohammed frowned. “I am…uneasy with this idea.”
“Well,” I admitted, “it’s not a perfect solution. This doesn’t really feel like shamanic magic, so it might not accomplish anything. And, even if it does, such beings tend to charge a fee. If we get it to work, I can either pay it myself, or he can. Up to him.”
“He would prefer you not indebt yourself for him,” Mohammed said, “if it comes to that. But I think perhaps that this is not the best solution.”
I snorted. “I’ll warn you right now, I don’t have a best solution. If I did, I would have just done it instead of talking about it. But okay, let’s move on. I could also call up my…mentor, you might call him. He’s very skilled, and I can practically guarantee that he would be of some assistance here. However, he is also very expensive. I honestly can’t say what he might charge, and I can’t guarantee that I would be able to cover the expense.”
“Perhaps these are not the best ideas either.”
“Well, no. That only really leaves one option left, which is that I try and help him myself.” I held up one hand to forestall whatever he was going to say. “Now, I have to tell you, this is not my specialty. If this was done the way I think it was, I could conceivably fix it, but it isn’t something I’ve ever tried before. There’s a very good chance that I would cause more harm than I’d fix, accidentally.”
Mohammed and I stood in silence for a few minutes, staring down at Abdul’s unconscious form as he thought. “That, I think, is the best choice,” he said, finally. “Abdul would prefer to risk his own wellbeing than to put you into danger.”
I nodded. I couldn’t say I agreed with the attitude, but if Mohammed told me that the boy felt that way, I believed him. “You’re aware, of course,” I said with a bit of curiosity, “that this is quite likely forbidden by your faith.”
“Allah teaches that we should endeavor to help our fellow man,” Mohammed said firmly. “If that means turning to magic, then that is what must be done.”
“Even if the one helping is a heathen?”
Mohammed smiled. “Especially then. Whatever path you follow, Winter, I have known you to be a good man. I do not think that God wishes us to disdain such men simply because they have not yet heard the voice of His prophet.”
My lips twitched into a twisted smile. “Thank you for saying that, but I don’t think I’m all so good a man as that.” I shook my head. “In any case,” I said, businesslike once more. “I need privacy for this. I should warn you that, whether or not this works, it’s likely to be painful for Abdul. That’s inevitable. It would be best for you to wait downstairs.”
“What if you require assistance?”
“Unlikely,” I said. “However…I suppose, if you really want, you can wait in the hallway. Fatima, however, should probably not be nearby. If things start getting weirder than you think you can handle, leave. And if my dog seems to be trying to tell you something, for God’s sake listen.”
He nodded soberly and left the room.
“So,” I said to the empty air. “Here we are. Again. How do I keep getting into these things?”
Alone with Abdul’s seemingly lifeless body, the room no longer felt homey. It didn’t even feel creepy. That was entirely too small a word for the hostile, sullen atmosphere that seemed to have developed. I have literally been in prisons and torture chambers that didn’t have as disturbing or menacing a feel to them on a spiritual level as that bedroom.
“Okay,” I said to myself, aloud—’cause, you know, why not? “Don’t let it get to you. Let’s get to work. Sooner we start, the sooner we get to leave. What’s the first thing we need to do?”
“Figure out the extent of the problem,” I answered. And yes, I’m aware that this wasn’t exactly evidence of my mental stability. That is largely because I have none. “First step is to sort out what needs doing.”
Following my own advice, I set to work. The first thing I did was give Abdul a quick but reasonably thorough physical check-over. Heartbeat was slow but strong. Normal pupillary response. Normal reflexes were present, although not very pronounced. He made no deliberate movement this whole time, not even a twitch.
That was, believe it or not, a good sign. The presence of reflexes suggested that he wasn’t physically impaired—he hadn’t, for example, been given an artificial case of total locked-in syndrome, which is quite possible for some types of witch.
That left, essentially, two possibilities. The first was that he had suffered a spiritual attack. The simplest way to do that would be to isolate him within the spirit world, without an understanding of where he was, what had happened, or how to get out. If that had happened, from his perspective, he would be just fine. He just wouldn’t be in his body and, depending on how deep he was into that world, he might not even be aware that he had a body. If that was the case, the automatic systems keeping him alive would eventually fail. This would lead to either death or a persistent vegetative state, depending. I could maybe do something about that, but it would be extremely risky for both of us. I’d barely dabbled with spiritual magic at all.
The other possibility was that this was a strictly mental effect, targeting Abdul’s mental functions and intellect without interacting with his body at all. I was guessing that was what I was looking at; it was a common trick, and there were a lot more witches running around than shamans capable of trapping someone in the spirit world.
There were a lot of kinds of mental attack, though. In the best case scenario, he might have been hit with an industrial strength sleeping spell, in which case he was probably just fine underneath. That would probably even wear off on its own, unless we were dealing with a Sleeping Beauty-style, high-level curse. Worse than that would be if he had been somehow cut off from his body. In that case he would be perfectly aware, conscious of everything that happened, but unable to affect his body in even the slightest way, as though he were paralyzed. Moderately hellish, but not likely to leave permanent damage.
Worst case, of course, would be if someone had just decided to crush his mind completely. That takes the most effort, but it has the advantage of simplicity. And, of course, permanence. If that had happened the results would be essentially the same as if he’d suffered massive damage to the central nervous system, except that brain scans and such wouldn’t detect anything.
“Okay,” I said. “That narrows it down a little. Now let’s see what we’re working with.”
I’ve been getting better at complex, high-level magic, largely due to constant practice. It took me only a few minutes to drop into a relatively deep trance. I blocked out the various physical and mental sensations I was feeling almost absentmindedly, focusing entirely on the magic in the room.
I could detect a rather complex, multilayered spell. The predominant odor was human disinfectant. Under that I could detect bleach, anise, and dust, the combination bitter and unpalatable. The pattern was familiar, but I wasn’t sure why or from where. I snagged onto the spell, which felt cold and bitter and tasted like ashes on my metaphysical tongue. And then I found Abdul.
I don’t think I can adequately express what I experienced then. Pain, I suppose, but that word seems entirely inadequate to the task of describing what Abdul was feeling. He wasn’t just in agony, he was in a whole other realm of suffering.
Just touching that storm of pain, of rage and terror, was enough to throw me out of my trance entirely. I came back to myself lying on the floor, eyes closed, panting slightly in reaction.
“Okay,” I said aloud. “That’s just great.” Getting Abdul out from under that curse had just jumped a few priority levels. I mean, I’m not above the occasional killing in a reasonably good cause, but that was crossing the line into a fate literally worse than death. Being paralyzed, helpless to actually do anything, and suffering in that way…yeah, that wasn’t something I could tolerate.
After a few minutes of examination, carefully not looking too closely at Abdul himself, I thought I had a pretty good handle on what the spell was intended to do. It was mental in nature, as I’d thought, but the details were a little more interesting. Abdul was aware, conscious, but held separate from his body. It’s possible to dissociate your mind without causing any harm, but this particular spell hadn’t been set up that way; the kid’s mind was being shredded by the way that it was held away from his body.
It was a cruel, ugly bit of magic, but not actually that well-done. I think it actually would have degraded all on its own within, at the most, another couple days; magic just doesn’t like to behave in an ordered, consistent, purposeful way. Unless it’s absolutely flawless or constantly maintained, any given spell will decay back to its original, chaotic state, given enough time.
Of course, Abdul probably didn’t have that kind of time. With the strain his mind was under, I figured he had no more than a day before he started to suffer irreparable harm to his psyche.
So I started chipping away at the spell. I wasn’t used to working with human minds, but mental magic was still my natural talent, and it was something I could do. This particular application was rather far outside my comfort zone, though, and I had to be extremely delicate with it. A small miscalculation on my part could break the spell in the wrong way, splitting Abdul’s mind and body apart completely. If that happened, it would take someone a lot more skilled than me to piece him back together again.
Eventually, though, I did have it finished. I checked that everything was ready. Then I checked again. Then, because eventually you have to stop putting the thing off and just do it, I broke the backbone support of the magical structure. It collapsed in on itself almost instantly, the magic degrading back into its chaotic form.
And that is when, to put it simply, things got crazy.
I opened my eyes and, about ten seconds later, Abdul opened his. He blinked a few times. Depth and rate of respiration increased as he did, until he was almost hyperventilating and twitching—a long way away from the Sleeping Beauty impression. Then his eyes fixed on me, and what I saw inside them made my heart sink.
Madness. Abdul wasn’t sane right now. I could see, too, that he was still in pain, still experiencing that horrific agony I’d touched on before.
And right about then was when he started trying to claw my freaking eyes out.
Luckily he didn’t seem to be thinking clearly, or at all for that matter. He lunged at me without bracing himself or even sitting up, and as a result mostly he just flopped onto the floor. He came to his feet rapidly, though, his face so contorted that I honestly couldn’t say whether he was snarling in rage or grimacing in agony.
He rushed me clumsily, stupidly. I sidestepped easily, more occupied with the problem of what the hell was going on than with actually fighting. We repeated that pattern several times. He stumbled twice, and once literally fell on his face, without ever getting close to me.
This could be just the mindless retaliation of someone who had been pushed beyond the bounds of sanity and wanted nothing more than to make the pain go away. Could be, but I didn’t think so.
When it did occur to me what was going on, it was so obvious I couldn’t believe I’d overlooked it earlier. “Aw, crap,” I said. I’d really screwed up.
The next time he charged at me, literally frothing at the mouth now, I tripped him instead of just sidestepping. He fell to the ground, caught totally by surprise, and I immediately dropped to hold him in place. I’m not a terribly good wrestler, but I do have a werewolf’s strength, and he wasn’t going to be getting out anytime soon.
I feel I should clarify something, right now, for all you martial arts aficionados who are screaming that superior strength isn’t a guarantor of victory even in a wrestling match, dammit. You are absolutely correct, and I applaud you. Excellent work catching that.
However, you have overlooked one critical fact, which is that Abdul wasn’t fighting rationally. It’s true that skill and experience can make up for a lot of difference in size and strength. However, if the kid even had those things, he wasn’t in a sane enough frame of mind to use them. He was just struggling mindlessly, trying to throw me off with main force, and against that tactic I was more than good enough to defend.
He switched tactics and started trying to bite me, which was more than slightly creepy even for somebody who’s had werewolves and faerie hounds try the same thing. I mean, I expect that from monsters, but people don’t generally bite other people.
I fended him off absently and focused on what I was smelling. Yep. Still magic present, more of it than would be accounted for by the remnant of a shattered spell. I’d really screwed up, acting without thinking. You’d think someday I’d learn, but nooo, I just keep making the same mistake. Honestly, I’d feel pretty dumb except that it seems like everybody else is doing the same damn thing. In my experience, the only terrible mistake more common than acting without thinking is thinking without acting.
“Okay,” I said. “Sorry about this, but you’ve gotta take another nap. You want this the easy way or the hard way?”
His teeth closed a couple inches from my nose, and I flinched back involuntarily. “Okay,” I muttered. “That’d be the hard way, then.”
I stood up, physically dragging Abdul with me by main force, and tossed him into the corner. Then, before he could stand, I pulled off my sweatshirt. I don’t mean that I unzipped it. I simply pulled on it, exercising my will on it as I did, and it split evenly around me, reshaping from a hoodie into a shapeless mass that hung from my hand like an insubstantial blanket.
See, I used to have a rope that I spun from shadows and moonlight. It was useful enough that, when it was destroyed, I’d immediately started thinking about a replacement. But then it occurred to me….
Why stop with just a rope?
My brand-new cloak of shadows was without a doubt my most complicated, well-made, and useful creation yet. It defaults to form a simple, literal cloak; however, under the influence of my magic, it can reshape into very nearly any configuration, from an inconspicuous hoodie to a towel. It can provide anywhere from as little insulation as a normal shadow to a reasonably good sleeping bag impression.
When Alexander he saw it, he declared that my time as an apprentice was over. I believe his exact words were actually, “Anybody who can make something good enough that I wish I’d thought of it first had better call himself a journeyman at least, or I’d be insulted. Now get out.”
Oh, and the best part, at least for my current purposes? It still worked as a rope.
I threw the shapeless mass of shadow at Abdul where he was just now struggling to his feet. As it flew it transformed into a vaguely net-shaped mass of shadow, which affected its flight not in the slightest. That, you see, is the really nice part of using congealed shadow for something like this; having no actual mass or inertia to speak of, it didn’t have to deal with things like gravity and air resistance in the same way most things do.
The net caught him just as he was standing and settled into place around him. Then, once again prodded by my will, it shifted around again, loops of netting retracting and twisting into place to form a simple set of restraints. I pushed more power into the shadow, forcing it to congeal to a consistency roughly equivalent to that of duct tape. It was tiring, maintaining that for long—shadows and moonbeams are, after all, not noted for their efficacy at stopping things from moving. I was forcing them to act against their nature, which is always a pretty serious energy drain.
On the other hand, it was also awesome. Not only do I have a literal cloak of shadows, it’s actually useful. I can think of at least nine fictional assassins who would quite seriously kill for that, purely for the thematic value.
I hefted Abdul, keeping his mouth well away from me, and dumped him on the bed again. A quick twist of magic, another surge of power, and the shadows binding him spun out extensions to wrap around the bedposts. The amount of shadow was fixed, which meant that this spun all of the strands thinner and required even more energy to keep solid, but it would do for a temporary fix.
“Sorry about that,” I said, standing the chair back up and sitting down. “Okay. Round two.”
As I’d expected, the second section of the curse was easy to find, although somewhat more deeply buried than the first. I didn’t have to wonder what it did, either; it was pretty obvious just from basic logic.
See, he was in more suffering than just being conscious but unable to act would account for. That, combined with the feeling of intrusiveness that I’d experienced when looking at the ideas and concepts which defined this working, suggested that the curse on Abdul had been specifically designed to inflict pain.
Now, this could have been done as a part of the same spell I had already broken. But it hadn’t, and I thought I knew why. Whoever had done this had wanted that spell to break, wanted Abdul to regain physical volition without in any way ceasing to suffer. Why, I wasn’t sure. I could think of quite a few motivations that might inspire that, most of which didn’t make a whole lot of sense under the circumstances.
What I did know was that I wasn’t about to tolerate it. I found the magic causing the problem, and winced. It reeked of the same bitter, anise-and-dust smell as before, much uglier than the last layer had been. What was more, it was…well. If the last spell had been like a fishhook stuck into the metaphysical fabric of Abdul’s mind, this was more like a chain of fishhooks, or maybe barbed wire, strung all through it. Those spikes were what was causing him pain.
To continue the metaphor, I broke off as many of those barbs as I could. Then, since every second they were in there was causing damage and I could feel that my own actions weren’t helping, I mentally shrugged and yanked on it.
What? I’m not good at this. I said that already. I mean, if this curse had been laid on an animal or something I could probably have dealt with it quickly and painlessly, but I’m no good at mental magic involving humans.
With that done I simply sat for a few minutes, eyes closed, resting and rebuilding my reserves of power. That particular trick was probably the best one Alexander had ever taught me. Then, once I felt up to moving again, I sat up straight and opened my eyes.
Abdul was unconscious again, but without the eerie malevolent feel of before. It looked like he was just sleeping naturally. I couldn’t smell magic anymore, and I was pretty sure that I was done here.
I stood up, only slightly unsteady on my feet, and reached out to grab the nearest strand of darkness. With a quick tug and a mental effort, it all pulled loose, then reshaped itself into the hoodie I’d worn in. I must have been working pretty hard, because even that was an effort. I walked out of the room, careful not to make any noise that might wake the boy.
“Is it done?” Mohammed asked. As I’d suggested, he was in the hallway, leaning against the opposite wall.
“Hope so,” I said wearily. “Think he’s sleeping normally now. Should be awake within…nine, maybe ten hours?” I shrugged. “He might need, I don’t know, therapy or something. And he should see a doctor, I think. It got a bit…rowdy there for a minute.”
He smiled. “Yes, I heard. I will tell Fatima what is to be done. Thank you.”
“Didn’t do it for you,” I said.
His smile grew slightly broader. “I know,” he said simply.
I grunted, moving toward the staircase. “Very funny,” I told him. “How long was I in there?”
“Slightly more than an hour.”
“Really?” I was surprised. It hadn’t felt like more than a quarter of that.
Mohammed insisted I have tea and some kind of crunchy baked thing before I left, assisted by Fatima. Being a sucker for good baking, I didn’t argue very much. Her accent was basically the same as his, except quite a bit thicker; English was quite clearly neither her first language nor her favorite. She watched me with an expression that mingled wonder, interest, and fear into something a little like awe. I could practically see her adding up all the weird features of my appearance and behavior, and wondering what I really was. I provided no assistance in this regard, and of course neither of them asked.
What? Spreading weird stories about myself is kind of a hobby by now. At least this time it was the good kind of story.
One Response to Blind Eye 4.1
This book was rewritten more extensively than any other in the series. Most of the books were only slightly edited from their rough drafts. Towards the end, when I was less writing in advance and more frantically scrambling to keep up with the schedule, they didn’t even get that, which sadly showed in the amount of errors and typos in those chapters. This book, though, was heavily rewritten to the point that this version bears very little resemblance to the initial one. I’ll talk more about that as individual scenes come up, but in general, this book was heavily edited.
About this specific chapter, I have very little to say. It’s one of the weaker openings in the series, I think, possibly the weakest. The biggest problem with it is that it’s simply so…not related to anything else. It comes out of nowhere, it’s scattered, it has no real connection to the rest of the story. It’s not even really bad, as such. It’s just…very blah.
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TAGs: MPS
Training course on UN Convention against Torture opens in People’s Security Academy
The Department of Legal Affairs and Administrative, Judicial Reforms under the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on April 8,in coordination with the People’s Security Academy and the Clingendael Institute(the Netherlands), organized a training course on The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT).
MPS promotes efforts to fight child violence and sexual abuse
PSNews – General To Lam, Minister of Public Security, on April 4 issued a Public Document to order all police units to make more efforts to detect, investigate, handle and curb crimes and law violations, particularly violence and sexual abuse cases related to children, in a timely and effective.
Khanh Hoa province reviews “All people protecting national security” movement
PSNews - The Provincial People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa organized a conference on April 4 to review outcomes of the movement of “All people protecting national security” in 2018 and roll out working plans for 2019.
Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order has new director
PSNews – Under the authority of the Minister of Public Security, Senior Lieutenant General Le Quy Vuong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of Public Security on April 2 announced a decision issued by the Minister of Public Security to appoint Major General Vu Xuan Dung to the post of Director of the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order.
Young police officer bravely fights drug-related criminals
PSNews - Lieutenant Nguyen Van Lap, a police officer of the General Investigation Team of the Ky Son District Police (Nghe An Province) has been known as a young, smart and brave scout, and made many achievements in the fight against crimes.
MPS starts Population and Housing Census across agencies and units
PSNews - The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) started conducting the Population and Housing Census across its subordinate agencies and units from 8 am on April 1st, and the mission is expected to end on April 10th, according to the Steering Committee for Population and Housing Census of the MPS.
Appointment of new director of Nam Dinh Provincial Police announced
PSNews–The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and the Provincial Police of Nam Dinh organized a ceremony on March 27 to announce the appointment of new director of the Nam Dinh Provincial Police Department.
MPS and Ministry of Education and Training agree to bolster coordination in maintaining order and security
PSNews - The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and Ministry of Education and Training organized a conference on March 26 to review 3 years implementing Joint Circular No. 06/2015 / TTLT / BCA-BGDĐT guiding the two sectors in coordinating with each other in protecting national security, ensuring social order and safety, and fighting crimes and other law violations in the education and training sector.
Emulation Grouping 1 signs mutual emulation agreement
PSNews - Emulation Grouping 1 under the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on March 19 organized a ceremony to sign a mutual emulation agreement in 2019.
DIC of Public Security holds seminar on improving political stance of youths
PSNews – The Youth Union Chapter of the Public Security Department for Information and Communications on March 15 in coordination with People’s Police College 2 held a seminar on “Improving the political and ideological stance and promoting the role of public security youths in information dissemination”.
Minister To Lam chairs meeting on anti-corruption
PSNews - The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) organized a conference on March 12 to review the fight against corruption within the Public Security Forces in 2018. The conference was chaired by General To Lam, Politburo Member, Minister of Public Security, and Head of the Anti-corruption Steering Committee of the MPS.
MPS leader checks security work for events of UN Day of Vesak 2019 in Ha Nam
PSNews - A delegation of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) led by Senior Lieutenant General Bui Van Nam, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Head of the Steering Board for Ensuring Public Security and Order for celebrations of the UN Day of Vesak 2019 in Vietnam, on March 11 made a field trip to Tam Chuc Buddhist Culture Center in Kim Bang District, Ha Nam Province, and checked security work for the event in the locality.
MPS reviews security works for second U.S – DPRK Summit
The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) held a conference on March 5 to review the work of ensuring security for the second U.S. – DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Summit, and the DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-un’s official visit to Vietnam.
MPS reviews coordination with press and media, and information authorities
PSNews - The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) held a conference on March 5 to review the coordination with the press authorities and press agencies in 2018 and agreed on new working plans for 2019.
MPS leaders meet health leaders and dedicated doctors
PSNews - The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on February 21 held a meeting with leaders of the Ministry of Health, professors and doctors in the health sector, and leaders of hospitals in Hanoi on the occasion of the 64th Anniversary of the Vietnamese Doctors' Day (February 27).
Security forces of Vietnam and Laos promote cooperation
PSNews –Minister of Public Security General To Lam held talks with his Lao counterpart, Senior Lieutenant General Vilay Lakhamfong, Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and Security Minister, following a welcome ceremony for the latter in Hanoi on February 20.
Noble Orders from Lao State presented to senior officers of MPS
After the talks held earlier on February 20, Minister To Lam and his Lao counterpart, Minister Vilay Lakhamphong co-chaired a ceremony handing over Orders from the Lao State and Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Security of Laos to the units and individuals of the MPS of Vietnam.
MPS discusses plans to ensure logistics and techniques
PSNews – The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) held a conference on February 14 to discuss plans on finance, logistics and techniques issues, traffic safety; custody and detention management and movement of all people protecting national security.
Deployment of professional police officers to communes in Ha Nam brings about initial good results
PSNews - The deployment of professional police officers to communes is a major policy of the Politburo, the Public Security Central Party Committee and the Ministry of Public Security to ensure security and order at the grassroots level.
Staff work contributes significantly to Public Security Forces’ achievements in 2018
PSNews - In 2018, the Office of Ministry of Public Security has made breakthroughs in advising the Central Party Committee of Public Security and leaders of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) to direct the whole Public Security Forces to well implement the key tasks.
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Bankovky a mince států OSN (event)
Bankovky a mince států OSN
date of exhibition: 1995/08
institution: Rabasova galerie Rakovník
type of exhibition: nevýtvarná
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Integral PermaCulture Curriculum > 1. PeopleCare > 1. Learning > Action Learning >
Student-Centred Movement
1 How a Radical New Teaching Method Could Unleash a Generation of Geniuses
2 How to Get Involved in the Teaching Movement That Could Transform Education
2.1 12 Dozen Places To Educate Yourself Online For Free
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This beautiful article on great experiments in action-learning originally appeared in Wired.com
There are lots of videos of Sugata Mitra in YouTube
How a Radical New Teaching Method Could Unleash a Generation of Geniuses
BY JOSHUA DAVIS
These students in Matamoros, Mexico, didn’t have reliable Internet access, steady electricity, or much hope—until a radical new teaching method unlocked their potential. Peter Yang
José Urbina López Primary School sits next to a dump just across the US border in Mexico. The school serves residents of Matamoros, a dusty, sunbaked city of 489,000 that is a flash point in the war on drugs. There are regular shoot-outs, and it’s not uncommon for locals to find bodies scattered in the street in the morning. To get to the school, students walk along a white dirt road that parallels a fetid canal. On a recent morning there was a 1940s-era tractor, a decaying boat in a ditch, and a herd of goats nibbling gray strands of grass. A cinder-block barrier separates the school from a wasteland—the far end of which is a mound of trash that grew so big, it was finally closed down. On most days, a rotten smell drifts through the cement-walled classrooms. Some people here call the school un lugar de castigo—“a place of punishment.”
For 12-year-old Paloma Noyola Bueno, it was a bright spot. More than 25 years ago, her family moved to the border from central Mexico in search of a better life. Instead, they got stuck living beside the dump. Her father spent all day scavenging for scrap, digging for pieces of aluminum, glass, and plastic in the muck. Recently, he had developed nosebleeds, but he didn’t want Paloma to worry. She was his little angel—the youngest of eight children.
After school, Paloma would come home and sit with her father in the main room of their cement-and-wood home. Her father was a weather-beaten, gaunt man who always wore a cowboy hat. Paloma would recite the day’s lessons for him in her crisp uniform—gray polo, blue-and-white skirt—and try to cheer him up. She had long black hair, a high forehead, and a thoughtful, measured way of talking. School had never been challenging for her. She sat in rows with the other students while teachers told the kids what they needed to know. It wasn’t hard to repeat it back, and she got good grades without thinking too much. As she headed into fifth grade, she assumed she was in for more of the same—lectures, memorization, and busy work.
Sergio Juárez Correa was used to teaching that kind of class. For five years, he had stood in front of students and worked his way through the government-mandated curriculum. It was mind-numbingly boring for him and the students, and he’d come to the conclusion that it was a waste of time. Test scores were poor, and even the students who did well weren’t truly engaged. Something had to change.
He too had grown up beside a garbage dump in Matamoros, and he had become a teacher to help kids learn enough to make something more of their lives. So in 2011—when Paloma entered his class—Juárez Correa decided to start experimenting. He began reading books and searching for ideas online. Soon he stumbled on a video describing the work of Sugata Mitra, a professor of educational technology at Newcastle University in the UK. In the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s, Mitra conducted experiments in which he gave children in India access to computers. Without any instruction, they were able to teach themselves a surprising variety of things, from DNA replication to English.
Elementary school teacher Sergio Juárez Correa, 31, upended his teaching methods, revealing extraordinary abilities in his 12-year-old student Paloma Noyola Bueno.
Juárez Correa didn’t know it yet, but he had happened on an emerging educational philosophy, one that applies the logic of the digital age to the classroom. That logic is inexorable: Access to a world of infinite information has changed how we communicate, process information, and think. Decentralized systems have proven to be more productive and agile than rigid, top-down ones. Innovation, creativity, and independent thinking are increasingly crucial to the global economy.
And yet the dominant model of public education is still fundamentally rooted in the industrial revolution that spawned it, when workplaces valued punctuality, regularity, attention, and silence above all else. (In 1899, William T. Harris, the US commissioner of education, celebrated the fact that US schools had developed the “appearance of a machine,” one that teaches the student “to behave in an orderly manner, to stay in his own place, and not get in the way of others.”) We don’t openly profess those values nowadays, but our educational system—which routinely tests kids on their ability to recall information and demonstrate mastery of a narrow set of skills—doubles down on the view that students are material to be processed, programmed, and quality-tested. School administrators prepare curriculum standards and “pacing guides” that tell teachers what to teach each day. Legions of managers supervise everything that happens in the classroom; in 2010 only 50 percent of public school staff members in the US were teachers.
The results speak for themselves: Hundreds of thousands of kids drop out of public high school every year. Of those who do graduate from high school, almost a third are “not prepared academically for first-year college courses,” according to a 2013 report from the testing service ACT. The World Economic Forum ranks the US just 49th out of 148 developed and developing nations in quality of math and science instruction. “The fundamental basis of the system is fatally flawed,” says Linda Darling-Hammond, a professor of education at Stanford and founding director of the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future. “In 1970 the top three skills required by the Fortune 500 were the three Rs: reading, writing, and arithmetic. In 1999 the top three skills in demand were teamwork, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. We need schools that are developing these skills.”
That’s why a new breed of educators, inspired by everything from the Internet to evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and AI, are inventing radical new ways for children to learn, grow, and thrive. To them, knowledge isn’t a commodity that’s delivered from teacher to student but something that emerges from the students’ own curiosity-fueled exploration. Teachers provide prompts, not answers, and then they step aside so students can teach themselves and one another. They are creating ways for children to discover their passion—and uncovering a generation of geniuses in the process.
At home in Matamoros, Juárez Correa found himself utterly absorbed by these ideas. And the more he learned, the more excited he became. On August 21, 2011—the start of the school year — he walked into his classroom and pulled the battered wooden desks into small groups. When Paloma and the other students filed in, they looked confused. Juárez Correa invited them to take a seat and then sat down with them.
He started by telling them that there were kids in other parts of the world who could memorize pi to hundreds of decimal points. They could write symphonies and build robots and airplanes. Most people wouldn’t think that the students at José Urbina López could do those kinds of things. Kids just across the border in Brownsville, Texas, had laptops, high-speed Internet, and tutoring, while in Matamoros the students had intermittent electricity, few computers, limited Internet, and sometimes not enough to eat.
“But you do have one thing that makes you the equal of any kid in the world,” Juárez Correa said. “Potential.”
He looked around the room. “And from now on,” he told them, “we’re going to use that potential to make you the best students in the world.”
Paloma was silent, waiting to be told what to do. She didn’t realize that over the next nine months, her experience of school would be rewritten, tapping into an array of educational innovations from around the world and vaulting her and some of her classmates to the top of the math and language rankings in Mexico.
“So,” Juárez Correa said, “what do you want to learn?”
In 1999, Sugata Mitra was chief scientist at a company in New Delhi that trains software developers. His office was on the edge of a slum, and on a hunch one day, he decided to put a computer into a nook in a wall separating his building from the slum. He was curious to see what the kids would do, particularly if he said nothing. He simply powered the computer on and watched from a distance. To his surprise, the children quickly figured out how to use the machine.
Over the years, Mitra got more ambitious. For a study published in 2010, he loaded a computer with molecular biology materials and set it up in Kalikuppam, a village in southern India. He selected a small group of 10- to 14-year-olds and told them there was some interesting stuff on the computer, and might they take a look? Then he applied his new pedagogical method: He said no more and left.
Over the next 75 days, the children worked out how to use the computer and began to learn. When Mitra returned, he administered a written test on molecular biology. The kids answered about one in four questions correctly. After another 75 days, with the encouragement of a friendly local, they were getting every other question right. “If you put a computer in front of children and remove all other adult restrictions, they will self-organize around it,” Mitra says, “like bees around a flower.”
A charismatic and convincing proselytizer, Mitra has become a darling in the tech world. In early 2013 he won a $1 million grant from TED, the global ideas conference, to pursue his work. He’s now in the process of establishing seven “schools in the cloud,” five in India and two in the UK. In India, most of his schools are single-room buildings. There will be no teachers, curriculum, or separation into age groups—just six or so computers and a woman to look after the kids’ safety. His defining principle: “The children are completely in charge.”
“THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IF YOU’RE NOT THE ONE CONTROLLING YOUR LEARNING, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO LEARN AS WELL.”
Mitra argues that the information revolution has enabled a style of learning that wasn’t possible before. The exterior of his schools will be mostly glass, so outsiders can peer in. Inside, students will gather in groups around computers and research topics that interest them. He has also recruited a group of retired British teachers who will appear occasionally on large wall screens via Skype, encouraging students to investigate their ideas—a process Mitra believes best fosters learning. He calls them the Granny Cloud. “They’ll be life-size, on two walls” Mitra says. “And the children can always turn them off.”
Mitra’s work has roots in educational practices dating back to Socrates. Theorists from Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi to Jean Piaget and Maria Montessori have argued that students should learn by playing and following their curiosity. Einstein spent a year at a Pestalozzi-inspired school in the mid-1890s, and he later credited it with giving him the freedom to begin his first thought experiments on the theory of relativity. Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin similarly claim that their Montessori schooling imbued them with a spirit of independence and creativity.
In recent years, researchers have begun backing up those theories with evidence. In a 2011 study, scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Iowa scanned the brain activity of 16 people sitting in front of a computer screen. The screen was blurred out except for a small, movable square through which subjects could glimpse objects laid out on a grid. Half the time, the subjects controlled the square window, allowing them to determine the pace at which they examined the objects; the rest of the time, they watched a replay of someone else moving the window. The study found that when the subjects controlled their own observations, they exhibited more coordination between the hippocampus and other parts of the brain involved in learning and posted a 23 percent improvement in their ability to remember objects. “The bottom line is, if you’re not the one who’s controlling your learning, you’re not going to learn as well,” says lead researcher Joel Voss, now a neuroscientist at Northwestern University.
In 2009, scientists from the University of Louisville and MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences conducted a study of 48 children between the ages of 3 and 6. The kids were presented with a toy that could squeak, play notes, and reflect images, among other things. For one set of children, a researcher demonstrated a single attribute and then let them play with the toy. Another set of students was given no information about the toy. This group played longer and discovered an average of six attributes of the toy; the group that was told what to do discovered only about four. A similar study at UC Berkeley demonstrated that kids given no instruction were much more likely to come up with novel solutions to a problem. “The science is brand-new, but it’s not as if people didn’t have this intuition before,” says coauthor Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley.
Gopnik’s research is informed in part by advances in artificial intelligence. If you program a robot’s every movement, she says, it can’t adapt to anything unexpected. But when scientists build machines that are programmed to try a variety of motions and learn from mistakes, the robots become far more adaptable and skilled. The same principle applies to children, she says.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS
New research shows what educators have long intuited: Letting kids pursue their own interests sharpens their hunger for knowledge. Here’s a look back at this approach. —Jason Kehe
470 BC
Socrates is born in Athens. He goes on to become a long-haired teacher who famously let students arrive at their own conclusions. His questioning, probing approach—the Socratic method—endures to this day.
Maria Montessori opens her first Children’s House in Rome, where kids are encouraged to play and teach themselves. Americans later visit her schools and see the Montessori method in action. It spreads worldwide.
The first Waldorf schoolopens in Stuttgart, Germany. Based on the ideas of philosopher Rudolf Steiner, it encourages self-motivated learning. Today, there are more than 1,000 Waldorf schools in 60 countries.
A. S. Neill founds the Summerhill School, where kids have the “freedom to go to lessons or stay away, freedom to play for days … or years if necessary.” Eventually, such democratic schools appear around the world.
Loris Malaguzzi volunteers to teach in a school that parents are building in a war-torn Italian village outside Reggio Emilia. The “Reggio Emilia approach”—a community of self-guided learning—is born.
Seymour Papert, a protégé of child psychologist Jean Piaget, helps create the first version of Logo, a programming language kids can use to teach themselves. He becomes a lifelong advocate for technology’s role in learning.
Sugata Mitra conducts his first “hole in the wall” experiment in New Delhi, India. On their own, slum kids teach themselves to use a computer. Mitra dubs his approach minimally invasive education.
Ken Robinson gives what will become the most frequently viewed TED Talk ever: “How Schools Kill Creativity.” Students should be free to make mistakes and pursue their own creative interests, Robinson argues.
The Common Core, a new set of curriculum standards that include student-centered learning, are adopted by 45 US states. Math students, say, should “start by explaining to themselves the meaning of a problem.”
CREDITS: Waldorf School: courtesy of Waldorf School; Robinson: Robert Leslie; Malaguzzi: courtesy of Reggio Children; remaining: Getty Images
Students at Brooklyn Free School direct their own learning. There are no grades or formal assignments.
Brian Finke
Evolutionary psychologists have also begun exploring this way of thinking. Peter Gray, a research professor at Boston College who studies children’s natural ways of learning, argues that human cognitive machinery is fundamentally incompatible with conventional schooling. Gray points out that young children, motivated by curiosity and playfulness, teach themselves a tremendous amount about the world. And yet when they reach school age, we supplant that innate drive to learn with an imposed curriculum. “We’re teaching the child that his questions don’t matter, that what matters are the questions of the curriculum. That’s just not the way natural selection designed us to learn. It designed us to solve problems and figure things out that are part of our real lives.”
Some school systems have begun to adapt to this new philosophy—with outsize results. In the 1990s, Finland pared the country’s elementary math curriculum from about 25 pages to four, reduced the school day by an hour, and focused on independence and active learning. By 2003, Finnish students had climbed from the lower rungs of international performance rankings to first place among developed nations.
Nicholas Negroponte, cofounder of the MIT Media Lab, is taking this approach even further with his One Laptop per Child initiative. Last year the organization delivered 40 tablets to children in two remote villages in Ethiopia. Negroponte’s team didn’t explain how the devices work or even open the boxes. Nonetheless, the children soon learned to play back the alphabet song and taught themselves to write letters. They also figured out how to use the tablet’s camera. This was impressive because the organization had disabled camera usage. “They hacked Android,” Negroponte says.
One day Juárez Correa went to his whiteboard and wrote “1 = 1.00.” Normally, at this point, he would start explaining the concept of fractions and decimals. Instead he just wrote “½ = ?” and “¼ = ?”
“Think about that for a second,” he said, and walked out of the room.
While the kids murmured, Juárez Correa went to the school cafeteria, where children could buy breakfast and lunch for small change. He borrowed about 10 pesos in coins, worth about 75 cents, and walked back to his classroom, where he distributed a peso’s worth of coins to each table. He noticed that Paloma had already written .50 and .25 on a piece of paper.
“One peso is one peso,” he said. “What’s one-half?”
JUÁREZ CORREA FELT A CHILL. HE HAD NEVER ENCOUNTERED A STUDENT WITH PALOMA’S LEVEL OF INNATE ABILITY.
At first a number of kids divided the coins into clearly unequal piles. It sparked a debate among the students about what one-half meant. Juárez Correa’s training told him to intervene. But now he remembered Mitra’s research and resisted the urge. Instead, he watched as Alma Delia Juárez Flores explained to her tablemates that half means equal portions. She counted out 50 centavos. “So the answer is .50,” she said. The other kids nodded. It made sense.
For Juárez Correa it was simultaneously thrilling and a bit scary. In Finland, teachers underwent years of training to learn how to orchestrate this new style of learning; he was winging it. He began experimenting with different ways of posing open-ended questions on subjects ranging from the volume of cubes to multiplying fractions. “The volume of a square-based prism is the area of the base times the height. The volume of a square-based pyramid is that formula divided by three,” he said one morning. “Why do you think that is?”
He walked around the room, saying little. It was fascinating to watch the kids approach the answer. They were working in teams and had models of various shapes to look at and play with. The team led by Usiel Lemus Aquino, a short boy with an ever-present hopeful expression, hit on the idea of drawing the different shapes—prisms and pyramids. By layering the drawings on top of each other, they began to divine the answer. Juárez Correa let the kids talk freely. It was a noisy, slightly chaotic environment—exactly the opposite of the sort of factory-friendly discipline that teachers were expected to impose. But within 20 minutes, they had come up with the answer.
“Three pyramids fit in one prism,” Usiel observed, speaking for the group. “So the volume of a pyramid must be the volume of a prism divided by three.”
Juárez Correa was impressed. But he was even more intrigued by Paloma. During these experiments, he noticed that she almost always came up with the answer immediately. Sometimes she explained things to her tablemates, other times she kept the answer to herself. Nobody had told him that she had an unusual gift. Yet even when he gave the class difficult questions, she quickly jotted down the answers. To test her limits, he challenged the class with a problem he was sure would stump her. He told the story of Carl Friedrich Gauss, the famous German mathematician, who was born in 1777.
When Gauss was a schoolboy, one of his teachers asked the class to add up every number between 1 and 100. It was supposed to take an hour, but Gauss had the answer almost instantly.
“Does anyone know how he did this?” Juárez Correa asked.
A few students started trying to add up the numbers and soon realized it would take a long time. Paloma, working with her group, carefully wrote out a few sequences and looked at them for a moment. Then she raised her hand.
“The answer is 5,050,” she said. “There are 50 pairs of 101.”
Juárez Correa felt a chill. He’d never encountered a student with so much innate ability. He squatted next to her and asked why she hadn’t expressed much interest in math in the past, since she was clearly good at it.
“Because no one made it this interesting,” she said.
OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS ROOTED IN THE INDUSTRIAL AGE. IT VALUES PUNCTUALITY, ATTENDANCE, AND SILENCE ABOVE ALL ELSE.
Paloma’s father got sicker. He continued working, but he was running a fever and suffering headaches. Finally he was admitted to the hospital, where his condition deteriorated; on February 27, 2012, he died of lung cancer. On Paloma’s last visit before he passed away, she sat beside him and held his hand. “You are a smart girl,” he said. “Study and make me proud.”
Paloma missed four days of school for the funeral before returning to class. Her friends could tell she was distraught, but she buried her grief. She wanted to live up to her father’s last wish. And Juárez Correa’s new style of curating challenges for the kids was the perfect refuge for her. As he continued to relinquish control, Paloma took on more responsibility for her own education. He taught the kids about democracy by letting them elect leaders who would decide how to run the class and address discipline. The children elected five representatives, including Paloma and Usiel. When two boys got into a shoving match, the representatives admonished the boys, and the problem didn’t happen again.
Juárez Correa spent his nights watching education videos. He read polemics by the Mexican cartoonist Eduardo del Río (known as Rius), who argued that kids should be free to explore whatever they want. He was also still impressed by Mitra, who talks about letting children “wander aimlessly around ideas.” Juárez Correa began hosting regular debates in class, and he didn’t shy away from controversial topics. He asked the kids if they thought homosexuality and abortion should be permitted. He asked them to figure out what the Mexican government should do, if anything, about immigration to the US. Once he asked a question, he would stand back and let them engage one another.
A key component in Mitra’s theory was that children could learn by having access to the web, but that wasn’t easy for Juárez Correa’s students. The state paid for a technology instructor who visited each class once a week, but he didn’t have much technology to demonstrate. Instead, he had a batch of posters depicting keyboards, joysticks, and 3.5-inch floppy disks. He would hold the posters up and say things like, “This is a keyboard. You use it to type.”
As a result, Juárez Correa became a slow-motion conduit to the Internet. When the kids wanted to know why we see only one side of the moon, for example, he went home, Googled it, and brought back an explanation the next day. When they asked specific questions about eclipses and the equinox, he told them he’d figure it out and report back.
Sugata Mitra’s research on student-led learning inspired Juárez Correa. Mark Pinder
Juárez Correa also brought something else back from the Internet. It was the fable of a forlorn burro trapped at the bottom of a well. Since thieves had broken into the school and sliced the electrical cord off of the classroom projector (presumably to sell the copper inside), he couldn’t actually show them the clip that recounted the tale. Instead, he simply described it.
One day, a burro fell into a well, Juárez Correa began. It wasn’t hurt, but it couldn’t get out. The burro’s owner decided that the aged beast wasn’t worth saving, and since the well was dry, he would just bury both. He began to shovel clods of earth into the well. The burro cried out, but the man kept shoveling. Eventually, the burro fell silent. The man assumed the animal was dead, so he was amazed when, after a lot of shoveling, the burro leaped out of the well. It had shaken off each clump of dirt and stepped up the steadily rising mound until it was able to jump out.
Juárez Correa looked at his class. “We are like that burro,” he said. “Everything that is thrown at us is an opportunity to rise out of the well we are in.”
When the two-day national standardized exam took place in June 2012, Juárez Correa viewed it as just another pile of dirt thrown on the kids’ heads. It was a step back to the way school used to be for them: mechanical and boring. To prevent cheating, a coordinator from the Ministry of Education oversaw the proceedings and took custody of the answer sheets at the end of testing. It felt like a military exercise, but as the kids blasted through the questions, they couldn’t help noticing that it felt easy, as if they were being asked to do something very basic.
Ricardo Zavala Hernandez, assistant principal at José Urbina López, drinks a cup of coffee most mornings as he browses the web in the admin building, a cement structure that houses the school’s two functioning computers. One day in September 2012, he clicked on the site for ENLACE, Mexico’s national achievement exam, and discovered that the results of the June test had been posted.
Zavala Hernandez put down his coffee. Most of the classes had done marginally better this year—but Paloma’s grade was another story. The previous year, 45 percent had essentially failed the math section, and 31 percent had failed Spanish. This time only 7 percent failed math and 3.5 percent failed Spanish. And while none had posted an Excellent score before, 63 percent were now in that category in math.
The language scores were very high. Even the lowest was well above the national average. Then he noticed the math scores. The top score in Juárez Correa’s class was 921. Zavala Hernandez looked over at the top score in the state: It was 921. When he saw the next box over, the hairs on his arms stood up. The top score in the entire country was also 921.
He printed the page and speed-walked to Juárez Correa’s classroom. The students stood up when he entered.
“Take a look at this,” Zavala Hernandez said, handing him the printout.
Juárez Correa scanned the results and looked up. “Is this for real?” he asked.
“I just printed it off the ENLACE site,” the assistant principal responded. “It’s real.”
Juárez Correa noticed the kids staring at him, but he wanted to make sure he understood the report. He took a moment to read it again, nodded, and turned to the kids.
“We have the results back from the ENLACE exam,” he said. “It’s just a test, and not a great one.”
A number of students had a sinking feeling. They must have blown it.
“But we have a student in this classroom who placed first in Mexico,” he said, breaking into a smile.
Paloma received the highest math score in the country, but the other students weren’t far behind. Ten got math scores that placed them in the 99.99th percentile. Three of them placed at the same high level in Spanish. The results attracted a quick burst of official and media attention in Mexico, most of which focused on Paloma. She was flown to Mexico City to appear on a popular TV show and received a variety of gifts, from a laptop to a bicycle.
Juárez Correa himself got almost no recognition, despite the fact that nearly half of his class had performed at a world- class level and that even the lowest performers had markedly improved.
His other students were congratulated by friends and family. The parents of Carlos Rodríguez Lamas, who placed in the 99.99th percentile in math, treated him to three steak tacos. It was his first time in a restaurant. Keila Francisco Rodríguez got 10 pesos from her parents. She bought a bag of Cheetos. The kids were excited. They talked about being doctors, teachers, and politicians.
Juárez Correa had mixed feelings about the test. His students had succeeded because he had employed a new teaching method, one better suited to the way children learn. It was a model that emphasized group work, competition, creativity, and a student-led environment. So it was ironic that the kids had distinguished themselves because of a conventional multiple-choice test. “These exams are like limits for the teachers,” he says. “They test what you know, not what you can do, and I am more interested in what my students can do.”
Like Juárez Correa, many education innovators are succeeding outside the mainstream. For example, the 11 Internationals Network high schools in New York City report a higher graduation rate than the city’s average for the same populations. They do it by emphasizing student-led learning and collaboration. At the coalition of Big Picture Learning schools—56 schools across the US and another 64 around the world—teachers serve as advisers, suggesting topics of interest; students also work with mentors from business and the community, who help guide them into internships. As the US on-time high school graduation rate stalls at about 75 percent, Big Picture is graduating more than 90 percent of its students.
But these examples—involving only thousands of students—are the exceptions to the rule. The system as a whole educates millions and is slow to recognize or adopt successful innovation. It’s a system that was constructed almost two centuries ago to meet the needs of the industrial age. Now that our society and economy have evolved beyond that era, our schools must also be reinvented.
For the time being, we can see what the future looks like in places like Juárez Correa’s classroom. We can also see that change will not come easily. Though Juárez Correa’s class posted impressive results, they inspired little change. Francisco Sánchez Salazar, chief of the Regional Center of Educational Development in Matamoros, was even dismissive. “The teaching method makes little difference,” he says. Nor does he believe that the students’ success warrants any additional help. “Intelligence comes from necessity,” he says. “They succeed without having resources.”
More than ever, Juárez Correa felt like the burro in the story. But then he remembered Paloma. She had lost her father and was growing up on the edge of a garbage dump. Under normal circumstances, her prospects would be limited. But like the burro, she was shaking off the clods of dirt; she had begun climbing the rising mound out of the well.
Want to help teachers like Sergio Juárez Correa make a difference? Here’s how you can get involved in the student-centered movement.
How to Get Involved in the Teaching Movement That Could Transform Education
BY MARK ROBINSON
Photo: Peter Yang/WIRED
In the weeks leading up to the publication of our cover story about Sergio Juárez Correa and the students of José Urbina López Primary School, it became clear that WIRED could help. We decided to sponsor the school and Juárez Correa, providing them with supplies and equipment they need, like a projector, printer, and laser pointer.
But there also are powerful ways you can get involved with the burgeoning student-centered style of learning and teaching. Whether you want to bring this approach into an existing school, start a program of your own, donate to a program, or find a teacher who has asked for specific help, we’ve got suggestions. Here are four ways to take action:
1. Last year, the TED prize gave $1 million to Sugata Mitra, one of the movement’s leading thinkers. If you are interested in supporting Mitra and his School in the Cloud project email TEDPrize@TED.comor make contributions payable to:
Sapling Foundation
Care of: TED Prize Team
2. TED has created a toolkit full of ideas for jumpstarting student-centered learning in your home, local community, or school. It’s called SOLE: How to Bring Self-Organized Learning Environments to Your Community. Download it here and share your story afterward on the SOLE Tumblr.
3. To support or adopt a SOLE classroom (many of which are listed on the SOLE Tumblr) emailTEDPrize@TED.com.
4. Support a teacher who has made a specific request for help through DonorsChoose.org, an online charity that connects public school teachers with donors.
Meanwhile, read more about Mitra’s TED Prize at José Urbina López Primary School or watch apreview of the documentary, School in the Cloud, that filmmaker Jerry Rothwell is making about Mitra’s TED prize activities.
12 Dozen Places To Educate Yourself Online For Free
on 15 July, 2014 at 18:53
Note that some of the sources overlap between various subjects of education. Therefore, each has been placed under a specific subject based on the majority focus of the source’s content.
MIT OpenCourseWare – MIT OpenCourseWare is a free web-based publication of MIT course materials that reflects almost all the undergraduate and graduate subjects taught at MIT.
Tufts OpenCourseWare – Tufts OpenCourseWare is part of a new educational movement initiated by MIT that provides free access to course content for everyone online. Tufts’ course offerings demonstrate the University’s strength in the life sciences in addition to its multidisciplinary approach, international perspective and underlying ethic of service to its local, national and international communities.
HowStuffWorks Science – More scientific lessons and explanations than you could sort through in an entire year.
Harvard Medical School Open Courseware – The mission of the Harvard Medical School Open Courseware Initiative is to exchange knowledge from the Harvard community of scholars to other academic institutions, prospective students, and the general public.
Khan Academy – Over 1200 videos lessons covering everything from basic arithmetic and algebra to differential equations, physics, chemistry, and biology.
Open Yale Courses – Open Yale Courses provides lectures and other materials from selected Yale College courses to the public free of charge via the internet. The courses span the full range of liberal arts disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, and physical and biological sciences.
webcast.berkeley – Every semester, UC Berkeley webcasts select courses and events for on-demand viewing via the Internet. webcast.berkeley course lectures are provided as a study resource for both students and the public.
UC San Diego Podcast Lectures – UCSD’s podcasting service was established for instructional use to benefit our students. Podcasts are taken down at the end of every quarter (10 weeks Fall-Spring and 5 weeks in the summer). If you’re enjoying a podcast, be sure to subscribe and download the lectures. Once the podcast has been taken offline, faculty rarely approve their reposting.
Johns Hopkins OpenCourseWare – The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s OpenCourseWare project provides access to content of the School’s most popular courses. As challenges to the world’s health escalate daily, the School feels a moral imperative to provide equal and open access to information and knowledge about the obstacles to the public’s health and their potential solutions.
Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative – No instructors, no credits, no charge. Use these self-guiding Carnegie Mellon materials and activities to learn at your own pace.
Utah State OpenCourseWare – Utah State OpenCourseWare is a collection of educational material used in our formal campus courses, and seeks to provide people around the world with an opportunity to access high quality learning opportunities.
AMSER – AMSER (the Applied Math and Science Education Repository) is a portal of educational resources and services built specifically for use by those in Community and Technical Colleges but free for anyone to use.
Wolfram Demonstrations Project – Wolfram brings computational exploration to the widest possible audience, open-code resource that uses dynamic computation to illuminate concepts. Free player runs all demos and videos.
The Science Forum – A very active scientific discussion and debate forum.
Free Science and Video Lectures Online! – A nice collection of video lectures and lessons on science and philosophy.
Science.gov – Science.gov searches over 42 databases and over 2000 selected websites from 14 federal agencies, offering 200 million pages of authoritative U.S. government science information including research and development results.
The National Science Digital Library – NSDL is the Nation’s online library for education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics.
EnviroLink Network– A non-profit organization, grassroots online community uniting organizations and volunteers around the world. Up-to-date environmental information and news.
Geology.com – Information about geology and earth science to visitors without charge: Articles, News, Maps, Satellite Images, Dictionary, etc.
Scitable – A free science library and personal learning tool that currently concentrates on genetics, the study of evolution, variation, and the rich complexity of living organisms. The site also expects to expand into other topics of learning and education.
LearningScience.org – A free open learning community for sharing newer and emerging tools to teach science.
BUSINESS AND MONEY
MIT Sloan School of Management – MIT Sloan is a world-class business school long renowned for thought leadership and the ability to successfully partner theory and practice. This is a subsection of the larger MIT OpenCourseWare site.
Investopedia Financial Investing Tutorials – A plethora of detailed lessons on money management and investing.
U.S. Small Business Administration Training Network – The Small Business Administration has one of the best selections of business courses on the web. Topics include everything from starting a business and business management to government contracting and international trade. Most courses take only 30 minutes to complete.
VideoLectures.NET (Business) – A free and open access educational video lectures repository. The lectures are given by distinguished scholars and scientists at the most important and prominent events like conferences, summer schools, workshops and science promotional events from many fields of Science.
My Own Business, Inc. – Offers a free online business administration course that would be beneficial to new managers and to anyone who is interested in starting a business. This comprehensive course is split up into 16 sessions covering topics like business plans, accounting, marketing, insurance, e-commerce and international trade.
UC Irvine OpenCourseWare (Business) – Rapidly with the addition of nearly 10 new courses every month. Many of our OCW offerings are directed at working adults seeking continuing education, with the option to enroll in instructor-led, for-credit courses, related to the OCW content.
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania – The Kutztown University of Pennsylvania’s Small Business Development Center offers more than 80 free business courses online. Kutztown’s courses are individualized and self-paced. Many of the courses feature high-end graphics, interactive case studies and audio streams.
Boston College Front Row (Business) – Boston College Front Row is a Web site that offers free access through streaming media to tapes of cultural and scholarly events at Boston College.
Financial Management Training Center – The Financial Management Training Center provides several free downloadable business courses for people who need to learn the finer points of financial management. All courses offered can be taken online; courses include full exams as well as evaluation forms for people seeking Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.
The Free Nonprofit Micro-eMBA – Free Management Library’s Free Nonprofit Micro-eMBA Program is an especially great resource for students wishing to learn more about nonprofit management, but most of the lessons also apply to general business management. Completion of this program will not result in an MBA degree, but enrollment is free and the material is well structured.
Bookboon Free Business e-books – Hundreds of free business books online in PDF format.
TheStreet University – If you’re just starting out as a stock and bond investor or need a refresher’s course, this is the place to learn what you need to know.
HISTORY AND WORLD CULTURE
University of Washington’s OpenUW – Explore a variety of learning in several free history-centric online courses from the University of Washington.
Notre Dame OpenCourseWare – Notre Dame OCW is a free and open educational resource for faculty, students, and self-learners throughout the world.
Bio’s Best – Biography.com’s most popular biographies on notable historical figures.
UC Irvine OpenCourseWare (Social Science) – Rapidly with the addition of nearly 10 new courses every month. Many of our OCW offerings are directed at working adults seeking continuing education, with the option to enroll in instructor-led, for-credit courses, related to the OCW content.
Boston College Front Row (History) – Boston College Front Row is a Web site that offers free access through streaming media to tapes of cultural and scholarly events at Boston College.
MIT OpenCourseWare (History) – The MIT History Faculty offers about 70 subjects in the areas of Ancient, North American, European, East Asian, and Middle Eastern history.
Wikiversity School of Social Sciences – Wikiversity is a Wikimedia Foundation project devoted to learning resources, learning projects, and research for use in all levels, types, and styles of education from pre-school to university, including professional training and informal learning.
OpenLearn (Arts and Humanities) – The OpenLearn website gives free access to Open University course materials.
A Biography of America – A Biography of America presents history not simply as a series of irrefutable facts to be memorized, but as a living narrative of America’s story.
Have Fun with History – A resource for students, educators and all lovers of American History.
The USGenWeb Project – Free genealogy and family history resources online.
MacroHistory and World Report – Tell without illusions or ideological restraints the story of our ancestors, our parents and us.
World History HyperHistory – Navigates through 3000 years of World History with links to important persons and events of world historical importance.
American Digital History – Online American history textbook. An interactive, multimedia history of the United States from the Revolution to the present.
Duke Law Center for the Public Domain – Duke University is counted amongst the best schools in the South. If you’re interested in law, Duke’s open courseware in that subject area can go a long way towards helping you learn more about the justice system.
Intute Law – Provides free access to high quality resources on the Internet. Each resource has been evaluated and categorised by subject specialists based at UK universities.
Boston College Front Row (Law) – Boston College Front Row is a Web site that offers free access through streaming media to tapes of cultural and scholarly events at Boston College.
American University – Offers a selection of podcasts on a number of different law-related subjects. There is even a very interesting podcast on debt relief and the law.
Lewis & Clark Law School – Provides a number of podcast from the law school. Subjects include tax law, business law, environmental law and other areas of law. Interesting and insightful lectures on the law.
Case Western Reserve University School of Law – Offers a number of interesting lectures on different law subjects. These lectures are both podcasts and Web casts. You can look ahead to the coming school year, which already has a number of interesting subjects lined up.
Harvard Law School – Provides a number of Web casts of law lectures, symposia, panels and conferences. A great collection of relevant information and insights on how the law interacts with current events.
Stanford Law – Provides open courseware via iTunes on a variety of law subjects, including the theory of justice, mobile content distribution, gay marriage, judicial review and privacy protection. The tracks are available for free, but you’ll need iTunes. Put the lectures on your iPod or iPhone and listen them anywhere.
MoneyInstructor Business Law – From MoneyInstructor.com provides a look at a number of basics in business law. Learn how to define crimes under business law. Worksheets and curriculums are available for teachers. Ordinary folks will find them useful as well.
Wesleyan College Constitutional Law – From North Carolina Wesleyan College offers an overview of the U.S. Constitution and the laws springing from it. Online lectures and class notes are included, which can help you develop a strong understanding of the Constitution and how it forms the basis of our laws.
VideoLectures.NET (Computer Science) – A free and open access educational video lectures repository. The lectures are given by distinguished scholars and scientists at the most important and prominent events like conferences, summer schools, workshops and science promotional events from many fields of Science.
Wikiversity School of Computer Science and Technology – Wikiversity is a Wikimedia Foundation project devoted to learning resources, learning projects, and research for use in all levels, types, and styles of education from pre-school to university, including professional training and informal learning.
New York State University (US), Computer Science – Hundreds of lectures, tutorials and links to educational material.
Dream.In.Code Tutorials – Lots of computer programming tutorials.
MIT OpenCourseWare (Engineering and Computer Science) – MIT OpenCourseWare is a free web-based publication of MIT course materials that reflects almost all the undergraduate and graduate subjects taught at MIT.
Maine University (US), Fogler Guide to Computer Science – An insanely detailed list of computer science resources.
FreeComputerBooks.com – Free computer, mathematics, technical books and lecture notes.
Collection of Computer Science Bibliographies – A massive collection of bibliographies of scientific literature in computer science, updated weekly from original locations, more than 3 millions of references (mostly to journal articles, conference papers and technical reports), clustered in about 2000 bibliographies.
W3Schools – Web-building tutorials, from basic HTML and XHTML to advanced XML, SQL, Database, Multimedia and WAP.
FreeTechBooks.com – This site lists free online computer science, engineering and programming books, textbooks and lecture notes, all of which are legally and freely available over the Internet.
Free computer Tutorials – Free computer courses and tutorials site. All the courses are aimed at complete beginners, so you don’t need experience to get started.
Programmer 101: Teach Yourself How to Code – Several helpful resources for computer programming beginners.
Google Code University – Provides sample course content and tutorials for Computer Science (CS) students and educators on current computing technologies and paradigms.
Oxford University Mathematics OpenCourseWare – Various online mathematics classes provided free by Oxford University.
UMass Boston Mathematics – Various online mathematics classes provided free by UMass Boston.
Whatcom Online Math Center – Various math lessons provided free by Whatcom Community College.
VideoLectures.NET (Mathematics) – A free and open access educational video lectures repository. The lectures are given by distinguished scholars and scientists at the most important and prominent events like conferences, summer schools, workshops and science promotional events from many fields of Science.
Wikiversity School of Mathematics – Wikiversity is a Wikimedia Foundation project devoted to learning resources, learning projects, and research for use in all levels, types, and styles of education from pre-school to university, including professional training and informal learning.
AMSER Mathematics – AMSER (the Applied Math and Science Education Repository) is a portal of educational resources and services built specifically for use by those in Community and Technical Colleges but free for anyone to use.
Math.com – Math.com is dedicated to providing revolutionary ways for students, parents, teachers, and everyone to learn math.
Intute Mathematics – Provides free access to high quality resources on the Internet. Each resource has been evaluated and categorized by subject specialists based at UK universities.
Free-Ed College Mathematics – Offers a wide range of free online math courses and study programs.
ENGLISH AND COMMUNICATIONS
Open Yale Courses (English) – Open Yale Courses provides lectures and other materials from selected Yale College courses to the public free of charge via the internet.
Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students – These guidelines for engineering writing and scientific writing are designed to help students communicate their technical work.
MIT Writing and Humanistic Studies – The MIT Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies gives students the opportunity to learn the techniques, forms, and traditions of several kinds of writing, from basic expository prose to more advanced forms of non-fictional prose, fiction and poetry, science writing, scientific and technical communication and digital media.
Merriam-Webster Online – In this digital age, your ability to communicate with written English is paramount skill. And M-W.com is the perfect resource to improve your English now.
National Novel Writing Month – Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.
Lifewriting – A complete text of the 9-week writing class a professor taught for years at UCLA.
Guide to Grammar and Writing – Grammar and writing techniques, lessons and quizzes.
Purdue Online Writing Lab – Over 200 free resources including lessons on: writing, research, grammar, and style guides.
FOREIGN AND SIGN LANGUAGES
BBC Languages – Teach yourself a new spoken language online.
American Sign Language Browser – Teach yourself sign language online.
Livemocha – Start learning a new language online for free.
Learn10 – Gives you a language learning habit that’s hard to kick. 10 new words; everywhere, every day.
One Minute Languages – Learn a new language via podcasts that are updated regularly.
Mango Languages – Over 100 lessons, shown to you in PowerPoint style with interstitial quizzes, to move you through any language without cracking a book.
MULTIPLE SUBJECTS AND MISCELLANEOUS
OpenLearn – The OpenLearn website gives free access to Open University course materials. Multiple subjects are covered.
Capilano University OpenCourseWare – The Capilano University OpenCourseWare site is a free and open educational resource for faculty, students, and self-learners throughout the world.
University of Southern Queensland’s OpenCourseWare – Provides access to free and open educational resources for faculty members, students, and self-learners throughout the world.
YouTube EDU – Educational videos on YouTube organized by subject matter.
LearnHub Test Prep – Raise your test scores with free practice tests & counseling on various subjects.
iTunes U – Hundreds of universities — including Stanford, Yale and MIT — distribute lectures, slide shows, PDFs, films, exhibit tours and audio books through iTunes U. The Science section alone contains content on topics including agriculture, astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, ecology and geography.
United Nations University OpenCourseWare – Showcases the training and educational programs implemented by the University in a wide range of areas relevant to the work of the United Nations.
Brigham Young Independent Study – BYU Independent Study now offers free courses in different areas of study. These areas include Family History, Family Life, and Religious Scripture Study, Personal Dev elopement, etc. Use these courses as a starting point for your personal studies or just to add insight to an area of interest.
University of Utah OpenCourseWare – Provides access to free and open educational resources for faculty members, students, and self-learners throughout the world.
United States Nation Archives – The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation’s record keeper. Valuable records are preserved and are available to you, whether you want to see if they contain clues about your family’s history, need to prove a veteran’s military service, or are researching an historical topic that interests you.
Wikiversity – Wikiversity is a Wikimedia Foundation project devoted to learning resources, learning projects, and research for use in all levels, types, and styles of education from pre-school to university, including professional training and informal learning.
UMass Boston OpenCourseWare – Various online classes provided free by UMass Boston.
About U – A collection of free online educational courses from About.com.
Academic Earth – Online degrees and video courses from leading universities.
Free-Ed – Clusters of courses that support your preparation for today’s fastest-growing careers and critical academic disciplines.
Connexions – A place to view and share educational material made of small knowledge chunks called modules that can be organized as courses, books, reports, etc. Anyone may view or contribute.
TED – Motivational and educational lectures from noteworthy professionals around the world.
Intute – Provides free access to high quality resources on the Internet. Each resource has been evaluated and categorised by subject specialists based at UK universities.
Boston College Front Row – Boston College Front Row is a Web site that offers free access through streaming media to tapes of cultural and scholarly events at Boston College.
FREE BOOKS AND READING RECOMMENDATIONS
LibraryThing – LibraryThing connects you to other people who are reading what you’re reading and allows you to see which books are popular in various categories of reading.
Textbook Revolution – Links to free online textbooks and other educational materials.
Book TV – This is the companion site to Book TV on C-Span2. The site holds some current interviews with authors, many past interviews, opinions, reviews, and featured programs through online video.
Bookboon – Bookboon provides online textbooks for students in PDF format. The free ebooks can be downloaded without registration. Our books are legal and written exclusively for Bookboon. They are financed by a few in-book ads.
Scribd – Scribd, the online document sharing site which supports Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF and other popular formats. You can download a document or embed it in your blog or web page.
BookYards – BookYards is a web portal in which books, education materials, information, and content will be freely to anyone who has an internet connection.
Planet eBook – Free classic literature to download and share.
E-Books Directory – Thousands of ebooks on various subjects to download and share.
Read Print Library – Free online books library for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast.GoodReads – Get great book recommendations and keep track of what you want to read.
The Online Books Page – University of Pennsylvania database with over 30,000 books.
Public Literature – Thousands of familiar classics, children’s books, plays and poems, as well as books by new authors.
Full Books – Thousands of full-text nonfiction and fiction books.
Many Books – Free fiction and nonfiction ebooks for your PDA, iPod or ebook reader.
Get Free Books – Thousands of free ebooks to download.
Project Gutenberg – More than 20,000 free books from the first producer of free e-books.
Bibliomania – Thousands of classic books, poems, short stories and plays.
Classic Reader – Large collection of free classic books, plays, and short stories from more than 300 authors.
Bartleby Fiction – Classic anthologies and volumes.
The Personal MBA Recommended Reading List – MBA programs don’t have a monopoly on advanced business knowledge: you can teach yourself everything you need to know to succeed in life and at work. The Personal MBA features the very best business books available, based on thousands of hours of research.
Books Should Be Free – Free audio books from the public domain.
EDUCATIONAL MAINSTREAM BROADCAST MEDIA
BBC Learning – Online learning, support, and advice. This site offers internal and offsite links to a vast amount of materials.
Biography – The site holds videos to past interviews and biographies on people in topics that range from Black history to women’s history.
CBC Archives — Relive Canadian history through thousands of available radio and television clips.
Discovery — This channel is home to several different networks that focus on the military, animals, travel, etc. The Discovery site offers a “Video of the Day” from its home page, a separate online video section, and a Discover Education center where teachers can accumulate materials for K-12 teaching. It’s impossible to list all their offerings here, so go discover!
History Channel – Visit the Video Gallery for a selection on historical topics. Like the Discovery Channel, this network provides many opportunities for you to gain access to information and reference materials.
NOVA — Watch current science shows or browse by category. PBS sponsors this channel.
Research Channel — Speakers, researchers and professors present revolutionary thoughts and discoveries. Use their Webstreams and an extensive video-on-demand library for research.
Weather Channel – You can learn about weather all over the world, but the Weather Channel also offers dynamic content based upon seasons and special conditions and a special multimedia and education section.
American Memory – The Library of Congress provides extensive multimedia offerings on various topics through their American Memory Collection, including their outstanding Built in America project that showcases historical buildings through photographs.
Fathom – This archive, provided by Columbia University, offers access to the complete range of free content developed for Fathom by its member institutions. The archives include online learning resources including lectures, articles, interviews, exhibits and seminars.
Internet Archive Open Educational Resources – A digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form.
National Archives – Provides primary source materials from NARA along with lesson plans for teaching with those sources.
National Climatic Data Center – The NCDC, a division of NOAA, maintains climatic archives, including lists of storms in given counties, and records about global extremes, etc.
The Rosetta Project – A global collaboration of language specialists and native speakers building a publicly accessible online archive of all documented human languages.
September 11 Digital Archive – This site uses electronic media to collect, preserve, and present the history of the 9/11 attacks.
U.S. Census Bureau – If you think the Census Bureau is all about numbers, you might be surprised to learn about their archived photographs, daily radio features, and more available through theirNewsroom.
DIRECTORIES OF OPEN EDUCATION
Google Scholar – Provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: articles, theses, books, abstracts and court opinions, from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities and other web sites.
OpenCourseWare Consortium – This site provides a portal to search through hundreds of free courses or to add new courses you know about to the database.
iBerry – Check out this site for a huge directory of open courseware organized by school and subject matter that can point you in the right direction for any type of learning.
Self Made Scholar Directory – Free online directory of web-based classes and courses.
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France Petrol Protests Emmanuel Macron
400 injured, one dead on French fuel-price protests
By RFI Issued on 18-11-2018 Modified 18-11-2018 to 13:37
Yellow Vests on the Bordeaux ringroad on Saturday AFP/Nicolas Tucat
More than 400 people were injured and one person was killed during France's Yellow Vest protests against fuel-price rises on Saturday, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Sunday. Some 287,710 people took part in 2,304 roadblocks or similar demonstrations, according to the government.
After a 63-year-old woman was killed at a roadblock in the French Alps on Saturday morning, 409 people were injured during the protests, 14 of them seriously, according to Castaner.
The number rose overnight, as about 3,500 continued to demonstrate at 87 sites.
"There were attacks, fights, stabbings," Castaner told RTL radio. "There were fights between Yellow Vests. There was a great deal of alcohol in some places and that lead to idiotic behaviour that can lead to violence and that becomes unacceptable."
A total of 282 people were arrested on Saturday, 73 of them overnight.
With inexperienced organisers, most of the demonstrations, which involved disrupting traffic on motorways or road junctions, had not been notified to the authorities, making it difficult to police them.
"People who claim to organise and who in fact want to disorganise the country, don't want to respect democracy, have to face up to their responsibilities," stormed the minister.
Protests to continue
Demonstrators had vowed to continue the protests on Sunday at 150 sites, according to Castaner.
About 100 protests were taking place on France's motorways at midday, according to operator Vinci.
Some 200 people tried to block access to the Disneyland amusement park near Paris but failed to do so.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen hailed a "great success" when interviewed by RTL on Sunday and accused Castaner of trying to play down its significance.
"Accidents can happen and everyone regrets that," she said when asked about the high number of injuries, adding that the "great majority" of participants demonstrated peacefully.
She called on the government to listen to the movement's demands.
But several ministers on Sunday morning declared that there would be no change in the government's line.
"So far as ecological taxation is concerned, we'll carry on as planned," Environment Minister François de Rugy said. "Not to do so would be irresponsible."
The wave of discontent was sparked by the rise in petrol and diesel prices, partly because of an increase in an environmental tax.
But for many involved it has become a protest against the rising cost of living and poor public services, especially in rural areas and small towns, as well as the government's taxation policy.
President Emmanuel Macron's popularity ratings have dropped to 25 percent, a fall of four points since December, according to an opinion poll published on Sunday.
That leaves him higher than his predecessor Socialist François Hollande's 20 percent at the same point in his term but lower than Hollande's predecessor, right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy, who was at 44 percent.
Demonstrator killed, several hurt, on …
France braced for protests against …
'Yellow vests' to test Emmanuel …
Australia's onshore refugees stuck in legal limbo
El Chapo awaits life in prison sentence by US judge
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Okinawan leaders hold rally in Naha to request rescinding of Osprey deployment
On January 22, at the Naha Civic Hall, participants in a rally renewed their pledge to request to the U.S. and Japanese governments that the deployment of the Osprey be rescinded.
In the afternoon on January 22, Okinawan leaders held a rally at the Naha Civic Hall to request that the U.S. and Japanese governments rescind the deployment of the Osprey to Okinawa.
About 1300 people participated in the rally. They criticized the U.S. and Japanese governments for forcing through deployment of the Osprey to Okinawa, saying, “The deployment is a reckless act that serves to further humiliate the Okinawan people who have already suffered the excessive burden of hosting the U.S. military since the end of World War II.” The participants adopted the resolution unanimously, asserting that the deployment of the Osprey represents discrimination against and bullying of the Okinawan people and therefore cannot be ignored.
Representatives of the rally will send the resolution statement to the authorities related to the U.S. and Japanese governments. The U.S. and Japanese governments deployed the Osprey to Okinawa last year just three weeks after a protest rally against the deployment held on September 9, 2012 attracted more than 100000 participants. About this, Naha Mayor Takeshi Onaga, who represented the organizers, said, “That protest attracted such a large number of participants for a good reason. The central government just dismisses Okinawan people’s protest out of hand.” Onaga said that he will continue to request that the U.S. and Japanese governments rescind the Osprey deployment, and will oppose the relocation of Futenma Air Station within Okinawa. He said, “Japan enjoyed rapid economic growth by forcing Okinawa to bear the burden of hosting the bulk of the U.S. military presence in Japan. It is unreasonable for the central government to talk about developing the Japanese economy while continuing to impose such a burden on the people of Okinawa.” Based on the fact that the members of the Naha City Assembly have resolved to oppose the Osprey deployment a total of four times, Seiko Nagayama, the chairman of the assembly, said, “We cannot ignore the current situation we have in which the U.S. and Japanese governments treat Okinawan people with derision.”
With regard to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s book entitled Towards a Beautiful Country: My Vision for Japan, Haruo Mekari, the head of the Community Promotion Council of the Naha Corporation of Labor, said, “We would like you to include Okinawa in your vision of a beautiful country, and to rescind the Osprey deployment to help unlock the future of Okinawa.”
Onaga talked to the press after the rally, saying, “Applause just went on and on. I strongly sense their determination in requesting that the U.S. and Japanese governments rescind the deployment of the Osprey. I am confident that the Okinawan people’s voices will be more broadly heard by those living in the main islands of Japan.” Onaga renewed his pledge that he and other representatives will convey the Okinawan people’s will to oppose the Osprey deployment to the central government in Tokyo on January 27 and 28.
(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)
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Four thousand people at rally in Tokyo ask U.S. and Japanese governments to rescind Osprey deployment
Thousands of protesters march against Osprey deployment while singing
Tens of thousands participate in protest rally against Osprey deployment in Okinawa
Protest rally against Osprey deployment to be held in late June
Two thousand people protest in Tokyo against Osprey deployment
Excitement around 43-ton giant rope
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Björk Performances at The Shed in NYC Heard via d&b Soundscape
• Created: May 14, 2019
Cornucopia is staged in The McCourt space at The Shed in NYC
NEW YORK – Icelandic singer and songwriter Björk worked with FOH engineer John Gale along with High Wycombe, U.K.-based Southby Productions and Steve Jones from d&b audiotechnik to deploy a d&b Soundscape system at New York’s new cultural center, The Shed, which opened in NYC’s Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s West Side in April. Björk’s theatrical Cornucopia series of shows are running from early May to June 1, 2019.
More details from d&b audiotechnik (www.dbaudio.com):
Björk opened her Cornucopia season at New York’s newest cultural center The Shed, utilizing a full 360 degree d&b Soundscape system powered by the d&b En-Scene object based mixing and En-Space room emulation software. As an integral part of the performance design. Cornucopia is Björk’s most elaborate stage production to date incorporating stunning visuals, intricate stage movements and a fully integrated immersive sound design, made possible by the d&b Soundscape.
Beginning the sound design conception in a studio in Iceland the production has progressed through production rehearsals in the Backstage Centre, London, to The Shed in New York City. Cornucopia’s sound was designed by Björk and FoH Sound Engineer John Gale, supported by Southby Productions, and Steve Jones from d&b.
Steve Jones from d&b explained, “Björk wanted the sound for Cornucopia to create an otherworldly sensory experience that draws the visual, aural and virtual elements together and utilizing Soundscape, from the studio composition scenario all the way through to the show performance scenario has delivered of that vision.”
Built within the new Hudson Yards development in Manhattan, The Shed is already an iconic structure. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Lead Architect, and Rockwell Group, Collaborating Architect, it is a spectacular 200,000-square-foot structure that physically transforms to support huge flexibility in programming and performance styles.
Cornucopia is staged in The McCourt space, formed when the mammoth outer shell of the structure is rolled out to cover the adjoining plaza and create a 17,000-square-foot light-, sound-, and temperature-controlled hall for large-scale performances, installations, and events. It can accommodate a seated audience of approximately 1,200 and a standing audience of more than 2,000.
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Home / Basketball / Hobart Huskies – Kilsyth Cobras
Hobart Huskies vs Kilsyth Cobras Match Prediction 03-07-2019 19:20
American Sarah Boothe has been strong off the boards with 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while Clare Camac has been busy off the bench with 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Lauren Nicholson has been the standout this season with 21.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while Klara Wischer has been a strong contributor with 12.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. With a tough draw on the run home, the Cobras will get to really see where they are at with such an even side. If the mens season seemed to slip off the tracks over the past two months, the womens season managed to get back on track to the point of being the second most in-form team in the competition. The Cobras sat at 1-4 after five rounds, but have piled on seven consecutive wins, the second most of any side behind the ladder leaders, Geelong Supercats.
Prior to joining bet365 and funding your account in order to view Hobart Chargers Kilsyth Cobras, or any other particular event via the bet365 live stream, you are strongly advised to check with bet365 if, depending on your place of residence, it is possible to view the live streamed event in question. Find out more about contacting bet365 here , either by telephone, post, email or chat. However, please note that the intellectual property rights to stream such events are usually owned at a country level and therefore, depending on your location, there may be certain events that you may be unable to view due to such restrictions. *IMPORTANT NOTICE SofaScore.com in partnership with bet365 offers over 140,000 live streaming events per year.
LAST MATCHES
American Sarah Boothe has been strong off the boards with 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while Clare Camac has been busy off the bench with 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. The Cobras sat at 1-4 after five rounds, but have piled on seven consecutive wins, the second most of any side behind the ladder leaders, Geelong Supercats. With a tough draw on the run home, the Cobras will get to really see where they are at with such an even side. If the mens season seemed to slip off the tracks over the past two months, the womens season managed to get back on track to the point of being the second most in-form team in the competition. Lauren Nicholson has been the standout this season with 21.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while Klara Wischer has been a strong contributor with 12.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
Hobart comes in as the reigning champions from the South Eastern Australian Basketball League (SEABL) Mens competition after finishing third in the regular season. With each side holding either past, present or future National Basketball League talent, the second tier in Australian basketball is about to become an ultra-exciting competition with plenty on the line for the 18 sides across South East Australia. Nunawading Spectres and Kilsyth Cobras were other strong sides throughout last years competition, while Bendigo Braves hold the most conference championship wins with seven across the years, while Geelong Supercats have been crowned National Champions four times.
Install SofaScore app on and follow Hobart Chargers Kilsyth Cobras live on your mobile! SofaScore livescore is available as iPhone and iPad app, Android app on Google Play and Windows phone app. You can find us in all stores on different languages as "SofaScore".
Basketball Draft Central
On Sunday, the Basketball Centre of Excellence make it three consecutive games when they face fellow eastern suburbs side Kilsyth Cobras, while Waverley Falcons host Albury Wondonga Bandits in the Bandits first game of the round, much like Bendigo Braves and Melbourne Tigers who clash in their respective first games. The Huskies host the Southern Sabres, while across the ditch, Dandenong Rangers host the future stars of the Boomers and Opals in the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, while one of the favourites, Geelong Supercats host Nunawading Spectres. On Saturday, six sides face off with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence travelling up Eastlink to face Ringwood Hawks, while Nunawading Spectres are back at home against Ballarat Miners and Rush. THE first round of NBL1 action tips off tonight with three games across Friday night, including a season opener in Hobart. Southern Sabres will make a weekend of it in the Apple Isle when they face Launceston and North West Tasmania.
The Huskies host the Southern Sabres, while across the ditch, Dandenong Rangers host the future stars of the Boomers and Opals in the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, while one of the favourites, Geelong Supercats host Nunawading Spectres. On Saturday, six sides face off with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence travelling up Eastlink to face Ringwood Hawks, while Nunawading Spectres are back at home against Ballarat Miners and Rush. On Sunday, the Basketball Centre of Excellence make it three consecutive games when they face fellow eastern suburbs side Kilsyth Cobras, while Waverley Falcons host Albury Wondonga Bandits in the Bandits first game of the round, much like Bendigo Braves and Melbourne Tigers who clash in their respective first games. THE first round of NBL1 action tips off tonight with three games across Friday night, including a season opener in Hobart. Southern Sabres will make a weekend of it in the Apple Isle when they face Launceston and North West Tasmania.
Hobart comes in as the reigning champions from the South Eastern Australian Basketball League (SEABL) Mens competition after finishing third in the regular season. Nunawading Spectres and Kilsyth Cobras were other strong sides throughout last years competition, while Bendigo Braves hold the most conference championship wins with seven across the years, while Geelong Supercats have been crowned National Champions four times. With each side holding either past, present or future National Basketball League talent, the second tier in Australian basketball is about to become an ultra-exciting competition with plenty on the line for the 18 sides across South East Australia.
LAST CONFRONTATIONS
Ballarat Miners / RushLaunceston / NW Tasmania vs. Kilsyth CobrasNunawading Spectres vs. Eltham WildcatsFrankston Blues vs. Southern SabresRingwood Hawks vs. Diamond Valley Eagles vs. Waverley FalconsKnox Raiders vs.
The next match against Knox Raiders and the trip down south to the Apple Isle is vital for the Cobras to come away with wins and set themselves up for a finals tilt. The run home is far from easy for the Cobras, who have five games against top eight sides, including home-and-away fixtures against title contenders Dandenong Rangers and Nunawading Spectres.
Lauren Nicholson has been the standout this season with 21.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while Klara Wischer has been a strong contributor with 12.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. With a tough draw on the run home, the Cobras will get to really see where they are at with such an even side. American Sarah Boothe has been strong off the boards with 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while Clare Camac has been busy off the bench with 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. If the mens season seemed to slip off the tracks over the past two months, the womens season managed to get back on track to the point of being the second most in-form team in the competition. The Cobras sat at 1-4 after five rounds, but have piled on seven consecutive wins, the second most of any side behind the ladder leaders, Geelong Supercats.
Hobart Huskies Women's-Kilsyth Cobras (W) live score, results
Today we analyse the Kilsyth Cobras, with the mens and womens sides on opposite trajectories as the former won its first game after five consecutive losses last week, while the latter is on a red-hot seven-game winning streak. IN the mid-season break, Basketball Draft Central takes a look at each National Basketball League (NBL)1 team in both the mens and womens competition and will analyse how they have performed to date, some of their top performers, and the run home to see if they can make finals.
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Name: Date: Quarter 3 Exam Directions
Date conversion 20.04.2016
Name: ________________________ Date:____________________
Quarter 3 Exam
Directions: Please read the directions for each section carefully. Read the questions thoroughly. Take your time answering the questions. When you have completed the exam, put your pencil/pen down; turn the exam over; and sit silently at your desk. Good luck!
MULTIPLE CHOICE. The following are questions pertaining to the Greek gods and goddesses reviewed this quarter. Circle the best answer for the question.
(1 point each)
Who is Apollo’s twin?
A. Junior
B. Persephone
C. Artemis
D. Rhea
Who are Cronus’ children?
A. Jesus, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
B. Hades, Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia
C. Joseph, John, Edward, and Theodore
D. Odysseus, Perseus, Medusa, and Orpheus
Who is the mother of Poseidon?
A. Demeter
B. Hera
C. Hestia
4. Who is the father of Hephaestus?
A. His father is Cronus.
B. His father is Apollo.
C. His father is Poseidon.
D. He has no father.
5. The half-siblings of Hermes who are gods and goddesses are the following:
A. John, Paul, Ringo, and George.
B. Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus, Athena, and Ares.
Perseus, Hercules, Odysseus, and Helena.
Eurydice, the Spirit Wife, Penelope, and the Cyclops.
6. Who were Demeter’s goddess sisters?
A. Hestia and Hera.
B. The Spirit Wife and Eurydice.
C. Penelope and Helena.
D. Zeus and Hades.
7. Who was Artemis’ twin?
A. She-ra
As previously stated, Artemis has a twin. What amazing thing did she do after she was born?
Artemis killed the goddess, Hera.
Artemis assisted in the delivery of her twin brother.
Artemis did not want a twin so she swallowed him whole.
Artemis ran away from her mother and her twin.
What do Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hestia, and Hera have in common?
They are humans with super powers.
They are from the planet Krypton.
They were sentenced to spend the remainder of their days in the Underworld.
They were Zeus’ siblings who were swallowed whole by their father, Cronus.
10. Who are Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hestia, and Hera’s mother?
11. A jealous Hera chased Leto all over the earth. Where was she finally able to give birth to the twin god and goddess?
A. A floating island called, Delos.
B At the base of a bodhisattva tree.
C. In a stable and placed in a manger.
D. At the hospital.
12. Hermes was a precocious baby. One of the things he did shortly after he was born was
A. Build a small castle.
B. Swallow his father, Zeus, whole.
C. Run away from his sleeping mother, kill Apollo’s sacred cows, and invent the first lyre.
D. Hold an illegal bingo tournament on Mt. Olympus with the other gods and goddesses.
13. Cronus swallowed most of his children. How were they finally rescued from his belly?
They climbed up his esophagus and forced Cronus to open his mouth.
B. Zeus secretly put a potion in Cronus’ food, which forced him to vomit them up.
C. Cronus swallowed a magical bean that grew into a giant bean stalk, which they climbed to
D. Zeus never rescued them. He wanted all the power for himself so he secretly fed Cronus
poison that quickly killed all of them.
Poseidon is the god of
A. The oceans, seas, and natural disasters like earthquakes.
B. Thievery, messengers, and hospitality.
C. The seasons, harvest, and agriculture.
D. The hunt, wilderness, and wildlife.
Artemis is the goddess of
Hermes is the god of
B. Thievery, messengers, athletics and hospitality.
Demeter is the goddess of
C. The seasons, harvest, agriculture.
Apollo is the god of
A. Prophecy, oracles, healing, disease, music, song, poetry, and archery.
C. Fire, smithing, and metalworking.
D. The seasons, harvest, and agriculture.
19. Hephaestus is the god of
20. Why did Zeus' father swallow all his children?
A. He was afraid they would overthrow him.
B. He was hungry.
C. He thought it would make his children grow into strong adults.
D. He thought they were ugly.
21. Poseidon is usually depicted with
A. A crescent moon head band, a bear or dog, bows and arrows.
B. A laurel wreath in his long hair, holding a bow, arrows, and/or a lyre.
C. A hat and shoes with wings on them, and a magic staff.
D. A horse and/or dolphins. He is typically shown as an older man with long white hair and a long white beard; and his face is angry and moody.
22. What goddess is usually depicted with a shield and helmet and sometimes an owl?
A. Aphrodite
D. Athena.
23. What god was so ugly that his mother threw him off of Mt. Olympus, crippling him forever?
A. Hephaestus
B. Apollo
C. Hermes
D. Cronus
24. What goddess was always jealous of her husband's unfaithfulness?
A. Athena
25. What god brings messages and also guides souls to the Underworld?
B. Hephaestus
D. Helios
26. What god married the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite?
A. Zeus
B. Poseidon
C. Hephaestus
27. Who is the god of war?
A. Apollo
B. Hermes
C. Ares
D. Zeus
28. What goddess sprang fully grown and clad in armor out of her father, Zeus' head?
A. Artemis
C. Athena
D. Aphrodite
29. Who is the goddess whose devastation over her daughter having to go to the Underworld
changes the seasons?
A. Persephone
B. Demeter
D. Athena
30. What god drew the lot of ruling over the Underworld?
A. Poseidon
C. Hades
31. Who is the goddess of war, wisdom, and the arts?
A. Athena C. Aphrodite
B. Apollo D. Hera
32. What goddess' symbol was the peacock?
B. Artemis
C. Hera
33. What god was Aphrodite having an affair with while she was married to Hephaestus?
A Poseidon
B. Ares
34. What goddess was the guardian of married women because she understood the
difficulty of being with an unfaithful husband?
35. How did Dionysus' mother, Semele, die?
A Poseidon drowned her.
B. She saw Zeus in his true god form and burned to death.
C. Zeus sent a lightning bolt down to kill her.
D. Zeus stabbed her in her leg and she bled to death.
35. Which god loved chaos and destruction in war?
A Athena
D. Poseidon
36. Which god was born from Zeus' thigh?
A Dionysus
C. Apollo
D. Hephaestus
37. Which god is depicted as very handsome, young, physically fit with rays of light emanating
from his head?
B. Zeus
D. Apollo
38. Demeter is usually depicted as
A A sword and a shield.
B. A maternal figure wearing a garland of corn ears or a ribbon.
C. A lightning bolt in her hand.
D. A trident on a horse.
39. Demeter's symbols are
A Dolphins and the trident, which represents rule over the ocean and seas.
B. A scepter, corn ears, a poppy flower, torch, and/or a mystic basket which represent
agricultural harvest.
C. Winged sandals, which takes one to a destination quickly.
D. Fire and tools like the hammer which represent power over metalworking and fire.
40. Hephaestus is usually depicted as
A Young, handsome, and beautiful with long flowing hair.
B. Young and beardless with a winged hat and sandals.
C. Crippled and not so handsome, but having a strong muscular, upper body; holding
a hammer or other tools.
D. Angry, old, with long flowing white hair.
41. Which god can bring a person back to life?
A Zeus
D. Hades
42. Hades is usually depicted as
B. Unhappy and holding a key like a jailer.
43. Most of the major Greek gods and goddesses lived on
A. Arlington C. Mt. Olympus
B. Ireland D. Mt. Everest
44. Aphrodite's parents are
A. Zeus and Hera.
B. Poseidon and Demeter.
C. Artemis.
D. No one.
45. Dionysus was the god of
A. All gods and goddesses and humankind.
B. Merriment and wine.
C. The oceans, seas, and natural disasters.
D. Messengers, thieves, athletics, and hospitality.
The following questions are about the Greek god, Zeus:
46. Zeus the god of
C. The other gods, goddesses, and all of humankind; the sky; and the enforcer of justice.
47. How did Zeus escape being swallowed up by his father, Cronus?
A. Rhea tricked Cronus into swallowing a rock wrapped in a baby’s blanket.
B. Athena threw Cronus a party.
C. Metis gave Cronus a headache so he had to lie down.
D. The titans waged war against Cronus.
48. How did Zeus free his siblings?
A. Athena gave Cronus spoiled meat to eat.
B. Poseidon flooded Cronus insides with seawater.
C. Zeus secretly gave Cronus a potion that made him throw up his fully grown siblings.
D. The Gray sisters overpowered Cronus, cut up his body, and released his fully grown siblings.
49. What are Zeus’ symbols?
A. The shamrock and pot of gold.
B. A lightning bolt and eagle.
C. A laurel wreath and a lyre.
D. A trident and dolphins.
50. What is Zeus fatal flaw?
A. He loves to eat fried food.
B. He compulsively throws rocks from Mt.Olympus.
C. He keeps getting Hera pregnant. They are on their 19th child.
D. He loves ALL women.
51. Who is Zeus’ second and final wife?
B. Aphrodite
D. Hera
The following are questions about Medusa:
52. What was Medusa before she became a monster?
A. The first female President of the United States.
B. A beautiful virgin priestess of Athena who had many suitors.
C. The virgin mother, Mary, who gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem.
D. The owner of the blue BMW that’s parked in front of the school.
53. What happened to Medusa? Was it her fault?
A. She fell in love with one of the suitors. Yes, it was her fault because she stole money.
B. She had an affair with Zeus. Yes, it was her fault because she knew who he was.
C. She became head priestess of Athena’s temple. No, it was not her fault for being promoted.
D. She was raped by Poseidon in Athena’s. No, it wasn’t her fault for being raped.
54. Who changed her into a monster?
A. Zeus C. Poseidon
B. Hera D. Athena
55. What does Medusa look like after she is transformed?
A. Long and shiny hair, deep blue eyes, and clear skin, like a cover girl.
B. Her hair turns into snakes; skin, eyes, tongue, and body resemble a human corpse.
C. She grows six heads that eat humans.
D. The length of her nose grows to a feet and keeps growing every time she lies.
56. What is Athena’s curse?
A. She would turn into stone anyone who looked at her and she would be alone for the rest of her life.
B. She would have to live half the year with Hades in the Underworld and the other half with Demeter.
C. She had to fill 100 bathtubs full of water using only a bucket that had holes.
D. She had to be a servant to the King of England for 45 years.
57. What is the name of the type of monster that Medusa becomes? What are they like?
A. An octopus. She lost all her hair and grew eight legs.
B. Gorgon. She has white,scaly skin; bulging eyeballs and tongue; bloated face and body.
C. An apple. She became round, red, and shiny.
D. Athena. She wore a helmet and shield with Athena’s face on it.
58. What other parts of the world have similar monsters?
A. Great Britain, Europe, and Europe.
B. France, Germany, and Antarctica.
C. India, Egypt, and Southeast Asia.
D. Alexandria, Arlington, and Falls Church.
59. Who is the hero that goes out to kill Medusa?
B. Perseus
C. Hercules
WRITING RESPONSE
Read the writing prompt carefully. Using the space provided write your answer with complete sentences.
60. Why did ancient Greeks tell myths? (5 points)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
61. Where do the gods live? What did it inspire? (5 points)
FILL IN THE BLANKS using the literary terms below. (1 point each)
Myth Internal Conflict External Conflict Epic Epic Hero
62. ________________: A long narrative poem that tells the great deeds of a hero.
Ex: The Odyssey
63. ________________: Traditional stories that usually explain a belief or a natural phenomenon.
Ex: Medusa
64. ________________: The main character of an epic.
Ex: Odysseus
65. ________________: A character’s struggle against an outside force.
Ex. Joker vs. Batman
66. ________________: A struggle between opposing needs, desires or emotions within a person.
Ex: Junior’s feelings of financial inadequacy before, during and after the dance.
NOUNS, VERBS, and ADJECTIVES
Circle the nouns, underline the verbs, and put an X on the adjectives in the following sentence.
(1 point each noun and verb)
67. In the Colorado River, there lives a poisonous toad that releases a poison that can paralyze its predators temporarily.
Capitalization, Commas, and End Punctuation
Capitalize and punctuate the following sentence (1 point each correct capitalization and punctuation)
68. why is Melissa hasselbeck yelling at whoopi Goldberg Meredith viera and elvis presley
Read the attached article. Answer the reading comprehension questions at the end (numbers 97-102). (1 point each)
The database is protected by copyright ©essaydocs.org 2016
other gods
great deeds
major greek gods
first female president
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New EU Directive on Whistleblower Protection
Vigjilenca Abazi, Assistant Professor of EU Law, Maastricht University & Fellow, Yale Law School
*The author is the co-author of the model Directive presented at the European Parliament in May 2016.
With an overwhelming majority, the European Parliament on 16 April voted in favour of the new law to protect whistleblowers in the European Union. The Directive sets leading standards and has become a prime example of how a concerted effort by civil society – NGOs, trade unions, journalists, scholars, and whistleblowers – together with the European Parliament can lead to progressive legislation and enhance tools that safeguard the rule of law in Europe.
‘Promoting Gold Standard Protections’
Prior to this Directive, whistleblowers faced a paradoxical situation in Europe: they would be prosecuted at the national level, whilst celebrated for ‘promoting European values’ at the EU level, as in the case of LuxLeaks whistleblower Antoine Deltour. The European Parliament called upon the Commission to propose legislation since 2013, yet the Commission had rejected the calls noting lack of EU competences to legislate. The Council was also sceptical, as many member states do not have national laws in place. A key turning point was the presentation of the model Directive promoted by the Greens & European Free Alliance at the European Parliament in 2016. Protecting whistleblowers became inevitable after the EU witnessed the murder of two journalists, Daphne Galizia in Malta and Jàn Kuciak in Slovakia, who exposed corruption in their respective countries.
The Directive provides significant improvement in protecting whistleblowers and moves Member States closer toward an advanced legal framework. Indeed, as noted by the world’s leading NGO for whistleblowing, the Whistleblowing International Network, the EU ‘has raised the bar for all EU governments to lead the world in promoting gold standard protections for whistleblowers’ or as Commissioner Jourová remarked these ‘rules will be a game changer’.
The Directive covers workers in the public and private sector. More specifically, it includes civil servants, the self-employed, shareholders, management, administrative or supervisory bodies, volunteers, paid or unpaid trainees, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, individuals disclosing breaches during a recruitment process and former workers. The Directive does not encompass EU officials. For a worker to be able to invoke the protection granted by this Directive, the worker must have reasonable grounds to believe that the information reported was true at the time of reporting and that the information fell within the scope of the Directive.
Wide Ranging Policies
The Directive has a wide scope of protection not only in terms of who can be a whistleblower, but also in terms of policies that it covers. The Commission drew from many different Treaty provisions to ensure that reporting gaps are not created, although the disclosure should be related to a breach or abuse of EU law in any of the following issues: public procurement, financial services, prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, product safety, transport safety, protection of the environment, radiation protection and nuclear safety, food and feed safety, animal health and welfare, public health, consumer protection, protection of privacy and personal data and security of network and information systems, protection of the financial interests of the Union, breaches of internal market rules, including competition and State aid rules or tax avoidance issues. Strictly national policies are not covered and neither are violations of worker’s rights and working conditions. The latter exclusion will be reviewed in future.
Disclosure Channels
One of the most contested points since the Commission proposed the Directive last year is whether protection will be made conditional on the whistleblowers first reporting internally. The Commission proposal set out a three tier reporting process, and it envisaged a mandatory disclosure first and foremost internally in the organisation. Not only was such a proposal counter to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on the issue, but also it would have caused more harm than good, especially in Member States that have legislation in place and do not demand such strict channels.
Indeed, the role of civil society cannot be stressed enough in this regard, as it played an invaluable role in making sure that the European Parliament amended the mandatory internal reporting. EP rapporteur Rozière understood these concerns and ensured that this piece of EU legislation meets the adequate standards rather than create uncertainty in legal protection. Making this her “biggest” priority, she succeeded in defending whistleblowers to choose the best means available for disclosure. The adopted Directive foresees that whistleblowers would be protected for reporting internally or for reporting directly to regulators and competent authorities. Reporting to the public still has strings of conditions, but if there were a risk of retaliation or low prospect of the reported breach to be addressed, whistleblowers would be protected if they reported to the public.
Applicable to Businesses and Public Administration
The Directive applies both in the private and public sector, including to local authorities. Channels for reporting must be set up by companies with more than 50 employees. Local authorities that have less than 50 employees or municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants are exempt from the obligation to set up channels of reporting. More guidance on how local and regional authorities should ensure protection for whistleblowers could nevertheless be found in a Resolution of the Council of Europe, which was also voted with sweeping majority earlier in April 2019 by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, laying out in detail recommendations and the most recent data on the matter.
Implementation and Practice
A good law in the books is of little use if its implementation in practice falls short. It will be of outmost importance that the Member States transpose this Directive in its full spirit and even push higher standards where possible. Member States will have two years to transpose the Directive to national law and civil society will continue to monitor closely and possibly facilitate national debates in how whistleblowers should be protected. After the scandals of LuxLeaks, PanamaPapers and Cambridge Analytica, citizens are becoming increasingly aware that whistleblowers play a crucial role in exposing wrongdoing and should not pay a personal price for defending public interest. National governments should take note of this public opinion and implement the EU Directive to its fullest.
Photo credit: The Guardian Nigeria
Labels: animal welfare, competition law, consumer law, data protection, environment, EU tax, food safety, internal market, money laundering, product safety, public health, public procurement law, state aid, Whistleblowers
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Song of the Week: “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” by Queens of the Stone Age, Listen!
Posted by admin On September 06, 2017 0 Comment
This week’s full in bloom favorite is “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” by Queens of the Stone Age, located below. The track is taken from the group’s new album, Villains, which was released on August 25th via Matador Records. The album was produced by Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Adele, Bruno Mars), co-produced by Mark Rankin and mixed by Alan Moulder.
Purchase / Streaming Options
Villains debuted at #3 on the US Billboard 200. It was the best selling album of the week, debuting at #1 on the US Top Album Sales chart and #1 on the US Top Alternative Albums chart. Villains also reached #1 in the UK, Switzerland, Scotland, New Zealand, Canada and Australia.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMvROGIZEdI
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An Interview With White Town’s Jyoti Mishra
Tom • FT • Essays/Pop • Post a comment • 1,192 views
If you want to know about pop music, ask a pop star. Jyoti Mishra, in his guise as a regular poster on uk.music.alternative, is friendly, intelligent, enthusiastic and a pop savant of considerable taste. Jyoti Mishra, in his guise as White Town, is a pop star: for a week or so in 1997 his “Your Woman” single (you remember – music-hall trumpet line, synthpop, treated vocals, black and white video of gent chasing flapper) was at Number One in the singles chart. For me, that’s about the highest honour these times allow.
So I asked Jyoti for an interview – Freaky Trigger‘s first ever – and as it turns out I couldn’t have picked a better subject. He answered my e-mailed questions quickly and cheerfully, and the results are below, as amusing and thought-provoking as I could ever have hoped. Thanks a lot, Jyoti!
Before you read the interview, vital information. Jyoti’s own website lives at http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/elejyo, and the White Town webpages (with more information on the upcoming Peek & Poke album) are at http://www.k1m.com/wt.
And now the questions…
What does ‘pop’ mean to you?
Ha! – this is a fucking minefield. Pop, for me, is any music that is popular or has the potential to be, if it was widely enough heard. Of course, the second part is the nebulous bugger. What I think is potentially a pop hit, few other people ever agree with. For instance, I think if Sonic Youth’s ‘Teenage Riot’ was ever used on a big advertising campaign, it would go to No.1 in the pop charts since it’s a brilliant pop song (they’d probably have to do a radio edit, though). The same goes for McCarthy’s ‘Governing Takes Brains’,, The Fieldmice’s ‘Fabulous Friend’ or A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘We Can Get Down.’
The first part means that even if I don’t like them, Britney and Christina, Steps and S Club 7 are undeniably pop stars. Because they are popular. They make popular music. Here, popular doesn’t automatically equate with good. For me they’re bad pop acts. They make popular music which I don’t like. But I like Five and the Backstreet Boys (seriously, not in a crappy ironic way) so they, for me, are good pop acts.
Ultimately, I think pop music is any music which is outward looking, striving to make a connection. Unafraid to say banal or commonplace things and which doesn’t hide behind layers of fake experimentalism. I hate fucking avant-garde/underground bands. All they’re doing is making music which they think will gain them respect amongst a small group of chin-rubbing likeminded twats. They’ve taken the huge scope and reach of pop music and narrowed it down to a few thousand kids around the world who write to each other in green crayon. If they really do like the sound of raccoons falling down the stairs and that fulfills them musically, then that’s brilliant. But I suspect the truth is that they just want to be cool. Pop’s not about being cool – one week you may be, the next you’re in the bargain bins.
Is being a No.1 pop star on your CV?
Yep. Of course. I’m not proud of signing to shitheads like EMI but I am proud of writing a song which got millions of people around the world humming along, even if they didn’t know what the hell it was about.
Why do you think a liking for pop is generally assumed to be ironic?
Because most people are snivelling fucking cowards, afraid to feel, love or live for themsleves. I agree with Wilhelm Reich on this one, Listen Little Man sums it up better than I could. The only reason I don’t give a shit what other people think about my music taste is that I had years of being laughed at at school. When you grow up a fat geek, it liberates you from large swathes of societal conformity.
What I especially despise is the “it’s so shit it’s good” kind of weak irony you mostly find at student nights. Kids dancing ironically to the Bee Gees or Abba. Fuck that. They were both great pop bands who changed the face of music . Where’s the comedy in that?
The flipside is that people only like pop ironically because ROCK (spit) is meant to be the “serious” music. Which is bollocks because the best rock becomes, of course, pop music.
Can the Top 40 learn anything from the kind of music you talk about on uk.m.a.? And vice versa?
Well, bear in mind that I was ranting away on ukma well before I had my one big pop hit. I didn’t suddenly morph overnight into a different musician. So for that brief period, the spirit of ukma was at number one.
Conversely, I don’t see ukma as a snobby, antipop newsgroup, otherwise I wouldn’t be there. I think when someone on ukma likes a band, they think that band is quite “poppy” and they want to convert other people to their nascent greatness. Ukma was one of the first ngs to go mad on Belle & Sebastian and Boards of Canada, two very different bands who both have made sublime pop records.
Girl groups or boy bands?
At the minute, I’d have to go with boy bands. I didn’t like any of the Spice Girls songs and their descendents are even wanker. Whereas, I’ve definitely got a soft spot for ‘I Want It That Way’ and ‘Keep On Moving’ (the latter being the last decent UK number one I can think of).
What’s your earliest pop memory?
I remember when I first heard ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ I absolutely loved it. I think I was nine or ten when it came out. So I taped it (the first song I ever taped) and then replayed it loads of times till I had all the lyrics written down. And then I’d plug my two-quid mic into the tape recorder and try and sing along, even though it didn’t work.
Were the charts important to you when you were a kid?
Oh god, yeah! The BBC chart show was massive with kids. I used to sit there, finger hovering over the pause button, waiting for Adam & The Ants, ACDC or REO Speedwagon to come on.
Later, when I was a teen, I remember when Kraftwerk got to No.1 with ‘The Model’ and that started an obsession which has lasted till today.
What do you think it’s like being a pop fan nowadays?
Well, judging by record sales, it’s not as crucial a part of youth culture. That’s why the majors are aiming at younger kids and the pester-mummy factor becomes important. But if you’re writing for pre-pubescents, you have to steer clear of so many areas which they won’t understand or won’t yet be interested in. Perhaps that explains the idiomatic change in contemporary manufactured band pop lyrics where even the hint of physical sexuality is avoided. It’s all sugary lovey-dovey shite.
In the booklet for the Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs, Stephin Merritt describes “Your Woman” as one of his favourite pop songs of the last few years. Do you think you’re working in similar areas? And what are some of your favourite pop songs of the last few years?
That’s very nice of Stephin. I met him very briefly in London with the gorgeous Claudia. I don’t think we share creative aesthetics (he didn’t like my last album at all :-) ) but I do think we have similar outlooks on pop music. He seems to genuinely love pop music and be on a jihad against the unholy forces of rock. I think it’s indicative of a world gone mad that not many people know Stephin’s songs. He’s undoubtedly one of the finest songwriters of the 20th (and I guess 21st) century.
Favourite recent pop songs? I assume here you’re meaning songs that were actually hit records rather than potential pop classics. Ahhh…
Five – Keep On Moving
Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way
Mos Def – Miss Fat Booty
and that’s all I can think of at the moment.
Is what you do pop at all?!
I think so, as far as I can tell. One of my songs was undeniably pop in that it sold shitloads but I do think the rest of the stuff I do has some pop potential. The basic thing is that I like tunes, I like to sing along to things and bop around. I make music that makes me feel that way so hopefully others will too.
What’s your new record like?
It’s a pop record :-) I assume you mean my new album, Peek & Poke? Well, lyrically, it’s quite bitter and nasty in places cos I was feeling particularly fucked-off when I wrote a lot of the songs. It’s also a bit mad and, er, surreal, for much the same reasons.
Sonically, I’ve tried to push myself further. I’m learning all the time about performing and production and now I’ve finally got the studio environment I’ve dreamed of since I was twelve. This album doesn’t sound like much else around, which pleases me.
How can you buy it?
It’s coming out in the US on Parasol and in the UK I’m starting my own label to release it, Bzangy Groink. It should be in good record shops (I love that phrase) by March.
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13 Aug 2008 #428, 18th November 1978 “Rat Trap” is billed – in the Guinness Book Of British Hit Singles, no less – as the first punk No.1. I couldn’t recall it – my memories of the Rats themselves were vague; Geldof I knew for later good works. So I approached “Rat Trap” cold but with a frisson of definite […]
Films about films (no-one has seen)
20 Jun 2005 Last week saw the release of not one, but two films about previous films. And I don’t mean Batman Begins (which should be retitled Batman Starts for Essex). Inside Deep Throat, a documentary about the making of and the effect of notorious porn film Deep Throat. And Baadasssss!, Mario Van Peebles film about the making […]
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27 Sep 2001 What is “Panic” about? Dismissed and attacked since its release as small-minded, or snobbish, or even borderline racist, The Smiths’ anti-disco broadside continues to intrigue. On this thread, The Pinefox calls it a “yoking of two ideas” – a revolutionary fantasia and an attack on dance music – and claims that it’s the second of […]
How Old Is Superman?
20 Aug 2004 How Old Is Superman? One of the seemingly undefined aspect of the Superman mythos is that of his ageing. Those who fall on the side of his omnipotence in everything (the superhearing, superbreath, superhair bunch) probably think as a preternatural godhead he will live forever. Look, he has been banging around in the comics for […]
The Greek Alphabet of Piss-poor Pop: Introduction
17 Nov 2003 I notice elsewhere, in my absence, some young scamp over on NYLPM has started a concept piece, some say think piece entitled the Alphabet Of Pop. Now no-one knows more than myself the beauty of lists, as my Week Of Wank and Breakfast Of Banality proves. Its cheap easy journalism and also gives one a […]
Andrew WK: I Get Wet: Pitchfork Review
9 Jul 2002 Andrew WK: I Get Wet: Pitchfork Review: Remarkable write-up of the Andrew WK album from Ryan Schrieber, Pitchforkmedia’s editor-in-chief. Remarkable because it gets Andrew WK’s music so descriptively right – “Nothing could penetrate a sound that dense. I was overcome. I tried to remember the last time anyone dared to push rock so poppily over […]
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Home>All Posts>Features>Alicia Vikander is a Beacon for Strong Female...
Alicia Vikander is a Beacon for Strong Female Roles
FeaturesFilm Features Angela Dawson|August 29, 2016
Oscar (TM) winner Alicia Vikander stars as Isabel Sherbourne in DreamWorks Pictures’ poignant drama THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS. ©Dreamworks. CR: Davi Russo.
By ANGELA DAWSON
Front Row Features
NEW YORK—Having starred in the acclaimed ”The Danish Girl” and ”Ex Machina,” Swedish actress Alicia Vikander now co-stars with Michael Fassbender in the drama ”The Light Between Oceans.”
Based on the 2012 novel by M.L. Stedman, the drama centers on Australian lighthouse keeper Tom Sherbourne (Fassbender) and his wife, Isabel (Vikander) a childless couple that take in a young castaway that drifts onto their island but then discover the consequences years later when the child’s mother (Rachel Weisz) turns up on the mainland.
The drama is directed by American filmmaker Derek Cianfrance, who also adapted the novel for the screen.
The 27-year-old Gothenburg native recently spoke about starring in the post-World War I drama, which was shot off the coast of New Zealand. She and co-star Fassbender, 39, reportedly are a couple now in real life, although they have not publicly confirmed their relationship status.
Q: This is a fantastically complicated, complex character that you’re playing here. Could you talk a little bit about who Isabel is and what you felt were the challenges of this role? What was it like working with Michael Fassbender?
Vikander: I loved working with Michael. I was a huge fan of his. I think he had proven himself being one of the most diverse and brave actors I remember so well when I saw “Hunger” and “Fish Tank” back home at my favorite cinema in Sweden many years ago. I would love to work with him again.
We all had a very wonderful time making this film and being given the chance, a gift from Derek to play Isabel, I really enjoyed. He told me she’s a fighter, and she is. She’s a survivor too, and she’s a girl with her heart on her shoulder. I loved that she was so transparent, to play someone that even I felt like I couldn’t really know where she was heading each day because she does things and say things without thinking, which is quite liberating sometimes to have that in the role because an actor can sometimes want to do things over that you feel comfortable that you’ve done before, which is of course a challenge to always try new things.
The thing is that in this film, the Sherbournes together are good people. Sometimes maybe don’t make the most right moral decisions or choices, but she acts from the heart always. That’s why I don’t think you could really blame her, but I love the challenge of making a woman that you had to get to the heart of her to understand her and her actions.
Q: It must have been emotional shooting Isobel’s miscarriage?
Vikander: I don’t have kids but I have five siblings, and ever since I was young, I’ve seen myself having a family one day. Trying to portray a miscarriage is something that is also a subject and it’s something that when I get older more and more of my girlfriends and male friends too tell me about their experiences. When you’re handing a subject like this, there is so much discussion coming up and people opening up about their own experiences. Michael was supportive. He was brilliant in that scene. You have someone to bounce off of someone that pushes you and protects you and the same thing with Derek. We all were extremely nervous. I felt like I was leading up to this marathon, an emotional one. We all knew that we had to do it justice, for all the people who have been in a similar place and for all of us to try and understand what it’s like.
Q: Given how there were so many emotionally devastating scenes, how did you shake off your roles emotionally? How did you unwind each day?
Vikander: (quips) We had BB guns. We played a lot of music. We fished. We popped a lot of popcorn in Derek’s trailer.
Q: Since you are from Europe and there is this tremendous refugee crisis right now, did that weigh on you in any way in terms of both the hostility and fear of foreigners and also the obligations you might feel to refugees, sacrificing for them versus benefiting from them?
Vikander: I feel like it’s been an eye opener. I’ve been away traveling now and coming back to just have a premiere in London, a place I’ve called my home for the last few years. Now, after Brexit, it was a very, very sad time of me returning. In one way, I see myself as a European. I wouldn’t have been given the opportunities to be probably here where I am in my career today if I hadn’t been able to move and go to the UK and study and work. They wouldn’t have been considering me as an actor for when you’re starting off, you’re simply happy to get the job. If I had been someone that needed a work visa there would have been a huge difference. It’s narrowing down now. It’s really affecting us in front of our eyes. It’s gone so far that I hope that everyone’s eyes will now soon be opened.
Q: What was that whole process like for you, working on location?
Vikander: I’ll start with just a little anecdote of how I wasn’t allowed to get on set on the first day when the film started shooting. That was because he was like, “No. You’ll have someone pick.” All the crew left. Michael had his first day and they were filming. I was left by myself at Dunedin but I had a pick up at 3 a.m., so I came and they drove me out and it was completely dark. I knew that the first scene I was going to shoot was Isabel on the first day when she’s arrived to the island.
I arrive and they make me close my eyes and take me down to this wood shed, which is next to the house. That’s the place where we’d put on makeup and costume every day, actually. Then they timed me, so they opened the door and told me, just head out and look for, Derek is out there with the cameraman and a boom somewhere. I head towards him. I opened the door and I knew we were rolling, so I got to be Isabel exploring the island whilst me, and then climbing up this hill where they were on top of the lighthouse. Actually, it was fun. I’ve been in the edit and seen this shot when Isabel flashes. It’s not really good acting. It’s Alicia getting quite freaked our because it’s the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen in my entire life, which ended up being new and different every single day.
I had never seen that kind of nature. Derek said we might just have everyone out there and maybe stay between Monday and Friday while shooting, have a crew there. Fun. I was like, “I don’t know about that.” When you’ve gone out there, it was really like a gift to get the chance to experience being in that kind of place. Sometimes the most luxurious things, with what we do, we get to go places and meet people that you normally wouldn’t, and it was extraordinary.
Q: Are you psyched to play your next role in “Tomb Raider?”
Vikander: As Lara Croft? Yeah.
Q: You’re known primarily for playing dramatic roles. It’s such an odd thing to be thinking of you doing a superhero type character.
Vikander: That’s good, I guess. Fun.
Q: Do you see you doing that as a step into really commercial cinema rather than something that’s sort of art? “The Danish Girl” and this? You, of course, co-star with Matt Damon in “Jason Bourne,” which is a big action movie.
Vikander: That is a huge franchise that I’m a big fan of and I get to work with Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon. (My choices) become more and more down to the people I want to work with, I get the privilege to work with, and I’m a big fan of those movies myself. I’ve always loved going to the cinema. Good films are in all genres. (Norwegian filmmaker) Roar Uthaug, who is the director of “Tomb Raider,” I loved what he did with “The Wave,” the ensemble that came out last year.
Tags:Alicia Vikander, Derek Cianfrance, Michael Fassbender, Rachel Weisz, The Light Between Oceans
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Spit & Polish
March 27, 2018 / chef / 0 Comments
In addition to the Combined Arms index mentioned yesterday, we were also able to add ETO #57 and #58 to the ETO index, thanks to information provided by Edmond (Thank you!). We’ve updated a couple of game pages to include the new references, and this should bring the newletter section indeed to completion – unless I have missed an important newsletter, in which case someone please point that out to me.
Also new are the History of the Second World War and Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg, the two official histories of the Second World War from Britain and Germany, respectively. Some of the British volumes are available online at hyperwar.com and archive.org, whereas the German work is too new and not available legally.
I remain fascinated by the Turkish official military history. It seems that the work of the Turkish General Staff on the First World War has been updated since its inception in the Twenties and is still an ongoing project, currently spanning 27 volumes. However, no translations have ever been undertaken, and there are no digital versions available, or at least I was not able to identify any with the limited Turkish available to me. Which is a sordid state of affaird from several angles, not only because the Turkish and Muslim experience of World War One remains underrepresented in historiography, but also since access to the sources for Turkish military history remains limited. Even though the Turkish General Staffs work has a reputation for being nationalist and biased, the same can be said for most of other nations official histories, and in the least it could provide a valuable corrective on the western narrative. A first survey of available (i.e. English and German) literature seems to indicate both German and British sources underrate the Osman contribution to the war. See for example Erickson, Edward J, Ottoman Army Effectiveness in World War I: A Comparative Study, 2007)
March 26, 2018 / chef / 1 Comment
My staff notified me today that armchairgeneral.com, which for years was the first address to learn about the Soviet Army in World War Two, has been unavailable for a couple of days now. I guess I could start making a hobby from starting to list websites, gamers and designers from the Europa community and those remembering the conflicts of the twentieth century slowly passing away. Alas, I am a bit young for that, and I feel its too depressing a task to basically keep myself busy naming the fallen. So while we will faithfully try to archive all things Europa here, please forgive us if we do not write obituaries. Exceptions are a given.
On a more positive note, thanks to the support of James A. Broshot I was able to add the index of the last missing Europa newsletter, Combined Arms, to the library. While only running for a mere nine issues, the depth and quality of the articles influenced the Europa community for a long time. Maybe I will live to see the day when I can put the full issues online.
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Squidoo page on our book
In-Womb Treatment For Down’s Syndrome
The book . . .
Our book is finished!
Book Update!
More on the CBS gene overexpression
Glutathione & oxidative stress
Bill Passed House & Senate - Prenatally & Postnata...
Serbia's mental institutions . . .
Hi & more
McMinnville woman with Down syndrome 'beats the od...
Sorry haven't been around too much . . .
In-Utero Vitamin B6 Deficiency
Pediasure . . .
Post a comment on the Vitamin Information Center's...
Sufficient Amounts of Antioxidants
News article, "Supplements Don't Help Down Babies"...
Response to the folinic acid & supplement study - ...
One more response by Miriam
John Marrs!
More response to the folinic acid & antioxidant st...
I made a page up on Squidoo.com about our book. It creates more publicity about the book and also has a spot for comments to be left (a guestbook) . . . so sign the guestbook and leave a comment about the book!
The link is http://www.squidoo.com/gotdownsyndrome.
~ Qadoshyah
Labels: book
Posted on: Monday, 1 December 2008, 12:50 CST
Scientists are hoping to develop a treatment for mothers who are aware their unborn child has Down’s syndrome.
In a study with mice, scientists used gave nerve-protecting chemicals to unborn mice who had a syndrome similar to Down’s. They found that some of the noticeable developmental problems were removed among those who received the chemicals.
These mice were engineered to have an extra copy of a segment of chromosome 16, because children with Down’s suffer from having an extra copy of chromosome 21. These so-called "trisomic" individuals may also have learning difficulties and symptoms of Alzheimer's later in life.
Other studies have shown similarities between people with Down’s and trisomic mice revealed malfunctions in glial cells - brain cells that regulate the development of neurons by releasing certain proteins.
Researcher Catherine Spong and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland sought to determine if the addition of segments of proteins known as NAP and SAL to mice pups would protect the neurons as to prevent developmental delays.
"We were able to prevent a significant amount of the delay," Spong said.
Researchers noted normal levels of ADNP, which is a regulatory protein that is often underproduced in children with Down’s.
Now Spong is watching to see if mice treated as fetuses also display less of a learning deficit as they mature. She hopes that the prenatal treatment might permanently increase the expression of the proteins in question.
Spong hopes her team’s new findings will translate into a workable treatment for humans affected by Down’s.
"I'd love to see these early screening tests lead to therapy and not just termination," said Charles Cantor of Sequenom in San Diego, California, which is developing a non-invasive prenatal blood-screening test for Down's. "It would have a big impact, especially for families that are not willing to consider abortion as an option."
Labels: nutrition, TNI
I added a version of the book that has cheaper shipping costs for international people wanting to buy the book. You can see that at this link http://stores.lulu.com/gotdownsyndrome
We are finally done with our book and it is published! After many delays and problems getting it published, it's done.
The book is $22.73 for the printed version and $5 to download as an e-Book. The proceeds (which are very small) from the sales of the book will go towards purchasing more books to be able to get these into the hands of doctors, hospitals & the public. We also hope to make some brochures about the book for Down syndrome associations and for public awareness.
The finished product can be bought from and seen at http://stores.lulu.com/gotdownsyndrome. A 15 page preview of the book can also be seen at this link.
We hope this book will be a great resource for many parents, families, friends, doctors & professionals.
Posted by Qadoshyah at 11:27 AM
Wow, a lot of time has gone by since I last updated about the book!! We have had several delays to finishing our book, but we are almost completed now. Our move to Oklahoma caused a big wave in the progress of our book, but we are caught back up.
The book is 589 pages long and it has come together beautifully! I am just in the final stages of getting the book published and then it will be available to all! We look forward to being able to get the positive side of DS out there as much as possible. We already have a lab office that would like to keep a copy of one of our books, since they get a lot of patients with DS! Hopefully we can get it into the hands of many doctors, hospitals, professionals and parents.
See more about the book at www.gotdownsyndrome.net/Book/whatyoucandobook.html
Labels: book, TNI
While searching PubMed, I ran across another study showing the biochemical imbalances in DS. Several of the things they found in this study show the over expression of the CBS (cystathionine-beta-synthase) gene.
[Biochemical alterations in patients with Down syndrome]
Down syndrome is a chromosome abnormality with specific clinical symptoms and mental retardation caused by trisomy of chromosome 21. The basic genetic change cannot be cured, the control of the associated symptoms, however, may improve the patients' quality of life. AIMS: Authors studied the possible correlations between the Down-specific genes and the related biochemical changes. Expression of superoxide dismutase, cystathionine-beta-synthase and S100 protein was investigated. Further aim of the study was to determine the total serum antioxidant capacity (transferrin, ferritin, total protein, albumin and bilirubin) along with the extracellular antioxidants as well as concentrations of homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B 12 . To assess the vascular damage, the activity of NAG and S100B level was measured. METHODS: Standard laboratory methods were used to determine the antioxidant capacity (Stocks, 1974), homocysteine (HPLC), folic acid (capture, IMX-Abbott), vitamin B 12 (MEIA, IMX-Abbott), S100 B protein (chemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay) levels, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (spectrophotometry). RESULTS: Plasma homocysteine value proved to be lower in 7 of the 30 and higher in 6 of the 30 patients studied than the reference range. Plasma homocysteine was found 95 +/- 21% of the reference value. Relative value of plasma folic acid - expressed in percent of the normal value - was 85 +/- 51%, and that of B 12 was 78 +/- 30%. Deficiency of folic acid was detected in 2 of the 30, decreased level of B 12 in 2 of the 30 patients enrolled. No difference was found in antioxidant activity values between Down syndrome patients and healthy controls, however, neither of them reached the adult reference range. S100 protein concentration of 4-8 times higher values (average value: 0.68 +/- 0.27 microg/l) than upper limit of the reference range was observed (> 1 year: > 0.15 microg/l). Mean value of serum N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase remained within the reference range (10-30 U/l). No statistically significant correlation between the antioxidant activity and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase values could be observed. CONCLUSION: The lower homocysteine, folic acid and B 12 values may be considered as the consequence of an increased cystathionine-beta-synthase activity ("atheroma free model"). There was no significant alteration in antioxidant activity level. It can be supposed that the hydrogene peroxide produced due to increased expression of superoxide dismutase is metabolized by the induced glutathione-peroxidase and catalase keeping by this the balance of the antioxidant system. This hypothesis is supported by the normal N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase values not indicating any vascular damage. The high S100 values, however, reflect certain brain damage which shows a progress with the age. Based on these experiences, regular control of these parameters is recommended. Furthermore authors think that folic acid supplementation is indicated in order to improve the patients' learning capacity, inhibit the development of Alzheimer symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Labels: CBS gene, TNI
It is known that there is an increase of oxidative stress in Down syndrome due to over expressions of certain genes. There is also a decrease of glutathione due to over expressed genes. I happened to come across a study today while I was searching PubMed that was done in April 2008. It is called, A mathematical model of glutathione metabolism. This study was done at Duke University.
In the conclusion in the abstract it states,
"The model shows that overexpression of genes on chromosome 21 and an increase in oxidative stress can explain the metabolic profile of Down syndrome."
I thought this was interesting. It shows one of the mechanisms and reasons why glutathione is low in DS. The full text of the study can be seen here.
Posted by Qadoshyah at 9:59 AM
Bill Passed House & Senate - Prenatally & Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act
BROWNBACK, KENNEDY CELEBRATE PASSAGE OF PRE-NATALLY AND POST-NATALLY DIAGNOSED CONDITIONS AWARENESS ACT
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Edward M.
Kennedy (D-MA) celebrated Senate passage of the Pre-natally and Post-
natally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act, legislation which would
require that families who receive a diagnosis of Down syndrome or
any other condition, pre-natally or up until a year after birth, be
given up-to-date information about the nature of the condition and
connection with support services and networks that could offer
assistance.
"I am very pleased that the legislation co-sponsored by Sen.
Kennedy and me passed the Senate," said Brownback. "This bill will
greatly benefit expecting parents who receive the sometimes
overwhelming news that their unborn child may be born with a
disability. This legislation will provide parents with current and
reliable information about the many options available for caring for
children with disabilities."
The Pre-natally and Post-natally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act
would provide for the expansion and further development of a
national clearinghouse on information for parents of children with
disabilities, so that the clearinghouse would be better equipped to
assist parents whose children have recently been pre- or post-
natally diagnosed. The bill also provides for the expansion and
further development of national and local peer-support programs.
The bill also calls for the creation of a national registry of
families willing to adopt children with pre- or post-natally
diagnosed conditions.
"One of the hardest moments in the life of an expectant mother is
when she receives news that she is going to have a child with
special needs," said Melissa Wagoner, spokeswoman for Senator
Kennedy. "Access to the best support and information about the
condition, and the quality of life for a child born with that
condition, can make all the difference to a woman trying to make an
informed and difficult decision. Senator Kennedy believes this kind
of support is a vital element to strengthening a true culture of
life in America."
Currently, 90 percent of children pre-natally diagnosed with Down
syndrome are aborted. That percentage is similar for children pre-
natally diagnosed with other conditions such as spina bifida, cystic
fibrosis and dwarfism.
There has been a lot of talk on various adoption blogs about the Dateline special on Serbia's mental institutions. I watched it and it is truly horrific. You can watch it here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26332429)
The people & children in these institutions are not treated like humans. They are tied to cribs for hours at a time, they are fed a very small amount. Yet, the Serbia government tells parents that these institutions are better for these children than their parents who could raise them.
This really got to me and it is very sad and if I think about it too much, I will cry. As I was watching the Dateline video, I was holding my little 3 1/2 year old brother. He was sleeping on my lap. He is such a joy and a blessing to have in our family. God has truly blessed us with him.
My brother thrives greatly . . . he runs & jumps, laughs & plays with his siblings, and acts like any other toddler. The children in these institutions could have achieved many of the milestones that all toddlers have to achieve, if they were given the appropriate affection, love & care. But, now you have no idea what these children could have accomplished, because they have just laid in a crib, with hardly any attention & care, for their whole life . . . whether it be 4 years, 11 years, 21 years, etc.
I'm sorry I haven't updated the blog much at all the past few months. We have been extremely busy with our move from California to Oklahoma. Things are going well though :).
Richard from the DSTNI yahoo group posted this abstract earlier today and I thought it was pretty interesting. I'd like to see the full text of the study!
Serum cholinesterases in Down syndrome children before and after nutritional supplementation.
INTRODUCTION: Down syndrome (DS) children have different degrees of developmental abnormalities associated with mental retardation. A cascade of pathological changes triggering alterations in cholinesterase-mediated functions seems to be the cause of neuronal and muscular dysfunctions, such as memory loss, disturbed cognitive skills, and language impairment in virtually all DS individuals, but there are currently no efficacious biomedical treatments for these central nervous system-associated impairments. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of nutritional supplementation on cholinesterases in serum of DS children. METHODS: Activities of acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase were analysed in the serum samples of 40 DS children, along with an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls under study. RESULTS: The activities of serum acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase were found to be low in DS children before nutritional supplementation, compared to controls, and showed considerable improvement after six months of supplementation of zinc in combination with antioxidant vitamins and minerals. A significant improvement was also observed in cognitive skills and behavioural patterns after nutritional supplementation. CONCLUSION: The present pilot study suggests the significance of early intervention with nutritional supplementation in DS children to ameliorate the severity of this disorder.
McMinnville woman with Down syndrome 'beats the odds' at 73
By CLAUDIA PINTO
When Mary Perry was born with Down syndrome in the 1930s, people with the disability typically didn't live past age 9.
At 73, the McMinnville woman has managed to outlive all but one of her eightbrothers and sisters. She is one of the oldest living people with Down syndrome.
"She beat the odds," said Dr. Karen Summar, a developmental pediatrician at Vanderbilt children's hospital. "It's incredible."
The 2007 Guinness Book of World Records lists the oldest living woman with Down syndrome as Nancy Siddoway, of Utah, who was born on Aug. 18, 1937, and the oldest living man with Down syndrome as Keith Roberts, who was born in South Africa on June 6, 1953. Perry was born on June 9, 1934.
Dale Perry attributes his aunt's old age to her strong will.
The way her relatives tell it, in Mary's youth she could run "like a jackrabbit." She cleaned house. She "took care of her own bathing."
All of that changed for Mary Perry in adulthood, when her mother fell and broke her hip. From that day on, "Mary couldn't walk no more," said Jackie Perry, who met Mary Perry in 1956and went on to marry her brother.
The doctors never could find anything wrong with her legs, and she has spent the rest of her life in a wheelchair.
"It was one of those mind things," Jackie Perry said. "After she quit walking, she would say, 'I'm my momma's baby girl.' "
Dale Perry said his aunt "willed herself" to never walk again and he believes she tapped into that same strong will to live as long as she has.
Life span jumps to 55
While Perry's longevity is extraordinary, medical advances that have occurred since the 1980s have dramatically increased the life span of people with Down syndrome.
"In the future, it won't be so remarkable," Summar said. "This will become more routine, instead of the exception."
Down syndrome, caused by a chromosomal abnormality, causesmental disabilitiesand a host of medical conditions, including heart and respiratory problems. When Mary Perry was born, medical treatment either didn't exist or was not offered to this population.
Today, many of the medical conditions associated with Down syndrome can be treated. As a result, people with Down syndrome have an average life span of about 55, compared with roughly 25 in the 1980s.
"When Mary was born, they didn't have effective treatment," said Dr. Kuang-Tzu Lin, a physician specialist at Clover Bottom Developmental Center, a state-run home for people with disabilities in Nashville. "They were not too eager to pursue available treatment because there was no cure. People's concept is much different now."
Summar said the increasing life span has huge policy implications.
"There are going to be more and more people with Down syndrome living to this ripe old age," she said. "They will outlive their parents. Who will take care of them when their parents pass on? We've got to be thinking of what's ahead."
Treated like her siblings
In the 1930s, it was the standard for babies with mental or physical disabilities to be hidden away in institutions, but that wasn't the case with Mary Perry.
More than medical advances, Summar believes the care and love she's received from her family have helped her live so long.
"Being raised at home, she had proper nutrition," Summar said. "She wasn't in the crowded environment of an institution. Contagious illnesses would sweep through those places."
Her relatives say she was dearly loved and was treated just like all her other siblings growing up on the farm. But Mary Perry's mother experienced decades ago what's just becoming commonplace today.
After she fell and broke her hip, Mary Perry's elderly mother, Delia, could no longer physically take care of her 37-year-old daughter. So, Mary Perry went to live at Clover Bottom.
Renee McCormick, Mary Perry's niece, said she remembers her coming to visit the family when she was little.
"She touched my heart years ago," Renee McCormick said. "She didn't want to leave her mother."
Being a small child herself, McCormick could relate to the feeling. After a while, Mary Perry got used to her new surroundings and didn't want to go back home.
A lovely, lively lady
At Clover Bottom, Mary Perry came to be known by employees as the "Queen of the Clinch Home," after the dorm where she lived. She liked to spend her days relaxing on a recliner and looking at pictures in fashion magazines, Lin said.
"She is a very lovely lady," Lin said. "Always smiles. Always says, 'I love you.' "
But she had a wild side, too. "She was just constantly flying around in that wheelchair," Dale Perry said. "Something sparkled with her."
Mary Perry has slowed down of late. She suffered several mini-strokes and though she's conscious and moving her arms, she's not talking, Lin said. Last week, Mary Perry moved to a nursing home in McMinnville. She was reunited with her only living sibling, a sister, who also lives in the nursing home.
"We don't know how much time we have with her," Dale Perry said. "It could be a week. It could be six weeks."
But Dale Perry said he wouldn't put it past his aunt to surprise them all.
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080429/NEWS07/804290359
Sorry I haven't posted more on here. We have been very busy lately with many things right now. We are really trying to finish writing the book and we have also been busy dealing with moving (we will be moving to Oklahoma the end of Summer, Lord willing).
More later . . .
I just happened to be looking through PubMed (yep, something I like to do every few months ;)) and ran across this abstract about a Vit. B6 deficiency in-utero. Thought it was interesting.
Pyridoxine-related metabolite concentrations in normal and Down syndrome amniotic fluid.
Baggot PJ, Eliseo AJ, DeNicola NG, Kalamarides JA, Shoemaker JD.
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. pjbaggot@hotmail.com
INTRODUCTION: Some studies of children with Down syndrome have found mild abnormalities in the metabolism of pyridoxine (vitamin B(6)); therefore the present question is whether such abnormalities might also be present in the amniotic fluid of fetuses with Down syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Archived specimens of amniotic fluid were obtained from chromosomally normal and from fetuses with Down syndrome. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry quantitized B-related metabolites, including oxalate, xanthurenate, kynurenine and 4-pyridoxic acid. RESULTS: Oxalate, a marker of pyridoxine deficiency, was elevated in the amniotic fluid of fetuses with Down syndrome. This result was statistically significant. The other marker results were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: A marker of pyridoxine deficiency, oxalate is elevated in the amniotic fluid of fetuses with Down syndrome. These results in amniotic fluid are consistent with previous studies done in the urine of young children. (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Someone on the ES list asked about Pediasure and had concern about the levels of the nutrients in it. I researched Pediasure out some and gave them some info, so I thought I'd post on here the information I found out:
In regards to the Pediasure and the levels of vitamins/minerals . . .
I looked up the ingredients of Pediasure. Honestly, it does not have very
high amounts of vitamins/minerals in it, does not have all the ones which
are necessary, and it also has some which should not be given.
- it has Iron in it. It is a small amount, so it's not that big of a deal.
But, iron shouldn't be given most of the time, unless it is needed (low
iron, etc).
- The amount of Zinc in it is a crazily low amount. It is so low, it's
almost not worth having any zinc in it at all! Zinc is typically low in
those with DS (low zinc can equal low growth rate too!), and giving the
amount of zinc that is in Pediasure (very low amount), is not very
beneficial. To give you an example . . . my brother takes around 34mgs or so
of zinc a day. The amount of zinc in 100 cals of Pediasure is 0.60mgs.
- it has Copper in it. It has 100mcgs of Copper per 100cals of Pediasure.
Copper is typically high in those with DS because of the overexpression of
the Cu/Zn SOD gene. Copper should not be given unless it is low, which most
of the time it is not.
Those are the main things I notice in it.
Labels: nutrition, targeted nutrition, TNI
Post a comment on the Vitamin Information Center's article - "Vitamins Found No Help for Down's Syndrome"
An article on the antioxidant & folinic acid study came through the Google Alerts. It's an article on the Vitamin Information Center website. The title of the article is Vitamins Found No Help for Down's Syndrome. I posted a slightly edited version of my letter to the Washington Post editor. You can see the article from the Vitamin Information Center at the link below.
http://tinyurl.com/2cp5lm
Post a comment to it, so that more accurate information on TNI can be seen there!
Labels: research, targeted nutrition, TNI
I posted the response to the antioxidant & folinic acid study from Dr. Hickey on the DSTNI yahoo group.
Richard asked, "Do you know if NVD contains the amounts of antioxidants Dr. Hickey deems necessary?"
I thought that was a great point, so I looked it up and here's what I found:
For Vitamin C, Dr. Hickey says, "Assuming a weight of 8 kg for a 7 month old child, a minimal therapeutic ascorbate dose of 140 mg/kg gives 1120 mg, i.e. approximately one gram."
In Nutrivene-D the Vitamin C dosage for a 7 month old who weighs 9kgs or less is 200mgs.
For Vitamin E, Dr. Hickey says, "Assuming 40 IU per kg, a minimum dose of about 320 IU of a high quality, natural form of vitamin E would be required for a 7-month-old child."
In Nutrivene-D for a 7 month old child, weighing 9kgs or less, they would get 80 IU.
So, the one is lower than what Dr. Hickey may deem necessary, but the other is higher than his minimum dose.
News article, "Supplements Don't Help Down Babies" & letter to editor
This news story came through the Google Alerts the other day and I just couldn't stand it anymore. I've seen plenty of these news headlines proclaiming that supplements are no good for people with DS.
So I wrote a letter to the Washington Post editor about this news article. Below is the article and the letter to the editor.
Supplements Don't Help Down Babies
Tuesday, March 4, 2008; HE02
Giving babies with Down syndrome supplements containing folate and other vitamins does nothing to improve their development, British researchers reported last week. The finding, published in the journal BMJ, may dampen parental enthusiasm for vitamin supplementation, which is widespread among families with a mentally retarded child.
To test a hypothesis suggested by previous studies, researchers at Peninsula Medical School in Exeter randomly assigned 156 babies younger than 7 months who had been born with Down syndrome to one of four groups. The first received daily supplements containing folic acid, another got antioxidants including Vitamin E, a third group received both and a fourth was given a placebo.
Compliance with the regimen was verified by blood tests, and neither parents nor researchers were told which substance the babies had received until the trial ended.
After 18 months, researchers assessed the cognitive and physical development of the infants. They found that supplementation had no effect on the achievement of developmental milestones, such as the ability to sit or stand unassisted, or on the number of words a baby understood or said.
"Parents who choose to give supplements to their children need to weigh their hope of unproven benefits against potential adverse effects from high-dose, prolonged supplementation," the researchers said.
-- Sandra G. Boodman
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/29/AR2008022903404.html).
I read the article, Supplements Don't Help Down Babies, by Sandra Boodman.
I wanted to write and share some more information about the study which Sandra wrote about. The study's name is, Supplementation with antioxidants and folinic acid for children with Down's syndrome: randomised controlled trial.
The study claims that supplementation with antioxidants and folinic acid showed no benefit to children with Down syndrome. But, the study does not use appropriate dosing levels of antioxidants and therefore cannot truly see what benefit supplementation has on children with Down syndrome.
The study used very low doses of antioxidants in these children. Oxidative stress is known to be a large part of Down syndrome. In order for antioxidant supplementation to really help the individual with Down syndrome, much higher doses of supplements need to be given.
I am not promoting "mega-vitamin therapy," that is history. People just need to realize that higher doses (not mega doses though) of supplements need to be given to see much of any benefit.
It also should be noted that if someone reads the full text of the study, there were some differences between the children who took the supplements and the placebo group. The differences were not "statistically significant" so they are not reported in the abstract of the study or in the media.
Something else that needs to be acknowledged is the use of the RDA for people with Down syndrome. The RDA is for "generally all healthy people." This may not include people with a genetic abnormality which may make their metabolism and biochemical needs different than the general population. Sure, the RDA may be a good guideline, but it cannot be used as the standard for people with Down syndrome. The researchers did note this in their study. They say that the doses that were given to the children "may have been inadequate to affect biochemical pathways."
My 3 year old brother has Down syndrome. We give him Nutrivene-D Advanced Daily Antioxidant Supplement. It has proven to be extremely beneficial and helpful to him. It has changed his life dramatically. If it had not been for us starting him on Nutrivene-D at 8 months of age, he would not be as healthy and thriving as he is today.
I hope that people will not just believe all the news headlines that say all kinds of things ranging from "Supplements Don't Help Down Babies," to "Antioxidants don't help Down syndrome," or even "Supplements for Down's children 'Waste of cash'."
~ Qadoshyah Fish
Response to the folinic acid & supplement study - Were sufficient antioxidants employed in this study?
I just happened to look at some of the responses to the recent study on folinic acid & antioxidants in DS. I thought this response was a great response! He (Steve Hickey, PhD) explains how the study used such low doses of these nutrients that it could not benefit the children like they need to.
I also liked the last statement of his response. He says,
"Moreover, the unfortunately common propensity to give insufficient and inappropriate nutrients in trials is potentially harmful. Reports based on low intakes may prevent subjects with Down's and others from gaining benefits which are obscured by these unsuitable studies."
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/bmj.39465.544028.AEv2#191091
Were sufficient antioxidants employed in this study?
Steve Hickey PhD,
FCET, Staffordshire University, England, ST16 9DG,
Hilary Roberts PhD, Andrew Hickey
The paper by Ellis et al. illustrates a widespread problem in medicine: failure to understand the actions of antioxidants in disease. The study provides little evidence on the question of whether subjects with Down's might benefit from dietary antioxidants, because, as the authors themselves suggest, the low doses of supplements "may have been inadequate to affect biochemical pathways".
The disease mechanism for Down's syndrome arises from an increase in the activity of redox active enzymes. This leads to excess hydrogen peroxide, which causes oxidation and free radical damage in the brain. By definition, antioxidants can prevent such damage, thus potentially forming an appropriate treatment. The crucial research question is whether the appropriate dietary antioxidants can be given safely in doses sufficient to influence the pathology of the disease.
In order to influence brain pathology, dietary substances must enter the brain in sufficient concentration to act as antioxidants. The levels of primary antioxidants (vitamins C and E) used in this study were similar in magnitude to the corresponding recommended dietary allowance (RDA) levels. The subjects were young children, who would normally require lower doses than adults. However, it is important to remember that the antioxidants were intended to treat disease and, hence, we are in the realms of pharmacology rather than nutrition.
Claims for vitamin C as an antioxidant therapy involve very high doses. According to popular belief, one gram is a high dose. Contrary to this, prevention of colds (80-90%) requires doses of 10g per day or above; treatment calls for doses an order of magnitude larger. So, for example, claims for treating a cold effectively (Klenner, Cathcart, and others) [1] involve doses in the range 30g-150g per day.[2] Below these intakes, clinical effects are smaller and are more variable.[3]
The 50mg daily doses of vitamin C used in this study are substantially below pharmacological levels. Assuming a weight of 8 kg for a 7 month old child, a minimal therapeutic ascorbate dose of 140 mg/kg gives 1120 mg, i.e. approximately one gram. Thus, the dose of ascorbate employed in this study was approximately 1/20th of the minimum required. Similar considerations apply to the other nutrients. The short half-life of vitamin C means dosing frequency is also important (6 hourly or less)[2].
Subjects took 100mg of "vitamin E"; the form was not specified, although blood á-tocopherol levels were measured. Vitamin E is not a single molecule, but a range of substances that can prevent lipid oxidation in vivo. Numerous different molecules show vitamin E activity, particularly the tocopherols and tocotrienols; each has a specific pharmacology and distribution in the body. Synthetic forms, such as dl- alpha-tocopherol, are often used in studies, though they are far less effective than the naturally occurring forms.
To act as an antioxidant, vitamin E is required in higher intakes than previously realised.[4] Indeed, Balz Frei, of the Linus Pauling Institute, has described almost all clinical trials of vitamin E as "fatally flawed" because they used an insufficient dose of vitamin E.[5] To act as an antioxidant in vivo, an adult requires between 1600 and 3200 IU. Assuming 40 IU per kg, a minimum dose of about 320 IU of a high quality, natural form of vitamin E would be required for a 7-month-old child. The 100mg (synthetic?) dose employed may not act as an effective antioxidant in the brain, particularly in the absence of high levels of vitamin C.
The study employed folinic acid (0.1mg), selenium (10 ìg), zinc (5 mg), and vitamin A (0.9 mg) at low doses. Ellis et al. note that the response to folate may be enhanced by adding selected nutrients (methionine, methyl B-12, thymidine, and dimethylglycine). The specific forms of the nutrients employed was not made clear, for example forms of selenium, such as sodium selenite and methylselenocysteine, differ in pharmacology and antioxidant properties. Although we use vitamins C and E to address the main research problems, the selection and dosage of all nutrients in this study was suboptimal.
Biochemical measures in the study suggest that supplementation did not affect oxidative stress levels; this supports our suggestion that the doses employed were too low to act as in vivo antioxidants in these subjects.
The pathology of Down's syndrome has a specific oxidative mechanism. The laws of physical chemistry suggest there is little point carrying out studies using doses of antioxidants that are too low to provide the intended action: prevention of oxidation in the brain. It is possible to select suitable dietary antioxidants that can enter the brain and provide them in sufficient doses to have the desired biophysical effect.
This study did not address the role of antioxidants in Down's, as it did not use sufficient nutrients to act in vivo. Moreover, the unfortunately common propensity to give insufficient and inappropriate nutrients in trials is potentially harmful. Reports based on low intakes may prevent subjects with Down's and others from gaining benefits which are obscured by these unsuitable studies.
[1] Cathcart R.F (1985) Vitamin C, the nontoxic, nonrate-limited antioxidant free radical scavenger, Medical Hypothesis, 18, 61-77.
[2] Hickey S. Roberts H. (2004) Ascorbate: The Science of Vitamin C, Lulu press.
[3] Cathcart R.F. (1981) Vitamin C, Titration to Bowel Tolerance, Anascorbemia, and Acute Induced Scurvy, Medical Hypothesis, 7, 1359-1376.
[4] Roberts L.J. Oates J.A. Linton M.F. Fazio S. Meador B.P. Gross M.D. Shyr Y. Morrow J.D. (2007) The relationship between dose of vitamin E and suppression of oxidative stress in humans, 1388-1393.
[5]Frei B. (2007) in Vitamin E Trials 'Fatally Flawed', ScienceDaily, Sep. 26.
Here's one last response by Miriam (from Einstein-Syndrome) to the folinic acid & antioxidant study ~ Long term negative outcomes of vitamin therapy.
Jenn Marrs' son, John, has been called "The Wonder Boy" on DS listservs and in the Circle of Friends II book.
Jenny has done a lot with John to exceed what they were told John would, or more like it, would not do. John's new website is http://mysite.verizon.net/ress9jo2/johnmarrs . Jenny has a lot of very helpful and resourceful information on that site. I remember reading her program that she did with John quite a bit when my brother was younger.
Jenny is contributing several articles to our book ;). Thanks Jenny!
Labels: accomplishments, advocacy, book
More response to the folinic acid & antioxidant study
Miriam (from Einstein-Syndrome) has written part 2 & 3 of her response to the recent study on supplements in DS. Here are the links to that:
Part 2: http://einsteinsyndrome.wordpress.com/2008/03/01/just-a-waste-of-cash-part-2/
I happened to be run across this article today and I thought it was pretty interesting.
Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol-10) supplementation improves oxidative imbalance in children with trisomy 21.
Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA. michael.miles@cchmc.org
Endogenous coenzyme Q10 is an essential cofactor in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, a potent antioxidant, and a potential biomarker for systemic oxidative status. Evidence of oxidative stress was reported in individuals with trisomy 21. In this study, 14 children with trisomy 21 had significantly increased plasma ubiquinone-10 (the oxidized component of coenzyme Q10) compared with 12 age- and sex-matched healthy children (historical controls). Also, the mean ratio of ubiquinol-10 (the biochemically reduced component):total coenzyme Q10 was significantly decreased. After 3 months of ubiquinol-10 supplementation (10 mg/kg/day) to 10 patients with trisomy 21, the mean ubiquinol-10:total coenzyme Q10 ratio increased significantly above baseline values, and 80% of individual ratios were within normal range. No significant or unexpected adverse effects were reported by participants. To our knowledge, this is the first study to indicate that the pro-oxidant state in plasma of children with trisomy 21, as assessed by ubiquinol-10:total coenzyme Q10 ratio, may be normalized with ubiquinol-10 supplementation. Further studies are needed to determine whether correction of this oxidant imbalance improves clinical outcomes of children with trisomy 21.
PMID: 18021919 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Labels: nutrition, supplementation, TNI
Medical News: Vitamins Found No Help for Down's Syndrome Children
This is a new study that just came out. The full text can be seen at:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/bmj.39465.544028.AEv2.pdf.
Of course, this doesn't change a thing with us! I know that giving my brother supplements has helped him tremendously!
I read the full text of the article and noted a couple interesting things.
The first quote here, they admit that they used low doses. They used some very low doses (5mgs of zinc, 10mcg of selenium, etc). I know, from experience especially, that higher doses of these nutrients are needed to see a benefit. I wonder if they checked the blood levels of zinc in these children? It didn't mention it in the full text. The only nutrient level tested, that was mentioned, was Vitamin E.
Also, in this first quote they admit that their low doses may not have been good enough to combat the biochemical issues in DS!
"One limitation of our study was the relatively low dose of supplements compared with commercially available preparations (Nutrivene-D and Euro TNI), which may have been inadequate to affect biochemical pathways."
I thought this was good too . . . In this second quote they admit that longer duration of supplementation may see effects.
"Our results do not exclude the possibility that subtle effects of supplementation on development might be detectable given longer term supplementation and follow-up."
Another thing I noticed is that they used RDA doses also, which is something that cannot necessarily be followed for those with DS. The reason being because the RDA is for "generally all healthy people," and therefore excludes those with something such as a genetic abnormality.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/GeneralPediatrics/tb/8468
Vitamins Found No Help for Down's Syndrome Children
EXETER, England, Feb. 22 -- Children with Down's syndrome did not improve their development with the use of antioxidant vitamins, researchers here found.
a.. Explain to interested patients that early vitamin supplementation for children with Down's syndrome may not improve development.
b.. Note that antioxidant supplements and folinic acid cannot be recommended for children with Down's syndrome based on the available evidence.
Psychomotor and language development scores were no better among British children with Down's given antioxidants or folinic acid (an active metabolite of folic acid) or both than among those who received neither, reported Stuart Logan, MBChB, of Peninsula Medical School, and colleagues online in BMJ.
Nor were biochemical measures of oxidative stress improved by the supplements in the randomized controlled trial.
Vitamin and mineral supplements marketed as holding substantial benefits for children with Down's are commonly used in the United States and Europe.
However, "parents who choose to give supplements to their children need to weigh their hope of unproved benefits against potential adverse effects from high dose, prolonged supplementation," the researchers wrote.
The lack of benefit from postnatal supplementation may not be surprising because Down's screening identifies differences between fetuses with and without trisomy 21 as early as 10 weeks' gestation, commented Tim Reynolds, M.D., of Queen's Hospital in Burton-on-Trent, England, in an accompanying editorial.
"Until evidence of any benefit of expensive vitamin supplements is available, they cannot be recommended," he said.
Developmental delay in Down's has been thought to result from oxidative neuronal damage, abnormal folate metabolism, or both, they said. The evidence, though, for nutritional interventions to counteract these effects has been poor, particularly in younger children, who had been thought to be most likely to benefit.
So the researchers undertook a well-designed study among 156 infants younger than seven months with Down's but no severe cardiac defects or other serious long-term illness.
They randomized the children to a daily oral dose of antioxidants (selenium 10 μg, zinc 5 mg, vitamin A 0.9 mg, vitamin E 100 mg, and vitamin C 50 mg) or folinic acid (0.1 mg) or both, or placebo.
All were given as a powder to be mixed with food or drink and were increased in dose by 30% after a child's first birthday.
After 18 months of follow-up, overall developmental scores as measured on the Griffiths mental developmental scales were similar between children given antioxidants and those who were not (mean 57.3 versus 56.1; adjusted mean difference 1.2 points, 95% confidence interval −2.2 to 4.6).
Likewise, developmental scores were similar for children randomized to folinic acid supplements or not (mean 57.6 versus 55.9; adjusted mean difference 1.7, 95% CI −1.7 to 5.1).
For language development after 18 months of follow-up, the number of words said or signed was similar for children given antioxidants versus none (ratio of means 0.85, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.2) and for those given folinic acid versus none (ratio of means 1.24, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.77).
Nor was there any difference in the age at which infants reached milestones in motor development.
Age at sitting without support was not significantly improved with antioxidants (hazard ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 0.77 to 1.56) or folinic acid (HR 1.25, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.78).
Standing did not start significantly earlier with antioxidants (HR 1.25, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.78) or folinic acid (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.71).
To see whether the supplements could be having a subclinical effect, the researchers looked at biomarkers of oxidative stress in blood samples obtained blood at age one and urine samples.
Activity of antioxidant enzymes -- red cell superoxide dismutase and red cell glutathione peroxidase -- was not detectably different between treatment groups. Urinary isoprostane concentrations, a marker of lipid perioxidation, were also similar across groups, "indicating that supplementation did not affect oxidative stress."
The only short-term side effect in the study was an increase in vomiting among infants taking antioxidants (P=0.002), "but the side effects of higher dose preparations used over a long period are unknown."
Doses used in the study were at least 100% of the recommended daily allowance for all the vitamins and folinic acid, but still were relatively low compared with commercially available preparations, they noted.
"We were reluctant to use higher doses, as data on the safety of high doses for young children are lacking and high dose vitamin C may in fact exhibit pro-oxidant properties," Dr. Logan and colleagues wrote.
Couple with Down syndrome win contest, exchange vows
http://tinyurl.com/2rda34
(February 18, 2008) - HENRIETTA - Cluster after cluster, relatives swarmed around Eric Neatrour and Christine Kurvits, leaning in for bear hugs and kisses on the cheek.
When it seemed that all of the adults had finished congratulating the couple, the flower girl crept up to Christine's side.
"You are going to be his partner?" asked Eric's 9-year-old niece, Elizabeth.
"Always," Christine replied.
On Sunday, Eric and Christine took the next step in their lives together, pledging their commitment to each other in a ceremony they had won.
As she watched her son read the vows he had written for Christine, Beverly Neatrour was overcome with joy.
"It just struck me that their love for each other is so innocent, that it's so genuine," she said.
Eric, 29, of Pittsford, and Christine, 24, of Victor, were born with Down syndrome.
"I never really thought this would be possible for her," said Jaak Kurvits, Christine's father, as he looked at his daughter in her white gown and thin silver crown, sitting next to the man she habitually talks about at home.
"It's Eric this, it's Eric that," said Kurvits, smiling. "It's constant."
The couple met three years ago when Christine enrolled in a program for people with disabilities at Cobblestone Arts Center, a nonprofit organization in Farmington, Ontario County. Eric said he was instantly taken by his new classmate.
"When I saw her face, I fell in love," Eric wrote in his essay to the Nuptial Network of Rochester, the group of wedding planners that awarded the ceremony at the RIT Inn and Conference Center.
The couple became friends, dancing together in their performing arts classes at Cobblestone.
Friendship soon became something more. Christine didn't want to have any other dancing partner.
"I had to keep saying, 'This is not a dating service. We have classes to go to,'" said Lorene Benson, executive director of Cobblestone Arts Center. But, Benson said, Eric and Christine are great students. They not only take care of each other but also watch out for classmates.
The pair began spending time with each other outside of class, at night and on the weekends. They would monopolize the Neatrour family living room with their board games. They would cuddle on the couch and watch American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. They would go out to dinner at Applebee's with Eric's older brother, Paul.
Then, last spring while sitting at home, Eric saw a flier from the Center for Disability Rights advertising a fundraiser being organized by the Nuptial Network of Rochester. The group was also advertising a $25,000 wedding giveaway to a couple with the best love story.
Eric asked his mother if he could enter. Why not, she said.
In June, she received a phone call from Sue Kurvits, Christine's mother. Eric had asked Jaak Kurvits for his daughter's hand in marriage. In September, Jaak received a phone call from the Nuptial Network, telling him that the group had chosen Eric and Christine over 25 other couples.
The two families decided that for now, a commitment ceremony would be more appropriate than a wedding.
And for now, Eric and Christine will each continue to live with their parents. They hope that maybe in a year or two they will be able find an apartment of their own, a place where they can be independent but also receive assistance when they need it.
Sarah Schleider, vice president of marketing and communications for the New York City-based National Down Syndrome Society, said that in each of the past few years, her organization has heard about two or three couples with Down syndrome who get married.
"It is becoming more common because individuals are living longer, living more fulfilling lives and living more independently," Schleider said.
After Sunday's ceremony ended and the guests had piled into the dining room, Eric and Christine took their place as they waited to be announced to the crowd.
Eric turned to Christine, took her hand and whispered.
"I want people to know that I won this contest for you," he said.
Labels: adults with DS, marriage
Article: 'Abortion is never an easy option: Why I aborted my first child'
What a terrible and sickening article!
She even admits that she killed her baby - "I pass Down's children on the street and think, 'I killed mine.'", but still says, "I remain certain that, for us, it was the right decision."
www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/you/article.html?in_article_id=513058&in_page_id=1908
'Abortion is never an easy option: Why I aborted my first child'
by KATHERINE MOBEY
YOU reader Katherine Mobey, 38, is a customer manager for a supermarket chain and her husband Neil, 35, is an operations manager for a recruitment company. Six years ago, they aborted their first child after it was diagnosed with Down's - a traumatic decision that took their marriage to breaking point. Here, Katherine tells their story...
Every mother can remember the moment when that blue line appears on the pregnancy test and, all of a sudden, you are contemplating a whole new future.
Neil and I had been married less than a year when, in 2001, I discovered I was expecting. We were so ecstatic, we immediately went out and bought three more tests - just to be sure.
The routine 12-week scan gave us the first sight of our baby and all appeared to be well. When we were offered the chance of another more detailed scan, we saw it as a bonus. There was no family history of complications, but it seemed wise to take every precaution.
The nuchal translucency scan - so called because it measures the nuchal folds at the back of the baby's neck to help detect Down's syndrome - was to be carried out at King's College Hospital in South London, and has to be done before you are 14 weeks pregnant.
My appointment was delayed when my GP surgery lost my notes and I made it just before the deadline.
The sonographer scanning me was calm and obviously experienced. I trusted her completely. But when she became quiet for a few moments, I knew instantly that something was wrong. She explained that my baby had exomphalos - a rare condition in which part of the intestine grows outside the body.
It was something that could be corrected by surgery, she said, but it could be an indicator of further problems. Neil was holding my hand. We were both in shock and I was crying. Four or five doctors poured into the room to look at the screen. I had become an exhibit.
A measurement of the nuchal folds revealed a one in 56 risk that my baby had Down's. To get a firm diagnosis, I was told I would need a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) test.
This involves taking a sample of amniotic fluid and can accurately detect Down's and other chromosomal abnormalities. We agreed to have it done there and then. By the time we left the hospital, it was early evening.
As I walked on to the street, I was physically sick. It had been such a shattering experience. Driving home, I realised my relationship with my baby had changed.
Every pregnant woman wants the little person growing inside her to be perfect - but my dreams had turned into a fearful vision.
Neil and I stayed at home for the four days it took for the CVS results to come through. In the three years we had known each other, we had been so happy. Now, for the first time, a black cloud was hanging over us.
It was mid-afternoon when the midwife called. As soon as she told me it was bad news, I broke down. The baby was seriously affected by Down's as well as the intestinal complications.
We didn't know what its life expectancy would be or what medical treatment it would need, but we did know that we would not be able to cope with a severely disabled child.
Going ahead with the pregnancy wasn't even up for discussion. Neil stayed strong and made all the necessary arrangements.
I saw a consultant the following day and talked through the abortion procedure.
The delay caused by my GP losing my notes meant that, at almost 16 weeks pregnant, I had passed the safe threshold for a surgical termination and would have to go through an induced labour.
The first step was to take drugs that block the pregnancy hormones and stop the baby's heart beating. I was booked to return a couple of days later for the abortion itself.
Neil and my mother came with me. At Farnborough Hospital (now replaced by the Princess Royal University Hospital) in Kent, I was put into the side room of a maternity ward.
I couldn't see what was going on around me, but I was aware of healthy babies being born nearby. A pessary was inserted to bring on contractions and I was moved into a delivery room.
Mum sat on one side of me, knitting, Neil rubbed my feet and I had gas and air and some pethidine to ease the pain. I was told the labour would take up to 16 hours; in the event, it was only six. The midwife had asked me at the outset whether I would want to see the baby when it was born.
My reaction had been, "Oh God, no."
I know a lot of people name and cuddle their baby.
But I couldn't do it - hold the dead and deformed being that had been inside me. I never even found out the sex, although I have always thought of it as a girl. In the years since, I have struggled hugely with the way I rejected my baby. I know it was a dreadfully unmotherly thing to do.
At the point of delivery, Neil and Mum left the room. On his way back, Neil saw someone taking away the baby in a bundle of tissue down the corridor – presumably to the incinerator. He often talks about that moment and it is extremely painful for him.
Afterwards – and I know this will sound bizarre – we were elated. Mum and Neil were saying, 'Well done,' and relief flooded over me. For Mum, it had meant losing a grandchild, but she was totally supportive of our decision – her priority throughout was me.
When I left hospital the following day, I was given a leaflet on miscarriage – a mistake, but one that made me feel very alone.
Friends and colleagues were incredibly kind - no one has ever criticised me - but it was hard for many people to understand fully what we had been through.
I returned to work after a couple of weeks, but couldn't concentrate and kept breaking down in meetings.
My employers agreed to let me reduce my hours temporarily and King's College Hospital referred me to a psychotherapist. I saw her on and off for two years, and without her I don't think I would be where I am today.
There were three conflicting emotions that I had to deal with.
First, the guilt at having rejected my baby was foremost and overwhelming. Second, I was battling with a massive sense of failure - I am the third of four children, my elder brother and sister each had two healthy children, and my younger sister Pippa had just announced she was pregnant.
I could hardly bear to be around her. Losing the baby had become the catalyst for a whole mass of deeply rooted emotions.
My family were all academic high-achievers. I had done well, but not as well as them.
And Neil was my second husband - my first, to a boy with whom I was at school, had ended disastrously after a year.
I felt like the black sheep - the one who couldn't even get having a baby right the first time round.
My third irrational but very real feeling was that my body had been contaminated by having a sickly child in my womb.
I was desperate to replace the baby we had lost but, looking back, it was too soon for Neil. He had had to be strong for me, but no one was taking care of him.
He needed time out, but I was pushing and pushing to try for another baby, and after eight months, I fell pregnant with our daughter Honor.
The pregnancy was fine, and tests showed nothing untoward, but that didn't stop me having panic attacks. My life was consumed by the baby "project".
When Honor was born, I couldn't quite believe my 'contaminated' body had produced a healthy baby.
I was so focused on being a good mother that I was probably overprotective, and Neil ended up feeling abandoned.
On the surface, we looked like any other happy new parents, but underneath there was a build-up of problems that we weren't addressing.
Both of us were still struggling to come to terms with what we had been through.
I had had the support of therapy and a network of friends and family; Neil had me, but now that we had Honor I wasn't so available for him.
When Honor was a year old he left, saying he needed a break. It was a terrible shock. Until then, I hadn't stopped to acknowledge how troubled things were between us.
More than anything we needed to talk. Splitting up forced us to do that. I listened hard and realised that the pain lived on inside Neil, just as it did in me.
A month later he moved back, and it was tough but we were determined to make it work. I hope we will be together for ever, but I no longer assume anything. I've learnt there are no guarantees.
After a lot of thought, we've decided against having another baby. Honor is now aged four and wonderful, but my pregnancies were dark days and we don't want to go back there.
I no longer feel a failure. I'm proud that I have such a lovely family.
Having Honor was the proof my psyche needed that my body isn't contaminated.
But the guilt, I realise now, I will have for ever. I pass Down's children on the street and think, 'I killed mine.'
I know they can be wonderfully loving. There is no escaping the reality of what I did, or the way I mentally rejected my baby. The hospital took photos, but I have never seen them, and it feels too late to go back there now.
Abortion can never be described as an easy option. I still cry as though mine were yesterday.
And yet I remain certain that, for us, it was the right decision.
Labels: abortion
The study below is interesting. I've seen it before, but came across it again today and noted something in it that I hadn't noted before. The results of the study showed that in these patients with DS their zinc levels were low in plasma and urine. It says before this that the dietary intake of zinc was adequate ~
"The diet of both groups presented adequate concentrations of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and zinc."
-- I just thought this was interesting because a lot of people say, if they are consuming an adequate amount of these nutrients in foods from their diet, there's no need for a supplement, like TNI. It makes a point to show that getting an "adequate" amount of certain nutrients from the diet isn't always enough. Supplementation can't always be avoided.
Zinc nutritional status in adolescents with Down syndrome.
Studies have evidenced that zinc metabolism is altered in presence of Down syndrome, and zinc seems to have a relationship with the metabolic alterations usually present in this syndrome. In this work, the Zn-related nutritional status of adolescents with Down syndrome was evaluated by means of biochemical parameters and diet. A case-control study was performed in a group of adolescents with Down syndrome (n = 30) and a control group (n = 32), of both sexes, aged 10 to 19 years. Diet evaluation was accomplished by using a 3-day dietary record, and the analysis was performed by the NutWin program, version 1.5. Antropometric measurements were performed for evaluation of body composition. The Zn-related nutritional status of the groups was evaluated by means of zinc concentration determinations in plasma and erythrocytes, and 24-h urinary zinc excretion, by using the method of atomic absorption spectroscopy. The diet of both groups presented adequate concentrations of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and zinc. The mean values found for zinc concentration in erythrocytes were 49.2 +/- 8.5 microg Zn/g Hb for the Down syndrome group and 35.9 +/- 6.1 microg Zn/g Hb for the control group (p = 0.001). The average values found for zinc concentration in plasma were 67.6 +/- 25.6 microg/dL for the Down syndrome group and 68.9 +/- 22.3 microg/dL for the control group. The mean values found for zinc concentration in urine were 244.3 +/- 194.9 microg Zn/24 h for the Down syndrome group and 200.3 +/- 236.4 microg Zn/24 h for the control group. Assessment of body composition revealed overweight (26.7%) and obesity (6.6%) in the Down syndrome group. In this study, patients with Down syndrome presented altered zinc levels for some cellular compartments, and the average zinc concentrations were low in plasma and urine and elevated in erythrocytes.
Labels: TNI, zinc
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GT Road
Top 5 Beautiful National Flags of the World
Kirankhan's blog
The designer of the beautiful Pakistani flag is Syed Amir-Uddin Kedwaii. It is based on the flag of Pakistan’s architect political party, The Muslim league. The flag is a green field with a white crescent moon and five-rayed star at its center, and a vertical white stripe at the hoist side. The green represents Islam and the majority Muslims in Pakistan and the white stripe represents religious minorities and minority religions. In the center, the crescent and star symbolize progress and light respectively. The flag symbolizes Pakistan's commitment to Islam and the rights of religious minorities.
1. Mexico:
The flag of Mexico (Spanish: Bandera de México) is a vertical tricolor of green, white, and red with the national coat of arms charged in the center of the white stripe. The coat of arms has an eagle, holding a serpent in its beak and talon, is perched on top of a prickly pear cactus growing out of rocks in the middle of a lake. The current flag was adopted in 1968, but the overall design has been used since 1821 when the First National Flag was created. The colors of it represent as “White” means tranquility and honesty, “Red” specifies hardiness, bravery, strength and valor and “Green” signifies hope and joy.
2. United Kingdom:
It consists of the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England), edged in white, superimposed on the Cross of St Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which are superimposed on the Saltire of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland).
3. Canada:
The National Flag of Canada also known as the Maple Leaf , is a flag consisting of a red field with a white square at its center, in the middle of which is featured a stylized, 11-pointed, red maple leaf. The colors on the Canadian flag symbolize as “White” means tranquility and sincerity, “Red” means power of endurance, courage, force & valor.
4. Brazil:
The beautiful Brazilian flag was officially adopted on 19th Nov 1889, four days after the inception of the Republic. The green color of the Flag implies the Brazilian fields. Yellow indicates Wealth of the nation and the blue shows the sky of Rio de Janeiro on the night of Nov. 15th, 1889 and each star denotes one of the States of Brazil. White strips have the writing “Ordem e Progresso” which means “Order and Progress”.
Outing:
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3 Lessons from Mad Max: Fury Road
Favorite food of Prophet Muhammad SAW and there be
Who do you pick for best Halloween avatar?
recent blogpost
Favorite food of Prophet Muhammad SAW and there benefits
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GINO DE STEFANO
Florence, top stylists, hair cut pictures, natural hair extension
Via del ponte alle Mosse, 178 - 50144 - Firenze (FI), Italy
Florence, top stylists
Originally from Sarno (SA), Fiorentino adoption, a worthy representative of a family of hairdressers, Gino was immediately put on display and as he says "you can say that I was born with scissors in hand." At 10, he was already an apprentice barber shop in the family. At 17, a student at the academy before moving to the master of New York, London and Zurich to Milan to meet the master Rolando Elisei, "the hairdresser Dive" and became his pupil in the famous school that follows the Sanremo Festival and other televised events, where he worked. But the road continues, bronze medal in the European Championships of 2007 in Frankfurt, gold medal in the International Festival of hairdressing gaining the right of participation in the world of cutting 2008.
Via del ponte alle Mosse, 178
50144 - Firenze - Italy
Candida Salone
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Remembering Tuskegee Syphilis Study Still Provokes Disbelief, Sadness
Official URL: http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2002/...
Thirty years ago today, the Washington Evening Star newspaper ran this headline on its front page: "Syphilis Patients Died Untreated." With those words, one of America's most notorious medical studies, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, became public. "For 40 years, the U.S. Public Health Service has conducted a study in which human guinea pigs, not given proper treatment, have died of syphilis and its side effects," Associated Press reporter Jean Heller wrote on July 25, 1972. "The study was conducted to determine from autopsies what the disease does to the human body."
Access to the full text is subject to the publisher’s access restrictions.
Tuskegee Syphilis Study
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James William Thomson
James William Thomson (1828 – 4 August 1907) was a 19th-century conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand.
2.1 Provincial Council
2.2 Member of Parliament
2.3 Minister
Thomson was born in Auchterarder, Scotland in 1828.[1] He obtained his education at the University of Edinburgh, where he obtained an MA. He came to New Zealand in 1859 and settled in Balclutha.[2]
Provincial Council
He was elected onto the Otago Provincial Council for the Clutha electorate in October 1864. He remained on the Provincial Council until May 1873.[3] For two days in May 1868, he was a member of the Otago Executive Council.[4] He was a "provincialist.[5]
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1871–1875 5th Clutha Independent
1890–1892 11th Bruce Independent
1896–1899 13th Clutha Independent
Thomson represented the Clutha electorate from 1871 to 1887 when he was defeated.[6] He then represented Bruce from 1890 to 1892, when he resigned.[6] He did not stand for election in the 1893 election.[2] Finally he represented the Clutha electorate again from 1896 to 1905, when he retired.[6]
Thomson was for three months in 1879 Minister of Lands in the Grey Ministry.[7]
^ Scholefield 1940, p. 383.
^ a b Cyclopedia Company Limited (1897). "Mr. James William Thomson". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Wellington Provincial District. Wellington: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
^ "New Member". Evening Star in Papers Past. 6 December 1890.
^ a b c Wilson 1985, p. 240.
^ Wilson 1985, p. 68.
Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : M–Addenda (PDF). II. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
James Macandrew Member of Parliament for Clutha
Thomas Mackenzie
Thomas Mackenzie Succeeded by
Alexander Malcolm
Crawford Anderson Member of Parliament for Bruce
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_William_Thomson&oldid=880819919"
Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Members of Otago provincial executive councils
Members of the Otago Provincial Council
Unsuccessful candidates in the 1887 New Zealand general election
New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates
Independent MPs of New Zealand
People from Perthshire
Scottish emigrants to New Zealand
19th-century New Zealand politicians
Use New Zealand English from August 2014
All Wikipedia articles written in New Zealand English
This content was retrieved from Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_William_Thomson
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Muslims’ Refusal To Vaccinate Spreading Measles In US
(Leo Hohmann’s article direct from The WND NEWS on 28 April 2017.)
Deadly measles was eradicated in US since 1960s but Somali
refugees are bringing back and spreading it again in US.
An outbreak of measles is sweeping through a community of Somali refugees in Minnesota and the growing number of cases may be starting to test the limits of the Hennepin County healthcare system.
According to reports from the health commissioner’s office, there are now 30 cases of children in Hennepin County who have been diagnosed with measles, and 28 of them are Somali children who have not been vaccinated. All of the cases involve children 5 years of age and younger.
What’s worse, the outbreak has now spread to Ramsey and Stearns counties, where two more cases have now been reported, making a total of 32 cases in Minnesota as of 1:15 p.m. Friday. The first Minnesota case was reported in March and has been steadily growing each week.
It is the worst measles outbreak in Hennepin County, which includes the city of Minneapolis, since 2011, when 26 cases were reported. That outbreak also involved unvaccinated Somali children.
“Eleven of the 30 children have been hospitalized,” Doug Schultz, spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health, told WND. He said he did not know how many of those cases have required intensive-care treatment. “But it wouldn’t surprise me if there were some,” he said.
WND received unconfirmed reports Friday that pediatric cancer treatments at Children’s Hospital Minneapolis were postponed Thursday due to the presence of measles patients at the hospital. The parents of the cancer patients either “opted out” of their treatments when they were told of the measles outbreak, or had their treatments postponed, a healthcare worker told WND.
Asked if any other Hennepin County healthcare services were being affected by the measles outbreak, Schultz said he could not answer that. “That’s a good question. I think probably I’m not the best one to speak to that,” he said.
He referred WND to Khris Ehresmann, the infectious disease division director at the Minnesota Health Department. She did not immediately respond to WND’s inquiry Friday. Last week Ehresmann told the Star-Tribune the state’s health laboratory is testing additional samples for measles and she expected the case count would rise.
“Whenever you have an outbreak in unvaccinated kids, measles just has a field day,” Ehresmann said. “That is what is happening here. This outbreak is about unvaccinated children, not specific communities,” Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the Minnesota Somali community has been targeted with misinformation about vaccine risks. We’re partnering with Somali community leaders and health care providers to counteract that misinformation.”
Measles were declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, But Minnesota and other states see sporadic cases, typically linked to international travel and the influx of Third World refugees and asylum seekers.
President Donald Trump included Somalia on his list of six countries he wanted to include in a 120-day pause in refugee resettlement, along with Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and Iran. But his executive order to that effect has been blocked by federal district courts in Washington and Hawaii.
The U.S. imports between 5,000 and 11,000 Somali refugees per year and has been doing so since war broke out in that country 25 years ago. More than 132,000 Somalis have come to the U.S. as refugees since 1990, with the largest community being in Minneapolis, followed by other large enclaves in Columbus, Ohio, Seattle, San Diego, Atlanta, in Fargo, North Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Portland and Lewiston, Maine, and Nashville, Tennessee.
Koran Forbids Vaccination & Somali-Muslims Obey Mohammad
Dr. Andrew Bostom, M.D., an academic internist specializing in general internal medicine who has also authored several books about the history of Islam, said Muslim communities often prove difficult to convince that vaccinations are appropriate for their children. “The case against vaccinations is first an Islamic one,” he said, citing a 2011 article by Dr. Majid Katme, spokesman for the Islamic Medical Association in the United Kingdom.
“We are giving our innocent children haram [forbidden] substances and harmful chemicals that destroy their natural immune systems, causing disease, suffering and death,” Dr. Katme wrote.
Most Somali refugees in US start out here, at the United Nations Daadab refugee camp on the Kenya-Somalia border. Between 5.000 and 11,000 per year are selected by the U.N. for permanent resettlement in the United States.
One of the first measles cases detected in the current outbreak began at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, where doctors initially thought a child was having a skin reaction to an antibiotic, Patsy Stinchfield, a nurse practitioner specializing in infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital, told the Star Tribune.
In 2015, 134,000 measles-related deaths were reported worldwide. The last death in the U.S., where vaccination rates are generally high, was in 2015. Stinchfield said health officials stress vaccination against measles “because there is no medicine” that can cure it.
Hospitals try to stabilize patients by giving them intravenous fluids to counter dehydration. They are quarantined in special hospital rooms that prevent the virus from infecting others in the hospital.
Children’s Hospital Minneapolis is also following up with those who might have been exposed on campus to make sure none are vulnerable to contracting the disease, Stinchfield told the Star-Tribune. “The measles virus is one of the most highly contagious viruses that we have,” Stinchfield said. “It can be passed just by breathing so it is easily spread.”
Posted by Hla Oo at 7:48 PM
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SOURCE: Jacobin
The Story of the Tet Offensive
tags: LBJ, Vietnam War, war, Tet Offensive
by Robert Buzzanco
Robert Buzzanco is a scholar of twentieth-century US history and diplomatic history at the University of Houston.
At the end of January, the media will commemorate the fifty-year anniversary of one of the Vietnam War’s most pivotal moments: the Tet Offensive.
On January 30, 1968, the combined forces of the Viet Cong, the People’s Liberation Armed Forces in the South, and the People’s Army of Vietnam from the North attacked virtually every important military and political center in the Republic of Vietnam, even invading the US embassy. Within sixty days, President Lyndon Johnson would reject the military’s request for a troop surge, begin de-escalating the war, and withdraw from the 1968 presidential campaign. Even then, observers saw Tet as a turning point in the Vietnam era, and it has maintained near-mythic status ever since.
The consensus view still holds that Tet was a significant American military victory, derailed by political factors at home — especially in the media. Walter Cronkite came to symbolize this domestic opposition after he famously implored Johnson to negotiate a way out of the war during a February 27 Special Report.
While the Vietnamese did suffer huge losses in 1968 (particularly in the so-called Tet II and Tet III offensives later that year), the January 30 attack exposed grave American vulnerabilities, reinforcing the view that the military could not expect future success. People with more influence than Cronkite had been saying that for years.
For some time, senior officials had expressed their misgivings about the war. They pointed out that the government in South Vietnam lacked broad public support, that their enemy was more integrated into the local population, and that American soldiers were not well suited for fighting in Vietnam. As early as 1965, US Commander General William Westmoreland warned that sending in ground troops would “at best buy time”: the military would need more and more reinforcements “until, like the French, we would be occupying an essentially hostile foreign country.”
Read entire article at Jacobin
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11/02/2018 Ms. Asma Jahangir
Defenders of Human Rights in Iran Mourn the Passing of Asma Jahangir
Download letter in Persian
It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Ms. Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran. She passed away on February 11, 2018, and defenders of human rights, particularly those in Iran, mourn her death.
Iranian society lost one of the most vocal champions of its rights, its fundamental freedoms, and its fight for dignity. Since her appointment as Special Rapporteur on Iran by the UN Human Rights Council in September 2016, she has brought the voices of victims of human rights abuses to the United Nations, and supported a stifled but vibrant civil society. Ms. Jahangir called for vital human rights reforms, and took urgent action on a large number of cases, affecting many lives in Iran.
For all of us defenders of human rights in Iran, she was a companion in the struggle for a more just, free and equal Iran. As she leaves us today, we want to celebrate and remember her courage, her energy, and her passion for the cause of rights, equality and respect for everybody’s dignity, in Iran, in Pakistan, and beyond.
Our thoughts are with her friends and family, in Pakistan and around the world.
Arseh Sevom
Association for Human Rights of the Azerbaijani People in Iran (AHRAZ)
Association of Human Rights in Kurdistan of Iran-Geneva (KMMK-G)
Center for Human Rights in Iran
Center for Supporters of Human Rights
European Ahwazi Human Rights Organization (EAHRO)
Impact Iran
Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO)
Iran Human Rights Documentation Center
Siamak Pourzand Foundation
United for Iran
Replies from Iran
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Police personal may get limited work period
3 months ago Praveen Samuel
Bengaluru: A proposal to provide three shifts to the police personal, which comprises of 8 hours per shift, has been proposed by the Home department. This is a welcome move to the police personal who are burdened with long hours of work and have no set periods for their duty. This move can substantially improve the efficiency and accountability of the personal in the force.
The eight-hour shift has been a long pending demand of the personal in the police department. The existing minimum hours of work for the personal are 12 Hours. Currently there are about 1.08 lakh personal working in the department with an existing 23,000 vacancies, which have not been filled. The number of vacancies increases as and when a new initiative is executed by the Home Department for instance introducing exclusive units and battalions. By implementing the three-shift plan fatigue could be eliminated and the work pressure could be decreased to a considerable extent said Mr. Raghavendra Auradkar, Additional Director-General of Police (Recruitment) who made the proposal.
In the circular that was recently issued by the City Police Commissioner Mr. T. Suneel Kumar to all the DCPs under his jurisdiction, he has given a direction to the DCPs to submit a detailed report on the number of cases registered in the past three years and the staff strength of the police stations in their jurisdiction. He has also mentioned in the circular that there is a need to increase the number of police personal by taking into consideration the population and to create more posts that are necessary.
He said the benefit of the 3-shift strategy is to give definite hours of work, which in turn will improve the efficiency of the personal and provide some rest to the police personal who are burdened with work.
He said in the present scenario, there are no definite hours of duty for the police personal due to a number of reasons. One of the main reason is the unfair ratio between the existing strength and the sanctioned strength of the police force.
He said this shift model has proposed to separate the various department staffs such as crime staff is separated from the law and order staff. The separation is done so that there is an improvement in the detection and investigation process.
A senior police officer said to make the shift system work the first issue of staff shortage has to be worked upon by increasing the number of staffs and then the station work force has to be restructured.
A senior police officer said to enable the shift system to function an analysis will be conducted with the data that is provided by the DCPs and a session of restructure will be implemented to the staff working in the police station.
The police officer said that in the staffing of one police station in many instances the staff was more than what was required while in other police stations they had to manage with a minimum number of staff.
Mr. M.A. Saleem, Additional Director-General of Police (Crime and Technical Services) said in the Traffic Department the three shift system has been prevalent since 2005 with the shift timings as 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the graveyard shift. This privilege was not given to the law and order staff. This shift system is the need of the hour. If implemented this will increase productivity and reduce the workload. The most important thing is in the restructuring of the force to implement the system effectively.
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IC Media Direct Attends SES Conference in San Francisco
by IC Media Direct | Mar 10, 2015 | News | 0 comments
NEW YORK, NY – Every year, Search Engine Strategies (SES) Conferences around the world, organized by Search Engine Watch, bring together the most influential companies and thought leaders in the constantly evolving industry of online search and social marketing. The latest gathering in San Francisco – today’s most important center for innovative technology and online startups – featured seminars and presentations from top names in the industry. Representing the online PR and marketing industry was market leader IC Media Direct, joining other major organizations such as Google, Yahoo, Pandora, eBay, Verizon, AOL. Founded in 1996, ICMD has been an important supporter and contributor to SES Conferences from its start, and while the company operates out of its headquarters in New York City, it frequently attends conferences in cities around the world, including Bangkok, London, Miami, Toronto, and Shanghai.
The SES Conference featured four workshops and ten tracks divided over four days, covering topics such as digital marketing, data-driven marketing, content marketing strategies, B2B marketing, search, and Google best practices. Especially well attended were the four “Learn with Google” sessions, during which Adam Singer, Google’s Analytics Advocate, and Jenya Denissova, Google’s Head of Channel Sales, Traditional Media, Franchise & Real Estate North America, shared their insights. As the global leader in Google reputation management, IC Media Direct experts were happy to engage in discussions and answer questions evolving around successful strategies to meet the challenges of constantly changing search algorithms and SEO optimization of blogs and websites.
With almost 20 years of experience, IC Media Direct knows the digital advertising world inside out and can react quickly and appropriately to new technologies in order to guarantee that clients maintain continuous control over their Google search results. ICMD’s IT and marketing specialists use platforms such as the SES to keep up-to-date with the latest developments and further improve the company’s award-winning services and ultimately provide more value to its clientele. The company employs experts who excel at defining and enhancing a company’s or individual’s brand identity through strategic use of creative content, distributed through dozens of media channels.
Maintaining two offices in New York City and Washington, DC, IC Media Direct serves its global base of customers from currently 49 countries around the world. The list of satisfied clients includes Fortune-500 CEOs, politicians, bankers, athletes, and top motivational speakers. Founded two years before Google, ICMediaDirect.com has been a pioneer in the techniques of reputation management, developing effective strategies that give clients full control over Google search results. The company’s PR team collaborates with outlets like MSNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Yahoo News, and other online news sources to achieve its clients’ goals.
IC Media Direct maintains a visible presence in the Marketing and PR industry by annually sponsoring high-profile marketing events and conferences including Affiliate Summit and New York City Fashion Week and attending leading conventions such as SES, Leadscon, and ad:tech. The company was presented with the New York Excellence Award from the Small Business Institute for Excellence in Commerce (SBIEC) two years in a row.
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Julia Keller
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Writer
The first time I stumbled into a public library, I swooned. I swayed. I was six years old and instantly dizzy. I almost lost consciousness. It’s a wonder I didn’t fall flat on my face, smashing my blue cat-eye glasses.
The sight of those heart-stoppingly large heaps of books was simply too much for me. Later, when I discovered that they trusted me enough to let me take the books home—yes, I had to return them eventually, but that detail was buried in the fine print—I questioned the theological necessity of heaven.
Because heaven was here. Right here.
These days, I contribute my own tales to this blissful, burgeoning bounty of books, books found in libraries and bookstores and web sites. I write mysteries and biographies. I write historical fiction and science fiction.
I write because somewhere—in some small town that resembles my hometown of Huntington, West Virginia—there might be another little girl with curly hair and blue cat-eye glasses, a girl overwhelmed by the vast cornucopia of stories, a girl who has to grab hold of a bookshelf to steady herself in the wake of such wonders.
I write for me, but I write for her, too.
I was born and raised in West Virginia, the daughter of a college mathematics professor and a high school English teacher. We lived, at one time, within sight and sound of the Ohio River; that river still moves through my memories, and in my dreams I can hear the long, melancholy honk of the coal barges signaling their approach.
After graduating from Marshall University, I headed north to Columbus, Ohio, where I worked for the local newspaper and earned a doctoral degree in English Literature at Ohio State University. There is no better training ground for a writer than a job as a general assignment reporter. The whole mad cavalcade of human affairs passes right before your eyes—rather like the Ohio River does, when you watch it from a spot on the riverbank.
And then it was on to Chicago. I won the Pulitzer Prize for a three-part series in the Chicago Tribune about a deadly tornado that struck a small town in Illinois. I spent a year at Harvard as a Nieman Fellow, and broke up my newspaper career from time to time to teach at places such as Princeton, Notre Dame, and the University of Chicago.
Now I write, and I listen for the sound of those coal barges in my imagination as they—in a passage from my first mystery novel—“ride the river’s brushed-nickel back.”
To learn more about my hometown, listen to my conversation with National Public Radio’s Noah Adams:
What if you lost almost everything that gave your life meaning?
That’s the stark question faced by Belfa Elkins in The Cold Way Home, the eighth novel in the critically acclaimed series. Bell has lost her job as prosecutor. She has lost her beloved sister. And for a time, she even lost her freedom.
Now she must rebuild her life, step by step, and she must do so in the brooding shadow of the mountains.
When she’s asked to help find a missing teenage girl, Bell is thrust into the middle of a savage murder case whose roots reach deep in the haunted soil of Appalachia. Near the ruins of a psychiatric facility where forgotten souls were once at the mercy of a ghastly real-life medical procedure, a dead body is found.
The Bell Elkins series is a captivating, lyrical blend of gritty crime fiction and poignant family drama, of topical social issues and timeless human truths. Within one woman’s story, the story of West Virginia—bleak and battered yet beautiful—spreads its wounded radiance like a sunrise over those mountains.
Previous books in the series:
"Gripping"
--Scott Turow
"Gritty, literate"
--Kirkus Reviews
"Lyrical"
--Barnes and Noble
"Compelling"
--Mystery Scene
"Intriguing"
--Sunstar.com
"A joy to read"
"Haunting"
--Library Journal
Julia also writes a science-fiction series set in the 23rd century called The Dark Intercept. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if the government could monitor your emotions—and use them to control your behavior—then this is the series for you.
The books in the trilogy:
julia@juliakeller.net
©Copyright 2018 - Julia Keller. All rights reserved.
Website by Lydia Phillips
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School board has last chance for appointment Friday
By DeWayne Patterson
Jackson County Board of Education Superintendent Kevin Dukes said he has been kept out of the process of appointing a new board member.
The school board will meet at 8 a.m. on Friday to attempt to appoint a new member to fill the vacancy left by the death of board member Cecil Gant.
“I will be good if they can come to an agreement,” said Dukes. “I just hope it’s someone who has no hidden agendas when it comes to the students and educators.”
If the board fails to make an appointment Friday morning, it will be passed on to State Superintendent Eric Mackey.
“I hope we can get someone appointed,” said Board President Chad Gorham. “I think it will be best if we can get someone rather than letting it go to the state superintendent.”
Board member Charles West agreed, saying earlier this week that it needs to be done Friday.
At a prior board meeting to fill the vacancy, the school board had three nominations, but none passed. Retired educators Linda Smith and Dwight Griffith, along with Chris Knight, were nominated.
West said he has someone to nominate but didn’t reveal who it was. Gorham said he plans to nominate Griffth again.
“I think he would be a good one,” said Gorham of Griffith. “I think he would be objective.”
Gorham added that he was a little surprised Griffith was not appointed in the last meeting. He also said he thinks there is a 60% chance of an appointment Friday.
The school board will meet in the Teacher Resource Center at the Board of Education.
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Los Angeles synagogue sues city and county over destructive Skirball fire
Rabbi Leo Baeck
NEW YORK CITY (JTA) — The Leo Baeck Temple in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Bel Air has filed a lawsuit against the city and county over last year’s Skirball Fire. The fire, which broke out on Dec. 6, 2017, destroyed six homes and damaged 12 others, and required the evacuation of about 700 homes as well as an apartment building. It damaged 475 acres.
It was sparked by an illegal cooking fire at an area homeless encampment.
The Temple suffered significant smoke damage and was not be able to reopen its facilities right away following containment of the fire.
The Stephen Wise Temple, American Jewish University’s Familian Campus and the Skirball Cultural Center all were closed due to the fire and the institutions’ Torah scrolls were removed for safekeeping.
The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against the city and county of Los Angeles by the Leo Baeck Temple alleges that the city and county could have helped to prevent the fire had they not ignored the complaints of residents, the Los Angeles Jewish Journal reported.
The city and county “knew or should have known that this presented a fire hazard, as the area is prone to wildfires because of the trees, bushes and other vegetation and foliage,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also argues that the city and county should have removed the encampment, or at least provided the public with a warning about it.
The temple lists four causes of action, including claims that the city and county maintained a dangerous condition on public property and allowed a public nuisance. It is asking for more than $25,000 in damages.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti declared a local state of emergency in response to the Skirball Fire, requesting state and federal assistance. It was one of several fires burning in southern California. The other fires were known as the Thomas, Rye and Creek fires burning in Ventura County, Santa Clarita and Sylmar. California Gov. Jerry Brown also declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
NationalNews
J Street meets with U.S. ambassador to Israel
Abandoning Israel
700 rockets, 240 intercepts, 4 dead Israelis: Is the Iron Dome doing the needed job?
DC Report: Most U.S. Jews seem still at home within the Democratic Party
Titanic victim’s Hebrew-letter watch sold at auction
Chuck Schumer wants to name Senate building for John McCain
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European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
Vol 3 No 4 (2017): EJIS September December 2017 /
Political Circumstances in Albania from 1920 to 1924
Skender Lutfiu PhD Cand Institute of History, Prishtinë
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26417/ejis.v9i1.p132-141
The events that marked the period 1920-1924 are undoubtedly those of an interior character such as the Congress of Lushnja and the Vlora War (1920), the parliamentary elections (1921 and 1923), the June uprising (1924), etc. while the external ones are undisputed the recognition of Albania and its borders at the London Conference (9 December 1921) and its admission to the League of Nations (1921). The democratic system imposed by the Congress of Lushnja, proved to be ineffective. That is, because it didn’t bring political and economic stability in the country, but on the contrary caused instability in large proportions, all because of the coup d’etat and the numerous uprisings that characterized the period 1920-1922. When the armed political struggle in Albania intensified, nationalist and moderate concepts were created in the Albanian politics. During this period, the Albanian political scene was divided into several political views through North-South contradictions, Muslim-Christian, Zogu-Noli, Conservative-Liberal, and so on. This diversity of religious, regional, political and conceptual character led to political rivalry within the Albanian leadership in Albania over the 1920-1924 period, in the name of democratic principles, even with non-democratic means. By thus creating not only a serious political climate, but also an attempt for radical changes in the country's government, such as the June Uprising of 1924.
LUTFIU, Skender. Political Circumstances in Albania from 1920 to 1924. European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, [S.l.], v. 3, n. 4, p. 132-141, oct. 2017. ISSN 2411-4138. Available at: <http://journals.euser.org/index.php/ejis/article/view/2599>. Date accessed: 17 july 2019. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.26417/ejis.v9i1.p132-141.
Vol 3 No 4 (2017): EJIS September December 2017
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Home/Investor Relations/Corporate Governance/Executive Leadership Team
William C. Johnson , , , President and Chief Executive Officer
William (“Bill”) C. Johnson is President and Chief Executive Officer of Welbilt, Inc. Before joining Welbilt, Mr. Johnson was Chief Executive Officer of Chart Industries, Inc., a global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment for the industrial gas, energy, and biomedical industries. From 2006 to 2016, he held various senior level positions at Dover Corporation, a leading global conglomerate manufacturer of industrial products. He served as Vice President of Dover Corporation and President and Chief Executive Officer of Dover Refrigeration and Food Equipment. Before that, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Dover’s Hill Phoenix division, a leading designer and manufacturer of commercial refrigeration systems, and President and Chief Executive Officer of their Triton Systems division, a designer and manufacturer of ATMs. Earlier in his career, Mr. Johnson was President and Chief Executive Officer of Graham Corporation, a publicly traded manufacturer of oil refining, petrochemical and power equipment. He also served as Senior Vice President of ESAB Welding and Cutting Equipment, a manufacturer of welding, cutting, and steel industry scarfing equipment. From 1990 to 1999, he held various positions at ABB, a $35 billion manufacturer of electrification, robotics and motion, industrial automation, and power grid products. Mr. Johnson began his career as a Commissioned Officer and Nuclear Engineer in the United States Navy. He holds a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University and an M.B.A. from Rollins College.
Josef Matosevic , , , Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Welbilt, Inc.
Josef Matosevic is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Welbilt, Inc. Prior to joining Welbilt, he service as Senior Vice President of global operational excellence for The Manitowoc Company beginning in and Executive Vice President, global operations and purchasing, for Manitowoc Cranes. Prior to joining The Manitowoc Company, Matosevic served in various executive positions with Oshkosh Corporation, a designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies, including as that company’s Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing Operations. He previously served as Vice President of Global Operations and Chief Operating Officer at Wynnchurch Capital/Android Industries, a sub-assembler and sequencer of complex modules for automotive original equipment manufacturers. Matosevic earned a bachelor’s degree from Bayerische Julius-Maximilian’s Universität, Wurzburg, Germany.
Martin D. Agard , , , Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Martin D. Agard is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Welbilt, Inc. Prior to joining Welbilt in April 2019, Agard was the Chief Financial Officer of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc., a leading North American specialty retailer to the hard surface flooring market, since September 2016. From 2013 to 2015, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kohler Company, a manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Prior to Kohler, he held various financial roles including Vice President and Treasurer with Georgia Pacific Corporation, a pulp and paper company, since 2001. Earlier in his career, he spent time in financial roles at Homebanc Mortgage Corporation, The Eastman Kodak Company and The Proctor and Gamble Company. Agard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Economics from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan.
Richard N. Caron , , , Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer
Richard N. Caron is Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer of Welbilt, Inc. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President Global Marketing and Innovation for Manitowoc Foodservice and as Manitowoc Foodservice’s Chief Technology Officer, a position that he has held since 2005 as a former Enodis employee. Caron was instrumental in the development and success of the Education and Technology Center. He has also led a variety of new product development initiatives, which have helped distinguish the company as a technology leader in the foodservice industry. Prior to Manitowoc/Enodis, Caron served as Chief Executive Officer for the Moseley Corporation in Franklin, Massachusetts. He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of TurboChef, Inc. in Dallas, Texas. Prior to that, Caron was Managing Director of the consumer products practice at Arthur D. Little (ADL) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. During his 19-year affiliation with ADL, Caron led many consulting assignments involving technology, strategy, and product development. Caron holds several patents in the foodservice industry, including automated frying and rapid cooking systems. Caron is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering Practice.
Joel H. Horn , , , Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Joel H. Horn is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Welbilt, Inc. Previously, Horn was Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Welbilt, Inc. Horn joined The Manitowoc Company, Inc. as Associate General Counsel and held that role until joining Manitowoc Foodservice during the spin-off from The Manitowoc Company. Prior to Manitowoc, Horn was Senior Counsel and General Counsel for Enodis, PLC. Earlier in his career, he was Associate General Counsel for Mitsubishi Power Systems, Inc. Horn earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Stockton University in New Jersey, and a JD law degree from New England Law in Boston, Massachusetts.
Phil Dei Dolori , , , Senior Vice President and General Manager, EMEA and APAC
Philip Dei Dolori is Senior Vice President and General Manager, EMEA and APAC, at Welbilt, Inc. He is responsible for the company’s continued growth in Western and Eastern Europe as well as the Middle East and Africa. He is also responsible for all activities within the APAC region, including China, India, ASEAN, Northeast Asia and Australasia. During his career at Welbilt, Inc., Dei Dolori served as Executive Vice President, Americas Cooking Solutions, and Executive Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Under Enodis, PLC, which was acquired by Manitowoc Foodservice, he was Group Managing Director, Asia Pacific/Europe, and Group President, Global Ice and Beverage. Prior this he served as Group President for the Middleby Corporation and as President of Vulcan-Hart, an ITW company. Dei Dolori is a board member of Cooper-Atkins Corporation and has served on the board of directors of the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM). Dei Dolori holds a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut State University, a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, and executive education certificates from Dartmouth College and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Home Styles Thomas Wlodarczyk releases
Miilkbone
Thomas Wlodarczyk
Also known as Milkbone
This performer (group) in the Internet: http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/miilkbone/, http://myspace.com/miilkbone, http://youtube.com/miilkbone1
Discography of Miilkbone:
Keep It Real / How Ya Like It ?
6 mp3 1995 Capitol Records
Da' Miilkrate
18 mp3 1995 Capitol Records
Where'z Da' Party At?
Keep It Real (Remix)
Yes Yes Yall / Dear Slim
6 mp3 2001 Lightyear Entertainment
U Got Milk?
17 mp3 2001 Lightyear Entertainment
U Got Miilk?
10 mp3 2001
4 mp3 2008-09-22 KIR
Originally from Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Miilkbone first came on the scene in 1995, releasing his debut album "Da' Miilkrate". Although the album included many good tracks, including the hit singles "Where'z Da' Party At?" and "Keep It Real" it's success was limited. After laying low for a while, Miilkbone returned to the scene 4 years later, featuring on a track on Death Row's compilation album "Chronic 2000". In 2001, Miilkbone released his sophmore album "U Got Milk?", which contained guest appearances from Tame One, Chop Diesel, Flame Spitta and others.
In March 2014 Miilkbone announced that he had begun working on his third studio album The Voice of Reason. The album will be released during 2014. It will feature guest appearances by Chino XL, Black Rob, Fred The Godson, Uncle Murda, and other artists that have yet to be revealed.
Play online without registration Miilkbone all albums in mp3 download a single file or separately.
Caution! All audio materials of Miilkbone are presented solely for information. After listening to the trial version, you must remove the file mp3 or buy the product from an authorized supplier.
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Famous terrorists legal definition of Famous terrorists
https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Famous+terrorists
(redirected from Famous terrorists)
Related to Famous terrorists: Osama bin Laden
The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property in order to coerce or intimidate a government or the civilian population in furtherance of political or social objectives.
Since the September 11th Attacks on the United States in 2001, which resulted in the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City and severe damage to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., the United States has changed its priorities to focus upon eradicating terrorism in the world. Terrorism involves the systematic use of terror or violence to achieve political goals. The targets of terrorism include government officials, identified individuals or groups, and innocent bystanders. In most cases terrorists seek to overthrow or destabilize an existing political regime, but totalitarian and dictatorial governments also use terror to maintain their power.
The Oklahoma City Bombing
In June 1997 the murder and conspiracy trial of Timothy J. McVeigh ended in the death sentence. The 29-year-old former Army sergeant was convicted of bombing the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. The blast, which claimed 168 lives, was the worst terrorist act ever committed on U.S. soil. McVeigh pleaded not guilty, but the elaborate case mounted by federal prosecutors led to a swift jury verdict of guilty on all 11 counts.
After a nationwide manhunt, investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had linked McVeigh to the blast using remnants of a Ryder rental truck believed to have carried the bomb. At trial, prosecutors established further ties: telephone records and testimony by the owner of the rental office suggested McVeigh had rented the truck under an alias in Junction City, Kansas, two days before the bombing. Residue from explosives had also been found on McVeigh's clothing.
Prosecutors portrayed McVeigh as an anti-government extremist. The defendant's sister, Jennifer McVeigh, told the court that he was angry over the government's destruction of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in April 1993, and that he had hinted at taking action. Personal correspondence was introduced as evidence in an effort to round out the portrait of McVeigh as a follower of far-right politics, who was disillusioned and willing to commit acts of terror. Key testimony came from Michael J. Fortier, an Army friend and co-conspirator who had surveyed the Federal Building with McVeigh, and his wife, Lori Fortier. The Fortiers said that McVeigh wanted the bombing to start a civil war.
Led by Oklahoma attorney Stephen Jones, the defense team was critical of every phase of the prosecution. Defense attorneys attacked the methodology of the FBI in preparing physical evidence as well as the government's witnesses. In particular, they charged that the Fortiers were liars who hoped to escape prison time and to profit financially from their testimony. Maintaining that McVeigh was railroaded, the defense pointed to the existence of a human leg found in the ruins of the building to suggest that the actual Oklahoma City bomber had died in the explosion.
After the jurors returned a guilty verdict on June 2, the trial moved into an unusual penalty phase. The defense, seeking leniency, made a lengthy presentation about the Waco siege, at which McVeigh had been present, in what seemed to observers an odd effort to explain his motives in Oklahoma City. It also called to the stand William McVeigh, who made an emotionally charged appeal for his son's life. But the statements of survivors who had lost family and friends in the Oklahoma massacre apparently swayed the jurors, who decided on execution.
Gottman, Andrew J. 1999. "Fair Notice, Even for Terrorists: Timothy McVeigh and a New Standard for the Ex Post Facto Clause." Washington and Lee Law Review 56 (spring).
Hoffman, David. 1998. The Oklahoma City Bombing and the Politics of Terror.Venice, Calif.: Feral House.
"Responding to Terrorism: Crime, Punishment, and War." 2002. Harvard Law Review 115 (February).
Rodgers, Jim, and Tim Kullman. 2002. Facing Terror: The Government's Response to Contemporary Extremists in America.Lanham, Md.: Univ. Press of America.
Venue "Venue and the Oklahoma City Bombing Case" (Sidebar).
The attacks of September 11, 2001, constituted the most severe terrorist attacks ever committed on U.S. soil. However, these were certainly not the first acts of terrorism carried out against the United States by foreign terrorists, nor were they the first attacks carried out against the World Trade Center. In February 1993, a bombing of the World Trade Center killed six people and injured more than a thousand others. The bomb left a crater 200 by 1,000 feet wide and five stories deep. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Joint Terrorist Task Force identified and helped bring to trial 22 Islamic fundamentalist conspirators. The trial revealed extensive plans for terrorist acts in the United States, including attacks on government facilities.
During the 1990s, the United States also became more concerned about domestic terrorist activities carried out by U.S. citizens without any foreign involvement. Beginning in 1978, an individual who came to be known as the Unabomber targeted university scientists, airline employees, and other persons he associated with a dehumanized, technology driven society. The suspect killed three people and injured 23 others with package bombs. At the Unabomber's insistence, major newspapers published his 35,000-word manifesto describing his anti-technology philosophy. In April 1996, a suspect, Theodore Kaczynski, was arrested for crimes associated with the Unabomber. After a rather bizarre trial, in 1998, Kaczynski pled guilty in exchange for a sentence of life without the possibility of Parole.
However, it was the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on April 19, 1995, that galvanized concerns about domestic terrorism. The bombing killed 168 people and injured more than 500 others. The FBI arrested Timothy J. McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who were charged with murder and conspiracy. McVeigh and Nichols were connected to the right-wing militia movement, which opposes the powers held by the federal government and believes in the right of its members to bear arms.
In June 1997, McVeigh was found guilty of murder and conspiracy, and sentenced to death. He attempted to appeal his conviction for three years, but gave up in late 2000. On June 11, 2001, McVeigh was executed by lethal injection. Nichols faced similar charges in his 1997 trial. He was acquitted on charges of first- and second-degree murder, but was found guilty of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and Involuntary Manslaughter. A federal judge sentenced Nichols to life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, at the state level, Nichols faced 161 counts of first-degree murder, which could result in the death penalty. The Oklahoma state trial was scheduled to begin in March 2004.
A year after the Oklahoma City bombing, a bomb erupted at Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park during the celebration of the Olympic Games in July 1996. The bomb killed one woman and injured 111 others in what President bill clinton called an "evil act of terror." The initial investigation focused on Richard Jewell, a security guard at the park. At first Jewell was considered to be a hero when he alerted authorities to a knapsack containing a pipe bomb. Shortly thereafter, however, he was considered a prime suspect. After a later investigation cleared Jewell of wrongdoing, he sued a number of media outlets for Defamation.
During the next seven years, the Atlanta bombings remained largely unresolved. On May 31, 2003, authorities arrested Eric Rudolph, who is considered the primary suspect. Authorities also suspect Rudolph of bombing abortion clinics in Atlanta and Birmingham, Alabama, as well as the bombing of a gay and lesbian nightclub in Atlanta.
Congress has responded to the threat of domestic terrorism with the enactment of several laws. In 1996, Congress passed the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, Pub. L. No. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214. The law allocated $1 billion to fund federal programs to combat terrorism. The act also established a federal death penalty for terrorist murders and strengthened penalties for crimes committed against federal employees while performing their official duties. In addition, the act increased the penalties for conspiracies involving explosives and for the possession of nuclear materials, criminalized the use of chemical weapons, and required plastic explosives to contain "tagging" elements in the explosive materials for detection and identification purposes.
Following the attacks of September 11, Congress, at the urging of President george w. bush, moved swiftly to enact the Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (usa patriot) Act of 2001, Pub. L. No. 107-56, 115 Stat. 272. The act seeks to enhance domestic security against terrorism by setting up a Counterterrorism Fund in the U.S. Treasury, and appropriating money for combating terrorism to the FBI's Technical Support Center. It also increases the president's authority to seize the property of foreign persons, organizations, or countries that the president determines have planned, authorized, aided, or engaged in hostilities or attacks against the United States. Other provisions of the act focus on enhancing surveillance procedures used by federal law enforcement personnel, and attempts to control Money Laundering, which is believed to be a major source of income for terrorist organizations.
One year later, Congress enacted the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135. The act formally endorsed the establishment of the Homeland Security Department, which had been created through Executive Order by President Bush in 2001. The Homeland Security Act reorganized several federal agencies to fall under the authority of the Homeland Security Department in an effort to coordinate the government's efforts. The American public has become familiar with the new department because of the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System, which indicates the likely threat of terrorist attacks against the United States. The two lowest levels are low (coded in green) and guarded (coded in blue). The other three levels include elevated (yellow), high (orange), and severe (red). Throughout much of 2003, the level was set at elevated or high due to a number of threats identified by department officials.
International Terrorism
The September 11 attacks have been viewed as a continuation of a series of deadly terrorist activities that had taken place overseas. In the late twentieth century, terrorism became a tool of political groups in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The growth of international terrorism led to kidnappings, Hijacking of airplanes, bombing of airplanes and buildings, and armed attacks on government and public facilities. In the 1980s, several countries, including Libya, Iran, and Iraq, were identified as supporting international terrorism by providing training, weapons, and safe havens.
Interests of the United States overseas were major targets of terrorism. In November 1979, a group of Islamic students overran the U.S. embassy in Iran and took many hostages. Although some of the hostages were later freed, the Iranians detained 52 American hostages for a period of 444 days until they were released in January 1981, just after the swearing-in of President ronald reagan. In 1983, a 12,000-pound truck bomb exploded in a U.S. compound in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 241 American soldiers.
By the 1990s, the terrorist organization al Qaeda (Arabic for "the Base"), led by Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden, developed as the primary culprit in terrorist attacks on U.S. interests at home and abroad. Al Qaeda is believed to be responsible for the 1993 attacks on the World Trade Center and, later, the September 11 attacks. On August 7, 1998, truck bombs exploded nearly simultaneously at the U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. The blasts killed 224 people, including 12 Americans, and injured another 4,600. Four members of al Qaeda were later convicted for their part in the bombings. In October 2000, an al Qaeda operative conducted a suicide attack on the U.S.S. Cole, resulting in the deaths of 17 sailors and injuries to over 30 others.
The activities of Bin Laden and al Qaeda were well known prior to the September 11 attacks. Bin Laden had issued a religious edict, known as a fatwah, calling for attacks on U.S. troops and civilians.
Although many members of al Qaeda are Middle-Eastern, U.S. officials, in 2001, captured John Philip Walker Lindh, a U.S. citizen who had trained with terrorist organizations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Lindh fought for the Taliban government of Afghanistan even after the September 11 attacks. Lindh, who became known as the "American Taliban," was indicted on ten counts, including conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals. He reached a plea bargain with federal prosecutors and pleaded guilty to supplying services to the Taliban. In October 2000, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The United States has responded to international terrorist organizations and the nations that support them through a variety of military actions. In March 1986, President Reagan ordered the military to conduct a strike on Libya, which was believed to have been responsible for the bombing of a nightclub in Germany as well as other terrorist acts. After the embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998, President Clinton ordered strikes on al Qaeda military camps in Afghanistan. However, these attacks appeared to have little effect upon the terrorist activities of the organizations that perpetrated the violent acts.
Following the September 11 attacks, the United States changed its strategy regarding terrorists significantly. President Bush announced that the United States would consider nations that harbor terrorists as equally responsible for terrorist activities. In the latter part of 2001, the United States led an international coalition that removed the Taliban regime from power in Afghanistan. In March 2003, the United States led another coalition in an attack on Iraq, which the Bush administrated asserted had supported terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda. Within weeks, Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, was removed from power.
The attacks on Iraq did not receive support from a number of nations, including traditional U.S. allies Germany and France. Moreover, the removal of the regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq did not appear to end the threat of terrorism in the Middle East or elsewhere. In May 2003, shortly after the United States declared that the active phases of its armed military operations in Iraq had concluded, terrorists bombed residential compounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killing at least 34 people, including nine Americans. Four days after the Saudi Arabia attacks, bombs erupted in Casablanca, Morocco, killing 43 people. Authorities suspect that al Qaeda operatives were responsible.
Abrams, Norman. 2003. Anti-terrorism and Criminal Enforcement. St. Paul, Minn.: West.
Alexander, Yonah, and Edgar H. Brenner, eds. 2001. Terrorism and the Law. Ardsley, N.Y.: Transnational Publishers.
"Backgrounder: Terrorism." 2003. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Available online at <www.fema.gov/hazards/terrorism/terror.shtm> (accessed November 21, 2003).
"Domestic Terrorism."1997. Close Up Foundation. Available online at <www.closeup.org/terror.htm> (accessed November 21, 2003).
Noone, Michael F., and Yonah Alexander. 1997. Cases and Materials on Terrorism: Three Nations' Response. Boston: Kluwer Law International.
Piszkiewicz, Dennis. 2003. Terrorism's War with America: A History. Westport, Conn.: Praeger.
Shanty, Frank, and Raymond Picquet, eds. 2003. Encyclopedia of World Terrorism. Armonk, N.Y.: Sharpe Reference.
War on Terrorism.
noun acts by subversives, acts of annihiiation, criminal act, demolition, destruction, extermination, fanaticism, revolution, terrorist act, tyranny
See also: anarchy, lynch law
<a href="https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Famous+terrorists">terrorism</a>
Aiding the Enemy Acts
Alien Enemy
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Denver Men's Soccer: Just Getting Started
On Nov. 22nd Denver’s men’s soccer team concluded their Cinderella Story after falling in overtime to Southern Methodist University in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. Denver’s heartbreaking loss marked the first of the season for the lone-remaining undefeated team in the nation, as well as the first loss at CIBER Field in 29 matches for the Pioneers. Despite losing a well-contested match, the men’s soccer program earned an immense amount of pride and sense of accomplishment to take away from this season’s multiple record-breaking achievements. The team faced adversity coming into the season with a new head coach, an incredibly young roster, and proving doubts about the Pios making an appearance in the Final Four wrong, the team was able to overcome such obstacles and establish a name for the program on a national level.
No “I” in TEAM
Denver’s roster was flooded with talent during the 2015 season as first-year head coach, Jamie Franks, recruited a versatile freshman class, including two international players, and the returning players made noticeable improvements following intense off-season training. The concept of what it means to be a team was truly a unified sentiment for the Pios coming into this season. The team began summer training in July when the majority of the players lived in a house together, forming bonds off the pitch and creating friendships that greatly impacted the level of trust and confidence reflected when match play began.
Throughout the season, there was no sole “star” that the team relied on to deliver the success the team achieved, but rather the entire team’s efforts each game produced the favorable results. Franks formatted a strong starting eleven in addition to a deep bench offering a wide variety of threats to every Denver opponent.
Specifically, Denver’s outside right back, Reagan “Reggie” Dunk had a tremendous year. The redshirt junior from Dallas, Texas led the team with eight assists and scored a game-winning goal against Oral Roberts. Dunk was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Summit League and received multiple Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards throughout the season. While Dunk plays on the back line, Franks' energetic style of offense encouraged the outside back to make 50+ yard runs throughout matches. Dunk has a “superman-esque” quality about him; his athletic capabilities vary from his outstanding speed and stamina, to his phenomenal ball control and footwork, and his impressive strength in holding his own up and down the flank. In fact, a few of Dunk’s eight assists occurred in double overtime when the outside back was continuing to charge down the touchline, outrunning his fatigued opponents who were unable to keep up with him in the first five minutes of play, let alone after 90 minutes.
First-Year Legend
With versatility from players like Dunk and playing time extending far past the starting eleven, Denver’s triumphant season was well-earned from the dedication, drive, and trust shared between the players and the coaching staff.
Jamie Franks was hired as Denver’s tenth head coach this fall and returned for his fourth year with the program. According to the NCAA, Franks (29 years old) was the youngest Division I coach of the 2015 season and received the Summit League’s Coach of the Year honor. Franks is no stranger to the sport by any means. The Wake Forest graduate was a member of one of the most decorated classes of collegiate soccer where Franks saw action in three college cups and won the 2007 National Title. Franks had high aspirations coming into this season with the goal to take the Pios to their first Final Four in school history. Denver fell just short of advancing to the semifinals, but the team finished the season shattering previous records and receiving national recognition for the program...not too shabby for a first-year head coach.
A Season For The Books
For the first time since 1989, Denver was unbeaten through the first 18 matches marking the first time in Division I history across all sports at DU that the Pios were unbeaten during the regular season. Prior to the loss to SMU, Denver’s 29 home match unbeaten streak was the longest active in the nation and was the 11th longest in NCAA history. Furthermore, Denver generated a 21 match home winning streak, which was also the 11th longest in NCAA history. That streak ended Oct. 2nd when the Pios tied IUPUI 1-1.
The Pioneers graduated only two seniors this season, two of which were starters. Senior center midfield captain Jordan Schweitzer from Everett, Washington and redshirt senior goalkeeper Dan Jackson from Chapel Hill, North Carolina both contributed greatly to the Pios' successes this season.
Schweitzer was seen as the “glue” of the midfield, connecting distribution, dictating play, and transitioning the team defensively to offensively. Schweitzer’s leadership significantly aided the youthful team in remaining level-headed throughout several heated matches Denver encountered.
Jackson received the Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year award and three-time Defensive Player of the Week throughout the season. Jackson was ranked fourth in the nation by the end of the Pioneer’s season, averaging 0.41 goals against him.
The Pios are fortunate to be losing only two players considering the extent of the achievements the team earned this year; however, Schweitzer and Jackson were essential contributors to this season’s successes and their positions will be big roles to fill in the future seasons.
When looking at the team in its entirety, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming years. As mentioned, the team is very young and will be returning a great deal of talent. For starters, the entire back line will be returning including center backs Kortne Ford (sophomore) and Scott DeVoss (redshirt freshman) who were huge factors during Denver’s undefeated streak. Midfielders Karsten Hanlin (redshirt junior) and captain, Sam Hamilton (junior) will take on leadership roles in the coming seasons. Hanlin’s precise strikes sent Denver over the top in a few matches that went to overtime and Hamilton’s strength in stringing the Pio’s possession will be vital going forward. Wingers Chandler Crosswait (redshirt junior) and Alex Underwood (sophomore) provided Denver with threats from the flanks and spreading the play all the way to the touchlines. Forwards Cole Stevenson (sophomore) and Brazil native, Andre Shinyashiki (freshman) will aid Denver in keeping their offensive edge. Additional freshmen Frank Carsonie and Japanese native, Kenny Akamatsu will help Denver with their versatility in the midfield and up top where both players excel in speed and creativity on the ball. The remaining freshmen all played on MLS development academy club teams prior to attending DU.
With widespread talent on Denver’s roster, the coming years will be ones to remember as the team continues to strive for a Final Four appearance and a potential National Title. Finding players who can fill Schweitzer's and Jackson's shoes will be necessary, as will taking initiative offensively by Shinyashiki, Akamatsu, and Carsonie whose flashy footwork and riskiness in shooting will be substantial threats for the Denver offense. The more comfortable those players are in asserting their style of play the more Denver will benefit, as well as incorporating the additional talent of the freshman class and incoming recruits which Coach Franks has meticulously selected.
This is not just the end of an amazing season for the Pioneers, but rather a glimpse into a new era of excellence for men’s soccer at the University of Denver under Coach Franks. Stay tuned, because the future of soccer at Denver is going to be worth watching.
Sasha - Great job. Writing gets better and better...
Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 9:14:00 AM MST
Way too long to keep my interest.
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A LADY OF LETTERS
You cannot build a theory on a subjective opinion. Subjective thoughts.
(4) Three Colours: White
Three Colours: White is the second film from the Krzysztof Kieślowski's Three Colour trilogy. You can read an introduction about the trilogy here and you can read about the first film of the trilogy Blue here.
Now we are moving from the first colour, blue, in the French flag to the second, white, where white stands for equality. As in Blue, also in White music has a significant role, you can listen to the part of the film's soundtrack here. Of course, before you continue to read this entry, please, take your time and watch the film, there are spoilers ahead.
After watching Three Colours: Blue, the emotionally deep and dramatic film, one would expect this dramatic tone to continue in the next part of the trilogy. Thus, it is quite surprising to discover that White is a dark comedy.
Three Colours: White is a fight for equality between a Pole, Karol (Zbigniew Zamachowski), and his French wife, Dominique (Julie Delpy), who is filing for a divorce from Karol, since their marriage is not consummated. In the court room Dominique tells that she no longer loves Karol, which sends him off to his humiliating banishment. In order to gain back his status and equality with his now ex-wife, Karol goes back to Poland, where he through shady deals becomes wealthy and starts up his own business. It is easier to earn money than love. In order to get Dominique to come to Poland he fakes his death and leaves his money to her. Karol now sends her into banishment.
Portrayal of White is similar to that of Blue, in a use of colour filters and lighting, however it is less expressionist, less artistic, White is more naturalistic, even simpler. However, Kieślowski's precise work with a camera and montage stays.
The film opens with a sequence: a suitcase on an airport conveyor belt, a man's feet walking on a pavement, then camera slowly reveals the man's face and then once again back to the suitcase.
The opening sequence.
Although at this moment the viewer has no idea how this man is related to the suitcase, Kieślowski portrays it as having significance, showing that there is a link between this suitcase and the man. Indeed, as it is revealed later on in the film, the suitcase scene is flash forward in time, in the man's future, he will be travelling in this suitcase.
The film then reveals that Karol is in front of a court house and while standing there, "The streak of pigeon droppings (the first flash of white) that fall on Karol's suit as he stands on the court steps introduces the theme of humiliation - sexual, economic, social and physical - which will weave throughout the film." (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy)
Karol is being sued for a divorce, because their marriage is unconsummated - indicating Karol's sexual humiliation. Furthermore, Karol argues that in the court he is unequal, because he doesn't speak fluent French. He tries to explain, that before their marriage and moving to France, they hadn't any sexual problems, that problems started after they got married and moved to France. He claims that all he needs is some time, and that love is still there. Kieślowski then inserts a flashback of their wedding day, from Karol's point of view, where he sees Dominique from the back walking in her white dress out of the church and then turning around smiling.
Karol remembering their wedding day.
Dreamlike white tone of the scene suggests that it might be only Karol's fantasy, especially, when afterwards Dominique claims that she doesn't love him anymore. Thus, Kieślowski looks at the theme of love differently than in Blue, where "Love is patient, love is kind. It bears all things, it hopes all things. Love never fails." (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy) In White Kieślowski shows that love can be cruel, painful, humiliating or even comic.
Karol's humiliation continues, after the court Dominique leaves his suitcase, eventually he loses his bank card, and after going into the bank he finds out that his account is frozen by Dominique, a clerk in the bank then cuts his card in front of Karol. Geoff Andrew suggests that in this scene "Karol's wincing expression clearly points to the act's castratory connotations." (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy) Slowly and involuntary Karol loses all his possessions, everything that he once was, whereas in Blue that was Julie's aim, which she didn't succeed to reach.
Later on Karol is so observed with himself, that he doesn't even think of helping a man to deposit a bottle in the bottle bank, a similar scene, as mentioned in the previous post, was in Blue.
After wandering around streets, Karol discovers that he has keys for Dominique's hairdressing salon, he decides to spend the night there. When Dominique finds him there in the morning and Karol once again unsuccessfully tries to make love to her, she threatens him and accuses that he never understood anything about their love.
In the metro Karol meets a fellow Pole Mikolaj, they share a drink and later on Karol wants to show him Dominique, so they go to look at her through the window, they see her silhouette and then a man's silhouette, out of despair Karol calls her from a pay phone, once again he suffers a humiliation, she makes him listen to her moaning. Now Karol is left with a 2 franc coin and a stolen white plaster bust of a woman. Thus, he agrees to go back to Poland with Mikolaj, but in his own humiliating way. Here we return to the suitcase from the opening sequence, Karol travels back to his homeland in a suitcase with his 2 franc coin and a plaster bust.
A white plaster bust of a woman.
After returning home in Poland, he goes back to his brother's place. Slowly he starts up his own money business, he needs to learn how to survive in the new Poland, "a place of corruption, violence, greed and dishonesty." (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy) Besides all that, Karol still hopes that he can renew his relationship with Dominique, he starts to learn French and trains kissing the white bust as a comic form of practice.
Dominique doesn't return his calls, therefore Karol decides to fake his death. Symbolically, he throws last remains of his past - a 2 franc coin - in the coffin. In his will Karol leaves everything to Dominique, so she would come to Poland. After the funeral, Karol surprises Dominique. Karol reassures her that he is not a ghost and they make love. At the moment of her orgasm screen turns blindingly white, black and then it shows both of them lying in the bed.
Karol: "You moaned even louder than on the phone." Dominique: "Yes."
Finally, Karol has reached his equality, the end of his humiliating banishment. As suggested by Andrew, Karol highlights Kieślowski's thesis that "people don't want equality, they just want to be more 'equal' than others." (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy) Therefore, now Karol needs to make Dominique suffer as he did. He leaves her, and soon the police arrives to take her away, for she is accused of his murder. Dominique is put in prison, where in the night Karol sneaks in to once again look at her through a window. This time Dominique is not embraced by other man, this time she is showing, that once this is over, she is hoping that they can start afresh, for their love is not lost. Karol is in tears and smiling. Kieślowski leaves a hope for their love. Now that equality is attained, their love might be restored as well, someday. There is a hope.
Their hope.
In White, love is not healing or forgiving as it was in Blue, quite opposite, it is shown that love can be selfish, cruel and can embrace vengeance. Only at the end Karol and Dominique recognise their love, they understandd that "genuine love requires time and mutual understanding in order to develop." (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy)
Three colours: White is a ticklish dark comedy, an ironical discussion of love and equality. Emotionally it is not as intense as Blue or Red, however, as marked by Andrew it is "probably quite necessary drop in emotional intensity between the more draining first and third stories; it is the lull before the final storm." (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy) In my opinion, it is the weakest one out of three, although it balances well between being too comical or too emotional or too bitter, but it still misses the depth of Blue and Red.
Here, for your enjoyment, is a short and equally frank interview with Julie Delpy, where she explains the last scene in Three Colours: White.
Posted by Unknown at 1/31/2013 11:37:00 am No comments:
Labels: Directors, Krzysztof Kieślowski, Trilogies
(3) Three Colours: Blue
In the previous post I gave a brief introduction about the Three Colours trilogy. Three Colours: Blue is the first film of the Kieślowski's admirable trilogy, Blue discusses liberty, a search for personal freedom. Since music is a significant form of expression in the film, I would suggest to open its soundtrack here, before you continue with reading, moreover, make sure to watch the film before you read further.
When Julie (Juliette Binochi) loses her husband Patrice, a famous French composer, and her daughter Anna in a car crash, she starts her personal search for freedom in a form of a self-denial. Julia gets rid of all of her belongings, acquaintances, memories, responsibilities, anything that ties her to the life she had with her husband and daughter, anything that ties her to the past. However, her husbands unfinished concerto for Unification of Europe drags her back to the past and reality, she is the only one who can finish it. Furthermore Julia finds out that her husband had a mistress, who now is pregnant. Despite all her persistence, she understands that it is impossible to lock herself away from everyone.
Although at the end 1980s Julliette Binochi had every opportunity to abandon Europe's cinema and head off to Hollywood, especially after receiving offers from Spielberg and other notable directors, she declined and stayed in Europe. Moreover, in 1993 she accepted Kieślowski's offer to work on Three Colours: Blue. Without Binochi in the role of Julie the film would have been completely different, Kieślowski himself has said, that it is easier to write a role with a certain actor in mind, because you know his or her abilities. Binoche's performance in Blue is deep and strong, which strengthens the film's emotional power.
The film opens with a sequence of close ups: showing a car speeding through the blue night, followed by a shot, where Anna is holding a blue candy wrapper, and then a sequence continues with a close up on the brake cable from which fluid is dripping, suggesting that an accident is imminent.
The silence of this scene is intense, that when the car hits the tree the loud noise comes like a shock penetrating the viewer. Kieślowski's precise use of sound creates a rhythm and a tone to the film. The sound is accompanied with the colour blue, which becomes a symbol of loneliness, solitude, coldness and melancholy.
In all three films, but especially in Blue Kieślowski uses camera as a sentient instrument. Therefore the viewer has ability to look at the film through the eyes of characters, the viewer is let into their world and the viewer can feel their emotions. Kieślowski uses close ups to describe Julie's emotions and inner world, to make the viewer look into the protagonist's mind, as it is done in the next scene after the opening sequence. To both, the viewer and Julie, it is revealed that Anna and Patrice both died in the car crash. The viewer perceives Julie's emotions through this extreme close up of her eye with a doctor's reflection in it. There is no use of explanatory 'thoughts' or voice over narration or dialogue. All the sensations are captured in the most intimate and extreme close up imaginable - the human eye.
Extreme close up of Julie's eye.
Thus, Kieślowski uses camera to create the film's emotions, so that the viewer would continually be aware of Julie's state of mind.
After Julie learns about her husband and daughter's death, she starts her journey for personal freedom. After an unsuccessful suicide attempt in the hospital, Julie starts to reconstruct her life through complete self-denial, so her "new" life would be free of pain, memories, relationships and responsibilities. However, already in the hospital she is visited by the past, that is, she hears a part of the concerto, that her husband or she was composing to commemorate Unification of Europe. When this music starts to play the colour blue emerges. Thus, blue becomes a symbol of her solitude. Throughout the film the past keeps haunting Julie and intrudes on her solitude. However, she is so caught up in her isolated world that she doesn't notice an old lady struggling to deposit a bottle in a bottle bank. The scene echoed also in the next two films of the trilogy, thus it becomes one out of many links between all three. Another example being a scene in the court house, where the two protagonists from White appears. The only thing, that Julie keeps as a reminder of the past is the blue chandelier from the blue room.
Julie in the blue room with the blue chandelier.
While sitting in the coffee shop she hears a street musician playing music similar or almost the same to that which she composed with her husband. Once again, Kieślowski uses close up to show the passing of time - by a movement of shadow.
Time is passing.
Triggered by music, people and memories Julie ultimately starts to reconcile with her past and recognises her needs, emotions and humanity. First off, she visits her mother in a nursery home, but leaves with no communication. Afterwards, she visits Olivier. Thus, Julie doesn't suppress her urge to compose and decides to help Olivier to finish the concerto.
Julie composes again.
To settle everything with her past, she gives her old house to Patrice's mistress and expresses her wish that the baby would be named after Patrice. Julie now is ready to accept her humanity and Olivier's love.
Kieślowski shows that personal freedom is impossible and Three Colours: Blue celebrates Julie's acceptance that she needs love and other people, after all as Kieślowski said, "'Love is a much more human emotion than the desire for freedom.'" (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy)
Consequently, Julia now is ready to live again and face her past and future, thus in a way she has achieved some kind of freedom. She finally is free to grieve and accept love.
In the same way the film started it ends - a non-narrative shot sequence with all the major characters, the camera slowly moves from one image to the other and we finally hear the whole chorus of the concerto.
Though I speak with the tongue of angels, if I have not love, I am become as hollow brass. Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have enough faith to move the mightiest mountains, if I have not love, I am nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It bears all things, it hopes all things. Love never fails. For prophecies shall fail, tongues shall cease, knowledge will wither away. And now shall abide faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love. (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy)
The final sequence: liberty and love.
Three Colours: Blue is the emotionally deep study of loss, grief, solitude and liberty. The film is shot, scored, scripted and performed with an admirable sensitivity. Out of all three films, Blue is the most dramatic, and my personal favorite.
For those who are amazed by Kieślowski's trilogy as I am, below is his cinema lesson on Blue, where he explains his obsession with close ups and why they are so important, as well as his idea of unity. Enjoy the words of true and pure talent!
Posted by Unknown at 1/25/2013 03:13:00 pm No comments:
(2) Introduction: Three Colours: Blue/White/Red
In the next three posts I intend to look at the Krzysztof Kieślowski's (1941-1996) Three Colours Blue/White/Red trilogy. Before I do that, I would like to give you a short introduction to the trilogy.
Kieślowski was a Polish film director, who I like to say respected the viewer, saw the viewer as someone, who is allowed to think and relate to the film in his own way rather than the director's pin pointed way. Cinema as any other form of art works in a very subjective way. Kieślowski himself said: "The audiences I like most are those who say that the film's about them, or those who say that it meant something to them, those for whom the film changed something" (Kieślowski on Kieślowski). Therefore, in the next three posts I will try to find my interpretation of these films, I will attempt to understand what they changed for me. It will be a purely subjective way to reflect upon these three films and to fathom how these films tell their story to me.
For the first time I watched the trilogy during the last summer, when my partner Mike brought all the three films home and said, that I need to see them, that I will enjoy them. He was right. Soon after I came across BFI published book The 'Three Colours' Trilogy by Geoff Andrew, which is his subjective way of approaching films. Andrew writes that with the Three Colours trilogy Kieślowski's "search for new, more precise ways to explore people's inner lives ... films that concerned the worlds of intuition and of the intellect" (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy). The main idea for the trilogy to Kieślowski was given by a lawyer and a screenwriter Krzysztof Piesiewicz, who wanted to examine how the ideals of the French revolution work in the present, ideals being - liberty, equality, fraternity. However, Kieślowski's intention was not to portray these ideals on a global level, but directly opposite, on a personal level,
"to look at freedom from a personal aspect, which is more universal. If you were to speak to, say, Bosnians or Croatians about their idea of political freedom, they'd contradict each other, whereas they'd probably have the same idea of personal freedom, or of love. There are so many things that separate people around the world today that one ought perhaps to look for factors that unite people ... just to state that such things exist." (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy)
Besides Kieślowski's collaboration with Piesiewicz, another important collaboration for the trilogy was with the composer Zbigniew Preisner, whose scores would directly help to tell the story of Blue and also play an important role in White and Red, in order to set the mood of the film, build the meaning and the structure of the films and the trilogy. The trilogy was a French-Polish-Swiss production, so Kieślowski decided to film the trilogy in three different locations: Blue - France, White - Poland, Red - Switzerland. Furthermore, Kieślowski premiered all three films in the major festivals: "Blue in September 1993 at Venice, White in February 1994 at Berlin and, finally, Red in May 1994 at Cannes." (The 'Three Colours' Trilogy). Despite the complexity of the trilogy, Kieślowski created his 'symphony' quickly, from conception to completion it took about two and a half years.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108394/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111507/
(1) A question for the darkest hour of the night.
hope you are all doing well. I would like to introduce you to my blog, which, hopefully, one step at a time will become a place where I review or let you know about moving pictures and books, which I have seen or read or will do so.
A couple of days ago I came across Rainer Maria Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet" read by Dennis Hopper. I took his advise and I gave it a thought concluding, that I have been writing since I learnt how to do it, I hid my notebooks from my brother and sisters, and, of course, mom and dad, I still hide them, like a mouse hides its cheese in a tiny little cave.
I asked the question, whether writing for me is a necessity, after waking up from a nightmare, where I was walking around with my head chopped off and getting madder and madder by every bend I needed to make to get somewhere, the answer was... Yes.
Let's keep our fingers crossed that this will be a one fantastic experience for you and me!
Baiba.
Labels: Beginning
“Drama is life with the dull parts left out.”
/Alfred Hitchcock/
A Lady of Letters tweets
Tweets by @itsmeagainst
Irish Cinema
Latvian Cinema
Short Film Sunday
Film: La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty) (2013) directed by Paolo Sorrentino
Book: "My Lunches with Orson" edited by Peter Biskind
Book: "The Big Screen" by David Thomson
Book: "The Little Black Book: Movies" edited by Chris Fujiwara
Book: "Hitchcock" by Francois Truffaut
In my Sight
Film: Two Days, One Night (2014) directed by the Dardennes
Book: "Signs and Meaning in the Cinema" by Peter Wollen
Film: Our Children (À perdre la raison) (2012) directed by Joachim Lafosse
François Truffaut interviews Alfred Hitchcock (audio): http://archive.org/details/AlfredHitchcockLongInterview-FranoisTruffraut
© Baiba Šustere. (I do not own copyrights to any images and videos that are used in this blog). Powered by Blogger.
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Sunset at the Tower of Bologna
On our second evening in Bologna, we ventured to the Tower of Bologna. There are two towers that are located in the heart of the city and are called the Two Towers of Bologna. These towers were built as a symbol of status and wealth, but they also served military purposes such as signaling the arrival of a potential enemy. The taller tower, at over 97 meters tall, is named the Asinelli Tower, after the family that paid for its construction. The smaller tower is about 50 meters tall and is called the Garisenda Tower.
We climbed the hundreds of stairs of the Asinelli Tower. It was a struggle but it was worth it. We were rewarded with breathtaking views overlooking the city at sunset. Once at the top everyone found their own window to gaze out over the city and take in the views from every angle.
Our guide for Bologna, and also the owner of the Kutir yoga studio, Pranev gave us a history lesson on the Two Towers of Bologna and how they are landmarks of the city. The Asinelli Tower we climbed used to be a prison and was utilized by the Italian army for WWII, and before that, it was used as a scientific testing post. The smaller Garisenda Tower used to be closer to 60 meters tall, but since it leans drastically to one side it had to be severed down to about 50 meters.
by Megan Eastburn
The Perfect Camera Bag For the Chic Explorer
An Afternoon in Fairhope, Alabama
Sharing the Love with GlobeIn
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Corporate Housekeeping: Closings, Hiring’s and other Short Takes
Over the course of a week there are always a few news items that don’t warrant front page attention but still merit a mention; things like new hires or deals that finally closed after being widely reported when first announced. This week with Electronic Arts hiring a COO,the New York Times proxy settlement and deal closings from Clear Channel and Amazon, there have been a handful that fell into that category. Here’s the roundup in one dose:
EA NAMES COO
Electronic Arts announced John Pleasants was hired to lead EA’s “Global Publishing Organization, Corporate Communications and Government Affairs” as well as their “Online, Central Development and Technology” teams. His official title will be COO. Prior to EA, Pleasants was President and CEO of Revolution Health Group. He was also President and CEO of Ticketmaster.
Salary for the role will be $600k a year with a bonus of up 75% of salary, $200k guaranteed. He’ll also receive a onetime bonus of $500k and a relocation expense reimbursement of approximate $513k.
In equity, according to Form 4 securities holdings documents filed with the SEC, he’s receiving an option grant for 500,000 shares at a strike price of $45.86. These will vest 24% after one year, and than 2% per month for the remaining 38 months. In addition to the option grant, Pleasants’ equity package will also include restricted stock units equal to 75,000 shares. These will vest at a rate of 25% a year over four years.
A copy of his offer letter, and EA’s press release, are on file with the SEC and can be seen here.
NEW YORK TIMES SETTLES PROXY FIGHT
After not quite two months of infighting, Monday, the New York Times Company announced they’d reached an agreement with dissident shareholders to end a proxy fight that was seeking to nominate a new slate of board directors. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will expand their board from thirteen seats to fifteen. In return, Harbinger Capital Partners and Firebrand Partners will withdraw their effort to elect four new candidates.
The two new seats will be filled by their nominees: Scott Galloway and James Kohlberg. They will also be insured at least one representative on both the Board’s Nominating & Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee. Should either be unable to fulfill their duties, the two additional candidates withdrawn from the activist’s slate will be able to act as alternates.
Harbinger will also be reimbursed for up to $250k of out of pocket expenses associated with the fight. (Sec Filing here).
In their effort to gain sufficient shares to force board changes, the activist shareholders incrementally accumulated approximately 19% of the company’s stock.
ROCKSTAR GAMES MANHUNT CLEARED FOR SALE
After back and forth battling with UK censors over the violent nature of their Manhunt 2 game title, Take Two’s Rockstar Games label confirmed that the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) lifted their ban on the title and will allow an edited version of the title to be sold to audiences over 18 in the U.K. The U.K. release date for the gory title is expected soon. (The news should have no impact on the EA’s looming hostile takeover bid for Take Two).
CLEAR CHANNEL TV SALES CLOSE
In April 2007, radio station giant Clear Channel Communications agreed to sell 56 TV stations to private equity firm Providence Equity Partners. The deal subsequently fell apart, was restructured and ended up in litigation. It’s now been completed and the legal proceedings terminated. Newport, a merger shell set up for the transaction by Providence, completed the purchase for $1.012 billion, a $212.5 million or 17% reduction to the original purchase price. Providence’s total equity commitment was approximately $260 million, a $102 million or 28% reduction from the terms of the original agreement, with total leverage reduced by $110 million or 12%.
Wachovia, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and UBS AG are providing the debt financing for the deal.
The expectation is that the closing will move Clear Channel Communications, Inc. another step toward closing its own $19.5 privatization transaction (which is being led by Bain Capital and T.H. Lee Partners). Some are speculating that deal could come now come within weeks.
AMAZON’S TENDER OFFER FOR AUDIBLE COMPLETED
In January, Amazon began a tender offer to buy audible book publisher Audible. That offer closed on Friday, March 14. As of that time, approximately 86.9% of had been tendered into the offer at the $11.50 a share offer price. Combined with prior Amazon holdings, 89.4% of the company’s outstanding shares were pledged for the deal.
•EA and Take Two: Deal Diary
•Gloves Come Off in EA’s Fight for Take Two
•Amazon on Digital Mission: Acquires Audible
•Clear Channel Privatization Gets Closer to Closing
•Clear Channel: new mobile offerings, hazy future
•NY Times Kills Times Select
•New York Times Launches Personalization Tools
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Atlanta Gladiators ECHL FLA Everblades Georgia Greenville Hockey JaxIce Maine Mariners NE Florida New England Orlando Orlando Solar Bears Sites Sports
ECHL Update November 8
November 8, 2018 LockedIN Sports
Inside Look at ECHL Action
The Park Inn by Radisson-Toledo will serve as the official host hotel for the 2019 CCM/ECHL All-Star Weekend, presented by ProMedica, the ECHL announced Thursday in conjunction with the Toledo Walleye.
Serving as the ECHL Headquarters during the festivities, the Park Inn will host the ECHL All-Stars as well as team representatives, League VIPs and fans. Conveniently located in downtown Toledo, the Park Inn is adjacent to the Huntington Center, where the CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic will be played on Monday, January 21, 2019, and one block south of the historic Warehouse District, Fifth Third Field and Hensville Park, which will host other All-Star Weekend events.
The Park Inn is offering a special CCM/ECHL All-Star Weekend room rate for ECHL fans of $115 per night which can be redeemed by clicking here, or by calling the Park Inn at 800-670-7275 and referencing code 1901ECHLFA for individuals and 1901ALLSTR for groups.
ECHL All-Star Weekend takes place in downtown Toledo from Friday, January 18 through Monday, January 21, 2019.
Anchored by the CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic, there will be multiple activities that showcase the Toledo community including the All-Star Fanfest in Hensville Park and All-Star Winter Brewfest at Fifth Third Field. The Hall of Fame Luncheon will take place at the Seagate Centre on Sunday January 20, 2019. The ECHL Hall of Fame is presented by BFL Canada and Sutton Special Risk and the Toledo Hockey Hall of Fame is presented by Cooper Tire. The Luncheon will be followed by the regular season matchup between the Walleye and the Fort Wayne Komets at the Huntington Center. The highlight event, the CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic, takes place on Monday, January 21 at 7p.m.
CCM/ECHL All-Star packages and individual tickets can be purchased by calling 419-725-9255 or by visiting www.toledowalleye.com/allstar.
The Atlanta Gladiators have announced that Ethan McClean is flying to America to see the Gladiators play on Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend November 16th, 17th and 18th.
Ethan McClean is a 10-year-old boy who lives in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, who has been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a painful and terminal disease. Ethan is a passionate Belfast Giants (EiHL) and hockey fan, as well as a Captain America enthusiast. For this reason, the Gladiators sent him one of their Captain America-themed Marvel Super Hero jerseys from last year during the season along with a message that he will be an honorary member of the team and is welcome to visit whenever he would like. Ethan took the team’s offer to heart and the organization ‘Dreams Come True’ based out of the United Kingdom has granted Ethan’s wish to come to America and see his beloved Gladiators play three games on November 16th, 17th and 18th at Infinite Energy Arena. He will also get into town early in the week and have the opportunity to see Atlanta and the United States.
“When we first set out to help this little boy, we never would have imagined he would embrace it so much, and we would have established the bond we have now,” said Director of Communications and Broadcasting Chris Treft. “We could not be more touched for him to have chosen us as his wish over anything else in the world. This is what sports are all about and to be a big part of his inspirational journey is beyond wonderful to be a part of.”
The Gladiators will host Ethan with a wide variety of experiences to make his trip as memorable as can be. Ethan will attend practices, meet the players and coaching staff, drop the ceremonial first puck at a game, be on the bench for pre-game warmups, join the radio broadcast on air, and much more. The team has also organized a special surprise for Ethan that involves a trip Nashville, TN and a once-in-a-lifetime experience courtesy of the NHL’s Nashville Predators.
On Saturday, Nov. 10, USA Hockey and 450 local associations across the country will host Try Hockey For Free Day! Participating locations encourage kids, ages 4 to 9, to come try youth hockey as part of Come Play Hockey Month. All locations will have limited equipment available for use.
To find a participating rink near you, please visit www.tryhockeyforfree.com.
For any questions, please contact USA Hockey at (719) 538-1124 or email comeplayyouthhockey@usahockey.org.
The Atlanta Gladiators announced on Thursday that the Boston Bruins have recalled forward Joona Koppanen from his loan to the Providence Bruins, and the team has signed forward Justin Greenberg to a standard professional contract.
Koppanen, 20, has appeared in seven games for the Gladiators and notched one assist this season. The native of Finland returns to the AHL where he registered two goals in 10 games for the P-Bruins at the end of last year. The 6-foot-5, 192-pound forward has spent his whole career prior to coming over to North America last season in various levels of professional and junior hockey in Finland.
Greenberg, 24, returns to Atlanta after attending training camp with the team. The Dallas, TX native leads the SPHL in scoring so far this season with 10 points (5g, 5a) in five games for the Peoria Rivermen. The 5-foot-8, 172-pound forward totaled 36 points (12g, 24a) in 35 games last season with Peoria. Prior to turning pro at the start of the 2017-18 season, the second-year pro amassed 29 points (6g, 23a) in 127 games at the University of Miami (Ohio). Greenberg helped the NAHL’s Texas Tornado to the Robertson Cup Championship in 2011-12. He is expected to make his ECHL debut tomorrow in Norfolk, VA and will wear #22 for the Glads.
The 16th season of Atlanta Gladiators hockey continues at the Infinite Energy Arena Friday, November 16th against the Norfolk Admirals 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 Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation’s premier “AA” hockey league. All home games are played at the 9,119-seat Infinite Energy Arena, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth – where parking is always free. The Gladiators have established an unrivaled commitment to excellence, maintaining a distinctive reputation for affordable and family-friendly sports entertainment and are consistently ranked as one of the top “Things To Do” in the Atlanta area and across the North Georgia region.
For all the latest team news, contests, and more visit AtlantaGladiators.com, or “like” the Gladiators on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AtlantaGladiators), follow the team on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ATLGladiators), Instagram (www.instagram.com/atlgladiators) or Snapchat (www.snapchat.com) at “gladshockey”.
The Jacksonville Icemen, proud affiliate of the NHL Winnipeg Jets and AHL Manitoba Moose, today announced the assignment of defenseman Jacob Cederholm from Manitoba.
Cederholm, 20, was selected in the fourth round, 97th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-4, 187-pound blue-liner made his AHL debut with the Moose last season after playing 29 professional games in Europe. The Helsingborg, Sweden native also posted a pair of assists in six playoff games as he captured the Swedish SuperElit league championship with HV71 J20 in 2017-2018.
Cederholm joins the Icemen as they welcome over 8,000 students for their annual School Day Hockey Game tomorrow at Veterans Memorial Arena with a special 10:30 a.m. puck drop against the South Carolina Stingrays.
The Jacksonville Icemen put on a lesson in hockey for over 8,000 local students when they beat the South Carolina Stingrays 4-1 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. After a defensive battle the first two periods, Jacksonville’s offense began to click in the third when they broke the 1-1 tie and put the game away with 3 unanswered goals.
Rookie defenseman Sean Day was assigned by the New York Rangers from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack to the Maine Mariners on Monday. The 20-year-old blue-liner was only the fourth player ever to be granted “Exceptional Status” by Hockey Canada joining the exclusive company of current NHL stars Connor McDavid, John Tavares and Aaron Ekblad.
Day was born in Leuven, Belgium, but grew up in Rochester, Michigan. He’s an American-Canadian dual citizen, and after three seasons in U.S. AAA hockey (Little Caesar’s, Honeybaked, Compuware), gained Exceptional Status, making him eligible for the OHL Priority Selection at just 15 years old. He was chosen by the Mississauga Steelheads prior to the 2014-15 season. The Rangers drafted him in the summer of 2016: round 3, 81st overall. In the midst of his fourth season with Mississauga (2016-17), Day was traded to the Windsor Spitfires. In that same season, the Rangers signed him to a three year entry deal. After winning a Memorial Cup with Windsor, Day was traded again the following season to the Kingston Frontenacs.
The Maine Mariners announced on Wednesday that the Stanley Cup®, will be at the Cross Insurance Arena on Friday, March 8th for the game against the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:15 PM.
The Stanley Cup will be displayed in the C.N. Brown landing, located in the concourse above the Cross Insurance Entrance of the arena at the corner of Spring and Center Streets. Fans who wish to see or take photos with the Stanley Cup must purchase a ticket to the March 8th game. A Mariners promo team member will be on hand to assist with photos, but fans must bring their own camera or smartphone. No expanded lenses are permitted. One photo per fan will be allowed. Sponsors and those with full or half season ticket memberships will be permitted early access, beginning at 4:30 PM. General admission access will begin at 6:00 PM.
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“Protect or Pick” Quarterback Draft →
Gators Blank Seminoles In Jacksonville
March 28, 2018 LockedIN Comments Off on Gators Blank Seminoles In Jacksonville
NFL FLAG CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO THE NFL PRO BOWL
January 17, 2019 LockedIN Comments Off on NFL FLAG CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO THE NFL PRO BOWL
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Longwood Central School District » Community » Longwood Journey » Time Periods » Civil War » Hassenger, Christopher
CHRISTOPHER HASSENGER
Private, 15th and 32nd Light Artillery
Born in 1840, Christopher Hassenger grew up farming in Middle Island. As the Civil War got underway, many hard working, middle class and poor people thought they could relate to the difficult lives of Negro slaves in the South. This served to rally recruits into the Union Army.
At the age of twenty-two, Hassenger joined this rally. On August 26, 1862, he enlisted at Harrison, New York, for a three-year hitch. He was assigned, along with friends from Middle Island, to the 15th Battery, New York Light Artillery. This unit had a definite Long Island connection. Captain McMahon, the unit commander, made it a point to recruit from this area.
After moving to Washington, the 15th was assigned to support the Army of the Potomac as it moved into the Gettysburg campaign. Christopher Hassenger served honorably through the turmoil on this great battlefield. Captain Hart, who led the battery into combat, detailed the battery's involvement at Gettysburg:
I was ordered by Major McGilvery to go to the front with him, to take a position in the line of battle. We met General Sickles, with whom the major consulted. I halted my battery, and proceeded to the front, when I met General Hunt, chief of artillery, who ordered me to take a position on the left of the peach orchard. I came into position and directed the fire of my battery on one of the enemy's batteries, which was doing heavy execution on our line of battle. I used solid shot and shell with such effect that the enemy was compelled to withdraw their battery. They then brought a battery still farther to my right. They poured a tremendous cross-fire into me, killing 3 of my men and wounding 5, also killing 13 horses.
At this time my attention was drawn to a heavy column of infantry advancing on our line. I directed my fire with shrapnel on this column to good effect. I then changed to canister repulsing the attack made on my battery.
After the first repulse of the enemy, they reformed and advanced on me a second time, and were repulsed. At this very moment I saw a very heavy column of the enemy advancing on the left of the barn and through a wheat-field, distant about 400 yards. I directed the fire of the left piece of my battery with canister upon this column, which did excellent execution, the enemy breaking in confusion. At this time the enemy were advancing in heavy force on me. I fired my last round of canister at this column before I retired.
When the fighting ended on July 2nd, the 15th battery retired to repair damages and receive more ammunition. Captain Hart described the next days' fighting, which was among the fiercest of the entire war:
Early on the morning of the 3rd, I received orders by Major McGilvery's orderly to proceed to the front, which order I immediately obeyed. General Hunt passing along the line, told me to hold my position and not to return the enemy's fire unless I saw his infantry advancing; then to open fire to the best advantage. When the infantry commenced to advance, I fired shell and shrapnel until the right of his first column came within 500 yards of me, when I opened with canister, which took good effect. His second line appeared to be coming direct for my battery. I turned all my guns on this line, every piece loaded with two canisters. I continued this dreadful fire on this line until there was not a man of them to be seen. My battery remained in position until near noon on the 4th, when I was ordered to the rear.
Cannons, with embankments thrown in front for protection. Photo from the Library of Congress.
Throughout March and April of 1864, Hassenger and a fellow Middle Island resident, Joel Overton, helped move wounded on the ambulance train. In May, Hassenger returned to his unit, which moved into the Wilderness Campaign. Then, on the evening of May 9, 1864, Christopher Hassenger was captured by the enemy at Spotsylvania.
his was a battle of anticipation: Grant anticipated Lee's retreat, and Lee anticipated Grant's retreat to Spotsylvania. Lee ended up beating Grant to Spotsylvania and was able to dig in at this vital Confederate crossroad. It is very likely that Hassenger was captured at the breastworks, in a region known as "Bloody Angle."
While a prisoner of war, Hassenger became very ill. On May 19, 1864, he was admitted to Danville Hospital in Virginia suffering from epilepsy. He did not return to his prison quarters until June 16. He remained a prisoner until the end of the war. Nevertheless, his military records were transferred to the 32nd Independent Battery at Harpers Ferry in Virginia on February 4, 1865, when the 15th Independent Battery was disbanded. This was purely a procedural matter, since Hassenger did not fight again. He was mustered out of service on July 14, 1865, in New York City.
Artist drawing showing Union artillery at Gettysburg on July 2nd.(Harper's Weekly)
Battle Map of the Gettysburg battle field. (Harper's Weekly)
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http://www.bc.edu/lowell
Lowell Humanities Series
140 Commonwealth Ave.
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
James M. Smith
smithbt@bc.edu
Organization Information
The Lowell Institute supports the Boston College Lowell Humanities Lecture Series. Among the distinguished writers, artists, performers, and scholars the series has brought to Boston College have been Robert Frost, Margaret Mead, T.S. Eliot, Maya Angelou, Robert Penn Warren, Joyce Carol Oates, Susan Sontag, and Seamus Heaney.
For additional information about any of the upcoming Lowell Institute sponsored lectures, please visit www.bc.edu/lowell or contact the series director, Professor James Smith at smithbt@bc.edu. Visit the Lowell Humanities Series on Facebook. and Twitter (@bclowellhs).
http://www.bpl.org/lowell
Central Library in Copley Square
700 Boylston Street
Programs Department
etodd@bpl.org
The Lowell Institute supports the Boston Public Library's Lowell Lecture Series. Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library has pioneered public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children’s room. Each year, the Boston Public Library hosts thousands of programs and serves millions of people at its Central Library and 24 branch locations throughout Boston. All of its programs and exhibitions are free and open to the public.
A complete listing of lectures can be found at www.bpl.org/lowell.
Boston University School of Theology
http://www.bu.edu/sth
745 Commonwealth Avenue
Jaclyn Jones, Alumni Relations Officer
jkjones@bu.edu
The Lowell Institute supports Boston University's School of Theology Lowell Lecture Series. The School of Theology was founded in 1839 and was the first Methodist seminary in the country. It was also the founding school of what is now Boston University. It's roots are in United Methodism, but it's branches reach into the international ecumenical, interfaith movement. It combines a heritage of academic distinction with the flexibility to lead the reshaping of global religious life. The School’s history of marrying academic rigor with social justice is still vital and effective nearly two centuries later. Today, it continues to attract students who seek the best theological training to take action in their local, national, or global context.
For more information on this year's series please visit www.bu.edu/sth or contact Jaclyn Jones, the Alumni Relations Officer, at (617) 353-8972 or jkjones@bu.edu.
http://www.cambridgeforum.org/
Lectures held at The First Parish in Cambridge
director@cambridgeforum.org
The Lowell Institute supports the lectures at Cambridge Forum. Cambridge Forum informs and educates individuals so that they can explore and respond to the issues and ideas that are shaping our world, from terrorism to technology, poetry to public policy, education to the environment. Support from the Lowell Institute underwrites the Forum's lively public discussions that bring together expert speakers and an engaged audience in Harvard Square and National Public Radio broadcasts of Forum programs.
Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation
In the historic Francis Cabot Lowell Mill
154 Moody St
Robert A. Perry
director@crmii.org
The Lowell Institute supports the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation's Mill Talks lecture series. — A museum of the American Industrial Revolution, the Charles River Museum is located in the last boiler house of the former Boston Manufacturing Company — the first integrated textile mill or factory in the world. Commencing operations in 1815, the BMC mill design, organizational structure and management became known as the "Waltham-Lowell" system and was replicated throughout New England during the 18th century, leading the transformation of the United States into an industrial power. Now known as the "Francis Cabot Lowell Mill" in honor of its founder, the Museum's home is on the National Historic Register, a portion of which has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
A complete listing of Mill Talks can be found at https://www.charlesrivermuseum.org/mill-talks-lectures-and-panel-discussions/
College Bound Dorchester
http://www.fdnh.org/
18 Samoset Street
Kedan Harris
The Lowell Institute provides support for the College Connections English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) pathway, which serves more than 100 students annually. The ESOL pathway offers four levels of instruction, ranging from beginner conversational English to advanced writing. Instruction focuses on two key components: written and oral competency skills and financial literacy/employment skills with the specific objective of increasing students’ ambition for college graduation.
Equipping students with the attitude, skills, and experience to graduate college is our mission, and ESOL pathway students are encouraged to transition into College Connections Foundations or Bridge to College pathways upon completion of the Level 4 ESOL course. The Foundations pathway helps students prepare for and pass the GED/HiSET; and the Bridge to College pathway is designed as an intensive program that provides the career, academic, and social-emotional readiness skills that students need in order to enroll in and graduate college.
For more information about the College Connections model and ESOL program, please contact the Director of College Connections, Kedan Harris at kharris@collegebounddorchester.org or 617.506.5970.
http://www.fordhallforum.org/
73 Tremont St.
Susan H. Spurlock, J.D., Executive Director, Ford Hall Forum at Suffolk University
fordhallforum@suffolk.edu
The Lowell Institute supports lectures at Ford Hall Forum, the nation’s oldest continuously operating free public lecture series. The Forum's mission is to foster an informed and effective citizenry and to promote freedom of speech through the public presentation of lectures, debates and discussions. The Forum events illuminate the key issues facing our society by bringing to its podium knowledgeable and thought-provoking speakers, including some of the most controversial opinion leaders of our times. These speakers are presented in person, for free, and in settings that facilitate frank and open debate.
Harvard University Extension School
http://www.extension.harvard.edu/
51 Brattle Street
Stephanie Kacoyanis
stephanie_kacoyanis@harvard.edu
In 1910, A. Lawrence Lowell, as Trustee of the Lowell Institute and President of Harvard University, established the academic program of University Extension at Harvard as an experiment in "popular education." The Harvard Extension School has broadened its reach beyond the local community to a national and global audience while retaining a commitment to educational quality and affordability.
Since its inception, it is estimated that more than one-half million women and men have enrolled in Harvard Extension School courses and more than 15,000 have been awarded undergraduate and graduate degrees and graduate certificates. Every year, nearly 14,000 students of all ages, from all over the world, register for classes on campus and online. The range of resources is both broad and deep: 600 courses, of which 200 are offered online, spanning the liberal arts and professional studies; educational options include individual courses, professional certificates, and formal degrees: Associate in Arts, Bachelor of Liberal Arts, and Master of Liberal Arts in 19 fields, and Master of Liberal Arts in professional studies (biotechnology, sustainability and environmental management, information technology, journalism, management, mathematics for teaching, and museum studies).
The faculty are another exceptional resource: 60 percent are Harvard affiliates, others are from area universities and the business community. Many have taught at the Harvard Extension School for decades, while some teach the same course at the School as in Harvard College.
Each year, the Harvard Extension School, with the Lowell Institute, co-sponsors the Lowell Lecture at Harvard. Past speakers have included Carl Sagan on nuclear winter, Gore Vidal on American politics, Ken Burns on the documentary as history, and Sissela Bok on the pursuit of happiness. Timothy Johnson, MD, MPH, one of the nation's leading communicators of medical healthcare information delivered the 2011 lecture entitled "The Truth About Getting Sick in America: The Real Problems with Healthcare and What We Can Do."
For more information about the Harvard Extension School, visit www.extension.harvard.edu.
http://www.jfklibrary.org/
Columbia Point
The Lowell Institute supports the Kennedy Library Forums, a series of public affairs programs offered by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum to foster public discussion on a diverse range of historical, political and cultural topics reflecting the legacy of President and Mrs. Kennedy's White House years. They are conducted as conversations rather than lectures.
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is a presidential library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration and supported, in part, by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, a non-profit organization. The Kennedy Presidential Library and the Kennedy Library Foundation seek to promote, through educational and community programs, a greater appreciation and understanding of American politics, history, and culture, the process of governing and the importance of public service.
Lowell Institute School at Northeastern
http://www.cps.neu.edu/discover/schools-institutes/lowell-institute-school.php
50 Nightingale Hall
Leah Ben-Ami
l.ben-ami@neu.edu
The Lowell Institute School is the first school of its kind in the country – delivering science, technology and engineering bachelor’s degree completion programs for students with two years of college credit or an associate degree. When A. Lawrence Lowell created the Lowell Institute School for Industrial Foremen in 1903, the idea was daring, but practical. It was bringing essential knowledge and opportunity to the people doing the hands-on work of the new century. Now, a century later, a new chapter begins in that same daring and practical spirit. With a focus on upper-level classes, the school offers students with some college credits an opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree in Science or Science in Engineering Technology.
The school's curriculum is closely aligned with the needs of local employers. Faculty members are industry professionals, scholar-practitioners, and mentors that represent numerous industries. Built into the teaching is the core Northeastern value – that there is a powerful relationship between learning and work, and that the two strengthen each other.
For more information on the Lowell Institute School at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies, please visit our website at www.cps.neu.edu/discover/schools-institutes/lowell-institute-school.php.
Artist Demonstration: Floral Design Demonstration
http://www.mfa.org/
Emma Rose Rainville
erainville@mfa.org
The Lowell Institute enables the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) to provide its visitors with a diverse range of accessible educational programs and activities, including artist talks, art-making activities, community events, and lectures.
Many programs are offered on Wednesday evenings, when admission is by voluntary contribution after 4pm.
For the most current information, please visit www.mfa.org to view the MFA’s calendar of events, or contact the Education Department at 617-369-3300.
http://www.mos.org/
One Science Park
Lowell Lectures The Lowell Institute sponsors lectures at the Museum of Science thorughout the year on a variety of topics including everything from astronauts to artists and robots to raptors. Please see the Event Schedule for a full listing of this year's lecture lineup.
Lowell Observatory Program
The Gilliland Astronomical Observatory, located atop the Museum’s parking garage, is operated by the Museum’s Planetarium staff. The Observatory houses three high-quality telescopes and, thanks to the generosity of the Lowell Institute, is available to the public for free viewing of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects each Friday evening, 8:30-10:00 p.m., weather permitting. The Lowell Institute’s support of the Observatory programs enables members of the public to see with their own eyes, free-of-charge, some of the most awe-inspiring sights in our universe.
Lowell Library Pass Program
Free passes, allowing Exhibit Halls admission for up to four people per day are available for patrons of Boston, Cambridge, Lynn, Somerville, Chelsea, Revere, Melrose, Rockland, and Bunker Hill Community College libraries. Inquire directly with your library branch to determine pass availability for the date you would like to visit the Museum and for pass reservation and pick-up instructions.
Free Admission Passes
Free admission to the Museum of Science is available for non-profit community-based organizations working with youth, adults and families in under-represented communities. For more information, please call (617) 723 2500, (617) 589 0417 TTY or communityrelations@mos.org.
http://www.neaq.org/aquariumlectures
1 Central Wharf
Maggie See
msee@neaq.org
Opened on the Boston Waterfront in 1969, the New England Aquarium is one of the world’s first modern aquariums. Visitors can explore the ocean and visit thousands of marine animals in three levels of world-class exhibits. Combining education, entertainment and action to address the most challenging problems facing the ocean, the New England Aquarium aims to create a new generation of ocean stewards.
Since 1972, the Aquarium has been providing free lectures and films by scientists, environmental writers, photographers and many more. Through the generosity of the Lowell Institute, the Aquarium Lecture Series is free and open to the public. Registration is requested and all programs start at 7 p.m. in the Aquarium's Simons IMAX Theatre, unless otherwise noted. Programs last approximately one hour.
For more information or to join our mailing list, visit: www.neaq.org/aquariumlectures.
http://www.osmh.org/
The Lowell Institute makes possible a series of free public programs exploring contemporary and historical issues at Old South Meeting House, one of the nation’s most important National Historical Landmarks. Famed as the place where the Boston Tea Party began in 1773, today Old South Meeting House is preserved and open daily as a museum and an active gathering place for civic dialogue, discussion and performance in the heart of downtown Boston.
These programs are presented free and open to the public. All programs are wheelchair accessible and assistive listening devices are available. For more information or to receive mailings or email updates about these programs please contact Old South Meeting House at (617) 482-6439 or www.osmh.org.
Paul Revere Memorial Association
http://www.paulreverehouse.org/
19 North Square
Patrick Leehey
The Paul Revere Memorial Association owns and operates the Paul Revere House and the Pierce-Hichborn House, located on the Freedom Trail in Boston’s North End. Both homes are open to the general public. For hours and admission, please call (617) 523-2338 or visit www.paulreverehouse.org. This year's Lowell funded lecture series, “A War of Divisions: The Impact and Aftermath of the American Civil War,” examines the effect of the Civil War on families, institutions and individuals in New England.
All lectures in the 2013 Paul Revere Memorial Association lecture series will take place at Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington Street (at the corner of Milk Street), Boston, MA. Sign language interpretation is available upon request (with advance notice). Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices are available. Accessible by MBTA. Use State or Downtown Crossing stops. For directions to Old South Meeting House please call (617) 482-6439 or visit www.oldsouthmeetinghouse.org. For more information about the Paul Revere Memorial Association Lecture Series contact Patrick M. Leehey, Paul Revere House at (617) 523-2338.
http://www.pem.org/
Jennifer Evans, Manager of Adult Public Programs
jennifer_evans@pem.org
The Lowell Institute enables the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) to offer to the public a wide range of programs on art and ideas for adults, including artist presentations, lectures, panel discussions, art-making, performances, immersive events and gallery-based programs. For the most up-to-date information, please visit www.pem.org to view the museum calendar, or contact Jennifer Evans, Manager of Adult Public Programs, at 978-542-1528.
All Lowell Institute-sponsored events are included with museum admission and are open to the public. Admission is free for Salem residents and for all youth 16 and under.
1 Guest St.
Amy Axelrod
amy_axelrod@wgbh.org
The Lowell Institute supports the WGBH Educational Foundation in Boston, which holds the license for 11 public television services (WGBH 2/HD, WGBH 44, WGBH World, WGBH Create, ’GBH Kids, and WGBH On Demand; for Boston cable subscribers, Boston Kids & Family TV; and, serving Western New England, Springfield’s WGBY 57/HD along with WGBY World, WGBY Create, and WGBY Kids), three public radio services (WGBH 89.7, All-Classical WGBH 89.7 HD2, and WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR station at 90.1, 91.1, and 94.3), and the website wgbh.org. WGBH is PBS’s leading producer for television and the Web, a major supplier of programs for public radio stations nationwide, a pioneer in media access for Americans with hearing or vision loss, and a leading force in educational multimedia, from the Web to hand-held devices.
The Lowell Institute supports the operating costs of producing and distributing programming services to the local region through television, radio, and the Internet. For further information about WGBH, contact Cynthia Broner, director of Constituent Communications at cynthia_broner@wgbh.org or (617) 300-5310.
http://www.worldboston.org/
Great Decisions Discussion Program
212 Northern Avenue
Elise Pitcairn
epitcairn@worldboston.org
The Lowell Institute supports WorldBoston’s Great Decisions discussion program, an annual series of eight lectures on issues of vital importance to American foreign policy. The purpose of Great Decisions is to engage the public in timely conversations with leading academics, policy experts, and journalists. The lectures and discussions that follow are designed to raise awareness of global concerns and geographic flash points, cultivate new insights, and help individuals make better-informed decisions and participate more actively in the foreign-policy process.
Great Decisions in the evening from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Please check the event calendar for individual event information. Admission is free, and food and refreshments are provided.
For more information, please contact WorldBoston at (617) 542-8995 or visit http://www.worldboston.org.
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TOP STORY > >Paving the way for a new travel reimbursement process
WASHINGTON (AFNS) – Air Force finance officials are implementing ways to improve customer service to Airmen with process changes, said the director of the Secretary of the Air Force Financial Management Process Improvement and Integrations Office.
“This has been a rocky road for some Air Force travelers,” said Josephine L. Davis, SAF/FMPI. “Fortunately, process improvement and service delivery initiatives will improve travel reimbursement services.”
Air Force finance officials recently completed two separate Air Force Smart Operations 21 reviews to improve the travel and permanent change-of-station voucher processes. Senior Air Force and Reserve command financial management leaders attended a travel voucher process AFSO 21 event at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., to conduct an end-to-end review of the travel voucher process.
“The active-duty, Guard and Reserve team identified and validated problems in the current processes and agreed on a future state process,” Ms. Davis said. Some short-term solutions are now in place via a recent Defense Travel System software upgrade that improves government charge card usage. This same upgrade implemented a pilot program with the Navy, results from which will be applied to improve travel voucher services to the Air Force Reserve and Guard communities.
Ms. Davis said the Robins AFSO 21 review also looked into improving the submission of PCS travel vouchers, services for deployed members, and ensuring Airmen aren’t over or underpaid. A subsequent AFSO 21 review took place in September at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., to review and improve these processes. Solutions in this area are also under way and will be implemented with DTS software upgrades scheduled to occur in 15-18 months.
Some Airmen may remember that in the past an Airman would visit the base accounting and finance office and work with a travel pay clerk to reconcile a travel voucher, according to Ms. Davis. The Airman would leave the office with a cash reimbursement and a copy of his or her filed travel voucher.
“The process was functional and effective from a traveler’s perspective, but it was costly and labor intensive for the Air Force,” Ms. Davis said. “The cost and manpower requirements for such a process were not an issue in the past. However, times have changed due to federally mandated manpower reductions.”
In light of this changing fiscal landscape, two additional process improvement initiatives are currently underway to enhance financial service delivery to Airmen: the Financial Service Delivery Model and Defense Integrated Military Human Resources System (www.dimhrs.mil/).
“The primary objective of FSDM is to improve service delivery to Airmen through enhanced utilization of Web-based self service applications,” Ms. Davis said. “Click, Call, Walk” isthe FSDM slogan.
With FSDM, Airmen will have:
· 24-hour, seven-day-a-week access to Web-based service for financial transactions;
· a toll-free number to a contact center when additional assistance is needed; and
· the ability to deal face-to-face with a base financial service technicians for those unusual financial transactions.
“Ultimately, FSDM will result in enhanced customer service and substantial return on investment for the Air Force,” Ms. Davis said.
Another initiative is DIMHRS, a Department of Defense program currently under development. It provides the Armed Forces with an integrated, multi-component, personnel and pay system that improve delivery of military personnel and pay services, according to Ms. Davis. This system provides each service member with a single, comprehensive record that features self-service capabilities to empower them to update portions of their personal information, and initiate personnel and pay actions.
Finance officials listen to customer comments, Ms. Davis said. They heard such comments as “I had to use my savings to pay my government travel card” or, “I had to wait months for payment due to the huge backlogs.”
“These types of comments reflect a detrimental impact on our mission,” Ms. Davis said. “Air Force leadership takes them seriously, and continues to take steps to resolve members’ concerns.”
Posted by LRAFB Drop Zone at 2:45 PM 1 comment:
COMMENTARY>>Integrity first - always
By Master Sgt. James Albini
Each week I have the privilege of spending time with the Air Force’s newest enlisted aviators. I like to discuss the core values and apply those three ideas to real world experiences. Unfortunately, an aspect of my job is to interview Airmen who have taken the wrong path and made poor choices. These experiences have caused me to redefine my definition of our first core value, integrity.
If I ask Airmen to tell me what they think integrity means the preponderance would respond, “Doing the right thing when nobody is watching.” This is the textbook definition. I have come to realize most Airmen do not have a problem doing the right thing when alone; the harder action is doing the right thing while in a group.
All too often when things go wrong, it wasn’t because one person, by himself or herself, decided to make a poor choice.
Instead a bad decision was made while with a group of friends. Despite the many opportunities to prevent a Wingman from going down the wrong path, many remain silent. Some consider it not cool to speak up in front of others and challenge the group. Others don’t want to be labeled a rat or killjoy. This thought is what caused me to reinterpret integrity.
We must have the courage to stand by our convictions and speak up in the presence of others. Although the reference I used is associated with discipline, it can be applied to the work center. Doing the right thing when everyone is watching is extremely tough. Failure to have courage and stand up has resulted in countless DUIs, underage drinking, assaults and work related accidents. I leave you with this simple challenge … think of our first core value in two ways; doing the right thing when no one is watching and doing the right thing when everyone is watching.
COMMENTARY>>Alice, balanced scorecard and Wonderland
By Col. Charles Hyde
I love military history and reading about the exploits of the warriors and units that left us with a rich legacy of character, service and heroic defense of our republic. A storied history, however valuable for learning and development of the warrior ethos, does not predict success on future battlefields. Future success depends on a well-understood objective and requires progress toward its attainment.
In previous articles, the 314th Airlift Wing’s mission, vision, and goals were presented. The mission is the purpose of our wing – to train the world’s best C-130 and C-21 crew members to fly, fight, and win. The vision sets an enduring context for our mission: what we are, what we want to be, and our legacy in the future – the foundation of combat airlift. Goals help us accomplish our mission and realize our vision. In short, our mission, vision, and goals are our objective as a wing.
Our objective, that point toward which we strive, is the first step on the road to success. In the book “Alice In Wonderland,” Alice asks the Cheshire cat which path she should take. The cat replied by asking where Alice wanted to go. Alice, unfortunately and similarly to many businesses and organizations, didn’t know. The Cheshire cat then replied that it didn’t matter which way she went. If we don’t know what we are trying to accomplish, then we cease to be an effective and successful team. Having an objective is the first step toward success.
The next requirement for achieving success as an organization is to continuously progress towards its objective. If we don’t have a common mission, vision, and goals, we will fail. Likewise, we can have an objective, but fail to move toward it.
Continuous improvement is the lifeblood of a military organization. Our success and the success of our students depend on it, but it is not enough. The improvement must lead us on a path which reaches our objective. That path is defined by metrics.
Metrics are the key to measuring where we are going and how we are progressing.
The 314th AW leadership met last week to work on our metrics. The balanced scorecard is the AETC tool we use to document our objectives and measure our progress toward attainment.
We refined our mission, vision, and goals and started to define the metrics we will use to chart our path as a wing. I have challenged each of our commanders to build good metrics and implement them in each flight and section. The reason is simple. In order to be successful, we must work together with a common objective and strive for continuous improvement.
Hopefully when you hear someone talk about the balanced scorecard and metrics, it won’t be a mystery. It’s simply a tool to keep us out of Wonderland and focused on training the world’s best C-130 and C-21 students to fly, fight, and win.
COMMENTARY>>Not only our President, our Commander in Chief
By Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Qualls
19th Mission Support Group Superintendent
Now that the Presidential election is over, the dust has settled and the American people have spoken and soon we will have a new President. Regardless of your personal feelings concerning the outcome of this recent election, as military members we have a duty to the President that eclipses our civilian counterparts.
Why, you ask?
Assuming we took advantage of our right, responsibility and privilege to vote, we cast our ballot. We exercised our choice and our voice was heard. We did this as good and responsible Americans, but more importantly; we did this as private citizens.
As military members, officially we are to remain politically neutral. Partisan politics will not or at least should not effect or determine our willingness or ability to perform our mission.
In our Oath of Enlistment we swore to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States and obey the orders of the President.” In article II, section two of the Constitution, the President is appointed as our Commander in Chief. As Commander in Chief, the President is the Commander of our nation’s military forces.
This also works in accordance with our Constitution in ensuring civilian control of our military. In addition, as a result of a formal agreement between the DOD and United States Secret Service, individuals affiliated with the Armed Services have a special obligation to report information to the Secret Service pertaining to the protection of the President of the United States.
Ours is a great nation. We’re great because of our diversity. As loyal Americans and committed military members, we not only owe it to the American people, but again; we took an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.
While we progress with the Global War on Terrorism and numerous other issues facing us as a nation; our oath has never been more important than now.
VIEW FROM TOP>>This is not a dry run
By Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley
19th Airlift Wing command chief
As we endeavor daily to ensure that we sustain unrivaled Combat Airlift for America … always, it dawned on me that we never have a second chance to get our mission done right. We have one chance at life and what life holds for us. So my challenge to you, as well as myself, is not to function as though this is a dry run.
Those waiting for our support around the world are counting on us taking our mission seriously. We must apply our training, focus and resources to ensure that when called, we respond with pinpoint precision.
This is not a dry run. In your lives, do you apply this mindset or do you function as though you will be able to go back and start over again?
Beyond our vital mission, are you living your life as though this is your only opportunity to maximize your potential? I sometimes reflect on people who become frustrated because they wake up and realize they have not utilized time and opportunity to the fullest extent. Each one of us have gifts and talents, that if maximized, can benefit our workplace, families and communities. This is not a dry run.
One of our core values, excellence in all we do, demands that we attack each day as a chance to grow and improve. Are we exhibiting excellence in all we do? The first place to check is in the mirror in the morning. Consider how physically, mentally and spiritually fit you are. To live your life in an exceptional way requires you not to take a single day for granted.
To continue to be the best air force in the world, our military, civilians and families must understand that this is not a dry run.
Combat Airlift!
VIEW FROM TOP>>Thanks to our Wingmen
By Brig. Gen. Rowayne A. Schatz, Jr.
Today, Wingman Day, we are gathering together in small groups to talk about how to cope with all the different stresses we face every day. These stresses, unresolved, can degrade both our mission focus and quality of life. Wingman Day offers us the opportunity to address and resolve these stressors and talk about how we can best support each other.
Team Little Rock’s embrace of the Wingman concept and culture is a key component to the delivery of a peerless Combat Airlift capability. Great military powers throughout history have employed the Wingman concept to fight the greatest battles in history. The Romans, for example, used battle lines arranged with infantry in the center and cavalry on the wings. The infantry lined up face to face with the opponent while the cavalry protected the center from being outflanked by their enemies. Neither the cavalry nor the infantry stood a strong chance of defeating their enemy separately, but together, protecting each other, they were a formidable force. Likewise, Team Little Rock is a formidable force when we employ the Wingman concept in the delivery of Combat Airlift for our nation.
As Airmen, we are part of a larger team and the combined effect of each of our efforts makes us the greatest team in the world, capable of taking on any task or foe. We rely on our Wingman to know when we need help, and to be there to pitch in to fill the gap and make the mission successful. There is a great Wingman line in the latest “Iron Man” movie where Air Force Lt. Col. James Rhodes tells Tony Stark that when he puts on the uniform and he looks in the mirror, he recognizes that every person who wears the same uniform has his back. That is a great feeling, that is the Wingman culture.
Tomorrow our country celebrates a holiday proclaimed by President Lincoln, as a national day of prayer and thanks for our country’s prosperity. From the founding of our country to today, one constant thread throughout is the commitments and sacrifices great Americans like you have made to win and defend freedom here and around the world. You and your families will celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow with firsthand knowledge of the sacrifices required to protect the things we are most thankful for. Thank you for your service.
Kim and I wish you a happy Thanksgiving!
TOP STORY > >LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE CAMPAIGN PLANS
Wednesday’s Wingman Day has been set aside for leadership and Airmen to stand down from the Team Little Rock’s mission to discuss important issues, give constructive feedback to leadership, develop the Wingman mentality and make Team Little Rock a great place to work. The theme for Wingman Day is “small course corrections make a big difference.” Our goal is to engage each Airman in an operational experience emphasizing responsible choices, team building and stress management to revitalize our culture of Airmen taking care of Airmen.
The feedback from previous Wingman days has shown where people are feeling stress and ideas for how to battle the signs of stress. Based on feedback like this, these campaign plans have been developed to address the problems our Airmen and families are facing due to being an Air Force at war.
The goal of the Building and Supporting Healthy Families campaign plan is to increase Air Force personnel awareness of the indicators and dynamics of family maltreatment including the emotional and financial costs resulting from family maltreatment and the negative impact family maltreatment has on the overall strategic mission of the Air Force. For more information, contact the Family Advocacy Officer at 987-7377.
The goal of the Education campaign plan is to build a partnership with parents, school administrators, private organizations and base leadership to champion world-class facilities, a safe learning environment and quality school performance for our dependent children. Through partnership, ensure public schools in our surrounding communities with Little Rock AFB dependent children enrolled rank in the top 25% of schools in the State of Arkansas as measured by standardized test scores.
As an end state, parents assigned to Little Rock AFB should be excited to live here due to the exceptional Central Arkansas public school opportunities available for their children. For more information, contact the Little Rock AFB School Liaison Officer at 987-6938.
The goal of the Fitness, Sports and Wellness campaign plan is to achieve 100 percent unit involvement in the Fitness, Sports and Wellness Advisory Council. Achieve and maintain 95 percent fitness assessment currency with increases in overall fitness levels. Maintain or exceed AFSVA 5-Star and Golden Eagle Standards for fitness and sports. Incorporate fitness, sports and wellness initiatives that involve Airmen and their families. For more information, contact the Fitness Center Director at 987-7716.
The goal of the Key Spouse campaign plan is to increase personal preparation for military members and their families before deployments, offer support to families during deployments, and assist in the identification of post-deployment stressors and provide avenues of release. Provide support to families of non-deployed members and serve as a valuable communication medium between squadron and wing leadership and family members on Quality of Life issues. For more information, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Flight chief at 987-6801.
The goal of the Personal Financial Management campaign plan is to increase Financial Readiness of Air Force members, Reservists, Guard, DoD civilians, and family members by providing personal financial management skills, on and off base resources, and alternatives to acquiring quick-fix high-interest loans to resolve money problems. For more information, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Flight chief at 987-6801.
The goal of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response campaign plan is to ensure that all victims of sexual assault receive the care and support they require and to use education and intervention as primary means of achieving an environment free of sexual assault. For more information, contact the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at 987-2697.
The goal of the Deployment Preparation, Support and Return campaign plan is to increase personal preparation for military members and their families before deployments, offer support to families during deployments, and assist in the identification of post-deployment stress. For more information, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Flight chief at 987-6801.
The goal of the Family Housing campaign plan is to ensure that our families have the best possible housing while we’re deployed around the world supporting operations in the Global War on Terrorism. For more information, contact the 19th Civil Engineering Squadron Capital Asset Management Element Chief at 987-2358.
The goal of the Healthy Dormitory Life Quality of Life campaign plan is to provide the highest quality of life possible to the Little Rock AFB unaccompanied housing residents through professional leadership, teamwork and pride. Provide an environment that promotes pride and ownership at the group and unit levels. For more information, contact the 19th Civil Engineering Squadron Capital Asset Management Element Chief at 987-2358.
The goal of the “Operationalizing” Safety campaign plan is to maintain safety awareness and effective risk management principles embedded in all that we do – on-duty and off-duty. For more information, contact the 19th Airlift Wing Safety Office ground safety officer at 987-3290
The goal of the Suicide Prevention campaign plan is to prevent suicidal behaviors through a community-based approach that emphasizes a culture of Airmen caring for Airmen. For more information, contact the 19th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight at 987-7338.
The goal of the Responsible Alcohol Use campaign plan is to reduce alcohol related incidents, to include DUIs, through a broad strategy which embraces education, awareness, teamwork, supervisory involvement, and the Wingman philosophy. For more information, contact the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at 987-2697.
(Courtesy of the Community Action Information Board and the 19th Medical Operation Squadron Mental Health Flight.)
COMMENTARY>>Diversity matters in the Air Force
By Chief Master Sgt. Richard Turcotte
Hopefully everyone has had a chance to take a look at this week’s “Roll Call” on diversity. The Air Force has played a significant role in diversity and has championed many initiatives ensuring fair and equitable treatment throughout our history as a service. For most of us, we view diversity in general terms as age, race, ethnicity and gender. The Air Force, however, categorizes diversity into four dimensions to facilitate understanding.
The first dimension is demographic diversity – one most are familiar with – for example, what religious faith one belongs to or whether married or not. Conceptually, the Air Force is a dichotomy or slide of good old-fashioned America. This is, in my opinion, what makes us such a great service and a great nation – our ability to capitalize on individual strengths, different cultural backgrounds and personal experiences and values to form one cohesive body that fosters character of heart and mind while internalizing our Air Force Core Values of Integrity, Service and Excellence in completion of the mission.
The second dimension and the one least talked about is that of cognitive diversity. How one goes about a certain task or how one’s thought process differs depending on learned ability. You have all heard the sayings “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” or “that’s the way we have always done things.” Nothing can stifle innovation and creativity faster than the status quo or being satisfied with just doing your job. In today’s Air Force, we can ill afford to be just “OK.” We must continuously strive for improvement through this cognitive approach to diversity by exploiting all forms of thought, training technologies and diverse approaches to problem solving. There is no such thing as a bad idea; we just have to find a place to make it useful.
Our third dimension is defined as structural diversity which refers to organizational characteristics. As we continue to become more joint in our force make-up, we must capitalize on this area in terms of force multipliers and our ability to utilize training and services that were traditionally stovepiped in one particular service. We have seen great examples of this throughout our Joint Sourcing Solutions tasking to assist sister services and the combatant commanders in the Global War on Terrorism.
Traditional roles are now crossing into all service components – strengthening our ability to exploit the battle space.
The fourth and final dimension deals with global diversity. The world is a much smaller place, and as we continue to strengthen our world position, we must be ever vigilant in our relationship building with friendly nations. As the world’s only remaining superpower, we are charged with the protection, security and economies of the free world. We must rely on our allies and take an active role in understanding different cultural belief systems. We must expand how we view the world and strengthen how the world views us.
As you can see, diversity has many forms and all contribute to the total strength of our Air Force. I would challenge each of us to look within our workcenters, communities, cultures, professional organizations and cross-functional areas to champion those differences that enable us. I would also like to encourage all of us to step outside of our comfort zones from time to time to try and increase awareness and understanding of those things that we are unfamiliar with. It’s been said that we are either “green and growing or ripe and rotting.” Which one are you?
COMMENTARY>>We can never say ‘thank you’ enough
By Maj. James Culpepper
19th Comptroller Squadron
One recent Sunday afternoon, I happened upon an inspirational scene as I arrived early to send off one of our deploying warriors at the Little Rock National Airport. I watched as another group of family and friends welcomed home their soldier from his tour of duty. I continued to watch as his two young boys handed their dad welcome home cards they had made. The pride on their faces as they looked up at their dad and the joy they displayed as they reached to take hold of his hand moved me.
Their dad had given the best years of his life for serving his country and his family had sacrificed much. As they walked past, all I could muster was a simple ‘thank you.’
Two words but two important words; during the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill famously said that “never was so much owed by so many to so few.” The same words could be used for today’s Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and Coast Guardsmen because we are an all-volunteer force that selflessly stands in the gap for more than 300 million Americans and billions of freedom-loving people.
I have the privilege of sending Airmen from my squadron on deployment taskings. I always end by thanking them for their sacrifice and letting them know how proud I am of their service to their country. As we begin this holiday season, please remember the many families who have a loved one deployed. My prayer is that saying thank you never gets old as we can never say thank-you enough.
VIEW FROM TOP>>What are you thankful for?
As we turn the page on another month and look forward, Thanksgiving is staring us right in the face. Can you believe it’s November already? It appears that time truly is flying. Typically, we look and reflect upon what we are thankful for during this period. Yet, I submit to you that each day gives us the opportunity to think about those things that give us comfort or relief.
Even as our wing finishes up an exercise that captures how well we perform, while highlighting things we can improve upon, I’m thankful for our wing commander. General Schatz is a leader who takes our vision for “unrivaled combat airlift for America…always” very seriously. He understands the significance of Team Little Rock’s readiness for national and international stability.
In an economy where people are having to tighten their belts, I’m thankful for a wing that takes care of its own. Over the past weekend our wing has raised enough food to sustain our food bank for several months. Also, the Little Rock First Sergeant council demonstrated great initiative in revamping operations at the Airman’s Attic. This facility provides vital items to our Airmen and their families across the base.
I am thankful to have the best medical benefits in the land. A recent survey that looked at the military and business industry stated that Tricare is the nation’s best medical program.
I am also thankful to be in an organization that promotes based on your merit and not popularity or favoritism. We have much to be thankful for, and these are things that don’t affect us on a periodic basis but are daily in impact. Each day our wing is trying to improve on how we work, live, rest and play, and for that I am thankful.
VIEW FROM TOP>>ROCKEX lessons learned
This past week we completed our first ROCKEX under Air Mobility Command. Overall, it was a valuable learning experience for us all, and every Airman involved showed a tremendous ability to adapt and overcome challenges. In times of war, things don’t always go as expected. That is why we practice and test our processes and procedures with these exercises to streamline and create habitual responses to conditions we may face. However, when things go wrong, it is equally important to be able to analyze the problem, adapt our response to it, and overcome the problem through our critical and creative thinking. The exercise evaluation team members tested us and we did well, but we still have a ways to go. Remember, America is depending on us to deliver a Combat Airlift capability that is second to none; therefore, we must strive to continually improve.
One of the lessons we can learn from the ROCKEX is the importance of owning our processes. Each of us is the subject matter expert in our respective career fields. Every day, we do a specific job that no one else can do better. That means we take pride in our tasks when they are completed successfully, and we take ownership of our shortfalls when things don’t go as planned.
When these exercises or other inspections come, it’s important that we use these opportunities as a chance to grow, and we can only do that if we honestly and humbly accept our shortfalls as lessons learned. Here at the Rock, no one is expected to be perfect, but everyone is expected to be teachable.
Another lesson we can learn is how beneficial it can be to blend individuals of varying levels of experience. Supervisors - you carry the torch passed to you by your predecessors when they took the time to sit with you, turn a wrench with you, and provide valuable one-on-one training to help mold you into the experts you are. The torch will inevitably be passed to the young Airmen who need you to show them the way. The only way to accomplish this is to integrate both experienced and non-experienced personnel. Our teamwork is not only the backbone of our present success, but is the key to safeguarding the future of our Air Force and America.
Thank you for all your hard work during the ROCKEX, for your willingness to face and overcome challenges, and your demonstration of teamwork.
TOP STORY > >Hercules Dining Facility ribbon cutting ceremony, grand opening
By Airman Rochelle R. Clace
The 19th Services Squadron held a ribbon cutting ceremony outside of the new Hercules Dining Facility Nov. 7 in honor of the grand opening of the building.
The Hercules Dining Facility had been built to serve Little Rock personnel who support Combat Airlift. The facility is more than 1,900 square feet and was designed to meet the current and future needs of Little Rock. Many organizations helped with the design and construction of this facility. It has an enhanced serving area with a larger salad bar, improvements to the grab and go program and expanded seating by 60 percent.
The 19th SVS is proud to offer an outdoor dining area for its customers and coming soon, wireless internet. With its open ceiling and spacious layout the facility provides a true dining pleasure to the Airmen.
“We’re here to celebrate what is really improving the quality of life for our Airmen and we’re doing that through the opening of this Hercules Dining Facility,” said Col. James Johnson, 19th Airlift Wing vice commander.
“I think it’s important to keep in perspective that we’re leaving a facility that’s over 50 years old and all the challenges you have with maintaining a facility that’s [that old],” said Colonel Johnson.
“It’s like putting on a new addition to your house and then inviting your friends and family over to celebrate it,” said Colonel Johnson. “So let’s continue celebrating this beautiful facility.”
The Hercules Dining Facility is one more reason Airmen are proud to live and serve on Little Rock Air Force Base.
“I congratulate you for this facility and I want you to know, once again, how much we all value the service and contribution of you and your families,” said Congressman Snyder.
COMMENTARY>>The value of the 314 AW brand
By Col. Mark Vlahos
314th Airlift Wing Vice commander
For more than four decades now, the 314th Airlift Wing and Little Rock Air Force Base have been home to the world’s premier C-130 Flying Training Unit. When people around the world talk or think about the mission of Little Rock AFB, they mention the world-class classroom, simulator, flying and maintenance training that goes on every day — this is the value of the 314th Airlift Wing brand. Recently, a contingent from the United Arab Emirates visited the base; why? To see how we train our C-130 force. Their final comment was simple: “we want to build a Little Rock AFB — meaning training center of excellence— in our country.” We routinely hear these comments from our allied partners, and they validate the value of the 314 AW brand.
The 314 AW plays a key role in the Air Education and Training Command continuum of training. We are the final stop in the flight training continuum for all students before they check into their operational C-130 units. The 314 AW provides graduate-level flight training for all crew positions, in both the C-130E and C-130J. When the 314 AW graduates a student, with that graduation comes a brand or seal that the crewmember is certified as combat ready. I like to think of it as a stamp on the forehead of every graduate, the C-130 FTU seal of approval — our brand. For any crewmember, the very next flight after graduating from the FTU could very well be on a deployment in support of the global war on terrorism. The 314 AW is a true force multiplier for every combatant commander; we provide combat-ready crewmembers to sustain the force. Every C-130 mission supporting the global war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan saves American lives by taking convoys off the road.
Every C-130 mission flown in the world can trace its roots to the 314 AW and Little Rock AFB.
As Gen. Lorenz stated, the mission and importance of Little Rock AFB is bigger than the mission of its component wings. Even though base ownership has changed, the mission of Team Rock and the 314th Airlift Wing has not. As a separate wing, the 314th AW can focus on our critical mission of training the world’s best Combat Airlifters to fly, fight and win. With the support of the host wing and our Air National Guard partners in the 189th Airlift Wing, our importance is essential and growing. The 314 AW brand or FTU seal of approval that we provide for all services and 34 nations reverberates around the world. Our stock has never been higher — training is essential to winning the GWOT and future conflicts. Like I said in paragraph one, when people talk or think about Little Rock AFB they think about the C-130 Training Center of Excellence, not just in our Air Force, but in air forces around the globe. That’s the value of the 314 AW brand.
COMMENTARY>>Simple techniques to have a happy and safe holiday
Simple techniques to have a happy and safe holiday
By Col. David Stanczyk
19th Medical Group commander
It’s Nov. 14. Halloween’s past. The election’s past. The World Series has passed. Now, all eyes are looking forward to the holidays. It’s a wonderful, traditional time to get together with family and friends. However, it’s also a time where injuries increase, usually due to a lack of situational awareness and not applying risk management practices to the home life.
Since 2000, the average annual number of fatalities on the road over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is 573. Half of these victims were not wearing seatbelts. Nationwide, seatbelt usage is about 80 percent. It doesn’t take a genius to take the last two sentences together and realize that you are far more likely to survive an automobile crash if you wear your seatbelt.
Plenty of accidents can also happen in the home. To avoid burns in the kitchen, do not wear tops with long, baggy sleeves.
Also, always use potholders and treat every dish as if scalding hot. If you do suffer a burn injury, immediately run cool tap water over the affected area and then cover it with a sterile dressing or dry cloth. This will both reduce the discomfort and help prevent infection. If the burn is more severe and blistering occurs, seek immediate medical attention. Fires can also happen, so do not leave cooking food, fires or candles unattended.
Choking is another important hazard for both children and adults. Some main causes are inadequate chewing and also talking or laughing while eating. Remember your mother scolding you as a child for talking with your mouth full? This is why. So take your time, chew thoroughly and of course supervise your children. One other point is that alcohol inhibits the nerves that assist swallowing, making choking more likely if inebriated, so drink responsibly and not at all if driving.
Using such simple techniques to mitigate risk can help ensure everyone has a happy and safe holiday. Enjoy!
VIEW FROM TOP>>Can you hear me now?
I believe that many of our challenges and opportunities are tied to one important component, and that is our ability to effectively communicate. I attempt to go to a different part of the base everyday to better understand how our leadership can better support our people and their families. Yet, it amazes me how many things come to my attention that I believe could be worked at lower levels.
I don’t say this as a complaint, because I’m happy that people feel like they can bring concerns to me. Although I do recognize that this is not the best way to get concerns addressed. There are many layers between the wing and those at the execution level of our operation who have opportunities to respond to issues affecting those around them. So what I’m asking everyone to do is to take a look at how they can connect and communicate better with those around them.
People typically are more concerned about getting their point across and often sacrifice their ability to listen. Some listen just to determine when they can jump in to offer a rebuttal versus trying to understand why the other person has the articulated point of view.
Battles have been lost, marriages compromised, business deals faltered, and friendships broken due to poor communication. Someone once said we were given two ears and one mouth as a sign that we should listen twice as much as we speak. Good listening skills let the other party know that you value them and what they have to say. It does not have to mean you agree with everything they say; but it shows you are at least trying to understand them.
As we continue to be the best for our nation, family, and community take the time to listen to better understand one another.
VIEW FROM TOP>>Revving up for the ROCKEX
It’s another great week for Team Little Rock. On Wednesday, we received word that six senior master sergeants on base will be promoted to the highest enlisted rank. To Chief Master Sgt. Select Fred Graves, 314th Operations Group; Greg Kollbaum, 53rd Airlift Squadron; Valeria Richardson, 19th Medical Operations Squadron; John Spillane, 29th Weapons Squadron; Timothy Standish, 19th Security Forces Squadron; and Michael Edwards, 19th Mission Support Squadron, congratulations! This is a direct testament to your hard work throughout your career. This promotion means you are being recognized for your unique talents and the personal characteristics required to lead Air Force people and programs.
When Congress established the rank of chief master sergeant in 1958, they set a ceiling of 1 percent for promotion. There are currently less than 3,000 chief master sergeants serving in the Air Force. This year, only 520 eligible E-8s were selected for promotion. I encourage all of you to congratulate the six selectees on base for their success in this great accomplishment.
I will be calling on these newest promotees and all members of the 19th Airlift Wing to buckle down in the week ahead. We are heading into our first ever ROCKEX as members of Air Mobility Command. How we exercise our capabilities has changed, but how we conduct business has not. This ROCKEX is an opportunity for us to showcase once again what I know you’re all capable of – fly, fight and win Combat Airlift-style.
A lot of hard work and planning has already gone into making this ROCKEX a success. I ask that you do the job you were trained to do in the safe, efficient way you were trained to do it. Now is not the time to “make it pretty” to impress evaluators. This is an opportunity for us to get it right. This exercise comes on the heels of an operational readiness inspection in which we excelled. We should take the lessons learned from that exercise and apply them now.
Your senior leaders and I have asked a lot of you in 2008 – the ORI, the host base transfer, 4-star visits, real world deployments and this ROCKEX – and you have demonstrated time and again that we have what it takes to succeed. Every time we exercise, we’re developing ways to take Combat Airlift to the next level. The warfighters on the ground in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and the newly-formed Africa Command count on us to provide them with the most professional and proficient Combat Airlift on the planet. Getting it right here allows us to get it right out there.
Thank you again for your dedication and enthusiasm. I am motivated by your service and proud to serve with you every day.
TOP STORY > >Freedom Isn’t Free
By Lt. Col. Nathan Allerheiligen
62nd Airlift Squadron Director of Operations
In his book “End of the Spear”, missionary Steve Saint describes his life with an Amazonian tribe in which every person was completely free to do as they wished and completely equal in every aspect. Although that sounds like a great society to be in, free and equal, in truth that tribe was documented as the most violent society known to man. There wasn’t a single person in the tribe who hadn’t been affected by the rampant killings and vendettas. That tribe was killing itself into extinction in spite of their freedom and equality.
The foundations of liberty, freedom, equality and justice, that are the underpinnings of our great nation, have grown from centuries of thought, trial and the great leadership of men who could see that the fundamental purpose of the government is not to hand out a free lunch. Instead, the ultimate role of the government is to provide the foundational definitions of accepted behavior, the appropriate repercussions and consequences for violating those rules and to execute the punishments justly, fairly, equitably and quickly. In short, the freedoms of all are limited in order to maximize liberty, promote peaceful living and enhance the prosperity of everyone.
As Steve Saint wrote, “On some level, every society has to be willing to kill in order to exist. During my lifetime, there have been five international conflicts in which American soldiers havebeen required to kill and die under the assumption that they were doing it so the rest of us could live. The perpetuation of a society requires that some have to be willing to give up all their liberty so that others can go on living and be free and happy.”
The United States has also extended that protection of the liberty of all through the defense of all. The U.S. military services stand as the nation’s guardian from those who would wish to exercise their freedoms, and try to harm our great country. We have declared war on terrorism in order to carry out two fundamental tasks: protect our liberty from those who seek to destroy it and to extend the protection of our liberties to other people who have the same unalienable rights that we feel that every man, woman and child are granted.
This long war is so much more than a regional conflict. Rather, it is a test of the fundamental fabric of society. To ignore the issue is to give up your liberty. The sacrifice of the men and women who serve in the world’s greatest Air Force is far more than an occupational hazard. Our dedicated service is truly a calling to the transcendental cause of liberty. We gladly give of our time, talents, treasure and our lives in order that those we love and adore are protected. Our hearts also extend to the camaraderie of our fellow warriors and the ideals of our great nation.
To those who have answered that great and difficult calling, the defense of liberty, we give the highest honor and respect. Yet, it is we who wear the uniform and march, sail and fly into battle who are the ones who are blessed, for we see that the cost is small compared to the prize: It is our privilege, our honor and our reward to serve.
COMMENTARY>>Wingman: Protection against unseen danger
I am an American Airman. Wingman, Leader and Warrior
Fixed wing aircraft entered combat in World War I, but first encounters between rival Airmen brought chivalrous waves rather than direct hostilities. As the impact of airpower’s potential was felt on the battlefield, combatants realized the enormous advantage that control of the air provided, and chivalry turned into a life-or-death struggle in the skies. Single aircraft in combat quickly learned they had blind spots in their six o’clock position and that an unseen enemy was deadly. Wingmen developed out of a necessity to protect against unseen danger.
The role of a wingman is the same today. A good wingman helps us avoid unseen dangers by watching our six. For example, a wingman protects his fellow Airman when their judgment is impaired by alcohol and makes sure they don’t drink and drive.
We are all familiar with this description of being a good wingman, but I would like to offer two other types of unseen danger that a wingman must combat—complacency and “being liked.”
The first unseen danger is complacency and stagnation—the enemies of continuous improvement. As you’ve heard me say before, we face a thinking and adaptive enemy, and we must continually improve to be successful in future battles that we and our students will fight. We are either “green and growing, or ripe and rotting”; the difference is often a wingman that sees our blind spots and challenges us to improve by getting us out of our comfort zone.
The second unseen and insidious danger is the false assumption that “being liked” is equivalent to leadership. Many supervisors fail to correct substandard performance because they believe the individual won’t think as highly of them. In fact, the opposite is true; leaders who care about their troops will insist on high standards and adherence to technical order procedures and directives. In our profession, the standards we set will be measured in mission success during future operations and contingencies. There is a high price for low standards. Good wingmen and professional Airmen show leadership by setting high standards and are usually rewarded by watching their Airmen exceed all expectations. Similarly, units with high standards—uniform, facilities, behavior, professionalism—generate high morale and superior mission performance.
Be a good wingman and don’t let a fellow Airman fall to the unseen enemies of complacency and “being liked.”
COMMENTARY>>Am I having a drink or drinking?
By Col. George Risse
19th Mission Support Group commander
I vividly remember my mother’s sharp intake of breath as the completely dark car pulled across our headlights. It seemed like slow motion as our car slammed into the side of the emerging vehicle, the impact sending both vehicles spinning. The five children, my brothers and sisters, in our car were tossed like ragdolls. I watched in horror as the force threw my mother’s door open and she lost her grip on the steering wheel. She disappeared into the darkness of the road as the car continued to spin. We were fortunate that evening, neither car rolled over, following traffic stopped quickly and although my mother sustained a head injury and severe bruises, none of us were seriously hurt. I remember walking over to look at the other car, sitting like a grey hulk in the darkness. Even though I was 10 years old, as I looked at the man passed out in the front seat, the overwhelming smell of booze was unmistakable. We were another victim of a drunk driver.
Francis and Janet couldn’t have been happier. Their only daughter, the light of their lives, was due with their first grandchild in less than a month. As they drove home that evening, the speeding car coming over the hill in the wrong lane killed them on impact. When they pried the wreckage apart, their bodies were discovered with their arms wrapped around each other in a last loving embrace. They were two more victims of a drunk driver. That first grandchild, that they never had a chance to see, is now my wife.
Those are my personal connections to the dangers of drinking and driving. Virtually everyone has a family member, relative or close friend whose life has been changed by a drunk driver. You would think that I would be hard over on the subject, but occasionally I do have a glass of wine with dinner at a restaurant or a beer with a friend at a bar. The truth is I don’t have a cab waiting outside. I believe the most important part of the issue is personal responsibility. There is a difference between having a drink and drinking. Most people can have a drink or two and be nowhere near the legal limit for driving under the influence, but by the time you decide to have that third drink, you’re no longer having a drink, you’re drinking. That’s the point where personal responsibility is critical, and it shouldn’t take a wingman to stop you or make other plans for your transportation.
The public trusts us with their most important things: their sons and daughters, nuclear weapons and the defense of our nation. Responsibility is the most basic tenet of our profession as servicemembers. When I became thecommander of the mission support group, I had the misfortune of having three DUIs occur within my first two weeks of command. In every single case, a wingman never had a chance to intervene. These were bad personal decisions that fortunately were stopped by police rather than by an accident. It’s important to go back to the basics, just like we are throughout our Air Force, and emphasize that there are some things we don’t do. Drinking and driving needs to be one of them. You notice I didn’t say having a drink, because I simply don’t believe most people will find another way home after just having a drink. But for most people, I don’t care how much they weigh, if they’re having more than two, they’re no longer having a drink, they’re drinking and they shouldn’t drive. That needs to be part of your mindset. So I’ve asked my Airmen to set a personal line and mantra, three gets my keys. Some people may be a little lighter and need to have a stricter line, but no one should be thinking that they’re still just having a drink when they reach for that third beer. That should be the point at which they make the personal decision and if they decide to have three, then three gets my keys!
VIEW FROM TOP>>An ounce of prevention
Many of us have heard the term “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Lately, I have really been reflecting on how much work, pain, frustration and aggravation we endure when we don’t apply this adage.
An ounce of prevention when going out, such as having a good plan to execute, can save much damage to one’s life and livelihood when drinking. I can’t tell you how many people express remorse when they have been in my office when I was a first sergeant after a DUI. They clearly knew the simple steps that could have been taken to ensure safety of those around them as well as preventing the loss of career and finances.
An ounce of prevention can lead to better quality of life. Yet many people don’t apply this principle. The ill effects of smoking or carrying excess weight can lead to a poor quality of life down the road. I can reflect on family members who battled through tough times due to not practicing proper health considerations. If you are fortunate enough to have good health, it’s important to do all you can to maintain it through proper diet and exercise.
In our professions we can save time and efforts by following established procedures. When we violate safety or checklist discipline we all end up stopping our work because we have injured someone or compromised a mission. Yet, if we approach our daily tasks with attention to detail, we will not have to repeat the same task twice.
In our families showing you care and clearly communicating can limit the amount of stress you endure due to misunderstandings. At the end of the day I truly believe if we take the daily dose of an ounce of prevention that we will all lead better and more prosperous lives.
VIEW FROM TOP>>Honoring our Veterans
I would like to thank everyone who made Gen. Arthur J. Lichte’s, Air Mobility Command commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Barron’s, Air Mobility Command command chief, visit a success. They were both very impressed by all the Airmen of Team Little Rock.
During their visit, General Lichte had a chance to attend our Community Council luncheon and accepted a check for $5 million from the Honorable Tommy Swaim, City of Jacksonville mayor, on behalf of the Air Force. The citizens of Jacksonville raised the money to help us build a joint education center.
The general and I were also afforded the opportunity to meet members of the 306th Bombardment Group. It was an honor and a privilege to dine with these living legends. They were the first U.S. Army Air Force unit over Germany during World War II.
One member of their unit, Maynard Harrision Smith, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic deeds during their bombing missions.
On Monday, we will honor these great men and the tens of millions of Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces at a Veteran’s Day retreat ceremony at Heritage Park. I ask you all to take the opportunity on Veteran’s Day to reflect on the contributions of the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. Their role and the role you fulfill today, have been vital to maintaining our freedoms and the way of life enjoyed by the people of our great nation.
We are an all-volunteer force. Our military men and women serve eagerly and willingly, displaying a quiet courage and exemplary service. This Veterans Day, it’s important to remember these heroes for their loyalty, dedication and valor. Let the sacrifices and courage of all who have served before you inspire you today as we work, as a military and as a nation, toward advancing peace and extending freedom around the world.
I am proud to serve with you, and I thank you and your families for your dedication and sacrifice to our team, our mission and our country. Combat Airlift!
TOP STORY > >Paving the way for a new travel reimb...
COMMENTARY>>Alice, balanced scorecard and Wonderla...
COMMENTARY>>Not only our President, our Commander ...
TOP STORY > >LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE CAMPAIGN P...
TOP STORY > >Hercules Dining Facility ribbon cutti...
COMMENTARY>>Simple techniques to have a happy and ...
COMMENTARY>>Wingman: Protection against unseen dan...
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Offutt AFB security intensified since 9/11
by Bill Kelly
Click the image to visit the program page for NET News' latest documentary, "STRATCOM 9/11," which premieres Friday, Sept. 2nd at 7 and 10 p.m. on NET 1.
"Fall in!" shouts a terse Air Force Sergeant pulling the evening duty shift together at the base of operations for the 55th Security Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base.
The diverse group men and women lining up in tight formation have the no-nonsense air of people you don't want to mess with. It's a mix of both Air Force and Navy personnel. That reflects the presence of the base's highest-profile component: the headquarters of the United States Strategic Command. It's here that the nation's nuclear arsenal, ready on land, sea and air, is coordinated.
They listen at attention as their leader tells them "we are currently in BaseCon Alpha with select Bravo measures," which means nothing unusual in their security routine as the shift begins. Back when they were being trained, they got some stern advice about nights like this from long-timers like Staff Sergeant Jason Winkle.
"Always be ready," he tells them. "You never know what's going to happen (or) when it's going to happen. Train like you fight and you'll be fine."
It's the most important lesson he and others walked away from while on duty on September 11, 2001.
Their duty officer breaks up their formation, barking out, "Flight, attention! Post!" and they head off to make their rounds.
This is a new era in security on America's military bases. Air Force Security Forces Training now lasts 65 days, almost a full week more than was required prior to 2001. The intensive course teaches everything from and recovery of nuclear weapons to using pepper spray.
"The course was lengthened post-9/11 to make sure the security forces had all the skillsets they needed to do the job they're doing," Lt. Col. Mike Kelly, 343rd Training Squadron commander, told the Air Force News Service.
STRATCOM 9/11
PHOTO: Bill Kelly, NET News
NET News videographer Brian Seifferlein records an "active shooter response" drill at Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, Nebraska.
Videographer: Brian Seifferlein
Security officials at Offutt Air Force Base explain how they've adjusted since 2001
Offutt's main gate before a major security overhaul following 9/11
On a muggy July afternoon, Technical Sergeant Tim Cross made his afternoon rounds, ready to address anything from a routine traffic accident to a security breach.
Driving in his security vehicle and between radio transmissions he told NET News, "The training I've received has been goodm meaningful training that will actually help us counter-react to a terrorist situation."
On the other side of the base, in a bland, sand-colored garage, a half dozen stone-faced security officers in military camouflage with an impressive arsenal work their way through a plywood mock-up of an office complex, taking instructions by walkie-talkie. They're in a training exercise simulating an "active shooter" on base.
A crackling voice advises the armed team called "Delta One" that "medic have been notified" just as simulated gunfire erupts. They burst through the door of the office, weapons drawn, and take down the "shooter."
The layout of this fake office is unique: It mirrors the floor plan of the highly secure underground command center of the United States Strategic Command, where nuclear weapons are controlled.
Security trainer Winkle explains that this sort of training plays "a huge part" in how a real situation could unfold for security officers - in other words, if someone will live or die.
"The more people you can get inside," he said, "the faster you can take care of the active shooter (and) the fewer people will get hurt."
To an observer, that seems more like police SWAT team work than a response to terrorism. However, everyone in U.S. military security learned important lessons in 2009 when Maj. Nidal Hasan shot and killed 13 fellow soldiers and 32 others at the massive Fort Hood army base in Texas. That was labeled an act of domestic terrorism by prosecutors.
In the ten years since he worked as a security officer the day of the September 11 attacks, Sgt. Winkle became part of a culture of hyper-concern about security at Offutt Air Force Base.
"Everything changed," Winkle told NET News. "Our whole mindframe, the atmosphere. Everything changed. You come to work, the job you do is important, and that's what people had to come back to and realize - that we have an important job to do."
Cross remembers what that day was like.
"We all put our gear on. Helmets. Protective armor. We just didn't know what was out there and our base could be a potential target," he said, admitting he was "very nervous. I think it's that fear of the unknown."
That day, the job of every security officer on base changed dramatically. It shows the minute you arrive at Offutt's front gate. Without the proper identification card, no one just drives on base anymore. Every single car gets stopped, at least briefly. That's a big change from ten years ago.
"(Pre-)9/11 you would just have the little sticker, they would wave you on in and then you could go park," recalled Patricia Nekuda, a civilian employee working as mailroom supervisor at the Strategic Command headquarters. Visitors not working at the base must stop, get out of their car, register, and be escorted onto base.
That's still a step down from the frightening level of armed security they faced the first few weeks after the terrorist attacks. Nekuda remembers her first day back on base.
"We come through the gate, and they had a .45-caliber (gun) pointed at the people coming onto the base. In my mind I'm going, 'Those are loaded!'" she said. "There's no more games. There's no more exercises. This is for real."
According to the man who coordinates security on base, Offutt has one of the busiest visitor control centers in the Strategic command.
"That's why we do 100 percent ID checks and some background checks on everyone coming into the installation,"
Chief Master Sergeant L.D. Retelle of the 55th Wing Security Squadron told NET News.
One major change since 9/11 is to not let his security teams fall into predictable patterns, he continued.
"We do what we call random anti-terrorism measures," Ratelle said. "Every now and then we'll check everyone in the car, not just the person holding the ID card, and do a 100 percent check."
That can include using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System maintained by the FBI to check for any outstanding arrest warrants a base visitor might have. He said it's important "just to see their need to come on the installation. It's pretty robust."
It's Offutt's goal to have everyone on base, whether on the security force or not, to take responsibility for safety. Take Heather Jackson, who works at the base medical clinic. Since 9/11, she said she knows that even as a civilian worker, security is no longer just up to the uniformed patrols.
"You don't take for granted, and you don't turn the other way as easily, when you see something that just isn't quite right," she said. "If something in your gut is telling you something is not right, you're most likely correct."
Rumsfeld reflects on Offutt Air Force Base role on 9/11
BEST OF 2011: Military insiders tell of Bush 9/11 visit for the first time
Documentary remembers 9/11 in Nebraska
Reacting to a different doomsday at Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base Works to Clean Up and Rebuild After Flooding
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Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona Wants State Moved from the Ninth Circuit
Submitted by Alexander J. Segal on February 1, 2016 - 2:04am
The Associated Press reports1 that Governor Doug Ducey (R) of Arizona is pushing to have Arizona taken out of the appellate jurisdiction of the Ninth Circuit Court of the Appeals. In this post, I will explain how the Ninth Circuit fits in the appellate court system and the reasons why the Governor of Arizona is pushing to have his state moved from the Ninth Circuit.
Background: The Circuit Courts
The United States has thirteen circuit courts. The First through Eleventh circuits and the D.C. Circuit cover geographic regions, while the Federal Circuit Court has subject-matter jurisdiction only. For perspective, New York is part of the Second Circuit while New Jersey is part of the Third Circuit.
Among the circuits, the Ninth Circuit is notable for its size. Based in California, the Ninth Circuit has jurisdiction over appeals arising from Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Alaska, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Due to its scope, the Ninth Circuit has by far the largest caseload (around 12,000 appeals filed per year) and the most judges (29) among the circuits. The Ninth Circuit also sees a significant number of immigration cases given its geography and size.
Why Arizona Wants Out
Governor Ducey of Arizona cites multiple reasons for wanting to leave the Ninth Circuit. First, Ducey notes that the Ninth Circuit is overburdened, given its size and the number of appeals it sees. Second, Ducey notes that the Ninth Circuit generally has a disproportionate number of its decisions that reach the Supreme Court reversed. In fact, many Republicans have long complained that the Ninth Circuit has, in general, a liberal tilt in its judicial decision-making.
Governor Ducey offers two options for what he wants to see happen. Ducey suggests that either Congress creates a new Circuit (thereby splitting the Ninth Circuit into two) or that Arizona is absorbed into the Tenth Circuit, a smaller Circuit based in Denver. To this effect, Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) is proposing legislation for breaking up the Ninth Circuit into two.
Chances of Success
To put it mildly, we should not expect to see either a Twelfth Circuit or Arizona moved to the Tenth Circuit in the immediate future.
First, regardless of the merits of Arizona's arguments about the size of the Ninth Circuit, both of its proposals will be seen as politically motivated by many liberal groups and elected Democrats. For example, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has long opposed breaking up the Ninth Circuit, and instead advocates for appointing new judges. Dan Pochoda of the American Civil Liberties Union outright accused Governor Ducey of so-called “circuit shopping.”
Second, even if compromise is possible, it will not be possible in the lead-up to the 2016 elections. Although people will rightfully focus on the Presidential election, it is important to remember that about one-third of the sitting U.S. Senators and every U.S. House member will be up for election. Suffice it to say, the closer we get to November, the less likely Congress is to consider, much less pass, large, complicated, and potentially contentious pieces of legislation.
If the Ninth Circuit consisted only of California, it would be responsible for more people than any of the other Circuits. If you turned the rest of the Ninth Circuit (besides California) into a circuit, it would cover about as many people as both the Second and the Third Circuit.2 To be sure, there are valid and completely non-ideological arguments in favor of breaking up the Ninth Circuit. Although it is debatable whether it is the most overburdened Circuit given the number of Judges it has, it indisputably stands out among the circuits for both its geographic size and the number of people it covers.
However, I do not think simply moving Arizona to the Tenth Circuit is the answer. Namely, if the main issue with the Ninth Circuit is its size, simply moving Arizona to the much smaller Tenth Circuit would not address the underlying issue in the Ninth. Advocates for restructuring the Ninth Circuit are best served seeking a solution that would bring the scope of the Ninth Circuit more in line with its sister circuits.
An additional concern with simply relocating Arizona is that it would open the door for a flood of other states to seek new Circuits, given that the move would be seen as having a partisan element. However, I do think that simply writing off the “political” considerations of Arizona is shortsighted, regardless of one's political persuasion or opinion of the Ninth Circuit's jurisprudence. People of all political persuasions fervently advocate for or against judges being confirmed to the circuits. For those who have a more complex understanding of law and legal philosophy than checking the party of the sitting President, there are numerous reasons for supporting or opposing a judicial appointment. If the elected officials and representatives of a state believe that their state is not well-served by its appellate court system, then there is no reason why it is inherently illegitimate to seek an appropriate remedy. That does not mean that reassignment in this or any other case should be granted, but rather that simply seeking the remedy itself should not be categorically dismissed as petty politics.
Christe, Bob, “Arizona Governor Wants to Split 9th Circuit Court of Appeals,” ap.org, (Jan. 28, 2016), available at http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ARIZONA_GOVERNOR_9TH_CIRCUIT
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_courts_of_appeals#Circuit_population
Alexander J. Segal's blog
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Musharraf’s last stand 30 January 2014
A look at the difficulties and implications of trying a military ruler in Pakistan as Musharraf prepares to leave the country.
Flickr / World Economic Forum
One evening in November 2013, a delegation of ex-associates came to call on Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf at his heavily-guarded farmhouse on the outskirts of Islamabad. It was a last-ditch attempt by one sitting and one retired minister to warn the former dictator, who had been under house arrest after returning to the country in March, that it was time to leave.
Musharraf was said to be quiet, and asked only one question repeatedly: “Why should I leave?” There were no answers, just silence. The former commando seemed to sense he would eventually be a free man after months of legal tango. His intuition proved correct – at least temporarily. By the next day he had been granted bail in all of the four high-profile legal cases that had hounded him since his return to Pakistan, including the cases related to his alleged involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and the deaths of Baloch nationalist Akbar Bugti and Islamist cleric Abdur Rasheed Ghazi.
But his freedom was to be short-lived. The Pakistani government would soon accuse him of having subverted the constitution in his 2007 imposition of emergency rule, a charge punishable by death or life imprisonment, and one which Musharraf and his camp have vehemently denied.
Not an ordinary citizen
A photo of the former general, relaxing with an aide and his dogs and celebrating his liberation, was released hours before Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would announce a special tribunal to try Musharraf for high treason according to Article Six of the Pakistani Constitution, making him the first ex-dictator to face such a charge. This article stipulates that any person who, by force or any other unconstitutional act, tries to subvert, suspend or conspire against the Constitution can be punished by death or life imprisonment.
But at the moment the picture was taken, Musharraf did not seem worried. He was enjoying time at home with his friends. By returning to Pakistan from a safe and glamorous life of golf, dinners, and a flourishing career in public speaking, he had defied the advice of many friends and enemies alike.
“Why did I come back? Everyone was telling me not to return, because there were these dangers or those dangers, it’s because I am not an ordinary citizen,” said Musharraf in December 2013, in his first interview since he was technically freed.
Indeed Musharraf is not an ordinary citizen. He rose from a middle-class background to a long career in the Armed Forces. He became the Chief of Army Staff in the Pakistan military, and then President, effectively ruling the country for nine years.
“Explaining this is important because I am not thinking like that of an ordinary citizen, who just needs to pack his suitcase and buy a ticket home to Pakistan, I have run this government and do it well, so I am thinking above the level of an ordinary citizen, I am thinking for the nation and its people,” he said in the interview.
Most political analysts have assumed that the current Pakistan Muslim League-led government does not have the political will or backbone to deal with the potential backlash that could come from trying a senior military man like Musharraf. This is despite a July 2009 Supreme Court judgment which held Musharraf responsible for violating the Constitution. The intrigue surrounding Musharraf derives from the uncertainty associated with Pakistani politics. The last elections were a landmark for Pakistan’s nascent democracy, as they marked the first hand-over of power from one civilian government to another. This happened at a time when the Pakistani Taliban, a group which has also targeted Musharraf had declared a violent jihad on the election campaigns of three of the major incumbent political parties: the former ruling Pakistan People’s Party and its coalition partners, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party.
The instability of Pakistani politics works in the favour of the military, which is still a very powerful lobby and has serious clout over the political proceedings in the country. In another interview given on 30 December, Musharraf had explained that the whole army was upset by his trial and that they would never like anything to happen to an ex-army chief. Musharraf’s own legal team, which has been aggressive in its tone, held various meetings with ex-servicemen, and publicly pleaded that he be tried by military court instead of the assigned Special Court.
Ikram Sehgal, a pro-military columnist for the English daily The News, decried the charges against Musharraf. He argued that the army was the single-most positive factor in Pakistan for peace and tranquility. “It is in our self-interest to sustain and motivate this fine Army and not resort to self-flagellation,” he stated. Statements like this have reinforced the ideological support for the military, whose role many experts believe is on the decline.
In many of his public appearances, Musharraf has referred to his past as a commando in the Pakistan Army Special Service Group, and his time as a young military officer at the Pakistan Military Academy. It was in the latter place that he took the oath “I will go by land, air or sea, wherever ordered even to the peril of my life,” which he uses as justification for his actions. His argument is similar to previous rulers, in that the parameters of law can be pushed in the better interest of the country.
He is open about his regime’s decision to impose martial law in November 2007, and said that he was bound by his oath as Army officer. “If you’re faced with the question of defending the rule of law or defending the nation, my understanding is that I always have to defend the nation, always, and I would do it again, that’s my inner conviction,” said Musharraf.
Musharraf’s representation of Pakistan tries to capitalise on the internal contradiction that surrounds the role of military dictators and their standing in the country. The arrogance and bravado is reinforced by his time in uniform, and his sense of entitlement leads him to assert that his decisions whilst in power were similar to a general leading his troops in battle, done to protect the nation state from an abstract and obscure threat.
Legal expert and renowned columnist Babar Sattar attempted to shed light on the enigma of Musharraf and his treason trial in the daily Dawn:
“Musharraf’s is a hard case for it is about things that divide us as a society: need for democracy; rule of law; and khaki sense of entitlement. Looking at the bright side: we seem to have made incremental progress. Notwithstanding seething contempt for democracy and rule of law evident in the words of those who made hay under Musharraf, the main argument on paper has moved to whether the treason trial will strengthen or threaten rule of law and democracy.”
Leaders on trial
The Musharraf trial has failed to gain much popular support since the country’s noisy private media has questioned the wisdom of trying the general at a time when Pakistan is facing a raging Taliban insurgency and a free-falling economy. Also, mainstream politicians from leading political parties have been equally careful with what they say concerning the trial. Three senior senators, Current Finance Minister Ishaq Dar of PML-N, Raza Rabbani of the Pakistan People’s Party, and Zahid Khan of the Awami National Party, received threatening letters due to their repeated demands to try Musharraf under Article Six.
Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, a professor of political science at the Quaid-i-Azam University, states: “I think the furore has already died down, so the trials do not mean much now. But in principle trying a chief of army staff would be of great significance because the ‘sacred cow’ syndrome would be put to bed forever… The issue is more the fear of the army, no mainstream politician wants to stick their neck out and take on the army for fear of being censured, or even eliminated.”
Since the legal cases have slowly begun, the view is that trying Musharraf could mean that the civilian government would be at odds with the military. Historically, no dictator or military man of Musharraf’s stature has been tried and convicted by a court. Whenever the military has overthrown a civilian government (in 1958, 1977, and then 1999), it has justified its actions in the name of national interest. The governance structure hence has catered to former military men and bureaucrats who for a long time retained widespread powers in a system that was generally described as a military-bureaucratic oligarchy due to the history of suppressing politics in the country. It is also well-known that a career in the military offers perks, financial gain, and a feeling of entitlement for officers, as documented by Ayesha Siddiqa in her iconic book Military Inc.
The power of military men is rarely talked about in the Pakistani media, due to the laws which forbid defamation of the armed forces. It is only recently that the courts have on some levels tried to dispel the notion that there is a parallel system of justice for the military alongside the one applied to civilians.
The closest the courts have got to actually trying a general for criminal conspiracy occurred in 2012. The Supreme Court issued a verdict against the former Chief of Army Staff Aslam Beg, a former mentor of Musharraf’s, with whom he later fell out, and former ISI chief, Lieutenant General Asad Durrani. The courts ruled that the two former generals had used their respective institutions to bribe politicians and bureaucrats, and to forge a rightwing alliance led by current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against Benazir Bhutto in the 1990 general elections.
This case, which had collected dust for 15 years, revealed the lengths to which the military would go to ensure a government of their liking. Similar to Musharraf, the former generals Beg and Durrani had said that they had committed the crimes in the larger ‘national interest’ of the country. Since then, none of these generals have served jail time and there has been little attempt by the government to follow up on the case.
“Any case that has been tried or should be tried against a general has either never been started or is conveniently covered up. This isn’t just for the Chief of Army Staff, we are also talking about smaller ranking generals,” says Ali Aftab Saeed, front man of the satirical band Beygairat Brigade (Shameless Brigade).
Musharraf’s supporters and sympathisers say the political system itself could unravel if he stands trial, opening a Pandora’s box exposing the role of the political, bureaucratic and military elites in Pakistan in legitimising Musharraf’s imposition of the Emergency in 2007. Many members of this elite are in power today.
In June 2013 a senior member of the All Pakistan Muslim League (a party founded by Musharraf in 2010) disclosed that lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and Pakistan Awami Tehreek had assured extensive support for Musharraf when the time was ‘right’. Fawad Chaudhry, a former spokesperson and founding member of the APML, who eventually joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as an advisor to former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, says: “Frankly speaking, if you would ask me today what the political parties felt about trying Musharraf, they are really indifferent. But there is support, many top political leaders have a soft corner for the former general, but the reasoning at this point is why stand with him because at this point it brings them down.”
After ruling as a dictator for nine years, Musharraf casts a long shadow over Pakistan’s politics due to his links with leading politicians, judges, bureaucrats and the armed forces, many of whom are in their positions, one could say, because of Musharraf. His former party Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain came out in open support of the former dictator, and then Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain issued a seven-point demand that Musharraf alone should not be tried for treason, stating that those who aided him should be tried simultaneously. This has encouraged the perception that the trial is just a ploy to settle old scores.
“Most of these politicians were born out of dictators,” says Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, President of the small political party Awami Muslim League Pakistan. He adds that current Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself owes his political rise to General Zia-ul-Haq, who denationalised Sharif’s family business and helped make him one of the richest men in the country. Rasheed himself was once a member of Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League before joining Musharraf’s administration as a senior minister.
The trial of Musharraf is to cover old sins committed by the political elite, he says. In his speech to parliament in June 2013, Rasheed warned that the government’s decision to try Musharraf for treason could have serious consequences for the country. “The faces are the same, so I wonder what justice these politicians are now asking for. The reality is that the civilian governments have brought it on themselves, they are always unable to deliver and as result they pick fights with the institutions,” adds Rasheed, referring to the military and intelligence agencies.
A special court has been set up to try Musharraf for treason in a courtroom near the Prime Ministerial secretariat in Islamabad. The government has appointed 15 lawyers to try him, and the spectacle will be a highly watched battle.
Musharraf’s supporters and critics have emphasised legal nuances and the question of whether the case can be limited to Musharraf alone. Musharraf’s witness list includes over 700 names, starting with the recently retired Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and former Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Musharraf’s supporters claim there is a lingering grudge against their man, and have suggested the courts do not have a judge neutral enough to oversee the treason trial.
“The whole legal process has been biased, in our opinion. You can see what interests are driving the cases against Musharraf; there is a definite fear over what he stands for in terms of his politics, and legacy,” says Rashid Qureshi, the two-star general who was a close aide to Musharraf, and is now a spokesperson for the APML.
Musharraf’s defense team is led by the 90-year-old Sharifuddin Pirzada, known by some as the ‘Devil’s Advocate’ for his role in formulating the legal cover and paving the path for almost every dictatorship in the country’s history. His stature is defined by a form of evil genius that has allowed him to develop escape clauses for some of most controversial leaders in Pakistan.
“There will be symbolic value as he understands how the judicial system works and he has had that sort of influence where he can stare into the judge’s eyes, and make him question his past character and the judiciary’s past compromises with dictators,” says Matiullah Jan, a journalist who has closely covered the workings of the Pakistani legal system, and is the host of Apna Apna Gareban, a popular investigative journalism show.
Already, considerable delays have marked the opening of the treason case. The trial was meant to start on 24 December but the hearing was delayed after explosives and a detonator were found on the way to the court house. A week later, on 2 January, after several security scares Musharraf mysteriously suffered heart issues on the way to the court house. These led to reports in leading US news outlets that Musharraf was likely going to be allowed to return to exile on the pretext of medical treatment. Around the same time, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal held a press conference in Islamabad during a two-day visit to the city to dispel rumours that the Saudi Government would act as a guarantor to take Musharraf back into exile.
This has spiked rumours that Musharraf may be given a safe exit. Still, the scars of dictators from the country’s history are very visible. Former PPP minister Malik Mukhtar Awan spent nearly 12 years in various jails throughout the 1980s due to his struggle against another dictator, General Zia-ul-Haq. The torture and abuse he experienced has meant that he rarely mentions the name ‘Zia’ in his recollections of Pakistan politics. He sees this as the time to undo the old system of deferring to the military. “All this talk of opening a Pandora’s box are simply delay tactics, the reality is we have no space for a state within a state anymore…These types of decisions take a while, but it’s very clear that the old adage applies, that justice delayed will be seen as justice denied,” says Awan.
But there is a sense of irony for people like Awan. The sound of Musharraf being let off, or finding an exit strategy, is a story they have heard before. This is a country where democratic leaders have been persecuted and dictators freed. This is the same country in which a popularly-elected prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was sent to the gallows on 4 April 1979, to legitimise the rule of military dictator Zia-ul-Haq. In Musharraf’s case, the prospect of his trial may never go away, but it is widely believed that any punishment for his time in power may not come any time soon.
~Sher Ali Khan is a journalist with the Express Tribune.
0 #2 Imran 2014-02-11 05:10
Well written exposé regarding inappropriately justified corrupt behavior that seems to repeat itself quite often amongst historical figures in a position of power. The voice of the masses needs this sort of amplification through clarity- bravo to the writer, a people's champ per say.
+1 #1 Rizwana 2014-01-31 11:34
A profound article on the shenanigans of a Pakistani general. It is a true reflection on all the ego maniacs in uniforms who decimate the democracies, trample on human rights and set national interest as justification for their dastardly deeds.
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Biomechanics of chewing depend more on animal size, not diet
Medicinal News
Chewing: We don't think about it, we just do it. But biologists don't know a lot about how chewing behavior leaves telltale signs on the underlying bones. To find out, researchers at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo have been studying the jaw joints of carnivorans, the large mammalian order that includes dogs, cats and bears.
Last week, the scientists described results that they didn't expect to find. In the paper, published online on Aug. 24 in PLOS ONE, they reported that the jaw joint bone, the center around which chewing activity revolves (literally), appears to have evolved based more on an animal's size than what it eats.
While focused on carnivorans, the research may also provide some clues to how jaw joints function in general, including in humans and could improve the understanding of temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), which cause pain in the jaw joint and in the muscles that control the jaw.
"Even though it is clear that the carnivoran jaw joint is important for feeding, no one knew if jaw joint bone structure across species was related to the mechanical demands of feeding," explained M. Aleksander Wysocki, first author and a doctoral student in the new computational cell biology, anatomy and pathology graduate program in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences in the Jacobs School.
Wysocki and co-author Jack Tseng, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences in the Jacobs School, took a multifaceted approach. They examined 40 different carnivoran species from bobcats to wolves, looking at the jaw joint bone called the mandibular condyle.
The jaw's pivot point
"The mandibular condyle is the pivot point of the jaw, it functions similarly to the way the bolt of a door hinge does," Wysocki said. "Studies have shown that this joint is loaded with force during chewing."
He noted that the team was especially interested in the intricate, spongey bone structures inside the jaw joint, also known as trabecular bone. "We thought that this part of the skull would be the best candidate for determining relationships between food type and anatomy."
For example, because hyenas crush bone while consuming their prey, it could be assumed that their jaw joints would need to be capable of exerting significant force. "On the other hand, an animal that eats plants wouldn't be expected to require that kind of jaw joint structure," he said. "But we found that diet has a weaker relationship with skull anatomy than we thought. Mostly it's the animals' size that determines jaw joint structure and mechanical properties."
The researchers took computed tomography (CT) scan data of skulls from 40 species at the American Museum of Natural History, then built 3D models of them, from which they extracted the internal bone structure. Using a 3D printer, the scientists then printed 3D cores, based on virtual "core samples" taken from the mandibular condyle of each jaw joint, which they then scaled and tested for strength.
"Using a compression gauge, we measured how rigid these jaw joint structures were and how much force they could withstand," Wysocki said.
No significant correlation
The testing revealed no significant correlations between the shape or mechanical performance of the jaw joint bone and the diets of particular carnivorans.
"The mandibular condyle absorbs compressive force during chewing so we hypothesized that this was a part of the skull that was likely to be influenced by what the animal eats," Wysocki said. "It turns out that body size is the key factor determining the complexity of jaw joint bone structure and strength."
He noted that some previous research has revealed that despite the wide variety of diets consumed by different carnivorans, the overall skull shape is considerably influenced by non-feeding variables.
"Still, given how critical the temporomandibular joint is in capturing prey and eating it, these results are very striking," he said. "For over a century, it has been assumed that skull shape is closely related to what an animal eats. And now we have found that jaw joint bone structure is related to carnivoran body size, not what the animal is eating."
Wysocki said that the reasons for this apparent disconnect may be that larger carnivorans don't need such powerful jaws because they are proportionately larger than their prey, or possibly because they share the work involved by hunting in groups. He also said that other factors such as developmental constraints of bone structure could play a role in producing the trends observed in the study.
"Our research shows that factors other than diet need to be considered when attempting to understand jaw joint function," Wysocki concluded. "It turns out that the functional anatomy of the jaw joint is much more complex than we thought."
For the record, the findings revealed that the species that demonstrated the greatest maximum compressive strength during chewing force simulations, was the wolverine (Gulo gulo), followed by the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the malagasy civet (Fossa fossana), the honey badger (Mellivora capensis) and the kinkajou (Potos flavus).
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Nolefam
Nole rolls into 11th US Open quarter-final, Millman next
Tennis 03. 09. 2018.
No.6 seed Novak Djokovic booked his place in the US Open quarter-finals for the 11th time with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over world no.68 Joao Sousa in two hours in a humid day session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The two-time former titlist broke twice in the first set but had to recover from a break deficit in the second.
Novak struggled physically in the third set and went off court for a medical time-out leading 2-1. He got the crucial break in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead before serving out the match.
The 31-year-old Serbian star improved his perfect career H2H record with the Portuguese to 5-0.
Speaking after the victory over Sousa, Novak said: “I’m very happy to get this one done in straight sets. It was much more difficult than the score indicated. Credit to Joao for fighting, he brought a lot of intensity on the court. It was very tough conditions, especially the first hour and a half. We are putting in all the work but sometimes you just have to survive. I’m really pleased with where my game is at at the moment. Getting into quarter-finals, ready to perform well.”
Match statistics: aces (9-4), double faults (1-5), winners (23-21), unforced errors (18-28), total points won (87-67).
Novak will next face John Millman (Wednesday about 21:00h local time / Thursday 03:00 CET). The Australian upset no.2 seed and five-time champion Roger Federer (SUI) in four sets (3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 7-6).
The Belgrade native defeated Millman in their only previous ATP H2H encounter at the 2018 Fever-Tree Championships.
Djokovic has lifted the US Open championships trophy twice, in 2011 and 2015. He didn’t compete in the tournament last year due to elbow injury.
You can download Nole September desktop calendar here.
fourth round, Grand Slam @en, New York @en, US Open @en
The website and contents are © by Novak Djokovic, see terms & conditions.
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Jessica Alba in a Leopard Print Trench Coat Heads to an Office Building in LA 05/08/2019
Jessica Alba is a star of James Cameron’s Dark Angel, a role that won her an ALMA Award for Breakthrough Actress of the Year in 2001. She appeared in Sin City and was named the Sexiest Woman in the World by FHM magazine in 2007. Her other film roles include Spy Kids 4, Fantastic 4, Honey and Good Luck Chuck.
Jessica Alba Age
Cash Warren
Jessica Alba met Cash Warren, son of actor Michael Warren, while filming Fantastic Four in 2004. The pair were married in Los Angeles in May 2008. They have three children: daughters Honor Marie Warren (2008), Haven Garner Warren (2011), and son Hayes Alba Warren (2017).
Jessica Alba in a White Polka Dot Dress Was Seen Out in New York City 07/15/2019
Jessica Alba in a Blue Trench Coat Heads to Her Office in Los Angeles 07/09/2019
Jessica Alba Attends LA's Finest Photocall During the 59th Monte Carlo TV Festival in Monte Carlo 06/15/2019
Jessica Alba Attends the 59th Monte Carlo TV Festival Opening Ceremony in Monte Carlo 06/14/2019
Jessica Alba in a White Suit Arrives at Global Studios in London 06/13/2019
Jessica Alba in a White Blazer Leaves an office Building in New York City 05/16/2019
Jessica Alba in a Black Dress Was Seen Out in New York 05/15/2019
Jessica Alba in a Black Coat Was Spotted at LAX Airport in LA 03/29/2019
Jessica Alba in a Striped Sweater Was Seen Out in Beverly Hills 12/21/2018
Jessica Alba Leaves Grocery Store Bristol Farms in Beverly Hills 11/22/2018
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Is John Pilger’s negative view of US leadership justified?
By Chris Lewis - posted Tuesday, 25 August 2009 Sign Up for free e-mail updates!
In a recent opinion piece “Exceptionalism: America’s right to rule and order the world” (On Line Opinion, August 10, 2009), John Pilger criticises the United States’ leadership. For Pilger, US claims to be the Land of Liberty are contradicted by slavery, the “theft of Texas from Mexico”, and “the bloody subjugation of central America, Cuba and the Philippines”. Pilger notes that since 1945 the US “has overthrown 50 governments, including democracies, crushed some 30 liberation movements and supported tyrannies from Egypt to Guatemala”.
But Pilger’s belief that the US was determined to carve-up world markets through its domination of various international institutions (such as the IMF and World Bank) does not recognise US efforts to encourage a fairer economic environment.
Of course, the US has promoted its national interest. As stated by the US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles in Foreign Affairs (October 1945), “the strong must help the weak … but such help … should be left to the initiative of the strong powers”.
And no nation was prepared to provide a blank cheque to various international institutions implemented after World War II. Though the World Bank was initially capitalised with $US7.6 billion and the IMF with $US7.3 billion, Congress was reluctant to give more resources. The US as the major contributor was determined to exercise decisive control over how the money would be spent. With voting power determined by the size of contributions and the World Bank relying on money from private financial institutions, this inevitably meant that developing countries were charged commercial rates of interest.
Further, while the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) promoted the reduction of trade barriers in relation to industrial goods, agricultural liberalisation has hardly been accepted by the US, EU or Japan. The recent failure of the Doha round of WTO negotiations again illustrated the self-interest of the powerful developed nations with the World Bank estimating that about two thirds of the benefits (worth several hundred billion dollars) would have gone to developing countries.
But the IMF, World Bank and other institutions have provided financial assistance and medium-term lending to countries experiencing balance of payments or development difficulties, while the GATT encouraged economic and trade opportunities.
US leadership since 1945 has helped to boost the economic fortunes of many nations. Notwithstanding the current economic mess caused by unsustainable levels of debt, many developing nations have been aided by world merchandise exports increasing from 8 to 19 per cent of world GDP from 1950 to 2002.
Of course, huge differences remain between nations in terms of quality of life and resources, but the gap in life expectancy between developed and developing countries has narrowed from about 30 years in 1950, to about 10 years. Whereas world life expectancy was about 30 years in 1900, it was 62 by 1985 (64 in 2005).
And what sort of self-interested hegemon (the US) encourages a world order which allows past ideological enemies to improve their economic might. It was the US which gave Most Favoured Nation status to both Japan and China. Though Japan’s case was aided by Cold War realities, the US supported Japan’s membership of the GATT from 1955, whereas the UK, France, Australia and others invoked Article 35 to make the GATT’s non-discrimination component inapplicable to Japan until the mid-1960s. The US also promoted Most Favored Nation status for China from 1979 which paved the way for the latter’s accession to the WTO in December 2000.
In 2008, Japan and China represented 17.8 per cent of GDP in purchasing power parity terms (6.3 and 11.5 percent respectively) after improving from 7.5 per cent in 1950 (3 and 4.5 per cent respectively.). In contrast, the US share has declined from 27.3 to 20.6 per cent between 1950 and 2008.
US efforts to encourage a fairer world is lost on Pilger who prefers to stake his intellectual claim by highlighting what has gone wrong under Western leadership. As evident in Pilger’s article, disdain is also expressed towards the efforts of Britain and France to promote civilisation.
For Pilger, US policy outcomes are merely a battle between good (ordinary people) and the bad (government leaders). Pilger suggests that credible polls indicate that a majority of Americans want higher taxes to guarantee health care for everyone, complete nuclear disarmament, and the end of colonial wars. In contrast, Obama is just another US politician who has sent drones to kill some 700 civilians since January 2009, maintains America’s support of armaments and war (which consumes 42 cents in every tax dollar today), and supports protection with its agricultural sector receiving $157 billion a year in government subsidies.
11 posts so far.
Chris Lewis has an interest in all economic, social and environmental issues, but believes that the struggle for the ‘right’ policy mix remains an elusive goal in such a complex and competitive world.
» Australia has sound reasons to support the US against authoritarian China - July 12, 2019
» The IAAF decision to limit female testosterone levels for certain female track events is stupid - May 25, 2018
» Do we really need public funded journalism? - October 19, 2017
» Drug cheating at the 2017 IAAF World Championships: how best to counter this possibility - August 16, 2017
» Justin Gatlin, drug cheat or one of the world’s greatest modern day sprinters? - August 10, 2017
All articles by Chris Lewis
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Play Chess Online with Free Web Games
The game of chess has come a long way with computers and software programs getting an upper hand over amateur players and even experienced grandmasters. It was a dream of some chess enthusiasts to have a machine play this game which represented pure thinking in action. It seemed like only a human could play meaningful chess and win. The advances in software and computer hardware have made chess playing machines commonplace, so much so that now one can play the game on small handheld devices as well. Another aspect of chess playing software is the use of Internet for playing the game. The Internet has made the world a close-knit community, with real time chatting and emails widely used everyday by millions of people around the world.
It is now possible to play the game of chess sitting at home or your office with people located anywhere in the world with an internet connection. This is a marvelous thing that has happened to the game of chess, and gaming in general. For before the internet, one could hardly imagine anything like this happening in the future. What is it like to play chess online? Simply find out the website that allows you to play the game, and register with a username. Download some files and log in.
Locate a player and start the game. Invite the player with some introduction. The game software allows choosing time and colors, and takes care of most of the rules of the game. You may offer draws or resign at any point. The way to move pieces may differ from site to site, but the usual way is to drag and drop the pieces, or simply click the piece and the desired location in sequence. The rest is taken care of by the software. Some sites like the gaming zone at msn also conduct tournaments. They also have a rating system to rate your performance and awards points just like grandmasters have their ratings. For more information on free web games visit - free web game.
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Philippine Embassy
Key Officials of the Embassy
Overview of Relations
Trade and Investment and Tourism
Philippine Malaysia Agreements
Requirements for Regular Passport Application
Replacements for Lost Valid and Expired EPassport
Replacement for Mutilated or Damaged Passport
ePassport FAQ
Guidelines for Processing of Passport Applications at the Embassy
Guidelines on the Entry of Temporary Visitors and Foreigner under other Visa categories
Visa Section Operating Hours
Guidelines for Processing of Visa Applications at the Embassy
Procedure for the Issuance of Marriage, Birth and Death Cert.
Report of Birth
Report of Marriage
Shipment of Human Remains
Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage
Affidavit of Invitation Letter
Notarials
Guidelines for Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) Application
Information for Foreign Media and Film Outfits
Special Reduced Deposit
Guidelines on the Exit Pass from the Malaysian Immigration for those Tourist who Lost their Passport
The Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) Kuala Lumpur
The Philippines-Malaysia Relations
Verification of Employment Documents
Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)
OWWA Membership
Services and Assistance
OFW ID
Passport Finder
The Philippines and Malaysia have collaborated on a wide range of cooperative endeavors such as anti-piracy, border crossing and environmental protection.
Below are the signed agreements between the Philippines and Malaysia:
Culture and Education Cooperation
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia on Culture, Arts and Heritage Cooperation
Putrajaya, 28 February 2014
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia on Cooperation in the Field of Education
Memorandum of Understanding between Mindanao State University System and the International Islamic University Malaysia
Political Cooperation
Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, 22 July 1993
Defence Cooperation
Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia,
Quezon City, 26 September 1994
Memorandum of Understanding between the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Financial Intelligence Unit of the Republic of the Philippines and Bank Negara, Malaysia Concerning Cooperation in the Exchange of Financial Intelligence Related to Money Laundering and Financing of Criminal Activities Related to Terrorism
Kuala Lumpur, 08 August 2004
Agreement among the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia on Information Exchange and Establishment of Communication Procedures
Putrajaya, 07 May 2002
Memorandum of Agreement on Border Cooperation between the Philippine National Police and Royal Malaysia Police
Agreement on Anti-Smuggling Cooperation between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines
Kuala Lumpur, 1967
First Protocol to the Agreement on Anti-Smuggling Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia
Second Protocol (1994) to the 1967 Agreement on Anti-Smuggling Cooperation
Kuala Lumpur, 29 March 1995
Economic Cooperation
Undertaking between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia concerning the Recognition of Certificates under the International Convention on Standards, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
1978, as Amended, 31 July 2002
Agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income
Manila, 27 April 1982
Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia
Tourism Cooperation
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia on Tourism Cooperation
Putrajaya, 7 August 2001
Environmental Cooperation
Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia on the Establishment of the Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area
Manila, 31 May 1996
Manila Accord on the North Borneo (Sabah) Issue and Related Matters
Manila Accord among the Philippines, the Federation of Malaya and Indonesia
Manila Declaration by the Philippines, the Federation of Malaya and Indonesia
Joint Statement by the Philippines, the Federation of Malaya and Indonesia
Consular Cooperation
Exchange of Notes Constituting an Agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia on the Abolition of Visa Requirements and Waiver of Visa Fees in Certain Cases
Manila, 31 July 1962
Brunei Darussalam – Indonesia – Malaysia – The Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Agreements
The focus areas of BIMP-EAGA are: the entire Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; the Province of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua; the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan; Mindanao and Palawan. It covers a land area of about 1.54 million square kilometres and a population of some 70 million.
Following are the basic documents related to BIMP-EAGA cluster and projects:
Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security Documents:
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cross Border Movement of Commercial Buses and Coaches
MOU on Establishing and Promoting Efficient and Integrated Sea Linkages
MOU on Expansion of Air Linkages
MOU on Transit and Inter-State Transport of Goods
Natural Resources Development Documents
Joint Ministerial Statement on Heart of Borneo and Coral Reefs Ministerial Conference
1st BIMP-EAGA Agriculture and Fisheries Minister’s Joint Statement
Transport, Infrastructure and Information Communications Technology Development Documents
MOU on Transit and Inter-State of Goods
Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights (Passenger Statistics at Designated Airports)
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Pockets of Pure Utopia in These United States
Did you know that in present-day America, there exist many, many isolated pockets of Utopia?
These are places wherein healthcare is 100 percent free.
Where housing is fully provided by money that pours freely in.
And food as well is provided.
In these Utopias, everyone has access to education, and education, too, is 100 percent free.
There is no such thing here as bourgeois property — also known as private property.
Property is instead shared and held in trust by a benevolent bureaucracy which oversees everything, and which grants more money to these places than to any other single place in the United States.
Do you know these Utopian pockets I’m referring to?
Informally, they’re called Indian Country. Formally they’re known as Native American Indian Reservations.
Here the leading cause of death among young men is suicide.
These Utopias also have the highest rate of poverty among ANY racial group in the country — more than twice the national average — and are often environmentally dirty and unsanitary, all of which is quite strange, when you think about it, considering their Utopian nature and the sheer amounts of money they receive.
They also have the highest unemployment rates in the country, and perhaps there is a clue there:
In 2016, the last year for which the census data is available, the average household income on reservations was approximately 70 percent below the national average of $57,617. Just over 20 percent of those households earned less than $5,000 a year. More the 25 percent of the reservation populations live below the official poverty level, compared with 13 percent of the United States as a whole.
This, reader, is socialism.
Quoting history professor Dr. Andrei Znamenski:
In the 1990s, I had a chance to travel through several reservations. Each time when I crossed their borders I was stunned by the contrast between the human landscapes outside and those within Indian reservations. As soon as I found myself within a reservation, I frequently had a taste of a world that, in appearance, reminded me of the countryside in Russia, my former homeland: the same bumpy and poorly maintained roads, worn-out shacks, rotting fences, furniture, and car carcasses, the same grim suspicious looks directed at an intruder, and frequently intoxicated individuals hanging around. So I guess my assessment of the reservation system will be a biased view from a former Soviet citizen who feels that he enters his past when crossing into Native America.
I am going to make a brief excursion into the intellectual sources of this “socialist archipelago.” Since the 1960s, the whole theme of Native America had been hijacked by Marxist scholarship and by so-called identity studies, which shaped a mainstream perception that you should treat Native Americans not as individuals but as a collection of cultural groups, eternal victims of capitalist oppression. I want to challenge this view and address this topic from a standpoint of methodological individualism. In my view, the enduring poverty on reservations is an effect of the “heavy blanket” of collectivism and state paternalism. Endorsed by the federal government in the 1930s, collectivism and state paternalism were eventually internalized by both local Native American elites and by federal bureaucrats who administer the Indians. The historical outcome of this situation was the emergence of “culture of poverty” that looks down on individual enterprise and private property. Moreover, such an attitude is frequently glorified as some ancient Indian wisdom — a life-style that is morally superior to the so-called Euro-American tradition.
Before we proceed, I will give you some statistics. Native Americans receive more federal subsides than anybody else in the United States. This includes subsidized housing, health, education, and direct food aid. Yet, despite the uninterrupted flow of federal funds, they are the poorest group in the country. The poverty level on many reservations ranges between 38 and 63 percent (up to 82 percent on some reservations),4 and half of all the jobs are usually in the public sector.5 This is before the crisis of 2008! You don’t have to have a Ph.D. in economics to figure out that one of the major sources of this situation is a systemic failure of the federal Indian policies.
These policies were set in motion during the New Deal by John Collier, a Columbia-educated social worker, community organizer, and utopian dreamer who was in charge of the Native American administration during FDR’s entire administration. English Fabian socialism, the anarchism of Peter Kropotkin, communal village reforms conducted by the Mexican socialist government, and the romantic vision of Indian cultures were the chief sources of his intellectual inspiration. Collier dreamed about building up what he called Red Atlantis, an idyllic Native American commonwealth that would bring together modernization and tribal collectivism. He expected that this experiment in collective living would not only benefit the Native Americans but would also become a social laboratory for the rest of the world. The backbone of his experiment was setting up so-called tribal governments on reservations, which received the status of public corporations. Collier envisioned them as Indian autonomies that would distribute funds, sponsor public works, and set up cooperatives. In reality, financed by the BIA, these local governments began to act as local extensions of its bureaucracy.
If you believe — and I mean even vaguely, because politics isn’t really your bag, and you don’t particularly like thinking about boring economics (and I’m with you, I truly am) — if you believe even vaguely in “free” healthcare and education for all and other things of this nature, or if you believe bureaucracy is okay and probably good for health, safety, the environment, and so on, I vehemently urge you to spend a little time traveling through Indian Country: “Socialist Archipelagos,” as Dr. Znamenski termed them, and what I call pockets of American Utopia.
Click-click
Democratic-Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, “Communism Is Good,” & Why California Cities Are Becoming Unaffordable - August 30, 2018
[…] Indian Country — i.e. the Native American Indian Reservations — where healthcare and education are 100 percent free, housing is fully provided by money that pours freely in, and food as well is provided. Here also property is not private (a core feature of socialism, in any of its variations) but instead is shared and held in trust by a benevolent bureaucracy which oversees everything, and which grants more money to these places than to any other single place in the United States. […]
“How Well-Intentioned White Families Can Perpetuate Racism” - September 24, 2018
[…] perpetuates racism and greater division among human beings — and also, not coincidentally, greater poverty in the end. Many, many minorities agree, and that’s why I think that the people who […]
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Sage Theatre
2018 – 19 Season
God’s Lake
Half the Battle
The Year of Magical Thinking
Donate to Sage Theatre
2019 IGNITE! Performance Series – Meet the Artists!
Meet the incredible talent comprising our Performance Series!
Dance Series curated by Samantha Ketsa
Sage Theatre and Springboard Performance have partnered to enhance opportunities for emerging artists and curators in the Calgary community. Under the mentorship of Nicole Mion, this year’s Dance Series at Ignite has been curated by Samantha Ketsa. Samantha holds a BFA in Dance with distinction from the University of Calgary, where she has worked with artists including W&M Physical Theatre, Peggy Baker, Deanne Walsh, and Gerry Trentham. The core of Samantha’s practice integrates inter-arts dialogue and somatic approaches to choreography. She works primarily with artistic partner Emily Sunderland on projects including #JustGirlyThings and Hands Touch Skin. She has also recently contributed to artistic research initiated by Matthew Hall, Kloetzel&co, and Linnea Swan for Dancers’ Studio West.
“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
Choreographer – Abby Scott
Abby Scott is a movement artist born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. Scott graduated with a B.A. in Dance, with a concentration in Choreography and Performance, from the University of Calgary. She is excited to be a part of the growing arts scene in Calgary, and now delving into the arts in other Canadian cities. Scott’s passion falls heavily into choreography, as movement composition has so many different approaches and expressions of a single idea. Scott has done works such as: A Double Cushion, for Dance Montage, Please Turn your Eyes and See Me, for Alberta Dance Festival, as well as done several works for Esira Dance Company. Scott is one of the Co- Founders and Artistic Directors of Calgary based company, Esira.
Dancer – Jessalyn Britton
Jessalyn Britton has had a life long passion for dance. She is involved in
many areas of the Calgary dance community including performing, choreographing, teaching, directing and producing. She holds a B.A. in Contemporary Dance with distinction from the University of Calgary. Post-graduation, Jessalyn danced with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks Professional Training Program for three seasons. She has worked with dance theatre company kloetzel&co and was a company member and company manager for Corps Bara Dance Theatre. Jessalyn was co-Artistic Director and producer of CrossCurrents Dance Productions which produced three full length contemporary dance shows. She is currently co-Artistic Director of ESIRA Dance and Alberta Dance Theatre for Young People.
Everything, Nothing
Everything, Nothing is a seminal dance work that was first performed as a solo in Triple Bill Weekends in April 2019, taking its cue from Jane Bennett’s Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things. The dance piece analyses the way material objects attract our attention and call us in, enabling us to respond, interact and connect to inanimate objects. Considering instances such as window shopping, hoarding, and littering, the piece disrupts the perception of “it” and “things” as separate from and irrelevant to “us” and “beings.” Everything, Nothing encourages a collective questioning of habitual thinking by embracing, not only how you move objects but how objects move you.
Choreographer – Cindy Ansah
Born and raised in Toronto, Cindy Ansah’s affinity for dance and the performing arts was reignited upon moving to Calgary in 2011 following a dance hiatus of over five years. After immersing herself in various dance, music, drama and musical theatre programs, Ansah decided to pursue dance professionally at the age of fifteen and has recently completed her fourth year of the BFA in Dance program at the University of Calgary School of Creative and Performing Arts. Ansah has trained in various dance styles including Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Urban, and Soca with a particular interest in West African dance for the way in which the dance form allows her to connect with her culture. Ansah additionally endeavors to expand her passion for her artistic practice by collaborating with other performing arts disciplines.
Dancer – Lauren Brady
Lauren Brady grew up in Calgary and is excited to be appearing in the Ignite Dance Series Festival again after debuting in the festival last year with choreographer Sean Def’s piece “filter”. Lauren grew up as a completive dancer across disciplines but fell in love with the art when training in modern and contemporary. Lauren trained at the University of Calgary in Drama during 2017/2018 and appeared in many productions including, Dance Montage, Conduct, and Woyzeck. Lauren is currently training at the University of Alberta BFA Acting program to further her development as an emerging artist. Lauren has most recently appeared in Calgary in the Common Ground Festival this year in “A Dragony Tale”.
Imperfect Perfection
Obsession with perfection. Why and how do imperfect creatures strive for the unattainable? What trials and tribulations do humans put themselves through in order to achieve this standard? IMPERFECT PERFECTION explores image; the juxtaposition between inward and outward perfection – being perfect vs appearing perfect. Is perfection a façade?
Choreographer / Dancer – Sasha Wilde
Sasha Wilde is a dance artist passionate about performance, choreography and teaching. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Dance from The School of Contemporary Dancers in affiliation with The University of Winnipeg (2017). She also broadened her dance studies with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks’ Professional Training Program. Sasha’s professional performance credits include: Young Lungs Dance Exchange, Odette Heyn Projects with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, GPS Dance Collective’s Mexican tour: Creando Lazos a Través de la Danza, NAfro Dance Productions, Dancers’ Studio West Dance Action Lab: Musculus Mundi. Sasha is excited to be presenting her self-choreographed and performed solo Imperfect Perfection at Edmonton’s NextFest Festival of Emerging Artists and Calgary’s IGNITE! Festival of Emerging Artists, in June 2019.
Stripped focuses on the physical and psychological impacts overuse, oversexualization and improper training can have on youth populations. Utilizing text, humour, and pop culture references, Sarah Mitchell shares her research and lived experience with the harmful aftereffects of competitive dance pedagogy.
Choreographer – Sarah Mitchell
Sarah Mitchell recently graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Dance. Her most recent piece prior to the Ignite! Festival was choreographed after a year-long exploration in her final year of her degree titled Influenced. Over the last four years at the University, Sarah has had the pleasure to dance for Kloetzel & Co, Forcier Stage Works, W&M Physical Theatre and Heather Ware. Sarah is most interested in the research of private dance studios that utilize competition and the importance of proper pedagogical training for young dancers. Her personal experience with the competitive dance sector inspired Stripped for this year’s Ignite! Festival.
Dancer – Samantha Ketsa
Samantha Ketsa is thrilled to be supporting Sarah Mitchell’s work as an interpreter, in addition to curating the Dance Series under the mentorship of Nicole Mion. Samanta’s practice integrates inter-arts dialogue and somatic practices in devised physical theatre contexts. Samantha holds a BFA in Dance with distinction from the University of Calgary, where she has worked with artists including W&M Physical Theatre, Peggy Baker, Deanne Walsh, and Gerry Trentham. The core of Samantha’s work is collaboration primarily with artistic partner Emily Sunderland. She has recently contributed to projects initiated by Matthew Hall, Kloetzel&co, and Linnea Swan for Dancers’ Studio West. Samantha is energized by constant discoveries about her potential to shape and engage with the Canadian arts landscape as an independent artist.
Dancer – Alissa Lee
Originally from Winnipeg MB, Alissa moved to Calgary for her combined degree in Dance + Kinesiology. She has trained in various styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, musical theater, contemporary, modern, urban funk, and hip hop. Although she has trained in all styles, Alissa took a special interest in hip hop dance and successfully auditioned for BOSS dance team and IllFX Education, which are both competitive hip hop crews. Alissa has worked with artists such as Tara Wilson, Romeo Suban, Edgar Gilbert-Reyes, Genie Baffoe, and many more. Prior to Ignite! Festival, she had the pleasure of dancing in Sarah Mitchell and Megan Koch’s contemporary works at the University of Calgary. Alissa is excited to share the stage yet again with her talented role models in Stripped.
Dancer – Megan Koch
Megan Koch is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Calgary. Throughout her training at the university she has trained under various artists such as; Tania Alvarado, Melissa Monteros, Michele Moss, Heather Ware, and many others. Her field of interest within her degree was choreography and performance. Her choreography explores authentic embodied movement and she enjoys working with a small intimate group of dancers. As far as performance goes, Megan has performed in many contemporary dance works both within and outside of the university. Her main interest is performing in interdisciplinary works. She has had the privilege of working under Samantha Ketsa and Emily Sunderland. Megan will be performing in Stripped choreographed by Sarah Mitchell in this year’s Ignite Festival.
Tunnel Vision explores the notion of being stuck in a continuous loop on the thoughts that haunt us in the back of our minds. “I remained so much inside my head and ended up losing my mind” – Edgar Allen Poe.
Choreographer / Dancer – Elizabeth Ferns
Ferns is thrilled to be performing her solo piece Tunnel Vision for the Dance Series of IGNITE! Festival of Emerging Artists. While completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance degree from the University of Calgary, she was able to work with and perform for esteemed choreographers such as Gerry Trentham, Davida Monk, and Melissa Monteros. During this time, she also found a true passion in composition. Since graduating in June of 2018, she has been establishing herself as an emerging artist in the Calgary dance community. Most recently, Ferns has been working on and performing #JustGirlyThings, a physical theatre piece directed by Samantha Ketsa and Emily Sunderland, as well as Tunnel Vision, a solo created and performed by Ferns, herself.
Interdisciplinary Performances
Ambassador of Happiness
Performer – Kristy Benz
Theatre artist Kristy Benz has trained at Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, the Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance, Second City Toronto, and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Her work encompasses clown, movement, visual art, curiosity, philosophy, and the constant battle between fear and courage.
Performer – Victoria Banner
Victoria Banner is a stand-up comedian/ writer from Calgary. She has appeared at international stand-up comedy festivals and nationally recognized events. She is substantially less nationally recognized for improv, music, visual art, longboarding and local event producing but still enjoys them. Mental health advocate.
Performer – James Avramenko
James Avramenko is a Saskatoon-based actor, director and poet. Originally from Calgary, he moved to B.C. to study Applied Theatre at the University of Victoria, where he graduated with a BFA. He then spent the next several years in Vancouver where he met his wife. They have since been making their way slowly east across Canada with the goal of taking over every major theatre company along the way. Recent theatre credits include Jasper in The Aliens (Persephone), Pete in Debts (Itsazoo), and as a recurring host/cast member of the Atomic Vaudeville Cabaret. He received his first directing credit this year with Goodbye, My Fancy (Persephone)
Performer – Jacqueline Huskisson
Jacqueline holds a B.F.A in Print Media from the Alberta University for the Arts and an M.F.A in Interdisciplinary Studies from the Belfast School of Art. She has recently had solo exhibitions at Main Space Gallery (Alberta Printmakers, Calgary), and Poolside Gallery (VideoPool, Winnipeg). She has also been doing various projects, installations, residencies and performances around Canada, Northern Ireland and Finland. She is the recipient of various local and national grants and was the inaugural receipt of the Scott Leroux Media Arts Exploration Fund. She is currently on VideoPool’s Media Art Distribution list and works out of Burnt Toast Studio in Calgary.
Performer – Audrey Lane Cockett
Audrey Lane Cockett is a spoken word poet, organizer, soundscape artist, and outdoor educator based in Treaty 7 land, Calgary AB. Her work is rooted in wild, both outside and in. She is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, love, and care for the natural world. She is invested in exploring artistic fusion, community, learning, healing, and transformation.
Performer – Tonja Bokkel
Tonja Bokkel is a multidisciplinary performance artist. She spends her time writing, singing, dancing and acting in any medium that presents itself to her. Tonja is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and hopes to record her original songs very soon. She is so excited to be performing in the IGNITE! Festival and hopes the audience can connect to the collaborative piece she and Audrey Lane have poured their hearts in to.
Improv Performances
A duo of female improvisers creating a mono-scene from suggestions given by the audience using an app from our phone.
Performer / Producer – Jessica Belbin
Stumbling upon The Kinkonauts Improv Laboratory in 2007 Jessica instantly joined in and has now been performing long form improv for eleven years. Along with being an actor, stand-up comedian, voice over actor, improv facilitator and former radio personality, Jessica is writing a one-woman show. Her love of improv comes from the joy of diving into the unknown which is just like life: exciting, scary and where nobody knows what’s going on.
Performer – Natalie Johnstone
After attending Rosebud School of the Arts Natalie discovered improv with the Kinkonauts in Calgary after 3 years of performing and working with different troupes she is excited to work with Jessica Belbin in their improv duo Push Button. Along with improv Natalie performs stand up comedy in Calgary and surrounding areas and hosts the more Morning show on Strathmore AB’s new radio station 104.5 More Country.
The Rovers
The Rovers will be presenting a long form improvised format, Poetry Night. The night will be filled with improvised poems and improvised scenes inspired by those poems, as the Rovers take you on a journey sure to entertain.
Performer – Andrew G. Cooper
Andrew G. Cooper is a queer Canadian director, playwright, and actor. He holds his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Thompson Rivers University and is the recipient of the Kamloops Mayor’s Emerging Artist Award. He won two awards for Outstanding Choreography for his work in Musical Theatre with the Academy of Dance and is the founding Artistic Managing Director of Chimera Theatre in Kamloops, BC and the founding Artistic Producer of Jupiter Theatre in Calgary, AB. As a director and theatre artist, Andrew’s focus is on the creation of new works with a particular focus on interdisciplinary art and storytelling through non-verbal mediums such as movement, puppetry, mask, and stage combat. As a playwright, his work has been performed across Canada and also in Sydney, Australia. Andrew is a lover of astronomy and animals and lives in Calgary, AB. He also does improv from time to time.
Performer – Christian Daly
Born and raised here in Calgary, Christian is local artist, currently studying Drama at the University of Calgary. He has been improvising for around 5 years now, and is currently a member of the U of C Improv Club. In addition to his dramatic pursuits, Christian enjoys playing music on his trumpet and bass, and likes watching the world’s best sport, NASCAR. Christian has a lot of fun being onstage, and hopes the festival is as fun to watch as it is to participate in.
Performer – Ibrahim Oshodi
I mainly deal with chemicals, not headshots and bios so this is a first for me.
I also dabble in Improv, which hopefully means you’ll enjoy seeing me talk my head off about all my random and joyous thoughts as much as I enjoy talking about them.
Screamy Linguine
We do so hope you enjoy scary stories, because the Lovecraft Twins adore them more than—dare we say it?—life itself. Lock yourself in a crypt-dark room and hear never-before-told tales of the macabre, the twisted, and the supernatural. No one has ever heard these stories before, but you will never forget them.
Performer – Ellie Stewart
Ellie has been improvising scary stories ever since she realized she could freak her little sister out by doing it. She fell in love with improv while in high school when she competed in the Canadian Improv Games, and has been playing with The Kinkonauts for two years! You can also find her at NUTV at the U of C, writing and directing content for their YouTube channel. She is excited to freak her sister out at this year’s Ignite Festival!
Performer – Jeff Kubik
Jeff Kubik is a Calgary-based improviser. His stage plays have been produced across Canada, he’s performed as a professional standup across the same, and his sketch troupe, Kaboom Hooray, has performed at the Toronto and Vancouver Sketch Comedy Festivals.
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History of the Moore Reading Room
The development of the Moore Reading Room collection began in 1901, when the Kansas Bible Chair was established by the Kansas Christian Women’s Board of Missions and the women of the First Christian Church of Lawrence, to facilitate the study of the Bible at KU. A small farmhouse, on the present site of Smith Hall, housed the collection along with the Kansas Bible Chair. The mission of the Kansas Bible Chair gradually expanded to include instruction in the academic study of religions other than Christianity, and in 1921 was reorganized as the interdenominational Kansas School of Religion. Over the next fifty years, continuing acquisitions through donated funds and materials allowed the collection to grow. From the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s, an annual endowment from the Episcopal Church, along with other donors, provided funding for book purchases.
Dr. William J. Moore, for whom the reading room is named, was appointed Dean of the Kansas School of Religion and the director of the Kansas Bible Chair in 1960. Under Dr. Moore’s direction, Smith Hall (built in 1967) was designed with the book collection in mind. In their history of the Kansas Bible Chair, The Bible on Mt. Oread, Dr. Moore and co-author Dwight F. Metzler remembered that “from the start of the planning [of Smith Hall] the library was considered the most essential element in the new building.” The integration of the impressive “Burning Bush” stained glass window, designed by Jacoby Studios in St. Louis and gifted by Mr. and Mrs. L. Allyn Laybourn, into the design of the reading room speaks to the importance of both the collection and the reading room’s role in providing scholars and students with a place for research and reflection. In 1977, the Kansas School of Religion was officially disbanded and reconstituted as the University of Kansas Department of Religious Studies. The William J. Moore Library was dedicated in honor of Dr. Moore a year later, on November 10, 1978.
From 1978 onward, the Moore Reading Room has continued to build, preserve, and provide access to the long-standing collection of the Kansas School of Religion, the only collection of its kind in the state of Kansas. In addition, the MRR is now home to the Religion in Kansas Project, an ambitious and ongoing archival endeavor to document the historical and contemporary role of religion in the lives of Kansans. Started by Dr. Timothy Miller in 2009, the Religion in Kansas Project partners with libraries, archives, museums, religious communities, and individuals throughout the state and greater Kansas City area to facilitate the digitization and preservation of resources documenting the diversity of religious tradition and experience in Kansas. It is a varied and highly used collection, accessed digitally by persons in over ten countries and averaging around seven thousand item views and five thousand item downloads a year.
Acquisitions for the Moore Reading Room are selected by members of the Religious Studies faculty and the Moore Reading Room archivist, purchased with funds from an endowment made possible by the generosity of private donors.
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HKU Legal Scholar Urges New Animal Welfare Law in Hong Kong
"HKU legal scholar urges new Animal Welfare Law in Hong Kong"
HKU Press Invitation - 27 April 2018. Associate Law Professor Amanda Whitfort of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will renew her call on the Hong Kong government to expeditiously introduce a duty of care to benefit all animals in the city at the III Global Animal Law Conference to be held on HKU campus on May 4 and 5, 2018.
Associate Professor Whitfort will present a paper The 2010 HKU/SPCA Review of Animal Welfare Legislation in HK: Where are we now and where do we need to be? in the first session of the conference at 10:20 am on May 4, Friday.
The replacement of Cap 169, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance with a new Animal Welfare Law, which imposes a positive duty of care for animals was the primary recommendation for law reform in the HKU-SPCA Review of Animal Welfare Legislation in Hong Kong published by Associate Professor Whitfort and Dr Fiona Woodhouse in 2010. On the back of the findings in that report the government has amended Cap 139B to introduce a duty of care for dogs in commercial breeding, which came into effect in March 2017.
While the introduction of a duty of care towards breeding dogs is an important first step, the amendments in Cap 139B only effect a limited number of animals. The amended law does not apply to other species or to animals kept as pets, or for other reasons. Only with the full implementation of the report’s primary recommendation to replace Cap 169 with a new Animal Welfare Law, will Hong Kong law be in a position to adequately address the instances of cruelty and poisonings seen in the territory in recent weeks.
Professor Mike Radford of the University of Aberdeen, who was instrumental in assisting the UK government in incorporating duty of care provisions in the United Kingdom’s Animal Welfare Act in 2006, will present his paper on 'A Duty to Care: the case for animal welfare legislation' on the second day of the conference on May 5, Saturday at 9:10am. Members of the media are invited to cover the Conference.
Date: May 4 and 5, 2018 (Friday and Saturday)
Venue: Large Moot Court, 2/F., Cheng Yu Tung Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU
Amanda Whitfort was recently interviewed on RTHK Radio's 123 Show with Noreen Mir (2 May 2018). To listen to Whitfort's RTHK Podcast (15 minutes) on Animal Cruelty Law with Annalie Chow, click here (2 May 2018). Whitfort was also interviewed on RTHK's Newswrap on 4 May 2018.
Labels: Amanda Whitfort, animal welfare, KE
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Home :: Statements
Pinoy Families are Getting Healthier (Results from the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey)
PR Oct 08, 2018 516 views
Reference Number: 2018-158 Release Date: Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Families in the Philippines are getting healthier according to the newly released 2017 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). The NDHS 2017 is the sixth Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in the Philippines since 1993. The survey results highlight major improvements in family planning, child survival, and maternal health care, while progress has been slower in basic vaccination coverage, HIV testing, and violence against women.
More than half of married women age 15-49 use a method of family planning – 40% use a modern method and 14% use a traditional method. The pill is the most popular modern method, while withdrawal is the most popular traditional method (10%). More women are using family planning. Modern method use has increased from 25% in 1993 to 40% in 2017.
More children in the Philippines are surviving early childhood than ever before as under-5 mortality has sharply declined. Currently, the under-5 mortality rate is 27 deaths per 1,000 live births, a decline from 54 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1993. This means that approximately 1 in every 37 children in the Philippines does not survive until their fifth birthday.
Antenatal care coverage in Philippines is improving. Nearly all women age 15-49 receive antenatal care from a skilled provider such as a doctor, nurse, or midwife. Additionally, 87% of women are attending four or more antenatal care visits, a notable increase from just 55% of women in 1993. Health facility deliveries have nearly tripled since 1993, from 28% to 78% in 2017. Still, 1 in 5 births are delivered at home, putting mothers and babies at risk. Postnatal care helps prevent complications after childbirth. More than 80% of both women and newborns receive a postnatal check within two days after delivery.
While the NDHS 2017 reports progress in many areas, challenges remain. Basic vaccination coverage has fluctuated over time, rising from 72% in 1993 to 80% in 2008 before declining to 70% in 2017. Still, 7 in 10 children age 12-23 months in the Philippines have received all basic vaccinations.
Nearly all women age 15-49 in the Philippines have heard of HIV/AIDS, but less than half know where to get an HIV test. Only 4% of women have ever been tested for HIV and received their results.
The NDHS 2017 provides insights into violence against women. In the Philippines, more than 1 in 4 ever-married women age 15-49 have experienced spousal violence, whether physical, sexual, or emotional. Ever-married women’s experience of spousal violence has changed little since 2008.
Overall, 27,496 households and 25,074 women age 15-49 were successfully interviewed in the NDHS 2017. The NDHS 2017 provides estimates at the national level, for urban and rural areas, and for each of the 17 administrative regions in the Philippines.
The NDHS 2017 was implemented by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Funding for the NDHS 2017 was provided by the Government of the Philippines. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided technical assistance and equipment through ICF under The DHS Program, a project that assists countries in the collection of data to monitor and evaluate population, health, and nutrition programs. Additional information about the NDHS 2017 may be obtained from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), PSA Complex, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines; Telephone: +63- (02)-462-6600; Email: info@psa.gov.ph;
STATEMENT OF DFA ON THE ICELAND RESOLUTION
DOF Economic Bulletin on Inflation
Department of Finance PhilippinesJul 06, 2019
On PRRD’S working visit to Japan
Malacañang PalaceMay 29, 2019
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