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Kristen Wiig's 'Bachelorette' Impression on 'The Tonight Show' Must Be Seen to Be Believed
By Anna Swartz
JoJo Fletcher from this season of The Bachelorette made an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon this week — except it wasn't actually JoJo, it was Kristen Wiig, and it doesn't seem like she's ever actually seen an episode of The Bachelorette in her life.
The results were obviously hilarious — when Fallon asked Wiig (as JoJo) to explain what happens in the fantasy suite, she fumbled her way through an answer. "Um, the fantasy suites, that's where I go on dates, and we close the door. Sometimes, we kiss a little. Or we like, rub each other."
Then Fallon asked showed her photos of the men competing in this season of The Bachelorette and asked her to say their names. So what did Wiig come up with for Luke, Jordan, Chase and Robby? Scotchy, Mark Hamill, Deucey and Korn. Fair enough, actually.
Wiig capped off her appearance as JoJo with a performance of an original song that definitely did not exist before she sang it.
This isn't the first time Fallon has interviewed Wiig as someone else, check out her legendary appearence as Game of Thrones' Daenerys Targaryen here, and watch the whole Bachelorette interview below.
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MikeM
Current Events, Thoughts and Commentary
Computers! I got the link between Rasputin and Trotsky working - all is well in LANville! It was permissions. All I had to do was change the permissions on the folders I wanted to access from the W2K box - they were set to 700, which disallows anyone but the owner (which was set to nobody, btw). I changed the owner and the permissions as well, and now all is beautiful.
I backed up all three partitions on Trotsky to separate folders on Rasputin, then Ghosted all three partitions to GHO files and copied them to Rasputin as well. It feels good to have backups once more. Rsync would not work between the units - I think perhaps SMB just doesn't support it.
Posted by Mike at 8:54 AM
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M247 Sergeant York
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG)
Armor / Land Systems
Image courtesy of the Fort Snelling Military Museum.
The ultimately-cancelled M247 Sergeant York was built atop the chassis of the M48 Patton tank and was intended to serve alongside the new M1 Abrams and M2 Bradley.
In the latter part of the 1970s, the United States Army required the services of a self-propelled, tracked, anti-aircraft system to replace both the M163 "Vulcan" Gatling-type vehicle and MIM-72 "Chaparral" tracked missile carrier which were, themselves, brought into being after the fallout of the General Dynamics MIM-46 "Mauler" air defense program. The new vehicle would serve as a component of the emerging "One-Two Punch" made up of the M1 "Abrams" Main Battle Tank (MBT) and M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). The now-outmoded M48 Patton Medium Tank (M48A5) would serve as the hull and basis for the automotive components in the new SPAA system, a cost-cutting and logistically sound measure. Design work spanned from 1977 to 1985 under the direction of now-defunct Ford Aerospace.
The end-product became the short-lived M247 "Sergeant York", a 54-ton vehicle that introduced an all-new turret mounting the required radar facilities, tracking equipment and 2 x 40mm Bofors cannons. The vehicle measured 7.7 meters long with a width reaching 3.6 meters and a height of 3.4 meters. She was crewed by three made up of the driver, commander and gunner. The turret allowed an elevation range of -5 to +85 with full 360-degree traversal while the twin Bofors 40mm L/70 guns were capable of reaching out to 12.5 kilometers with a 600 rounds-per-minute rate-of-fire. Onboard ammunition stocks totaled 580 projectiles and the reloading process spanned 15 minutes. A Westinghouse AN/APG-68 radar provided radar-direction for the guns out to 40 kilometers. Fire control was digital and a laser rangefinder was also included. Power to the vehicle was served from a Continental AVDS-1790-2D series diesel-fueled engine developing 750 horsepower and providing the M247 with an operational road range of 500 kilometers and a road speed of 48 kilometers per hour. The vehicle relied on six dual rubber-tired road wheels in a "track-and-wheel" arrangement with the drive sprocket at rear and track idler and front. Five track return rollers were identified along either hull side. A torsion bar suspension provided the necessary off-road travel capabilities.
By this time, the attack helicopter was an ever-increasing threat to friendly armor and anti-tank missiles were greatly improved from their earlier forms. The introduction of the Abrams and Bradley vehicles also hastened development of a tracked vehicle that could keep pace with an advancing armored column and, from this need, was born the U.S. Army's "Advanced Radar-directed Gun Air Defense System" (ARGADS) which eventually evolved under the better-recognized name of "DIVision Air Defense" (DIVAD). Taking several submissions into consideration, contracts was handed to both General Dynamics and Ford Aerospace in January of 1978 to produce the XM246 and XM247 prototypes (respectively). Following head-to-head evaluations, the Ford submission was declared the winner and would carry the finalized designation of "M247" and the nickname of "Sergeant York" - the name used to honor famous American World War 1 hero and Medal of Honor recipient Alvin Cullum York (1887-1964). The U.S. Army envisioned a complete inventory stock of 618 York vehicles.
The M247 was adopted in 1981 and production-quality vehicles then followed. However, the program would run into all manner of issues which led to its untimely demise-by-cancellation with just a paltry 50 units delivered in all. The M247 proved too slow to keep pace with the speedy Abrams and Bradley it was designed defend and mechanical/technical issues consisted. These issues also joined guns that proved too short-ranged for the role at hand. Testing continued - though on life support - into 1984 which proved the vehicle largely unsound, leading to its termination on August 27th, 1985. Very few Yorks were saved from the scrap heap with many hulks ending up as bombing range targets for the USAF.
To remedy the immediate SPAA need, the U.S. Army adopted the M2 Bradley-inspired (M2A2) M6 "Linebacker" variant armed with Stinger missiles. HMMWV-inspired M1097 "Avenger" vehicles were also fitted with Stinger launchers to help bridge the gap even further.
Ford Aerospace - USA
United States (retired)
- Anti-Aircraft / Airspace Denial
Width/Span:
54 tons (49,350 kg; 108,798 lb)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the M247 Sergeant York production model)
1 x Continental AVDS-1790-2D diesel-fueled engine developing 750 horsepower.
(Showcased powerplant information pertains to the M247 Sergeant York production model)
30 mph (48 kph)
Maximum Range:
(Showcased performance values pertain to the M247 Sergeant York production model; Compare this entry against any other in our database)
2 x 40mm Bofors L/70 main guns
Ammunition:
580 x 40mm projectiles
(Showcased armament details pertain to the M247 Sergeant York production model)
M247 "Sergeant York" - Base series designation
Modern Army
WW1 Armor
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The 992 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Is the 2022 GT3’s Evil Track Twin
Meet the new 911 GT3’s race-ready sibling.
Greg FinkAuthor
Money can't buy you happiness, but enough of it can get you a 992-series Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (likely north of $200,000, if the current GT3 Cup is anything to go by). The upcoming race-ready twin to the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 is due to debut this March at the Porsche Carrera Cup North America race at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida. While Porsche's mum on many of the details of its new rear-engined racer, the German brand is sharing images of the vehicle as it undergoes development. The lack of information comes as no surprise, really, given Porsche's remaining pretty tight-lipped about the Cup's street-legal GT3 counterpart, as well.
Predictably, the new GT3 Cup ought to improve upon the performance of its predecessor. Testing of the new car began in mid-2019 with the completion of the first test car, which Porsche promptly sent to its test track at its research and development center in Weissach, Germany.
One year later, and after thousands of miles of testing at various international tracks, Porsche built its first pre-production GT3 Cup car. This second car was tasked with completing long-run testing, presumably to ensure the car's reliability over miles and hours of racing.
If the smattering of information we gleaned during our ride in the 2022 911 GT3 holds true to its Cup counterpart, then we expect the latest iteration of the naturally aspirated Porsche racer to carry over its predecessor's 485-hp 4.0-liter flat-six engine and six-speed sequential transmission. The big changes ought to affect the Cup car's handling and aerodynamics. Like the 2022 GT3, the GT3 Cup surely welcomes the 911 RSR-derived multi-link front suspension of its street-legal sibling.
Images released by Porsche of the new GT3 Cup, meanwhile, show the racer adopting a variant of the 2022 GT3's big rear wing, replete with stanchions, and ditching the ram-air-style deck lid scoop of yore for a duck-tail rear spoiler. Not everything about the GT3 Cup is analogous to the standard 911 GT3, and the track car sports distinct features such as rear-fender-mounted intakes, a NACA-style hood duct, even wider fender flares, and typical race car items like a full roll cage, a single racing seat, vented rear windows, and more.
Much like the 2022 911 GT3, the GT3 Cup promises next-level performance and driving-engagement from the latest generation of Porsche 911. In the case of the GT3 Cup, though, the experience is likely limited to the lucky individuals who have the means to afford and maintain a Porsche race car, or the on-track skills to earn a place behind the wheel of one.
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Review by Matt Anderson
This tale as old as time gets dusted off once again for a generally satisfying, albeit uninspired, live-action remake.
Something (Missing) There
The Beast dances with the Beauty
Disney’s gotten a lot of mileage out of Beauty and the Beast. The original animated feature competed with Silence of the Lambs as an Oscar nominee for Best Picture in 1992 — back before there was an Oscar dedicated to Best Animated Feature Film; that award didn’t start until 10 years later, in 2002. A stage version opened on Broadway in 1994, where it played for 13 years. It’s still touring the world. In 2002, there was an IMAX upgrade of the animated feature, which added in the song Human Again.
Now there’s this big-budget live-action adaptation. This one follows on the heels of impressive live-action takes on Alice in Wonderland (directed by Tim Burton), Cinderella (directed by Kenneth Branagh) and The Jungle Book (directed by Jon Favreau and boasting groundbreaking, Oscar-winning visual effects). Next up, Burton is rumored to be involved in a live-action version of Dumbo.
This latest iteration of Beauty and the Beast, directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls), is impressive — at times. But it’s missing something. It needs some sort of hook, a driver for reimagining the story, such as with Burton’s wild visual spin on Alice, or a revisiting of older properties like Cinderella and Jungle Book that make them feel wholly new again.
This one’s a too-faithful remake of a story — and a look — that hasn’t had the opportunity to leave the pop culture consciousness since its debut 26 years ago. Condon should’ve been bold with more of a focus on location filming (there is some, but not enough) and followed the brave footsteps of Les Miserables by recording the singing on the set for greater performance realism.
Be Their Guest
As it stands, the bold steps the movie does take are less ambitious technically. It has an inclusive cast, including very light, extremely brief, homosexual overtones involving one of the story’s most beloved supporting characters. It also features a contemporary sense of humor, thanks largely to Josh Gad’s take on LeFou, Gaston’s sidekick.
The cast is led by Emma Watson (Hermione in the Harry Potter series) and she does a fine job as Belle. Dan Stevens (TV’s Downton Abbey) is also fine as the prince turned beast. But calling them “fine” isn’t a heaping helping of praise; the staid reaction is also a by-product of this production’s lack of anything new.
The most interesting choice is in the supporting cast. Madame Garderobe is played by Audra McDonald — a veritable living legend on Broadway — who has the vocal pipes to blow out all the stained-glass windows in the beast’s castle. When she’s on screen, it’s clear she’s the professional singer and everybody else is simply trying to keep up. She provides a sort of validation as to the quality of the music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (and Tim Rice). Come to think of it, a complete cast of Broadway’s A-listers would’ve been another way to set this production apart, offering plenty of aural pleasures. Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci? C’mon.
Ewan McGregor returns to France for another musical run a la Moulin Rouge!, this time as Lumiere, the singing and dancing candelabra. Luke Evans (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies) is surprisingly good as Gaston. Accompanied by the aforementioned Gad (Frozen), their rendition of Gaston’s eponymous drinking song is funny, but not exactly rousing.
This version manages to right one particular wrong, or at least irritant.
A criticism of the story’s central theme, that of converting a beast into a prince, is the potential misinterpration of the story to teach girls to put up with abusive relationships in the hopes of a positive change. The ol’ “challenge” theory about turning a man into something he innately is not.
Sure, the real idea is people shouldn’t be deceived by appearances — that message is also as old as time and every bit as relevant in this age of the hoodie generation. It’s not about how you dress, but what you know.
To that end, Gaston is clearly the real, unredeemable monster who is so self-enamored as to never be able to truly understand the meaning of love — and real beauty.
This time around, if anything, the Beast has been somewhat declawed. Aside from one or two scenes of crotchety “get off my lawn” agitation, the Beast offers a clearer path to his true self. The stage is set, as always, by a haggard street maiden who is ridiculed by the dashing, spoiled young prince. It’s revealed she’s a sorceress with the power to transform herself into a beautiful enchantress. Cursed by the sorceress, the prince and his helpers are relegated to a bleak life in a castle shrouded in eternal winter.
It’s rather disheartening that even with a trough of Disney dollars, in 2017 it’s still darn near impossible to make on-set snow scenes look real. Artificial and digital snow — particularly accumulated snow on walkways — is still a technical challenge that threatens the movie magic.
Watson’s Belle is a dream girl in more ways than one. She’s a spunky, independent girl unlike the other man-hungry ladies of the village. Belle’s constantly got her face in books — a mindset predating the distractions offered by smartphones. The village has a limited library — a mere handful of books — but the prince has a massive library all to himself. And Belle is all about literacy and empowering other girls to read, much to the chagrin of the other villagers, especially the male villagers.
Those are key scenes that stay focused strictly on human characters played by human actors performing in natural sunlight. There’s an energy there that provides the movie with a desperately-needed freshness. This expanded look at village life also helps stretch the original movie’s 85-minute run-time to 129 minutes.
But, of course, the fantasy dictates many of the humans transform into otherwise inanimate objects. That’s when the CGI takes center stage and the freshness fades, dropping away like those rose petals as they fall away, drawing the curse closer to an eternal state.
Sure, Be Our Guest is a terrific showstopper. It’s never looked or sounded better. And it couldn’t be done without CGI. Nonetheless, this live-action fairy tale could’ve benefitted from more of the purely human element.
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Cars+Trucks
Powertrain News
Mopars
Dodge Avenger, 2008-14: Now a family sedan
January 13, 2021 by Ryan Dodd
The original Avenger was a Hillman—and since Hillman became Chrysler Europe, re-using the name was perfectly fine. The first Dodge Avenger was a two-door coupe, based on the Mitsubishi Galant platform. For the 2008 model year, the old four-door, midsized “cloud-car” platform was replaced by a new JS platform, based on the Mitsubishi GS platform, and the Avenger grew two more doors.
2008 Introduction
In February 2007, a new Dodge sedan began hitting showrooms. The Avenger was a front-wheel-drive midsize sedan targeting cars such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Chevrolet Malibu; it was very similar to the Chrysler Sebring. This would be the last completely DaimlerChrysler-issued vehicle, as the company’s owner gave way to Cerberus and then Fiat from 2007 to 2009.
On the outside, the Avenger took on a styling theme similar to that of the Dodge Charger, with a prominent “kink” in the rear window, accentuated fenders, and other aggressive styling elements. Inside, the Avenger had a roomy back seat and a fairly quiet cabin. The build quality inside was mediocre, however, and some low-quality materials were used throughout the cabin. Still, the spacious interior and amenities like the “Chill Zone” air-conditioned glovebox, stain resistant seats, and heated and cooled cupholders made the Avenger interior stand apart from its competitors.
Three engine options were available for the 2008 model year: a 2.4L inline 4-cylinder (the “World Gasoline Engine,” or WGE, co-engineered by Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Chrysler, and Mercedes), producing 173 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque; a Chrysler 2.7L V6 producing 189 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque; and a Chrysler 3.5L V6 making 235 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, down from its 300M/Charger power rating of 250 horsepower and 250 lb-ft.
The two smaller engines were mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, while the more powerful V6 was paired with a six-speed automatic. The 3.5L V6 was also the only engine option available with all wheel drive (AWD) later in the 2008 model year.
The three trim levels were SE, SXT, and R/T. The 2008 Avenger SE included steel wheels, air conditioning, power locks, mirrors, and windows, cruise control, and the “Chill Zone” glovebox. The only powertrain for the SE in the 2008 model year was the 2.4L 4-cylinder, which sounded like a sewing machine when revved and did not make much power at lower engine speeds.
The SXT model added 17” alloy wheels, stiff but stain resistant seat material, a power driver’s seat, and a premium sound system, among other features. The standard engine on the SXT was the 4-cylinder, but the 2.7L V6 was available as an option.
The top-line R/T added 18” wheels, sportier suspension tuning, automatic climate control, steering wheel mounted audio control buttons, a CD changer, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The highlight of this trim level was the 3.5L V6 engine, as well as AWD when it became an option later in the model year.
Comparisons. The four-cylinder Avenger was just a tenth of a second behind the Toyota Camry in 0-60 times (tying it in fuel economy in the Car & Driver test, but being 1 mpg behind in EPA tests), and was half a second faster than the Ford Fusion. The Avenger and Camry were the top midsize sedans for fuel economy with their four-cylinders. Allpar’s Bill Cawthon tested both the Sebring (the Avenger’s twin) and the Camry, and found that the Camry wallowed around the road with poor handling; the Sebring was more responsive to steering and was reasonably nimble. He thought both cars were comfortable, with the Toyota having better fit and finish. The Avenger and Sebring had more head room and leg room, with a slightly smaller trunk than the Camry; the 3.5 liter Chrysler V6 produced 34 horsepower and 16 pound-feet less than the Toyota, turning in 1 mpg less city and highway mileage.
After a short run for part of the 2008 model year, the AWD option was dropped from the lineup for the 2009 model year–an odd choice since the engineering was done, suggesting that there may have been some problems with it, or that the cost was high and the take rate was low. More sound insulation material was added to all 2009 trims. More standard features were added to the lineup, with SXT and R/T now gaining a spoiler and fog lamps.
An optional package for the SXT added more luxurious amenities such as heated mirrors, automatic headlights, heated seats, heated and cooled cupholders, and remote start.
Later in the model year, the 2.7L V6 was dropped from the consumer lineup, becoming a fleet-only option and leaving the 2.4L 4-cylinder and 3.5L V6 in the lineup. The R/T now had the 4-cylinder as standard, rather than the 2.7, with the 3.5 V6 still available.
For 2010, the SE was dropped; the SXT was now the base model, with an Express trim added above it but below the R/T. That said, since the SXT came with 16” steel wheels and was restricted to the four-cylinder, one could argue that the SE continued under the SXT name, with Express replacing the SXT. In any case, the SXT also came with power windows, locks, and mirrors, air conditioning, the “Chill Zone” compartment, and a base sound system with satellite radio.
The Express added 17” alloy wheels, heated mirrors, a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel, a better sound system, a touch-screen radio with music storage, and steering wheel mounted audio control buttons. Again, though, buyers were restricted to the noisy four-cylinder.
The R/T, curiously, dropped the touch-screen radio in exchange for a lower-tech version, but added a CD changer, spoiler, fog lights, and leather seats; again, the four was standard, the 3.5 optional.
2011-4 Updates
With Fiat fully in charge for two years, it was time for a big refresh for the 2011 Dodge Avenger—and many other former-Chrysler-Corp. cars and trucks.
The 3.5L V6 was replaced by a more powerful and quieter 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine. Interior materials were improved, with higher-quality plastics everywhere, better seat cushioning, and new upholstery. The exterior was refreshed with a new grille, front bumper, and LED “ring of fire” tail lamps similar to those of the refreshed Journey. The suspension and steering were retuned to give the Avenger sportier driving dynamics and a smoother ride, and sound insulation was bumped up again. Some of the changes included raising the roll center, stiffening body mounts while softening the ride rate, using a heavier rear sway bar, changing the tire model, adding acoustic glass.
The 2.4L 4-cylinder engine was still available, now with the 6-speed automatic on all but the base model. A new trim lineup was introduced: Express, Mainstreet, Heat, and Lux. The idea was that Dodge had done some serious market segmentation work and had created new models to appeal to each market segment. The success of this may be judged by the fact that none of these four trims were still sold two years later.
The Express, replacing the old SE, included 17” steel wheels, power locks, mirrors, and windows, cruise control, air conditioning, and a base sound system with four speakers. It was available with the 2.4L 4-cylinder matched to a 4-speed automatic and no possible upgrades. Very few people were expected to actually buy the Express; it was there for a few true cheapskates and a low MSRP in the ads.
The Mainstreet added alloy wheels, heated mirrors, automatic climate control, a better sound system, satellite radio, a power driver’s seat, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel; the four-cylinder was hooked up to a six-speed automatic, which was much more suitable, especially given the “WGE” power bands.
The Heat trim level added 18” alloy wheels, fog lamps, a rear spoiler, heated front seats, remote start, and a touch screen radio. The new 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine was standard on the Heat, paired exclusively to a 6-speed automatic; it boasted a stunning (compared with the original V6, or most 1960s V8s) 283 horsepower, and was one of Ward’s Ten Best Engines for 2011 (and 2012).
The top-end Lux trim level added leather seats, Bluetooth phone connectivity, and chrome wheels, while dropping the spoiler; the 2.4L 4-cylinder and 6-speed automatic were standard but the V6 was optional.
The 2011 Dodge Avenger was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and retailed for $18,995. Its twin, the Chrysler Sebring, was seen as “different enough” to be renamed to Chrysler 200; one reason was because the Sebring had been relentlessly mocked by critics after one called the convertible version the worst car ever made, something of an overstatement. The 2008-2010 Avenger and Sebring may not have been the best sedans on the market in 2008-2010, but they were competitive and reasonably reliable.
The effects of the 2011 update were stunning. The Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200 née Sebring went from being a bit noisy and rattly to the being among the quietest cars in their class, feeling every bit as solid as any Honda, Toyota, or Chevrolet. The seats were more comfortable, the scratchy, inflexible stain-resistant fabric dramatically improved (or, more likely, completely replaced by something different). The interior styling went far upscale, with the bulgy, semi-gaudy styling of the 2008-10 models totally gone. The company reportedly put around $2,000 more into each car’s components, and it showed. The hefty sound insulation did much to improve the 2.4 liter four-cylinder engines, too, since owners no longer had the sensation of sewing machines going into overdrive when they hit the pedal; vibrations had been successfully attacked, too. Some were fooled into thinking they were in the V6 model when they drove four-cylinders.
With the 2011s, Avengers and Sebrings became rental-fleet darlings, not because they were impossible to sell otherwise (though their reputation stuck with them, so sales were still a problem), but because rental car customers sought them out. The cars were comfortable, easy to drive without paying particular attention, comfortable and controllable on the harshest roads, and predictable in their responses and control layouts. The Avenger and Sebring, with the 2011 redesign, were now actually among the top of the mid-size class. The Camry, still stuck in “cost-cutting” mode, was not quite as attractive; even the Camry’s 3.5 liter V6 was less powerful than Chrysler’s new, cutting-edge Pentastar V6.
2012. The innovative trim names were mainly dropped for the 2012 model year; the base model was again the SE (replacing Express), SXT returned to replace Mainstreet, and R/T replaced Heat. Since there had been no real between-SXT-and-R/T trimline before, Dodge created SXT Plus to replace Lux; it fit between the SXT and R/T. The main change, other than name badges, was making the V6 standard on the R/T, since the four-cylinder wouldn’t fit the heritage of the badge. The Avenger V6 was now a pretty quick car, doing 0-60 in 6 seconds and running a 14.8 quarter-mile ending at 94 mph. The four-cylinder ran 0-60 in 8.8 seconds with the six-speed, and 9.4 seconds with the four-speed.
2013. The SE added options for 18” chrome alloy wheels, the V6 engine, dual exhaust, and a rear spoiler. The SXT Plus was dropped, with most of its equipment becoming optional on the SXT, including the V6 engine; a new Rallye package was also available for the SXT, adding 18” wheels, sportier trim details on the exterior and interior, and a spoiler.
2014. The new Blacktop and and old Rallye packages became available for the SE and SXT trim levels.
Chrysler’s new chief executive, who also ran Fiat, was unhappy with the “badge engineering” that resulted in a nearly identical Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger. When the Dodge Dart was brought back in 2013, within spitting distance of the interior space of the Avenger, he could have dropped the older car, but he didn’t. Instead, he waited until the launch of a brand new 2015 Chrysler 200; 2014 was the final model year for both the Avenger and old “Sebring-based” 200.
The Avenger was arguably outclassed by newer entries into the midsize sedan market; however, the 2011 upgrades had touched just about every part of the car, leaving the base engine and the stereo as the only retrograde reminders of DaimlerChrysler. What really killed the Avenger was Sergio Marchionne’s decision to spend billions on a replacement for the Avenger and 200, and to move both Chrysler and Dodge in new directions. Dodge would become a muscle/sport brand; Chrysler would become the mainstream brand. A midrange, midsized sedan had no place in Dodge’s new world, so the only Avenger/200 replacement would be the Chrysler 200.
Ironically, the brand new 200, with its ultramodern 8.4” telematics screen, nine-speed automatic transmission, and superior handling, acceleration, and gadgetry—all vastly updated from 2008 to 2015—did not add up to a car that was clearly “better” than the Avenger for the typical buyer. The main issue seized upon by critics was the 200’s sloping roofline, which made it harder to get into the back seats. In a stunningly brief time, the Avenger’s replacement was also dead, more the victim of changing customer tastes than that design flaw; people now wanted SUVs, and even the best-selling sedans would see huge drops in sales despite substantially lower prices.
Ryan Dodd
Ryan had an obsession with cars from a young age, reading NADA books and MotorTrend magazine as well as sketching cars in elementary school. He has since moved on to creating renderings in Photoshop and writing about auto news. You can reach Ryan at +1.516-531-4021.
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The Latin Text of the Oldest Surviving Papal Decree Rejects “Baptism of Desire”
THE OLDEST SURVIVING PAPAL DECREE REFUTES ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’
In AD 385 Pope St. Siricius issued a decree to Himerius. This document is frequently called a Letter to Himerius. However, it was actually an authoritative decree in which Pope St. Siricius uses his apostolic authority, promulgates laws, and declares that his decree is to be circulated to, and observed by, all the priests and bishops of the Catholic Church. It was therefore an authoritative act of the Holy See. Pope St. Siricius’ decree to Himerius is actually the oldest completely-preserved papal decree in existence. There were papal decrees before Siricius’ time (Siricius makes reference to them), but his decree is the oldest one that has been completely preserved. In the decree, Pope St. Siricius makes striking statements on the necessity of infant baptism and adult baptism. He also explicitly and completely rejects the concept of baptism of desire. An examination of the Latin text demonstrates without any doubt that Pope St. Siricius (and the teaching of the Catholic Church) contradicted the idea of baptism of desire.
The facts below prove, to any honest person, that Siricius’ decree and the early Church rejected the idea of ‘baptism of desire’ (BOD). Nevertheless, there are many extremely dishonest people in the world, including among those who claim to be ‘traditional Catholics’. Sadly, some of them have such an attachment to the concept of ‘baptism of desire’ (and the heresy of salvation outside the Church) that they will flat out deny the existence of any quote or fact that contradicts BOD, no matter how certain its existence or how clear its teaching. They lose all credibility in the process.
In regard to their failure to even acknowledge reality (i.e. the existence of quotes against their position), they deserve to be compared to supporters of homosexuality who claim that the Bible does not condemn homosexual behavior. Yes, there are many people who profess to be ‘Christian’ and actually argue that no applicable passage in Sacred Scripture condemns homosexual behavior. They attempt to explain away every single biblical passage typically cited on the matter. They even defend their view in published works! That’s absurd, you might say. Well, as the facts below demonstrate, to deny that Pope St. Siricius’ decree contradicts the idea of ‘baptism of desire’ is equally absurd.
We invite everyone who wants the truth – e.g. everyone with a fidelity to, and a belief in, Catholic teaching and the authority Christ conferred upon St. Peter and his successors – to carefully consider these facts. We ask them to reflect upon the significance and gravity of this papal decree and related facts in regard to the issue at hand, and submit to the Catholic position dictated by them.
THE KEY PART OF THE DECREE
Here’s what the Pope declares.
Pope St. Siricius, Decree to Himerius, A.D. 385:
LATIN: “Sicut sacram ergo paschalem reverentiam in nullo dicimus esse minuendam, ita infantibus qui necdum loqui poterunt per aetatem vel his, quibus in qualibet necessitate opus fuerit sacra unda baptismatis, omni volumus celeritate succurri, ne ad nostrarum perniciem tendat animarum, si negato desiderantibus fonte salutari exiens unusquisque de saeculo et regnum perdat et vitam.
“Therefore just as we say that the holy paschal observance is in no way to be diminished, we also say that to infants who will not yet be able to speak on account of their age or to those who in any necessity will need the holy stream of baptism, we wish succor to be brought with all celerity, lest it should tend to the perdition of our souls if the saving font be denied to those desiring it and every single one of them exiting this world lose both the Kingdom and life.”
Quicumque etiam discrimen naufragii, hostilitatis incursum, obsidionis ambiguum vel cuiuslibet corporalis aegritudinis desperationem inciderint, et sibi unico credulitatis auxilio poposcerint subveniri, eodem quo poscunt momento temporis expetitae regenerationis praemia consequantur. Hactenus erratum in hac parte sufficiat; nunc praefatam regulam omnes teneant sacerdotes, qui nolunt ab apostolicae petrae, super quam Christus universalem construxit Ecclesiam, soliditate divelli.”
Whoever should fall into the peril of shipwreck, the incursion of an enemy, the uncertainty of a siege or the desperation of any bodily sickness, and should beg to be relieved by the unique help of faith, let them obtain the rewards of the much sought-after regeneration in the same moment of time in which they beg for it. Let the previous error in this matter be enough; [but] now let all priests maintain the aforesaid rule, who do not want to be torn from the solidity of the apostolic rock upon which Christ constructed His universal Church.”
The Pope’s words are quite clear. He completely rejects the idea of ‘baptism of desire.’
He begins by speaking of the discipline to celebrate the baptism of adult converts at Paschal time. Paschal time is when the Resurrection is celebrated. Since Baptism is the rising from the state of condemnation to new life in Christ (see Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-4; etc.), it became customary to celebrate the baptism of adult converts at Paschal time, after the unbaptized catechumens had undergone a period of testing and instruction in preparation for the Christian life. As this decree and others clearly prove, the custom of delaying adult baptisms until Paschal time was not incompatible with the position – and the Church’s infallible teaching – that all those preparing for Baptism would indeed be lost if they died before receiving it. No one can be saved without Baptism, as Jesus declared in John 3:5 and the Church infallibly teaches. God can and will keep good-willed and sincere souls alive until Baptism. He is in control.
The practice of baptizing adult converts at Paschal time (and the custom of an extended catechumenate) was a disciplinary one. It was not a requirement of Apostolic Tradition, as we see in Acts chapter 8. There we read that Philip baptized the Eunuch of Candace after a very brief discussion of the basics of the Christian faith. So, while declaring that the holy Paschal observance is to be continued, Siricius adds that if these unbaptized catechumens find themselves in any necessity at all, they are to be baptized with all celerity – that is, with all swiftness or right away. He then explains why he’s insistent on this point. He declares that they must be baptized right away in any kind of necessity, “lest it should tend to the perdition of our souls if the saving font be denied to those desiring it and every single one of them exiting this world lose both the Kingdom and life.” Obviously, that completely contradicts the concept of ‘baptism of desire.’ The Pope teaches that all those who desire water baptism, but die without receiving it, will not be saved.
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LATIN TEXT
To further demonstrate that Pope St. Siricius’ decree rejects baptism of desire, let’s take a closer look at his words.
In the Latin of the decree we find the word “desiderantibus”. That’s the plural present participle in the dative case of the verb desidero (I desire or want). Here, desiderantibus literally means: “to those desiring”. The decree thus speaks directly about unbaptized catechumens desiring water baptism. In that sentence we also find “negato… fonte salutari”. That’s an ablative absolute – that is, a clause generally consisting of a noun and a modifying participle in the ablative case. Here the noun is “fonte,” from fons, meaning: a fountain; a spring; a font. “Fonte” refers to the font of baptism. “Salutari” (which means saving) is fonte’s accompanying adjective in this sentence. “Fonte salutari” means: “with the saving font”. “Negato” is a perfect passive participle. It’s from the verb nego: I deny or refuse. Here “negato,” a perfect passive participle in the ablative case, means “having been denied”. So, “negato… fonte salutari,” the ablative absolute, literally means: “with the saving font having been denied”; or, it could be translated into more flowing English as: “if the saving font be denied”. Denied to whom? The pope says, “desiderantibus,” to those desiring it.
So, the decree deals directly with cases in which the Sacrament of Baptism is being withheld from, or denied to, those who desire it (those who want it). In fact, in these paragraphs the Pope uses numerous verbs to describe the situation in which people would ask for or even beg for baptism (e.g. poposcerint; expetitae). Yet they are all lost, he teaches, if they don’t get it.
The fact is that if someone is of good will, God will keep that person alive until Baptism.
St. Augustine, Against Julian, Book 5, Chap. 4: “Of the number of the elect and predestined, even those who have led the very worst kind of life are led to repentance through the goodness of God… Not one of them perishes, regardless of his age at death; never be it said that a man predestined to life would be permitted to end his life without the sacrament of the Mediator [Baptism]. Because of these men, our Lord says: ‘This is the will of him who sent me, the Father, that I should lose nothing of what He has given me.’”
He is a good, all-powerful, and just God. But the Pope’s decree, and the Church’s teaching, make it clear that no one is saved without water baptism, even those who desire it.
Moreover, I find it particularly interesting that the decree happens to use desiderantibus – a participle form of desidero. As an etymology will show, desidero is the verb from which we get the English verb ‘desire’. There are numerous Latin verbs that could be used to convey the concept of how one intends, wants or desires something. In fact, Siricius uses a number of them in addition to desidero (i.e. poposcerint; expetitae). Yet, desidero most precisely matches our English verb ‘desire’. If we understand ‘baptism of desire’ as ‘baptism by desiring’, one can see the precise connection between the Pope’s reference to desiderantibus and the concept of ‘baptism of desire’ – a concept his decree directly rejects.
In other words, it’s not just a coincidence that Siricius’ decree uses a participle of desidero. God made sure the decree would employ a word that precisely matches our English verb ‘desire’ so that the idea of ‘baptism of desire’ would be directly rejected in the oldest surviving papal decree. (On this point, see the section below concerning the significance of this decree for the final days.)
SIRICIUS’ DECREE OF COURSE PROVES THAT THE EARLY CHURCH REJECTED ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’
Siricius was a father of the Church. He was a saint, and (most importantly for this particular point) he was a pope. He had the authority of St. Peter and his legitimate successors. His decree proves, without any question, that the early Church rejected the idea of baptism of desire. Even though the meaning of his decree is quite clear, some obstinate proponents of baptism of desire are so dishonest that they will actually claim that his decree does not contradict baptism of desire. Many of them even have the audacity to claim that no father, saint or pope rejected the idea of baptism of desire. That is of course nonsense and a total lie. It is demolished by the facts. Siricius’ decree by itself – and there are many other points we could bring forward – proves that the early Church rejected baptism of desire. Siricius would never have taught and stated what he did if ‘baptism of desire’ had been the belief and teaching of the Church. The outrageous dishonesty and misrepresentation routinely displayed by obstinate proponents of ‘baptism of desire’ is outrageous and mind-boggling.
THE POPE EVEN MENTIONS ACCIDENTS, UNEXPECTED EVENTS, ETC. – THE VERY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH PEOPLE CLAIM A ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’ WOULD MOST PARTICULARLY APPLY – AND HE DENIES THE IDEA OF BAPTISM OF DESIRE IN THAT VERY CONTEXT
In these passages the Pope also speaks of how such people, who desire water baptism, might be in the peril of a shipwreck, an enemy incursion, an illness or something similar. It could be a sudden or unexpected event that comes upon them. He refers to various necessities and any kind of bodily sickness.
“Quicumque etiam discrimen naufragii, hostilitatis incursum, obsidionis ambiguum vel cuiuslibet corporalis aegritudinis desperationem inciderint…”
“Whoever should fall into the peril of shipwreck, the incursion of an enemy, the uncertainty of a siege or the desperation of any bodily sickness…”
Yet, what does he say about the fate of people in such circumstances, who desire Baptism but die without having received it? He teaches that all of them lose the Kingdom and life if they exit this world without water baptism.
“… si negato desiderantibus fonte salutari exiens unusquisque de saeculo et regnum perdat et vitam.”
“… if the saving font be denied to those desiring it and every single one of them exiting this world lose both the Kingdom and life.”
He uses the word “unusquisque”, which means “each one of them” or “every single one of them”, stressing the fact that there are no exceptions in this matter. If you cannot see that this completely and totally rejects baptism of desire, well, then, you’re just a liar. It’s also a decree from an early Church pope and saint, in which he invokes his supreme authority and applies his decree to the universal Church.
SIRICIUS ALSO DECLARES THAT WATER BAPTISM IS THE “UNICO CREDULITATIS AUXILIO” (THE UNIQUE HELP OF FAITH): THE ONLY WAY TO BE SAVED
In the next paragraph, the Pope emphasizes that water baptism is their only help, their only way to be saved, whether they are infants or people who desire Baptism and find themselves in danger, in accidents, etc.
He refers to water baptism as the “unico credulitatis auxilio,” that is, “the unique help of faith or belief”. Credulitatis, meaning of faith or of belief, is the genitive form of credulitas (faith or belief). According to the pope’s teaching, receiving the Sacrament of Baptism is the unique help of faith. Receiving it is the first condition, and the only way, to be saved through the faith, as Scripture also teaches.
“… having been buried with him in baptism, by which you were also raised with him through the faith [διὰ τῆς πίστεως]…” – Colossians 2:12
“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through the faith [διὰ τῆς πίστεως]. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” – Galatians 3:26-27
There is no such thing as a belief or faith (a credulitas) that can bring a person to salvation without water baptism. It is the only way that one receives the true, saving faith. That’s why the Church has also taught that only those who have received the Sacrament of Baptism are part of the faithful. The words “unico auxilio” are in the ablative case. They are an ablative of means connected with “subveniri”, which here means: “to be relieved”. Siricius says that those in any necessity who beg for the Sacrament of Baptism are to be relieved “unico auxilio,” by the unique help “credulitatis” (of belief). Receiving the Sacrament of Baptism is the only way for them to be saved.
THE UNIQUE HELP EXCLUDES OTHER WAYS OF SALVATION AND OTHER SO-CALLED “BAPTISMS”
“Unico,” which is a form of “unicus,” means: “unique; one-and-only; peerless; unparalleled”. There can be no alternatives, no other kinds of baptism. Receiving water baptism is the only way to be saved – for infants, for those who desire it, for those who are in any kind of predicament, necessity, accident, illness, etc. That’s the teaching of Pope St. Siricius. That’s the teaching of the Catholic Church. That’s what we find in every single infallible and dogmatic decree to the universal Church on the issue, even though God allowed errors to be taught on this matter in fallible sources and by fallible men.
Pope Clement V, The Council of Vienne, 1311-1312: “Besides, only one baptism regenerating all who are baptized in Christ must be faithfully confessed by all just as ‘one God and one faith’ [Eph. 4:5], which celebrated in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit we believe to be the perfect remedy for salvation for both adults and children.”
Pope Paul III, The Council of Trent, Can. 5 on the Sacrament of Baptism, Sess. 7, 1547: “If anyone says that baptism [the sacrament] is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation: let him be anathema.”
Pope Paul III, The Council of Trent, Can. 2 on the Sacrament of Baptism, Sess. 7, 1547, ex cathedra: “If anyone should say that real and natural water is not necessary for baptism, and on that account should distort those words of Our Lord Jesus Christ: ‘Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit’ [John 3:5], into some metaphor: let him be anathema.”
SIRICIUS’ DECREE ALSO SERVES TO COMPLETELY REFUTE THE OBJECTIONS FREQUENTLY ADVANCED BY SUPPORTERS OF ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’ FROM 1) THE CATECHISM OF TRENT, 2) THE 1917 CODE OF CANON LAW, AND 3) THEIR FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT THE ORDINARY AND UNIVERSAL MAGISTERIUM
In addition to numerous other facts, Pope St. Siricius’ decree, which has clearly been left by divine providence for our day (see below), provides a powerful refutation of three of the main objections advanced by supporters of ‘baptism of desire’. Those objections are from the Catechism of Trent, the 1917 Code of Canon Law, and their false claims about what the Ordinary and Universal Magisterium teaches. Of course, those arguments have been refuted before. However, Siricius’ decree further devastates them because its content pertains specifically to principles at the heart of those objections.
In short, Siricius’ decree (which directly contradicts ‘baptism of desire’, as we’ve shown) trumps both the authority of the Catechism of Trent and the 1917 Code of Canon Law. It also proves that the Ordinary and Universal Magisterium teaches exactly the opposite of ‘baptism of desire’, while declaring that water baptism is the only way to be saved! It proves that we have the truth (and the teaching of the Catholic Church) on this matter and supporters of BOD don’t. Let’s briefly consider the decree’s relevance to each of the three objections.
THE CATECHISM OF TRENT
With regard to the Catechism of Trent objection, if you are interested in this issue and have not read the new article/section on that matter in the updated version of our book, it’s a must-read. It’s found here: https://www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/catholicchurch/catechism-of-trent-baptism-of-desire/ The new section on the Catechism of Trent contains many powerful facts and new quotes that were not in the 2006 version of our book. I will summarize one of the main points below, but the article contains many other points and facts. Those points serve to definitively refute the notion that the teaching of the Catechism of Trent provides magisterial support for ‘baptism of desire.’
One of the numerous points made in the updated section concerns the vital distinction on this matter: i.e. that the paragraph of the Catechism of Trent, which is frequently brought forward by supporters of ‘baptism of desire,’ is actually not part of the official teaching that the Catechism of Trent identified as the body of doctrine to be communicated by pastors to the faithful. This point is crucial and has been overlooked by “baptism of desire” supporters. As the aforementioned article proves by a careful examination of the issue and with many quotes, ONLY CERTAIN POINTS OF DOCTRINE are specified by the Catechism of Trent as points of doctrine that can, must or should be communicated by pastors to the faithful. Not everything in the Catechism’s approximately 500 pages was identified as part of the body of doctrine to be passed along to the faithful.
Here are just a few quotes which prove that not everything in the Catechism of Trent was part of the body of doctrine that can, must or should be communicated to the faithful. I could give dozens of other examples.
Catechism of Trent, “Suffered under Pontius Pilate”: “Furthermore, the pastor should not omit the historical part of this Article, which has been so carefully set forth by the holy Evangelists…”
Here we see the Catechism informing the pastor that he should not omit this particular point. That’s because within the vast amount of information in the Catechism, there are things in the Catechism that the pastor could omit. Not every line or paragraph in the Catechism is to be communicated to the faithful.
Catechism of Trent, on Taking God’s name in vain: “The above observation should strongly convince the pastor that on this point it is not enough to speak in general terms…”
Here the Catechism is confirming that there are certain things that must be said to the faithful. Certain things cannot be passed over. But not everything in the Catechism necessarily falls into that category. The sentence above would of course make no sense if everything in the Catechism were automatically intended for the faithful or to be given to the faithful.
Catechism of Trent, on “Life Everlasting”: “The faithful, therefore, are to be informed that the words, life everlasting, signify not only continuance of existence…”
Here again it’s identifying a point that is to be communicated to the faithful, but not everything in the Catechism falls into that category.
Catechism of Trent, Opening Words of the Lord’s Prayer, on Angels: “The pastor need do no more than depict the Angel lighting up the darkness of the prison, touching Peter’s side and awakening him from his sleep.”
Here again we see that not everything in the Catechism needs to be passed along to the faithful.
MORE PROOF THAT ONLY CERTAIN THINGS IN THE CATECHISM WERE SPECIFIED AS POINTS TO BE TAUGHT TO THE FAITHFUL; OTHER THINGS CAN BE OMITTED
Catechism of Trent, on the Eucharist: “It must be taught, then, that to priests alone has been given power to consecrate and administer to the faithful, the Holy Eucharist.”
Catechism of Trent, “Deliver us from Evil”: “It cannot be necessary to remind the faithful of the numerous evils and calamities to which we are exposed…”
Catechism of Trent, “on the forgiveness of sins”: “On this point of doctrine, then, it is the duty of the pastor to teach that, not only is forgiveness of sins to be found in the Catholic Church…”
Catechism of Trent, on Indissolubility: “The pastor should not here omit the salutary admonition of St. Augustine…”
Catechism of Trent, on the Creed, “Almighty”: “The pastor should point out the propriety and wisdom of having omitted all other names of God in the Creed, and of having proposed to us only that of Almighty as the object of our belief.”
Catechism of Trent, on the Effects of the Eucharist: “As, however, no language can convey an adequate idea of its utility and fruits, pastors must be content to treat of one or two points…”
This clearly shows that only certain things in the Catechism will be passed along to the faithful.
Catechism of Trent, Article II: “Wherefore, the pastor should not omit to remind the faithful that the guilt and punishment of original sin were not confined to Adam…”
Catechism of Trent, On the Creed, “On the Trinity”: “… let the pastor teach that the terms nature and person used to express this mystery should be most scrupulously retained; and let the faithful know that unity belongs to essence, and distinction to persons.”
Catechism of Trent, “Thy Will Be Done”: “Though the faithful are not to be left in ignorance of the import of this Petition, yet in this connection many questions concerning the will of God may be passed over which are discussed at great length and with much utility by scholastic doctors.”
The facts above establish without any doubt that within the Catechism of Trent’s 500-plus pages of information, only certain points of doctrine are identified by the Catechism as part of the body of doctrine that can, must or should be communicated to the faithful. That’s how the Catechism is written and set up. Many other examples could be given to further prove the point. The Catechism is telling the pastors that you need to tell them this; you must not forget that; you should not omit this; but it’s not necessary to say this; etc. It makes these statements throughout the entire Catechism because not everything in the Catechism is for the faithful. It’s information given to the parish priest. Only certain portions of that information are identified as what must or should be inculcated by the pastors.
The paragraph of the Catechism frequently cited by supporters of BOD is not one of those points that is identified as a doctrine to be passed along to the faithful. But guess what is? The repeated teaching that no one can be saved without the Sacrament of Baptism and that the entire Church has taught this truth! Here are just a few quotes to prove the point:
Catechism of the Council of Trent, “Matter of Baptism – Fitness,” p. 165: “Upon this subject pastors can teach in the first place that water, which is always at hand and within the reach of all, was the fittest matter of a Sacrament which is necessary to all for salvation.”
According to the Catechism, what is to be communicated to the faithful by pastors is that the Sacrament of Baptism is necessary to all for salvation. It even emphasizes that no one can be saved without water baptism by stating: “water, which is always at hand and within the reach of all”. That contradicts “baptism of desire.” “Baptism of desire” is not a sacrament, as its supporters admit.
Catechism of the Council of Trent, “On Baptism – Necessity of Baptism,” pp. 176-177: “If the knowledge of what has been hitherto explained be, as it is, of highest importance to the faithful, it is no less important to them to learn that THE LAW OF BAPTISM, AS ESTABLISHED BY OUR LORD, EXTENDS TO ALL, so that unless they are regenerated to God through the grace of Baptism, be their parents Christians or infidels, they are born to eternal misery and destruction. Pastors, therefore, should often explain these words of the Gospel: Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:5).”
Notice the references to “it is no less important to them to learn”, and “Pastors, therefore, should…” Again, we see that this is the doctrine pastors are to teach. ‘Baptism of desire’ is not, as the article proves.
Catechism of the Council of Trent, “Baptism made obligatory after Christ’s Resurrection,” p. 171: “Holy writers are unanimous in saying that after the Resurrection of our Lord, when He gave His Apostles the command to go and teach all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, the law of Baptism became obligatory on all who were to be saved… Hence we can have no doubt that the words of the Savior: Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God, refer also to the same time which was to follow after His Passion. If, then, pastors explain these truths accurately, there can be no doubt that the faithful will recognize the high dignity of this Sacrament.”
Here the Catechism states that holy writers are unanimous in teaching that after the Resurrection, the law of Baptism became obligatory on all; and that, after that time, no one can enter Heaven without being born again of water and the Spirit, as Jesus taught in John 3:5. That completely refutes the argument supporters of “baptism of desire” base on the alleged authority of a consensus among theologians; for it declares that all theologians (even those who did not remain consistent with themselves on this issue) articulated a position which contradicts “baptism of desire”: i.e., that no one can enter Heaven without water baptism, based on John 3:5. That is the position Catholic writers have unanimously taught. According to the Catechism, the doctrine to be communicated by pastors to the faithful is the position that after the Resurrection, no one enters Heaven without rebirth of water and the Holy Ghost. It is absolutely true that the official teaching of the Catechism of Trent, to be communicated to the faithful, is not “baptism of desire” but contrary to it.
This fact/distinction refutes the major premise of the argument people make from the Catechism of Trent, namely, that ‘baptism of desire’ is part of the official teaching of the Catechism to be passed along by pastors. It is not.
Siricius’ decree, however, provides an addition blow to the Catechism of Trent argument. That’s because, while being more authoritative than the Catechism, Siricius’ decree actually addresses the very same issue that’s mentioned in the non-authoritative paragraph of the Catechism: the “delay” in baptizing adult converts. As we’ve seen, in an authoritative decree binding on all the churches and priests, Siricius mentions the delay in baptizing adult converts and teaches that even if those adult catechumens who desire Baptism died before receiving it, they are all lost. The official teaching of the Catholic Church, therefore, directly rejects ‘baptism of desire’ in the context of discussing the very issue addressed in the Catechism of Trent’s fallible and flawed paragraph!
Pope St. Siricius’ decree proves that the Catechism of Trent’s explanation for the delay in baptizing adult converts is simply wrong. The Catechism’s paragraph on that point was not part of the official teaching the Catechism says is to be communicated to the faithful. Siricius’ decree on this matter is more authoritative, and its essential teaching was even repeated in numerous papal quotes (see below). The decree of Siricius, among the many other important facts in our updated section on the Catechism of Trent, serves to devastate the argument advanced by supporters of ‘baptism of desire’ from the Catechism of Trent.
SIRICIUS’ DECREE ALSO REFUTES THE OBJECTION FROM THE 1917 CODE OF CANON LAW
As covered in our material, the 1917 Code of Canon Law was a disciplinary act for the Latin Church, not the universal Church. Canon 1 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law disclaims (rejects) a universal applicability. As a result, the Code lacks the infallibility promised for universally binding teachings and laws of the Catholic Church. The Church is infallible in its “teachings and laws imposed upon all” (Pius XII, Mystici Corporis).
Pope Pius XII, Mystici Corporis Christi (# 66), June 29, 1943: “Certainly the loving Mother is spotless in the Sacraments, by which she gives birth to and nourishes her children; in the faith which she has always preserved inviolate; in her sacred laws imposed upon all; in the evangelical counsels which she recommends; in those heavenly gifts and extraordinary graces through which, with inexhaustible fecundity, she generates hosts of martyrs, virgins, and confessors.”
That has been discussed before. It’s also interesting that a prominent supporter of ‘baptism of desire’ admitted that not every canon of the 1917 Code enjoys infallibility.
However, whatever a supporter of ‘baptism of desire’ tries to say about the 1917 Code, Siricius’ decree trumps it. For Siricius declares that “all priests should maintain” (omnes teneant sacerdotes) his rule, “who do not want to be torn from the solidity of the apostolic rock upon which Christ constructed His universal Church” (qui nolunt ab apostolicae petrae, super quam Christus universalem construxit Ecclesiam, soliditate divelli). In fact, he makes this declaration in the very paragraph that rejects ‘baptism of desire’!
Pope St. Siricius also declared that his decree applies to all the bishops: “So that you may get these things which We have written back to your inquiries brought to the notice of all Our fellow bishops” (Ut haec quae ad tua consulta rescripsimus, in omnium coepiscoporum nostrorum perferri facias notionem). His decree is the highest and most authoritative decree a pope can issue on a matter of Church law.
At the very least, every supporter of ‘baptism of desire’ would have to concede that Siricius’ decree cancels out the 1917 Code of Canon Law argument for ‘baptism of desire’. If the 1917 Code of Canon Law proved anything for the doctrinal concept of ‘baptism of desire’, as they claim (and it doesn’t), then Siricius’ decree would prove equally as much against the idea. But Siricius’ decree is actually more authoritative. While purely disciplinary law can be changed, Siricius’ decree trumps the 1917 Code of Canon Law on the doctrinal matter under discussion for numerous reasons.
First, the Pope declares, in specific form, that his decree (which contains the doctrinal statement contradicting ‘baptism of desire’) is to be observed by all the priests and bishops under pain of separation from the Church, while the 1917 Code specifically disclaims a universally binding applicability. Second, the universally binding nature of Siricius’ decree is even found in the very paragraph that rejects ‘baptism of desire’. Third, as will be shown below, the doctrinal truth and principle at the heart of Siricius’ decree, which declares that receiving water baptism is the only way for unbaptized catechumens in danger, etc. to be saved, was repeated in numerous papal statements after Siricius. It was, therefore, the consistent teaching of the Apostolic See on this matter. The Church officially and repeatedly taught that water baptism is the ONLY WAY for anyone to be saved. That truth cannot be rejected without rejecting the faith of the Church.
SIRICIUS’ DECREE PROVES THAT THE ORDINARY AND UNIVERSAL MAGISTERIUM ALSO CONTRADICTS ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’ AND PROVES OUR POSITION
Siricius’ decree also demonstrates an important point about the teaching of the Ordinary and Universal Magisterium. The Extraordinary Magisterium, which is exercised, for example, in the dogmatic decrees of universal councils, has declared that no one can be saved without receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. It has declared John 3:5 is to be understood “as it is written”; that there’s only one baptism of water; that only the faithful [the water baptized] are part of the Church; that only the water baptized are subject to the Church; that man must be regenerated to be justified (which contradicts ‘baptism of desire’); that sanctification and the application of Christ’s blood to a soul are inseparable from water baptism; etc. The teaching of the Extraordinary Magisterium certainly refutes the idea of ‘baptism of desire’. (See, for example, the bullet points in the Appendix of this article.) The Ordinary and Universal Magisterium, also being infallible, cannot of course contradict the Extraordinary Magisterium.
Pope St. Siricius’ decree proves that the Ordinary and Universal Magisterium also rejected baptism of desire and affirmed the truth that no one can be saved without the Sacrament of Baptism. That’s because his decree, which rejects baptism of desire, was, by virtue of his order, to be taught to, and repeated by, all the bishops of the Church (omnium coepiscoporum nostrorum). That means that the entire Church and all the bishops in their dioceses, following and implementing his decree, would be teaching the following, namely:
that “if the saving font be denied to those desiring it”, “every single one of them exiting this world lose both the Kingdom and life”;
that water baptism is “the unique help of faith”, even for those in “the peril of shipwreck, the incursion of an enemy, the uncertainty of a siege or the desperation of any bodily sickness”;
that “all priests” must “maintain the aforesaid rule, who do not want to be torn from the solidity of the apostolic rock upon which Christ constructed His universal Church.”
To continue to promote ‘baptism of desire’, in the face of these facts and this decree (among the many others covered in our material), is simply to resist and reject the highest teaching of the Catholic Church. It is to contradict and deny the true faith of the Church.
THE ESSENCE OF SIRICIUS’ DECREE, WHICH CONTRADICTED ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’, WAS REPEATED IN NUMEROUS PAPAL STATEMENTS
As alluded to above, it’s important to note that Siricius’ decree on this matter was essentially repeated in numerous statements by Pope St. Leo the Great. The core truth of what Siricius declared against the idea of baptism of desire and any salvation without water baptism, in a law for the universal Church, was the repeated teaching of the popes and the Apostolic See on this matter.
In the following two statements we see that Pope St. Leo the Great repeated, in very similar language, the very same teaching we find in the decree of Pope St. Siricius. He therefore also denied the concept of “baptism of desire”.
Pope St. Leo the Great, Letter 166, Oct. 24, 458, #1: “For at the instance of certain brethren we have discovered that some of the prisoners of war, on their free return to their own homes, such to wit as went into captivity at an age when they could have no sure knowledge of anything, crave the healing waters of baptism, but in the ignorance of infancy cannot remember whether they have received the mystery and rites of baptism, and that therefore in this uncertainty of defective recollection their souls are brought into jeopardy, so long as under a show of caution they are denied a grace, which is withheld, because it is thought to have been bestowed… Consequently the same things, which have come into our mind by the Divine inspiration, have received the assent and confirmation of a large number of the brethren. And so we are bound before all things to take heed lest, while we hold fast to a certain show of caution, we incur a loss of souls who are to be regenerated. For who is so given over to suspicions as to decide that to be true which without any evidence he suspects by mere guesswork? And so wherever the man himself who is anxious for the new birth does not recollect his baptism, and no one can bear witness about him being unaware of his consecration to God, there is no possibility for sin to creep in, seeing that, so far as their knowledge goes, neither the bestower or receiver of the consecration is guilty… And so, whenever such a case occurs, first sift it by careful investigation, and spend a considerable time, unless his last end is near, in inquiring whether there be absolutely no one who by his testimony can assist the other’s ignorance. And when it is established that the man who requires the Sacrament of Baptism is prevented by a mere baseless suspicion, let him come boldly to obtain the grace, of which he is conscious of no trace in himself. Nor need we fear thus to open the door of salvation which has not been shown to have been entered before.”
Notice that in this passage he teaches that people who are to be regenerated (unbaptized catechumens), who even “crave the healing waters of baptism,” will lose their souls if they don’t receive water baptism. There is no ‘baptism of desire.’ Receiving the Sacrament of Baptism is the only way to be saved. That’s the teaching of the Apostolic See. The quote below articulates the same position.
Pope St. Leo the Great, Letter 16, Oct. 21, 447, #6: “Wherefore, as it is quite clear that these two seasons [Easter and Pentecost] of which we have been speaking are the rightful ones for baptizing the chosen in Church, we admonish you, beloved, not to add other days to this observance. Because, although there are other festivals also to which much reverence is due in God’s honor, yet we must rationally guard this principal and greatest sacrament as a deep mystery and not part of the ordinary routine: not, however, prohibiting the license to succor those who are in danger by administering Baptism to them at any time. For while we put off the vows of those who are not pressed by ill health and live in peaceful security to those two closely connected and cognate festivals, we do not at any time refuse this which is the only safeguard of true salvation to anyone in peril of death, in the crisis of a siege, in the distress of persecution, in the terror of shipwreck.”
In this passage, notice his explicit teaching that for unbaptized catechumens in “peril of death,” receiving water baptism is the only way to be saved. It’s “the only safeguard of true salvation”! There is no ‘baptism of desire’. It doesn’t exist. That’s the teaching of the Catholic Church. Also consider how similar his language about “the crisis of a siege… the distress of persecution… the terror of shipwreck” is to Siricius’ decree which rejected ‘baptism of desire.’ As the Catholic Church teaches in every single document of faith and morals applicable to the universal Church, the only way for anyone to be saved is to receive water baptism. Those who obstinately deny this are heretics. Those who have the audacity not only to deny this truth, but even to proclaim it heretical or mortally sinful to adhere to this truth (which is the position of almost all ‘traditionalist’ priests in our day), bring upon themselves even greater damnation.
THE SPECIAL AUTHORITY OF SIRICIUS’ DECREE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR US NOW IN THE FINAL DAYS
The authority of Pope St. Siricius’ decree needs to be emphasized. As we’ve seen, it was issued to the Catholic Church with the fullness of Siricius’ authority. In it the Pope repeatedly makes reference to his supreme apostolic office and he invokes its authority. He makes it clear that what he declares is binding. He says that his decree is to be sent to, and observed by, all the churches, all the bishops, and all the priests. His decree is the highest and most authoritative decree on matters of Church law that a pope can issue. Embedded within his law and his decree is the teaching that all those desiring water baptism who die without getting it are lost; and that receiving the saving font of water baptism is the only way for people to be saved, whether they are infants, those who desire baptism, or those who are in any necessity whatsoever.
IT’S NOT JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT THE OLDEST SURVIVING PAPAL DECREE IS ONE THAT EXPLICITLY REJECTS THE IDEA OF ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’; GOD MADE SURE IT WOULD HAPPEN THAT WAY
It’s not just a coincidence that this particular papal decree, which completely rejects the idea of baptism of desire by using the very verb desidero, and affirms the truth of the absolute necessity of water baptism for salvation by declaring that it’s the only help for those in any danger, happens to be the oldest surviving papal decree in our day. For what characterizes our period, that is, the Great Apostasy and the final days, is the rejection of the necessity of Baptism, as well as the rejection of the necessity of incorporation into Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church for salvation. It’s simply a fact that in our day the false doctrine of baptism of desire is at the heart of that rejection. God arranged it that Pope St. Siricius’ decree, which denies baptism of desire, would be the decree that survives into the final days and stands out in our period as the most ancient.
In His providence, God decided that in the period characterized by the false doctrine of baptism of desire and the denial of the necessity of incorporation into the Church, the most venerable papal decree in all of history, from the standpoint of age, would be one that contains a clear rejection of baptism of desire and an affirmation of the truth of Jesus Christ that no one can be saved without being born again of water and the Spirit in the Sacrament of Baptism (John 3:5).
To put it another way: if someone wanted to discover what the popes and the Papacy, exercising the authority given by Jesus Christ to St. Peter and his successors, historically and authoritatively taught on the necessity of water baptism and the idea of ‘baptism of desire,’ the oldest surviving papal decree in existence would be a good place to start; and in it one finds a clear rejection of the false doctrine of baptism of desire.
By the way, it should be noted that Pope Clement’s famous epistle to the Corinthians was of course earlier than Siricius’ decree. Dated to the first century and approximately the year AD 95, it was a good example of papal primacy and authority in the ancient Church. Other documents are as well. In the epistle to the Corinthians, the Church of Rome (led by Clement) did use its authority to command the Church at Corinth in various ways. That was an example of how the Church of Rome exercised authority over other churches in the very earliest period of Church history. However, Clement’s epistle was not a decretal on points of Church law in the strict sense of the term that later came to be applied to specific types of papal documents. Of those decretal letters, Pope St. Siricius’ decree is the oldest one that has been completely preserved.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST: AT THE END, WE CAN LOOK TO THE BEGINNING
Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega (Apocalypse 22:13), the first and the last, the beginning and the end. The faith He revealed does not change. He promised to be with His Church until the consummation of the world (Mt. 28:20). Near the end of the world, when the Church is confronted with multitudes who have abandoned Catholic dogma on the necessity of the Church for salvation, usually with the excuse of ‘baptism of desire,’ we can look to the very beginning: to the earliest papal decree that we have, and we can find in it a specific refutation of the false doctrine of baptism of desire.
As these facts show, the true Church professes only one baptism of water. It profess that John 3:5 is to be understood “as it is written”. It professes that water baptism is the only help to salvation. That’s what the true remnant and the true believers in our day profess. Those who don’t take this position, and get in line with this teaching when presented with these facts, are not part of the true Church. They don’t have the true faith.
APPENDIX- OTHER MAGISTERIAL/DOGMATIC DECREES AND FACTS ON THE CHURCH’S TEACHING ON BAPTISM
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PROFESSES ONLY ONE BAPTISM OF WATER (NOT ‘THREE BAPTISMS’)
Pope Clement V, The Council of Vienne, 1311-1312: “But since one is the universal Church, of regulars and seculars, of prelates and subjects, of exempt and non-exempt, outside of which absolutely (omnino) no one (nullus) is saved (salvatur), one is the Lord, one is the Faith and one is the baptism of all.”
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PROFESSES THAT ONE MUST BE BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT TO BE SAVED (THAT CONTRADICTS ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’)
Pope Eugene IV, The Council of Florence, Exultate Deo, Nov. 22, 1439: “Holy baptism, which is the gateway to the spiritual life, holds the first place among all the sacraments; through it we are made members of Christ and of the body of the Church. And since death entered the universe through the first man, ‘unless we are born again of water and the Spirit, we cannot,’ as the Truth says, ‘enter into the kingdom of heaven’ [John 3:5]. The matter of this sacrament is real and natural water.”
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PROFESSES THAT RECEIVING WATER BAPTISM IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SAVED, INCLUDING FOR ADULTS WHO DESIRE WATER BAPTISM AND ARE IN DANGER, ACCIDENTS, ETC. (THAT CONTRADICTS ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’)
Pope St. Siricius, Decree to Himerius, A.D. 385: “Therefore just as we say that the holy paschal observance is in no way to be diminished, we also say that to infants who will not yet be able to speak on account of their age or to those who in any necessity will need the holy stream of baptism, we wish succor to be brought with all celerity, lest it should tend to the perdition of our souls if the saving font be denied to those desiring it and every single one of them exiting this world lose both the Kingdom and life. Whoever should fall into the peril of shipwreck, the incursion of an enemy, the uncertainty of a siege or the desperation of any bodily sickness, and should beg to be relieved by the unique help of faith, let them obtain the rewards of the much sought-after regeneration in the same moment of time in which they beg for it. Let the previous error in this matter be enough; [but] now let all priests maintain the aforesaid rule, who do not want to be torn from the solidity of the apostolic rock upon which Christ constructed His universal Church.”
Pope St. Leo the Great, Letter 16, Oct. 21, 447, #6: “Wherefore, as it is quite clear that these two seasons [Easter and Pentecost] of which we have been speaking are the rightful ones for baptizing the chosen in Church, we admonish you, beloved, not to add other days to this observance. Because, although there are other festivals also to which much reverence is due in God’s honour, yet we must rationally guard this principal and greatest sacrament as a deep mystery and not part of the ordinary routine: not, however, prohibiting the license to succor those who are in danger by administering baptism to them at any time. For while we put off the vows of those who are not pressed by ill health and live in peaceful security to those two closely connected and cognate festivals, we do not at any time refuse this which is the only safeguard of true salvation to anyone in peril of death, in the crisis of a siege, in the distress of persecution, in the terror of shipwreck.”
THE MAGISTERIAL TEACHING OF ALL PAPAL ENCYCLICALS ON THE ISSUE IS THAT NO ONE IS SAVED, OR IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, WITHOUT RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM (THAT CONTRADICTS ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’)
Pope Pius XI, Quas Primas (#15), Dec. 11, 1925, addressed to the universal Church, concerning entrance into the Kingdom of God: “Which Kingdom indeed is set forth in the Gospels as one into which men prepare to enter by doing penance but are unable to enter except through faith and baptism, which, although it is an external rite, nevertheless signifies and effects an interior regeneration.”
Pope Pius XII Mediator Dei (#47), Nov. 20, 1947, addressed to the universal Church, referring to the Sacrament of Baptism: “… the washing of baptism distinguishes and separates all Christians [christianos omnes] from the rest whom this stream of atonement has not washed and who are not members of Christ…”
Pope Pius XII, Mystici Corporis Christi (# 22), June 29, 1943, addressed to the universal Church: “Actually only those are to be included as members of the Church who have received the laver of regeneration and profess the true faith…”
THE CHURCH DOGMATICALLY TEACHES THAT ONE CANNOT RECEIVE JUSTIFICATION/SANCTIFICATION WITHOUT WATER BAPTISM (THAT CONTRADICTS ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’)
Pope St. Leo the Great, dogmatic letter to Flavian, The Council of Chalcedon, 451: “Let him heed what the blessed apostle Peter preaches, that sanctification by the Spirit is effected by the sprinkling of Christ’s blood (1 Pet. 1:2); and let him not skip over the same apostle’s words, knowing that you have been redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your fathers, not with corruptible gold and silver but by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, as of a lamb without stain or spot (1 Pet. 1:18). Nor should he withstand the testimony of blessed John the apostle: and the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, purifies us from every sin (1 Jn. 1:7); and again, This is the victory which conquers the world, our faith. Who is there who conquers the world save one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? It is He, Jesus Christ, who has come through water and blood, not in water only, but in water and blood. And because the Spirit is truth, it is the Spirit who testifies. For there are three who give testimony – Spirit and water and blood. And the three are one. (1 Jn. 5:4-8) IN OTHER WORDS, THE SPIRIT OF SANCTIFICATION AND THE BLOOD OF REDEMPTION AND THE WATER OF BAPTISM. THESE THREE ARE ONE AND REMAIN INDIVISIBLE. NONE OF THEM IS SEPARABLE FROM ITS LINK WITH THE OTHERS.”
THE CHURCH DOGMATICALLY TEACHES THAT ONLY THE FAITHFUL ARE SAVED; THAT MAN MUST BE REGENERATED TO BE JUSTIFIED; THAT ONLY THOSE SUBJECT TO THE ROMAN PONTIFF ARE SAVED; AND THAT ONE CANNOT BE PART OF THE FAITHFUL OR SUBJECT TO THE ROMAN PONTIFF WITHOUT WATER BAPTISM. ALL OF THESE FACTS, AMONG OTHERS, REFUTE THE FALSE IDEA OF ‘BAPTISM OF DESIRE’. YOU CAN FIND QUOTES ON THOSE MATTERS IN OUR MATERIAL.
Categories: Baptism of Desire, Christianity and Catholicism, Early Church Fathers, Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus, Traditional Catholic Articles
Tags: Catholic, Decree, Latin, Papal
John Paul II Taught That Man Is The Way (video)
John Paul II Taught That Man Is The Way
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Record Store Day Drop 2
Paradise Lost, Mew, Mikey Dread, and Behind The Dykes.
Saturday, September 26 we're celebrating the second part of Record Store Day with a bundle of fantastic releases. RSD Drop 2 contains the legendary performance of Paradise Lost at the Bizarre Festival on 19th August 1995 in Cologne (Germany), which is available on vinyl for the first time. Another fantastic release is Behind The Dykes - Beat, Blues, and Psychedelic Nuggets From The Lowlands 1964-1972. This title contains tracks by the best bands and artists the Dutch had to offer in those years. Besides we have the wonderful 15th-anniversary edition of the much-celebrated fourth album by Mew, And the Glass Handed Kites. It contains 10 bonus tracks, including the Mogwai remix of “Why Are You Looking Grave”, “Dark Design (red version)”, and “Animals Of Many Kinds”. Last but not least we have the four-track E.P. His Imperial Majesty, which consists of tracks produced by Mikey Dread and one of his originals. All these tracks have that special Dread vibe, which makes his music so great.
Take a look at this page for a complete overview of all our RSD 2020 releases.
Get your favorite record(s) at a participating store nearby this Saturday.
AND THE GLASS HANDED KITES (EXPANDED)
And the Glass Handed Kites is the fourth album by Danish quartet Mew and marked a highlight in their career. It has won several music prizes in Denmark, including four Danish Music Awards. Gaffa named And the Glass Handed Kites the best Danish album of 2005. Mew also won the 2005 MTV Europe Music Award for Best Danish Act. Pitchfork Media ranked the single "The Zookeeper's Boy" #92 on its list of top 100 tracks of 2006.
180 gram audiophile vinyl
Gatefold sleeve
Including an extensive 12-page booklet with unseen pictures and liner notes by Michael Beinhorn
Hype-sticker
The original 2005 album including the singles "Apocalypso", "Special", "Why Are You Looking Grave?" and "The Zookeeper's Boy"
10 Bonus tracks, including “Why Are You Looking Grave? (Mogwai remix)”, “Drown”, “Dark Design (red version)”, the unreleased song “Wherefore Are You Not There?” and many more
Album will be released on 2-LP and 2-CD
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of 'And The Glass Handed Kites' Mew will be playing a series of live shows in 2020 throughout Europe and the USA
Limited 15th anniversary expanded edition of 2500 individually numbered copies on black & white marbled vinyl
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Tag: Burna Boy’s album
Burna Boy’s ‘Twice As Tall’ Hits No 1 In 14 Countries In Less Than 48Hrs
Nigerian Afrobeats maestro Burna Boy’s recently released album ‘Twice At All’ has reached the number spot on Nigeria and UK Apple albums, and 12 other countries. Burna Boy dropped the highly anticipated album in the early hours of Friday, August, 14 and it received massive reviews both from fans and critics. His album peaked at number 1 on UK Apple top albums, making him the first Nigerian artiste to achieve make such a great feat. Twice As Tall, Burna Boy’s fifth studio work, also got five million streams just one hour after it dropped. Asides from Nigeria and UK Apple albums, Twice As Tall also reached number 1 in South Africa, Ghana, Botswana, Gambia, Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman. US rapper and legendary producer, P. Di...
Diddy Declares Burna Boy’s ‘Twice As Tall’, The Album Of The Year
Yes! Burna Boy's "Twice As Tall" album is officially OUT! And executive producer Diddy has just called it the "Album of the Year!" After concluding a successful Youtube premiere tonight, Burna Boy's 5th studio album, "Twice As Tall" is now available on all streaming platforms. As part of the build-up, American music mogul, Sean Combs aka Diddy declared, in no uncertain terms, Burna's latest project the "Album of the Year." Could this be the album that elevates Burna from a Grammy nominee to a Grammy winner? Fingers crossed! Watch video below
Burna Boy’s “Twice As Tall” Album Launched In London (Video)
BURNA boy released his album 12mid night today….. which already has over 5million streams already…… the album launch held in London… which had People like… Stormzy, stefflondon, bugzey etc Here is the video: https://youtu.be/g9F-AIjbSLA https://youtu.be/qILEoAr5s7Y
Burna Boy Performs At The Grammys Reception Ahead Of The Ceremony
Burna Boy's album 'African Giant' was nominated for a Grammy Award for 'Best World Music Album' The singer was nominated in the category alongside Angelique Kidjo, Nathalie Joachim With Spektral Quartet, Bokanté & Metropole Orkest Conducted By Jules Buckley and Altin Gün. The award ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 26, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
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Motorcyclist dies after collision- aged just 18
A TEENAGE motorcyclist who was involved in a collision in Uxbridge on Friday has died from his injuries in hospital.
ambulance helicopter
The 18 year old came off his Honda 125cc after he was in collision with a car in Cleveland Road, Uxbridge, outside the grounds of Brunel University.
It is believed he was attempting to pass a stationary bus on the narrow road shortly before the collision.
The 18 year old, who at this stage has not been named, was airlifted to the Royal Free Hospital in central London after the incident at 10.55am on Friday.
He suffered multiple injuries in the crash, including head injuries, and on Friday night his condition was critical, and he was in intensive care.
Sadly, on Saturday morning, he died from his injuries.
He is believed to live nearby in Uxbridge, and his next of kin have been informed.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward.
Sergeant Dave Tanner, of the collision investigation unit, said: "This is a tragic incident, I appeal for any witnesses - whether pedestrians or road users - to come forward and call our witness line on 020-8998 5319."
Did you know the motorcyclist? E-mail dancoombs@trinitysouth.co.uk or pay tribute here
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United sign ex-Southampton and West Brom defender
HAYES and Yeading have bolstered their defence with the signing of a man called Pele.
Hayes & Yeading Image 1
In contrast to his more famous Brazilian namesake, Pedro Monteiro is a towering defender, who came to prominence in this country when Southampton signed him from Portuguese side Belenenses for £1 million in 2006.
He transferred to West Brom for the same sum a year later and played in the Premier League, but the 34-year-old has since been playing lower down the pyramid.
Monteiro has impressed at Northern Premier Hednesford Town this season and has been tracked by several higher level clubs.
- See tomorrow's Gazette for more about Pele and an interview with Jamie Hand on his Hayes and Yeading return.
Follow us on Facebook for the latest Hayes news.
Barclay's Premier League
Hayes and Yeading FC
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Boeing 737 Plane Crash Lands On Water
Akoh Godday
A Boeing 737 plane from Guantanamo Bay, belonging to the United States Department of Defense has crash landed on water.
Naija News understands that the plane crash-landed on the water when it skidded off a runway into the water in Jacksonville, Florida.
The plane was carrying 136 passengers and seven crew members on a flight from Guantanamo Bay typically carry civilian employees, contractors and military families.
Officials say that the incident that occurred late Friday recorded no serious injury.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue said 21 passengers were transported to the hospital, all in good condition.
There were two “very minor” injuries, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
“At approximately 9:40 p.m. today, a Boeing 737 arriving from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba into Naval Air Station Jacksonville crashed into the St. Johns River at the end of the runway,” Naval Air Station Jacksonville said in a statement.
“Navy security and emergency response personnel are on the scene and monitoring the situation.”
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Christmas funding boost for churches and chapels
Published: Thursday, December 10, 2020
45 churches and chapels around the UK are getting an early Christmas present in the form of much needed funding from the National Churches Trust.
They share in a £483,000 funding allocation from the National Churches Trust.
In 2020 the National Churches Trust has awarded 260 grants totalling £1,723,000, including recommendations on behalf of other funders with £200,000 of the funding provided by the Wolfson Foundation. This is an increase in grant funding of almost £400,000 compared to 2019, when the Trust made 188 awards totalling £1,344,474.
Churches being helped with the latest grants include:
Hull Minster, Hull. A £40,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund re-roofing the South Choir Aisle roof at Hull Minster, a Grade I listed church, making it watertight and preserving its historic fabric. The church is currently on the Historic England 'At Risk Register'. The church also receives a £10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust. Built around 1285 Hull Minster is one of Hull’s last Grade I listed buildings. Window tracery at Hull Minster were inspired by Louis IX's Sainte Chapelle in Paris and the church itself furnished a model for other major churches in the Perpendicular period.
St Margaret’s church, Paston, Norfolk. A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund the installation of an accessible toilet and other facilities at St Margaret’s church in Paston, a Grade I listed church famous for its medieval wall paintings, helping it to better serve its community. The church is a fine, largely 14th century thatched building intricately linked to the Paston family, famous for their collection of letters, written between 1422 and 1509.
Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Manchester. A £15,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund repairs to the roof at the Grade I listed Church of the Holy Name, making it watertight and preserving its historic fabric. The church, a Victorian masterpiece, is leaking so badly it has many buckets on the floor catching water. The church is currently on the Historic England 'At Risk Register'. The church also receives a £10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust.
Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, Vice President of The National Churches Trust, said:
“The UK's historic churches and chapels are a vital part of our national heritage and have done so much to help local people during the COVID-19 lockdown. But to survive, many need to carry out urgent repairs and install modern facilities. The cost of this work is far beyond what most congregations can pay for themselves.”
“So I’m delighted that the National Churches Trust is providing much needed grants to keep churches and chapels in good repair and with up to date facilities, including toilets and kitchens, so that they can remain open and continue to serve local people.”
Wolfson Foundation
£100,000 of the funding has been provided by the Wolfson Foundation.
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive at the Wolfson Foundation, said:
“Churches play a central role in the spiritual life of a community but they are also an integral, much loved, part of our cultural heritage. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the National Churches Trust on this important programme supporting the preservation of these remarkable and wonderful buildings across the UK.”
Grants in 2021
In 2021, grants will continue to be available to fund projects at churches, chapels and meeting houses. Applications can be made by Christian places of worship in the UK that are open for regular worship. From repairing a roof to helping to install an accessible toilet - and many other projects - the National Churches Trust’s grants help keep churches open for worship and community activities and allow them to continue to serve local people and communities. Funding will be supported by The Pilgrim Trust and The Wolfson Foundation.
Full details of the latest grants
Full details of 20 Cornerstone Grants for fabric repairs and the installation of modern facilities can be found below, listed in alphabetical order of counties. A photo gallery can be viewed at the bottom of this page and on Flickr.
Additional grants to fund a range of church building maintenance, small repair and development projects have been awarded via the National Churches Trust and by the Wolfson Foundation and with the support of the Pilgrim Trust. View complete list.
CORNERSTONE GRANTS AWARDED
St Paul’s church, Widnes, WA8 7QU
Church of England – Diocese of Liverpool
A £15,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund the installation of a new toilet at St Paul’s church in Widnes and create a space that allows the church to serve its community.
Built in 1884, designed by Henry Shelmerdine as a traditional redbrick building with stained glass windows, a fine font and features in the Chancel. Situated in the civic centre, the church has close links with the history of Widnes, once the leading town for the UK's Chemical Industry. “The Church Extension Scheme” committee was set up in the 1870s to provide extra churches in the Widnes area, to serve the growing population of Church of England worshippers. At the time the chuches at Farnworth, West Bank and Ditton were looking after 9,000 plus worshippers.
When the population had reached 25,000, the local people were able to the funds, and with help from famous masters of industry, St Paul’s was built as a daughter Church to “old St Mary’s” in West Bank. It was finished in November 1884 and the famouse tower and clock were added in 1910.
The project will fund the installation of new toilets and a kitchen by building new entrance vestibules. There are currently no facilities at all for community events and the church serves a community which suffers with high deprivation.
Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Michael, Workington, CA14 3EP
Roman Catholic - Diocese of Lancashire District -
Grade II
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund urgent masonry repairs to window stonework which will be a first step in a programme of repairs to help take the church of the Heritage At Risk Register.
This soaring Gothic Revival church is a great example of the second wave of the movement. Situated on Banklands, it occupies an extensive site on the south eastern edge of the town centre. Constructed between 1873-76 in local sandstone to replace a Mission Chapel of 1813, it was built by Benedictine monks from St Laurence's Monastery, Ampleforth in spite of sectarian violence. The church is one of Edward Welby Pugin's last church designs and was completed after his death under the direction of his brothers Cuthbert and Peter Paul.
Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Manchester, M13 9PG
Diocese of Salford
A £15,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund repairs to the roof at the Grade I listed Church of the Holy Name, making it watertight and preserving its historic fabric. The church is leaking so badly it has many buckets on the floor catching water.
The church is currently on the Historic England ‘At Risk Register’.
The church also receives a £10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust.
The church dates from 1871. It is constructed of brick faced externally with coursed sandstone and internally with buff terracotta tiles made locally by Gibbs & Canning. The tower incorporates reinforced concrete within the predominantly stone-faced brick structure. The main body of the church is rib-vaulted with hollow polygonal terracotta blocks, much lighter than stone, which makes the church unusually spacious.
The church is not rectangular. The south side along Ackers Street is at an angle to the church. This angle has been absorbed into the fabric, and a parallelism is restored by gradually increasing the depth of the side of the Strada chapel as it nears the transept: a feature that excited the members of the Architectural Society who visited the church after its opening.
In 1895, Church of the Holy Name of Jesus was the venue for the funeral of Sir Charles Halle. The Halle Orchestra and Choir performed Mozart’s Requiem at the service and after the Bishop had preached, the Orchestra performed the Eroica Symphony.
The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus is owned and served by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and is the church of the Catholic chaplaincy of Manchester’s universities.
St Barnabas church, Brampton Bryan, SY7 0DH
Church of England – Diocese of Hereford
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help complete re-roofing repairs at the Grade I listed St Barnabas church in Brampton Bryan, dubbed ‘The Puritans Preaching Box’, making it watertight and preserving its historic fabric.
The church is currently on the Historic England 'At Risk Register'.
The church also receives a £4,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust.
St Barnabas is one of only six churches built or rebuilt during the period of the English Commonwealth. It replaces an earlier building that was destroyed during the siege of Brampton Bryan Castle during the Civil War in 1643. It was commissioned in 1656 by Sir Robert Harley, previously Master of the Mint but who then fell out of favour because he would not sign the deed of execution of Charles I. Sadly the first service held at the church was Harley's funeral. The breadth of the church is all out of proportion to its length. Its nave and chancel are one, all covered by a very fine triple Hammerbeam roof.
The church contains one early 14th century monument to Lady Margaret de Brampton, shown holding her heart in her hands.
1. St Stephen’s church, Shepherds Bush, W12 8JJ
Church of England – Diocese of London
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund the replacement of existing roof with Welsh slates at the Grade II listed church, making it watertight and preserving its historic fabric.
The church is currently on the Historic England 'At Risk Register.'
The building is the work of renowned architect Anthony Salvin. The church was begun in 1849 and consecrated on 11th April 1850. In 1940, the church was bomb damaged. Part of the spire and accompanying pinnacles were brought down and deemed to be beyond repair. The rest of the spire was removed and replaced by a timber copper-covered fleche. In the same air raid, some of the stained-glass windows were destroyed and others badly damaged. Upon re-opening in 1949, the windows were repaired where possible, and the damaged East window was replaced with a depiction of Christ in Majesty flanked by saints (Goddard & Gibbs,1951).
In 1966, The Shepherds Bush Housing Association was set up by the vicar, the Revd John Asbridge, and for a few years was run from the vestry by volunteers from the parish. St Stephen’s became known as a church that warmly welcomed what became known as the Windrush Generation, and their welcome was reinforced in 1962 by the appointment of Barbadian-born Revd Wilfred Wood to St Stephen's for his first curacy.
2. St Margaret the Queen, Streatham Hill, SW2 3BH
Church of England – Diocese of Southwark
A £8,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund roof repairs at St Margaret the Queen church, a Grade II listed building, making it watertight and preserving its historic fabric. The church has been at the forefront of the community response to COVID-19 and is used by the Lambeth Foodbank.
St Margaret the Queen church is a beautiful Grade II listed building, built between 1889 and 1907 in an Early English style with Arts and Crafts influences. The church is of architectural value as an example of a turn of the twentieth century building which forms an integral part of a planned estate. The church uses the same palette of materials as the surrounding houses, which were designed in conjunction with the church by Rowland Plumbe.
It has great artistic value for its reredos, pulpit, lectern, piscina, sedilia, candle standards and richly decorated chancel panelling by ecclesiastical architect William Douglas Caröe 1909, in a mixture of High Victorian Gothic and Arts and Crafts styling. The stained-glass windows contribute to the decorative scheme of the church and are an important part of its liturgy, mostly designed by Horace and Alfred Wilkinson.
1. St Mary the Virgin, North Tuddenham, NR20 3DH
Church of England – Diocese of Norwich
A £30,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund urgent tower repairs at the church of St Mary the Virgin in North Tuddenham, a Grade I listed building, making it watertight and preserving its historic fabric.
The church is currently on the Historic England At Risk Register.
St Mary's church is a magnificent Grade I listed building consisting of a 14th century tower, nave, chancel, and entrance porch. The entrance porch also contains mosaics of medieval glass obtained from other defunct churches in the area during the late 19th century. Spectacular Victorian wall tiling in the nave, painted stenciled roundels on the chancel walls, motifs up the arches of the tower and nave suggest a mixture of a Byzantine church and a museum of Victoriana.
St Mary’s is one of 100 churches listed by the Church of England for its ‘Treasures’, in this case the fine medieval stained glass in the Perpendicular windows throughout the church and the two medieval rood screens with images of martyred saints. The large east window depicting scenes from Jesus’ life was installed in the 1880s by Revd Robert Barry after the roof of the chancel was raised. The lower section of the tower window also contains medieval glass.
2. St Margaret’s church, Paston, NR28 9TA
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund the installation of an accessible toilet and other facilities at St Margaret’s church in Paston, a Grade I listed church famous for its medieval wall paintings, helping it to better serve its community
St Margaret’s is a fine, largely 14th century thatched church intricately linked to the Paston family, famous for their collection of letters, written between 1422 and 1509.
Inside, the church contains a series of rare and important medieval wall paintings, including a late 14th century wall painting of St Christopher crossing a river with the Christ Child on his shoulder. Towards the altar another painting has been identified as a morality tale showing three hunting kings or noblemen coming upon three skeletons hanging from a tree, showing how everyone ends up. The painting had been unseen probably for centuries until it was discovered by accident in 1922. Then in November 2013, during the repair works, some further medieval wall paintings emerged above the chancel arch which were likely associated with the rood screen of c.1430-60. These included an angel with curly hair swinging a sensor, and symbols of the Passion. These have been assessed by Dr Andrea Kirkham and are later in date than the other paintings, and are very rare if not unique – the symbols are to be found carved in wood or stone but ours are the only representation in a wall painting. St Margaret’s is therefore of local, national and international importance.
St Michael's church, Alnwick, NE66 1LY
Church of England – Diocese of Newcastle
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund tower repairs at the Grade I listed Church, making the church watertight and preserving its historic
St Michael’s church has been a place of worship for over 1,000 years. Much of the current building dates back to the 15th century, and replaced earlier Norman and Saxon churches. The church is dedicated to St Michael the Archangel; in earlier times it was dedicated to St Mary as well. A Grade I listed building, it is considered to be one of Northumberland's architectural gems, and is included in Simon Jenkin's "England's Thousand Best Churches" as one of the top churches of England.
The church was largely built in 1464 during the reign of Henry VI, incorporating fragments of an earlier Norman chapel, and restored in 1862-3. It is perpendicular in style and a rare example of church building in Northumberland at a time when conditions allowed little church building in the county.
All Saints church, Eaton, DN22 0PS
Church of England – Diocese of Southwell
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund the installation of a kitchen and toilets at All Saints church in Eaton, a Grade II listed building, helping the church to better serve its community.
The church of All Saints, which stands on an elevated sited in the centre of the village of Eaton, was built in 1857-8, replacing an earlier Norman building. The architect George Shaw of Saddleworth was contracted to design a new building in the Decorated Gothic styles of the 13th and 14th centuries. Built of Steetley stone, it consists of a chancel and nave, with vestry, north porch and a bell turret containing one bell. Shaw also provided the stained glass, except for the east window depicting the Transfiguration which is by J R Thompson of Southwark. There are two features older than the building of the current church: a medieval piscina and an 18th century monument in the vestry.
St Michael and All Angels church, Clifton Hampden, OX14 3EE
Church of England – Diocese of Oxford
Grade II*
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund a project to recover the stone slate roofs at St Michael and All Angels church, a Grade II* listed building and ‘ an architectural gem’, making the church watertight and preserving its historic fabric.
The church of St Michael and All Angels has a long history stretching back to Saxon times. It has a “theatrical quality,” standing on its cliff overlooking the River Thames. It is likely that there was a building on the site of the present church in Saxon times. The first mention of it seems to be in 1146 when Pope Eugenius III confirmed the possessions of Dorchester Abbey. The oldest remaining elements of the present building are the monumental 12th century south aisle pillars. The church was rebuilt by the great Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott in the nineteenth century and is one of his early masterpieces.The screen with St Michael at the top surrounded by his angels is particularly important (a miniature version of those of Hereford Cathedral [now in the Victoria and Albert Museum] and Lichfield Cathedral). The churchyard dates from 1819 and among those buried in it are Sergeant William Dyke, who is said to have fired the first shot at the Battle of Waterloo, and Major John Howard, who led the daring Pegasus Bridge glider raid in the Second World War.
All Saints church, Stoke on Trent, ST1 3HU
Church of England – Diocese of Lichfield
A £7,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund the installation of a toilet and a refreshment area at the Grade II listed All Saints church in Stoke on Trent helping the church to better serve the local community.
Part-funded by Meakin, a local potter, All Saints church was rebuilt in 1911 on the site of an original mid 19th century church and is a good example of Gerald Horsley's work. There is a lofty main nave and a north aisle that is on the original foundations. This is used as the Lady Chapel and the east window is also from the original building. The church has significant memorials to the First World War including the large east window in the chancel, the triptych on the main altar, and the memorial to the North Staffs Regiment. It also has fine embroidery from the Leek Embroideries Guild and there is an 'external' pulpit.
The church is amongst the largest in the Potteries being a focal point for Joiners Square, a community that had major mining and sanitary ware manufacture until the late 20th century.
St Luke’s church, Newcastle upon Tyne,NE2 4AH
A £15,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund the installation of two unisex WCs and other facilities at St Luke’s church, a Grade II listed building, helping it to be better able to serve its community.
This parish church, designed by Oliver and Leeson dates from 1886 and was completed in 1890. It is constructed from brick with ashlar dressings and a Welsh slate roof with stone gable copings. It has a short nave with south porch; paired transepts; chancel with north vestry and south apsed chapel. There is a fine wood carved pulpit, executed by the same distinguished craftsman as in Newcastle Cathedral, and excellent period stained glass windows presented by local shopkeepers.
1. Doncaster Minster, Doncaster, DN1 1RD
Church of England - Diocese of Sheffield
Grade I listed
A £20,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund the installation of four toilets and a refreshment area at Doncaster Minster, a Grade I listed church, helping it to better serve its community. The Minster is currently on the Historic England 'At Risk Register'.
Doncaster Minster is the most prominent building in the town and can be seen for miles around in every direction; its significance is recognised in its status as a Grade I listed building. The present building, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, was completed in 1858 to replace the medieval church that was destroyed by fire in 1853. The distinctive architecture, the impressive Victorian stained-glass windows, the magnificent Schulze Organ and many other features all serve to encourage the visitor to explore and appreciate this gem in the heart of Doncaster.
Awarded Minster status in 2004 by the Bishop of Sheffield, the church serves Doncaster and the surrounding area and provides a cultural asset, an entertainment venue, an educational resource and daily worship for all.
2. Hull Minster, Kingston upon Hull, HU1 1RR
Church of England – Diocese of York
A £40,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund re-roofing the South Choir Aisle roof at Hull Minster, a Grade I listed church, making it watertight and preserving its historic fabric.
Built around 1285 Hull Minster is one of Hull’s last Grade I listed buildings. The church was built with the close patronage of Edward I, as he developed Kingston upon Hull, an outstanding example of an Edwardian planned town exhibiting Bastide-type features. Window tracery at Hull Minster were inspired by Louis IX's Sainte Chapelle in Paris and the church itself furnished a model for other major churches in the Perpendicular period.
Above all, a remarkably unified structure makes quite extraordinary use of light, that most noteworthy characteristic of the Perpendicular style. Other elements which make Hull Minster unique are; two ‘arts and crafts’ windows designed by the world renowned Walter Crane, the 6th largest organ in the country built in the 18th century, unique hand carved oak pew ends from medieval and Victorian times, Robert ‘Mousey’ Thompson furniture containing his trademark mice, and a beautifully carved coralloid marble font dating back to around 1380, used by the slave abolitionist William Wilberforce.
3. St Oswald's church, Fulford, YO10 4HJ
Church of England - Diocese of York
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund roof and rainwater goods repairs at the Grade II listed church of St Oswald in Fulford, making the church watertight and preserving its historic fabric.
There has been Christian presence in Fulford from before the Norman Conquest and a church since 1150, but by 1860 it was too small. A new site closer to the village was purchased in 1864 and the new church opened in 1866. The architect was J P Pritchett junior of Darlington. The church was destroyed by fire in 1877 but rebuilt by the generous donations of parishioners and re-opened in 1878. Significant architectural features of the 1866-1878 church are the superb stone carvings, the gold mosaic and the stained-glass windows.
Our Lady of Peace, Newbridge, Gwent, NP11 4RB
Grade II* Church
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund repairs to roof at the Grade II* listed church, making it watertight and preserving its historic fabric. The work will include removing bitumen paint and netting installed during World War Two to avoid detection of the church, a prominent navigational aid for German planes, in wartime air raids over south Wales.
The church was designed by architect P. D. Hepworth and was influenced by the work of the great church architect Giles Gilbert Scott. It occupies a prominent position overlooking the Ebbw River. The basilica style church, sanctuary, and two-storey presbytery form a complex of buildings perched on the side of a characteristically steep Welsh valley. The interior is striking for its simplicity - it is rendered and painted white with coloured roof panels. The font is carved from Forest of Dean stone.
Designated by an independent architectural assessment as of ‘outstanding significance’, the church is exceptional, not only through its imposing beauty, but also as one of the few in Wales to display influences of the inter-war movement in continental modernism. Completed shortly before the Second World War, its prominent location led to the exterior being coated in dark bitumen paint and netting to avoid detection in wartime air raids. This camouflage was subsequently painted over in later years and is contributing to present problems – in many ways the building is still fighting the effects of the Second World War.
Carntyne Church of Scotland, City of Glasgow, G32 6LW
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund repairs to rainwater goods at Carntyne Church of Scotland church, Grade B listed, making it watertight and preserving its historic fabric.
Completed in 1932, Carntyne church was designed by James Taylor Thomson in a simplified Romanesque style and constructed using New Cumnock brick, with blonde sandstone ashlar dressings and slate roofs. Internally it is light and spacious with substantial nave and low south aisle, transepts and chancel. Prominently located at the heart of a new interwar community, the church was part of the most prolific religious building programme since the Victorian era.
It is one of a series that were pioneered by the Church of Scotland to serve growing suburban neighbourhoods that provided housing for the overcrowded population of Glasgow. Category B listed, the church has played a significant role in the mission of the Church of Scotland and in the social, cultural and religious life of Carntyne. The church continues to be an important focal point for the congregation and wider community living in the parish.
St Mary's Scottish Episcopal church, Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, PA14 6HB
A £15,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund roof work making the church watertight and preserving its historic fabric.
St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Port Glasgow sits high above the town with commanding views across the Clyde to the Trossachs and Ben Lomond beyond. The original church, founded in 1851 near the Clyde riverbank, alongside a shipyard, was financed with a gift from the daughter of a local Laird, Jane Shaw-Stewart, a nurse who went on to accompany Florence Nightingale to Scutari in the Crimea. St Mary’s has a long history serving the town with its vibrant ship building industry.
In the latter part of the 20th century the demise of the shipyards saw the fortunes of Port Glasgow plummet and with it the onset of deprivation and economic and social decline. The church remained active and served the community throughout this prolonged period of uncertainty and anxiety. The 1851 church was bought and demolished in 1982 to make way for the extension of the A8 road with a new distinctive design building occupying its present site.
Kiltermon Church of Ireland, Fivemiletown, Tyrone, BT75 0LD
Church of Ireland
A £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund the building of an extension, installing a kitchen, toilet and meeting room at Kiltermon chuch helping it to better serve the local community.
Kiltermon church was built in 1841 as a School House and a Chapel of Ease in the parish of Aghalurcher. It was under the care of the Curate of Clogher. The building was constructed using stone sourced from Alderwood Quarry. It became a Chapel of Ease under the Parish of St John's Fivemiletown when The Perpetual Curacy to Clogher was dissolved and Fivemiletown became a parish in its own right. It was extensively renovated after World War II and a new roof was added in the early 1970s.
St Michael's church, Alnwick
St Barnabas church, Brampton Bryan
High Carntyne Church of Scotland, High Carntyne
St Michael and All Angels church, Clifton Hampden
Doncaster Minster
All Saints church, Eaton
Kiltermon Church of Ireland church, Fivemiletown
Hull Minster, Hull
St Stephen's church, Shepherds Bush, London
Most Holy Name of Jesus church, Manchester
Our Lady of Peace, Newbridge
St Luke's church, Newcastle upon Tyne
St Mary the Virgin, North Tuddenham
St Margaret's church, Paston
St Mary's Scottish Episcopal church, Port Glasgow
All Saint's church, Stoke on Trent
St Paul's church, Widnes
Huw Edwards
St Paul church, Widnes (permission by Rept0n1xCC-BY-SA3.0)
St Margaret church, Paston (DavidCC-BY-SA2.0)
St margaret the Queen Streatham Hill (photo by John Salmon CC-BY-SA2.0)
St Oswald church. Fulford (SymacCC-BY-SA2.0)
WORKINGTON, Our Lady Star of the Sea & St Michael
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By Ramesh Ponnuru
About Ramesh Ponnuru
Follow Ramesh Ponnuru on Twitter
In the New York Times, two liberals argue that Democrats should be fighting Trump in the Electoral College because that’s what Republicans would be doing if their situations were reversed.
How can we be so certain? This is what happened in 2000. When Florida was still undecided after election night, the Republicans didn’t leave their fate in the hands of individuals or third-party candidates. No, they recruited former Secretary of State James A. Baker III to direct efforts on behalf of George W. Bush. They framed their project as protecting Mr. Bush’s victory rather than counting votes. They were clear, consistent and forceful, with the biggest names in Republican politics working the process. . . .
Fast forward to 2016, and the Democrats are doing nothing of the sort. Instead, they are leaving the fight to academics and local organizers who seem more horrified by a Trump presidency than Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and the Democratic Party.
Both parties mobilized in 2000, not just the Republicans, and they did so because the vote margin was so incredibly small. In the end, Bush won by 537 votes in one state. To keep Trump from winning 270 electors, you’d have to erase a combined lead of more than 77,000 votes in three states. That’s a small number as a percentage of all voters nationally. But it’s still too large to be realistically overcome. If Clinton and Obama aren’t joining this kamikaze mission, it’s not because they’re sanguine about Trump. It’s because they understand the numbers and what they mean.
Ramesh Ponnuru is a senior editor for National Review, a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and a senior fellow at the National Review Institute. @rameshponnuru
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The Unreported Side of Occupy Wall Street
By Charles C. W. Cooke
About Charles C. W. Cooke
Follow Charles C. W. Cooke on Twitter
Today I saw a side to the Occupy Wall Street protests which hasn’t been much reported — the impact on local businesses. A Vietnamese immigrant came up to me and, frustrated, asked me what the protesters wanted and when they would leave. He hasn’t worked for two weeks, he said:
Charles C. W. Cooke is the editor of National Review Online. @charlescwcooke
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Why Won’t the Supreme Court Hear Abortion Cases?
By Clarke D. Forsythe
About Clarke D. Forsythe
The Supreme Court& decided today not to hear Arizona’s appeal in defense of its 20-week limit on abortion, but that doesn’t mean 20-week limits are unconstitutional. The Court simply declined to hear the case, and the Court (as is usual) issued no opinion explaining why. (In legal terms, the decision to decline to hear the appeal is not “precedential.” Lawyers can speculate as to the reason, and the most likely is that there was no “split” or “conflict” between different federal courts of appeal, which would require the Supreme Court’s reconciliation of the conflict.)
The Court thus leaves in place the Ninth Circuit’s 2012 ruling that a 20-week limit is per se unconstitutional on its face, because it violates the “viability rule” of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The Ninth Circuit’s ruling will apply, going forward, to states in the Ninth Circuit (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington).
Besides Arizona, at least 14 other states have a 20-week limit on the books (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas). Many of these are in force, and many have not been challenged in court (suggesting that perhaps these laws don’t threaten women’s health the way opponents claim).
In fact, Arizona’s law, and the court record compiled in the litigation by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, cited medical data showing the risks to women from late-term abortions, including the greatly increased rate of maternal mortality from abortion after the first trimester. Because of the continuing revelations about the horrors of late-term abortions and live-birth abortions, and the risks of late-term abortions to women and children, and the fact that 13 or more states have responded to the Court’s 2007 decision in Gonzales v. Carhart by passing 20-week limits, the Court’s action today is extremely disappointing.
With Roe, the Supreme Court assumed the role as the national policy maker on abortion — the highest court and the lower federal courts now control every aspect of every abortion law passed in every state, and the justices’ failure to hear the Arizona case leaves in place the sweep of the Court’s ruling in Roe that legalized abortion for any reason, at any time of pregnancy. That ruling isolates the U.S. as one of only four nations across the globe (with China, North Korea, and Canada) that allow abortion for any reason after fetal viability.
It’s been seven years since the justices heard an abortion case, and the Court has only heard three abortion cases since the Casey decision of 1992: Stenberg, Ayotte, and Gonzales. How does the Court think it can responsibly exercise its role as the national abortion-control board, and monitor abortion practices and conditions, and address horrible events like the Kermit Gosnell scandal, if it only hears cases every seven or ten years?
States outside the Ninth Circuit can and should enact 20-week limits to protect unborn life and protect women’s health. The Court has often “passed” on issues several times — six or seven times on the issue of flag salutes by school children — before addressing them. In light of the clear concern about late-term abortions the Court expressed in Gonzales, and their negative effect on children and women’s health, it should eventually address and uphold the five-month limits.
— Clark Forsythe is senior counsel for Americans United for Life and author of Abuse of Discretion: The Inside Story of Roe v. Wade.
Clarke D. Forsythe is senior counsel at Americans United for Life and the author of Abuse of Discretion: The Inside Story of Roe v. Wade.
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How & why we do this work
Valuing feedback
Conflict facilitation
Organisational systems
Responding to sexual violence in our groups and communities: Facing discomfort and creating genuinely safer spaces
What can you do when someone in your group or organisation says that someone else within the group has been sexually violent [1] or abusive to them? What if that person is central to the group, is really nice to you, seems to have a great analytical understanding of power and privilege – surely they wouldn’t. It can feel confusing, uncomfortable and sometimes painful to take those claims seriously but it’s important that we do. Drawing on my own experience of supporting other survivors and of disclosing to my own community, here are some things you might want to think about.
Five years ago I was part of a circle of young people running campaigns and setting up community projects. Within this broad circle, there was a friendly, proactive and seemingly dream-team heterosexual couple. Whilst I didn’t know either well, I enjoyed speaking to both of them at events and friends houses. When they broke up, the woman told her friends that the man had sexually assaulted her. When I heard about this, I was confused. “But he’s such a nice guy. I can’t imagine that he would hurt her. Maybe she misunderstood. Maybe she’s exaggerating. Maybe she’s getting back at him for something” were the thoughts that ran through my mind. Mutual friends were calling for us to boycott meetings and groups that he attended, and to publicly block him from attending our meetings and gatherings. I didn’t want to believe that he had done something wrong, or that what he’d done could be that bad… It would be such a loss if we pushed him out, he was a lynchpin in so many campaigns. Without knowing the details, I decided to ignore those conversations and continued to attend events that he did (albeit a little more wary of him, and a little less friendly). The woman quietly disappeared from our hang-outs and stepped back from the groups that he remained most involved in.
Too often in our society survivors [2] are disbelieved, or told that they are (at least partially) responsible, and that what happened to them was not that big a deal anyway. Just like me five years ago, people seem to frequently hope that it was a one-off slip-up and feel that it would be unfair to punish the person who did harm [3] too harshly. It is uncomfortable and disturbing to acknowledge that people we know, care about and respect have harmed others – I know that it feels much easier to ignore, dismiss or minimize those accounts, brushing them under the carpet.
I now understand that sexual violence happens all the time and everywhere. It happens within families, within friendship circles, within relationships – it also happens within groups of “good people doing good”: in campaigning groups and organisations, in charities, at protest camps, at skill-sharing events, in coops, in anarchist groups and autonomous spaces. In these past two years as I have been learning to speak about my own experiences of sexual violence without shame, and as I’ve spoken louder and with more and more people I have been shocked by the number of women (and some men) who have shared their experiences in return. As a rape crisis helpline volunteer, I have listened to and supported survivors from all kinds of backgrounds and occupations as they try to make sense of what was done to them and try to process their confusion and pain.
Sexual violence – whether it is a one-off event or prolonged abuse – can haunt people for a lifetime. It can erode a person’s ability to trust others and their general sense of safety; lead to sleeping disorders; corrode confidence and self-esteem; result in mental health problems including depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, chronic fatigue, substance abuse; some people develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and suffer flashbacks and dissociation. We need to start listening and responding to prevent further harm and create space for healing.
If we want our groups and organisations to be genuinely safe, welcoming and sustainable then we need to learn to better respond when people disclose this kind of violence. We need to make it easier for people to disclose abuse, take their accounts seriously, offer them support, and to take their lead when figuring out how to help the person who harmed them to be accountable. Drawing on my own experience of supporting other survivors, and of disclosing to my own community, these are some things you and your group or organisation can do:
1. Talk about and agree how you will collectively respond to a disclosure of sexual violence or abusive behaviour, pre-emptively. Make sure that this process of disclosing and seeking accountability is clear, easy to access and explained to new people. For someone to feel assured that their disclosure will be taken seriously, it’s important that they know the process will not be biased if the person who harmed them is well liked, has greater institutional power or is considered indispensable. Without a clear process in place it may feel too risky or vulnerable to come forward – survivors can fear that they will lose friends or will have to leave the group. It is important that the process supports the person/people doing harm to recognise, stop and take responsibility for what they have done. As robust processes become precedent it will hopefully feel easier for survivors to come forward, as well as open up culture-shifting conversations around respect, boundaries and care within the broader group.
2. Believe the survivor. It takes a huge amount of courage to speak out about someone who has assaulted or abused you – regardless of whether it was recent or historic. Survivors often fear retribution from the person who harmed them, ranging from physical threats and violence, to character assassination that could cast doubt amongst mutual friends, family or colleagues leaving the survivor isolated and potentially estranged. This is especially likely when the assault doesn’t fit the stereotype of violent stranger in an alleyway, because it’s hard for people to believe that someone they know, like and/or respect has caused harm [4]. However, as one survivor of domestic violence said: “We need to trust people to be the experts on their own lives.” (Quoted in the Creative Interventions Toolkit)
3. Recognise the significance of all forms of harassment, abuse or assault. Things that may seem “small” – for instance being touched or groped – can have a huge impact on a person. I’ve noticed a tendency to compare these “less significant” experiences to extreme behaviour at the far end of the spectrum of sexual violence. I have heard people say, “that’s bad, but at least it wasn’t that bad”. Diminishing these “lesser” behaviours ignores the impact of this kind of assault. When someone gropes or touches someone else, or crosses their personal boundaries in some way without seeking and gaining consent, they make clear that they don’t believe that person is worthy of respect or care and that they are not interested in their well-being. They are saying “I am entitled to touch you. If I want to, I can and will touch you regardless of whether you want that to happen.” This can be deeply threatening, can erode a person’s sense of safety and can undermine a persons sense of worth.
4. Remember that it is not the survivors fault. No one invites assault or abuse. Consent once doesn’t mean consent always. Short skirts and flirtatious banter aren’t invitations for creeping hands or rape. Emotional manipulation and threats undermine a person’s capacity to consent freely.
5. Make sure the survivor has support. Disclosing and seeking some form of justice often takes a huge emotional toll on survivors. Handing over some or all control to others to decide the process and outcome can leave a survivor feeling exposed and vulnerable. As I’ve already outlined, survivors frequently fear that they will lose friends or maybe even the group or community they are part of, as well as possible retribution. People respond to trauma and the stress of disclosure in many different ways; some people overwork to block anxiety, others may feel so panicky and exhausted that they need to take time out; some people may start drinking more frequently, taking drugs and/or having one-night stands, whilst others may withdraw and isolate themselves – some people swing between different emotional states and responses. Equally people will want and need different kinds of support. Ask the survivor, do they have support? What kind of support would they like? Do they need or want help accessing this support? How would they like you as a community, group or organisation to support them?
6. Make the survivor’s sense of safety your priority. As in the story I told at the beginning, a survivor may leave the group and avoid spaces where the person who harmed them is if they don’t feel safe or are re-traumatised being around them. You may face a choice as a group between “default” letting the survivor slip to the periphery of the group, or leave entirely, and directly asking the person who has caused harm to step back or leave, either for the duration of the accountability process or indefinitely. In groups that pride themselves on their inclusivity, acceptance and forgiveness, it may feel hard to actively ask someone to step back or leave because this feels in conflict to your shared values, but not doing so can be the silent equivalent of asking the survivor to remove themselves.
7. Support the person who caused harm to be accountable. The person who caused harm cannot undo what they did, but they can take responsibility for it. They can look inwards and try to make sense of why they did what they did by becoming better aware of their chronic patterns, the beliefs that underlie them and perhaps acknowledging and processing their own trauma if present. This is not easy to do and the person who harmed will need support to do this. They too may feel isolated, scared and confused. As a friend, you can help them to recognise what they have done and directly challenge their excuses whilst also recognising their humanity. You can help them find and access counselling or join a support group and check that they are maintaining their commitment to attending. If the person has been asked to leave the group/space (either temporarily or indefinitely), you can act as a go-between: relaying the requests of the survivor, helping them understand the implications of their actions, and reporting back to the group process the ways that the person who harmed is trying to be accountable. By helping the person who harmed to have better self-awareness, you can collectively reduce the likelihood of them harming some else in the future and helping them to better hear and respond to the feelings and requests of the survivor.
If you’re interested to think about this issue in more depth, or if you’re looking to design an accountability process and/or facilitate one, then I recommend looking at the work of these brilliant people and collectives thinking, talking about and facilitating accountability processes:
For a good example of a safer spaces policy and a pre-agreed accountability process see Kebele Community Coop’s Safer Space Policy
For a comprehensive guide to accountability processes see Creative Interventions Toolkit: A Practical Guide to Stop Interpersonal Violence. (2012 pre-release version, it was due to be finalised autumn 2016)
For a brief outline of a possible accountability process see Philly Stands Up (in particular the Addendum, p53-57)
For a reflection on the importance of recognising misogny and violence within radical groups see “Misogyny and the left – we need to start practicing what we preach.” Written by Em BC.
INCITE! is a nation-wide network of radical feminists of color working to end violence against women, gender non-conforming, and trans people of color, and our communities in the USA. “We support each other through direct action, critical dialogue, and grassroots organizing”. For a compilation of reflections and thoughts on confronting partner abuse in activist communities see their The Revolution Starts at Home
The Salvage Collective is a small UK-based network of women, transgender and non-binary people who have experienced gender-based oppression, violence, abuse and harm in activist communities. They are building communities of belief, support and action. Here are resources that they recommend.
[1] Sexual violence can range from a/multiple one-off experience/s to prolonged abuse, and includes (but is not exhaustive to): threats of sexual violence, sexual harassment (unwanted sexual attention), sexual assault, rape, stalking, child abuse, domestic abuse, female circumcision, forced marriage, ritual abuse, trafficking for sexual exploitation.
[2] Throughout this piece I refer to the people who have had their boundaries crossed as “survivors”. I have adopted it from volunteering at Rape Crisis, however I’m aware that not everyone likes this term and some people prefer to be called victims because they don’t feel that they are “surviving” and/or want recognition that something awful was done to them.
[3] Inspired by the Creative Interventions Toolkit, I use the term “person who harmed” rather than perpetrator, offender, abuser, batterer, rapist, predator, criminal because I believe that people can change and stop harming other people.
[4] Most sexual assault is perpetrated by someone known to the survivor.
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New Canaan Girls Tennis Preview: Veteran squad looks to build on great spring
Sports // High School Sports
April 1, 2017 Updated: June 25, 2019 1:54 a.m.
The New Canaan Rams girls tennis team finally has some consistency at the top, and result was a stellar season and perhaps an even brighter outlook for 2017.
After a span of two years in which the Rams had three head coaches, Susan Lovejoy returns for her second season, and brings with her 10 varsity veterans. That could be a winning combination for this spring.
While the weather hasn’t been conducive to tennis during the preseason, the Rams are looking forward to a strong start when the schedule gets underway on Monday.
“I’ve had a couple of meetings with the varsity players just to talk about the season ahead and a couple of things we’re putting into place, but it’s been tough,” Lovejoy said. “They are all still working out on their own and there are a few kids playing indoors, but they’re all very anxious to get out there. I think (Wednesday) and Thursday are supposed to be very nice days, so hopefully, we’ll be able to wrap things up by then.”
Leading the way are a pair of senior co-captains: Abby Crowley and Brittany Barber, both of whom excelled in doubles last spring.
Crowley played in the No. 1 spot with Schuyler O’Mahoney, who graduated last spring, and the partners were both All-FCIAC First Team selections.
Lovejoy said she’s been happy with what she’s seen from the captains so far.
“I’ve been impressed with both of them,” the coach said. “Both of them have worked all winter on this, and they also led the preseason conditioning program that the girls did. I’m very happy with them.”
The conditioning program should be been a source of strength for New Canaan, and the Rams will carry it through the new campaign.
“I’m really excited about that and we hope to continue right through the season with a program that (strength and conditioning coach) Jason Miska put together,” Lovejoy said. “These girls have all worked really hard on conditioning this winter.”
One of the biggest assets the Rams have is their experience in singles play. New Canaan returns three-fourths of last year’s lineup, with the only loss being Caroline Gordon, an All-FCIAC First Teamer and No. 1 player who graduated last June.
Sophomore Caroline Mayock stepped into a huge role last year at No. 2 singles and earned FCIAC All-East honors, with junior Ashley Walker and senior Camryn Schlim starring in the third and fourth spots, respectively.
It’s up to Lovejoy to find the combination that works best in the singles lineup.
“It’s a really nice problem to have,” Lovejoy said. “It’s going to be tough. They haven’t gone head to head yet, but I’ve got three really strong players for singles and we’re excited about that.”
Also returning are seniors Cameron Dayton, Carroll Rudman and Elizabeth Rudman, along with sophomores Grace Ruksznis and Chloe Sigg, all of whom saw big time in doubles last season.
New Canaan went 16-4 last spring and that record included three losses to the Staples Wreckers. The last of those meetings went down to the wire with Staples pulling out a 4-3 decision in the Class L quarterfinals. The match was the Wreckers’ closest in the tournament, as they went on to win the Class L title 5-2 over Greenwich
The Rams will get another shot at Staples later in the season when they host the Wreckers on May 8.
“That was a heartbreaker,” Lovejoy said of last year’s quarterfinal match. “We really played well and it was a great match. We just couldn’t quite pull that one out, but we gave them a little bit of a scare and it was fun. The girls all did really well last year coming together. I hope that we give them a really good run again this year.”
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Federal Issues | Health and Human Services
Medicaid and CHIP
Providers and Facilities
Public Health and Prevention
Insurance Coverage for Contraception Laws
An estimated 10.7 million American women use oral contraceptives, the leading method of contraceptive in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. Unintended pregnancies are associated with increased risk for poor birth outcomes.
Most women in the United States receive health insurance coverage through private plans, and a Kaiser Family Foundation 2010 survey of employers reports that 85 percent of large firms cover prescription contraceptives in their largest health plans. Federal law requires insurance coverage of contraceptives for federal employees and their dependents, allowing a few religious insurers exemption from the requirements.
Federal Health Reform and Insurance Coverage for Contraception
The federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), among many provisions, requires health plans and insurers that offer group or individual health insurance policies to provide coverage for women’s preventive services without cost sharing. In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) tasked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) with making recommendations to ensure the list of preventive services that affect women’s health and well-being is comprehensive. In July 2011, the IOM released eight recommendations for preventive services for women, which include:
At least one well-woman preventive care visit annually for adults to obtain recommended preventive services.
Screening for gestational diabetes.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.
Counseling on sexually transmitted infections for all sexually active women.
Counseling and screening for human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) for all sexually active women.
Contraceptive methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration and patient education and counseling.
Comprehensive lactation support, counseling, and costs of renting breastfeeding equipment.
Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence for all women and adolescents.
In August 2011, HHS accepted the IOM’s recommendations and will require new health plans to include these services without cost sharing for insurance policies with plan years beginning on or after August 1, 2012. HHS also released a proposed amendment, open to public comment, to the regulation to allow religious institutions that offer insurance to their employees the choice of whether or not to cover contraception services. After a number of objections related to religious concerns, in February 2012, President Obama announced a final policy to exempt churches and similar organizations from covering contraception on the basis of their religious objections and instead, requiring employers’ insurance companies to offer contraception coverage to women directly and free of charge.
Women’s Preventive Services: Required Health Plan Coverage Guidelines
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
NCSL’s Health Reform and Women, Children and Adolescents webpage
State Laws and Insurance Coverage for Contraception
At least 26 states have laws requiring insurers that cover prescription drugs also provide coverage for any Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved contraceptive. These states include: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. An additional two states—Michigan and Montana—require insurance coverage of contraceptives as a result of administrative ruling or an Attorney General opinion. Two states—Texas and Virginia—require that employers be offered the option to include coverage of contraceptives within their health plans. Twenty-one states offer exemptions from contraceptive coverage, usually for religious reasons, for insurers or employers in their policies: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan (administrative rule), Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia. (These states are indicated with an * in the table below.) Several states require employers to notify employees of their refusal to provide contraceptive coverage.
For more information, please see the State Policies in Brief on Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives by the Guttmacher Institute, which features a state chart of coverage mandates.
Table Key: * The state allows exemptions from contraceptive coverage requirements for insurers or employers for religious or other specified reasons.
First Letter of State: A C D G H I M N O R T V W
Summary of Statutes
Arizona *
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 20-2329 (2002) requires all health insurance plans providing coverage for prescription medications to also provide coverage for all FDA-approved prescription methods of contraception. Religious employers may request exclusion from this requirement.(HB 2234)
Arkansas *
Ark. Stat. Ann. § 23-79-1103-1104 (2005) requires all health insurance plans providing coverage for prescription medications to also provide coverage for all FDA-approved prescription methods of contraception. This requirement does not cover emergency contraception. Religious employers are not required to comply with this policy.(2005 Ark. Acts, Act 2217; HB 2618)
California *
Cal. Insurance Code § 10123.196 and Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1367.25 (1999) require certain health insurance policies that already cover prescription drugs to provide coverage for prescription contraceptive methods approved by the FDA. Religious employers can request health insurance plans without coverage of approved contraceptive methods that are contrary to the employer’s religious tenants. (AB 39)
Colorado Colo. Rev. Stat. § 10-16-104 (2010) requires specified health insurance plans to provide coverage for contraception in the same manner as any other sickness, injury, disease, or condition is otherwise covered under the policy or contract. (2010 HB 1021)
Connecticut *
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-530e (1999) requires insurers that offer prescription drug coverage to include coverage for contraceptives. Upon written request of an individual whose moral or religious beliefs are contrary to prescription contraceptive usage, the insurance company, hospital or medical service corporation, or health care center can exclude coverage for prescription contraceptive methods. (Conn. Acts, P.A. 99-79; HB 5950)
Delaware *
Del. Code Ann. tit. 18, § 3559 (2000) requires insurers that provide coverage for outpatient prescription drugs to provide coverage for prescription contraceptive drugs and devices. A religious employer can request exclusion of coverage under this policy if coverage conflicts with the religious organization’s beliefs or practices. A religious employer that obtains this exclusion must provide its employees reasonable and timely notice of the exclusion. (Vol. 72 Del. Laws, Chap. 311; SB 87)
Ga. Code § 33-24-59.6 (1999) requires insurers that offer prescription drug coverage to include contraceptives.
Hawaii *
Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 432:1-604.5 and § 431:10A-116.6 (1999) direct that employer group health policies, contracts, plans or agreements must cease to exclude contraceptive services or supplies, including FDA-approved contraceptive drugs or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy, and must not charge unusual co-payments or impose waiting requirements. (1999 Hawaii Sess. Laws. Act 267; SB 822)
Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 431:10A-116.7 (1999) defines a religious employer and states that such an employer may request a health insurance plan without coverage for contraceptive services and supplies. If so requested, the health insurer must provide a plan without such coverage. Each religious employer that invokes this exemption must provide written notice to enrollees upon enrollment a list of services the employer refuses to cover and provide written information describing how an enrollee may access contraceptive services and supplies. (1999 Hawaii Sess. Laws. Act 267; SB 822)
Illinois *
Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 215 § 5/356z.4, § 125/5-3 and § 165/10 (2003) require coverage to include outpatient prescription contraceptive drugs, devices and outpatient contraceptive services without imposing limitations. (2003 Ill. Laws, P.A. 93-0102; HB 211)
Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 745 § 70/1 et seq. creates the Health Care Right of Conscience Act and protects the right of conscience of all persons, including health care payers, who refuse to obtain, receive or accept, or who are engaged in, the delivery of, arrangement for, or payment of health care services and medical care that is contrary to their conscience. The law defines health care to include family planning, counseling, referrals, or any other advice in connection with the use or procurement of contraceptives and sterilization or abortion procedures. Health care payer is defined as a health maintenance organization, insurance company, management services organization, or any other entity that pays for or arranges for the payment of any health care or medical care service, procedure, or product. The law specifies that health care payers are not civilly or criminally liable to any person or entity for refusal to pay for or arrange for the payment of any particular form of health care services that violate the payer’s conscience as documented in its ethical guidelines, mission statement, constitution, bylaws, articles of incorporation, regulations or other governing documents. (1997 Ill. Laws, P.A. 90-0246; HB 725)
Iowa Code § 514C.19 (2000) prohibits specified health insurance plans, including a public employer plan, that provides benefits for outpatient prescription drugs, devices or services from excluding or restricting benefits for FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs, devices or outpatient services. (2000 Iowa Acts, Chap. 1120; SB 2126)
Maine *
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 24 § 2332-J and Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 24a § 4247 (1999) require insurers that provide coverage for prescription drugs and outpatient medical services to provide coverage for all prescription contraceptives and outpatient contraceptive services. A religious employer may request exclusion from these coverage requirements, and needs to provide insured employees a written notice of the exclusion.
Maryland *
Md. Health-General Code Ann. § 19-706 and Md. Insurance Code Ann. § 15-826 (1998) require private insurers to provide comprehensive coverage for contraceptives. Religious organizations may request exclusion from this policy.
Massachusetts *
Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 175 § 47W, ch. 176A § 8W, ch. 176B § 4W, and ch. 176G § 4O (2002) require insurers that provide benefits for outpatient services to also provide hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women and outpatient FDA-approved contraceptive services under the same terms and conditions as for other outpatient services. The law defines outpatient contraceptive services. This law excludes policies purchased by an employer that is a church or a qualified church-controlled organization. (2002 Mass. Acts, Chap. 49; SB 2139)
Missouri *
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 376.1199 (2001) requires health carriers that provide pharmaceutical coverage to include coverage for contraceptives, excluding drugs and devices that are intended to induce an abortion. The law clarifies that coverage for prescriptive contraceptive drugs or devices is not excluded if prescribed for other diagnosed medical conditions. The law exempts specified insurance policies, including health carriers owned and operated by religious entities, from the provisions of the law. The law prohibits discrimination against an enrollee because of the enrollee's request regarding contraceptive coverage. The law requires carriers to maintain the confidentiality of any individual's request for contraceptive coverage. (HB 762)
Nevada *
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 689A.0417, § 689B.0377, § 695B.1918, and § 695C.1695 (1999) require insurers that offer prescription drug coverage to include coverage for contraceptives. Religiously affiliated organizations are not required to provide contraceptive coverage.
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 415:18-I, § 420-A:17-c and § 420-B:8-gg (1999) require health insurers, health service corporations and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for outpatient contraceptive services. The law also states that health insurers that provide prescription riders must cover all prescription contraceptive drugs and prescription contraceptive devices approved by the FDA under the same terms and conditions as other prescription drugs.
New Jersey *
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 17:48-6ee, § 17:48A-7bb, § 17:48E-35.29, § 17:48F-13.2, § 17B:26-2.1y, § 17B:27-46.1ee, § 17B:27A-7.12, § 17B:27A-19.15; § 26:2J-4.30; § 52:14-17.29j (2005) require all health insurance or medical providers to cover prescription female contraceptive drugs and devices in the same way that other prescription drugs are covered. Religious employers and organizations may be granted an exception. They must provide written notice to their current and prospective subscribers about this exemption.
New Mexico *
N.M. Stat. Ann. § 59A-22-42 and § 59A-46-44 (2003) require each individual and group health insurance policy, health care plan and certificate of health insurance that provides a prescription drug benefit to provide coverage for prescription contraceptive drugs or devices. A religious entity purchasing health insurance coverage can elect to exclude prescription contraceptive drugs or devices from health coverage. (SB 557)
N.M. Stat. Ann. § 59A-22-42 (2001) requires specified insurance plans to offer coverage for prescription contraceptive drugs or devices, which may be subject to deductibles and coinsurance. (2001 N.M. Laws, Chap. 14; HB 59)
New York *
N.Y. Insurance Law § 4303 (2002) requires insurers that provide coverage for prescription drugs to include coverage for the cost of contraceptive drugs or devices approved by the FDA. Religious employers are allowed to deny employees contraceptive coverage provided that employees are informed in writing of such exclusions. Most insurers must provide written notice to enrollees of their right to directly purchase, for an additional premium at the small group community rate, a rider for coverage of contraceptives. (AB 11723)
North Carolina *
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-3-178 (1999) requires insurers that offer prescription drug coverage to include coverage for contraceptives and outpatient contraceptive services. A religious employer may request a health benefit plan that excludes coverage for prescription contraceptives drugs and devices that are contrary to the employer’s religious tenets.
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1751.01 A7 requires health insurance corporations to provide basic health services, including medically necessary voluntary family planning services.
Oregon *
Or. Rev. Stat. § 743A.066 (2007) specifies that a prescription drug benefit program, or a prescription drug benefit offered under a health benefit plan or under a student health insurance policy, must provide payment, coverage or reimbursement for prescription contraceptives and outpatient consultations, examinations, procedures and medical services that are necessary to prescribe, dispense, deliver, distribute, administer or remove a prescription contraceptive. A religious employer is exempt from these requirements. (2007 Or. Law, Chap. 182, HB 2700)
Rhode Island *
R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-18-57, § 27-19-48, § 27-20-43 and § 27-41-59 (2000) require specified health insurance plans that provide prescription coverage to also provide coverage for FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices. A religious employer providing health insurance may exclude coverage for prescription contraceptive methods which are contrary to the employer’s bona fide religious tenets. (2000 R.I. Pub. Laws, Chap. 120; SB 2367)
Texas *
Tex. Insurance Code Ann. § 1369.104 et seq. (2001) prohibit a health benefit plan that provides benefits for prescription drugs or devices from excluding prescription contraceptives approved by the FDA. The law does not apply to coverage for abortifacients or any other drug or device that terminates a pregnancy. The law prohibits a health benefit plan from imposing cost-sharing provisions on prescription contraceptives. The law states that a health benefit plan may not impose any waiting period for prescription contraceptives. The law does not require a health benefit plan associated with a religious organization to offer a medical or health care service that violates the religious convictions of the organization, except if the prescription contraceptive coverage is necessary to preserve the life or health of the insured individual. (HB 2382)
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 8 § 4099c (1999) requires health insurance plans to provide coverage for contraceptives if they cover prescription drugs.
Va. Code § 2.2-2818(B)(5), § 32.1-325 and § 38.2-3407.4:2 (2001) require that the health and related insurance for state employees include coverage for prescription drugs and devices used as contraceptives. (2001 Va. Laws, Chap. 334; H 2654)
Va. Code § 38.2-3407.5:1 (1997) requires insurers that provide coverage for prescription drugs to offer and make available coverage for FDA-approved contraceptive drugs or devices, at the option of the purchaser. This law is not a mandate for coverage.
Wash. Rev. Code § 48.41.110 (2007) requires health insurance policies issued by the state health insurance pool to provide coverage for drugs and contraceptive devices requiring a prescription.
West Virginia *
W. Va. Code § 33-25A-2(1), (11) (1996) requires HMOs to provide or make available basic health care services that encompass coverage for voluntary family planning services.
W. Va. Code § 33-16E-1 et seq. (2005) require prescription drug parity; all health plans and medical service organizations must cover FDA-approved prescription drugs and devices under the same guidelines they cover other prescription drugs. Extraordinary surcharges are prohibited. Religious employers may be exempt, but must provide potential or current subscribers written notice of the policy and make arrangements for them to purchase drugs or devices at the prevailing group rate from another provider. The law excludes coverage of a dependent child. The law does not apply to Medicaid.
Wis. Stat. § 609.805 and § 632.895(17) (2009) require that insurance policies and self-insured health plans that provide coverage for outpatient health care services, preventive services or prescription drugs and devices also provide coverage for contraceptives prescribed by a health care provider. The law also requires that any outpatient services that are necessary to prescribe, administer, maintain or remove a contraceptive be provided if such services are covered for any other drug benefits. These requirements do not apply to disability insurance policies that provide only limited-scope dental or vision benefits, long-term care insurance or Medicare replacement or supplemental policies. (2009 Wis. Laws, Act 28; AB 75)
Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures and the Guttmacher Institute.
Note: List may not be comprehensive, but is representative of state laws that exist. NCSL accepts additions and updates to this report.
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melvin.obadha@ndph.ox.ac.uk
Melvin joined the Health Economics Research Centre at the Nuffield Department of Population Health as a DPhil student in October 2019. His research focusses on priority setting for the achievement of universal health coverage in low and middle income countries and will be working with policy makers, academics, health care providers, programme managers, patient groups and the general public. Melvin is supervised by Dr Apostolos Tsiachristas, Dr Oliver Rivero-Arias, and Dr Edwine Barasa.
His DPhil is supported by the Clarendon Fund, Oxford-Radcliffe Graduate Scholarship, Nuffield Department of Population Health, and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) – Wellcome Trust Research Programme.
Prior to commencing his DPhil, Melvin worked as a choice modeller at the Health Economics Research Unit of the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Nairobi, Kenya. He led the design, implementation, and analysis of a discrete choice experiment that elicited the preferences of health care providers for capitation payment mechanism in Kenya. Melvin holds an MSc in Global Health and Development from the University College London (UCL) and a BSc from Kenyatta University in Kenya.
In his spare time, Melvin enjoys rowing, swimming, cycling, and fitness activities. He previously enjoyed a prolific rugby union career that earned him a call up to the Kenya national rugby sevens team. He is currently the ambassador of Kenyan alumni of the International Student House, London.
Preferences of healthcare providers for capitation payment in Kenya: a discrete choice experiment
Obadha M. et al, (2020), Health Policy and Planning
Mobile money use and social health insurance enrolment among rural dwellers outside the formal employment sector: Evidence from Kenya.
Obadha M. et al, (2020), Int J Health Plann Manage, 35, e66 - e80
Understanding incentive preferences of community health workers using discrete choice experiments: a multicountry protocol for Kenya, Uganda, Bangladesh and Haiti.
Agarwal S. et al, (2019), BMJ open, 9
Attribute development and level selection for a discrete choice experiment to elicit the preferences of health care providers for capitation payment mechanism in Kenya.
Obadha M. et al, (2019), Health Econ Rev, 9
Health care purchasing in Kenya: Experiences of health care providers with capitation and fee-for-service provider payment mechanisms.
Obadha M. et al, (2019), Int J Health Plann Manage, 34, e917 - e933
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Oil tycoon heir John Gilbert Getty found ‘with eyes and mouth open in Indian-style sitting pose’ in hotel room
New details have emerged about the lonely death of oil tycoon heir John Gilbert Getty, found sitting in a yoga pose in a hotel room.
Claudia Aoraha, The Sun
news.com.auDecember 2, 20209:47am
John Gilbert Getty, the grandson of oil magnate J. Paul Getty and heir to his fortune, has died at a hotel in San Antonio, Texas....
John Gilbert Getty, the grandson of oil magnate J. Paul Getty and heir to his fortune, has died at a hotel in San Antonio, Texas.
John Gilbert Getty, 52, was found dead at a hotel in Texas in an ‘Indian style pose’.Source:The Sun
John Gilbert Getty was found “with his eyes and mouth open” sitting in an “Indian style-pose” after the oil tycoon heir died in a hotel room.
Getty, 52, was found unresponsive at the luxury Hotel Emma in San Antonio, Texas, on November 20 – just months after the death of his mother and nearly six years after the death of his brother.
According to a police report, Mr Getty was found dead while in an “Indian style sitting pose” with both his eyes and mouth wide open.
The hotel staffer told police he entered Mr Getty’s room because the noon check-out time had passed and they were unable to get hold of him.
The heir to the Getty fortune was “cold to the touch” when he was found in the hotel room, according to documents obtained by DailyMail.com.
Associated with meditation or yoga, the pose which Mr Getty was found in is when a person sits with their legs tightly crossed with the soles of their feet facing the ceiling.
It’s known in yoga as the lotus pose.
The San Antonio Police Department report, compiled by Officer Rosendo Hoyos, refers to Mr Getty as SB1 and the hotel staffer as R1.
“SB1 was found upstairs lying back on some pillows from an Indian style sitting position on his bed in front of his laptop,” it said.
“SB1 had his glasses in his left hand, eyes were open, mouth was open.”
RELATED: John Gilbert Getty death another family tragedy
His daughter, Ivy, posted a heartwarming tribute to her dad on social media.Source:The Sun
RELATED: Billionaire found dead in hotel room
The officer said there were no signs of foul play and everything appeared “neat and orderly”.
In the report, it also stated that Mr Getty’s assistant had last received a text from him on November 19 at 5.28pm – the day before he died.
The nature of Mr Getty’s death is still not yet clear, with an autopsy yet to take place.
A block has been put on any information being released publicly by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office – which is an unusual step to take.
Hotel Emma, where Mr Getty was staying for almost three weeks, is a 146-room luxury boutique hotel in downtown San Antonio.
The 52-year-old was set to inherit the Getty family fortune, which is estimated to be worth more than $US5 billion ($A6.8 billion).
“With a heavy heart, Gordon Getty announces the death of his son, John Gilbert Getty,” his family said in a statement when his death was announced.
“John leaves behind his daughter, Ivy Getty, whom he loved beyond measure, and his brothers Peter and Billy. His brother, Andrew, predeceased John. John’s mother, Ann Gilbert Getty, passed this September. John was a talented musician who loved rock and roll. He will be deeply missed.”
He leaves one daughter, Ivy Love Getty, who posted memories on Instagram about her dad’s love of rosé wine and how he would put ice cream in the fridge for 30 minutes before he would “drink it like soup”.
Ivy, 25, who said she was proud to be the only “consistent” woman in his life, wrote, “My father was awesome – the coolest man to ever land on this planet and I will forever be the proudest daughter.”
John was the son of composer Gordon Getty, 86, who has now lost his wife and two of his seven children within five years.
The Getty family tree.Source:The Sun
FAMILY TRAGEDY
In 2015, John’s brother Andrew died aged 47 from an intestinal haemorrhage.
He was found to have a toxic level of methamphetamine in his system. Two months ago, Gordon’s wife Ann passed away from a heart attack, aged 79.
The latest death in the family is part of the long and sorry saga of the Getty clan, which includes the 1973 Mafia kidnapping of a 16-year-old John Paul Getty III.
His grandad J. Paul refused to pay the ransom of $US17 million ($A23 million) – equivalent to $US103 million ($A140 million) today – so the Mob cut off John Paul’s ear and sent it to a newspaper in Rome.
Renowned miser J. Paul eventually coughed up, but only after the US government negotiated a ransom figure of about $US2.2 million ($A3 million), the maximum that would be tax deductible.
The kidnapping was the subject of Ridley Scott’s 2017 movie All The Money In The World – and it seems even that film could not escape the Getty curse.
Actor Kevin Spacey was cast as J. Paul, but had to be replaced after filming came to a close when sexual abuse allegations broke. His scenes were then re-shot, with Christopher Plummer taking over the role.
J. Paul’s road to fortune began in 1903, aged 11, when his father George, a lawyer, moved the family to Oklahoma in the hope of striking it rich with oil.
And strike it rich they did. In 1914, George lent a 21-year-old J. Paul $10,000 to make his own investments. Within two years he had made his first million.
Thanks to shrewd early investments in oil-rich land between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, he was named the richest man in America in 1957.
The Guinness Book Of Records named him as the richest private citizen in the world in 1966, with wealth of $US1.2 billion ($A1.6 billion) – approximately $US10 billion ($A13.5 billion) in today’s terms.
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
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Canaccord Financial Inc. Completes $100 Million Offering of Preferred Shares
Canaccord Financial Inc.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION TO THE UNITED STATES
TORONTO, April 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Canaccord Financial Inc. ("Canaccord",TSX: CF) (AIM: CF.) is pleased to announce the completion of its previously announced offering of 4,000,000 Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series C ( the "Series C Preferred Shares") at a purchase price of CAD$25.00 per Series C Preferred Share, for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD$100 million. The Series C Preferred Shares are expected to commence trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on April 10, 2012 under the trading symbol "CF.PR.C".
The offering was underwritten on a bought deal basis by a syndicate of underwriters led by CIBC, Canaccord Genuity Corp. and RBC Capital Markets, and included BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., GMP Securities L.P., Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd., Raymond James Ltd., Cormark Securities Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc., Dundee Securities Ltd., Mackie Research Capital Corporation and Manulife Securities Incorporated.
Canaccord has granted the underwriters an over-allotment option, exercisable, in whole or in part, for a period of 30 days following today's closing, to purchase up to an additional 600,000 Series C Preferred Shares which, if exercised in full, would increase the gross proceeds of the offering to CAD$115 million.
The net proceeds of the offering will be used to reduce outstanding borrowings under the CAD$150 million senior secured credit facility (the "Acquisition Credit Facility") entered into by the Company, as borrower, and provided by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, as lender. The Acquisition Credit Facility was entered in order to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the Company's previously announced acquisition of Collins Stewart Hawkpoint plc, which closed on March 21, 2012.
The Series C Preferred Shares have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security within the United States, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
ABOUT CANACCORD FINANCIAL INC.:
Through its principal subsidiaries, Canaccord Financial Inc. is a leading independent, full-service financial services firm, with operations in two principal segments of the securities industry: global capital markets and wealth management. Canaccord has 64 offices worldwide, including 42 wealth management offices located in Canada, the UK and Europe. Canaccord Genuity, the Company's international capital markets division, has operations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Barbados.
Canaccord Financial Inc. is publicly traded under the symbol CF on the TSX and the symbol CF. on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange. Canaccord's preferred shares are listed on the TSX. The Series A Preferred Shares are listed under the symbol CF.PR.A and the Series C Preferred Shares will be listed under the symbol CF.PR.C.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Canaccord's intended use of the net proceeds from the offering of Series C Preferred Shares and the listing of the Series C Preferred Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange. These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's expectations or beliefs regarding future events including business and economic conditions and Canaccord's growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "target", "intend" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and a number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, readers should specifically consider various factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, the ability of Canaccord to satisfy the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange to list the Series C Preferred Shares, market and general economic conditions, the nature of the financial services industry and the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Canaccord's interim and annual consolidated financial statements and its Annual Report and Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document, and will not be updated or revised except as may be required by applicable law.
North America Media:
Scott Davidson
Executive Vice President, Global Head of Corporate Development and Strategy
Phone: 416-869-3875, email: [email protected]
For investor relations inquiries contact:
Jamie Kokoska
Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications
London Media:
Bobby Morse or Ben Romney
Buchanan Communications (London)
Phone: +44 (0) 207 466 5000, email: [email protected]
Nominated Adviser and Broker:
Oliver Hearsey or Martin Eales
RBC Europe Limited
Phone: +44 020 7653 4000, email: [email protected]
Joint Broker:
Erick Diaz
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Limited
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7663 3162, email: [email protected]
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A Different Kind of Theory of Everything
Physicists used to search for the smallest components of the universe. What if that’s not the point?
By Natalie Wolchover
What’s the point, theorists wonder, of the perfection found at every level, if it’s bound to be superseded?Illustration by Lennard Kok
In 1964, during a lecture at Cornell University, the physicist Richard Feynman articulated a profound mystery about the physical world. He told his listeners to imagine two objects, each gravitationally attracted to the other. How, he asked, should we predict their movements? Feynman identified three approaches, each invoking a different belief about the world. The first approach used Newton’s law of gravity, according to which the objects exert a pull on each other. The second imagined a gravitational field extending through space, which the objects distort. The third applied the principle of least action, which holds that each object moves by following the path that takes the least energy in the least time. All three approaches produced the same, correct prediction. They were three equally useful descriptions of how gravity works.
“One of the amazing characteristics of nature is this variety of interpretational schemes,” Feynman said. What’s more, this multifariousness applies only to the true laws of nature—it doesn’t work if the laws are misstated. “If you modify the laws much, you find you can only write them in fewer ways,” Feynman said. “I always found that mysterious, and I do not know the reason why it is that the correct laws of physics are expressible in such a tremendous variety of ways. They seem to be able to get through several wickets at the same time.”
Even as physicists work to understand the material content of the universe—the properties of particles, the nature of the big bang, the origins of dark matter and dark energy—their work is shadowed by this Rashomon effect, which raises metaphysical questions about the meaning of physics and the nature of reality. Nima Arkani-Hamed, a physicist at the Institute for Advanced Study, is one of today’s leading theoreticians. “The miraculous shape-shifting property of the laws is the single most amazing thing I know about them,” he told me, this past fall. It “must be a huge clue to the nature of the ultimate truth.”
Traditionally, physicists have been reductionists. They’ve searched for a “theory of everything” that describes reality in terms of its most fundamental components. In this way of thinking, the known laws of physics are provisional, approximating an as-yet-unknown, more detailed description. A table is really a collection of atoms; atoms, upon closer inspection, reveal themselves to be clusters of protons and neutrons; each of these is, more microscopically, a trio of quarks; and quarks, in turn, are presumed to consist of something yet more fundamental. Reductionists think that they are playing a game of telephone: as the message of reality travels upward, from the microscopic to the macroscopic scale, it becomes garbled, and they must work their way downward to recover the truth. Physicists now know that gravity wrecks this naïve scheme, by shaping the universe on both large and small scales. And the Rashomon effect also suggests that reality isn’t structured in such a reductive, bottom-up way.
If anything, Feynman’s example understated the mystery of the Rashomon effect, which is actually twofold. It’s strange that, as Feynman says, there are multiple valid ways of describing so many physical phenomena. But an even stranger fact is that, when there are competing descriptions, one often turns out to be more true than the others, because it extends to a deeper or more general description of reality. Of the three ways of describing objects’ motion, for instance, the approach that turns out to be more true is the underdog: the principle of least action. In everyday reality, it’s strange to imagine that objects move by “choosing” the easiest path. (How does a falling rock know which trajectory to take before it gets going?) But, a century ago, when physicists began to make experimental observations about the strange behavior of elementary particles, only the least-action interpretation of motion proved conceptually compatible. A whole new mathematical language—quantum mechanics—had to be developed to describe particles’ probabilistic ability to play out all possibilities and take the easiest path most frequently. Of the various classical laws of motion—all workable, all useful—only the principle of least action also extends to the quantum world.
It happens again and again that, when there are many possible descriptions of a physical situation—all making equivalent predictions, yet all wildly different in premise—one will turn out to be preferable, because it extends to an underlying reality, seeming to account for more of the universe at once. And yet this new description might, in turn, have multiple formulations—and one of those alternatives may apply even more broadly. It’s as though physicists are playing a modified telephone game in which, with each whisper, the message is translated into a different language. The languages describe different scales or domains of the same reality but aren’t always related etymologically. In this modified game, the objective isn’t—or isn’t only—to seek a bedrock equation governing reality’s smallest bits. The existence of this branching, interconnected web of mathematical languages, each with its own associated picture of the world, is what needs to be understood.
This web of laws creates traps for physicists. Suppose you’re a researcher seeking to understand the universe more deeply. You may get stuck using a dead-end description—clinging to a principle that seems correct but is merely one of nature’s disguises. It’s for this reason that Paul Dirac, a British pioneer of quantum theory, stressed the importance of reformulating existing theories: it’s by finding new ways of describing known phenomena that you can escape the trap of provisional or limited belief. This was the trick that led Dirac to predict antimatter, in 1928. “It is not always so that theories which are equivalent are equally good,” he said, five decades later, “because one of them may be more suitable than the other for future developments.”
Today, various puzzles and paradoxes point to the need to reformulate the theories of modern physics in a new mathematical language. Many physicists feel trapped. They have a hunch that they need to transcend the notion that objects move and interact in space and time. Einstein’s general theory of relativity beautifully weaves space and time together into a four-dimensional fabric, known as space-time, and equates gravity with warps in that fabric. But Einstein’s theory and the space-time concept break down inside black holes and at the moment of the big bang. Space-time, in other words, may be a translation of some other description of reality that, though more abstract or unfamiliar, can have greater explanatory power.
Some researchers are attempting to wean physics off of space-time in order to pave the way toward this deeper theory. Currently, to predict how particles morph and scatter when they collide in space-time, physicists use a complicated diagrammatic scheme invented by Richard Feynman. The so-called Feynman diagrams indicate the probabilities, or “scattering amplitudes,” of different particle-collision outcomes. In 2013, Nima Arkani-Hamed and Jaroslav Trnka discovered a reformulation of scattering amplitudes that makes reference to neither space nor time. They found that the amplitudes of certain particle collisions are encoded in the volume of a jewel-like geometric object, which they dubbed the amplituhedron. Ever since, they and dozens of other researchers have been exploring this new geometric formulation of particle-scattering amplitudes, hoping that it will lead away from our everyday, space-time-bound conception to some grander explanatory structure.
Whether these researchers are on the right track or not, the web of explanations of reality exists. Perhaps the most striking thing about those explanations is that, even as each draws only a partial picture of reality, they are mathematically perfect. Take general relativity. Physicists know that Einstein’s theory is incomplete. Yet it is a spectacular artifice, with a spare, taut mathematical structure. Fiddle with the equations even a little and you lose all of its beauty and simplicity. It turns out that, if you want to discover a deeper way of explaining the universe, you can’t take the equations of the existing description and subtly deform them. Instead, you must make a jump to a totally different, equally perfect mathematical structure. What’s the point, theorists wonder, of the perfection found at every level, if it’s bound to be superseded?
It seems inconceivable that this intricate web of perfect mathematical descriptions is random or happenstance. This mystery must have an explanation. But what might such an explanation look like? One common conception of physics is that its laws are like a machine that humans are building in order to predict what will happen in the future. The “theory of everything” is like the ultimate prediction machine—a single equation from which everything follows. But this outlook ignores the existence of the many different machines, built in all manner of ingenious ways, that give us equivalent predictions.
To Arkani-Hamed, the multifariousness of the laws suggests a different conception of what physics is all about. We’re not building a machine that calculates answers, he says; instead, we’re discovering questions. Nature’s shape-shifting laws seem to be the answer to an unknown mathematical question. This is why Arkani-Hamed and his colleagues find their studies of the amplituhedron so promising. Calculating the volume of the amplituhedron is a question in geometry—one that mathematicians might have pondered, had they discovered the object first. Somehow, the answer to the question of the amplituhedron’s volume describes the behavior of particles—and that answer, in turn, can be rewritten in terms of space and time.
Arkani-Hamed now sees the ultimate goal of physics as figuring out the mathematical question from which all the answers flow. “The ascension to the tenth level of intellectual heaven,” he told me, “would be if we find the question to which the universe is the answer, and the nature of that question in and of itself explains why it was possible to describe it in so many different ways.” It’s as though physics has been turned inside out. It now appears that the answers already surround us. It’s the question we don’t know.
More:PhysicsQuantum PhysicsEinstein
A Robotic Arm Controlled by the Mind
After Nathan Copeland survived a car crash that paralyzed him from the neck down, he volunteered for an ambitious program aimed at giving people mastery of brain-controlled robotics.
Annals of Science
Dream Machine
The mind-expanding world of quantum computing.
By Rivka Galchen
What do we learn about science from a controversy in physics?
By Adam Gopnik
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Home/Science/Ibama superintendent suspends a fine of R $ 7.5 million to build a resort in Bahia
Ibama superintendent suspends a fine of R $ 7.5 million to build a resort in Bahia
nbadminJanuary 14, 2021
Ibama’s superintendent of Bahia, Rodrigo Alves, overturned a fine and lifted the embargo on work on a retaining wall being erected on the strip of sand near a resort in Praia do Forte on the state’s north coast.
The case was revealed this Thursday (19) by the newspaper “O Estado de S. Paulo”. Alves was appointed by Minister Ricardo Salles in June last year and canceled a R $ 7.5 million fine imposed by Ibama technicians on Tivoli Ecoresort, one of the most luxurious in the village.
The resort began building a stone and steel frame retaining wall to contain the tide. Before that, there was a wooden holder on the construction site.
The area as well as much of the north coast of Bahia is known as a spawning point for sea turtles.
Ibama technicians imposed the fine and suspended the work in July this year after a technical visit on site. However, three months later, Alves suspended the fine and opposed the embargo on work.
In a note, Ibama reported that the plant has an environmental permit issued by the city of Mata de São João and that the retaining wall will be built within the boundaries of the hotel grounds, which have operated in the region for three decades.
He also said that “Ibama’s tax measures on work approved by other federal agencies must be within the legal limit” and that several precedents exist in this regard.
With this in mind, Ibama explains that it sees low-potential work as harmful to the environment and local. And he said if it is believed that there is an alleged defect in the licensing process it should be the subject of a lawsuit.
The Federal Ministry is monitoring the case. The work remains blocked because it was also embargoed by the SPU (Union Heritage Superintendence).
The Tivoli Hotel said in a statement that the work is being carried out within the hotel grounds and is aimed at containing the advance of the sea.
The government of Ricardo Salles, a minister who was appointed to the environmental portfolio by President Jair Bolsonaro (without party), was shaped by an attempt to relax environmental regulations and has been criticized by environmentalists.
In September this year, Conama (National Council for the Environment) approved the repeal of rules setting criteria for the conservation of coastal areas from mangroves and residual gas. However, the decision was overturned by an injunction from the Supreme Court.
nbadmin
To protect the Amazon, Biden must support those who live in the area and not promote sanctions – 1/19/2021 – market
When they reach economic power, environmental laws will be seen as bad, says Herman Benjamin – 10/20/2020 – Environment
Salles leaves out the greenhouse gas emissions inventory and wants to change the agricultural data – Ambiente
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THE DAYS OF LOT: New Pew Poll Shows That Support For Same-Sex Marriage Has More Than Doubled Among Evangelical Christian Groups
In particular, the shift in favor of gay marriage among evangelicals has been most noticeable among young people. Today, a staggering 47 percent of all white evangelicals born after 1964 favor gay marriage. Support for same-sex marriage has risen across all religious groups in recent years, including among white evangelicals and black Protestants. Support for same sex-marriage among white Evangelicals has more than doubled compared with a decade ago (14 percent then, 35 percent now), while the share of black Protestants who favor same-sex marriage has increased from 24 percent in 2007 to 44 percent today.
by Geoffrey Grider August 17, 2019
Support for same-sex marriage has risen across all religious groups in recent years, including among white evangelicals and black Protestants.
I do not see any end times revival coming for the Christian church in the last days before the Rapture, but what I do see is exactly what Jesus said would be the state of the last professing global Christian church. What is that state, you ask? A big, fat and sloppy, lukewarm Laodicean mess that Jesus is disgusted with. So much so that He spues it from out of His mouth. That, my dear reader, is how the Church Age ends.
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:14-16 (KJV)
In the book of Matthew, Jesus likes the last days to the ‘days of Noah’, giving us typology of the Pretribulation Rapture of the Church taking place before the start of the time of Jacob’s trouble. Remember the gentile prophet Enoch who was “taken up” by God without ever seeing death, and then the flood came? There’s your Pretrib before the Tribulation. In the book of Luke, Jesus uses another example. The days of Lot.
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:28-30 (KJV)
Jesus tells us that the time of Jacob’s trouble will be like the ‘days of Lot‘ because in those days, homosexuality and all manners of perversion became to rampant that God was forced to destroyed both Sodom and Gomorrah by fire. Are you starting to see why the LGBTQ+P for Pedophile Movement has gotten so strong and powerful? Do you ever wonder why Tel Aviv in Israel is the homosexuality capital of the world? Think about it! They are fulfilling the end times prophecies of the last days. You are watching it happen.
Days of Lot: New Survey Finds That Evangelical Christian Support for Gay Marriage Has More Than Doubled
FROM CHARISMA NEWS: A new survey just released by the Pew Research Center has found that support for gay marriage in the United States is at an all-time record high. According to the survey, 62 percent of all Americans are now in favor of allowing gays and lesbians to get married, and only 32 percent are opposed. These numbers have almost flipped completely upside down from where they were a decade ago. In 2007, 54 percent of all Americans were against gay marriage and only 37 percent were in favor of it. To say that our culture has been transformed over the past ten years would be a major understatement.
One of the biggest shifts that we have seen has been among evangelicals. This brand new survey discovered that support for gay marriage among white evangelicals has more than doubled since 2007…
Support for same-sex marriage has risen across all religious groups in recent years, including among white evangelicals and black Protestants. Support for same sex-marriage among white Evangelicals has more than doubled compared with a decade ago (14 percent then, 35 percent now), while the share of black Protestants who favor same-sex marriage has increased from 24 percent in 2007 to 44 percent today.
In particular, the shift in favor of gay marriage among evangelicals has been most noticeable among young people. Today, a staggering 47 percent of all white evangelicals born after 1964 favor gay marriage…
Overall, white evangelical Protestants continue to stand out for their opposition to same-sex-marriage: 35 percent of white evangelical Protestants favor same-sex marriage, compared with a 59 percent majority who are opposed. But younger white evangelicals have grown more supportive: 47 percent of white evangelical Millennials and Gen Xers—age cohorts born after 1964—favor same-sex marriage, up from 29 percent in March 2016. Views among older white evangelicals (Boomers and Silents) have shown virtually no change over the past year (26 percent now, 25 percent then).
I honestly don’t know how this is possible. How in the world did we get to the point where nearly half of all evangelicals born since 1964 have abandoned what the Word of God says about marriage?
As this massive cultural shift continues, it is going to become increasingly difficult for those that still want to try to stand up for traditional values.
Already we have gotten to the point where no Bible-believing Christians will be able to participate in the wedding industry because the risk of getting slapped with a very costly lawsuit is just too great. One of these cases is headed to the Supreme Court, and so let us be praying for a positive outcome:
Jack Phillips and his Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, had never had problems before with homosexual customers. That changed when the Christian owner refused to create a cake to celebrate a same-sex marriage, the business landed in deep legal trouble with the state.
Now the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.
It pits Phillips’ religious rights against the rights of a gay couple to receive the same and equal treatment under the law as heterosexual couples.
Today, the average American watches approximately five hours of television a day, and more than 90 percent of the news and entertainment that we watch is controlled by just six gigantic media conglomerates. All of those media giants are relentlessly advancing a pro-gay agenda, and we need to realize what is being done to us.
If you allow anyone to feed “programming” into your mind for five hours a day, it is going to have a major impact on how you view the world.
Yes this is happening even in baptist churches
If you ever needed proof that we are knee-deep into that great time of apostasy that Paul calls the ‘falling away’, look no further. This article we present to you today will confirm that for you a hundred times over. On the USA Today site, it says that Oliver Thomas is a retired American Baptist minister and a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors. He has written an article so Liberal and so Far Left that even Joel Osteen would have trouble putting his name on it.
BAPTIST PASTOR WRITES IN USA TODAY THAT THE BIBLE CAN’T BE TRUSTED, AND THAT THE CHURCH MUST ACCEPT OPEN LGBTQP MEMBERS IN ORDER TO SURVIVE
This is particularly true of the next generation. Our children are being raised to fully embrace the social agenda of the radical left, and eventually, they are going to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Our hearts should break when we read about young kids such as 9-year-old Audrey Cisneros:
But Audrey is realizing it’s not an easy thing for people to understand—especially her fellow fifth-graders. Here’s how she puts it:
“A drag show is a very, very fun and special event where people can express themselves for who they really are, and show it to everyone that is in the room. You don’t judge people just because they dress up as the opposite gender or because they love someone of the same gender. Just be proud of them, don’t fight it.”
On Saturday, Audrey and other children attend a drag queen story hour hosted by My LGBT Plus. Similar events have been held across the country, aiming to familiarize kids with the gay community and give them “glamorous, positive and unabashedly queer role models.”
On the other hand, children all over the country are being banned from bringing Bibles to school or gathering for group prayer.
Eventually it will get to the point where our children can’t even say grace before a meal. If you doubt this, just check out what is happening in Sweden:
Children at a Christian preschool in Sweden are no longer allowed to say grace at mealtimes, “Amen”, or talk about the Bible, after a ruling by the Umeå municipality.
Visiting the preschool for an inspection, supervisors from the district said the activities run contrary to the Education Act, which forbids educational content during school time from containing confessional elements, and states that children at must always have the choice of whether or not to participate.
The municipality said it felt that children at the Salvation Army-run kindergarten were not given enough of an opportunity to opt out of saying grace at mealtimes.
When I say that the radical left wants to eradicate our way of life, I am not exaggerating one bit.
The left does not believe in free speech and the marketplace of ideas. Instead, they believe in hate speech laws and using the legal system as a tool to punish those that do not see things the same way that they do.
Slowly but surely, they are going to criminalize the belief systems of those that disagree with them.
Meanwhile, much of the evangelical church is silent on these issues. Many leaders are concerned that if they do speak out that attendance will go down and offerings will not be as large as they were previously.
If evangelical churches had been boldly proclaiming the truth all this time, support for gay marriage among evangelicals would not have doubled over the past decade. READ MORE
Days of Lotevangelical ChristiansPew Pollsame-sex marriage
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Walk to honor slain Athens police officer Buddy Christian
A childhood friend of Elmer Basco “Buddy” Christian III has walked from the Classic Center to Christian’s grave off Atlanta Highway each of the past six years to commemorate when the Athens-Clarke County senior police officer was fatally shot in the line of duty in March 2011.
This year, 31-year-old Hull resident Andrew King is inviting community members to join him when he makes the 5.5-mile trek on Saturday.
Christian was murdered March 22, 2011, when he arrived at an apartment complex on Sycamore Drive. A suspect shot and killed the 34-year-old officer through the window of his patrol car as he ran.
In an overwhelming outpouring of grief and show of support for the Christian family, an overflow audience attended a memorial service at the Classic Center and thousands lined the funeral procession’s route to Evergreen Memorial Park off Atlanta Highway, where Christian was laid to rest.
After leaving the U.S. Army, King said he wanted to do something to pay tribute to his longtime friend.
“The Christian family has been friends of my family for many years,” King said. “My grandmother used to babysit Buddy and his brother when they were younger, so needless to say Buddy's death hit our family pretty hard.
“I actually started the event in 2013 with myself and a fellow veteran as a way of remembering Buddy and all the things he had done not just with the ACCPD, but in his community as well."
King and fellow veteran Mirko Seladis began carrying American flags on their annual walks, and he encourages anyone who plans to join him on Saturday to also bring a flag.
King said the memorial walk will take the same route as the funeral procession, beginning 11 a.m. Saturday at the Athena statue in front of the Classic Center and ending at Christian’s grave.
King advised those who plan to participate to arrange for transportation from Evergreen Memorial Park back to downtown.
King said he hoped the walk will become an annual tradition for others who want to honor Christian.
“It has grown from two people all the way to 13 last year,” he said. “I'm hoping to get at least 20 to 30 this year and hope to have those numbers steadily grow each year.”
Anyone with questions about the event can contact King at andy.king2370@gmail.com.
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KYOTO UNIVERSITY Global Engagement Courtesy Visits
Delegation from Seoul National University visits Kyoto University (November 8, 2018)
Courtesy Visits
A delegation from Seoul National University (SNU), headed by Prof. Cho Seong In, dean of planning and coordination, visited Kyoto University on November 8, 2018. They met with Mr. Kouji Nakata, director of Kyoto University’s Financial Affairs Division and Mr. Hiroyuki Hamanaka, director of the Accounting Regulatory Division of the Financial Affairs Department, to learn about the university’s financial management system as part of the preparations for the establishment of a new SNU campus.
Signing Ceremony
All Visits
Kyoto University: Global Engagement
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Delco Youth Baseball Team Plays for National Championship Tonight
Broomall-Newtown's 13-15 Babe Ruth team plays at 10:05 p.m.
By Joel Mathis· 8/28/2014, 2:42 p.m.
It’s a heck of a year for youth baseball in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
We all know how Philly’s Taney Dragons made it to the Little League World Series this year — in a journey so cool their star pitcher Mo’ne Davis even made the cover of Sports Illustrated.
But you maybe didn’t know that Delaware County’s Broomall-Newtown team of 13-year-olds won the Babe Ruth World Series in their age division last week — or that Delco’s Broomall-Newtown team of 13-15-year-olds is playing for the Babe Ruth World Series championship in their age division tonight. (Babe Ruth baseball is organized for kids outside the Little League age range.)
The game is being played in Washington State, so it starts late by local standards: 10:05 p.m. And you can’t watch it on TV — but you can grab your computer and go to this website to see the game online and in HD. If you prefer your baseball on the radio, click here instead.
Kirc Roland is the co-president of the Longview (Washington) World Series Committee: He’s seen every game played at the tournament. He talked this afternoon to Philly Mag about the Pennsylvania team:
Tell me about this Broomall-Newtown team that’s playing in the World Series final tonight?
Well, I will just say they have certainly represented their area well. They’re a really neat club. They’re one of those teams you look at and think, “Hmmm. Maybe they’re not the most-athletic team.” But then every game they play they impress you a little bit more with their ability and athleticism. They have taken on every challenge they’ve been faced with. They play fundamentally sound baseball and appear to be cohesive; Rick Woodcock, their head coach, has done a great job bringing these kids together. Just a real impressive team.
Do they have any standouts?
I think Scott Hahn has been very good for them. He’s been their big pitcher and hitter, and I know he’s had a very good series and he’s probably one of the leaders of the team there. If I had to single one of the leaders there, he’d be the guy, but again, they’re a very good team.
They’re running into a pretty talented team tonight. I think the game tonight is going to be a tossup — I don’t think there’s any dominant team. They’ll play seven innings, maybe more, and decide which gets to take home the championship.
How have the crowds been?
The crowds have been pretty good. We were fortunate enough to have our two co-host teams make it into bracket play, so that gave us another night of a full house. Things fell off a little bit last night, with all the out-of-town teams. I would anticipate we’ll have anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people out there tonight.
They have really, really represented your area with class and hard play. Just a real nice bunch of boys. We’ve been real happy with them.
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Tag: Secure Data Act
Secure Data Act would protect device manufacturers from having to create a back door
A new bill introduced in Congress, called the Secure Data Act, would prevent a government agency or a court order from forcing a manufacturer to add a backdoor to a device that offers encrypted communications. The bill has bipartisan support, and was introduced in the House by Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Ted Poe (R-TX), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL).
The bill would give manufacturers of encrypted phones, tablets, computers and software (including apps like WhatsApp) protection from being forced to weaken the encryption on their products. Not only would it prevent a law enforcement agency like the FBI from forcing a phone manufacturer from providing it with back door access to their devices, it would also prevent a court order from doing the same thing. There is one exception as mentioned in the bill. That would be for requests and court orders having to do with wiretaps under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act.
The Secure Data Act is a reaction to the battle between Apple and the FBI that took place in early 2016. The FBI was able to procure a court order demanding that Apple unlock the iPhon 5c that belonged to San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook. Apple ignored the order, saying that it would have to build a special version of iOS to unlock the device. Cook told law enforcement officials that he was reluctant to create this software, dubbed Govt.OS, for fear that it would be leaked. That would endanger the privacy of all iPhone users globally. As it turned out, the FBI paid to have the phone unlocked by a third party only to find not one shred of worthwhile information inside it.
source: EFF
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs. S9 vs. S10: should you upgrade? 7 views
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Melissa Gilbert leads a stellar cast in Totem Pole's funny and moving 'Steel Magnolias': review
Updated Jan 05, 2019; Posted May 31, 2014
By David N. Dunkle | Special to PennLive
Melissa Gilbert in STEEL MAGNOLIAS-1.jpg
Melissa Gilbert, left, Catherine Blaine, Tonya Beckman and Bligh Voth are among the stars in "Steel Magnolias," currently on stage at Totem Pole Playhouse in Caledonia State Park.
(Provided photo)
Melissa Gilbert has serious acting chops, no question, and she's proving it on stage at Totem Pole Playhouse in a top-drawer production of that estrogen-soaked favorite, "Steel Magnolias."
At Friday night's opening, the one-time child star of "Little House on the Prairie" took on the heavyweight role of M'Lynn in Robert Harling's enduring comedy/drama about a group of snarky Southern ladies who hang out in a Louisiana beauty shop.
M'Lynn, played by Oscar-winner Sally Field in the 1989 movie version of this play, has a fairly subdued role through much of this two-act show. She's a mental health professional who mostly keeps her own counsel, but when her headstrong, warmhearted daughter Shelby is at risk, M'Lynn shows her tiger mom side.
In one stunning scene near the end of the show, Gilbert is superlative, pulling tears from anyone with a beating heart in Totem Pole's packed house. Out of courtesy for the seven people in America who may still not know the ending to "Steel Magnolias," we'll leave it at that.
Gilbert is not engaged in a vanity project here, although her celebrity presence is likely to sell more than a few tickets for the financially challenged professional summer stock theater as it enters its 64th season.
Totem Pole, where Jean Stapleton performed for many years, nearly closed its doors for good a year ago, but was saved at the last minute by thousands of dollars in donations from both the local and theater communities. "Steel Magnolias" is the first of a four-show season that will run through Aug. 31.
During a long career that began with commercials when she was just 4, Gilbert has been part of the American consciousness for a very long time. She is still best known for her role as young Laura Ingalls in "Little House," a popular NBC show that ran for nearly a decade beginning in 1974.
But she also starred in an extensive series of made-for-television movies, including an acclaimed performance as young Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker." She's an author and director as well, and toured in a musical adaptation of "Little House" a few years ago. Last year she married fellow actor Timothy Busfield ("The West Wing").
Unlike many a child actor whose range never gets past "precocious," the 50-year-old Gilbert appears quite at home in live drama, limning the character of M'Lynn with a mature skill on stage at Totem Pole.
Gilbert, whose extensive resume takes up nearly a page in Totem Pole's playbill, is unquestionably the star of the show, and "Steel Magnolias" marks her first performance at Totem Pole.
Whether she will ever return is an unanswered question at this point, so those who wish to see what's become of little Laura Ingalls are advised to take in a show during this two-week run.
But while Gilbert shines, she is also just one part of an exceptional ensemble of veteran Actors Equity performers who more than hold their own in Harling's feisty gumbo.
Of particular note is central Pennsylvania's own Catherine Blaine, who very nearly steals the show as Clairee, the sharp-tongued widow of the one-time mayor of fictional Chinquapin Parish. The veteran Blaine gets a lot of the play's sharpest lines, and she uses them to carve out a memorable portrait of a woman who never hesitates to say what's on her mind.
There are no weaknesses in this perfectly cast group, all of whom are stepping into roles made famous by a long list of indelible film and stage actors that includes Field, Shirley McLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Delta Burke, Marsha Mason, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton and others.
Totem Pole's six-member cast also features Tonya Beckman as beauty shop owner Truvy, Danielle Sacks as her nervous born-again assistant Annelle, Caren Anton as cranky customer Ouiser ("I'm not crazy. I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years.") and Bligh Voth as the frail but determined Shelby.
Men are occasionally heard but never seen in the stage version of Harling's story, which premiered in New York City in 1987 and continues to be frequently staged today. The presence of the testosterone set is definitely felt, however, and they take a regular beating from the sharp tongues which gather at Truvy's beauty salon, where the motto is "There's no such thing as natural beauty."
Although strong emotions of grief, anger and loss shadow the play's climax, this is at heart a comedy -- and a very funny one. Zingers fly fast and furious when these women gather for gossip and hair repair. Any friend or neighbor is likely to be a target, like a local resident who is said to be "so dumb she thinks Sherlock Holmes is a subdivision."
It may seem odd that "Steel Magnolias" -- chick-lit if there ever was such a thing -- was written by a man, but Harling based the story on his own sister's death from diabetes complications. His overall credentials are also impressive, with a resume that includes screenplays for such female-friendly films as "Soapdish," "The First Wives Club" and "The Evening Star."
Although its been around for 27 years, "Steel Magnolias" has a fresh feel despite some very '80s clothing and hair fashions on display. Truvy's hair salon still seems like a place you'd like to visit (although perhaps not if you are male) and the currents of small-town life that burble through the show still resonate in 21st century America.
Mostly, though, what still pulls an audience in is the unshakeable bond of friendship which underlies all of the relationships among these mismatched besties. Both men and women can relate to that.
The quality of Gilbert's performance is really no surprise, but what really makes Totem Pole's superbly mounted production, which runs through June 15, so compelling is the uniform skill of her cast mates. Everyone in attendance will laugh, and even men will sob during this show, at first helplessly because of the painfully accurate barbs aimed their way, and later in response to Gilbert's powerful acting.
WHAT: "Steel Magnolias," featuring Melissa Gilbert
WHEN: Through June 15
WHERE: Totem Pole Playhouse, Caledonia State Park
INFO: www.totempoleplayhouse.org or 888-805-7056
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Rutter’s Chris Hartman appointed to the Pennsylvania Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board
Chris Hartman, the Director of Fuels, Forecourt, and Advertising for Rutter’s – a member of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association -- was recently appointed to the state’s Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board (USTIB) for the 2019-20 legislative session.
USTIB oversees the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund (USTIF), which collects funds from tank owners to pay for long-term cleanups of leaking or abandoned storage tanks. The overall mission of the fund and the board is to provide for a cleaner commonwealth by administering a fiscally responsible program to reimburse eligible participants for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred from releases into the environment.
“We are thankful to House Speaker Mike Turzai for appointing Chris to the board,” PFMA President & CEO Alex Baloga said. “Chris already has an extensive background in the fuels industry and a bright future at a growing company.”
Hartman is the 11th generation of the family business, dating back to 1747 when Rutter’s purchased its farm in York. He started working in Rutter’s stores when he was 13 years old.
Hartman has a Master of Business Administration from George Washington University and an undergraduate degree in Accounting and Finance from St. Joseph’s University. He worked for five years in Dallas as a food broker before returning to York to work at the family business in July 2018.
Baloga also serves on the board. State legislation approved in 2017 gave PFMA a board seat.
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A Bumper Decade for PLS As They Invite Clients to Say Yes PLS!
PLS Solicitors has just celebrated a huge milestone, it has been 10-years since the then 2-man band with one phone between them first started, but they are now one of Manchester’s top employers.
While a lot was different in 2008, not least Take That were top of the charts and Labour leader Gordon Brown was still in office, it was also the year that the economic crash really took hold.
As Co-Managing Director Aashim Dhand admits, “Starting a new business in the shadow of the 2008 financial crisis probably wasn’t the best idea.”
Regardless, PLS has grown from a 2-man enterprise located behind (a very helpful) estate agency in Manchester, to a national brand with over 160 staff.
Co-founder Managing Director Rob Thomas still thinks himself lucky. He comments: “Who would have thought that our chance introduction in 2009 would have led to the success which we now enjoy with PLS Solicitors as one of the leading providers of conveyancing services in the UK. We have grown to become a formidable business partnership and close friends.”
Aash and Rob celebrated with the team in the office and to give you a sense of what drives them, here are ten things you may not know about PLS.
PLS stands for Property Legal Solicitors – this no-nonsense approach to legal services when buying or selling a home has led to them to become a power house in the North-West, and further spreading throughout the country.
When Aash Dhand first started PLS he would regularly stay up until 2am in a morning scanning home information packs. It wasn’t long before he was ready to share the burden and after meeting Rob Thomas, they formed a partnership that was to grow and grow.
As Aash and Rob put their networking skills to good use, soon a third member of the team was recruited and became their first employee, Pauline Gill. She liked them so much that she stayed for a number of years and whilst Pauline is no longer with the firm, they remain close friends.
Since 2008 PLS offices have moved 4 times as staff quickly increased, before finally acquiring PLS house in 2013 and Bridgewater House in 2015.
For Aash his proudest moment was moving in to PLS House, and then having to also acquire the building next door – by 2015 as they had managed to fill it with staff.
Rob believes that new technology will set PLS apart from the competition, his proudest moment of the last decade was launching an app called 24/7 that allowed developers and clients to access their documents on the move, allowing for speedy completions that set them apart in the market.
PLS has won a number of awards and have been shortlisted for many more, from the National Customer Service Awards for Conveyancers – the ESTAs 2018 (results to be announced soon) to the LFS Conveyancing Awards and the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards.
PLS currently handle around 20% of property conveyancing for new builds in the North-West, but they are also gaining a reputation both nationally and internationally, with a new office in London and a nationwide network of business development and client relationship managers.
Together, Aash and Rob want to spend the next ten-years incubating their own training academy in ‘the PLS way’ and offering great customer service in the conveyancing and new-build services industry.
The team might be celebrating, but the Managing Directors are certainly looking forward to the future. The pair are on a mission to make the legal requirements associated with property as easy and stress free as possible. You can follow PLS and find all their latest news here: https://www.pls-solicitors.co.uk/latest-news/
Aash Dhand
Read More about Aash Dhand
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A very successful 2016 and a strong start to 2017
Posted by: Pocketpressrelease at 3/16/2017 06:46:00 am
· EBITDA pre exceptionals in fiscal 2016 increases by 12.4 percent to EUR 995 million
· EBITDA margin pre exceptionals improves from 11.2 to 12.9 percent
· Net income increases by 16.4 percent to EUR 192 million
· Volumes grow in all segments
· Proposed dividend for 2016 at EUR 0.70 per share; an increase of 17 percent
· Strong first quarter 2017 expected: approximately 20 percent increase in EBITDA pre exceptionals
· Guidance for the full year 2017: EBITDA pre exceptionals slightly above the prior-year level
· Preparations for planned Chemtura acquisition progressing well
Cologne – In fiscal 2016, specialty chemicals company LANXESS successfully advanced its transformation, underscoring this with strong performance data. EBITDA pre exceptionals increased by 12.4 percent to EUR 995 million, compared with EUR 885 million a year earlier. The main drivers of this positive development were higher volumes in all segments, the associated increase in capacity utilization and cost savings resulting from the improved competitiveness of plants and processes. The EBITDA pre exceptionals was therefore at the upper end of the recent guidance range of EUR 960 million to EUR 1 billion. The Group’s EBITDA margin pre exceptionals improved from 11.2 percent to 12.9 percent. Net income also increased by a substantial 16.4 percent to EUR 192 million from EUR 165 million. Sales declined slightly, from EUR 7.9 billion in 2015 to EUR 7.7 billion, primarily due to the adjustment in selling prices to reflect lower raw material costs.
Also in 2016, the company made a number of important strategic decisions and realigned its portfolio. ARLANXEO, a joint venture with Saudi Aramco for the synthetic rubber business, started operating on April 1. At the end of August, LANXESS closed the acquisition of the Clean& Disinfect business of U.S. chemical company Chemours. In September, LANXESS announced the acquisition of U.S. specialty chemicals company Chemtura, a leading supplier of flame retardant and lubricant additives. Both acquisitions strengthen LANXESS’s position in high-margin specialty chemicals markets.
“LANXESS is back on track for success. We have achieved key milestones in our reorganization to make LANXESS a more stable and profitable enterprise and we have progressed a good way on our course of growth. This is reflected in our very positive business data for 2016,” said Matthias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG. “We aim to continue on this growth path, above all through the planned acquisition of Chemtura, and to further increase our operational strength.”
Substantially improved balance sheet
At the end of the past fiscal year, net financial liabilities fell very substantially from EUR 1.2 billion to EUR 269 million. This was mainly due to the proceeds from the joint venture with Saudi Aramco. In 2016, capital expenditures amounted to EUR 439 million, which was more or less level with the prior-year figure of EUR 434 million. The company is planning capital expenditures of some EUR 450 million to EUR 500 million for 2017.
“We again significantly strengthened our balance sheet in 2016 and are continuing along this path of financial stability. We secured the financing for the planned acquisition of Chemtura quickly and at attractive conditions, while at the same time maintaining our investment-grade rating,” explained Michael Pontzen, Chief Financial Officer of LANXESS AG.
The financing for the planned acquisition of Chemtura, which has an enterprise value of approximately EUR 2.4 billion, is provided mainly by two corporate bonds, a hybrid bond and existing liquidity. Already in 2016, LANXESS was able to place all three bonds - each with a volume of EUR 500 million.
Planned acquisition of Chemtura on schedule
The planned acquisition of Chemtura is a crucial step on LANXESS’s growth path and continues to progress on schedule. At the start of March, the authorities in South Korea approved the acquisition as antitrust authorities in the United States and Brazil did before. In early February 2017, Chemtura’s shareholders had voted by a large majority in favor of the planned merger. LANXESS expects to receive all remaining regulatory clearances and to close the transaction by mid-2017.
Higher dividend proposed for 2016
The company’s good business performance in 2016 should be reflected in a higher dividend again. The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will be proposing to the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on May 26, 2017, a dividend increase of 17 percent compared with the prior year to EUR 0.70. This would result in a total dividend payout of around EUR 64 million.
Business development by segment
Sales of the Advanced Intermediates segment in 2016 were around EUR 1.74 billion, 4.6 percent below the prior-year figure of EUR 1.83 billion. On account of the anticipated decline in demand in the agrochemicals industry in the fourth quarter, EBITDA pre exceptionals decreased by a slight 3.8 percent to EUR 326 million, down from a very strong prior-year figure of EUR 339 million. Nevertheless, the EBITDA margin pre exceptionals was slightly up on the prior year, from 18.6 percent to 18.7 percent.
Sales in the Performance Chemicals segment improved by 2.7 percent from some EUR 2.09 billion to around EUR 2.14 billion. EBITDA pre exceptionals advanced by a substantial 14.7 percent from the prior-year level of EUR 326 million, to EUR 374 million. This improvement in earnings was mainly attributable to strong volume growth and better capacity utilization. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals improved accordingly to 17.5 percent, compared with 15.6 percent in 2015.
In the High Performance Materials segment, sales declined by a slight 2.7 percent, from EUR 1.09 billion to EUR 1.06 billion. However, EBITDA pre exceptionals advanced by around 43 percent to EUR 159 million, which was substantially higher than the prior-year level of EUR 111 million. The main drivers here were higher volumes in more profitable product groups and higher capacity utilization. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals grew respectively to 15.1 percent, compared with 10.2 percent in 2015.
Given a persistently difficult competitive environment, sales in the ARLANXEO segment decreased by 5.2 percent to EUR 2.71 billion, from EUR 2.86 billion a year earlier. Despite the positive development of volumes, EBITDA pre exceptionals was 4.6 percent below the prior-year level of EUR 391 million, at EUR 373 million. In a still challenging competitive environment, the effect of reduced selling prices outweighed the cost relief resulting from lower raw material prices. The EBITDA margin pre exceptionals of 13.8 percent was virtually level with the prior-year figure of 13.7 percent.
The good development seen in 2016 has continued into 2017. LANXESS had a very good start to the new fiscal year and is expecting EBITDA pre exceptionals between EUR 300 million and EUR 320 million for the first quarter of 2017. This would represent an increase in earnings of around 20 percent compared with the prior-year quarter (EUR 262 million).
For the full year 2017, LANXESS expects a slight increase in EBITDA pre exceptionals compared with 2016. Successful closing of the planned acquisition of Chemtura would generate an additional earnings contribution that LANXESS has not yet included in its current guidance for 2017.
Traditionally, the company specifies its guidance when it announces its first-quarter data. The quarterly statement will be published on May 11, 2017.
Financial data for the full year/Q4 2016
(Figures in EUR million)
Change in percent
EBITDA pre
EBITDA margin pre
exceptionals (percent)
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.7 billion in 2016 and about 16,700 employees in 25 countries. The company is currently represented at 54 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, specialty chemicals and plastics. Through ARLANXEO, the joint venture with Saudi Aramco, LANXESS is also a leading supplier of synthetic rubber. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World) and FTSE4Good.
Kartikey Raj Biography, Wiki, Age, Family, Biography, Khajoor Real Name, Date of Birth details
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Ice festival takes center stage
The MELTDOWN Winter Ice Festival is underway throughout the downtown area in Richmond.
But even if you missed the fun Friday, there's still plenty of chances to check out the event coming up Saturday. Here's a rundown of the activity lineup:
• Interactive Activity Zone: The Interactive Activity Zone will be open all weekend at the Seventh Street parking lot. Planned attractions include an ice slide, a ping-pong table and a skee ball game.
• Freeze Your Buns Off Fun Run: Interested runners can gather at 7:30 a.m. at the Seventh Street parking lot. Participants can choose to take the run at their own pace and run the mileage of their choice.
• Meet the Carvers Breakfast: The Ice Fighters will appear at American Legion Post 65, 109 N. Sixth St. Breakfast will be served from 8 to 11 a.m. for $5. The public is welcome.
• Live music: The Blue Heron Native American Pow Wow Drum & Singers will perform from 10 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3 p.m. at The Tin Lizzie Café, 820 E. Main St.
• Frozen Fairy Trail: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., children will start at the Old National Road Welcome Center, 5701 National Road E., to do a craft and enjoy a hot chocolate bar. They then will proceed to the next stop to view the wintry fairy garden or dwelling, enjoy the activity or giveaways along the trail.
• Paint and Take Souvenirs: Paint a souvenir from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Paint the Towne!, 197 Fort Wayne Ave. Each child may paint one souvenir while quantities last.
• Veach's Game Day: Play classic games from 10 a.m. to noon and 4-6 p.m. at Veach's Toy Station, 715 E. Main St.
• Snowflake Factory Winter Workshop: Make your own ornate 3-D paper snowflakes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at RDNA Art and Design Studio-Gallery, 8 S. Eighth St., Suite 14. Music, cookies, coffee and hot chocolate for all.
• Warm Up at Grassroots Center: Free coffee and hot chocolate, kids' activities, a selfie station and more from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 819 E. Main St. MELTDOWN shirts will be for sale. Kelley Cruse-Nicholson will share her book with kids from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Ron Deane will draw caricatures from 5-8 p.m.
• Live music festival: Morrisson-Reeves Library will feature music from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Organizers say Keith Lykins is a "guitarist like you've never heard before." He will perform a compositional style termed "Urban Tribal Music" or "Slap Guitar." Lykins will be followed by more local musicians, including The Black Heron Native American Singers.
• "Frozen" sisters: Dance Techniques invites visitors to meet and greet their favorite "Frozen" sisters from 1-4 p.m. at the studio, 1014 E. Main St. The event is sponsored by Richmond Civic Theatre.
• Craft party and book launch: Hagerstown author Chuck Avery will read and sign his new children's book, "A Reason To Be," from 2 to 4 p.m. at the children's department of Morrisson-Reeves. While visiting, enjoy a craft.
• Treasure hunt: Learn more details about the event that starts at 2 p.m. at RichmondMeltdown.com.
• Food vendors: Open from 4-9 p.m. at the Seventh Street parking lot.
• Award winners announced: Award winners will be announced at 6:30 p.m. on the Main Stage at the Seventh Street parking lot for the treasure hunt, coloring contest, snowman contest and Ice Queen/Jack Frost and Ice Princess/Jack Frost Jr. crowning.
• Ice fights: Watch ice carvers compete at 7:30 p.m. at the Seventh Street parking lot.
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Recommendations for Team Leaders
Words: 2140 Length: 8 Pages Document Type: Essay Paper #: 92888881
Jeremy Steele
Dr. John Klocinski
MBA6230-Leading Teams
ecommendations for Team Leaders
This research addressed team leaders of diversity management and diversity management training for those that are in leadership. One of the most argumentative issues in management is the problem of whether or not diversity actually hinders or helps the performance of a team. The complete review of the potential of diversity to make the most of output is mixed: with one point, diversity can nurture originality and strong discussion and dispute on a team. With that said, this section makes the following recommendations on how diversity management training should be developed and implemented.
Adopt the Diversity-Capability Model as the framework and basis for the diversity management training curriculum.
One important approach to workforce diversity is tactical and fixated on understanding and managing the association among force diversity and mission capability. Inside this framework, force diversity comprises any…… [Read More]
Combs, G.M. (2002). Meeting the leadership challenge of a diverse and pluralistic workplace: Implications of self-efficacy for diversity training. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 8(4), 1-16.
Deem, R. (2009). Leading and managing contemporary UK universities: Do excellence and meritocracy still prevail over diversity? Higher Education Policy, 22(1), 3-17.
Jonsen, K., Maznevski, M.L., & Schneider, S.C. (2010). Gender differences in leadership - believing is seeing: Implications for managing diversity. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 29(6), 549-572.
Nkansah, Nancy T, PharmD. M.B.A., Youmans, Sharon L, PharmD., M.P.H., Agness, C.F., PharmD., & Assemi, M. (2009). Fostering and managing diversity in schools of pharmacy. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 73(8), 1-152.
Professional Recommendations Effective Team Leaders Are the
Effective team leaders are the secret to effective teams. Through thorough research in the area of the qualities of effective team leaders, it was determined that proper communication, including listening, is an essential quality in a good team leader. Effective communication has to do with a lot of things, including providing feedback and constructive criticism as well as having the ability to receive it. Active listening skills are also an imperative quality of a good listener.
It is also important to understand why effective team leadership is so important. In the business world, team leaders are managers and effective managerial qualities are critical to the success of a business.
Professional Challenge - Recommendations for Team Leaders
hen dealing with effective team leadership, there are a few key principles of leadership that should be considered. One of the most important elements of being a good team leader is effective…… [Read More]
Clemons, J. (2003, September). Avoiding a Communication Breakdown: Keeping Employees
Informed Benefits Business. Black Enterprise. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1365/is_2_34/ai_107277794/
Clutterback, D. (2001, April). Linking Communication to Business Success: A Challenge for Communicators, International Association of Business Communicators. Retrieved from http://www.allbusiness.com/sector-54-professional-scientific/784539-1.html
Comprehensive Performance Systems (CPS) (2005). Team Development. Retrieved from http://www.trainingcps.com/g_c_td.htm.
Team Leadership General Manger Success of Team
General Manger
Success of team is dependent on a number of properties. Such is what provides guidelines to having an efficient team. For any team to be in cohesive there needs to be a unified commitment from its members. This means that the focus point for achieving results is team work (Glenn, 2010). Secondly, a good team has competent membership composition. This is to mean that members have to have quality skills for the task at hand. A team also needs to have clearly defined inspiring goal. Vision for what is to be achieved should be clear and easy to understand for the team.
The atmosphere of working needs to be collaborative for the members to fully explore their talents with support from each other to work towards the stated goals. In addition, the team should have a culture which sets standards for the group. Of most significant,…… [Read More]
Glenn, P. (2010). Team leadership: 20 proven tools for success. S.l.: Hrd Press, US.
Hartzler, G. (2005). Functions of type: Activities to develop the eight jungian functions. S.l.:
Telos Pubns.
Kouzes, J.M., & Posner, B. (2010). The Leadership Challenge. New York: Wiley.
Words: 1191 Length: 3 Pages Document Type: Term Paper Paper #: 18184785
Many organizations have inspired to a team-based structure within the last twenty years. In some cases the teams are independent or leaderless. But few companies have grown to be really victorious with their independent teams. A changeover period is necessary in victorious cases to aid the old supervisors to move into new roles as facilitators or resource managers. In the greater part of team-based organizations and during that changeover period, there is a requirement for team leaders. This position is different from the traditional supervisor, and thus requires different skills/capabilities. (Team Leadership: www.hmhandassociates.com) One of the main and latest additions to the literature on leadership concentrates on team leadership. Most science moves ahead through projects. These projects consist of interdisciplinary teams and usually have project staffs that are gathered mainly for the project in question. The aptitude of project managers to work efficiently in this fluid organizational environment…… [Read More]
Katzenbach, Jon R. Palestrant, Stacy. Team Leadership: Emerging Challenges. Innovative Leader. Volume 9, Number 8. August 2000. Retrieved from http://www.winstonbrill.com/bril001/html/article_index/articles/451-500/article482_body.html Accessed on 20 November, 2004
Olson, Jon; Bolton, Patricia. Chapter 12: Leadership. Retrieved from www.sc.doe.gov/sc-5/benchmark / Ch%2012%20Leadership%2006.08.02.pdf Accessed on 20 November, 2004
Team Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.hmhandassociates.com/leadtltrng.htm Accessed on 20 November, 2004
Team Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.irsonline.co.uk/con_subjects/con_pages/health_courses/gh_team_leadership.htm Accessed on 20 November, 2004
Team Leadership Personal Team Leadership
Furthermore, these meetings will also be used to ascertain each member's ability to reach goals and any specific talents that could help the project we are working on.
Any further problems in terms of discipline or stress will also be handled by means of oral communication, either at meetings or through personal contact sessions with the workers. Workers are also encouraged to meet with me personally in order to discuss any questions, concerns or suggestions they may have to further the optimum function of the team.
I will also use written communication in the form of circulars, memos and a general document stipulating the rules and regulations of the team and the work at hand. Each team member is presented with this document in order to clarify the responsibilities that need to be adhered to. Other written communication will occur by means of a suggestion box. In the event that…… [Read More]
Axiom Internet Group Ltd. 1995-2007. "Team Leadership Styles." http://www.axiomsoftware.com/disc/teams/styles.asp
Clark, Donald. 1997. "Leadership Styles." http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadstl.html
Mind Tools Ltd. 1995-2007. "Leadership Styles - Using the right one for your situation. http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_84.htm
Webb, Robert L. 2003. "Motivation and Leadership Styles." Goose Creek, South Carolina. http://www.motivation-tools.com/workplace/leadership_styles.htm
Overcoming the Pitfalls of Team Leadership in Decision Making
Words: 2374 Length: 8 Pages Document Type: Research Paper Paper #: 97894529
Team Decision Making -- Pitfalls and Solutions
Anyone who has ever been a member of any type of team can likely readily testify concerning the difficulties involved in reaching a consensus on even minor and straightforward issues such as seating arrangements, so it will likely come as no surprise to modern practitioners that the team decision-making process is fraught with a wide array of pitfalls, some of which can cause a team to fail outright while others can result in suboptimal outcomes. Therefore, identifying solutions to commonly encountered pitfalls in the team decision-making process represents a timely and valuable enterprise. To this end, this paper reviews the relevant literature concerning the team decision-making process in general and some of the common types of pitfalls that can reasonably be expected to be encountered in any organizational setting. Finally, a discussion concerning the manner in which the difficulties involved in the team…… [Read More]
Bedard, J. C. & Maroney, J. J. (2009, February). When are two auditors better than one? Group decision making in auditing. The CPA Journal, 70(2), 56-59.
Brandt, V. & England, W. (2011, November-December). Virtual teams. Research-Technology Management, 54(6), 62-65.
Congden, S. W. & Matveev, A. V. (2009, December). Cross-cultural communication and multicultural team performance: A German and American comparison. Journal of Comparative International Management, 12(2), 73-78.
Kessler, F. (1995). Management Development Review, 8(5), 38.
Managing Diversity Team Leadership Issue Managing Diversity
Words: 594 Length: 2 Pages Document Type: Essay Paper #: 38230390
Team leadership issue: Managing diversity
Definition of the team leadership practice: Diversity management
One of the most contentious issues in management is the question of whether diversity helps or hinders team performance. The overall review of the potential of diversity to maximize productivity is mixed: on one hand, diversity can foster creativity and healthy dialogue and debate on a team. When dealing with clients abroad, diverse team employees may have greater personal insight about their experiences as foreign nationals or so-called 'hyphenated' Americans. Women and people from different regions of the country or different disciplinary perspectives can likewise bring a unique approach to the problem. However, there is the problem of team unity, which is often far more difficult to generate on a diverse team. "Diverse teams are prone to dysfunction because the very differences that feed creativity and high performance can also create communication barriers" (Polzer 2008).…… [Read More]
Adamson, Georgia. (2012). The challenges of managing diverse teams. Executive Search Blog.
Retrieved:
https://www.bluesteps.com/blog/challenges-of-managing-diverse-teams.aspx
Friedman, Lynn. (2005). Managing diverse teams. The Washington Post. Retrieved:
Team Conflicts
Team Conflict Situation
For the purpose of this paper, I am a leader of a team that is working together to complete a project of significance. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, there is a conflict between members of my group. The conflict is escalating, which is problematic, as the deadline for the project is approaching and again, the project holds significance for us and the company for which we work. The nature of the conflict among the group members has to do with the high degree of task interdependence for this particular project. Something that is an unfortunate, regular occurrence in group projects is that some of the group members feel overworked and that they have become responsible for the majority of the work on the project. This is another aspect of the team conflict I must address as leader of this group. Besides myself, the team members are women…… [Read More]
Behfar, K.J., Peterson, R.S., Mannix, E.A., & Trochim, W.M.K. (2008). The Critical Role of Conflict Resolution in Teams: A Close Look at the Links Between Conflict Type, Conflict Management Strategies, and Team Outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(1), 170 -- 188.
Bradley, B.H., Klotz, A.C., Postlethwaite, B.E., & Brown, K.G. (2013). Ready to Rumble: How Team Personality Composition and Task Conflict Interact to Improve Performace. Journal of Applied Psychology, 98(2), 385 -- 392.
Somech, A., Desivilya, H.S., & Lidogoster, H. (2009). Team conflict management and team effectiveness: the effects of task interdependence and team identification. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 30, 359 -- 378.
Team Motivation Team Dynamics the Team on
The team on which the paper is based is a class discussion team that was formed in the curse of the semester to enable us accomplish the various tasks that would be assigned.
Stages of team development
Our group went through the various stages of development like any other groups with the challenges and the progress handled by the member of the group. The following is a summary of the stages that our group went through. Each stage was characterized by the indicated activities and conditions, with some of these characteristics crossing over to the next stage among a few people.
The group structure was a simple one since it is an academically focused group that was formed to meet the specific tasks before it within the semester and eventually disperse as indicated above. There was the group representative who acted as the link between the…… [Read More]
Ann Marie N. & Joyce S., (2009). Group Dynamics and Team Building. Retrieved December 20, 2013 from http://www.wfh.org/2/docs/Publications/Hemo_Org_Resources/Monographs/HOD4_Group_Dynamics_2-edition.pdf
Grant, R.W., & Finnocchio, L.J. (1995). Interdisciplinary Collaborative Teams in Primary Care:
A Model Curriculum and Resource Guide. San Francisco, CA: Pew Health Professions Commission.
Mind Tools (2013). Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing: Helping New Teams Perform
Team Dynamics Is an Interesting
Words: 1883 Length: 6 Pages Document Type: Thesis Paper #: 15243530
Other elements that could lead to conflict include asynchronicity, the perceptions of what is appropriate for public and for private online spaces, and the limitations of reading and writing. These elements can lead to misunderstanding and to often needless conflict.
To avoid potential conflict arising from such misunderstandings, the authors suggest making "I" statements, which would allow the persons involved to understand the feelings behind the statements. Assumptions, as mentioned above, should be checked by questioning, and elements of active listening are also important. Finally, it is important to acknowledge perspectives other than one's own. It is also important to indicate an understanding that the perspective is one's own and not necessarily that of the others.
The authors also note that conflict will not always be avoided, but can be used as opportunities for learning and growth. When conflicts occur, the persons involved can learn about themselves and the reasons…… [Read More]
Mind Tools Ltd. (2008). Conflict Resolution. http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_81.htm
Moussou, Mihaela & White, Nancy (2004, May). Avoiding Online Misunderstandings. Full Circle Associates. http://www.fullcirc.com/community/avoidingconflict.htm
Sookman, Claire. (2007). Team Building: 3 Ways to effective team communication. The Sideroad. http://www.sideroad.com/Team_Building/effective_communication.html
Team Communication Using Conflict Wisely
If this is present within a group of people, then their performance will be enhanced by their mutual support (both practical and moral)" (Blair 2008). Groups, and members of a group, must have strong interpersonal and managerial skills, to become self-managing units. A group must exercise collective leadership, not merely be lead by a single individual (Blair 2008).
Even if one person may be designated as a leader, the group must agree upon a particular way to organize meetings, plan, set goals, and monitor and review performance. Having a mission statement can help give clarification and focus to all of these duties. If the mission statement becomes a point of contention, it at least encourages the articulation of issues in a clear and directive fashion and may even establish that disagreement is 'okay' within the group, early on. Having a formal feedback procedure ensures not only that the group is…… [Read More]
Blair, Gerard M. (2008). "Groups that work." The Art of Management. Retrieved March 14, 2008 at http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/Management/art0.html?http://oldeee.see.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/Management/art0.html
Famous models: Stages of group development." (2001). Chimaera Consulting.
Retrieved March 14, 2008, at http://www.chimaeraconsulting.com/tuckman.htm
Geert Hofstede analysis." (1999). International Business Center.
Teams Provide Inducement to Work in a
Teams provide inducement to work in a set up. Functioning as a group ensures effective and proficient performance of the jobs. This facilitates harmonization with different team members and also results in dissemination of the ideas and knowledge among them. (Teams and Teamwork) The convention of functioning in groups is more and more common in different types of organization. The members from different department are taken together to form teams with a view to encouraging cooperation among them in solving the problems and harmonizing new programs and new processes and also to be employed in the secular planning efforts. With a view to unite all the key personnel so as to increasing the productivity, increasing the associative-ness and enhancement of quality and proficiency the forming of interdisciplinary and diverse functional teams are constituted. Simply placing the people in teams however, do not ensure the effectiveness of the team. It is…… [Read More]
"Building High Performance Teams" Retrieved from http://www.lynco.com/team.html Accessed on 14 November, 2004
Chatman, Jennifer A; Polzer, Jeffrey T; Barsade, Sigal G; Neale, Margaret A. (December, 1998) "Being Different yet Feeling Similar: The Influence of Demographic Composition and Organizational Culture on Work Processes and Outcomes" Administrative Science Quarterly. Volume: 12; No: 1; pp: 37-43
Dakhli, Mourad; Khorram, Sigrid; Vora, Davina. "Cultural Diversity, Information Pooling, and Group Effectiveness: A Network Approach" Retrieved from www.faculty.fuqua.duke.edu/ciber/programs/pdf/dvora.pdf Accessed on 14 November, 2004
Katzenbach, Jon R; Smith, Douglas K. (March-April, 1993) "The Discipline of Teams" Harvard Business Review. Volume: 71; No: 2; pp: 111-120
Teams Discussion Several Months Ago I Was
Teams: Discussion
Several months ago, I was amongst those elected into a team set up to look into ways of enhancing interdepartmental cooperation. The team comprised of 7 individuals -- each representing a department. The key mandate of the team was to come up with strategies of enhancing cooperation between departments so as to enhance overall organizational efficiency. With regard to the various types of teams Landy and Conte (2013) identify, this particular team could be described as a project team. A project team in the words of Landy and Conte (2013, p. 521) is that kind of a "team that is created to solve a particular problem or set of problems and is disbanded after the project is completed or the problem is solved."
In this particular team, I was the Human esource Department representative. Amongst other things, I was charged with soliciting views from member of my department…… [Read More]
Jordan, P.J., Lawrence, S.A., & Troth, A.C. (2006). The Impact of Negative Mood on Team Performance. Journal of Management & Organization, 12(2), 131-145.
Landy, F.J., & Conte, J.M. (2013). Work in the 21st Century: An Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology (4th ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.
Teams Allow a Group of People Within
Words: 413 Length: 1 Pages Document Type: Term Paper Paper #: 8605924
Teams allow a group of people within the organization to work closely with one another to arrive at a solution for a problem or an idea for a new project. Teams, when comprised of likeminded people, focus on achieving a work-goal better than a single individual pursuing the same goal. Management's role in developing and nurturing a team is important, selection of team members who can co-ordinate and work without friction is important. (Schilling and Hill, 1998)
Self-managed teams learn to prioritize the time spent on any task and divide the task into easy manageable bits that all team members can tackle. rainstorming and collection of ideas and proposals for any project helps the team identify the tasks required to be undertaken to complete the project. Periodic evaluation of these ideas and the progress of the project are also carried out by good teams (Harvey and rown, 1976).
Communication is…… [Read More]
Harvey, Donald F. And Brown, Donald R., 1976. An Experimental Approach to Organization Development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentiss-Hall Inc.
Schilling, Melissa A. And Hill, Charles W.L. 1998. Managing the new product development process: Strategic imperatives. From Academy of Management Executive, August 1998, pp. 67-81
Team Conflict Development and Team Dynamics
Organizational tasks are becoming increasingly complex and more involved; teams have become valuable for easier and more effective accomplishment of tasks (Chekwa & Thomas, 2013). Teamwork has turned out to be a crucial driver of organizational productivity in the contemporary workplace (Breugst et al., 2012; Martinez-Moreno et al., 2015; Lee et al., 2015); this to a large extent explains why employers are ever more looking for individuals with outstanding teamwork abilities. Nonetheless, owing to differences in needs, objectives, opinions, interests, priorities, values, and beliefs between different members of a team, conflicts are bound to emerge often (Brown et al., 2011). Lack of proper handling of the conflicts, individual and team productivity can be significantly hampered (Fusch & Fusch, 2015). This paper provides of review of literature relating to conflict management in teams. The review particularly pays attention to team development and dynamics, team conflict…… [Read More]
Breugst, N., Patzelt, H., Shepherd, D., & Aguinis, H. (2012). Relationship conflict improves team performance assessment accuracy: evidence from a multilevel study. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 11(2), 187-206.
Brown, J., Lewis, L., Ellis, K., Stewart, M., Freeman, T., & Kasperski, J. (2011). Conflict on interprofessional primary health care teams -- can it be resolved? Journal of Interprofessional Care, 25, 4-10.
Canelon, J., Ryan, T., Iriberri, A., & Eryilmaz, E. (2015). Conflicts on team satisfaction and face loss and the moderating role of face work behaviors in online discussions. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 19(3), 45-61.
Chang, W., & Lee, C. (2013) Virtual team e-leadership: the effects of leadership style and conflict management mode on the online learning performance of students in a business-planning course. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44(6), 986-999.
Team Management Creating and Managing
I would also allow team members to take on leadership roles at appropriate times. For example, if a certain task of the team is linked to a team member's primary skill, I would allow them to lead the team during that task. This will help build team chemistry by allowing all members to see the value of the other members. It will also help build leadership within the team and will help the team members leading to see that they have value to the team. This strategy will also help with motivation, since employees are likely to be motivated by the opportunity to utilize their key skills and be recognized for them.
For techniques of persuasion, I would focus on the objectives of the team and the team members' roles in achieving the objectives. The objective would be not on forcing team members to take certain actions, but instead helping…… [Read More]
Daft, R.L. Management. Fort Worth, TX: The Dryden Press, 1997.
Goleman, D. The New Leaders: Transforming the Art of Leadership Into the Science of Results. London: Time Warner Books, 2002.
Schermerhorn, J.R. Management for Productivity. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1989.
Understanding the nature of teams and team management, what can you learn from sports teams?
Being insightful of the nature of teams and team management, it is possible to learn from team sports. Some of the key lessons to learn from team sports encompass aspects such as competitiveness and team spirit. At all times, teams in sports strive to remain competitive. This is not only internally amongst the players trying to play in different positions, but also externally against other rival teams. This indicates that employees within the organization should always endeavor to be at their best, learn, grow and develop. This not only enables them to develop into higher ranked positions, but is also beneficial for the organization at large. The team spirit element is another lesson that we can learn from teams. For a team to win, it necessitates a team effort, right from the first…… [Read More]
Brown, M., & Heywood, J. S. (2005). Performance appraisal systems: determinants and change. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 43(4), 659-6.
Davenport, T. H. (2014). What Businesses Can Learn from Sports Analytics. MIT Sloan Review. Retrieved from: http://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/what-businesses-can-learn-from-sports-analytics/
Furnham, A. (2005). Performance appraisal systems. In the People Business (pp. 127-129). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Keidel, R. W. (1984). Baseball, football, and basketball: Models for business. Organizational Dynamics, 12(3), 5-18.
Teams Tm 423 This Module's Case Develop
TM 423 This Module's Case develop a successful project team. The core case a description actual team development situation: Poole, C. (2003). Three-week project turnaround. etrieved http://c2./cgi/wiki-ThreeWeekProjectTurnaround http://www.
Project teams:
Why so many project teams fail, how to help them succeed 'Teamwork' is one of the most common buzzwords in corporate lingo today yet creating a fully functional team can be extremely hard work. The process of team development presents challenges at every step of the process and requires a differentiated approach amongst the leadership. Bruce Tuckman has called his model of team development: 'forming, storming, norming, and performing.' "Tuckman's model explains that as the team develops maturity and ability, relationships establish, and the leader changes leadership style. Beginning with a directing style, moving through coaching, then participating, finishing delegating and almost detached" (Chapman 2009). Over the course of team development, leaders must adjust their style to the needs…… [Read More]
Chapman, Alan. (2009). Bruce Tuckman forming-storming-norming-performing. Business Balls.
Retrieved from http://www.businessballs.com/tuckmanformingstormingnormingperforming.htm
Flynn, A., & Mangione, T. (2011). Five steps to a winning project team. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/five-steps-to-a-winning-project-team.html
Six characteristic stages of team development: The project life cycle. (2011). The Project
Team Is a Small Collaborated Group of
team is a small collaborated group of people working actively together and combining their complementary skills to achieve common goals. The researcher of this study has participated in a team project, and the study discusses description of the team, and number of people in the team.
Description of the Team
The researcher of the study has participated in several team projects, and one of important team projects that the researcher has participated is a team formulated to prepare a proposal to find a solution to the cleaning of British Petroleum (BP) oil spill of 2010 in the United States. In 2010, there was an oil spill in the United States and the spill caused damages to some states in the United States. esearcher's organization is a Management Consultancy, and the organization formed a team to prepare a proposal on the cost-effective effective method for the cleaning of BP oil spill.…… [Read More]
Sans Institute (2009).Beer - The Key Ingredient to Team Development. White Paper, SANS Institute Reading Room.
Quick T.L. (1992), Successful Team Building. New York, NY: AMACOM Div
American Management Association.
University of Wisconsin-Madison (2007). Facilitator Tool Kit: A Guide for Helping Groups Get Results. University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.
Teams Development Teams Are Usually the Main
Development teams are usually the main building blocks of the strategy of any successful organization. The focus of the organization may be on service, cost, speed, performance, efficiency and value among other goals (Moller & Tollestrup, 2012). Nevertheless, development teams always remain the central methodology in the organizations, in either private, non-profit and government organization.
When development teams become more aligned, there is the emergence of commonality of direction (Moller & Tollestrup, 2012). This leads to the harmonization of individual energies. Through this, there is a shared vision of team members as well as proper understanding on how to complement the effort of each other. Once an individual knows the type of the development team he or she is in, it helps in choosing how to plan work as well as what is expected.
The decision making process of development teams assists organization in solving day-to-day problems. The advantage…… [Read More]
Schilling, M.A. (2006). Strategic management of technological innovation. Boston, Mass. [u.a.: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Development team. (2009, Aug 29). The Southland Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/330806433?accountid=35812
Moller, L., & Tollestrup, C. (2012). Creating shared understanding in product development teams: How to 'Build the beginning'. London: Springer.
Team Trainer
Gorden, William & Erica Nagel, Scott Myers and Carole Barbato. (1996) The Team Trainer, Winning Tools and Tactics for Successful Workouts. New York: McGraw Hill
The central idea of William Gorden, Gorden, Erica Nagel, Scott Myers and Carole Barbato's 1996 human resources and management workbook and text entitled The Team Trainer, Winning Tools and Tactics for Successful Workouts is that workplace unity is not something that simply 'happens' without systematic effort and controlled 'fun' on the part of leaders and team members. Firstly, effective teams to complete projects are integral to the functioning of today's modern workforce, and no man or woman is an island, however skilled and qualified at his or her profession. However, it is essential even amongst the most qualified employees that human managers engage in the use of specifically guided team-building and team-based tactics to ensure that workplace teams are functional and productive. In…… [Read More]
Resources Management by Jack J. Phillips, this text on the Team Trainer is utterly unpretentious, unself-conscious and fun. Its tone is set during its first chapter that begins like a cheerleading cry, calling for the reader to give the authors "a team!" with an enthusiastic punctuation of exclamation marks on the page. One can almost hear the roar of the supervising crowd from the stands.
However, such enthusiasm and confidence could merge well with some of the issues delineated in the text The Management of a Multicultural Workforce by Monir H. Tayeb, as clearly defined exercises and progress charts are helpful and clear ways of bridging cultural differences -- progress becomes measurable rather than vague, and teamwork is less apt to devolve into a series of personal conflicts based upon culturally different norms. However, in light of an increasingly diverse and multicultural workforce, it might be worthy of note that not all individuals from a variety of less directive cultural contexts would find the heavily psychologically (one could even say 'self-help') format of the tasks and exercises as comfortable as those from an American context, where informality and free discussion are more openly accepted.
However, the final words of the activities-oriented section of the text, that one must not be comforted with a smile on the part of employees shows that the text is cognizant of the fact that not every member of a team will be equally fulfilled, and no solution will be equally happy to all. It also shows how the current stress upon team building is itself part of a current workplace cultural context, as it provides the history of workplace theory in its final chapters. The book is always practical and realistic, and thus never assumes it can accomplish all, however enthusiastic and far-reaching the author's own goals and objectives for workplace teamwork may stretch into the 21st century of the global workplace of human resources.
Team Communication Specifically it Will
When there is enough time, and perhaps some reason to communicate, team communication neither retards nor enhances team performance" (Schraagen & asker, 2003, p. 761). Thus, freedom to communicate is essential, and for the team's survival, all team members must feel the freedom to communicate and to listen, as well.
In addition, there may be some team members who simply refuse to "get on board" with the team. They may not communicate, they may not understand the goals, and they may not feel comfortable or included in the team. For success, it is essential to include these members in the team, even if they seem to resist. First, a team leader should make sure the team member is on board and understands the goals. The team leader should also try to find out if there are other reasons for non-participation before the team meets. If there are problems or arguments,…… [Read More]
Douglas, C., Martin, J.S., & Krapels, R.H. (2006). Communication in the transition to self-directed work teams. The Journal of Business Communication, 43(4), 295+.
Fleming, J.L., & Monda-Amaya, L.E. (2001). Process variables critical for team effectiveness. Remedial and Special Education, 22(3), 158.
Schraagen, J.M., Chipman, S.F., & Shalin, V.L. (Eds.). (2000). Cognitive task analysis. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Schraagen, J.M., & Rasker, P. (2003). 31 Team Design. In Handbook of cognitive task design, Hollnagel, E. (Ed.) (pp. 753-784). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Team-Based Workforce I Understand the Objections You
Team-Based Workforce
I understand the objections you have raised, regarding the creation of a team-based workplace. However, as well as the potential problems you are concerned about, consider the old adage that 'the true definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again, while expecting different results.' Sales are flat and a new sense of energy is needed to invigorate the company.
Using workplace teams will create a sense of community and solidarity amongst employees. One of the problems with salespersons in particular is that they view their work as an individualized effort, rather than a team effort. Working as a team rewards them for how well they perform in the service of others, not just how they shine alone. Teams will be rewarded 'as a team' rather than for the performance of individual members. This will create cohesiveness in a volatile workplace environment, where people often shift…… [Read More]
Building blocks for teams. (2011). Penn State. Retrieved:
http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/teams/about/benefits.html
Forming, storming, norming, and performing. (2012). Mind Tools. Retrieved:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm
Team Challenges Addressing Challenges Groups Teams Your
Words: 808 Length: 2 Pages Document Type: Essay Paper #: 9963738
Addressing Challenges Groups Teams Your Learning Team management staff a contracted customer-service call center Desert Communications Inc., a major wireless telecommunications organization.
This paper aims to address the challenges of groups and teams. Desert communication is making operational changes that will involve car roadside show. The changes will affect the employees. Therefore, the company has to devise a method to communicate these changes. According to Page, there is always resistance to organizational changes. This paper will propose on strategies that will make this transition successful. The paper will focus on training of multiple audiences that will participate in the car roadside services.
Addressing the Challenges of Groups and Teams
The company wants the employees to work in groups. Each manager has ten employees to supervise. The effective implementation of the roadside service provision depends on this team working together. According to Page, formation of groups at work brings…… [Read More]
Page, S. (2010). The power of business process improvement: 10 simple steps to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and adaptability. New York: American Management
Sabri, E.H., Gupta, A.P., & Beitler, M.A. (2007).Purchase order management best practices:
Process, technology, and change management. Ft. Lauderdale, FL: J. Ross Pub.
Team Experience In My First
Some of the major ad campaign media included television, radio, print, and the internet. However the internet had raked in the most ad campaign revenues as compared to the others. This was not surprising considering online advertising was available to a worldwide audience in the new global village world order. This fact weighed in heavily at our first brainstorming session to identify the product to build an advertising campaign around.
When we met at the end of the first week, our product ideas ranged from ad pitching for an imaginary dog poo vaporizer spray to a book that would help students improve their memory of studied materials. I suggested that we focus on a product that we could easily sell on the internet, to which another team member highlighted that the cheapest products to produce and market were information products. Such consisted of information packaged in electronic form, ebooks or…… [Read More]
Team Dynamics the Objective of
Words: 596 Length: 2 Pages Document Type: Term Paper Paper #: 15561402
It is critically important that the team be able to speak to each other and the leader openly. If there is no communication hurt feelings will result and oftentimes unknowingly. When team members are feuding between one another it places a great deal of stress upon the whole team. When the focus is upon individual personality differences precious time is wasted which could be spent towards the achievement of goals for the team. It is important to safeguard the team from this by setting up a system of routine meetings where people have a chance to discuss potential problems. (Jefferies, nd)
III. FOUR PHASES of TEAM-UILDING
The work of Moreira states that there are four phases of team building and states those four phases are as follows: (1) Forming: This is period in which team members are becoming oriented and expect to receive implicit instruction; (2) Storming: During this period…… [Read More]
Jack Jeffereries (2nd) Team Dynamics
McNeill, Bellamy & Burrows (2000) Introduction to Engineering Design, 2000-Page G-9
Moreira, Paqula (2003) Building an Effective it Team Step-by-Step Certification Magazine July 2003.
Brownstein, Marty (nd) Resolving Conflicts on the Team: Managing Teams for Dummies.
Teams to Undertake Many Operations
Words: 6596 Length: 20 Pages Document Type: Term Paper Paper #: 67372016
It is important to ensure that the team for any specific task comprises members who are knowledgeable and posses the required skills needed to carry out the task. Teams should also try to work across organizational boundaries/levels and break down internal barriers and deal with people and issues directly and avoid hidden agendas from both within the group and from external sources.
Prior to selecting team members, the purpose and the reasons for creating the HPWT should be clear to the entire management members deciding on the team creation. Teams without a definite goal and aim, will drift and fail, since no goal and objective is set or a final objective identified. Getting together individuals possessing special skills, talents or expertise in order to build a team is critical. Important skills for a team include: "technical expertise," "problem solving," "decision making," and "interpersonal skills." (Thompson, Aranda, Robbins, & Swenson, 2000)…… [Read More]
Adams, Christopher P. (2002). High Performance Work Systems" in U.S. Manufacturing. Federal Trade Commission,
Berry, L. (1981). The employee as customer. Journal of Retail Banking, 3, 1, pg. 25
Child, John. (2001). Trust -- the fundamental bond in Global Collaboration. Organizational Dynamics, 29, 4, 274-288
Connelly, Julie. (2002). All Together Now. Gallup Management Journal,
Team and Group Dynamics
Words: 1452 Length: 4 Pages Document Type: Term Paper Paper #: 1587363
Strengthening Others for Team Excellence
For a team to be successful in their activities, they need a strong leader who will bring the team together by ensuring the team members trust each other and look forward to achieving the goal of the team. According to Northouse (2012), the team leader is important and should exhibit traits such as intelligence, confidence, integrity, and determination. Kouzes and Posner (2012) also suggest similar qualities stating that the leader should be honest, inspiring, competent, and forward-looking. These scholars present different views of groups and teams dynamic, which form the subject matter of this paper.
Group dynamics and cohesiveness
According to Northouse (2012), a group's cohesiveness is promoted by the leader's qualities. The leader should be intelligent, as seen in their communication and problem-solving skills, excellent as seen in their synergy with the team and determined. Kouzes and Posner (2012) define competence as the most…… [Read More]
Cleaver, J. (2001). A new team, better work, Chicago Tribune: Working, p. 1.
Cropanzana, R., Bowen, D.E., & Gilliland, S.W. (2007). The Management of Organizational Justice. Academy of Management Perspectives, 21(4), 34-48. doi: 10.2307/27747410
Kouzes, J.M., & Posner, B.Z. (2012). The leadership challenge (5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Mathias Dewatripont, & Jean Tirole. (2005). Modes of Communication. Journal of Political Economy, 113(6), 1217-1238. doi: 10.1086/497999
Team to Be Autonomous in
By using these forms of open communication, members of the group would have felt less frightened or intimidated to speak up with their ideas.
Question Six
Conner's leadership style was very authoritarian. He thought he knew best, was confident about that fact, and wanted to make sure everything got done the right way -- his way. His style consisted of his making assumptions and asking for input without wanting honest feedback. Also, as a self-appointed leader, he did not ask the group whether or not they wanted to choose a different leader or operate in a more democratic fashion. This leadership style was not effective because the group was tasked with coming up with a creative product. An authoritarian leadership style does not breed creativity. In fact, just the opposite, it inspires others to do just what they did, fall in line. As previously mentioned, however, Conner's leadership style did…… [Read More]
team development leadership emotional intelligence
Ferbrache, C. P. (2009). Virtual team leader emergence: A model to objectively measure leader emergence (Doctoral dissertation, California State University, Fresno).
This dissertation focuses on leader emergence in virtual teams. The author discusses the formal and informal processes of virtual team leadership development, aiming for the emergence of an objective model or means of creating reliable, effective virtual teams. Ultimately, this research addresses a gap in the literature related to leadership within the virtual team setting. Due to the unique characteristics and processes defining virtual teams, the same leadership theories and models that work for face-to-face teams may not be applicable to the virtual team. Although preliminary, this research is also instrumental in that the author provides a quantitative method to predict leader emergence, thereby improving the capacity of virtual teams to flourish. One of the main findings is that in virtual teams, leaders emerge through organic processes, linked possibly…… [Read More]
Team Building through Servant Leadership Philosophy Essay
Words: 756 Length: 2 Pages Document Type: Paper #: Array
Essay Prompt:
Read two journal articles relating to Team Building through Servant Leadership philosophy.
Submit a written analysis (one to two pages) for each article, and attach a copy of the article.
Neill, M., Hayward, K., & Peterson, T. (2007). Students' Perceptions of the Interprofessional Team in Practice Through The Application of Servant Leadership Principles. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 21(4), 425-432
Neill, Hayward, and Peterson (2007) investigated the perceptions students have concerning interprofessional teams in practice using the principles of servant leadership. The sample that was studied was students from different professions within the health sector, subjected to a similar framework. The students provided care using mobile wellness services. These teams had a central source of communication coordinated by a faculty member of the health profession. An Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale was used to measure the perceptions of interdisciplinary practice. Further, a pretest-posttest research design was employed in checking whether…… [Read More]
Team Excellence
EMPOWERING, NURTURING
Overview of Concepts
The first concept is transformational leadership, which is rooted on the ability to inspire and motivate (Northouse, 2013; Abu-Tineh et al., 2009). First introduced by Max Weber in 1948 and broadened by Sir McGregor urns in the 70s, it connects charisma and leadership. It is woven around the four key concepts or styles, or the four I's, namely, idealized influence, inspirational motivation, individual consideration, and intellectual stimulation. Idealized influence shapes a follower into a leader by making him live a leader's action each day. This is applied to all types of groups. Inspirational motivation commits a follower or member to the group's shared vision. This inspires followers to work harder and better in achieving or fulfilling that shared vision. A certain level or amount of charisma is required of the leader in order to create this influence. Individualized…… [Read More]
Abu-Tineh, A. et al. (2009). Transformaional leadership model in practice: the case of Jordanian schools. Vol. 7 Issue 3, Journal of Leadership in Education: Leadership
Educators. Retrieved on February 25, 2014 from http://www.leadershipeducators.org/Resources/Documents/jole/2009_winter/JOLE_7_3_Abu_Tineh_Khashawneh_Omary.pdf
Leimbach. M. & Eidson, C. (2010). Top ten tips for remote work teams. Wilson Learning
Corporation: Wilson Learning Worldwide. Retrieved on February 25, 2014 from Retrieved on February 25, 2014 from http://asp.wilsonlearning, com/materials/article_Virtualteams0110.pdf
Analyzing Teams
Comment by Sabina:
Working in teams can be very complicated and rewarding. It is important to understand the dynamics of working in teams. One of the fundamental knowledge is that each team member is different, have different abilities, motivations and personality. "Group work requires critical thinking, analytical skills, and excellent communication skills. Individuals with different personalities and different work ethic can be a potential problem" ("Potential challenges with," 2010). When creating an innovative team many different considerations should be analyzed. In this paper I will discuss some of the important aspects of building an effective team, innovate and creative team.
The leader of the team is extremely important (Sarkisian & Bok, 1997). Some of the most important qualities of a great team leader is integrity, high ethical standards, honesty, clear vision, enthusiastic, committed, solution oriented, empowers others, fosters self-motivation, strives for excellence, good communication, a good negotiator,…… [Read More]
Naseem, M. (2011). Top 10 Qualities of a Great Team Leader. Retrieved from http://www.get-articles.com/pdfs/4345.pdf
Potential challenges with cooperative learning . (2010). Retrieved from http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/cooperative/challen.html
Sarkisian, E. & Bok, D. (1997). Working in Groups. Teaching and Learning, Harvard University. Retrieved from http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/html/icb.topic58474/wigintro.html#GettingStarted
Managing Teams for Effective Performance
Team Management Approaches Towards Higher Organizational Performance
Ineffective team effort is often occasioned by lack of proper knowledge of the vision of the team and the respective roles that each individual needs to play in order to steer the team towards achieving the collective goal (Bragg T., 1999). These factors result in each individual focusing their efforts in different directions hence achieving little or noting at all without the purposeful vision. In order to curtail the continued ineffective team effort, there is need to have each team leader to make the team members understand the vision and also the mission they have been assigned and eventual roles that each individual needs to play and the people they have to collaborate with in achieving the intended end result.
The main cause of lack of trust within any team is often the closed and dishonest communication among the colleagues and also from…… [Read More]
Brookins M., (2015). Reasons for Poor Communication in the Workplace. Retrieved May 21, 2015 from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/reasons-poor-communication-workplace-10137.html
Bradberry T., (2014). Emotional Intelligence-EQ. Retrieved May 21, 2015 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2014/01/09/emotional-intelligence/
Bragg T., (1999). Turn around an ineffective team. Retrieved May 21, 2015 from http://faculty.washington.edu/janegf/turnaroundineffectiveteam.html
Jones D.C. & Pliskin J., (1988). The Effects of Worker Participation, Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing on Economics Performance: A Partial Review. Retrieved May 21, 2015 from http://cog.kent.edu/lib/JonesPiskinEmployeeOwnershipEconomicPerformance.pdf
Analyzing the Team Building Phenomenon
Words: 804 Length: 2 Pages Document Type: Research Paper Paper #: 20057655
The following will be answers to questions given in instructions.
educing the frequency of official meetings will help the team stay focused on their goal. Don't just schedule meetings because it is what every team does. Just remember: the team's main aim is to keep it collectively engaged in the project at hand. Make sure the team has a very clear focus that interests every member. One way to increase team participation is to give every team member a responsible part to play in the meeting presentation. (Keep Them Interested: How to Increase Participation in Team Meetings, 2014). Making them understand the role each of them has to play in the success of the meeting And establishes the fact that each of the team members has a vested interest in the job. Furthermore, this encourages positive interaction among the members of the team. Even the workers who are…… [Read More]
References"
Burns, ., Bradley, ., & Weiner, . Shortell and Kaluzny's Health Care Management Organizational Design & Behavior (6 ed.).
(2014). Free Conference Calls made simple - Speek. Keep Them Interested: How to Increase Participation in Team Meetings -. Retrieved April 6, 2016, from http://www.speek.com/resources/meeting-tips/keep-interested-increase-participation-team-meetings/
Writer Thoughts
Analyzing Teams and Groups Considerations
Words: 942 Length: 3 Pages Document Type: Conclusion Paper #: 11245441
Teams/Groups Considerations
According to Green et al. (2015), globalization has resulted to increased dealings amidst individuals coming from different backgrounds. Individuals no longer exist and work in a blinkered surrounding; they are now considered as part of a global economy in competition within an international framework. For this cause, both profit and non-profit organizations ought to become more diversified so as to stay competitive. Capitalization and maximization of workplace diversity is an essential management concern.
In general, diversity can be described as the identification, comprehension, and acceptance of other individuals' personal disparities regardless of their race, sex, ethnicity, age, class, religion, and physical ability, among others. Everybody is unique in their own way, but also share certain biological and environmental traits (Dike, 2013).
Challenges of a Diverse Workforce
Green et al. (2015) mention that there are various challenges associated with a diverse workforce. The leaders and directors of an organization…… [Read More]
Dike, P. (2013). The impact of workplace diversity on organisations. Retrieved March 15, 2016, from https://www.theseus.fi
Green et al. (2015, October). Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and the Required Managerial Tools. Retrieved March 15, 2016, from Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu
Heller et al. (2010, May 6). Global Teams: Trends, Challenges and Solutions. Retrieved March 15, 2016, from www.winwinhosting.net
Ministry of ManPower, Singapore. (2015, May 26). Managing Workplace Diversity; A Toolkit For Organisations. Retrieved March 15, 2016, from Ministry of ManPower (Singapore): www.mom.gov
Team Case a Leader Among
Team members would then select which plan they felt would be most advantageous to their venture and vote accordingly, with the winning plan thus determining the group leader as the pre-selected plan leader. This would not entirely solve the factionalism problem, but the lack of vision and clear objectives currently affecting the group is the primary problem with the lack of leadership and is something that needs to be addressed; these are the problems that are preventing the group from moving forward in an effective and efficient way, and are the fundamental reasons behind the need for more defined and concrete leadership (Myatt, 2012). Once this leadership is established with a broader consensus about the direction the venture should be heading, those members of the team who disagree with the outcome will be more encouraged to renew their commitment to the team and maintain the right attitude in their efforts…… [Read More]
Boyle, J. (2011). Damaging Consequences From a Lack of Leadership. Accessed 12 December 2012. http://bigthink.com/experts-corner/damaging-consequences-from-a-lack-of-leadership
Myatt, M. (2012). Businesses don't fail -- leaders do. Accessed 12 December 2012. http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/01/12/businesses-dont-fail-leaders-do/
Peshawaria, R. (2011). There is no such thing as bad leadership. Accessed 12 December 2012. http://www.forbes.com/sites/rajeevpeshawaria/2011/08/19/there-is-no-such-thing-as-bad-leadership/
Team and Tension the Major Components of
Team and Tension
The major components of House's Path-Goal Theory are directive leaderships, supportive leadership, participative leadership, and achievement-oriented leadership. Each leadership style has its own unique attributes which correlate directly to an individual's personality traits. For instance, directive leaders tend to have a more authoritarian approach to leadership. They tend to establish working hierarchies of relationships and reporting structures. Directive leaders also tend to operate as a single leader with sole responsibility over a limited amount of resources. As such directive leaders are particularly effective in routine and repetitive environments that adhere to strict requirements. Manufacturing and retail management positions tend to be very effective positions for directive leaders. Directive leaders give subordinates instructions about their task, how it is to be performed, and the time frame in which it needs to be completed. There is often very little freedom in regards to how the task should be accomplished.…… [Read More]
Team Organization Models for Team Behavior Within
Models for team behavior within the organization
Teams have become an increasingly ubiquitous part of complex, modern organizations. One survey of 962 H leaders found that fifty-four percent of respondents spent up to 30% of their day in team settings (Blanchard 2012). No longer are individual employees solely appraised in terms of their individual usefulness: their ability to function as part of a team is essential. "Organizations are more networked, more flexible, and more dynamic than ever before. Outsourcing, globalization, and competitive pressures are forcing organizations to rely more on work teams comprised of not only of employees, as well as outside experts or counterparts from allied organizations" (Blanchard 2012). Teams may composed of a combination of external or internal employees and they are invariably diverse and multifaceted.
Although every team is different, certain genetic rubrics have been developed to assess how teams function, the most famous of…… [Read More]
Blanchard, K. (2013). Critical role of teams. Retrieved:
http://www.kenblanchard.com/img/pub/pdf_critical_role_teams.pdf
Chapman, Alan. (2009). Bruce Tuckman: Storming, norming, and performing. Retrieved:
http://www.businessballs.com/tuckmanformingstormingnormingperforming.htm
Team Analysis This Team Has a Number
This team has a number of problems including a strong lack of communication, and perhaps the communication skills necessary to overcome that absence. Additionally, the leadership of the group is relatively weak in character, at least as a leader for this particular team. The team may have the collective, and individual, knowledge and expertise to accomplish the task that has been set before them, however, using that knowledge and experience seems to be completely hindered by the team's lack of cohesion. Although there seems to be a consensus among the team as to which design would work best for the project, no one seems to want to take the lead in asserting what is obvious to the team members. That is where good leadership skills can come in handy.
Team Strengths
The team as a group has a world of experience; academic and professional in nature. Gary, the…… [Read More]
Teams Analysis of Self-Managed Work Teams the
Analysis of Self-Managed Work Teams
The autonomy of work teams has increasingly become a necessity in many enterprises who rely on a depth of expertise, experience and wealth of knowledge that their knowledge-rich employees provide (Roper, Phillips, 2007). Given how complex, diverse and deep specific areas of expertise are in the core functional areas of any business, it isn't possible for a single manager or leader to have an expert-level command of all expertise. This makes the formation and successful functioning of a team even more critical, as a leader must create a culture of trust, openness and shared communication and collaboration. This is accentuated and made clear in the empirical studies of exceptional leadership of virtual teams across diverse cultural and geographic locations (Muthusamy, Wheeler, Simmons, 2005). The intent of this analysis is to critically evaluate the role of compensation programs for teams, the pros and cons of…… [Read More]
Adrian, N., & Snow, D. (2007). Quality tools, teamwork lead to a Boeing system redesign. Quality Progress, 40(11), 43-48
Leavy, B. (2012). Higher Ambition Leadership. Strategy & Leadership, 40(3), 5-11.
Muthusamy, S.K., Wheeler, J.V., & Simmons, B.L. (2005). Self-managing work teams: Enhancing organizational innovativeness. Organization Development Journal, 23(3), 53-66.
Power, J., & Waddell, D. (2004). The link between self-managed work teams and learning organisations using performance indicators. The Learning Organization, 11(2), 244-259.
Team Plan Strategy for Program Implementation Success
Team Plan Strategy for Program Implementation
Success University (SU) a medium sized undergraduate institution located Southern California. SU offers Associates Bachelors programs Business, Psychology Education San Moreno campus online. SU decided launch programs Fall.
Strategies for as unified team
The members of the task force team will be selected internally to maintain the university culture and ensure that the team does not need training on the values, mission and vision of the university.
Including an already existing employee base will also boost their morale and ensure commitment to projects needs. The need for recruiting internally is because the ability of the faculty members is known and one can easily target them for an ideal position. The proposed members of staff to form the task force will also go through a vetting process from their colleagues. This will further go to advice the leader on the…… [Read More]
Balmer, J.M.T. (2001). Corporate Identity, Corporate Branding and corporate marketing European Journal of Marketing 34(4), 248-291.
Barney J.B., & Hesely W.S. (2008). strategic management and competitive advantage concepts and cases second eds. upper saddle river: pearson prentice-hall.
Lorenzen M. (2006). Strategic Planning for Academic Library Instructional Programming. Illinois West Publishing.
Michael A., & Jude K. (2005). Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations. Second Edition. . Australia: John Wiley and Sons.
Leader's Self-Insight 1 1 Your Learning Style Using
Words: 3023 Length: 12 Pages Document Type: Essay Paper #: 73993967
Leader's Self-Insight 1.1: Your Learning Style: Using Multiple Intelligences
I scored evenly on all of the types of intelligence measured by this self-assessment: logical-mathematical, verbal-linguistic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and musical. This indicates that I am a well-rounded person with the ability to work in multiple environments on different tasks.
Leader's Self-Insight 1.2: Your Leadership Potential
I scored slightly more (7) on the even-numbered indicators than on the odd ones (6), indicating I have leadership capabilities such as "vision and change." However, the scores were about even.
Leader's Self-Insight 1.3: Are You on a Fast Track to Nowhere?
On people skills, I scored 3 out of the 4 qualities. I believe I have solid interpersonal skills. On working with authority, I scored 2. I believe I need to work more on my assertiveness and courage when dealing with persons in positions of authority because I remain afraid to speak up and express…… [Read More]
Daft, R.L. The Leadership Experience.
Team Planning State the Key
However, team performance can also be measured by the sense of mutual respect between team members, and the presence of healthy rather than destructive forms of conflict.
Part II: Implementation and Evaluation
State the rationale for your selection of the competency. What is this the most important competency for your immediate self-development? Why?
To foster cooperation, there must be trust between team members. The team must trust that the leader is setting feasible goals, and the leader must trust the individual team members to achieve those goals. Trustworthiness and integrity, and being able to convey this sense of security to fellow team members on the part of the leader is critical, and it is not enough merely to be honest, one must convince others of one's honesty.
2. What were the results of your implementation? Were you successful? How do you know? What was the impact on others?
Although…… [Read More]
Team Processes
Organizational success depends on an understanding of decision-making, creativity, teamwork, and organizational structure. Chapters 7, 8, and 13 in the text address these concepts fully. These concepts also fill the pages of Websites and readings devoted to helping future managers understand their role, and how they can thrive in any organization. Decision-making is crucial for strong leadership. There are several paradigms and theories that can be applied to the decision-making process. These paradigms and theories help people understand how their cognitive and emotional processes impact their decisions. Understanding the paradigms and theories of decision-making also help people avoid making mistakes, while also learning from past mistakes in order to make better choices for the future.
The rational choice paradigm of decision-making is one of the foremost paradigms that can be applied to the enterprise level. The rational choice paradigm of decision-making is essentially rooted in the utilitarian philosophies…… [Read More]
"Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing," (n.d.). Retrieved online: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm
McShane, S.L., & Von Glinow, M.A. (2013). Organizational behavior (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Teams Are Organized of People Focused Towards
Teams are organized of people focused towards an achieving a particular goal. Each member is equipped with relevant skills and their approaches are liable to receive feedback by others. Team sizes in the range of 6-12 are generally the norm depending on the project in hand. Increasing team sizes imply overheads in terms of planning the structure and provision of support. Individuals constituting the team are usually not strong enough to serve the project alone. They future of the project depends on how well they can share expertise amongst other members. Teams avoid being dependent on the leader to lay out the entire plan. Members rely on the people responsible for different areas to proceed with the plan. Conflicts are discussed with the relevant members directly rather than waiting for a supervisor to act as the middleman. Performance issues are solved as a team (Mackin, 2007).
Groups can be defined…… [Read More]
Mackin, D.(2007) The Difference Between A Team and A Group. Retrieved from http://www.sideroad.com/Team_Building/difference-between-team-and-group.html
The importance of workplace diversity. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/facts_5200385_importance-workplace-diversity.html
Reid, N.(n.d.) Cultural Diversity and Team Dynamics. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Cultural-Diversity-and-Team-Dynamics&id=2783874
Levine, A.(2011) Team Dynamics: Understanding your role. Retrieved from http://www.osa-opn.org/BrightFuturesBlog/post/Team-Dynamics-Understanding-Your-Role.aspx
Leader as Coach to Remain
For Ann to succeed as a leader in her department and proceed in her ascend to more demanding roles within the hospital, there is an existing need for her to understand herself and how her peers view her. In so doing, she will be better placed to get their support by modifying her behavior.
Yet another leadership complexity for Ann has to do with her visibility given her senior position as the head of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department. Traditionally, being promoted to head a department within the hospital has been seen as some sort of grooming for a bigger management role. In that regard, Ann needs to clearly distinguish between goals that could derail her and those that could pave her way to success. Further, it can also be noted that if indeed she is promoted to a more senior and demanding role, Ann would be required to develop…… [Read More]
Leader Member Exchange Theory Leader-Member
Words: 1848 Length: 6 Pages Document Type: Research Proposal Paper #: 49534198
In contrast, a high-stress job, such as in a police department or hospital may create a sense of solidarity between friendly colleagues that is extremely strong to the point that it can influence job performance ratings. Bias can influence superior's perceptions of how much a friend deserves a promotion or a raise, and there is a strong sense of being part of an 'in-group' that is intrinsic to the profession in an 'us vs. them' mentality. A lack of financial resources may further raise the stakes in terms of the need to promote friends. However, such high-stakes jobs demand a high degree or professionalism, and promotion of in-group members may not always yield higher-quality performance, as measured in an objective fashion.
If the in-group is too tight, and too reliant upon standard operating procedures, solutions to using scarce resources can result in a lack of creativity and a failure to…… [Read More]
Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX). (2009). Changing Minds. Retrieved March 12, 2009 at: http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/leader_member_exchange.htm
Manzoni, Jean-Francois & Jean-Louis Barsoux. (2000). Appendix 1: What Leader-Member
Exchange Theory tells managers. From Set-Up-to-Fail Syndrome: How good managers cause great people to fail. Cambridge HBS Press. Excerpt retrieved March 12, 2009 http://www.set-up-to-fail.net/pdf/lmx.pdf
Team Work Kaisen-Teian Stages of
Words: 634 Length: 2 Pages Document Type: Research Proposal Paper #: 81030476
On our own team, we found, a lack of hierarchy was actually task-facilitating. Instead of a series and carrots and sticks method of keeping on task, overall team goal accomplishment was stressed, rather than personal performance.
In this model of organizational development, the process of performing was always in our minds, one of the most successful aspects of the team. Quality control was maintained through feedback loops between team members. For our team, the project of data-gathering was evaluated on a daily basis, with an eye upon the implementation or reporting phase.
Innovation is built into the process of constant team organization and reorganization, collaboration, and reformation, rather than resulting power-plays or a crisis. ith frequently reorganized and diverse teams, members of the organization must get to know one another well across horizontal and vertical leadership chains, and everyone gets a chance to play different roles and to have…… [Read More]
Chang, Yue Cathy; Johnson Wu, & Scott Roodvoets. Kaizen-Teian Improvement Systems
Module 10.1. Presentation for: ESD.60 -- Lean/Six Sigma Systems
MIT Leaders for Manufacturing Program (LFM). Summer 2004. May 6, 2009.
http://ocw.mit.edu/NR/rdonlyres/Engineering-Systems-Division/ESD-60Summer-2004/80F5F791-0F1C-43C4-8840-F6C703C65397/0/10_1kaizen_wu.pdf
Teaming and Emerging Business Trends Organizations and
Teaming and Emerging Business Trends
Organizations and business in the 21st century are not like those of even the last part of the 20th century. Several factors influence this evolution: globalism, increased expectations of transparency, stakeholder comments and involvement, and governmental regulation. Many of these expectations are generational and part of the ongoing evolutionary process of culture and attitudinal change. For instance, the success or failure of a contemporary business or organization is quite dependent upon the management of diversity. Public and private sector organizations, both are involved in numerous federally mandated programs that are designed to reduce cultural and communication barriers within the workplace. Multiculturalism is no longer a "nice-to," with the era of globalization upon us, and rapidly growing, diversity training and maximization of multicultural understanding, combined with management and leadership commitment to provide a diverse workplace, is now the norm. The same is true in accepting and…… [Read More]
Resources IQ: http://www.humanresourcesiq.com/article.cfm?externalID=165
Garrow, V. a. (2008). Talent Management: Issues of Focus and Fit. Public Personnel Management, 37(4), 389-402.
Henemen, R. (2001). Reward and Organizational Systems Alignment: An Expert System. Compensation and Benefits Review, 33(6), 18-29.
Pryor, M., et al. (2009). Teaming as a Strategic and Tactical Tool. International Journal of Management, 26(2), 320-33.
Reinhardt, W. et al. (2011). Knowledge Worker Roles and Actions. Knowledge and Process Management, 18(3), 150-74.
Team Conflict Resolution the Objective
3) Enforcement of Teams Rules - This is not a technique that is desirable but is to be used when team members refuse to be team players;
5) Retreat - This allows individuals a cooling off period and is effective when there is not a real problem but only the perception of one.
6) De-emphasis - This is a type of bargaining that emphasizes the areas of agreement. (Townsley, 2006)
Teams require some conflict in order to effectively operate and cooperative conflict has the potential to "contribute to effective problem solving and decision making by motivating people to examine a problem." (Townsley, 2006) the work of Stulberg (1987) states that there are common patterns to all conflict which he calls the Five-P's of Conflict Management as follows:
1) Perceptions;
2) Problems;
3) Processes;
4) Principles; and 5) Practices. (Stulberg, 1987)
Perceptions involve individual associated conflict with negative responses including anger,…… [Read More]
Kerr, Randy (2005) Work Team Conflict Resolution. Online available at http://www.uwstout.edu/rs/2005/article2.pdf
Stulberg, J.B. (1987). Taking charge / managing conflict. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
Townsley, Carole (2006) Resolving Conflict in Work Teams. The Team Building Directory. Online available at http://www.innovativeteambuilding.co.uk/pages/articles/conflicts.htm
Heathfield, Susan M. (2008) Personal Courage and Conflict Resolution at Work. Human Resources. Online available at http://humanresources.about.com/cs/conflictresolves/a/conflictcourage.htm
Team Dynamics Explain Group Development
My 'problems' with group participation are not with the process of becoming a group member but when a real group fails to come into being, and the group is personally polarized rather than productive.
How do individuals maintain their individuality while fully participating in the group process?
Staying focused on the task, listening to others and being willing to change one's mind and still being true to one's values and knowledge -- these are the cornerstones of maintaining one's individuality while still furthering the mission of the group. It is necessary that people retain their individuality, because the strength of a group lies in its multiplicity of perspectives and talents, as well as a sense of common purpose. Participation and dialogue, and creating a communication process that promotes compromise rather than division are all important in making the sense of part of a group feel like a privilege, not a…… [Read More]
Allerman, Glenn. (2004). "Forming, Storming, Norming Performing and Adjourning." Retrieved 8 Mar 2007 at http://www.niwotridge.com/PDFs/FormStormNormPerform.pdf
Team and Leadership Behaviors
Transactional leadership focuses on the outcome of performance. The emphasis on such a type of leadership becomes evident in the leader's ability to establish goals, clarifying who does what when, then administrating over the mechanics of the gears once they're set in motion. The article points to Whitman's range of leadership, from setting goals for profit margins, sales growth, and ultimately, her managing 2,400 employees. Meg Whitman already seems to be more in tune with the elements of transactional leadership as she is very meticulous about data, whether it be customer or otherwise. It is this nuanced management of detail that ends up forming policy and patterns for predictable successes for EBay.
The article begins unraveling the background aura behind the success of EBay, namely the fact that EBay does not have inventory or warehouse costs, the staff is very friendly, and the nature of the…… [Read More]
Teams Diversity Stakeholders and Organizational Conflict
Teams, Diversity, Stakeholders, and Organizational Conflict
The role of leadership in managing conflict in interpersonal, team, and organizational contexts in times of change, with a particular focus on downsizing
The term leadership can be defined as the actions an individual takes when he or she directs the activities of a team or group. the behavioral aspects or actions taken by a leader to influence his team and to help the team cope with change are some of the most important aspects of leadership (Abdulaziz Al-Sawai, 2013). Whenever a leader announces change in a company, it is only natural for employees to hope that the outcomes would affect them advantageously. All staffs normally hope that the management or the supervisors will take into account their efforts and needs. Hence, trust between the employees and their leaders is one of the most crucial factors in influencing how employees will react in response…… [Read More]
Abdulaziz Al-Sawai. (2013). Leadership of Healthcare Professionals: Where Do We Stand? Oman Medical Journal, 285-287.
Frederick P. Morgeson, D. Scott Derue, & Elizabeth P. Karam. (2010). Leadership in Teams: A Functional Approach to Understanding Leadership Structures and Processes. Journal of Management, 5-39.
Helder Moura, & Jose Cardoso Teixeira. (2016, October 6). Managing Stakeholders Conflicts. Retrieved from Repositorium: http://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/bitstream/1822/17572/1/Managing%2520stakeholder's%2520Conflicts.pdf
Jacob Bercovitch. (n.d.). CONFLICT AND CONFLICT Management IN ORGANIZATIONS: A Framework for Analysis. Canterbury: University of Canterbury.
Organizational Behavior and Team Building
Words: 1986 Length: 6 Pages Document Type: Case Study Paper #: 73870674
In other words, the emphasis is on effective leadership and increased revenue for the company as a whole, which ultimately benefit individual managers as well.
Like cross-functional teams, self-managed teams also need specific models to ensure success, not least because of the collective leadership these teams display. The potential for conflict and misunderstanding could result in ineffective group work. To mitigate this, Silverman and Propst (n.d.) proposes a specific model according to which such teams can function optimally. There are various roles inherent in the model that is suggested. These roles include: 1) upholding organizational and personal values and principles; 2) accomplishing the work assigned to the team; 3) organizing the work environment; 4) managing work processes; 5) participating in organization-wide systems; 6) participating in organization-wide strategies; and 7) managing team processes.
The model therefore indicates that some leadership and management are essential in helping the team to achieve its…… [Read More]
Armstrong, R.V. (2005). Requirements of a Self-Managed Team Leader. Leader Values. Retrieved from: http://www.leader-values.com/Content/detail.asp?ContentDetailID=1004
Merritt, E.A. And Reynolds, D.E. (n.d.) The Effect of Self-Managing Teams on Manager Commitment and Organizational Tenure in Private Clubs. Retrieved from:
Myshko, D. (2006, Sep.) Cross-Functional Teams: Models of Success. PharmaVoice. Retrieved from: http://www.skila.com/Downloads/Cross%20Functional%20Teams.pdf
Pragmatic Marketing (2011). Enabling Cross-Functional Teams: A Leadership Role for Product Managers. Retrieved from: http://www.pragmaticmarketing.com/publications/topics/09/enabling-cross-functional-teams-a-leadership-role-for-product-managers
Lumen and Absorb Team Case Study at
Lumen and Absorb Team Case Study
At Crutchfield, there are two elite technology development teams. They are both vital to the development of products, but they are also different in their creativity and motivation. The Lumen team is very highly motivated, while the Absorb team has the lowest motivation out of all five of the groups that Burke oversees. Naturally, this was a serious concern for Burke and for others at Crutchfield. Since there has been a recent restructuring and a large round of layoffs, some of the current thinking is that the employees are not comfortable and do not feel safe in their jobs. However, all of the team members that are currently working at Crutchfield in the teams experienced the same things, so it seems odd that one team would be excelling while other teams - most notably the Absorb team - are floundering. Overall, it is this…… [Read More]
Skills to Become a Team
Each member of the team received timely and positive feedback on their work. In addition, I made myself available to each team member so that they could voice any issues or concerns that they had. In doing this, I received a few team members and was able to offer my support, either in the form of a pep-talk, positive feedback or in the form of helping them to resolve a problem. I believe that at no point did a team member feel that they did not have my support.
I believe I performed adequately on the issue of confrontation. The project went relatively smoothly, so there were few instances where confrontation was required. However, the sense that I have with respect to my performance was that I was still somewhat weak on the issue of confrontation. My emphasis on support was driven in part by my desire to avoid having…… [Read More]
Lock, Craig. (2007). Fifteen Inspiring Qualities of Leadership. ICBS. Retrieved August 12, 2009 from http://www.icbs.com/Kb/inspiration/kb_inspiration-15-inspiring-qualities-of-leadership.htm
Buyers, Robin. (1999). Taking and Supporting Leadership. Christian Peacemaker Teams. Retrieved August 12, 2009 from http://www.cpt.org/files/TB%20-%20Taking%20&%20Supporting%20Leadership.pdf
Hoover, John & DiSilvestro, Roger. (n.d.). Constructive Confrontation and the Bestsellers. Retrieved August 12, 2009 from http://www.constructiveconfrontation.com/bestsellers/index.php
conflict resolution leadership and teams
Working with and managing diverse teams can be rewarding, stimulating creativity and even leading to greater satisfaction for some employees (Stahl, Maznevski, Voigt & Jonsen, 2010, p. 690). As Cox & Blake (1991) also point out, cultural diversity in a work group imparts a competitive advantage for the organization. However, the research on cultural diversity in workgroups yields some troubling and contradictory results. Recent research shows that diversity does not necessarily lead to social integration, and can even adversely impact team performance (Horwitz & Horwitz, 2007). Stahl, Maznevski, Voigt & Jonsen (2010) also found “cultural diversity leads to process losses through task conflict and decreased social integration,” (p. 690). Thomas & Peterson (2018) agree that cultural diversity in a work group has “positive and negative elements,” (p. 166). The conflict between Darius and Harpreet has been festering for months, causing what is most likely a “high level of stress for…… [Read More]
Ref Leading My Team as You Know
Words: 1097 Length: 4 Pages Document Type: Essay Paper #: 2532726
Ref: Leading My Team
As you know, a new department has been formed to match our need to develop a new market segment. A team of three people has been assembled with that purpose in mind. In order to be successful, a proper leadership strategy has to be identified and implemented, one that would match different leadership approaches with each of the team member's personalities. The purpose of this memo is two-fold: (1) to analyze the personality of each of the team members, according to the approach that will be described below and (2) to propose leadership approaches that, according to theory, will match these.
In order to analyze the team members' personalities, we have used the Myers-riggs Type Indicator (MTI), proposed by Isabel Myers-riggs and Peter riggs (1995). The indicator proposes several typologies, namely extraversion vs. introversion, sensing vs. intuition, thinking vs. feeling and judgment vs. perception. Depending on…… [Read More]
1. Robbins, Stephens; Coulter, Mary. 2012. Management. Eleventh Edition. Prentice Hall
2. Myers, Isabel Briggs with Peter B. Myers. 1995. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type. Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Publishing.
3. Myers, Isabel Briggs; McCaulley Mary H.; Quenk, Naomi L.; Hammer, Allen L. 1998. MBTI Manual (A guide to the development and use of the Myers Briggs type indicator). Consulting Psychologists Press; 3rd ed edition
Examination Why Teams Don't Work
Teams Don't Work
Idea in Brief
While conventional wisdom might dictate otherwise, teams aren't always the most effective means for accomplishing goals within your organization.
How to Make the Most from your Team:
Designate a Deviant: this is the person who will prevent the team from acting in a too conventional manner. This person will ensure that the team doesn't fall into some sort of rut when it comes to creative thinking.
Avoid double digits. No team should be bigger than nine, as then it can be too easy for some team members not to contribute and for others to dominate.
Keep the team together: the members of the team should remain consistent and not change constantly. Such a thing keeps the entire process on the straight and narrow.
Be ruthless about membership: decide who can and who cannot be a member of the team. Only allow members who genuinely…… [Read More]
Hackman, J.R. (2009). Why Teams Don't Work. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from
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Boyz II Men - Cooleyhighharmony
Home / Boyz II Men - Cooleyhighharmony
Kick-starting Boyz II Men's stratospheric career, 'Cooleyhighharmony' merged hip-hop and doo-wop to produce some of R&B's undisputed classics like "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday", "Please Don't Go" and "Motownphilly".
Vinyl pressed by Motown Records for their "Respect The Classics" campaign. The album does not include "End of the Road".
Originally called "#1's", the album was repackaged in 2015 to include a few of Mariah's later hits, namely "We Belong Together". Otherwise it's a 90's throwback playlist of all of Mariah's classic singles like "Dreamlover", "One Sweet Day", "Honey", "Alwa
Mariah Carey - #1 To Infinity (Greatest Hits)
'The Best Of Sade' is Sade’s first compilation album, originally released in 1994. This double record set features 16 timeless singles, from the biggest hits, to some rarities and some most loved tracks.
Sade - The Best Of Sade
CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story is a 2013 American made-for-television biographical film about the R&B and hip hop musical trio TLC. It derives its title from the title of the group's second album, CrazySexyCool. The film stars Keke Palmer as Rozonda "Chilli
TLC - CrazySexyCool
Legacy Recordings celebrates the 20th anniversary of Mariah Carey's 'Butterfly' with the release of a collector's edition vinyl picture disc. The album featured the classic singles "Honey", "My All", and "Whenever You Call".
Mariah Carey - Butterfly (Picture Disc)
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American Idol: Hollywood Week, Round One
Steve Leftridge
On the verge of driving a stake into its own heart with interminable audition shows, Idol finally reaches Hollywood week to separate the wheat from the chaff and end up with the Top 24 singers who'll make up the season's official talent pool.
On the verge of driving a stake into its own heart with interminable audition shows, Idol finally reaches Hollywood week to separate the wheat from the chaff and end up with the Top 24 singers who'll make up the season's official talent pool. The show to this point has been a typical sleight of hand in showing some promising auditions but also withholding others in order to keep a lid on the Top 24, already decided behind locked and heavily guarded doors. Amid the technocalypse, however, it's virtually impossible to keep anything under wraps that involves two-dozen people, so not only did a story surface that one of the finalists was yanked for blabbing, but the entire Top 24 was leaked last week by a mystery source who has been accurate when letting the cat out the bag during two previous seasons. In any case, it's down to (mostly) people who can actually sing, so hooray for Hollywood.
As the show unveiled this season’s first look at the Kodak Theater (described by Ryan Seacrest at “The Most High-Profile Stage in the World”: Hmm.), we also got our first look at new judge Ellen Degeneres, strolling out in denim and heavy makeup. News sites last week, with story lines running thin, were trying to make hay out of Ellen’s supposed comments that Simon was meaner than she thought he was. No signs of salty-vs.-sweet friction last night between the two of them, as Ellen seemed to charm about everyone, including Simon and, based on early poll results, the home audience, as well, by finding a balance between praise, criticism, and wit.
For this first sudden-death round, contestants could sing either a capella or by accompanying themselves on guitar or keyboards. This second look finally provided a follow-up to some of the more engaging personalities and compelling storylines from the auditions although the judges made quick work of some of the most memorable ones. As it turns out, some of those with interesting storylines weren’t the best singers, and their gold rush to California didn’t pan out for long, some not heeding Simon’s steely advice: “Don’t be nervous. Don’t be boring. Don’t forget the words”.
Did you have Skiiboski Fever coming into last night? Of course not, but “Skiiboski” Wheeler debuted a slightly more humble persona on “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”, after which Ellen told him he stalked the judges “like a leopard behind a cage”. They cut him, but a showboat like Skii had to commandeer a mike for a final pleading question: “Why?” Simon: “You’re just not a very good singer”. Zing!
Remember Vanessa Wolfe, the bridge-jumping filly from the Tennessee sticks, who was fascinating, if only because she was so aw-shucks, never-been-away-from-home country? She bombed last night, letting her nerves absolutely pickle her version of Blind Melon’s “No Rain”. No go. And how about Amedeo DiRocco, the beefy, gregarious Italian, who sang what appeared to be a sweaty, shouty try at “That’s Life”. He was let go, unsurprisingly, but not before he proved that he, like Skiiboski, isn’t too proud to beg.
Other semi-stinkers who were sent back to the airport included Barney-girl-turned-leather-fetishist, Eric Rhodes—she loves the judges, but they wouldn’t say they love her, too. Been waiting to see Jay Stone again, the beat-boxer who somehow made it to this round? Simon cut characteristically to the chase: “Jay, that was ridiculous”. Ellen: “Something’s wrong with his microphone." It’s amazing how fast the balloon bursts. The dolled-up Jersey sisters from hairdresser parents? Gone, but look for a Maxim spread coming soon.
On the other hand, lots of talent emerged that we’ll see in the next round, many of them stepping things way up from the auditions, especially those who played instruments, providing a better look at potential honed by years of strumming and singing in bedrooms. Seven of these singers emerged as frontrunners, any of them with a reasonable chance of continuing deep into the competition.
1. Andrew Garcia, who played guitar and sang a not-ironic acoustic-rock version of departed-judge Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up”, the best version of that song ever (unless you preferred the tribute performed by the contestant a few years back who claimed he was sleeping with Paula. How can Ellen compete?).
2. I’ve seen the future of American Idol and her name is Janell Wheeler, a guitar-strumming blonde, who has the voice, looks, and personality to go all the way.
3. Haeley Vaughn, a sweet girl who fashions herself as a burgeoning black country singer, was far more impressive accompanying herself on guitar, as rudimentary as her chording was. She has a cool voice, but that lisp is going to be a liability.
4. Lilly Scott has one of those jazz-vocal chanteuse voices so popular these days. It’s an affected style, of course, but she’s a true singer and has an eclectic look with her winter-moon hair and purple leggings.
5. Proving Simon wrong last night was Casey James, the dirty-blonde fella who went shirtless for Kara during the auditions. He was a clear highlight in the Hollywood round, this time, flashing capable guitar accompaniment and singing a blues-soul-roots hybrid that could be plenty marketable. They’ll make him sing showtunes at some point, so he’ll be an interesting one to follow.
6. Didi Benami cried hard during auditions, so it was nice to see a more poised performance. She also played guitar and sang impressively in a singer-songwriter voice and sensibility. With her amiable vibe, she has the makings of a successful folk rocker, if she can write well.
7. Crystal Bowersox had perhaps the best night of anyone. A confident performer with killer pipes, she’s a guitar-playing hippie chick—seen getting a tattoo on her back to honor her young son before the performance. She sang “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, employing an appealing mix of sweetness and hardness that could turn into a trademark.
Overall, the show just got way more interesting as we’ve identified talent and personalities legit enough to justify the upcoming thirty hours of our television attention. By the way, Michael Lynche’s audition aired last night; he delivered a spot-on version of John Mayer’s “Waiting for the World to Change” just minutes after learning that his wife was heading into labor. Lynche is the one who reportedly made the Top 24 but was sent home on a confidentiality rap. Let’s hope that report proves false—the show will be much better with him around.
Next: We’ll know more tonight after the always drama-inducing Group Round.
American Idol Ellen Degeneres Simon Cowell Episodic
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Class 5A Rankings
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Preston Edwards
Preston is in the midst of his third season with the Prep Hoops Louisiana crew. He has spent 20 plus years in and around the game of basketball in different capacities. After graduating from the University of Louisiana Monroe in Education (teaching social studies), he began his coaching career at Southwood HS under Matthew Ponder. Under their leadership, they finished 2nd in district 1-5A and made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. He moved to Keithville Middle School as a counselor but continued to coach on the AAU circuit. He coached three teams that qualified or participated in the Division 2 AAU national tournament. Preston also has served as a coach and mentor for several college basketball players from the Shreveport-Bossier area. Preston and his wealth of knowledge about the game has been an asset to the Prep Hoops staff and we look forward to him being part of the staff in Louisiana for a long time.
See all articles by Preston Edwards
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Movie review: ‘Rocketman’ is true razzle-dazzle
How do you capture the life of a flamboyant musical icon like Elton John? Just follow the lead of director Dexter Fletcher, whose “Rocketman” achieves lift-off under the guise of a glittery jukebox musical as bright and shiny as John’s rhinestone-embellished costumes. Not only is it full of heart and entertaining as hell, it also has Taron Egerton as the man born Reginald White.
Unlike the polarizing “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which Fletcher also had a hand in directing, “Rocketman” is a true musical with songs propelling the plot and amplifying the inner thinking and emotions of the characters. Fletcher conjures imaginative fantasy sequences involving levitation, carnivals, barrooms and big dance numbers, all set to those indelible hits penned by John and his longtime collaborator, Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell).
“Tiny Dancer” shows a John wanting love more than he wants fame and fortune. “Saturday Night’s Alright (for Fighting)” points to a career about to launch. The title song, “Rocket Man,” comes when John hits rock bottom. Other songs, such as “Benny and the Jets,” “Your Song,” “Crocodile Rock,” “The Bitch is Back,” “Honky Cat” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” equally drive the narrative.
The script, penned by Brit Lee Hall (“War Horse,” “Billy Elliot”), frames around John’s stint in rehab, where the film opens. Egerton wears a burnt orange Lycra onesie bedazzled with feathers, jewels and topped with an oversized horned headdress. He puffs and clumps down a hallway in gigantic platform shoes to storm into group therapy, declaring: “I’m Elton Hercules John, and I’m an alcoholic, cocaine addict, sex addict, bulimic, shopaholic … .” He goes on to list more struggles with weed, prescription pills and anger. “I want to get better.” The story flashes back to his childhood, when little Reggie Dwight (Matthew Illesley) can’t get a hug from his stern father. His mother (Bryce Dallas Howard) isn’t exactly evil, but she’s cold and distracted. His loving Gran (Gemma Jones) is his sole supporter and the one who took the young piano prodigy to London’s Royal Academy of Music.
Over the next two hours, Egerton sings and dances his way through all the beats of John’s life, from humble beginnings to preening rock god. Egerton is an interesting casting choice. He doesn’t look like John or share his build, yet somehow pulls it off, even the vocal and dancing duties. I never felt like I wasn’t watching Elton John. The signature outrageous glasses help. Ditto for the luscious set design and Julian Day’s sparkling costumes.
Never does Hall’s script shy away from the uglier side of John’s life or his struggle with sexual identity. Everything is there: the meltdowns, the drinking, the cheating, the lashing out at Taupin, his one true friend. Each time the script checks back into that opening therapy session, John sheds a piece of that outrageous orange ensemble - until he’s down to his skivvies. What he’s really baring is a repressed soul beaten down by years of emotional abusive wielded by his lover-manager (Richard Madden), his mother (Howard plays her throughout), his “don’t-be-soft” father (Steven Mackintosh) and everyone else who wanted a piece of his success; all except Bernie and Gran. Rehab teaches John to love himself, allowing the rest to fall in place.
I would have loved it if John and Taupin wrote an original song for the film, but that’s just a quibble in a movie that is heartbreaking, funny and ultimately uplifting. One character advises an up-and-coming John to “kill the person you were born to be.” John does, but lucky for us, he’s reborn. In the end, he’s “Still Standing,” and thanks to “Rocketman,” Egerton’s career is about to last a long, long time.
Dana Barbuto may be reached at dbarbuto@patriotledger.com or follow her on Twitter @dbarbuto_Ledger.
Cast: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard.
(R for language throughout, some drug use and sexual content.)
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Jaclyn's Baby
Family Adoption Stories China
Written by Cindy C. on 01 Jan 2006
The following story was written by Cindy who adopted through Great Wall China, 4 year old Jaclyn in July of 1999. Little 4-year-old Jaclyn had a "baby" at the orphanage that they visited in October of 1999, when Cindy’s sister, Laura adopted Willow, a three year old in Kunming. They all returned in October of 2000 when Cindy’s sister adopted "Jaclyn's baby", now named Lee.
Last week we celebrated Lee's adoption day. He's lived in my heart for what seems an eternity, so it was amazing to realize that he had only officially been in my sister's family for a year. We all went to a Chinese restaurant to celebrate and our combined offspring, both biological and adopted, loved having a chance to dress in their traditional Chinese garb. "I look like Chinese boy now!" Lee said while smiling at his reflection.
Lee is different from anyone else in my life in the sense that I never, ever take him for granted. I can't keep my eyes off of him anytime we are together. I shamelessly beg him for hugs and kisses. I can't stop myself. I know I shouldn't take for granted anyone that I love. But I have not yet lost anyone whose place is in the inner sanctum of my heart. Those that I love most, I see often. I assume that they will be there in the arrogant way that those who have not known crushing grief have. But Lee is exempted from that. Because I loved him for so long while he remained out of our grasp, I never, ever want to lose sight of him again.
In thinking back on the last year, I realize that the gift that Lee has brought with him is peace. Let me explain.
First, he has brought peace to Jaclyn's heart. I can bear her prayers now. They have lost their frantic edge, their jagged emotion as she pleaded with God to bring her baby home. And even though she never, ever lays her head down at night without a prayer for Lee, these are now, finally, the prayers of a child.
Lee has blossomed in the past year and is a delightful, joy-filled sprite of a child. He bears no resemblance to the emaciated, bug-bitten, balding waif we first met so long ago. He and Jaclyn still delight in each other. At her birthday party, Jaclyn saved the seat next to her, the seat of honor, as she always does, for Lee. He rejected the play clothes that his mother chose for him to wear to the party. "I pick something else," he said firmly. He selected his good dress pants, his white shirt and vest, and insisted on a tie and his "pretty shoes". "Now, Jiao Jiao say I handsome!" he said with a smile.
Lee talks about Jaclyn's caring for both him and a girl named Po Po in the orphanage. Lee went through our photos and pointed out Po Po for us. Jaclyn has always refused to do so. It's as if she knew that she could not save them all. She had to hold in her heart only those that she loved most dearly.
Lee has shared some of his past and a few stories about the bullying that he endured after Jaclyn left the orphanage. Like Jaclyn's recollections, many are painful to hear. The most heart wrenching is his account of a child kicking him in the back, multiple times, until he finally toppled onto the hard cement with such force that his nose was broken. This is what had caused the black and blue marks we saw in one of the photos while we waited for him. "Who do this to you?" Jaclyn asked him as she showed him the disturbing photo. He told the story and carefully pointed out the culprit while looking through our album.
" I knew it! I knew it was him! He very mean boy to Lee," Jaclyn said in a somber tone. "He not share his chair nicely with Lee at school. Lee never had enough chair. But I couldn't help him because he sat in the back and they made me sit in the front." And then, later with sadness she asked, "Why God make mean boys?" But gone is her rage.
When she came to me months after she was adopted and demanded to know, "Who do this to me?" while showing me her scars, she was filled with anger. The anger is gone. She has let go of it. He is safe. That's all that matters to her now.
And, in a similar manner, he has brought peace to my heart, too. I know you can't save them all. But while he lived there, his face, his pain, his sadness, was all I could think about. Now the rest are faceless to me. Their hurt is less personal. I am not haunted in the same was by them. I still feel their need. But I don't know them, like I knew him. So the pain is now bearable. "My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled."
But these kids have made me think of a bigger peace, too. Since September 11, like all of us, I have preoccupied with trying to fathom the hate in this world. I wonder how others who don't know us, can hate us so much.
It makes me reflect about how the U.S. first forged bonds with the people of China. I'm old enough to remember when President Nixon first traveled to China. Who would have ever thought that such different lands, ones that had closed each other out for so long, would be able to one day forge an alliance to help children? Could there be two more different countries? Yet we have been able to put those differences aside and join together in a larger purpose--helping children find families.
I think, too, of my first trip to China and the close bonds we established with our guide there. She was a young woman in her 20's and, as she got to know and trust us, she openly shared her thoughts about the international adoptions. She confided that many of her contemporaries thought that she was wrong to work in the adoption program. She said that they felt humiliated by having "rich Americans" come and "buy their babies". They would say, scoffing: "They take advantage of China because it is a poor country. But once we have money, we will go there and buy their babies." I asked our guide how she answered them and she said, " I tell them to go to the places I have gone. I invite them to see the orphanages for themselves and then tell me that this is wrong." And, with a smile she added, " I tell them how much you love the babies."
But then she shared this heartache, too. She told me about one of the first families she had helped adopt and how they had recently returned with their now five-year-old daughter. "But 'ni hao' was all she could say in Chinese, "she said with obvious sadness. " Li Dan is a Chinese girl. Promise me you will teach her about her proud homeland. Promise me that when she visits, she will know Chinese." I solemnly promised. Li Dan, now my Christy, is four years old In spite of my good intentions, "ni hao" is all she can say in Chinese.
And I ask myself, too, how I would feel if Chinese citizens came here and adopted American babies. Would I be able to trust them to teach these children how great our country is? Would I be able to smile and say "lucky baby" while flashing a 'thumbs up' sign the way that they do? Would I be as gracious and as welcoming as they are, putting the needs of the child first?
I think, too, of our trip to Jaclyn, taken just three weeks after the U.S. had accidentally bombed a Chinese embassy. There was a travel advisory in effect and I had watched the anti-U.S. demonstrations with some apprehension. The topic surfaced during one meeting that we had with Chinese officials. I was quick to offer an apology. I'll never forget what happened next. The official looked directly into my eyes and said, "Government is government," with a dismissive air. Then she took my hand and said, "But people are people."
It's a distinction I think of often. We're all so much more the same than we are different. I'm grateful for the way that the Chinese have never allowed political matters to affect the adoption program. These children, are, ultimately the bridge between our two very different countries. They are, like Lee, the peacemakers.
Whenever I despair about the hate in this world, I only have to look at my mail to see another truth. Nearly every week I get an email from an unknown friend who asks for an update on how Lee is doing. Jaclyn received birthday cards from loving people that we have never met And I know how many special little ones live in my heart, too. Children who have yet to be referred. Children whose stories I have followed. Children I have prayed for, yet never met. There is more goodness, more love, more caring in this world than there is hate. I know it. I feel it. As long as we continue to reach out to each other, through these kids, we will continue to forge a path toward peace.
Lee, like Jaclyn, cannot stand to see the suffering of others. He is the first on the scene if any of his sisters starts to cry. He dissolves into their grief. He comforts, too. He cannot stand to see them punished. I had worried that the bullying, the hate-filled moments, the hurts in the institution would have stolen from him the capacity to empathize and care. But this child knows how to love. He has been wronged, but he knows how to offer comfort.
Thank God for that. Welcome home, Lee.
Adopting Our 9-Year-Old from China
Family Adoption Stories
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8.29.2015 MTV VMAs News Photos
Musical Chairs: Who’s Seated Where at the 2015 MTV VMAs
The 2015 MTV Video Music Awards are just a day away. Before Sunday’s big show, the seating chart has been revealed and shows where some of your favorite stars will be seated at L.A.’s Microsoft Theater.
When he’s not performing on stage, Pharrell Williams will be front and center, while pop divas Rita Ora and Demi Lovato fill the rows behind him.
After performing his new single “What Do You Mean?” for the first time, Justin Bieber will grab a seat alongside his pal Big Sean, who is in arm’s length from his “IDFWU” collaborator E-40.
Pop queen Taylor Swift holds court in the front row alongside Nick Jonas, Tori Kelly, and her BFF Gigi Hadid.
Other stars in the house include Britney Spears, who will be rubbing elbows with Kylie Jenner, “Watch Me” hitmaker Silentó, and “Empire” star Jussie Smollett.
The 2015 VMAs, hosted by Miley Cyrus, air live Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Nicki Minaj will open the show, while other performers include The Weeknd, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and A$AP Rocky. Kanye West is set to receive the Video Vanguard Award.
Lil Wayne Reunites with Hot Boys, Brings Out Drake & Master P at Lil WeezyAna Fest
Lil Wayne put on for his city at the first-ever Lil WeezyAna Fest in New Orleans on Friday (Aug. 28). …
J. Cole Brings Out Jay Z and Drake at Tour Finale
J. Cole capped off his "Forest Hills Drive Tour" with a star-studded finale. After five months and 65 shows …
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Home News What has dada group done right in terms of revenue and efficiency?
What has dada group done right in terms of revenue and efficiency?
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Article / Wang gangsong
Source: deep echo
In the past double 11, the last payer has become a new hot word. From the response of social network, one of the feelings of “tailors” this year is that the delivery speed of e-commerce platform is faster.
Last year, “defensive delivery” has become a hot topic on social networks. This year, “delivery in seconds” has become more common. Behind this is the reality of profound changes in the logistics system: micro distance e-commerce represented by intra city distribution is occupying an increasingly important position in people’s lives.
Shortly after the double 11, dada group handed in its second financial report after its listing on November 20, Beijing time. Before the release of this quarter’s financial report, many investment banks made optimistic forecasts for dada:
Daiwa Securities covered dada group for the first time, and gave a purchase rating target price of $40;
New street research covers dada group for the first time, and its growth rate can be expected to give a buy rating with a target price of $40;
Goldman Sachs gave a buy rating and raised its target price to $36;
Haitong International believes that dada group confirmed the good fundamentals and raised the target price to 38.8 US dollars.
From the financial report, dada’s performance is not disappointing. The third quarter financial report shows that:
Dada’s total revenue in this quarter was 1.302 billion yuan, compared with 702 million yuan in the same period of 2019, with a year-on-year increase of 85.5%.
The revenue of dada express delivery platform increased 81.3% year-on-year to RMB 719 million, and the revenue in the same period of 2019 was RMB 397 million.
The revenue of Jingdong home platform increased by 91% year-on-year to RMB 583 million, which was RMB 305 million in the same period of 2019.
At the same time, the net loss attributable to common shareholders of dada group is shrinking. The financial report shows that the net loss attributable to common shareholders of dada group is 434 million yuan, and that of common shareholders is 685 million yuan in the same period of last year.
Between the increase and decrease, dada group’s scale effect continues and the signs of operational efficiency improvement have become increasingly obvious.
Since the beginning of this year, the home track has broken out. As the head player, dada group’s performance is a reflection of the whole real-time retail market. In front of the big market opportunities, what kind of internal training has dada group done? What impact will these layouts have on dada and the industry?
Revenue increased and losses narrowed
Let’s take a detailed look at dada’s financial report.
Dada group achieved operating revenue of 1.302 billion yuan in this quarter, with a significant increase of 85.5% year-on-year; the company’s net loss under non GAAP was 324 million yuan, down 21.2% compared with the same period last year, and continued to narrow year-on-year.
In terms of revenue composition, the main revenue source of the company is local instant delivery service dada express delivery and local instant retail service Jingdong Jiajia, accounting for nearly 99% of the company’s total revenue, while the commodity sales revenue is only 14 million yuan.
In terms of specific business lines, dada express delivery achieved an operating revenue of 719 million yuan in this quarter, an increase of 81.3% compared with 397 million yuan in the same period of last year, while Jingdong home service achieved 583 million yuan in this quarter, with a year-on-year growth of 91%. It can be seen that it is the rapid growth of the company’s real-time distribution and instant retail business that has brought about the stable and high-speed growth of the company’s overall revenue.
With the development of online consumption habits in the post epidemic era, the company’s overall number of users and orders have achieved a qualitative breakthrough, which is also the core driving factor to boost the rapid growth of the company’s revenue.
In this quarter, the number of active buyers of Jingdong home in the past 12 months has reached 37.3 million, a year-on-year increase of 76.8%, and a net increase of more than 5 million compared with the previous quarter. In terms of total sales amount (Gmv), the transaction amount of Jingdong home reached 21.3 billion yuan in the past 12 months, with a year-on-year increase of more than 100%.
In terms of dada express delivery, the number of delivery orders of the company in the past 12 months exceeded 1 billion for the first time in this quarter, an increase of more than 50% compared with 636 million orders in the same period of last year.
In addition to the rapid improvement of revenue and business scale, dada group is also continuously and rapidly improving its operational efficiency. In this quarter, the company made a gross profit of 283 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of more than five times, far higher than the growth rate of the company’s revenue. The company’s gross profit rate also reached a record high of 21.8%, higher than 6.3% in the same period of last year.
The substantial improvement of the company’s gross profit level is mainly due to the company’s effective control of rider cost while the business scale is growing rapidly. Although rider cost is still the heaviest cost source of dada group, it can be seen that with the rapid growth of platform scale, the unit cost of rider is rapidly decreasing. This continuous upward trend further proves the feasibility of the company’s business logic and the basis for the company’s overall profitability in the future.
In terms of loss, dada group’s non GAAP net loss in this quarter was 320 million yuan, the net loss rate was 23.9%, and the loss was significantly narrowed compared with the same period last year.
The sharp narrowing of dada’s loss is due to the continuous improvement of its gross profit level and its efforts to reduce costs and increase efficiency in terms of operating expenses. In this quarter, the company’s total operating expenses were 740 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 34.3%, far lower than the company’s revenue growth rate; the company’s operating expense rate was 56.8%, also lower than the same period last year.
It can be seen that the key message of dada group in this financial report is that in addition to growth, the health of business model is continuously improving.
While dada Group continues to optimize its business model, the development dividend of Jiajia racetrack continues to release. According to the Research Report of CSCI, there is still a large space for the market scale of China’s supermarket home industry from the mature market. It is estimated that the penetration rate of supermarket retail line will reach 10.6% in 2023, and Gmv will reach 385.4 billion yuan. In the mature period of instant retail development, the online penetration rate is expected to exceed 30%.
Dada’s performance is consistent with the industry trend: the Kwai DAT, which has just been in the past eleven years ago, has achieved a breakthrough of 10 million in November 12th, reaching a new peak of the platform. From 10:00 to 11:00 on the 11th, the number of delivery orders on the platform exceeded 1.1 million, breaking the record of 1-hour peak volume of the platform in the same period. Over 99% of the delivery platform from December to January.
On the whole, the market of instant distribution has become larger and larger, and the habits of consumers and the demand of merchants will continue to promote the further development of the instant distribution market.
As a player in this field, after the industry has entered a period of accelerated development, dada group’s construction around business flow and logistics is also continuing. The cultivation around the content is the key to determine dada’s future prospects.
Develop and sink, continuously improve efficiency
Among a number of new economy companies, dada group’s business has certain particularity.
Dada group, which is formed by the merger of dada express and Jingdong Jiajia, is divided into two parts: one is that Jingdong Jiajia realizes the real-time online sales of huge quantities of SKUs through the extensive connection of offline retail; the other is that dada express delivery realizes the rapid distribution of huge quantities of packages through extensive connection with riders.
In addition to the 85.5% year-on-year growth in total revenue in this quarter, other data of dada group are also in a high-speed growth trend
In the 12 months up to September 30, 2020, dada express delivery platform has delivered 1 billion orders.
During the 12 months up to September 30, 2020, the total transaction volume (Gmv) of Jingdong home platform was RMB 21.3 billion, and that of the same period as of September 30, 2019 was RMB 10.5 billion, with a year-on-year increase of 102.9%.
In the 12 months up to September 30, 2020, the number of active consumers of Jingdong home platform was 37.3 million, and that of the same period as of September 30, 2019 was 21.1 million, with a year-on-year increase of 77.1%.
From the data, we can see that the network effect of dada and Jingdong home is continuously increasing.
The epidemic situation is one of the major external reasons for dada group’s continuous performance.
During the epidemic, the demand for home broke out, which provided a window period for the development of instant distribution enterprises. In the long run, with the continuous penetration of mobile Internet, the construction of business flow and logistics will be more perfect and three-dimensional, and the local life e-commerce will inevitably become mature, and the supporting supply chain system will continue to stimulate the market demand for instant distribution.
In this regard, China CITIC construction investment said in the research report that the high-speed shopping penetration rate in the domestic market has established a high industry ceiling for home business. The increasing online shopping penetration rate year by year shows that Internet users are increasingly inclined to online shopping and home delivery mode, and online shopping user groups will become potential consumers of local retail and instant distribution in the future. During the epidemic period, instant distribution can meet the safety needs of consumers and reduce the chance of contact with the outside world while obtaining daily consumer goods. According to the forecast of CSCI, the order volume of instant distribution industry is expected to reach 47.3 billion in 2023.
In the face of opportunity, everyone is equal. Although the background is good, it still requires players to make continuous investment and layout based on their insight into the nature of the industry to seize the opportunity.
Combined with the recent series of actions of dada group, we can see that apart from the external environment, many layout based on the core competitiveness of dada group is the key.
First of all, Jingdong home, which is widely connected with offline retail, has accelerated its expansion in four aspects: region, category, channel and partner by seizing the window period of market development.
Specifically, in terms of region, sinking the market is the current focus of Jingdong home. In addition to Wal Mart and Yonghui supermarkets, Jingdong Jiajia also signed more than 20 top 100 and regional leading supermarkets such as Eurasia and Zhenhua supermarkets in this quarter, deepening cooperation with jiajiayue and step-by-step regional leaders, and making efforts to sink the market. At a telephone call for investors on the morning of November 20, Kuai Jiaqi, founder, chairman of the board of directors and CEO of dada group, said that as of the third quarter, Jingdong home had covered more than 1200 counties, districts and cities across the country, and more than 200 counties, districts and cities were added in a single quarter. In the third quarter, sales of low-level cities increased by 170% year-on-year.
In terms of category, Jingdong home has carried out many innovative attempts, and 3C digital is a typical attempt.
Since last year, Jingdong home has started to lay out 3C digital field, broadening the boundary of instant retail. This year, Jingdong home has reached cooperation with dozens of Apple authorized dealers across the country, completing the exclusive launch of stores one after another, providing the experience of buying iPhone 12 from Jingdong home and delivering it in one hour.
In addition to 3C digital, Jingdong home is also expanding pet, medicine and other categories. In mid September this year, Jingdong Jiajia was connected to 1000 stores of xinruipeng group, a pet enterprise. Pet owners can enjoy the consumption experience of placing orders online through mobile phones and sending pet goods to their homes in one hour. In terms of medicine, public information shows that Jingdong home has reached cooperation with more than 70 chain drugstores, 90% of the top 50 have been online, and Jingdong home has covered the top 10.
In addition, in terms of channels, the collaborative relationship between Jingdong Jiajia and Jingdong’s main app has been further strengthened through the natural selection project, so that the main app of Jingdong can seamlessly connect with dada’s services. In addition to providing Jingdong with commodity retail services based on geographical location, it has also imported more customers for dada. In terms of partners, based on Haibo system, retailers and brand merchants will continue to be enabled to promote the online and digital transformation of offline retail formats. According to introduction, dada Haibo system has been deployed and applied in about 1500 large and medium-sized chain stores. So far, it has connected nearly 35000 physical stores of more than 200 retailers.
With the multi-dimensional development, JD home provides more diversified services for users, and its connection with offline retail is also more extensive and in-depth.
With Jingdong home to expand the breadth and depth of business connections, dada express is iterating around service quality, network scale and underlying technical support.
In terms of service quality, in July this year, dada express launched “all-in-one delivery”, which dynamically matches the “crowdsourcing” or “crowdsourcing + store” transportation capacity according to the store’s performance timeliness requirements, order categories, single volume changes, peak time and other characteristics, and provides customized transport capacity solutions to maximize the use of human efficiency.
At the same time, we should further improve the three business scales of instant distribution, landing distribution and personal distribution, so as to achieve wider coverage and improve the ability of performance. The double 11 results have fully proved this point.
It is worth mentioning that the improvement of service quality and scale of dada express is inseparable from its investment in underlying product technology. Taking Anxin delivery as an example, the reason why dada express can customize service specifications according to the needs of chain brands in different formats and regions comes from its intelligent analysis of performance big data, judging the different needs of stores, and then matching With corresponding services, it needs the support of artificial intelligence, big data analysis, cloud computing and other technologies. These invisible efforts have become the “hard core battlefield” in the field of instant distribution, which determines the long-term operation efficiency and service quality of the platform.
As mentioned above, the basic market of dada group is composed of Jingdong Jiajia and dada express, and the positive interaction between them is the driving force for dada group’s sustainable growth: the greater the order volume and order density, the greater the network effect of dada, thus attracting more knights to join, enriching the platform transportation capacity and optimizing the performance experience; the improvement of dada Express’s performance experience will accelerate offline businesses The circulation of goods can also provide better services for consumers, and further promote Jingdong home to attract more retailers and brand merchants to join.
Thanks to the expansion of regions, categories, channels and partners, Jingdong home reach businesses continue to expand, which means that it can provide consumers with more diversified choices, further promote the order volume and order density, and enlarge the attraction to Knights. Dada express delivery, focusing on the continuous investment of instant distribution, landing distribution and personal distribution, has further improved its own performance ability and enhanced the attraction of the platform itself to businesses.
From the results, the continuous investment around Jingdong home and dada distribution has not failed to live up to the expectations of dada group. The continuous growth data of Q3 financial report and the narrowed loss have shown that the network effect of dada group is continuously enlarging.
On the whole, dada group, which has been working hard on the track for a long time, has established its own barriers; after stepping on the middle wind, it will further promote its own future development by taking advantage of the opportunity to speed up the layout. Under the joint action of internal and external factors, the future development of dada group still has a lot of imagination.
(statement: This article only represents the author’s point of view, not Sina’s position.)
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Libel tourism bill passes House Judiciary Committee
The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday passed a bill aimed at dulling the domestic effects of so-called "libel tourism," whereby…
The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday passed a bill aimed at dulling the domestic effects of so-called "libel tourism," whereby plaintiffs seek out countries with heavy-handed defamation laws in which to sue over publications they don’t like.
The bill that passed, H.R. 2765, put forth by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), would prevent American courts from recognizing foreign libel judgments that are deemed "repugnant" to the First Amendment. It does not go as far as two other libel tourism bills under consideration in Congress, both of which would allow libel defendants to counter-sue the plaintiffs who bring such claims against them in foreign courts.
Those bills — H.R. 1304, sponsored by Rep. Peter King (R-NY), and S. 449, sponsored by Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) — have not yet been put to a vote.
Cohen’s bill passed the full House last September, but that was as far as it got before the congressional session ended.
All three of the libel tourism bills were introduced after New York author Rachel Ehrenfeld was ordered by a British court to pay 30,000 British pounds in a libel lawsuit brought by billionaire Saudi businessman Khalid bin Mahfouz.
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Washington state ends 'racially biased' death penalty
Death penalty unconstitutional
Q13 News
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington's Supreme Court unanimously struck down the state's death penalty Thursday, ruling that it had been used in an arbitrary and racially discriminatory manner.
Washington has had a moratorium on executions since 2014, but the ruling makes it the 20th state to do away with capital punishment by legislative act or court decree. The court converted the sentences of the eight people on Washington's death row to life in prison.
"The death penalty is unequally applied — sometimes by where the crime took place, or the county of residence, or the available budgetary resources at any given point in time, or the race of the defendant," Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst wrote in the lead opinion.
She added: "Our capital punishment law lacks 'fundamental fairness.'"
Defense lawyers had long challenged the death penalty on those grounds, noting the state's worst mass murderers and serial killers, Green River killer Gary Ridgway among them, had received life terms, not death. In a 5-4 ruling in 2006, the justices rejected an argument from a death row inmate that he shouldn't be executed because Ridgway hadn't been executed.
The men on death row
Brandi Kruse reports
This time, death penalty critics were armed with more data about how capital punishment works, including a statistical analysis by University of Washington sociologists. Their report showed that although prosecutors were not more likely to seek the execution of black defendants, juries were about four times more likely to sentence black defendants to death.
"Now the information is plainly before us," Fairhurst wrote. "To the extent that race distinguishes the cases, it is clearly impermissible and unconstitutional."
Gov. Jay Inslee, a one-time supporter of capital punishment, imposed the 2014 moratorium. In a written statement, the Democrat called the ruling "a hugely important moment in our pursuit for equal and fair application of justice."
"The court makes it perfectly clear that capital punishment in our state has been imposed in an 'arbitrary and racially biased manner,' is 'unequally applied' and serves no criminal justice goal," Inslee wrote.
The ruling came in the case of Allen Eugene Gregory, a black man who was convicted of raping, robbing and killing Geneine Harshfield, a 43-year-old woman, in 1996.
His lawyers, Neil Fox and Lila Silverstein, said the death penalty is arbitrarily applied and that it is not applied proportionally, as the state Constitution requires.
"However one feels about the propriety of capital punishment in theory, in practice the death penalty is imposed in an unfair, arbitrary, and racially biased manner," Silverstein said in a written statement. "The Supreme Court properly ruled the Washington Constitution does not tolerate such an unfair system."
Dozens of former state judges took the unusual step of urging the court to use Gregory's case to strike down capital punishment. Among them was former Justice Faith Ireland, who sided with the narrow majority in upholding capital punishment in 2006.
In Thursday's decision, the court did not rule out the possibility that the Legislature could come up with another manner of imposing death sentences.
"We leave open the possibility that the legislature may enact a 'carefully drafted statute' to impose capital punishment in this state, but it cannot create a system that offends constitutional rights," the opinion said.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson said he would press the Legislature to make the sole punishment for aggravated murder life in prison without release.
The court did not reconsider any of Gregory's arguments pertaining to guilt, noting that his conviction for aggravated first-degree murder "has already been appealed and affirmed by this court."
Earlier this year, the state Senate passed a measure abolishing the death penalty, but it failed to pass in the House.
"There is a profound shift in our state and country that the death penalty is below us as a civil, just and moral society," Democratic Sen. Reuven Carlyle, who had been a sponsor of those previous attempts, said in a text message.
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QualityHealth Home > Rx for a Healthy Trip: A Pre-Travel Checkup
Rx for a Healthy Trip: A Pre-Travel Checkup
Rosemary Black
Going on vacation? Even if you’re healthy, a pre-travel checkup may be just what the doctor ordered. "The reason to visit a physician before travel is not only to assure that you are physically ready for travel, but also to ensure that you have the proper amounts of regular medicines you may take, along with vaccines, and the knowledge to minimize any risks from travel," says Aileen M. Marty, MD, FACP, director of the Florida International University Travel Medicine Program and professor of infectious disease at FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami, Florida.
Whether you’re headed across the state or to the other side of the world, people with specific medical conditions should definitely consider a pre-travel checkup. That’s because "The number one cause of serious problems while traveling is an underlying medical condition," says Jonathan Leizman, MD, staff physician at the Cleveland Clinic's International Travel Clinic. "You need to make sure your condition is under control before you leave for your trip."
At the checkup, ask your doctor for a prescription for all the medications you take, and get a more-than-adequate supply. "If you are going away for two weeks, get enough medication for a month," Leizman says. And don't start on any new medications immediately prior to traveling unless they’re necessary for your trip, he adds.
Vaccination Guidelines
If you're traveling within the US or visiting Western Europe, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand, you probably won't need special vaccines, says Charles Ericsson, MD, an infectious disease and travel medicine specialist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health) Medical School. But if you’re headed to a developing nation, you’ll most likely be advised to take malaria pills, since this mosquito-borne illness poses a significant health risk in these areas; there are nearly 200 million cases of malaria each year, Leizman points out. "Unfortunately, malaria is an illness that causes significant health problems. Fortunately, there are various medications you can take to prevent you from getting it."
If you’re visiting Africa or South America, you may also need to get vaccinated against yellow fever, which is not as common as malaria but still poses significant health threat. Dengue fever is another disorder that threatens travelers to these regions, although there is no vaccine available in the US. "The best preventive measure against dengue fever is to avoid contact with mosquitoes by using an insect repellent with DEET in it, and by staying away from stagnant water (such as drainage ditches), which attracts them," Leizman says.
You may also be told to get hepatitis A and B vaccines. For a list of global travel clinics, visit the International Society of Travel Medicine (istm.org).
Stay Healthy During Your Trip
Some of the most common health problems travelers face include:
Diarrhea: It's estimated that nearly half of travelers to developing nations will get diarrhea, Ericsson says, so be sure to ask your doctor the best way to prevent it. You may be given a prescription for an antibiotic that you should fill and take with you, since it can lower the duration and intensity of the diarrhea, Ericsson says.
Altitude Sickness: If you’ll be travelling to a high-altitude locale (anything over 8,000 feet above sea level), you may want to take medication to prevent altitude sickness.
Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Those traveling to areas of the world where mosquitoes are a problem will be told to bring an insect repellent that contains DEET. Your doctor may also counsel you to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, and to avoid being outside in mosquito-infested areas at dawn and after dusk, since these are the most common biting times. Mosquito netting in the area where you sleep may also be recommended.
Accidents and Injury: The second most common cause of significant health problems during international travel is accidents and injury, Leizman says. "Sometimes inhibitions are reduced during travel, and alcohol can play a role, so it's important to be aware of these risks," he explains. And, he adds, reduce your chances of a motor vehicle accident by avoiding driving or traveling as a passenger in a developing country after dark. Hire a reputable driving service to transport you, and take along a car seat for your child.
A Q&A With Your MD
Be sure to discuss any health concerns with your doctor at your checkup. Here are a few questions to consider:
What is the actual risk of infection in the location you’re traveling to?
Are the health threats in the cities different from those in rural areas? Risks may vary within a country, Marty says.
Are there any risks associated with the recommended vaccinations or preventive measures?
Should you bring any over-the-counter medications and health products with you on your trip? You may have trouble finding supplies at your destination.
Get Ready for a Memorable Experience!
Once you’re prepared, get ready for a great time. "Travel is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have in terms of education and personal fulfillment," Leizman says. "We want people to live life to the fullest, and we feel that our role is to help facilitate the process of having a fulfilling trip."
Jonathan Leizman, MD, staff physician at the Cleveland Clinic's International Travel Clinic, reviewed this article.
Charles Ericsson, MD, an infectious disease and travel medicine specialist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health) Medical School.
Jonathan Leizman, MD, staff physician at the Cleveland Clinic's International Travel Clinic.
Aileen M. Marty, MD, FACP, director of the Florida International University Travel Medicine Program and professor of infectious disease at FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami, Florida.
"Altitude Sickness." Cleveland Clinic. Page accessed July 17, 2014.
"Malaria: Frequently Asked Questions." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Page last reviewed December 12, 2012.
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| dyslexia | diet and weight loss | gout | crohn's disease | high blood pressure | ibs | skin cancer | depression | general health lifestyle | heart health | osteoporosis | children's health and parenting | rosacea | eating and nutrition | neck pain |
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NDIS Priority Home Delivery
National Disability Insurance Scheme participants will receive a priority delivery service from major supermarkets to help ease the stress during the coronavirus pandemic.
Government Services Minister Stuart Robert said from Monday, the service will help more than 340,000 NDIS participants who are unable to do their grocery shopping in their usual way. "I thank those supermarkets for delivering this service as it will be a great help to hundreds of thousands of Australians and their families," Robert said in a statement on Sunday. "Our priority during this period is doing what we can to support the immediate needs of NDIS participants, including through enabling priority home delivery of groceries and other basic essentials."
Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Foodworks and Harris Farm are among the retailers participating in the scheme, according to the NDIS. The same in-store product limits on in-demand goods still apply to goods purchased through the NDIS priority service. The government said it "encouraged" people to do their shopping in the usual way if possible, taking into account the usual social distancing measures but is offering the priority delivery service for those who can't make it into a store.
"Priority delivery means that as an NDIS participant you can receive your items home delivered, before general members of the public. Supermarkets will pick your items and prioritise the delivery of your orders," the NDIS said. "Priority home delivery services provide an option for participants who are unable to continue shopping in their usual way to purchase grocery items online and have them delivered to their home."
On Monday every NDIS participant will receive an individual code via SMS or email which will give them access to the priority delivery offer. Upon completing an online shopping order, participants will be prompted to enter their code when choosing the home delivery option.
More information is available at the NDIS website's coronavirus information page. Supermarkets have been a constant source of coronavirus concern. Bulk-buying of essential goods like toilet paper and hand sanitiser, as well as staples like rice and pasta, led to shortages in some parts of the country.
This in turn led to tension in stores, which erupted into physical altercations in some instances, forcing retailers to place strict limits on the purchase of some products.
Major supermarkets have had to adjust their operating hours to keep up with demand and ensure shelves are properly stocked, as well as taking on thousands of new staff. Stores have tried to ensure all members of the community, particularly the elderly or vulnerable, are able to meet their shopping needs by instituting special 'community hours' reserved for certain sections of the population.
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info@quickmill.com
Tooling & Process
Quickmill, Inc.: They know large parts
Originally published in the June 2012 issue of Business Review Canada
Quickmill delivers unique CNC drilling and milling solutions to an international customer base
Quickmill of Peterborough, ON may not be the largest manufacturer of computer numerical control (CNC) milling and drilling machines on the global stage, but it certainly ranks among the most innovative and customer-centric.
Incorporated in 1984 by engineer and current company Vice President Dave Piggott, Quickmill designs and builds large gantry milling and drilling and bridge-type machining centers used primarily in the metal cutting industry. The company has approximately 50 employees and, as a true one-stop solutions provider, its machines are used across a variety of sectors including the structural fabrication, oil and gas and power generation industries as well as the job shop market.
“Our machines can be used anywhere they are producing large components where they need metal removed,” says CEO and President Gordon Buchholz, who joined the company in 1991 as a machine assembler and service technician and worked in every phase of operations before his appointment to his current position in May 2010.
Piggott ran his own machine shop and Quickmill’s genesis can be traced back to his invention of the small machine to save on in-house labor by producing parts for some of his customers. “When they had seen what he had designed and built they said why don’t you build a machine for me? He did that for a few customers and basically saw there was a business need to build machinery for certain industries and he started to sell a few machines a year,” Buchholz relates.
Piggott shut down that machine shop and founded Quickmill, fabricating machinery for the structural steel and heat exchanger industries in the early years. The company moved into its current facility about 10 years ago and along the way has forged a sterling reputation for honesty and openness. Purchased in 2007, it is now a largely autonomous subsidiary of the Batliboi Group in India.
“We are not a big player and we are going against some major players. Our focus is to do a good job for our customers, to respect our customers and to always look after them,” Buchholz says. “What sets us apart is the way that we cater to the customer because we are not too big.”
The power of branding
Unlike many competitors, Quickmill had the foresight to brand its machines with unique names. The Intimidator line is a low-end drilling machine, the Eliminator a higher-end milling machine and the new Annihilator a complete machining center.
“Branding has been key to our success. People notice us because our brand image is different. We are unique. You know when someone says brand number 2525 it doesn’t really ring a bell. But if you say Intimidator, people think of that. We want people to remember our product and relate it to our company,” says Buchholz.
In branding the QUICKCARE service program that provides clients with ongoing training and assistance, Quickmill took a page from much larger corporations.
“You want to have a program instead of just saying ‘Well, here’s what we do in service.’ QUICKCARE is our technicians and is the value-add for our customers. We offer phone and field support, new machine warranty, spare and replacement parts, machine retrofits, tooling, and application support. It’s a whole business structure instead of just service. QUICKCARE is another way we brand our Quickmill name,” Buchholz notes.
Quickmill continually re-invests in research and development and new machines are designed with the intention of rendering older equipment obsolete. When new equipment is introduced, the company immediately begins brainstorming ways to improve upon it.
“When we bring out a new machine or re-design a machine and make improvements, we always want to make it so the other product really doesn’t have any more use. It’s still a great product but we’ve figured out a better mousetrap, something better and more economical for our customers,” says Buchholz.
The company has focused on the development of complete turn-key solutions for the past five years. When a client provides a sample part, Quickmill engineers the required solution.
“When it’s finished and on your plant floor, we’ve supplied you with a machine, the tooling, the fixtures, the training, and all the peripherals. There’s typically a learning curve of about six months with big machinery like this. We try to get the people good at it in about 30 days,” says Buchholz.
Unable to elaborate on specifics, Buchholz did mention a new Quickmill machine to be rolled out later this year that will complement the existing drilling line and is viewed to be the company’s most efficient product to date.
“This year we brought out the Annihilator because we needed a product in between our milling and drilling lines with a little bit bigger volume but not as heavy. We’ve sold three or four of them already. It does almost the same work as our higher-end machines. Instead of doing 100 percent of the job, it does 80 percent [for] significantly less in price,” says Buchholz.
In May, the company shipped an Eliminator R2515 boiler-making machine overseas to be used to fabricate high-temperature boilers for the energy industry. Buchholz says Quickmill started a concerted push into the international market in 2000 and sales are now split evenly between North American and global clients. He proudly points out that “our repeat sales can be as much as 45 percent for very expensive machinery.”
Quickmill purchases most of its raw materials and components in Canada and the USA although some are shipped from Taiwan and Japan.
Quickmill’s management team strives to empower its staff as much as possible, giving employees the authority to make decisions in the field.
“We try to give as much power as we can to the staff managers and employees to make decisions to run their departments like a business. They each basically run their own business and are accountable for their numbers. We try and get them to find ways to improve their efficiency and bring forward ideas to create and generate revenue,” Buchholz explains.
While the company seeks job-specific skills when recruiting both professional staff and hourly employees, new hires receive ongoing training.
“We do a lot of in-house training here because a lot of the work is specific to our industry. We have had guys that had no experience come in and they’ve trained them up and they’ve been technicians for 15 or 18 years and made a career here,” says Buchholz.
Already strong in South America, India, and the Middle East, the company anticipates further growth into Europe and Southeast Asia in the coming years. Quickmill plans to add sales staff and bolster its international distribution network.
“We’ve got new products that are coming out and our focus this year is on our marketing, doing international trade shows and getting more exposure in the international market,” Buchholz says. “We are a tight-knit group and we rely heavily on our staff to show our image to the world market.”
Kevin Doyle, Senior Editor
Our Mission is to lead the world in the design and manufacture of gantry and bridge type machining centres. Exceptional service and outstanding value are fundamental to our mission.
760 Rye Street,
Canada K9J 6W9
Email: info@quickmill.com
Copyright 2020 Quickmill Inc. All rights reserved. Designed By AB Solutions.
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The future of the English language in the European institutions: a legal perspective
A far less debated and perhaps more unexpected issue has been raised by the United Kingdom’s likely exit from the European Union: what shall be the future of the English language in the European institutions? This article proposes to tackle this issue from a legal perspective, though the question is practically unlikely to be merely one of an administrative character. The central claim is that the permanence of English as an official language of the EU will probably be subject to a decision of the ECJ. The article will also stress the large autonomy of the institutions themselves regarding their internal linguistic regime, meaning that a strong political willingness not to use English could well work either separate or inclusive of legal considerations. The article will then dive into considerations of how choice of language may impact relations in Europe, arguing that it could be a source of further divide between East and West in the coming multi-speed Europe.
A far less debated and perhaps more unexpected issue has been raised by the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, which will become effective likely two years after the triggering of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty: what shall be the future of the English language in the European institutions? I propose to tackle this issue from a legal perspective, though I am well aware that the developments of a language are rarely simply matters of administrative fiat. My argument is that the permanence of English as an official language of the EU will probably be subject to a decision of the ECJ. I will also stress the large autonomy of the institutions themselves regarding their internal linguistic regime, meaning that a strong political willingness not to use English could well work. This, I will conclude, may be a source of further divide between East and West in the coming multi-speed Europe.
Since the Council Decision of 1 January 1973, on the Act of Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which amended the Regulation No 1 determining the languages to be used by the European Economic Community of 1958, English has been an official language of the EU. As of today, English is an official language in three Member States: The United Kingdom, Ireland (Constitution of Ireland, Art. 8.2) and Malta (Constitution of Malta, I.5 (1)). However, it must be noted that only The United Kingdom has accredited English to the European Union. Indeed, Ireland (which joined the EU in the same year) chose to accredit Irish. Malta (which became a Member State in 2004) accredited Maltese. The essential framework under which language politics operate in the European institutions is Regulation n°1, mentioned above. Its preamble reads that the unanimity of the Council is required to determine the rules governing the languages of the institutions. Article 1 does not formulate the principle according to which each Member State could have the right to have one or several of its domestic official languages recognised as official languages in the EU. Rather, it enumerates which languages bear the status of official and working languages – which includes English.
A first teaching could be that, despite The United Kingdom exiting the European Union, English could remain an official language of the EU. De facto, it would be surprising for all Member States to agree on the eviction of the English language, mostly for reasons of pragmatism. If French was the lingua franca of the European Communities at the beginnings, the accession of the UK and Ireland, of the Scandinavian countries and especially of the Eastern countries in 2004 meant that English took over as the dominant language. The eviction of the English language would also create a situation regarding the right of every EU citizen to communicate with the EU institutions in one of the official languages of the EU, pursuant to Article 24 TFEU. What about Ireland, where at most 10% of the population speaks Irish1? Though European institutions would not be formally compelled to answer to an Irishman in English, the European Charter of Human Rights - rendered binding by the Lisbon Treaty - could throw in its two cents with Article 11 (right to information), Article 41 (right to be heard and right of access to documents relating to oneself) and Article 42 (right of access to the documents of the European institutions). However, could it not be argued that the permanence of the English language in the EU institutions, despite the exit of the EU of the only country having accredited English as an official language, would be against the spirit in which Regulation n°1 was drafted? This view would make sense in light of other issues brought up by Brexit, as far as the EU institutions are concerned. For instance, Art. 49 of the EU Staff Regulations stipulates that a civil servant may be required to resign if he breaches the obligation of being a national of one of the Member States of the Communities2. Derogations are rendered possible by Art. 28 (and have been used in the past, when Danish civil servants were hired before the accession of Denmark) but, as their name suggests, remain exceptional and do not reflect the spirit of the legislation. The Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Fourth Chamber, extended composition) of 12 July 20013 sets out interesting perspectives on the issue we are currently considering. Originally a petty procedural linguistic problem, the case turned out to be a much broader assessment of the linguistic regime in the EU. The Court ruled first that “It is the legality of the rule in Article 115(3) of Regulation No 40/94, whereby the applicant must accept that she does not automatically enjoy the right to participate in all proceedings before the Office in the language of filing, which constitutes the direct basis for the decision of the Board of Appeal to which the plea of illegality raised by the applicant is directed”. Most crucially, the Court then claimed that, “it is therefore for the Court of First Instance, on foot of the plea of illegality raised by the applicant, to rule on the legality of the rules governing languages established for the Office by the Council” (para 56). The Court finally concluded that “it must first be pointed out that Regulation No.1 is merely an act of secondary law, whose legal base is Article 217 of the Treaty. (...) Secondly, the Member States did not lay down rules governing languages in the Treaty for the institutions and bodies of the Community; rather, Article 217 of the Treaty enables the Council, acting unanimously, to define and amend the rules governing the languages of the institutions and to establish different language rules. That Article does not provide that once the Council has established such rules they cannot subsequently be altered. It follows that the rules governing languages laid down by Regulation No.1 cannot be deemed to amount to a principle of Community law” (para 58).
This case teaches us three things: 1. Regulation N°1 is merely an act of secondary law, not a principle of Community law. 2. Linguistic rules can be altered. 3. The ECJ has the final word.
It does not seem totally insane therefore to imagine a scenario in which the ECJ would rule in the following way: no membership, no language - to be maintained as an official language, the unanimity of the Council is required.
Now, back to Ireland and Malta; could we imagine these States accrediting English? It is understood from Article 8 of Regulation N°1, “if a Member State has more than one official language, the language to be used shall, at the request of such State, be governed by the general rules of its law,” that first of all, only one language may be accredited. Even if we put aside the politically and symbolically unlikeliness to see Ireland giving up Irish for English or Malta Maltese for English, the expression “governed by the general rules of its law” may add to the difficulty. According to the Irish Constitution, Irish is supreme to English. According to the Maltese Constitution (Art 5), both English and Maltese are official languages, but only Maltese is the national language. A relevant question to ask is whether the act of exiting the EU annuls the act of accession, and therefore, with it, the demand for an official language to be accredited. Luxembourgish is not an official language of the EU, because Luxembourg never asked for it to be accredited in 1957: membership and language are logically considered as separate but, if membership can go without language, the reverse is not true (Turkey could not ask for Turkish to become an official language of the EU). The more precise question would therefore be whether the demand of accreditation is admissible without a valid act of accession. Interestingly, taking a step back and adopting a more historical view, there have been circumstances in the past where English has been used formally, whilst no Member State was English-speaking at the time. In 1953, there 32 translators and copy editors in the Linguistic Service, allocated in four groups (French, German, Italian and Dutch). Without being an official language of the ECSC, English was a working language of the organisation, because of the agreement concluded between the United Kingdom and the ECSC on 21 December 1954. The same phenomenon occurred at Euratom where, in a field dominated by the United States, English-speaking translators were hired. In 1962, these translators officially became civil servants of the European Community [4]. This point reaffirms the relative autonomy of the EU institutions in terms of linguistic regime. In fact, Regulation N°1 does not claim that all official languages of the EU should be used in all circumstances by all institutions as working languages. The wording of the english version of the Regulation suggests that the use of certain languages instead of others is the exception rather than the norm: “the institutions of the Community may stipulate in their rules of procedure which of the languages are to be used in specific cases” (Art. 6). However, the French version (which is the original) gives much more freedom to the Institutions, by not including the expression “in specific cases”: Les institutions peuvent déterminer les modalités d'application de ce régime linguistique dans leurs règlements intérieurs”. The French version is the view that was adopted by the conclusions of the ECJ in 20035. Indeed, some variations are to be found amongst different institutions. The European Commission has set out three procedural languages, French, German and English. The European Central Bank has opted for English as its working language, whereas the European Court of Justice deliberates in French. Today in the European Parliament, interestingly, Art. 117 of the Rules of Procedure specifies that any language can be used if deemed necessary (Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, 14th edition, June 1999, OJ L 202, 2/8/1999). That could potentially include English, if it ceased to be an official language. The reverse could also be true; if the Council failed to repel English as an official language of the EU (and provided that the ECJ would not eventually contradict the Council), English could still cease to be used as a procedural and working language of the institutions. In this case, it would simply bear the status of a “treaty language”, like Irish today. In accordance with an agreement found between Ireland the Community in 1971, and valid until 31 December 2006, Irish was considered an official language but not a working language, both parties having agreed that only primary legislation would be translated into Irish. Irish became an integral official language on 1st January 2007, though a derogation was permitted until 2021, due to the difficulty of hiring skilled interpreters6. Today, the work carried out in the European institutions is done mostly in English. As of 2014, 82.5% of the original administrative and legislative documents were produced in English. Similarly, 261,000 pages were translated into English, 150,000 into French and 136,000 into German7. In other words, English is the most used language both in terms of writing and translating.
However, this is a relatively recent trend. in 1997, only 45% of documents in the Commission were written in English, and the rest mostly in French8 - in a Commission still haunted by the shadow of Jacques Delors. In the European Parliament, the use of French has been increasing since 2008, to reach 23.77% in 2014. Above all, one should not undermine the importance of having most European institutions based in French-speaking cities: Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg. In sum, the possibility to substantially abandon English exists; this is a question of strong political willingness more than a utopian French narrative. Politico reports that Danuta Hübner, head of the European Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO), claimed that English “will not be one of the European Union’s official languages after Britain leaves the EU”9. The Wall Street Journal warned that the Commission “has already started using French and German more often in its external communications”10. A senior MEP stated, ‘If we don’t have the UK, we don’t have English’ Another tweeted, ‘English cannot be the third working language of the European parliament’. In conclusion, if the whole issue of the future of the English language has, of course, been determined by Brexit, I will stress the point that it must also be viewed in light of the emergence of a multi-speed Europe – a new framework which has been enshrined by the recent Rome Declaration (We will act together, at different paces and intensity where necessary, while moving in the same direction, as we have done in the past, in line with the Treaties and keeping the door open to those who want to join later). What could arise from this new policy is also a two-fold linguistic bloc. In the East, the lingua franca – pardon the pun - would remain English. In the West (taking into consideration Italy’s push for a reinforced status for the Italian language11, which should not be undermined), a politically-motivated reorientation towards the use of languages other than English.
Endnotes 1. Romaine, Suzanne (2008), "Irish in a Global Context", in Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín and Seán Ó Cearnaigh, A New View of the Irish Language, Dublin: Cois Life Teoranta
2. http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/docs/toc100_en.pdf
3. http://curia.europa.eu/juris/showPdf.jsf?text=&docid=46515&doclang=EN
4. http://www.academia.edu/6552655/la_traduction_%C3%A0_la_commission_europ%C3%A 9enne_1958-2010
5. Conclusions JACOBS sous CJCE, 9 septembre 2003, Kik, C-161/03 P, Rec.,p.I-8283, point 46
6. OP/B.3/CRI, Publications Office -. "Publications Office — Interinstitutional style guide — 7.2.4. Rules governing the languages in the institutions"
7. Ginsburgh, Moreno & Weber. Ranking Languages in the European Union: Before and After Brexit. ECARES working paper 2016-29.
8. http://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2016/05/06/l-usage-de-la-langue-francaise-recule-au- sein-des-institutions-europeennes_4914763_4355770.html
9. http://www.politico.eu/article/english-will-not-be-an-official-eu-language-after-brexit-senior-mep/
10. https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-to-say-au-revoir-tschuss-to-english-language-1467036600
11. Meanwhile, the president of the regional council of Tuscany, Eugenio Giani, called for Italian to become one of the official languages of the EU. “We have not defended ... our language as we should have, both on the European continent and in the world,” Giani said following the British referendum result. (Politico)
#English #Brexit
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Russia: Analysis From Washington--'Promiscuous Polarity' In Post-Cold War World
December 09, 1998 00:00 GMT
By Paul Goble
Washington 23 December 1998 -- Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov's efforts to exploit Indian and Chinese unhappiness with the U.S.-led bombing of Iraq reflect recent changes in nature of the international system rather than a fundamental shift in Moscow's foreign policy.
That is, they reflect the declining importance of longterm alliances based on long term interests and the increasing significance of temporary accords based on short-term reactions to specific events, a pattern one Indian foreign policy expert has called "promiscuous polarity."
In commenting on Primakov's latest effort, Uday Bhaskar, the deputy director of the Indian Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis, noted that in the wake of the end of the Cold War, "every major country is groping" for a definition of the nature of the new international system.
"It is neither a unipolar world, nor a multi-polar world," Bhaskar argued. Rather it is "more like promiscuous polarity," a world in which every country has "to engage everyone" all the time and in response to ever-shifting events.
That is clearly what Primakov was trying to do during his two-day visit to India this week.
Speaking in New Delhi on Monday, Primakov called for the establishment of a "security triangle" including Russia, China and India.
Most observers have dismissed Primakov's proposal as mere rhetoric. They have noted that these three countries have disagreed more often than they have agreed. And they have pointed out that China is unlikely to be willing to participate in any such arrangement.
And they have pointed to Primakov's own words on Tuesday when he appeared to back away from his proposal by suggesting that it was little more than a good idea and that in any case, it was never intended to be directed against any third country.
But an analysis that appeared in Tuesday's "Nezavisimaya gazeta," one that echoes the ideas of Indian analyst Bhaskar, suggests that this dismissal of Primakov's proposal fails to understand just what he was trying to achieve under the circumstances.
Writing in the influential Moscow daily, Dmitriy Gornostayev and Sergey Sokut suggest that Primakov had simply taken advantage of the situation created by American and British bombing of Iraq. And they argue that while Primakov's call for the creation of a strategic triangle may seem "ill-considered," "Primakov never says anything just for the sake of it."
By making this proposal now, they write, Primakov is sending a variety of messages to a variety of audiences, messages that he can modify as conditions require.
To the United States and the West more generally, Primakov is sending a "warning" that Moscow intends the East-West relationship to be "far more frank" than it has been up to now. In that sense, Gornostayev and Sokut argue, his words are a propaganda move.
But to India and China, they continue, Primakov's suggestion is more than just words. It represents "an invitation" to cooperation and the latest variant of "a complicated dance" in which Russia will be willing to change partners as conditions around them change.
On the one hand, that stance gives Russia greater flexibility in dealing with the rest of the world. But on the other, it means that Russia will be an ever less reliable partner for anyone, including the Indians and Chinese.
And that pattern of international behaviour, one not captured by many models of international affairs up to now, highlights the new realism of Russian foreign policy, one that will take advantage of opportunities rather than be constrained by commitments.
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Yugoslavia: Kosovar Refugees In Macedonia Dream Of Home
April 09, 1999 00:00 GMT
By Kitty McKinsey
Stenkovec, Macedonia; 8 April 1999 (RFE/RL) -- Beqir Sfarqa -- a 35-year-old power station worker -- says he lived in peace with his Serbian neighbors in the Kosovar capital, Pristina, until quite recently.
But after NATO air strikes began against Yugoslavia, he says, Serbs beat his uncle to death and a Serbian neighbor with whom he used to play football destroyed his car and home and forced him to flee for his life to the refugee transit camp in Macedonia that he now calls home.
Western leaders say such acts are part of a coordinated Serbian campaign of ethnic cleansing. Belgrade denies the claim, and says the mass of Kosovar refugees leaving the province were driven out by the NATO air strikes.
Accounts from thousands of Kosovar refugees seem to give credence to the western leaders' account of events. And Sfarqa says his only thought is of going back to Kosovo and getting revenge.
"At the first opportunity, I'll go to Kosovo with weapons, and I'll fight against them. Even if it will be peace, I will kill the person who burned my house, my car ... they killed my uncle. I will always think to kill them."
Sfarqa was the only one of dozens of Kosovars who spoke to an RFE/RL correspondent to talk of revenge. But his desire to go home to Kosovo was universal.
Our correspondent in Macedonia asked dozens of ethnic Albanians refugees at the Stenkovec transit camp where they want to go now. Every one of them gave the same answer -- Kosovo.
Arben Gashi -- a 20-year-old chemistry student from Prizren -- sits on a blanket with a packet of emergency rations and ponders the whereabouts of the rest of his family. He is asked if he will go abroad. His answer is an emphatic no.
"We will get back to our country. That is the only country we can live in. We cannot go anywhere else. No, I will never go abroad. I want to get back to my home. I live there. I was born there. And I would like to die there."
In their efforts to alleviate the refugee burden on Macedonia, a number of other countries this week began air-lifting refugees out for temporary stays abroad. But the move is controversial because many see it as rewarding Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic by dispersing Kosovars far from their homes. Many say the further away the Kosovars go, the less chance there is they will return to their homeland.
At an emergency meeting in Luxembourg yesterday, European Union governments backed away from plans to air lift up to 100,000 Kosovar refugees out of the Balkans. Justice and interior ministers for the 15 European Union member states said the EU should concentrate on keeping in the region the majority of the 460,000 refugees who are believed to have left Kosovo over the last two weeks. British officials said London will oppose any proposals for the EU to draw up an evacuation plan, arguing that such a move will encourage Milosevic to believe he can get away with ethnic cleansing. British Home Secretary Jack Straw said "the EU must not do anything that in any way plays into the hands of Milosevic and the Serb terrorists." France is also opposed to a mass evacuation.
The chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Knut Vollebaek -- in a quick visit to Skopje yesterday -- agreed that moving refugees out of the region is not ideal. But he said it may be the best temporary solution to keep more Kosovars from being killed and to relieve pressure on Macedonia and Albania.
"I see that as a matter of principle the refugees should be catered for in the neighboring states, but we also have to see the actual political and economic situation in these countries and assist them also by transferring refugees out of these countries to our own countries."
Fatmire Dumhishi -- a 21-year-old biology student from Mitrovica -- says her entire family has disappeared. She says she doesn't want to move out of the Stenkovec camp until she has news about her relatives or can go back home to Kosovo.
"I don't want to go further. I want to stay just behind the border and when it will be possible, to get back to my home. I don't need to go anywhere else because I don't have anyone abroad. I have my whole family, relatives, cousins, in Mitrovica, so I want to get back to Kosovo whenever it is possible."
NATO says that getting the refugees back home -- and protected by an international military peace force -- will be its top priority once it defeats the Yugoslav army and the Serb special police forces. As U.S. President Bill Clinton said earlier this week, "The refugees belong in their own homes, in their own land."
Ismail Mavriqi -- a refugee in Stenkovec who become separated from his wife and children -- says he is just waiting for NATO to make it safe for him to go back to Kosovo. If his home has been destroyed, he says he will rebuild it with his own hands. He says all other Kosovars share his dream.
"If NATO will guarantee us, I will be back in my home immediately. Kosovo is our fatherland. These people all want to get back to their homes. Just tell us it is safe. I will go even if my house is burned. I will stay anywhere just to be back in Kosovo and be safe there."
Seventy-year-old Xhevahire Dugolli from Drenica says she has absolutely no interest in being sent to Germany or Switzerland. She just wants to end her days in her homeland, Kosovo.
She says emphatically: "If I could, I'd go there tonight."
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R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC Announces Bill Wimmer’s Retirement
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky – R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC today announced that Bill Wimmer, a valued member of the Board of Directors, is retiring after serving with the company for over 10 years.
Mr. Wimmer began his fifty-one-year railroad career with Chicago Northwestern Railway in 1957 where he advanced to the position of Division Engineer. In 1974, he went to work for Union Pacific Railroad where he was known for his engineering capabilities. Over his thirty plus years at Union Pacific, he held a variety of positions including Vice President of Engineering that eventually led him to the role of Vice President of Operations. Bill Wimmer was named as Railway Age's 2007 Railroader of the Year, a prestigious honor given to the best leaders in the rail industry. He retired from Union Pacific in July 2008. Throughout Mr. Wimmer's career he shared his vast experience to strengthen the rail industry and remained a member of many railroad industry associations and committees.
In December 2009, Mr. Wimmer joined the R. J. Corman Board of Directors, seeing the company as one with great potential. Bill Wimmer played an integral role in strengthening R. J. Corman’s relationship with Union Pacific, greatly improving the organizational communication between the two companies. In addition to providing high level organizational advice, Mr. Wimmer also invested in the company in a personal manner. He served as a mentor to engineers at R. J. Corman with his decades of experience and insight. He coached engineers on how to be more efficient and work smarter, thereby strengthening this core value at the company.
“It has been an honor to have Mr. Bill Wimmer serve on our board over the past decade, and we are very grateful for the impact he has made here,” said Ed Quinn, R. J. Corman President & CEO. “He has been with our company through the expansion of our switching operations, Storm Team responses across numerous states, the founding of R. J. Corman Signaling, and the purchase of multiple short line railroads. During this time of extraordinary growth, Bill’s ingenuity and wisdom have been vital. We will miss having such a steadfast colleague on the board and wish Bill all the best in his retirement.”
R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC Announces Phil Ogden’s Retirement
R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC Announces Appointment of Terry Evans and Vern Graham to the Board Of Directors
R. J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC Announces Fred Mudge's Retirement
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Health System Severely Disrupted by Syrian Crisis
As the Syrian crisis passes the two-year mark, refugees number over one million, 70,000 people have died and 350,000 have been injured, and the health system is severely disrupted.
On March 15 the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean issued a situation report describing the effects of the crisis on health in the region. The impact on the health care system has had a direct effect on the provision of preventive and curative health care, including support for chronic diseases, reproductive health, infant and child health, nutrition, and mental health services.
Seventy percent of health workers living in heavily affected areas (rural Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo) face difficulties in accessing their workplace, according to the report. Thirty-six percent of hospitals are out of service. Health facilities and pharmacies are increasingly unable to provide medicines.
http://applications.emro.who.int/dsaf/Situation_Rep/2013/Situation_Rep_2013_12.pdf.
Syria, Health Workers, Armed Conflict, World Health Organization
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London Life Dumps "Freedom 55"; Launches "Servitude 75"
By Suzanne Lucas
Above: Former "Freedom 55" policy holder has a clear vision of his future.
(SNN) - London Life Insurance Co. desperately needs to rebuild its client base and is changing the name of its financial planning division known as Freedom Fifty Five Financial to do it.
As part of a major rebranding strategy, the London-based company is moving away from the “Freedom 55" concept to promote "Servitude 75", a new way of thinking that it believes will resonate more with its customers.
“Freedom 55 was a popular concept back in the 80s but things have changed since then,” says the 85-year old VP of Wealth Management, Tangledork Mangleplum, who’s still working because he doesn’t have enough cash to retire. “Yes, we still offer financial security planning solutions that allow people to choose when they retire, but the hope of retiring at 55 is pretty much dead. Oops, no pun intended."
One of the drivers of the new strategy is the growth in the baby boomer population, which is living longer than ever. According to Statistics Canada, men now have an average life expectancy of 82 years compared to 75 in 1974. Women are living an average of 85 years, which is six more years than the average female lifespan back then. This means that workers that photocopy their butts and mail it to their boss when they hit 55 need enough money to survive for an extra 30 years.
According to Mangleplum, Servitude 75 is much more in line with today's economic and demographic realities and speaks to the population, whose financial circumstances make it difficult to sock away the minimum $2 million dollars required to retire after 35 years of service.
“I’m not only the VP of this financial services company, I'm also a customer so I know what I'm talking about," says Mangleplum. "I've been using their products and services for over 50 years, and this has helped me reach the point where I can now retire five years after I die.”
London Life will be formally announcing the new division name through a promotional campaign set to launch in May, when executives hope to see a significant turnaround in its sales. "If that doesn't work, we'll try our back-up slogan "Entombment Eighty-Five".
Photo: Some Rights Reserved by Pedro Moura Pinheiro flickr photostream. The Sage nor this article endorsed. The original image can be found here.
More from Suzanne Lucas
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"The Odyssey": The original chick lit?
Shaking up the academy, an independent scholar argues that Homer didn't write the great epic poems -- and that their author was likely a woman.
By Andrew O'Hehir
For most of the past 2,500 years, scholars and aficionados of what we would now call the Western literary tradition had little doubt about its point of origin. At the dawn of Greek civilization, nearly 1,000 years before the birth of Christ, a blind poet named Homer (Homeros, in Greek) had written or composed -- and here we feel the first faint stirrings of an irresolvable ambiguity -- two great epic poems, "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey."
These poems were not the beginning of literature; the Sumerian epic of "Gilgamesh" was first written down at least 1,000 years earlier (but was not widely known in the West). Just as Greek society and politics would set the table, for better and for worse, for the 3,000 years of Occidental civilization to follow, so too would the Homeric epics generate a fertile, extensive and continuing literary culture. There is no story about the cruelty and heroism of warfare in the Western tradition -- and no story about men fighting over a woman -- that does not refer back to Achilles and Agamemnon, Paris and Helen, Hector and Andromache, and the other characters and themes of "The Iliad."
Every tale of a hero who survives many hardships and adventures on the long road home -- and every tale of a woman who remains true to her long-lost husband, in defiance of her own family and community -- is essentially a reworking of the saga of the wily Odysseus and the steadfast Penelope in "The Odyssey." In many ways, the world of Achilles and Odysseus seems enormously distant from our own, sometimes to the point of incomprehensibility. At the same time, imagining what Western culture would be like without these poems and the stories they tell is literally impossible; it's like imagining contemporary America without cars or guns.
As the English historian and linguist Andrew Dalby reminds us in his new book "Rediscovering Homer," most of what was understood about the Homeric epics, for most of Western history, was wrong or misleading. Conventional ways of thinking about history and legend, about authorship and the oral tradition, about the structure and language of the poems, and about what they actually say, have clouded men's minds for generations -- and continue to do so today, Dalby thinks, even in an age of more rigorous scholarship.
Dalby's headline-grabbing assertion is that Homer, if he ever existed, was certainly not the author of "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey," and not even the author of early drafts or proto-texts. The author was the person who decided to write down (or dictate) the legendary stories of the Trojan War and the wanderings of Odysseus as epic narratives, far longer than would be suitable for an evening's tale spinning. That author had at least the faint glimmering of an idea that would change the world: Writing a long poem on a stack of cured goatskins (the only available medium) might ultimately reach a larger audience than that available to the traditional poet-singers who traveled from place to place as after-dinner performers. Dalby thinks that author was probably, or at least plausibly, a woman.
"Rediscovering Homer" is certain to rile professional Homeric scholars, whose view of the epics has changed cautiously and gradually over the past century or so. Some may seek to dismiss Dalby, who is a free-floating, unaffiliated author and researcher of the sort once described as a "gentleman scholar." (He holds a Ph.D. in ancient history, but makes his living by writing books for general readers, not by teaching in a university.) They will argue that his dating of the poems is unorthodox -- he thinks "The Iliad" was written around 650 B.C. and "The Odyssey" around 630, whereas most scholars would date them 70 to 90 years earlier -- and that his identification of a female author is no better than guesswork.
Dalby himself cheerfully acknowledges these criticisms. His work is full of speculation and supposition, he admits, but at least those are rooted in the best available linguistic, literary and historical scholarship rather than antiquated tradition. Many contemporary textbooks and teachers, on the other hand, offer a half-hearted and indecisive mishmash of information: "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" are the work of person or persons unknown, conventionally called Homer, perhaps literate and perhaps not. Some authorities try to make Homer coincide with the birth of Greek writing, while others ascribe authorship to an anonymous process called the "oral tradition" rather than to specific people. Either way, these are fuzzy, self-undermining notions.
The Homeric epics have been surrounded by an aura of mystery and controversy since they first became popular (sometime around 500 B.C.), and this has never prevented readers from enjoying them, or grasping their seminal importance. If anything, the idea that "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" offer a window onto human prehistory, onto a past that is otherwise silent piles of dust and bone, has formed a considerable part of their allure. But anyone who admires intellectual puzzles will appreciate Dalby's attempt, imaginative as it may be, to synthesize the arguments of many other scholars with his own and untangle the tortured question of Homeric origin.
If you read the poems in school sometime in the last 30 years or so (most likely in Richmond Lattimore's dutiful but leaden 1961 translation), you already have a vague sense that the question of who wrote them, and when and how and why -- and even the question of what we mean when we ask who wrote them -- has no easy answer. Homer isn't mentioned in Greek sources until at least 300 years after his presumed lifetime, and many scholars view him as a folkloric figure, a "personification of epic," in Dalby's phrase, rather than a remembered human being. Spurious biographies of Homer were published later, after the poems had achieved widespread fame, but those bear roughly the same relationship to historical truth as the books about Nostradamus available in today's supermarkets.
If Homer was a real person, he almost certainly lived and died before the introduction of the Greek alphabet. (Yes, language wonks, written Greek existed centuries before "Homer," in the alphabet known as Linear B, but that had vanished by 1100 B.C. and in any case was never used for literary purposes.) Even early Greek commentators saw this problem, and so a traditional answer emerged: Homer was an oral poet or bard (Dalby prefers the simpler term "singer") who composed the epics during the Greek Dark Ages, sometime between the 10th and 8th centuries B.C. After that they were handed down from poet to poet, essentially intact, for decades or centuries, until someone wrote them down.
Across the succeeding millennia, Dalby observes, scholars quarreled over the details of this history without ever confronting the weakness of its fundamental premise. Some argued that Homer had really existed and others that different poets were responsible for the two epics. Some found evidence that the Spartan lawgiver Lycurgus had ordered the poems written down in the 7th century B.C., while others looked to the 6th century Athenian dictators Peisistratos and Hipparchos. No one challenged the idea that authorship lay somewhere in the pre-literate past.
Other scholars puzzled over the text, debating the poems' internal inconsistencies and their insistent usage of repetitive formula. Scenes of bathing and eating recur over and over again, in virtually the same words, and people and things always carry the same attributes whether or not they seem appropriate in context. The Trojan hero Hector is "man-killing Hector" even in a peaceful setting; Odysseus is "resourceful" or "wily" even when he is lost, clueless and terrified. The "life-giving Earth" is still described that way when fallen heroes are being buried in it, and "The Odyssey" actually includes the line "the noisy dogs were silent." Was this laziness or irony or just a constricted view of the world? (Some translations, like E.V. Rieu's Penguin Classics prose version from 1946, deliberately conceal these poetic formulas.)
Bizarre as this may seem, during all that time no one paid attention to the surviving traditions of oral epic storytelling in Europe and elsewhere. The same oral-literary culture that had produced the Homeric epics had endured into modernity in relatively remote areas like the Balkans, Finland, Russia and Central Asia, rural Ireland and Scotland. This may seem obvious to us now, with our multicultural, anthropologically conditioned vision of the world, but it flew in the face of everything classical scholars believed. Their discipline was at the pinnacle of the humanities, and the cultures they studied were by definition superior to everything that came later. It was axiomatic that the classics could shed light on modern life, but it was ludicrous to suggest that the reverse might also be true.
As early as the 18th century, British scholars like James Macpherson made awkward efforts to compare the Homeric epics to existing Gaelic oral tradition. But the breakthrough didn't come until the 1930s, when the American classicist Milman Parry and his assistant Albert Lord began intense comparative studies of the rich oral traditions in the Balkans, especially among Bosnian Muslims, who at that time were a largely illiterate people still untouched by mass media. What they learned would change Homeric scholarship profoundly, but Dalby believes the changes have still not been fully absorbed or understood.
The key discovery of Parry and Lord's "oral theory" is that entire poems are never transmitted intact from one oral poet to another, let alone across several generations. "In modern oral traditions," Dalby explains, "poets or singers often claim to be repeating word for word a composition by some famous, honored predecessor, but it has been shown by experiment and fully confirmed by research that this claim is not and never can be true in our terms. There is no possibility of exact transmission. Narratives in oral tradition are created anew every time they are performed."
In other words, poets don't perform works exactly as they heard them from others, and themselves never perform works the same way twice. To anyone who has ever told a campfire ghost story or a shaggy-dog joke this may seem glaringly obvious, but again, the professoriate is not noted for its ability to draw appropriate lessons from everyday life. In the face of this evidence, Lord and other scholars sought to redate Homer such that he could plausibly have written or dictated the epics himself, but this contradicts every ancient authority on the subject.
To Dalby, the real conclusion is clear: "As the tradition says, Homer was a famous singer who worked long before the use of writing. We are therefore reading not his work but that of a later singer in the same tradition, the one who composed the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey' and saw them written down. She (or he) was a seventh-century [B.C.] contemporary of Archilochos [one of the earliest identified Greek poets] and was among the greatest creators of literature that the world has known, but is not named in the poems."
Every reader will be eager to evaluate Dalby's case that this neo-Homer was female, but before he gets to that, Dalby demonstrates how Parry and Lord's oral theory has helped illuminate many of the epics' most mysterious ingredients. When you accept the premise that "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" were semi-improvised oral epics, but composed at a highly unusual length and composed to be written down, many things become clear. The repeated scenes and the use of formulaic adjectives are found in every oral tradition. They supply the poet with ready-made metrical material and allow him to think ahead, and they simultaneously refer to shared assumptions about heroes, gods, social relations and the natural world.
Some of the language used by Mr. or Ms. Homer is already archaic by the standards of 7th century Greek, while some is contemporary. Much of the legendary history presented in the poems is clearly hundreds of years old and may contain real history at its core. In the wake of Heinrich Schliemann's famous 19th century excavations, archaeologists have established that there really was a city called Troy, or Ilion, in Asia Minor (on the northwestern coast of contemporary Turkey), and it really was burned down around 1200 B.C., very close to the traditional date of the Trojan War.
One of Dalby's most delightful nuggets is that when Alexander the Great visited Ilion in 334 B.C., it was basically a tourist trap. Someone had built a spurious "tomb of Achilles" where admirers of the legendary hero could leave offerings; there were guides available and phony Trojan War souvenirs for sale. Yet if ancient beliefs about the time and place of that conflict now look surprisingly accurate, the society depicted in "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" is basically that of the poet's own time, at the dawn of classical Greece, which was quite different from the lost Mycenaean civilization of the 13th or 12th centuries.
Dalby unpacks an intriguing series of snippets from historical or archaeological evidence to support the view that the epics have a historical basis but were built up over the years from a wide variety of materials and also have specific roots in the middle of the 7th century. He suspects that the Trojan War of "The Iliad" comprises two different military campaigns, the one mentioned above and another found in the records of the Hittite king Tudhaliya I, who claimed to have conquered "Wilusiya" and "Truisa," Hittite names for Ilion, or Troy, around 1410 B.C.
He adds that Paris, in "The Iliad" the son of Troy's King Priam and the seducer of Helen, probably has two names for a similar reason. He is often called Alexandros, a fact never explained in the text, and his life history is an odd one: He was expelled from the household as an infant, raised by a herdsman, and later accepted back into the royal family. Hittite records of the 13th century refer to the king of "Wilusa" (Troy again) as Alaksandu, who was the adopted son of his predecessor. This king's dates do not fit either possible Trojan War, and the Paris/Alexandros of "The Iliad" never becomes king of Troy. So maybe we have a composite literary character here, derived from "a prince of Troy named Alexandros and a seducer named Paris -- not the same person, not necessarily in the same place or at the same date."
Dalby's argument that the author of the epics was a woman, probably an aristocratic wife, rests heavily on the oral theory, other recent developments in Homeric studies, and a couple of imaginative leaps. But it isn't a completely new idea. Samuel Butler (whose 19th century translations of "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" are probably the best freely available on the Internet) shocked other Victorian scholars with his 1897 treatise "The Authoress of the Odyssey," in which he identified "The Iliad," with its treatment of warfare, bloodshed and honor, as a manly yarn and the "The Odyssey," with its heightened focus on human relationships, the domestic realm and the subtle play of sexual power, as the Western world's earliest example of chick lit.
It's possible that Dalby is guilty of the same kind of oversimplification, or at least a simplistic view of gender and its literary consequences. When he writes that the poet presents Helen and Andromache (Hector's wife) in "The Iliad," or steadfast Penelope in "The Odyssey," as complicated, insightful and largely sympathetic characters, he is surely correct. Furthermore, both poems offer unflinching depictions of sexual relations in a world where women are literally property and must use their domestic and erotic power subtly while presenting the appearance of total subservience.
Maybe most men couldn't capture those subjects, but that isn't evidence. Men, after all, wrote "A Doll's House" and "Three Sisters" and "A Portrait of a Lady," along with any number of lesser chick-lit classics. When you add these observations to the question of how and why the Homeric epics were composed, however, Dalby's hypothesis begins to gain momentum. First of all, there is no convincing indication that any poetic work the size or scale of these epics had existed previously in Greek. Other early epics from roughly the same period, like Hesiod's "Theogony" or "Works and Days," are less than 1,000 lines, a length that could comfortably be heard by a boozy after-dinner audience. "The Iliad" runs to almost 16,000 lines and "The Odyssey" to about 12,000.
Six centuries or so before the time of Christ, writing something that long "was an extremely daunting project," Dalby says. "A great many goats would have to be killed and skinned, and the chosen singer and the scribe [he assumes they were not the same person] would have to set aside many weeks." Later, he writes that "the 'Iliad' had to be composed privately, with an extended effort of voice and concentration, without the reward in audience appreciation that a singer normally enjoyed ... How would a popular ancient oral singer, accustomed to vocal praise and varied rewards from live audiences, have regarded such an offer?"
Indeed, who would have had the freedom, and the inclination, to do something so peculiar? Singers were traveling tradesmen, dependent on each night's audience for food and shelter, eager to move on to the next town and the next rich man's banquet hall. One can certainly imagine some local aristocrat, who perhaps understood the possibilities of reading and writing, deciding to pay a favorite singer a few weeks' wages to compose and dictate a long-form version of the Trojan War story. But why didn't that singer stick his own name in the poem somewhere and indulge in a little poetic braggadocio, the way Hesiod, Archilochos, Alkman and other early Greek writers did?
Dalby's idea that the poet was someone acculturated to reticence and privacy, someone who was already accustomed to composing and performing at home, is seductive. He demonstrates considerable evidence that women have been among the foremost practitioners of oral epic in many cultural traditions. Researchers (generally male) have tended to miss them because female poets in most patriarchal societies have performed in private, "to please themselves or for a few friends or family members."
A wealthy wife who was skilled in the poetic tradition, and who had slaves to perform most of her expected domestic chores, would have been in an ideal position to devote herself to composing and writing a lengthy epic. She could have paid for the goatskins and the scribe, and would have inconvenienced no one except herself with her weeks of literary work. "Such a woman, if she were as perceptive as the poet of the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey' must have been," Dalby writes, "might have realized that a new potential audience undreamed of by male singers -- an audience of women -- existed and could be reached with the help of writing."
None of this rises anywhere near a standard of proof. But growl as they may, the members of the Homeric academy will have to wrestle with it. I came away from Dalby's book convinced that he has destroyed any sensible connection between the Homeric epics and Homer himself, and that all arguments that the author can only have been a man are on equally shaky ground.
As mentioned already, "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" tell us a great deal about how gender, sexuality and property relations worked in early classical Greece, and it isn't pretty. Briseis, the girl over whom Achilles and Agamemnon have their near-deadly feud in "The Iliad," endangering the Greek siege of Troy, is nothing more or less than a sex slave. (Achilles' true romantic love is of course his valiant companion Patroclus.) When Odysseus, the unquenchable and largely sympathetic hero who has battled the Cyclops, the sorceress Circe, an island of cannibals and numerous other foes, finally gets home, how does he reward his household's slave girls? He has them all killed for having sex with Penelope's loutish suitors, and specifically for enjoying it.
Helen, who has abandoned her husband Menelaus for Paris and thereby launched a thousand ships, is also an item of stolen property, albeit one who comes at a higher price than slave girls do. Whether Helen and Paris truly love each other is of no consequence in the poem's world, and neither is the fact that their affair was compelled by the goddess Aphrodite (who herself loves Paris and therefore acquires him the woman of his dreams). Their coupling violates numerous fundamental social codes; all Greek audiences understood that the resulting 10-year war was justified and the fall of Troy inevitable.
Dalby makes the valid points that Helen and Andromache supply important moments of commentary in "The Iliad," and that Penelope, who without ever leaving home outwits the suitors and her own headstrong son Telemachos, is the co-heroine of "The Odyssey." I think a perceptive male writer could have managed all that, and I'm not sure Dalby gets anywhere with his claims that the poet "subverts" epic and gender in a distinctively female manner. But when you return to the text after reading Dalby, and encounter again the poems' flashes of psychological insight, and their brutal sexual frankness, it's hard to resist the feeling that a woman is addressing us.
Helen is consumed by a passion for Paris that she knows is wrong, does not understand and cannot resist. It's the work of Aphrodite, but one could say that men and women of all eras have sought similar explanations for ill-advised love affairs that ruined their lives and destroyed their families. When Helen comes face to face with Aphrodite in Book 3 of "The Iliad," she tells the goddess spitefully (in Dalby's translation):
Go to Paris yourself, then! Stray from the high road of the gods,
Never again turn your feet toward Olympos;
Whine around him and watch him all the time
Till he makes you his wife, or rather his slave girl!
Aphrodite answers her just as angrily, saying, "Don't rouse me, wretch, or I shall ... hate you as wildly as until now I have loved you, and expose you to the hatred of both armies, Trojans and Greeks. You would die a vile death."
There is no mistaking the underlying electrical charge of fear and emotion beneath this exchange. Helen says: If you love him so much, then crawl to him and beg him for sex, as I have done. Pushing this vulnerability even further, Aphrodite threatens to turn Helen over to the soldiers on both sides, to be raped and killed. Can there be a more real or primordial fear for any woman, whether slave or princess, in a militaristic and male-dominated society? It happened often; it undoubtedly happened to the women of Troy when their city was sacked. Did a male poet of the 7th century B.C. really understand that fear, from a woman's point of view?
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir is executive editor of Salon.
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IS THE SIMON SPOT GAY-BAITING?
The Minuteman comments on the Simon-for-Governor radio add that Andrew Sullivan and I (now there’s a combination you don’t see every day) thought was anti-gay. He responds that (unlike the Montana ad or the Sanders debate comment or the Hawaii whispering campaign) it isn’t a personal attack on an opponent’s actual or imagined sexual orientation, but rather a discussion of a legitimate public issue: what, if anything, the public schools ought to say about sexuality, and in particular about the moral status of homosexual acts.
That’s fair enough, and a relevant distinction. The ad itself doesn’t attack anyone for being (or supposedly being) gay, or attack gays directly: it attacks Democrats for supporting a policy favorable to gays. Of course policy towards homosexuality is a real issue, and it’s fair to say that Democrats on average support being nicer to homosexuals than Republicans do. I think that the Republican position, or what has been the Republican position, is bigotry, and worth condemning. It’s not the same as making fun of someone personally for being gay, but it’s also wrong.
For Sullivan, who wants to be a supporter of gay rights and a right-wing Republican, this is a hard problem. He’s tried to escape it by pretending that some Democrats’ occasional use of anti-gay prejudice is equivalent to the Republicans’ systematic support for discrimination against gays and their opposition to programs that might reduce the extent of prejudice against gays. It’s part of the general libertarian problem of explaining why they support a basically authoritarian ruling party.
I think that what’s happening now is that public opinion, which was very anti-gay ten years ago, has begun to come around, and that the Republicans will follow in due course, just as they have with Jews, Catholics, and Latinos. (Being perceived as the party less friendly to black interests is so crucial to the Republican electoral coalition that they can’t practicably abandon it; that’s why they try to keep black voting down rather than seriously competing for a share of it.)
We can only hope that, as the Republicans slowly expand the circle of those they are prepared to treat as what the South African government used to call “honorary whites,” the newly-included groups will do what Jews have been, I think, pretty good about doing: remembering that “We were slaves,” and that the fact that one’s own group is no longer the particular target of prejudice and exclusion doesn’t make the practice of prejudice and exclusion any nicer, or the party of prejudice and exclusion any more worthy of one’s vote.
Author: Mark Kleiman
Professor of Public Policy at the NYU Marron Institute for Urban Management and editor of the Journal of Drug Policy Analysis. Teaches about the methods of policy analysis about drug abuse control and crime control policy, working out the implications of two principles: that swift and certain sanctions don't have to be severe to be effective, and that well-designed threats usually don't have to be carried out. Books: Drugs and Drug Policy: What Everyone Needs to Know (with Jonathan Caulkins and Angela Hawken) When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment (Princeton, 2009; named one of the "books of the year" by The Economist Against Excess: Drug Policy for Results (Basic, 1993) Marijuana: Costs of Abuse, Costs of Control (Greenwood, 1989) UCLA Homepage Curriculum Vitae Contact: Markarkleiman-at-gmail.com View all posts by Mark Kleiman
Author Mark KleimanPosted on November 2, 2002 Categories UncategorizedTags Medicare
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Boris Johnson COVID-19 Lockdown Press Conference Transcript January 5
Rev › Blog › Transcripts › Press Conference Transcripts › Boris Johnson COVID-19 Lockdown Press Conference Transcript January 5
Boris Johnson held a Downing Street press conference on January 5 to discuss the national lockdown. Read the full transcript of the briefing here.
Boris Johnson: (00:00)
New variant, this new variant of coronavirus. And I believe that when everybody looks at the position, people understand overwhelmingly that we have no choice. When the Office of National Statistics is telling us that more than 2% of the population is now infected, that’s over 1 million people in England. And when today we’ve reported another 60,000 new cases, and when the number of patients in hospitals in England is now a 40% higher than at the first peak in April, I think obviously everybody, you all, want to be sure that we in government are now using every second of this lockdown to put that invisible shield around the elderly and the vulnerable in the form of vaccination, and so to begin to bring this crisis to an end.
And I can tell you that this afternoon with Pfizer and Oxford AstraZeneca combined, as of this afternoon, we’ve now vaccinated over 1.1 million people in England and over 1.3 million across the UK. And that includes more than 650,000 people over 80, which is 23% of all the over 80s in England. That means that nearly one in four of one of the most vulnerable groups, will have in two to three weeks, all of them, a significant degree of immunity. And when you consider that the average age of COVID fatalities is in the 80s, you can see the importance of what we have already achieved. And that’s why I believe that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization was right to draw up a program aimed at saving the most lives the fastest. So by February 15th, as I said, last night, the NHS is committed to offering a vaccination to everyone in the top four priority groups, including older care home residents and staff, everyone over 70, all frontline NHS and castoff, and all those who are clinically extremely vulnerable.
And to help us with meeting this target, we’ve already have 595 GP led sites providing vaccines with a further 180 coming on stream later this week. We have 107 hospital sites with a further 100 later this week. So that’s almost a thousand vaccination sites across the country by the end of this week. And next week, we will also have seven vaccination centers opening in places such as sports stadium and exhibition centers. We know that there will still be long weeks ahead in which we must persevere with these restrictions, but I want to give you, the British people, the maximum possible transparency about this vaccine rollout with more detail on Thursday and daily updates from Monday so that you can see day by day and jab by jab, how much progress we are making. Thanks for watching. I’m going to hand over to Chris to do the slides.
Chris Whitty: (03:46)
Thank you. Prime Minister. First slide, please. Just some updates in terms of data. In the two weeks from the 30th of December, the UK case rate increased by 70%. And as you can see by, from these two graphs, one of which is from the middle of December on the left, and one on the right, the map is from the 30th of December, the darker colors are areas where there are very high rates of transmission. And as you can see across the whole of the UK, there has been a steady increase in the rates. Next slide, please.
These are the most recent data from ONS, the Office for National Statistics, and what this shows is the number of people, and they do this on a random sampling basis. So this is a good estimate of the general population. And this shows the data from August when we actually had very low rates. So in the middle of September, for example, one in 900 people had rates, then an increase, the lockdown was brought in and that brought down the rates, but then we had the problems of the new variant, which I’ll come on to the next slide, and the worst period of winter combining to lead to a significant increase since that time. And we’re now into a situation where across the country as a whole, roughly one in 50 people have got the virus, higher in some parts of the country, lower than others. But one in 50 is really quite a very large number indeed. Next slide, please. If we look around England, what we find is that in every area there has been a relative increase in the new variant of this virus that is spreading around the country, fastest increase in the East of England, London and the Southeast, but it is now taking off in other areas as well. In some of the areas where it took off to the highest level and tier 4 was brought in during a period when schools were closed, there maybe some early indications of some leveling off, but I think we shouldn’t over-interpret that. But it is really clear that this new variant has been rising in all parts of the country. And what we’ve seen is that the bits of the country which had got some of the lower rates and had previously control things, particularly in the Northeast and Northwestern, for example, the rate of increase has, in many of these, been higher than in some of the Southern areas, which have got very high rates already. Next slide, please.
This has inevitably translated into new numbers of patients going into hospital. So these are the number of people in hospital all the way from the 1st of April through to the 1st of January. And you can see the first peak of people in hospital, then decreased due to the remarkable efforts of everyone in the country during the first lockdown, and then through the summer months, an increase, which then again, went down due to the second lockdown, but now really a very rapid increase. And I don’t think you need any modeling to see in what direction the number of hospitalized patients with COVID is going, and this is going up very rapidly. And of course, we are still in the middle of winter. Next slide please.
And sadly, of course, some of those people go on to die. This is the number of deaths of people who had a positive test result. And there was an increase which led to the second lockdown, a decrease following that. But these numbers of deaths are now increasing again. They are at this point quite a long way below the first peak. And there are three reasons for that. The first of which, which is very good news is that doctors, nurses, medical staff in general, are able to manage this disease better than they did previously, better drugs, things like dexamethasone, but also better treatment all around.
The second reason is that there is an age effect that some of the people who are being infected at the moment are younger age than in the first wave. But this obviously, what we’ve seen previously, is it moves up through the age bands over time. But the third reason is that deaths are much delayed. So what happens is people get infected, there’s then a delay before they get ill enough to go into hospital. And then there’s quite a long delay before some people sadly die. And we will unfortunately see, because of the spike in people going into hospital from the last slide, we will inevitably see an increase in number of people who die of this disease as we go into the rest of January. Thank you very much.
Thanks Chris. Patrick, anything to add? Thanks very much. Let’s go to question from the public, Hannah from Northamptonshire.
Hannah: (09:01)
Good evening. My question is how are you supporting people with severe mental health issues? For example, my mom suffers from schizophrenia and doesn’t understand the pandemic circumstances. How would you help someone like her? Thank you.
Well, Hannah, thank you very much for your question. And obviously I’m very sorry for the extra anxiety that the pandemic is causing people such as your mom, people with mental health conditions, and I totally understand why people are concerned. We’ve put a huge amount obviously into NHS mental health care, I think about another 12 billion or so. But directly during the pandemic, what we’re doing now, Hannah is trying to support some of the wonderful mental health care charities that reach out and work with people like your mum. And I think we put about 19 or 20 million into that. That’s what we’re doing at the moment, but you know, clearly the best thing for your mother and everybody is that we get through this as fast as possible. Thank you, Hannah. Let’s go to, and if anybody wants to add anything to that, thank you. Let’s go to Rachel from Reading.
Rachel: (10:21)
I have two children at university, one in halls of residence and one in private accommodation. Could you advise how students will be supported to meet the costs of accommodation that they are not able to live in? And could the government advise if there is any support to reduce tuition fees or the need to repay student loans? Thank you.
Thanks very much, Rachel. Well, obviously we will be looking very carefully at what’s happening to students as a result of the fact that their courses have been postponed, the absence of the tuition that they would expect, what we hope is that they will get-
… that they would expect. What we hope is that they will get online learning that will allow them to continue with their degree courses. But clearly there are going to be issues to do with the cost of that accommodation, that we will have to look at, as a government and see what arrangements universities are making to deal with the reasonable concerns of many, many students. And I want to thank students for the sacrifice that you are making, in staying away from university. Learning online is, you have to, like all other students and peoples in the next few weeks and month. I know it’s a big sacrifice, but I believe sincerely it will be worth it for the reopening of education and the reopening of our lives. Thank you very much, Rachel. Let’s go to Vicky Young of the BBC.
Vicky Young: (12:04)
I’m going to say the whole country is relying on you to take the right steps at the right time, and many think that you waited too long to bring in extra restrictions. How can I have confidence in your decision-making, when on Sunday, you insisted all schools should stay open, and the very next day ordered them to close? And to Professor Whitty and Professor Vallance, when did you first advise the government to lock down in England? And do you think the vaccine rollout timetable is realistic?
Thanks very much, Vicky. Well, I think it’s very important to understand that we’ve been looking at the new variant of… Very hard, ever since we first became aware of its rapid spread, I think on the 18th of December. And it’s been clear that the tier four measures was something that we wanted to evaluate, and over the course of the days leading up to Sunday, clearly, like everybody else in the country, we were hoping that we would start to see some impact, and that we would be able to keep schools open, because keeping schools open is an absolute priority for this country. And keeping kids in education is absolutely vital for this country. But Vicky, what we obviously had to contend with was figures, not just the decision by the four CMOs to go up to alert level five, but figures for the infection rate, I think of 80,000 one day, then 65,000 the next.
And it was clear that we got to a situation where tier four, on its own, couldn’t be relied upon to get the virus under control. And that’s without really going the whole way and asking people to stay at home, and sadly to close schools as well. And that’s why we took the step that we did. And I appreciate the frustration of teachers and parents, and obviously the frustration of pupils. But can I repeat my thanks… I don’t know whether I’m being premature in saying this, Vicky, but I believe that the BBC is coming forward with a big program of education for three hours today. That will be something, that the government will be doing everything we can to help with remote learning as well.
Well, I’d say half of the second one… The CMOs met yesterday morning, and reviewed the data, which had been getting steadily worse in all four nations of the UK. And they advised that we should move to level five yesterday. Patrick might want to talk about SAGE advice, independently of that. In terms of the vaccine timetable, my view is that the vaccine timetable is realistic, but not easy. And the NHS is going to have to use multiple channels to get this out, but they are very determined to do this. But that does not make it easy. And of course, in the case of the Pfizer vaccine, as I think is widely reported, it’s more difficult to handle, because of the complicated cold chain model. And we also, with both vaccines, wanted to be very careful in the first two or three days that we went a little bit slowly, just in case there were some initial unexpected problems.
But I think we do now have a situation where things can be rolled out across lots of different channels. And I think what is really important is that we do that according to the ordering, which has been recommended by the JCVI, which is the Joint Commission on Vaccination and Immunization, which the prime minister talked about. And the reason for that is that, that ordering means that we will have the maximum impact on the disease, because the people that by far, the highest risk of dying will be vaccinated first, and those who care for them. Then the next down, including NHS workers, social care workers, and then on down, all the way through to people in their fifties and those under 50 who have other underlying health problems. By doing it in that way, at whatever speed we do, the, the mortality benefits will be front-loaded. And what we’ll first see is a reduction in mortality over time. And then after that, there will be a slowing of the pressure of COVID on the NHS. But that will take longer. So those two will not happen at the same rate.
And the final thing to do is to say that in the UK, we’ve taken a decision based on JCVI advice, but endorsed by scientific bodies, like the Society for Immunology, endorsed by other medical bodies, like the Royal College of General Practitioners, to delay the first dose of both vaccines by 12 weeks. And we’ve done this based on a number of different scientific lines of decision-making. And that is to allow us to maximize, over the first 12 weeks, the number of people who can be vaccinated, so we can get down those JCVI levels as fast as possible before the second vaccine is given. And that should provide a high degree, not the complete protection, because everybody should have their second dose at 12 weeks. But that should provide a high degree of protection and get us through that as fast as we can, because we are facing, as I think the prime minister said, and the data shows, a really serious emergency at the moment.
Patrick: (17:42)
The increased transmissibility of the new variant was clearly a concern. And given the effects of restrictions, it was obvious that actually, you need to do more in order to retain it, if you’ve got a higher degree of transmissibility. So I think the view from SAGE, and the papers are there, was that, that it was likely that more measures will be needed to retain transmission of a variant that had an intrinsically higher transmissibility rate. And that’s indeed what’s now born out, that you see very fast growth, very fast spread amongst all age groups. And it’s going to need really much firmer measures in order to keep on top of this.
Thanks very much, Vicky. Let’s go to Robert Peston of ITV.
Robert Peston: (18:33)
Good afternoon, gentlemen. Given that there are now a million people infected, what is the chance that we’ll be out of lockdown before the middle, end March, possibly even later? And secondly, to the scientists in particular, you’ll be aware that some of your colleagues are concerned that by widening the gap between first and second dose, you are increasing the risk of the virus mutating and building up resistance to the vaccine. Could you quantify that risk for us please?
Thanks Rob. Let me have a go at the first one, first. And I think it all depends, that our ability to come out of the lockdown measures, our ability to get through this fast, depends on a number of things. And it obviously if… Provided we don’t learn anything new about the virus that we don’t yet understand, so there’s not some new mutation that we haven’t currently bargained for, provided the vaccine rollout goes according to plan, provided the vaccine is as efficacious as we think it is, but above all, provided that everybody follows the guidance now and everybody sticks to the measures that we have now, then we think that by the middle of February, when a very considerable portion of the most vulnerable groups will have been vaccinated or so we hope and believe… That’s the top four of the JCVI cohorts, then there really is the prospect of beginning of the relaxation of some of these measures. I wouldn’t put it any stronger than that. But you’ll also appreciate that there are lots of caveats, lots of ifs built into that. And the most important of which is that we all now follow the guidance and stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.
I’ll have a first go this, but Patrick, if you want to add to this, on the vaccine question. By extending the gap, we are going to, over the next three months, be able to essentially double the number of people who can be vaccinated. So if, by a process of not-very-difficult mathematics, if over that period, there is more than 50% protection, then you’ve actually won. More people will have, overall, have been protected than would have been otherwise. And our quite strong view is that we think protection will be quite a lot more than 50%. So therefore in net public health terms, there’ll be substantially more protection by going faster… Not with the absolutely complete protection. We fully agree, we need a second a dose for everybody. But with the great majority of the protection for that initial period so we get twice as many people vaccinated over that period, and then there’ll be catch up as we go into spring.
There are obviously some unknowns in that. And there’s quite a vigorous scientific debate about some of those unknowns. And one of the things people have raised, as a theoretical risk, that by having this longer gap, you could actually lead to a slightly increased risk of an escape mutant. And that is a real worry, but quite a small, real worry within the system. And I think we discussed this, and Patrick may want to add to this…
… in the system, and I think we discussed this, and Patrick may want to add to this, amongst scientists involved in SAGE and others. I think the general view was, the size of the increase in risk is sufficiently small that measured against this ability to double the number of people who actually are vaccinated, the public health arguments are really strongly for doing what we’ve decided to do. That’s why JCVI independently [inaudible 00:22:23] make sure they were content with us taking this approach. A variety of other bodies have agreed that this is a sensible balance of risk [inaudible 00:00:34]. Clearly, if we had infinite vaccine, we might’ve taken different approaches, but we don’t.
At this point in time for the next three to four months, the number of vaccines we have available is going to constrain our ability to get through the 25 to 30 million people we must do to get through all of the JCVI areas.
Whilst this is such a fast-moving virus at this point in time, our view is very strongly on balance of risk, the benefits to the UK. For us at this point of the epidemic, we’re in favor of doing this. Patrick, you may want to add to that [crosstalk 00:23:06].
Patrick Vallance: (23:06)
Well, the only thing to add is, the more you vaccinate, the more you put evolutionary pressure on the virus. It’s true that as you get at the very high levels of vaccination, the virus is then struggling to find out what to do, and that eventually will become an issue. The virus probably will mutate at that point. That means that different vaccines will be needed in due course.
One of the, I think, very exciting things about the science behind this is the messenger RNA vaccines in particular are incredibly fast to make in response to new mutations. So that in due course in years to come, as we think about this, that will be something that I think gives an advantage to being able to get round it. But all vaccination will ultimately put some pressure on viruses to mutate.
Thanks very much. Sam Coates of Sky.
Sam Coates: (23:51)
I’m going say, there are 60,000 new infections recorded today, partly driven by kids spreading this new strain more readily. Parents want realism. Can you look parents in the eye and tell them that all kids will definitely be back in the classroom before the summer holidays?
So Patrick Vallance, we’ve heard quite a lot recently about a second new variant. This is the one from South Africa. Has it reached our shores? How worried should we be about the South African variant of coronavirus being resistant to the vaccine?
Professor Chris Whitty, how mobile can life really be after just the 13.2 million most vulnerable alone have been vaccinated? Isn’t the risk for those aged 20 up to 50 too high to let it rip through those age groups?
Well, Sam, I’ll take the first one of those excellent questions just on whether we can be absolutely sure that schools will reopen. Well, I just go back to the answer that I gave to Robert [Pearson 00:02:51]. We think that with the vaccination program, we can do a huge amount to take out of the path of the virus those who are most vulnerable. That clearly offers opportunities to our country to do things differently, to approach the whole issue of non-pharmaceutical interventions very differently. I’m full of the same optimism and fundamental hope about the position that I think Chris has adopted, and that I think that things really will be very different by the spring. That is what I would certainly say to every parent in the land.
On the question of the variants, as the virus replicates, you get changes in the genetic code as new mutations come in and things change. Those changes in the genetic code then lead to changes sometimes in parts of the protein. That may lead to shape changes or charge changes on the protein that might mean that the virus becomes recognized differently by the immune system. That’s really the concern that people are looking at.
If I take the UK variant, what we know is that those changes, and there was 22 changes in the genetic code, made the virus more transmissible. As far as we can see, it doesn’t make it hidden from the immune system. So if you’ve had an infection before, actually the evidence is that you probably neutralize this virus as well. The expectation is the same would be for a vaccine.
With the South Africa variant, there’s another change. That change is theoretically a bit more substantial in terms of the shape, if you like. So it has a bit more of an effect potentially on the shape of the viral protein, which theoretically gives it a bit more risk of not being recognized. But there’s nothing again yet to suggest that’s the case. So this is being looked at very actively.
It’s worth remembering that when a vaccine is given, you don’t just make one antibody against one bit. You make lots of antibodies against lots of different bits. It’s unlikely that all of that would be escaped by any mutation. It’s more likely that if there’s an effect, it’s a minor effect to decrease the binding or decrease the efficacy of the vaccine. But we don’t know yet for the South African one. That needs to be looked at, but it’s a theoretical risk.
Every time we see a variant, that’s going to be the question that comes up, and it needs to be looked at. But at the moment, you’d say that the most likely thing is that this wouldn’t abolish vaccine effect. It may have some overall effect on efficacy, but we don’t know.
On the question you asked me, if we did not do the things all of us must now do, if people don’t take the stay-at-home seriously, the risk at this point in time in the middle of winter with this new variant is extraordinarily high. What is going to happen over time is the risk level is gradually going to decrease. It’s not going to be it’s really bad and then suddenly it stops. We’re going to essentially have the risk walking down a path. Things will be able to be lifted by degrees, possibly at different rates in different parts of the country. We’ll have to see. The government has made very clear that ministers prioritize education, for example, as one of the things that would go early, but that’s a ministerial decision very much but in the things we lifted stage by stage.
We’ll then get, over time, to a point where people say this level of risk is one that society is prepared to tolerate and lift right down to almost no restrictions at all. We might have to bring a few in, in the next winter, for example. That is possible because winter will benefit the virus.
But the aim of this is to de-risk it as much as possible by the vaccine to the point where actually we get to the stage where the risk is incredibly low relative to where we are now. We just say, just as we do with flu, where every year roughly on an average year about 7,000 people a year die, in a bad year up to 20,000 people a year die, we accept there is a level of risk that society will tolerate and we should tolerate. People die, that’s one of the things that happens. We have to do that at a certain point, but that’s a political decision. That’s a societal decision.
What we can do though with the vaccine is take the risk down and down, initially with the mortality, then the big pressure on the NHS, then the risk of people actually having infections which could lead to things like long COVID because younger people can still have really serious problems with this. Those risks little by little will be reduced by vaccination, but zero risk is not something which is a realistic possibility. This will not happen in a single bound. It’ll happen by degrees.
Thanks very much, Chris. Thanks, Sam. Let’s go to Jason Groves, Daily Mail.
Jason Groves: (29:43)
Thanks. Prime Minister, you’ve committed, I think, to vaccinate 13 million people in the next six weeks. That means something like two million people a week. What needs to happen to get us to that figure? What changes need to be made because we’re nowhere near there at the moment. I think you said we’d get daily updates for numbers. Can I just check? Is that a commitment to publish a daily figure for how many people have been vaccinated?
Professor Whitty, can I ask you quickly? Is this lockdown enough to reverse the spread of this virus? Or are we in a race against time now? You said we might need a few measures next winter still. What sort of metrics are you talking about?
Thanks very, very much, Jason. Look, on your very, very important questions about the pace of the vaccine roll out, you’re absolutely right. Actually, I think the numbers for the first four JCVI groups might be a little higher than 13 million, but we’re going to do them as fast as we possibly can. We’ve set the target, as you know, by the middle of February. Yes, it is a huge effort. This is the biggest vaccination program in the history of this country, and this country has already, I think, done more than any … certainly done more than any other European country.
What it will require is a lot of people working together in the NHS, the armed services. Every aspect of government is working at this absolutely flat out. The factor at the moment is making sure that we can get enough vaccine where we want it fast enough.
One of the problems, as you know, is that the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has just come on stream, needs to be properly batch tested, properly approved before it can be put into people’s arms. This is just a process that takes time to do, but we will be ratcheting it up over the next days and weeks ahead in the way that you describe. We’ll be giving more details on Thursday of where we’ve got to. I’ve given the figures today.
What we’ll be trying to do, Jason, is to try to … and then daily from Monday. What we’ll be trying to do is to try to break down some of these figures for people so everybody can see which groups are getting the vaccine and how it’s being distributed across the country. My feeling is this is something of massive national interest, and we’ve really got to be as transparent as we can possibly be.
You asked me if the lockdown will be enough. I think the key to this is all of us buying into this really seriously. If we all buy into this, people stay at home, apart from the things which are like work, going out for essential shopping, exercise, if people stick to those rules really strongly-
Jason: (33:03)
If people stick to those rules really strongly and, at the same time, the NHS is vaccinating as fast as it can, then our hope is the lockdown will be enough. But we’ve all got to do that. This has very much got to be a collective effort. No one can do this on their own. You can’t just do it by rules. It’s got to be people buying into this really seriously.
In terms of longer term things, obviously, what we all hope is that we can get a vaccine program that actually means we don’t need anything in the future at any stage. That would be the ideal. But I think it’s also important to understand that this coronavirus is not going to go away, just as flu doesn’t go away, just as many other viruses don’t go away. And the time that benefits them most is always winter; that’s one of the reasons we’re having problems now, along with the new variant. And therefore, we just need to keep an open mind about that. The hope would be we don’t need to do anything, certainly nothing on the scale we’re having to do at the moment, because vaccination should take the great majority, possibly all of the heavy lifting. But I think what we shouldn’t kid ourselves, Is this just disappears with spring. What will happen with spring is the risks go right down. Hopefully we’ll have spring, summer, and autumn and, possibly, winter as well with almost nothing in place, once the full vaccination program is through. But we just need to be aware of the fact it is not a problem that just disappears.
Thanks very much, Jason. Let’s go to Andy Woodcock, Independent.
Andy Woodcock: (34:23)
Prime Minister, we understand that the UK is shortly going to introduce mandatory negative coronavirus tests for foreign nationals flying to the country. It’s a test of something that airports have been asking for, for months. They’ve been used successfully in other countries for a very long time now. Why has it taken so long for Britain to adopt this position? Is that something that has contributed towards coronavirus being so persistent here in the UK? And if that’s what we’re requesting from foreign nationals, why not UK nationals coming from abroad too?
And also if I could ask the scientist, the prime minister has described schools as a potential vector for coronavirus, if that’s the case, why is it that teachers and pupils are not on the priority list for vaccination? If we vaccinate them, is that not something which would allow us to open school sooner?
Well thanks, Andy.
First of all, I’ll ask Chris or Patrick to answer about transmission in schools. But I just repeat, the schools are safe. But on what we’re doing to protect the UK from transmission from abroad, we will be bringing in measures to ensure that we test people coming into this country, and prevent the virus from being re-admitted.
But Patrick or Chris, you want to add anything on that?
Chris: (35:45)
I mean, on school, two points on this. The first thing is just to reiterate a point the prime minister made. One thing that we do not think is that this new variant is any more dangerous for children than the old variant is. And there’s no evidence, for example, that the hospitals are filling up with children. There is always a risk with any infection to people of all ages. But children are relatively much less affected than other groups, which is one of the few good things you can say about coronavirus. And that will be important, obviously, when schools can go back.
In terms of vaccination priority, I think from a clinical point of view, the real priority is to make sure that we … You know? We know who the people are who are, by far, the most likely to die and are, by far, the most likely to end up in hospital. And it’s that ordering which the Joint Commission on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) has put in place, and which everybody who’s looked at this has agreed this is correct ordering. Lots of academics, lots of others, have looked at it and they all agree. So I think it’s very important that that ordering, which takes us down not just to the first four tiers which the prime minister talked about, but all the way down to people who are in their 50s, which would include some teachers, obviously, and people who’ve got underlying health conditions, is followed through. Because those are the people who are the most likely to come at risk.
Then that still leaves around half of the … well slightly more, actually, than half of the population. And there will have to be some decisions made about that in due course. But we are some way from that. And I think the key thing is, prioritize those who are most likely to come to clinical harm.
A final point on the vaccine is neither of the vaccines are currently licensed for use in children. So we would not be going down that path at this stage, but that may obviously change over time. Patrick, do you want to add to that?
[inaudible 00:37:32]
Terrific, thanks. Andy, let’s go to Dominic Yeatman of Metro.
Dominic Yeatman: (37:37)
Hi there. Prime Minister, the UK has seen more than 50,000 people test positive for coronavirus for eight days in a row now. If you had taken this lockdown decision 24 hours earlier, it would have stopped three million primary school children mixing for a day and taking the new wave of infection back to their families. Do you regret this delay? And secondly, if I may, nearly one million children access the internet via mobile phone connections, where a day’s lessons can cost £100 on pay-as-you-go. If you still insist that schools are safe, shouldn’t those children be in school? And if not, why are telecom companies allowed to charge for access to school and educational websites still?
Yeah, well, I mean, in a way, Andy, I think you’ve … Sorry, Dominic, forgive me. You’ve answered your question about why did we want to keep schools open. It’s just such an imperative for any country and any society. And as I said, I think, to Vicky from the BBC, we wanted to do everything we could to make that possible. Alas, yesterday, it became clear that the data simply wasn’t going to support that. And the risk was that the tiering system, the Tier 4 system, without taking schools out to the equation, was just not going to be enough on its own. We couldn’t take that risk. And although we’re not seeing some signs that maybe Tier 4 is starting to work in London, and maybe a bit in the southeast on the new variant, the spread of the new variant was really very, very troubling indeed.
And so that’s why we took the action that we did. We don’t want to do it. We want to support kids in a school if we possibly can. I’m glad that the BBC is, as I say, putting a lot of educational stuff on TV; that is fantastic.
We are also looking at the very point that you make about the potential cost to parents of online teaching. And we’re going to do our best to support them in any way that we can, and to work with the internet companies to see what we can do to help. Because this unquestionably will be a tough period, and all I can say is what we want to do is get back to a position, as fast as possible, where we can get kids back in school. And that’s why we’re doing all the things that we’re doing now.
Thanks very much, everybody. I appreciate that this is a very, very tough final stretch for this country. It’s being made tougher by the new variant, much tougher, alas, by the new variant. But the jabs are going in to people’s arms day by day. We’ll keep you updated on what is going on. And in the meantime, I must repeat the basic message: What we’ve got to do is to stay at home, protect the NHS, and save lives.
Thanks, everybody.
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Gavin Newsom COVID-19 Press Conference Transcript December 28
Rev › Blog › Transcripts › Press Conference Transcripts › Gavin Newsom COVID-19 Press Conference Transcript December 28
California Governor Gavin Newsom held a COVID-19 press conference on December 28. Read the transcript of his coronavirus briefing speech here.
Gavin Newsom: (00:16)
So you’re not going to enforce them. It’s another to have a County policy by their County board of supervisors to move in defiance. And we have a well-established protocol if that’s indeed the case that the distribution of these discretionary COVID dollars will be distributed to counties that are serious about enforcement and are serious about public health.
And we have, as you know sent letters out to a number of different counties over the course of this pandemic. And we have leaned in on that as it relates to the issue of enforcement also leaned in on enforcement, new guidelines, operational guidelines, through OSHA, in new updates, in terms of some of their latest enforcement. I’ll provide you offline some details to back up some of the really recent enforcement, particularly in the food processing industry. We updated last week and I’ll get you some updates on the numbers we provided last week, the ABC, the Alcohol Beverage Control, and their number of visits, tens of thousands of visits over the course of the last number of months to bars and restaurants all throughout the state of California.
I think the remarkable thing is how overwhelming the enforcement… Well, I should rephrase that. I think what’s significant is how overwhelming we have experienced and forgive me for not phrasing this correctly, but people have been in compliance overwhelmingly. So that’s the point I want to make. It’s not just the focus on the bad, it’s the overwhelming number of people that are doing the right thing. And I think you’ll see that we’ll again, provide you an update on the numbers. We socialized last week to sort of prove that point, that the vast majority of these visits, overwhelming majority of the visits, there was no compliance needed because people were in compliance, they were doing the right thing, but there are notable people that are not, and they’re thumbing their nose and they’re putting their business at risk.
And you’re seeing that there’s a lot of local enforcement that is taking shape all up and down the state of California. And there are efforts at the state level, in addition to the Alcohol Beverage Control and OSHA that go to the board of cosmetology and others that are doing exactly the same. So all those numbers we’ll provide you, but I just want to acknowledge those doing the right thing. The vast majority of sheriffs are doing the right thing. The vast majority of counties are doing the right thing. The vast majority of Californians are doing the right thing during this very trying and difficult time.
Laura Cortez, Sacramento Beach.
Laura Cortez: (02:52)
Hi, thank you for taking our question governor. In regards to, again, getting those COVID dollars to complainant counties, what are you doing in the budget to further incentivize the counties who maybe haven’t been compliant with those state guidelines?
Well, I think we’ve done it. I mean the bottom line is the rules are self-evident. If you refuse to comply, you thumb your nose at the health of your constituency, the health of your community. Then you’re sending two messages, one, you don’t care about the health of your community in that respect. But number two, that you obviously don’t care to get the support from the state as it relates to those dollars. And so we’ve worked with CSAC, that’s our partners, the counties, we developed a framework, a guideline. We worked over month long period to work out the nuances of the language with CSAC on what that enforcement looks like, what the notification looks like. And so we’re look to advance those by the way, those work through formally that partnership in terms of those notification requirements and distribution and redistribution of funds to the end of this calendar month.
And we’ll update those as we move into the new year, pursuant to your question and be as aggressive or more aggressive into the future. Not everyone likes that. And some have been particularly critical, and I understand that good people can disagree. Some people just want to be disagreeable. Bottom line is we’re in the midst of a pandemic. I don’t know what more evidence you need, particularly as highlighted Riverside County that is experiencing what they’re experiencing in ICU’s and hospitals and lives lost. I mean, what more evidence do you need that trying to enforce good behavior that will actually save lives. It’s a noble and right thing to do, to dismiss as many have in the past. And some of the same folks that we don’t believe. Some still holding on this as a hoax or face coverings don’t matter, continue to send miss messages. They’re not helping, we’re not advancing that cause. And so we will be assertive as we have been. We’ll be aggressive as we have been, and we will be proactive into the future in strong partnership with the California legislature.
Angela Hart, Kaiser Health Natives.
Angela Hart: (05:26)
Thank you, governor. Two-part question for you. First, can you give us any indication of whether people largely heated the orders to not travel, to stay home during the holiday, or I guess we’re in the middle of it. So are they heating these orders or are these orders going ignored right now? What’s their understanding of that? And second part is looking really at this, the impact of local governments and the men’s responsibility that local governments have. I wanted to ask if you’re going to do anything more on your January budget for local health departments, given the federal COVID relief package includes no new money for local governments, and that’s going to complicate their public health efforts.
We’ve got a lot of resources that we’ll drive through directly down to the County and local level that come from this COVID relief. May not be spelled out as local support or even state support for that matter. But substantially we’ll draw down in terms of the partnerships and the capacity building that had been well-established since the beginning of this pandemic efforts in terms of logistics and operational challenges associated with administration of doses of vaccine, as well as other testing protocols, those supports are not insignificant. And those supports will be spelled out in the January budget as they have been spelled out in this new COVID relief package. That includes by the way, substantial support for public education across the spectrum, that will provide a lot of relief to communities that have large school districts and other relief that obviously will directly impact local communities from childcare relief and food stamp relief and other relief that otherwise would have fallen as a burden on County budgets on city budgets and obviously on state budgets.
And by the way, that also includes rental relief. So all of that reduces the stress and burden on these governmental agencies and certainly something that we celebrate and something that I think should be acknowledged with these federal support. While we’re disappointed, they didn’t provide discretionary funds as it relates to state and local support.
There’s certainly a lot of state and local support that is as being provided in the Cares Act in this now new stimulus. As it relates to the data on movement, this is help advisor travel advisories come from health agencies all across the country from the CDC on down every state is providing the same. We’ll get you updates and I’ll make sure my team gets you offline the updates we provided this, I think it was 10 or so days ago. It’s actually, you’re prompting. It’s an opportunity to provide some of that cell phone data, that’s public data, open source data. That gives us a sense some of the movement, and we’ll get that data to you, but obviously, look, you need nothing more to example than the total number of passengers on airplanes nationwide, that only suggest that we are going to see an increase in cases across this country, not just in the state of California, as it relates to these travel advisories that were not heated clearly by everybody.
John Thompson, Associated Press.
John Thompson: (08:54)
Good afternoon governor. One of the first check on your status, have you been tested since your possible exposure. And as far as you mentioned on the traveling cell phone data, but do you have any more specifics at this point, what we’re seeing here locally, even if you don’t have at your fingertips, is there data to suggest that people did or did not comply? And can you go into any more details as far as where will you be putting some of these people you mentioned or generally about surge beds and state facilities, but any specific plans for how to handle what you expect to be, or has it expected to be a doubling of hospitalizations? Thank you.
So just on that front, we’ll get you the update. And I promise you, my team is already working on providing that travel update and we’ll get you more specific, more granular response in terms of whatever evidence at this stage that we can share, or that tells a real story. So we’re not just working through conjecture and just loose observation as it relates to the planning. Over the course, last number of months, you’ve seen going back at the beginning of this pandemic in early March, April, May you saw some of the plans that we put out as it relates to capacity building within the existing a hospital system. Looking at existing hospital footprints, looking at surge capacity, getting thousands and thousands of additional hospital beds on the same footprint by getting tents and providing opportunities to reconstitute and repurpose different rooms within the existing hospital and healthcare delivery system.
In addition to that, we also have been updating you pretty consistently, including a little bit today on those alternative care site facilities. Five that are no longer in warm status that have been stood up and another, well, eight specific or seven rather specific sites that are in warm status that could be turned on very, very quickly. I’ll update you and we’ll make sure our team provides you that list of those seven additional sites plus the five…
… provides you that list of those seven additional sites, plus the five and more details on their total capacity, which I suggested was around 1,872. But with our capacity building in the last couple of weeks, we think it will go well north of 2000 beds. Just, again, that’s the alternative care site footprint. You’ve got the existing surge plans, within hospital systems, that get you tens of thousands of additional beds, all total, that is a direct response to your question in terms of the immediate. Staffing is the bigger issue. Physical, less of an issue, though an issue. Depending on the hospital. Again, each hospital tells a totally different story.
But in the aggregate, the physical space is less of an issue. It’s an issue, but it’s less of an issue, than staffing. And staffing remains our top priority. That’s why we highlighted a little bit of our staffing efforts, today. But long-winded, Don. Sorry for being long-winded. We have plans, we are engaged with the hospitals directly on those efforts by system, by provider, not just the hospital association. But with that, let me just ask perhaps more cogently, Dr. Ghaly could also amplify and answer that question. And then, I think this is an opportunity for Dr. Ghaly, as I turn it over to you, for us to update some of those older plans so we can socialize what we’ve been talking privately, to our providers about.
Dr. Ghaly: (12:36)
Yeah. Governor, thank you. And thanks for the question. I’ll sort of provide, three types of responses.
First, as it regards to travel and the impact of the regional stay-at-home orders and other things that… We always knew we were going into a tough time with the holidays, and the interest and the eagerness. We’ve talked about fatigue, to actually meet and mix and travel. And, in most of this state, we are seeing a subtle but important trend, where the slope of our increase that we’ve been very worried about, that rate of rise, has come down a little bit in some parts of the state. And that’s reassuring news.
But as the governor has clearly stated, we’re worried, not just about what’s happened over the past couple of weeks, that piece of good news, but really what’s going to happen as we see the cases from the Christmas holiday, Hanukkah, coming up now with the New Year’s celebration. And I’ll just reiterate, it’s not too late to make a change in plans. I think people, Californians, have been paying attention. We saw maybe a month ago, that only about 30% of Californians that were surveyed by some of our partners, were going to make a change in their plans. To not gather, to not travel. Now, more recent surveys show, that that is somewhere between 50 and 60% of Californians making that decision.
So we really hope that, as we enter one of these last worrying periods for the foreseeable future with New Year’s, that people do make the decision to stay local, stay at home. Don’t mix outside of their household, because everything that we’re seeing today, is that things that were a month ago or two months ago, a low risk activity, today are really high risks, because of the level of COVID that’s circulating in our communities.
As it relates to our surge planning, Governor has it exactly right. We are less worried about the space in some of our facilities, although it’s true, some hospitals are using every inch and area of space to take care of patients, and we commend that important use of those spaces. But certainly, our bigger worry right now, is staffing. A lot of folks look to the alternative care sites, which indeed are an important part of our response. But more than that, is identifying staff, working with hospitals across impacted regions to make sure that they have the staff. Either through registry and traveling staff, nurses and physicians and other providers, respiratory therapists. Or, some facilities bringing their outpatient staff to come help, and serve in the inpatient environment. So all of those strategies help us ramp up our ability to take care of patients, both in regular hospital beds, in emergency room bays, and also in ICUs.
So, those collective efforts, working directly with counties, as the governor mentioned. Efforts focused specifically in Southern California, in Los Angeles County, to not just bring the staff, address issues of oxygen and ventilators, but also working to make sure that everything is as well coordinated as possible. Working with the California Hospital Association, our nursing partners, our other staffing partners, the California Medical Association, a number of these typical partners that you’ve seen us mention, really coming together now, to make sure we put California’s best foot forward.
So that, it’s not just every hospital on their own, but really bringing together these regions, the efforts of big systems with smaller hospitals, to partner, to make sure that no matter where every California goes, they can get high quality care, care from staff that is as supported as they can be, anywhere in the state, so that we can ultimately save as many lives as we can.
And Doctor, just, if I may. And, forgive me, I shouldn’t be the one answering, asking questions. But, you and I had, we’ve had a number of conversations about staffing. Particularly expectations on opportunities to see a modest increase in staff, that first week of January, from where we are today, just on the natural. Perhaps you can amplify that, just socialize a little bit of that, of what we’re seeing in terms of the prospects of actually being able to access some more staff in the next a week or so.
Yeah, Governor, really, really important point to amplify. We have been working with both our own efforts to get staff into the state, at the state level. But also the various hospitals that, very routinely during this time, expect hundreds, if not thousands of what they call traveling nurses, traveling health professionals, who go from place to place across the nation, across the globe, to help support hospitals that are affected. We have not been able to get that reliable number, up until now, into the state.
And, just surveying a number of the hospitals, both big and small, our own state efforts, really looking at that first week of January, starting January 4th. Where, we’ve been told, a number of traveling nurses, traveling health professionals, will be arriving in the state. Some going directly to hospitals, others coming through the state, and moving to various facilities that are deeply impacted. That will absolutely, as that comes through, help us not just make sure that we’re able to staff some of the beds that today are available, but also, open up additional beds so that our ability to surge, is indeed as great as we anticipated.
Thanks, Doctor.
Kathy Novak. KCBS Radio.
Kathy Novak: (18:33)
Hi, Governor. Thanks for taking my question. COVID outbreaks are continuing at California prisons, with about 7500 cases confirmed in the last 14 days, according to the latest CDCR tracker. Are you satisfied with the steps that are being taken, to address these outbreaks? And what’s your response to the continued calls for prison populations to be reduced through more releases, because of these outbreaks?
Yeah, I appreciate it. Let me go to a slide here, just to give you the current focused efforts. And I’ll back up, we have 9421 current cases, population plus or minus 100,000, just to put it in perspective. And obviously, we’re not just monitoring CDCR, which, the California Department Corrections, obviously monitoring the Division of Juvenile Justice. We’re doing a lot better there. We have active cases that include not just inmates, but obviously, concern around prison guards themselves.
Here’s the area that we’ve focused most of our attention. And these are the top facilities, top in terms of their being high risk facilities, top of mind facilities, in terms of our efforts. San Quentin, it goes without saying, a lot of focus there. And we’ve seen cases range from anywhere from two to six, in the last number of weeks. I think we, it went to nine, at one point. But currently, four cases.
You can see the other high risk facilities, and the number of current active cases. And this is where we are particularly focused. As it relates to the work on decompressing the system, and this goes to your specific question, we have reduced the census, the total population since March, by over 21,000 individuals. Over 21,000. This is almost without precedent, in California’s history. And you could see some of the work we’ve done, to do that. That meeting. We have looked on early release, for what we refer to as [non non nons 00:09:28], people that have X number of weeks, months, left on their sentences. And those that are not serving non non nons, meaning not violent, not DV related, not sex offended. So there is a triage component, to that. There’s a coordinated focus, in terms of risk assessment, in that space.
But there’s also a suspension on the County intakes, which put a lot of pressure on the counties, put a lot of pressure on the Sheriffs. And I want to just acknowledge that pressure, and acknowledged their partnership. I respect and appreciate the challenges that are presented, when you effectively look to suspension of intake. It’s happened on multiple occasions, since the beginning of this pandemic.
We’re also testing. We have substantially increased our testing protocols of staff and institutions, as well as our new aggressive mask mandates, with now higher level of masks, meaning N95 not just surgical procedure masks, of inmates and staff, if there’s any even modest outbreaks. Again, we’re looking at assessing medical risk, and I on a weekly basis without exception, spend hours and hours and hours, going through the cases of each and every individual. I simply will not, en masse, release people without looking individual by individual, at an assessment and protocol and process. And that’s the latter part of your question. And so, while I respect-
… process, and that’s the latter part of your question. And so, while I respect those that want to bypass protocols, sentences, victim notification, processes, procedures, and analysis, we are moving in a different direction than that, and we have been deliberative, and we have protocols in terms of capacity building within the system, in terms of isolation and quarantine, in terms of surge capacity, that have come from the experience of San Quentin, that we have pre-positioned and we have pre-planned at particularly those high-risk facilities, in order to address any subsequent outbreaks as we move forward.
A lot has been done in this space. We’re very vigilant in terms of our focus and the monitoring of what is occurring in the prisons. And as you may have noted in the plan 1C, or rather, plan 1B, forgive me, Tier 2 recommendations, there is some consideration for high-risk staff, rather high-risk inmates, particularly in skilled nursing facilities, and those that are particularly medically vulnerable that are in these settings that we will look as well to prioritize in terms of access for the vaccine.
That’s broad strokes, an update, and I’m very pleased with our new CDCR Director and the partnership with Clark Kelso, our Health Administrator meeting the federal oversight, remind you that the health of our prison system is being monitored by the federal government. It was taken away from the state many, many, many years ago, and we are continuing to build stronger partnership in terms of our efforts to advance our safety protocols within the system and to mitigate, to the best of our ability, the spread and ultimately get us through this third wave.
Jeremy White, Politico.
Jeremy White: (24:18)
Hey governor, thank you again for giving us some time, for taking my question. A lot of curiosity out there about the state’s role in sort of enforcing this vaccine hierarchy, as we get into the more complex, out of concentrated healthcare facilities, into this more diffused process with all these categories.
So can you tell us more about what role the state is going to play in sort of monitoring that and ensuring people don’t skip the line? You alluded to staffing shortages and sort of working with pharmacies to regulate the process. So how can we be sure that this is proceeding in an orderly way and people aren’t sort of gaming the system in terms of the vaccine hierarchy?
No, I appreciate the question, Jeremy. And we’ve been asking that ourselves for weeks and weeks. I think on at least two or three previous occasions during these presentations, I’ve highlighted this point of consideration and concern. And I also highlighted just a number of days ago, right before Christmas, our specific efforts working with the California Medical Association and others to look at protocols and processes, to enforce, and ultimately to hold folks accountable that skipped the line.
I just want to make this crystal clear. If you skip the line or you intend to skip the line, you will be sanctioned, you will lose your license. You will not only lose your license. We will be very aggressive in terms of highlighting the reputational impacts as well. We are going to be aggressive here, but you are not wrong in the way you framed your question.
As you move into the subsequent phases, as you’re dealing with millions and millions of doses, and you’re dealing with hundreds and hundreds of points of contact and thousands of individuals, not every individual may hold themselves to those higher ethical standards of the Hippocratic oath, which they’ve taken, and we are mindful of that.
And so I’m not naive to the prospects that there are going to be some issues, and we’re going to have to work not just as a state, but with our county partners to monitor that behavior at the local level, even at the clinic level, and to make sure that someone’s not passing a few vials over to their cousin or aunt or uncle, or God forbid, making a buck or two on the backs of a vaccine that should be distributed to someone who is at high risk or at higher need.
And so we are looking forward to putting out details of what that enforcement package looks like, but I can assure you over the course of the last number of weeks, we’ve been working aggressively behind the scenes with a lot of our partners, as I say, including the California Medical Association, that is very, very desirous of making sure that their profession is not impacted by bad behavior and wants to encourage and process good behavior.
We look forward to talking more about that when we finalize the details of that enforcement strategy. With that, that was a long answer, Jeremy, let me just ask Dr. Galley, because I know he cares deeply about this as well, and has been front and center in these negotiations and discussions. Maybe he can amplify on a point or two as well. Doctor?
Yeah, Governor. You hit the major points. I would just say that included in some of the states’ opportunities is obviously through our ability to look at licenses, professional licenses, but then also CDPH has the responsibility of enrolling every provider through our state system, into the federal system that allows you to receive vaccine to distribute.
And we also have the ability to disenroll providers when in fact, any of these violations are flagrant enough that no longer can that provider, that place that’s distributing vaccine, continued distributing vaccine based on those issues. So we have those steps. As the governor said, putting that together in a package that’s transparent, clear, working with our local partners. Already there’s been some conversations with local partners where questions have been raised.
I think the media has picked up on some of these issues already and working hard to make sure that one issue doesn’t snowball into more issues because we know that if it happens in one place, it could happen again in another, and we need to be very serious about this because many people are looking closely, not just how we do it, but they want to know when they are rightfully due to get the vaccine and that fair and equitable distribution. In California, all across our government, all across local governments as well, take this very seriously and expect this to be an area of increasing activity in the days to come.
And Jeremy, at peril of belaboring, our, what I hope is a comprehensive response and preview of those details being made public very shortly, I also just want to highlight, it’s one thing to be concerned, and we all should be concerned about a high-profile individual or celebrity that cuts in the line. I want to make sure that this frame on equity is also foundational and the fact that we put together this scientific safety review committee, this drafting work group, and then this advisory committee, three committees, was advanced with the intention of a real commitment, not a passing interest, but a firm commitment, looking at safety, efficacy, and equity.
And that’s the three-legged stool here, and we have to make sure that equity component includes that distribution as intended, and that we are all held to a higher level of responsibility and in turn accountability in terms of not only rhetorically advancing that frame, but demonstrating that. And again, you make the point, I think, very, very well. It’s one thing when you have a few hundred thousand doses and you are focusing on a limited supply in a limited frame with healthcare workers and skilled nursing facilities. It’s another when you’re in January, February, March, and millions of doses are now distributed and locally available, and that distribution points increase and that accountability now is spread more broadly, and the challenge of being more transparent becomes self-evident. So that registry is a big part of it, as Dr. Galley said, but these partnerships are going to be critical, and good faith. And, again, just holding ourselves to a higher level of ethical conduct is also human nature, has to also be part of any successful enforcement in this space as well.
Final question, Aiden Vazeery, SF Chronicle.
Aiden Vazeery: (31:20)
Hi, Governor Newsom. I was wondering when you look at this plateauing of numbers, is that an encouraging sign that the stay-at-home orders are working? And a follow-up to that is, as we move past the holidays and vaccines become more widely available, how bad are things going to get before they get better?
Well, it’s a sobering question and an honest question, and I think one has to be honest in response. I think, it was wonderful, at least, for me to hear this from the president-elect, when Joe Biden last week, right before the holidays, assessed things, I think, correctly, that unfortunately, it will get worse before it gets better.
And I think demonstrably, that’s the case. And not only as a nation, but clearly as we work through the next 60 to 90 days here in the state of California and anticipate this surge on top of a surge, arguably on top of a surge as it relates to the holiday movement and the travel that we’ve experienced all across this country, based upon the data that has been reported.
And so we are gearing for that. We’re preparing for that. We’re not wasting a minute, not wasting an hour, not wasting a day, not wasting a weekend. No time off on Christmas. There’s no New Year’s celebration in terms of that planning. It’s very sober and we’re being very proactive in looking to build more capacity, more partnerships, and leveraging existing resources, which I hope broke through today.
And leveraging existing resources which I hope broke through today in this presentation with the teams that we are inserting in LA County in particular, and looking at load capacity between hospitals. Not just systems, not just within counties, not just within regions, in a different way to be more prescriptive and supportive in terms of our preparation and our planning. As it relates to the first part of your question, I’m going to have Dr. Galley answer that. But my sense is yes, that people have taken seriously this call. And I say this all the time, in our line of work, unlike baseball, you don’t get credit for saves. Meaning we don’t talk about what could have otherwise been.
We just talk about what is, and we assess that versus maybe this would have been much, much worse had we not introduced some of these interventions. I think some they say, “Well, those interventions were in a place and it didn’t work.” I completely reject that, and I suggest that there is evidence they have worked, substantially so, and that’s encouraging. And I think that’s certainly the case as it relates to these plateau of these numbers that are plateauing to him. But Dr. Galley is a doctor for a reason, and he’s more prepared to answer that I think more substantively than I am.
Well, governor, as usual, you did a fantastic job of answering it, but I will amplify a couple of points. Absolutely, we have seen this plateau. It’s what we’d hoped for. We weren’t sure that we were going to see it, because of some of the concerns around the movement, mobility data, our sense of where this was being effective and where it wasn’t. And frankly, we’re pleased to see a little bit of a plateau, because the governor has it exactly right. If we continued to see the rate of rise through the last couple of weeks in the cases that we’re seeing today, the impact that we anticipate coming from Christmas, New Years would be even worse. And I’ll remind you that we’ve learned so much about taking care of patients with COVID. We’ve learned how to treat them in hospitals. But when those hospital beds and those staff aren’t available to provide care, then people don’t get that care, and we have the worst outcome and more deaths than we anticipated.
So the ability to continue over the next week to do, make the decisions, decide not to mix, decide not to travel, decide to celebrate virtually with others, or with your household alone. Those are going to be the things that help us keep this slight decrease downward or flattening. Not even a decrease downward, just a flattening of the upward trends that help us anticipate a slightly reduced impact on our hospitals. All of that said, you asked where this is heading. We certainly anticipate that the middle of January is going to be a pretty difficult time in our hospitals, where the cases from this week and next week really start to stack on top of one another impacting the emergency rooms, our hospital wards, and our ICU spaces. And then when I speak to hospital leaders throughout the Southern part of the state, they are worried about the middle part of January, the second part of January as being the major areas of impact.
And although we hope to get more staff in, as we talk about next week, and that we have these beds prepared, we also know that a number of Californians are worried. We’ve seen that in their behavior. It’s both the regional stay-at-home order impact, but also impact from the fact that I think people are worried about what they’re seeing in our hospitals. They believe more than ever that that could be them. That could be their family member. Hospitals not just with 60, 70, 80 year olds on ventilators, but hospitals with 25, 35 year olds on ventilators who aren’t doing well. So this is a really a call to everybody not to say, “Well, what’s happened in the last couple of weeks? Has that regional stay-at-home order been as effective as you thought?” Like the governor said, “We’ve gotten something out of that.”
The trends have started to come down a little bit, but it’s not enough. We need people not to let up their guard to take this as seriously as possible so that we can get through the middle of January, the end of January. And continue to get the vaccine out into our communities. Get the most vulnerable vaccinated first with a lot of our high risk front line workers. And then into those first couple of months of the new year, and really feeling more confident then. But right now, it’s time to stay laser focused on what we can do in the next days to come. Because as the governor has said many, many times, “We’re in charge of the future. We make decisions today to not just save the lives of our family members, but our communities at large.” So, I think that’s what we see on the horizon. It isn’t already set in stone. We actually have some decisions to make that are critical over the days to come, each and every one of us.
Yeah, yeah. I appreciate that response, I appreciate the question. I appreciate all of you for tuning in, and taking the time. And we look forward to making updates tomorrow, Wednesday, the rest of the week. And obviously work our way through, well, next very challenging month as Dr. Galley summed up, I think quite, quite, quite well. Final point, just a point of clarification. Yeah, I think Don you asked and I didn’t answer, forgive me. I tested multiple times, negative, negative, negative. I can’t even recall how many. And so, that’s my testing status to the extent anyone cares. Anyway, look forward to updating you very shortly. Again, I hope everybody stays safe, and does what they can to mitigate the spread of this virus during this very, very challenging time. Some encouraging early signs that we may be plateauing in many parts of the state. Very, very sober reality in certain parts of the state, particularly Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino County. Well, take care of everybody and we look forward to circling back and updating you in the next day.
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Home Music Country Music
April 23, 2019 12:14PM ET
The Avett Brothers Cover Randy Travis’ ‘Forever and Ever, Amen’
Americana duo teamed up with Country Music Hall of Famer for a ‘CMT Crossroads’ in 2012
Joseph Hudak
Senior Editor, Rolling Stone Country
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In 2012, the Avett Brothers joined Randy Travis for a taping of CMT Crossroads, a musical union that deftly matched the rootsy folk of the North Carolina band with the traditional country of fellow North Carolinian Travis. Seven years on, it stands as one of the best, most seamless Crossroads, a testament to the musicianship of the Avetts and the singing prowess of Travis, who no longer performs after suffering a stroke in 2013.
During a concert last weekend in Mississippi, the Avetts nodded to that pairing and their continuing respect for Travis’ music by performing his 1987 Number One “Forever and Ever, Amen” midway through their set. Brothers Seth and Scott Avett harmonize their way through the track, which moves along on the strength of Joe Kwon’s haunting cello and Scott’s propulsive banjo. The band often throws covers into their live shows, including Jim Croce’s “Operator” and assorted bluegrass traditionals.
Travis, inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016, will release his memoir, Forever and Ever, Amen, on May 14th. The Avett Brothers, meanwhile, released the new song “Neapolitan Sky” in February and will headline the Forecastle Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 14th. Earlier this month, they announced that their music will form the basis for a new musical, Swept Away, opening in 2020.
In This Article: Randy Travis, The Avett Brothers
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Rubber & Plastics News Staff
KILLBUCK, Ohio—Sperry & Rice L.L.C. is expanding its Holmes County, Ohio, operations to increase production.
The move is expected to add 30 jobs during the next three years.
The manufacturer, which has been in the rubber, sponge and plastics businesses since the 1940s, termed the investment as "significant."
"We plan to make a significant investment to implement this strategic expansion," CEO Randy Dobbs said in a statement. "The investment includes the purchase of new manufacturing equipment, upgrades to existing equipment and costs associated with finding and retaining good employees."
The company could not be reached for additional comment, but the non-profit economic development organization Jobs-Ohio provided some details.
The 30 additional jobs are expected to create a total of $968,000 in new payroll, JobsOhio reports. The project also will help the company retain 53 existing positions at the Ohio facility.
Sperry & Rice is investing $250,000 of its own money into the project, the group said.
The company, which also has a location in Brookville, Ind., said the project in Ohio will better utilize its Killbuck location.
JobsOhio is helping with a $200,000 economic development grant to help purchase new equipment and upgrade existing equipment.
"The offer of assistance from JobsOhio played an important role in the final decision to grow the operation in Killbuck," Dobbs said.
Sperry & Rice plans to create the 30 new jobs at the Killbuck facility over the next three years.
"In recent years, the community suffered a significant loss of jobs with the departure of a large employer, so we are pleased that Sperry & Rice will be adding a number of attractive employment positions," Mark Leininger, director of the Holmes County Economic Development Council, said in a statement.
Sperry & Rice specializes in making products for the appliance, automotive, truck and bus, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning sectors.
JobsOhio worked with regional economic development groups around the state, including Ohio Southeast Economic Development, for this project.
"Sperry & Rice has a long history of ingenuity and quality products. Holmes County has a reputation for an excellent work force. It's a powerful combination," OhioSE President Mike Jacoby said in a statement.
Sperry & Rice expands, adds Ohio jobs
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Ram Built to Serve Edition Honors the Five Branches of the U.S. Military
The set of special-edition Rams, in colors to honor each branch of the military, will roll out on Veterans Day; the patriotic model comes at a $2795 price premium.
CarAndDriver, By Connor Hoffman
© CarAndDriver | Ram Built to Serve Edition Honors the Five Branches of the U.S. Military.
Ram is releasing these special edition patriotic-themed trucks to honor those who've served or are currently serving in all five branches of the U.S. military.
The Built to Serve edition is available on all Ram body styles and powertrains, and it comes equipped with 4x4 Off-Road parts.
Ram will roll out the trucks just in time for Veterans Day at a $2795 premium over the regular price of the Ram 1500.
Ram will honor those who are currently serving or have served in the five branches of the United States military with a special edition truck. They are called the Built to Serve Edition, and they will be offered in two colors for each military branch with unique exterior and interior features.
Available on all body styles and powertrains, the commemorative-edition trucks are distinguished from standard Ram trucks by the U.S. flag and Built to Serve decal on the rear quarter-panels. Adding to the exterior styling cues are various blacked-out bits. The grille and its surround are all black, as are the bumpers, badges, side steps, and dual four-inch exhaust tips. Built to Serve Editions also get Technical Gray 20-inch aluminum wheels and body-color wheel flares.
The interior is trimmed with black chrome trim and branch-specific stitching that goes with each branch's color scheme. Additional unique Built to Serve features includes include lockable console storage and all-weather rubber floor mats. Embroidered Velcro panels on each of the front seats as well as the front seat inboard shoulder panel allow for owner-specific customization with their own patches.
Each Ram Built to Serve edition truck is equipped with 4x4 off-road parts that include all-terrain tires, hill-descent control, four skid plates, tow hooks, heavy-duty front, and rear shock absorbers, and an electronic-locking rear axle.
Ram is going to launch the Built to Serve edition trucks at the Stars and Strings concert at the Fox Theater in Detroit on November 6. The trucks will then be rolling out to customers one branch of the military at a time; 1000 Ram 1500 pickups will come out every three months in a set of colors for a specific branch.
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YMCA of Greater Seattle Blog
Last updated: August 21, 2017, at 12:54 a.m. PT
Originally published: April 20, 2017, at 10:50 a.m. PT
2016 was a historic year for the YMCA of Greater Seattle, making great strides towards our 2020 vision to better serve 300,000 people in King and south Snohomish counties. The completion of the Sammamish Community Y, in partnership with the City of Sammamish, and the expansion of the West Seattle Y grew our collective reach to more than 250,000 people. Of those 250,000 people, nearly 35 percent received financial assistance and scholarships, made possible through philanthropic gifts and grants, to ensure income is never a barrier to feel welcome at the Y.
Together, we are making a significant impact on the issues that matter most to the communities we serve.
To help welcome and support our changing community, two New American Welcome Centers opened at the Northshore and Matt Griffin YMCAs, serving more than 800 immigrants and refugees to help communities welcome their new residents and celebrate emerging cultures.
As food insecurity becomes more prevalent in our area, our summer meals programs served a record-breaking 193,000 meals to children and families in communities of need across the region.
Our partnership with Youth Villages led to a groundbreaking YVlifeset program which launched last year to support young people aging out of the foster care system. And for all young people struggling with personal challenges, our innovative Accelerator Branch served 10,000 youth with a full spectrum of social services including mental health, drug and alcohol treatment, employment assistance, violence prevention, housing, and life skills—helping us to better serve young people looking to become independent and reach their full potential.
Finally, as we continue to help youth develop to their full potential, camping services helped 20,000 children and teenagers #optoutside in 2016 through our summer camps, environmental education, and expedition programs, including our Boys Outdoor Leadership Development (BOLD) and Girls Outdoor Leadership Development (GOLD) programs. And we continue to be our region’s largest provider of afterschool programs, out of school enrichment, and summer day camp, serving 140,000 youth last year—a 23 percent increase from 2015.
Our success in 2016 would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of our staff, volunteers, donors, and partners, to whom we owe our deepest thanks. With their continued support, we look forward to continued progress in achieving our mission:
“Building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.”
Category: News & Announcements
Staff Spotlight: Carlie, Aquatics Director
Making More Possible
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Tenth-graders show slight gains on state exit exam
SAN MATEO — The percentage of San Mateo County sophomores passing the California High School Exit Exam on their first try increased slightly in 2005-06, and Peninsula students continued to pass at higher rates than their statewide peers, according to information released by the California Department of Education on Tuesday.
Countywide, 83 percent of those 10th-graders, who are now entering the 11th grade, passed the English and math portions of the exam. San Mateo Union High School District’s students scored highest — 90 percent passed the English portion, while 91 passed the math portion. Jefferson Union High School District’s sophomores had the lowest rates, with 83 percent passing the English portion and 79 percent passing the math.
Many school district officials saw the 2005-06 scores as a healthy sign, considering that seniors in the class of 2006 were the first ones required to pass the exam.
“The exit exam has helped people to focus on what is important, and it puts an external validation on the high school diploma,” said Peter Burchyns, special adviser to Superintendent Jean Holbrook in the San Mateo County Office of Education. “Otherwise you really don’t know, looking at a kid in Eureka and one in San Francisco, how you compare them.”
However, no school district in the county — where those test-takers will enter the 11th grade this fall —saw a gain of more than three percentage points among 10th-graders between 2004-05 and 2005-06. Exit-exam scores also revealed a 13 percent gap between Hispanic test-takers and their Asian and Caucasian counterparts, and showed that females scored 9 percent better than males on the English portion of the exam and 2 percent better on the math portion.
High school students get their first chance to take the exit exam during the 10th grade, when it is administered once. If they do not pass, they get three chances in their junior year and three more in their senior year.
“We know that our students do take it very seriously,” said Jeannie Kwong, director of assessment for the San Mateo Union High School District. “Our message is they need to do the best they can and pass it if possible … [so] they can put it behind them.”
The Sequoia Union High School District showed the greatest gains among 10th-graders between 2004-05 and 2005-06, with passage rates increasing 3 percent on the English portion and 2 percent on the math. Sequoia allows students to double up on English and math courses to prepare for the exam, according to Brandon Lee, district coordinator of research and evaluation.
“What’s been very helpful is that everyone knows it’s serious now,” Lee said.
Bay Area NewsLocal
Neighborhood plan reviews blamed for construction delays
ABC continues to investigate site of April triple-homicide
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Jan Lisiecki was born in Canada in 1995. He began piano lessons at the age of five and made his concerto debut four years later. Mr. Lisiecki was brought to international attention in 2010, after the Fryderyk Chopin Institute issued his live recording of Chopin’s piano concertos; the release was awarded the Diapason Découverte. Deutsche Grammophon signed an exclusive contract with Mr. Lisiecki in 2011, when he was fifteen years old, resulting in a debut recording featuring Mozart’s Piano Concertos, K.466 and K.467. It was followed in 2013 by a recording of Chopin’s Etudes, Opuses 10 and 25. His latest album, issued in January 2016, presents Schumann’s works for piano and orchestra.
In March 2013, Mr. Lisiecki substituted at short notice for Martha Argerich, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in Bologna with the Orchestra Mozart under Claudio Abbado. He crowned that season with an account of Schumann’s Piano Concerto at the BBC Proms. The following year he performed three Mozart concertos in one week with the Philadelphia Orchestra and made his debuts with Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala in Milan, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, NHK Symphony in Tokyo, and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. The same season, he gave debut recitals at Wigmore Hall, Rome’s Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, and in San Francisco with SF Performances. He has also been a guest with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Orchestre de Paris, New York Philharmonic, and BBC Symphony.
The twenty-one-year-old musician made his debut in the main auditorium at New York’s Carnegie Hall in January 2016. Other significant dates in his 2015-16 schedule include performances with the Bamberg Symphony in Lucerne, a subscription series debut with the Cleveland Orchestra, and multiple tours, including one of Europe with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, which Mr. Lisiecki is leading from the piano. He makes his San Francisco Symphony debut with these performances.
Mr. Lisiecki was the subject of the CBC National News documentary The Reluctant Prodigy. In 2013 he received the Leonard Bernstein Award at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and was also named as Gramophone’s Young Artist of the Year. Mr. Lisiecki has worked with such organizations as the David Foster Foundation, the Polish Humanitarian Organization, and the Wish Upon a Star Foundation and in 2012 he was named UNICEF Ambassador to Canada.
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Shekinah Books
Peace: the road that leads to war — Part 11
THE LATE PRESIDENT HAFEZ Assad of Syria was “employing the peace option to regain the Golan Heights while preparing through rearmament for eventual war.”
Assad exposed his hand when he said that his war against the Jewish state will last “as long as time,” and that once Israel has withdrawn from the Golan Heights, there must be no “observation posts at the strategic plateau.” Syria’s long term strategy, like that of Egypt, Iraq and Iran, aspires to being the predominant power in the Middle East, and Israel blocks its way. Israel’s liquidation is essential to both the Muslim cause and the Assad regime’s realization of greater Syria. Only a Muslim style temporary peace with Israel can assure him of any degree of success.
Dictatorships determine their policies according to the ambitions they harbor, not according to treaties they sign. The Assad regime has no more respect for contracts than did Yasser Arafat. Besides violating every agreement it has ever made with Israel in the past, Syria also broke its word to the Saudis and the Reagan administration to respect the May 1983 Israel-Lebanon agreement. It discarded the inter-Arab Taif agreement which stipulated the departure of Syrian troops from Lebanon by September of 1993, and has broken every promise to grant independence to the Beirut government. The Assad regime has also violated 18 agreements signed with Turkey in 1993 and 1994. Some may well argue that the Syrian-Israeli border on the Golan Heights has been the quietest of all of Israel’s borders. But those that would argue along that line forget that Israeli tanks and planes are stationed on the Golan—less than 30 miles from Damascus—expressly for the purpose of keeping the border quiet.
Nothing changed with the takeover of Hafez’s regime by his son Bashir. Bashir’s regime is still a minority Alawite sect holding 100 percent of Syrian power. Journalists who write against Bashir’s rule still end up dead. Even though Syria is believed to have been chemically disarmed by the UN, it is still shipping chemical agents to Hizb’allah in Lebanon, using chemical warfare against opposition fighters in the three-year-long civil war that has taken over 200,000 lives and displaced and dispersed millions of Syrian civilians. And Bashir Assad’s regime is just as deeply involved in the drug production in Lebanon’s Beqa’a valley. Hizb’allah has tens of thousands of its forces fighting in Syria against those trying to overthrow the Assad regime.
On September 1, 2007, eight Israel warplanes took off just before midnight and used 17 tons of explosives to completely destroy a Syrian nuclear reactor that was being constructed by North Korea. Several North Korean engineers died in the Israeli bombing of the reactor, along with some 20 Syrian technicians. Israel had shared their surveillance information with the U.S., but America refused to take any action. America expressed doubt that Israel was capable of pulling off a successful attack—US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “thought the Israeli military was unreliable and that they were no longer the 10-foot giants we had grown up with.” When the attack reduced the reactor to rubble, Ehud Olmert, Israel’s prime minister at the time, called President George Bush and simply said, “I just want to report to you that something that existed doesn’t exist anymore.”
Israel has also made several air attacks upon Syrian weapons storage areas , which prevented weapons from being shipped to Hizb’allah. The latest being in December 2014 when the IAF destroyed sophisticated Russian air-defense equipment that was apparently destined for Hizb’allah. Russia had evidently violated its August pledge not complete delivery of the anti-aircraft system under the terms of a UN arms embargo. One target Israel hit in December was near the international airport near Damascus, and the other was in Dimas, west of the capital, only a few miles from the Lebanese border.
The late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat—certainly an expert on his Arab brothers—heaped scorn and mockery upon US President Jimmy Carter for believing Hafez Assad’s word could be trusted. In his posthumous book, Those I Have Known, Sadat wrote:
“He [Carter] imagined they would be as good as their word and was taken aback when he found that the word of a Syrian was in fact 1,001 words, and that what they agreed to one day they rejected the next, returning to it the day after.”
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Michel Aoun, another expert on his Arab brothers, also warned against believing the Syrians: “They don’t respect their word. They scheme, they promise you one thing and do something else on the side. They promised in the past, but they never lived up to any agreement.” Arab leaders place no trust in the word of the Assad’s, and neither does Israeli intelligence officers. A senior Israeli intelligence officer said: “The description of an Assad as a man who keeps his agreements is a myth. It has no basis in reality.”
Israel is under pressure to relinquish the Golan and the strategic defense that it offers against Syria. Israelis remember the trauma of living under Syrian guns, and suffering 20 years of shelling, shooting, and bombing. They remember how Syria had used the high ground to fire indiscriminately on the Israeli communities below. Farmers were shot in their tractors, and children spent months in cramped bomb-shelters as the artillery thundered overhead. There will be no rush on the part of Israel to sign a peace agreement with the Assad regime, it would be broken before the ink was even dry.
If you have enjoyed reading these postings by Ramon Bennett and would like to read more of his writings, consider purchasing his books or subscribing to Arm of Salvation’s “Update,” which is a regular newsletter written by Ramon and which covers events around the world affecting the nation of Israel. To subscribe, click on the tab marked “Newsletter” on this site. It is available in either digital or printed form. To purchase a book, click onto the “BOOKS” tab and choose from out of the selection.
Arm of Salvation welcomes readers’ comments to the posts on this blog and would also welcome donations to its ministry in and for Israel and the Jewish people. Donations toward covering the costs of maintaining this Shekinah website would also be appreciated as would those given in appreciation of the time and effort Ramon invests in producing these postings.
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO): In January 1995, sixteen months after the signing of the Declaration Of Principles (DOP) in Oslo and just eight months after the signing of the peace agreement
THE METHOD HAFEZ ASSAD—father of current Syrian president, Bashir—used to muzzle the press against publishing stories considered by Damascus as “unfriendly to Syria” was by shooting the journalists. R
Peace: the road that leads to war — Part 9
SYRIA: Some ten years or more ago, for months, the news media carried reports of a change in mood among the Syrians. In the beginning of 1994 the English-language Jerusalem Post quoted former Egyptian
HEBREW WORSHIP MUSIC
RAMON'S BLOG
JERUSALEM REFLECTIONS
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Armed with nearly a decade's worth of experience in newspapers and as an assistant sports information director at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Ireland quickly put his stamp on NSU athletics. His 1992 football media guide earned "Best in the Nation" honors in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) ranks from the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America.
The award-winning sports information director took home 33 Louisiana Sports Writers Associations honors since 2000, including the 2017 LSWA Story of the Year.
The majority of those honors came from telling the stories of Northwestern State athletes, coaches and support staff members.
He’s tutored a wide range of sports information protégés, including directors at Kansas State, McNeese and Northwestern State, an associate commissioner of the Southland Conference with others that have worked at LSU, Vanderbilt and Penn State among other institutions and various publications.
Ireland’s career has had many branches and a vast impact, including his volunteer role as chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, housed in Natchitoches.
His friendly face greeted numerous Louisiana Sports Hall of Famers and has been part of a weekend experience that has hall of famers returning each year for a new class of inductees.
© 2021 www.shreveporttimes.com. All rights reserved.
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Home/News/Each footballer of Indian women’s team is a star: Striker Dangmei
Each footballer of Indian women’s team is a star: Striker Dangmei
By IANS| Published: 29th December 2020 12:28 am IST
New Delhi, Dec 28 : Dangmei Grace, prolific India women’s national team forward, feels everyone in the team is a “star” in her own capacity and playing with these stars has made her really “proud”.
“After joining the national team as a professional player and especially after playing with the stars of the national team, I’m very proud and it has helped me grow as a player immensely. Aditi (Chauhan), Ashalata (Devi), Sangita (Basfore) and every one of this team is a star,” Grace Dangmei during an AIFF TV interaction.
“For me, it’s a relief to join the team once again after the pandemic situation,” she said.
The forthcoming FIFA under-17 Women’s World Cup and AFC Women’s Asian Cup would be game-changers in terms of populating women’s football in India and the tournaments will inspire the younger generation to take up football more seriously.
“We have hosted U-17 boy’s World Cup in India and we saw the amount of support across the nation. As a women’s team player in India, I would request everyone to give more focus on Indian women’s football team as it would bring a lot of changes in the Indian football history,” Dangmei said.
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“We are hosting two monumental tournaments in 2022. I think these (tournaments) will be an inspiration to the younger generation. I aspire to play my part in AFC Women’s Asian Cup and face the top-ranking teams like Japan, Australia and others. I would be the luckiest person to represent my country at that stage and my family would be prouder ever,” the nippy striker.
The under-17 women’s World Cup will be a landmark in Indian football history, said Dangmei. “It will inspire the youngsters to play the game more seriously. It will be an inspiration for the parents too.”
Dangmei stated that she’s closer to Bala Devi and her professional career motivates her further.
Bala has signed a professional contract with Scottish giant Rangers FC and she has written a new chapter in Indian football history when she scored against Motherwell LFC on December 6 to become the first Indian footballer to score a goal in a top-flight League in a European nation.
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“Every player nurtures a dream to play abroad. Bala-di has been doing a tremendous job and it’s an inspiration to the youngsters, not only me. Bala-di has shown the path that if we work hard, we can reach that level,” Dangmei maintained.
Indian Football has moved forward together in recent times, especially women’s football as the FIFA rankings have elevated to 53 from 67 in less than two years. The Manipuri forward mentioned that the exposure trips have played a significant part in improving the same.
“Two years ago, our ranking was 67 and now we have come up to 53 — that is a significant jump. All the exposure trips and the Indian Women’s League have been real contributors to this improvement,” Dangmei said.
“As players, we have to improve in every department in strength, techniques and we have to keep ourselves physically fit.”
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HISTORY AND ENGLISH TEACHERS CREATE INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT ON IMMIGRATION
After comparing the time period between their course's content, English teacher Mr. Garrett McPartland and Social Studies teacher Mr. William Van Why '13 recognized common areas of study within their curriculum to develop an interdisciplinary unit on immigration for their students. "We realized that we both focus on immigration and workers' rights during the first two weeks of this semester," says Mr. Van Why. "We decided to use the experience of Eastern European Jews through the lens of a series of documents called the Bintel Brief, an editor's response to various questions immigrants have about life. We're teaching our students about both past and present immigration through primary sources and literature including the Bintel Brief, the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, political speeches, poetry and Chinese, Nigerian and Dominican stories on immigration." By tag-teaming lessons and swapping classrooms throughout the next two weeks, Mr. McPartland will be helping teach Mr. Van Why's Honors U.S. History class and Mr. Van Why will be helping teach Mr. McPartland's Honors English class.
"We share many of the same students, recognized that students naturally make some connections across content in our areas, and decided to be more intentional about creating an integrated experience for them," says Mr. McPartland. "As we brainstormed the possibilities in terms of content, we chose the immigrant experience as a natural and rich point of connection."
After meeting a few times throughout the first semester, Mr. McPartland and Mr. Van Why began planning their lessons and working with other faculty members to come up with additional resources students could use. "Students are learning about the immigration experience in both the historical and modern contexts," says Mr. McPartland. "Through a variety of texts and historical events, we're focusing on immigration into America in the early 1900s. Later in this unit, our students will analyze firsthand accounts of immigration in the 21st century and contemporary fiction from the immigrant perspective. There will be sustained dialogue on what it means to be an American and a consistent focus on improving student research skills."
"I'll be focusing on the historical aspects of these documents and Mr. McPartland will focus more on the literary aspects," says Mr. Van Why. "We plan on hosting a seminar too so students can write their own researched letter from the editor about how to face challenges as an immigrant in the United States."
"Beyond alignment through overarching topics, the interdisciplinary approach is realized through examining the same content from the perspective of each discipline and blending teaching techniques typical of History and English classrooms," says Mr. McPartland.
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ST. ED'S CONTINUES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH LABRE, COMMUNITY MEAL AND BLOOD DRIVE
During this world-wide crisis, St. Ed's Campus Ministry Department has continued its efforts to help meet the needs of our community and those who are struggling on a daily basis. While doing their part to keep themselves and others safe and healthy, the Labre team including VP of Mission Effectiveness Mr. Liam Haggerty '02, Director of Service and Outreach Mr. Rick Kubrak '07, Bookstore Operator and Finance Office Assistant Mrs. Molly Dantio, and Librarian and CAS Coordinator Mrs. Jackie Wagner (pictured above) developed a plan to best serve the unsheltered population and homeless community on Monday nights to take over for local college Labre groups that have temporarily stopped their programs due to students being off campus. By making this change, a Labre team from the Cleveland area will still be out to help the homeless community every night of the week. To limit gatherings and practice social distancing, the St. Ed's Labre team has reverted to handling all Labre prep off campus, sending only two adults each week on Labre visits in separate vehicles, and leaving food at a safe distance for pickup and having conversations with community members at least six feet apart.
"Due to how much life has changed and how many organizations have had to greatly alter their operations, and in some cases, shut them down completely, the number of places where the most vulnerable can turn to for assistance has become even more limited. The need for our programs is that much greater," says Mr. Haggerty. "We have had to alter our own programs, and in some ways, our capacity has become limited as well, but we want to do all that we can to live our mission. The Holy Cross Constitutions urge us to be 'men and women with hope to bring.' In a time of such uncertainty, fear, and loss, this is what it means to bring hope, to keep showing up, to keep remembering those in need, and to keep standing with those who are troubled."
Although St. Ed's normally offers a produce distribution, food pantry and a community meal each month, these three events have been consolidated into one event that will continue the community meal by offering "to go" dinners and pre-packaged bags of groceries to each individual to limit contact and move people along quickly so they feel safe while getting the resources they need. "It is our hope that this continues to help meet the needs of so many who struggle with hunger and food insecurity all the time, a problem only exacerbated by the current crisis, while also limiting the number of times our guests need to leave their homes to access our programs," says Mr. Haggerty. Additionally, Mr. Haggerty and Mr. Kubrak have reached out to local partner agencies and housing complexes to deliver a limited number of meals and groceries to the most vulnerable populations that are in need of food at this time.
Lastly, the St. Ed's campus host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, April 1 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. that will run on an appointment-only basis to keep participants safe. With so many blood drive locations closed during a time of critical blood shortage, St. Ed's is trying to help in this effort to meet this need. "Although we are just a high school, we are an important outreach resource for the community through the different ministries we offer," says Mr. Kubrak. "Under Governor DeWine's orders, we fall under the category of 'essential workers' as we provide essential, basic needs like food to people in our community, so we are still able to operate and offer these ministries. We not only want to keep our team and volunteers safe, but we also want to make sure our community gets the resources they need to stay healthy."
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Norman Rockwell's 3 sons seek to halt sale of his artworks
By Mark PrattAssociated Press
BOSTON — Norman Rockwell's three sons were among several people who went to court on Friday seeking to halt a museum's plans to sell 40 works of art, including two by him.
Among the other artists whose works are being auctioned is Albert Bierstadt. Landscape painter Bierstadt was born in Germany but grew up in New Bedford from a very early age. After studying in Germany, he returned to the United States and staged the first art exhibit in New Bedford in 1858. In the 1860s, he traveled to the American West and his paintings done there earned him added acclaim.
A complaint seeking a temporary restraining order filed in Berkshire Superior Court alleges the board of trustees at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield contracted with Sotheby's for a public auction of the works before it announced its plans publicly, acted in breach of its fiduciary duties and trust and acted without legal authority to sell the art.
The planned sale is against Massachusetts laws establishing the museum, which requires the museum to maintain any gifts it receives "for the people of Berkshire County and the general public," the complaint says.
"Once sold, it is highly unlikely that any of the pieces will remain in Berkshire County or in a public institution where they can be seen and enjoyed," the complaint says.
Besides Thomas, Jarvis and Peter Rockwell, the plaintiffs include two local artists and several members of the museum. They are represented by the Boston law firm Foley Hoag LLP.
The museum has consistently stood by its decision to sell the art.
"We believe we have strong legal grounds for our deaccessioning and we are confident in our new vision plan which will allow this important local museum to continue to contribute to the educational and cultural life of this region for another century," trustees president Elizabeth McGraw said in a statement on Friday.
The museum came under intense national and local criticism after it announced in July that is was auctioning the art.
The American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Art Museum Directors said in a joint statement that the sale violated a sacred museum rule that collections are not to be sold to pay bills.
The works for sale include Rockwell's "Shaftsbury Blacksmith Shop" and "Shuffleton's Barbershop," both of which the illustrator gave as gifts to the museum when he lived in nearby Stockbridge. Works by Alexander Calder, New Bedford artist Albert Bierstadt and George Henry Durrie also are on the auction block.
Museum trustees and officials say the museum is in dire financial straits and may close for good if it doesn't sell the works. They say it is hoped that the sale will raise as much as $60 million, which will be used to boost the endowment by $40 million, with the other $20 million being used to renovate the museum as it changes its mission to focus more on natural history and science.
The complaint says the museum's financial troubles are greatly exaggerated.
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Make a Change Team
Southend Winter Night Shelters Open
HARP, Love Southend, and Southend Borough Council are pleased to announce that this year’s Churches Winter Night Shelters will open on Monday 2nd December.
This joint partnership, which is now in its ninth year, adds around 20 extra sleeping spaces per night for rough sleepers in the local area, as churches across Southend open their doors for one night a week each from 2 December 2019 to 29 March 2020.
As well as providing a hot meal and a warm, safe place to sleep, the project aims to help people move off the streets in the long-term, by providing links to relevant agencies in the town. HARP, Southend’s homeless charity, manages referrals and ensure that users of the service sign up to a simple action plan to address their needs.
Last year, 156 people were given a place to sleep for at least one night over the winter season, and 67% of those who were referred by HARP to the Church Shelters did not return to the streets by the time the Shelters closed for the season.
As it stands, the shelters will open with facilities available on every night except Tuesdays, with every effort being made to add a Tuesday night venue as soon as possible.
“We were hoping to launch this year’s scheme with all seven nights covered and, although this hasn’t been possible, we decided it is important to open with the venues we already have whilst we continue with our talks to find the final venue for Tuesday evenings,” said John Simmons, co-ordinator of the Southend Churches Winter Night Shelter scheme. “We invite any churches or other organisations who feel they might be able to provide a venue or Volunteer Shelter Manager for Tuesdays to step forward as soon as possible, even if this is just temporarily while we find a longer term solution.”
Anyone who is rough sleeping and wants to make use of the Churches Winter Night Shelters must be referred via HARP’s Bradbury Day Centre, 103-107 York Road, Southend-on-Sea, between 9am and 1pm, Monday to Friday. Full details of which churches are open on each evening will be provided to service users upon referral.
HARP’s Service Operations Manager, Gary Turner, said: “The Southend Churches Winter Night Shelters partnership is an excellent example of what happens when different agencies, faith groups and members of the public come together to help some of society’s most vulnerable people. It is an important part of our work helping local people to overcome homelessness for good. We would like to thank all the churches and individuals who make this happen every year.”
Simon Leftley, deputy chief executive at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, said: “We are still working hard and doing all we can to find a location for Tuesday nights. No-one wants to see anyone sleeping outside during the cold winter months. If you or any organisation you know, might be able to help, please get in touch. We have our fantastic volunteers we just need a suitable place.
“The scheme has grown over the years and become an important part of the town’s provision for rough sleepers, with figures showing how it can make a lasting impact on some of our rough sleepers. This only happens thanks to partnership working and our amazing volunteers who give so much of their time to make sure the shelters are open, staffed and that help is there for those who need it most.”
To put yourself forward to be a Volunteer Shelter Manager or provide a venue on a Tuesday night, or to help out as a volunteer at one of the existing church shelters, please contact John Simmons, Southend Churches Winter Night Shelters Coordinator, via email or call 07483 825298.
Government announced additional £10m support for rough sleepers
“Herculean” response gets 80% of former rough sleepers in permanent homes
Rough sleepers to be helped to keep safe this winter
Rough Sleepers
Street Begging
© 2019 by Southend BID
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2020 Investment Climate Statements: Vietnam
Vietnam continues to welcome foreign direct investment (FDI) and the government has policies in place that are broadly conducive to U.S. investment. Factors that attract foreign investment to Vietnam include ongoing economic reforms, new free trade agreements, a young and increasingly urbanized population, political stability, and inexpensive labor costs.
Vietnam attracted USD 143 billion in cumulative FDI over the past 10 years (2010-2019 inclusive). Of this, 59 percent went into manufacturing – especially in the electronics, textiles, footwear, and automobile parts industries – as many companies shifted supply chains to Vietnam. In 2019, Vietnam attracted USD 20.3 billion in FDI. The government approved the following significant FDI projects in 2019: Beerco Limited’s USD 3.9 billion acquisition of Vietnam Beverage; Center of Techtronic Tools’ project to develop a USD 650 million research and development center in Ho Chi Minh City; Charmvit’s USD 420 million for an amusement park and horse racing field in Hanoi; and LG Display’s USD 410 million expansion.
In 2019, Vietnam advanced some reforms to make the country more FDI-friendly. In particular, the government issued Resolution 55, which aims to attract USD 50 billion of foreign investment by 2030 by amending regulations that inhibit foreign investments and by codifying quality, efficiency, advanced technology, and environmental protection criteria. In addition, Vietnam passed the 2019 Securities Law, which states the government’s intention to remove foreign ownership limits (but does not give specifics) and the 2019 Labor Code, which adds flexibility for labor contracts.
Despite the comparatively high level of FDI inflows as a percentage of the GDP (8 percent in 2019), significant challenges remain in the business climate. These include corruption, a weak legal infrastructure and judicial system, poor enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR), a shortage of skilled labor, restrictive labor practices, impediments to infrastructure investments, and the government’s slow decision-making process.
Although Vietnam jumped 10 spots – from 77 to 67 – in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2019 Global Competitiveness Index, WEF recommends that Vietnam continue reforms to improve its attractiveness to foreign investors by simplifying legal procedures and streamlining the bureaucratic process related to decision making.
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) came into force in Vietnam on January 14, 2019, and Vietnamese officials have said they will approve the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) in late 2020. These agreements will facilitate FDI inflows into Vietnam, provide better market access for Vietnamese exports, and encourage reforms that will help all foreign investors. However, while these agreements lower trade and investment barriers for participating countries, they may make it more difficult for U.S. companies to compete.
COVID-19 buffeted Vietnam’s economy in early 2020, resulting in layoffs and unemployment, decreased consumption, and a projected decrease in the country’s growth rate. In March 2020, the government started enacting fiscal and monetary policies to counter the effects of the pandemic, including a stimulus worth USD 30 billion and monetary policy designed to inject upwards of USD 11 billion into the economy.
TI Corruption Perceptions Index 2019 96 of 175 http://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overview
Global Innovation Index 2019 42 of 129 https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicator
U.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, historical stock positions) 2018 USD 2,010 https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/
World Bank GNI per capita 2018 USD 2,360 http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD
Policies Toward Foreign Direct Investment
Since Vietnam embarked on economic reforms in 1986 to transition to a market-based economy, the government has welcomed FDI and recognizes FDI as a key component of Vietnam’s high rate of economic growth over the last two decades. Foreign investments continue to play a crucial role in the economy: according to Vietnam’s General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnam exported USD 181 billion in goods in 2019, of which 69 percent came from projects utilizing FDI.
In 2019, the Politburo issued Resolution 55 to increase Vietnam’s attractiveness to foreign investment. The Resolution aims to attract USD 50 billion in new foreign investment by 2030 by amending regulations that inhibit foreign investment and by codifying quality, efficiency, advanced technology, and environmental protection as the evaluation criteria. The government has not released further details on this strategy.
While the government does not have laws that specifically discriminate against foreign investment, the government continues to have foreign ownership limits (FOLs) in industries Vietnam considers important to national security. In January 2020, the government removed FOLs on companies in the eWallet sector and made reforms in procedures related to electronic payments made by foreign firms. Some U.S. investors report that these changes have given more regulatory certainty, which has, in turn, instilled greater confidence as they consider long-term investments in Vietnam.
Many U.S. investors cite concerns with confusing tax regulations, retroactive changes of laws – including tax rates, tax policies, and preferential treatment of Vietnamese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). In 2019, members of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Hanoi noted that fair, transparent, stable, and effective legal frameworks would help Vietnam better attract U.S. investment. These concerns are echoed by Vietnamese companies.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) is the country’s national agency charged with promoting and facilitating foreign investment; most provinces and cities also have local equivalents. MPI and local investment promotion offices provide information and explain regulations and policies to foreign investors and inform the Prime Minister and National Assembly on trends in foreign investment. However, U.S. investors should still consult lawyers and/or other experts regarding issues on which regulations are unclear.
The Prime Minister, along with other senior leaders, states that Vietnam prioritizes both investment retention and maintaining dialogue with investors. Vietnam’s senior leaders often meet with foreign government and private-sector representatives to emphasize Vietnam’s attractiveness as an FDI destination. The semiannual Vietnam Business Forum includes meetings between foreign investors and Vietnamese government officials; the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), AmCham, and other U.S. associations also host multiple yearly missions for their U.S. company members, which allow direct engagement with senior government officials. Foreign investors in Vietnam have reported that these meetings and dialogues have helped address obstacles.
Both foreign and domestic private entities have the right to establish and own business enterprises in Vietnam and engage in most forms of legal remunerative activity. Vietnam does have some statutory restrictions on foreign investment, including FOLs or requirements for joint partnerships in selected sectors, including banking, network infrastructure services, non-infrastructure telecommunication services, transportation, energy, and defense. By law, the Prime Minister can waive these FOLs on a case-by-case basis. In practice, however, when the government has removed or eased FOLs, it has done so for the whole industry sector (versus resolution for specific investments).
MPI takes the lead with respect to investment screening. Approval of an FDI project requires signoff by the provincial People’s Committee in which the project would be located. Large-scale FDI projects must obtain the approval of the National Assembly before investment can proceed. MPI’s process includes an assessment of the following criteria: the investor’s legal status and financial strength; the project’s compatibility with the government’s long- and short-term goals for economic development and government revenue; the investor’s technological expertise; environmental protection; and plans for land use and land clearance compensation, if applicable.
The following FDI projects require the Prime Minister’s approval: airports and seaports; casinos; oil and gas exploration, production, and refining; tobacco-related projects; telecommunications/network infrastructure; forestry projects; publishing; and projects with an investment capital greater than USD 217 million.
The most recent third-party investment policy review related to Vietnam is the OECD’s 2018 Review: https://www.oecd.org/countries/vietnam/oecd-investment-policy-reviews-viet-nam-2017-9789264282957-en.htm
The World Bank’s 2020 Ease of Doing Business Index ranked Vietnam 70 of 190 economies. The World Bank reported that in some factors Vietnam lags behind other Southeast Asian countries. For example, it takes businesses 384 hours to pay taxes in Vietnam compared with 64 in Singapore, 174 in Malaysia, and 191 in Indonesia.
On February 1, 2019, Vietnam issued a decree that simplifies procedures for FDI related to vocational training;
On May 13, 2019, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) issued a Circular that allows foreign investors to pay for investment collateral in foreign currencies in certain defined circumstances. Previously, foreign investors had to pay collateral in the Vietnamese dong (VND);
On September 6, 2019, SBV issued a Circular on foreign exchange that simplified certain procedures with respect to foreign investments;
On November 18, 2019, Vietnam issued a decree that raised the foreign ownership cap on air transportation from 30 to 34 percent;
Further information can be found at the UNCTAD’s site: .
On May 5, 2020, USAID and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) released the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) 2019 Report, showing continued improvement in economic governance: http://eng.pcivietnam.org/ . This annual report provides an independent, unbiased view on the provincial business environment by surveying over 8,500 domestic private firms on a variety of business issues. Overall, Vietnam’s median PCI score improved, reflecting the government’s efforts to improve economic governance, improvements in the quality of infrastructure, and a decline in the prevalence of corruption (bribes).
The government does not have a clear mechanism to promote or incentivize outward investment, nor does it have regulations restricting domestic investors from investing abroad. Vietnam does not release statistics on outward investment, but local media reported that in 2019 total outward FDI investment from Vietnam was USD 508 billion and went to 32 countries. Australia received the most outward FDI, with USD 154 million in 2019, mostly to the dairy industry. The United States ranked second, with USD 93.4 million in 26 projects.
Vietnam has trading relationships with more than 200 countries, has 66 bilateral investment treaties, and is party to 26 treaties with investment provisions. Vietnam is also a member of 16 free trade agreements (FTAs), including the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), of which 12 are currently in force. The National Assembly has said it plans to ratify EVFTA in late 2020.
Vietnam is a participant in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations, which includes the 10 ASEAN member countries plus Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand, and it is negotiating an FTA with Israel. A full list of signed agreements to which Vietnam is a party is on the UNCTAD website: http://investmentpolicyhub.unctad.org/IIA/CountryBits/229 .
Vietnam has signed double taxation avoidance agreements with 80 countries (http://taxsummaries.pwc.com/ID/Vietnam-Individual-Foreign-tax-relief-and-tax-treaties ). Some agreements have not come into force, including the United States and Vietnam Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTA).
Over the last several years, U.S. and other foreign companies have disputed retroactive tax audits applied by the Vietnamese government. U.S. businesses generally attribute these cases to unclear, conflicting, and amended language in investment and tax laws, combined with the government’s desire for revenue to reduce chronic budget deficits. These retroactive tax cases make it difficult for companies to predict their eventual tax liability.
U.S. companies continue to report that they face frequent and significant challenges with inconsistent regulatory interpretation, irregular enforcement, and an unclear legal framework. AmCham members have consistently said they perceive that Vietnam lacks a fair legal system for investments, which affects these companies’ ability to do business in Vietnam. The 2019 PCI report documented companies’ difficulties dealing with land, taxes, and social insurance issues, but also found improvements in procedures related to business administration.
Accounting systems are inconsistent with international norms, which increase transaction costs for investors. Vietnam has improved the way it accounts for government revenues, and the government’s long-term goal is to have financial institutions and companies using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by 2020. Currently, Vietnam has its own accounting standards to which publicly listed Vietnamese companies must adhere. Some companies – particularly those that receive foreign investment – already prepare financial statements in line with IFRS.
In Vietnam, the National Assembly passes laws, which serve as the highest form of legal direction, but often lack specifics. Ministries provide draft laws to the National Assembly. The Prime Minister issues decrees, which provide guidance on how to implement a law. Individual ministries issue circulars, which provide guidance on how a ministry will administer a law or decree.
After line ministries have cleared a particular law in preparation to send the law to the National Assembly, the government posts the law for a 60-day comment period. However, sometimes, in practice, the public comment period is far shorter than 60 days. Foreign governments, NGOs, and private-sector companies can and do comment during this period, following which the ministry may redraft the law after considering the comments. Upon completion of the revisions, the ministry submits the legislation to the Office of the Government (OOG) for approval, including the Prime Minister’s signature, and then the legislation moves to the National Assembly for committee review. During this process, the National Assembly can send the legislation back to the originating ministry for further changes. The Communist Party of Vietnam’s Politburo reserves the right to review special or controversial laws.
In practice, drafting agencies often lack the resources needed to conduct adequate data-driven assessments. Ministries are supposed to conduct policy impact assessments that holistically consider all factors before drafting a law, but the quality of these assessments varies.
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is in charge of ensuring that government ministries and agencies follow administrative procedures. The MOJ has a Regulatory Management Department, which oversees and reviews legal documents after they are issued to ensure compliance with the legal system. The Law on the Promulgation of Legal Normative Documents requires all legal documents and agreements be published online for comments for 60 days and published in the Official Gazette before implementation.
Business associations and various chambers of commerce regularly comment on draft laws and regulations. However, when issuing more detailed implementing guidelines, government entities sometimes issue circulars with little advance warning and without public notification, resulting in little opportunity for comment by affected parties. In several cases, authorities receive comments for the first draft only and do not provide subsequent draft versions to the public. The centralized location where key regulatory actions are published can be found here: http://vbpl.vn/ .
While general information is publicly available, Vietnam’s public finances and debt obligations (including explicit and contingent liabilities) are not transparent. The National Assembly set a statutory limit for public debt at 65 percent of nominal GDP, and, according to official figures, Vietnam’s public debt to GDP ratio in late 2019 was 56 percent, down 6 percent from 2018. However, the official public-debt figures exclude the debt of certain SOEs. This poses a risk to Vietnam’s public finances, as the government is ultimately liable for the debts of these companies. Vietnam could improve its fiscal transparency by making its executive budget proposal, including budgetary and debt expenses, widely and easily accessible to the general public long before the National Assembly enacts the budget, ensuring greater transparency of off-budget accounts, and by publicizing the criteria by which the government awards contracts and licenses for natural resource extraction.
Vietnam is a member of ASEAN, a 10-member regional organization working to advance economic integration through cooperation in economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields. Within ASEAN, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has the goal of establishing a single market across ASEAN nations (similar to the EU’s common market), but member states have not made significant progress. To date, the greatest success of the AEC has been tariff reductions.
Vietnam is also a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region. APEC aims to facilitate business among member states through trade facilitation programming, senior-level leaders’ meetings, and regular dialogue. However, APEC is a non-binding forum. ASEAN and APEC membership has not resulted in Vietnam incorporating international standards, especially when compared with the EU or North America.
Vietnam is a party to the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and has been implementing the TFA’s Category A provisions. Vietnam submitted its Category B and Category C implementation timelines on August 2, 2018. According to these timelines, Vietnam will fully implement the Category B and C provisions by the end of 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Vietnam’s legal system mixes indigenous, French, and Soviet-inspired civil legal traditions. Vietnam generally follows an operational understanding of the rule of law that is consistent with its top-down, one-party political structure and traditionally inquisitorial judicial system.
The hierarchy of the country’s courts is: 1) the Supreme People’s Court; 2) the High People’s Court; 3) Provincial People’s Courts; and 4) District People’s Courts. The People’s Courts operate in five divisions: criminal, civil, administrative, economic, and labor. The Supreme People’s Procuracy is responsible for prosecuting criminal activities as well as supervising judicial activities.
Vietnam lacks an independent judiciary and separation of powers among Vietnam’s branches of government. For example, Vietnam’s Chief Justice is also a member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee. According to Transparency International, there is significant risk of corruption in judicial rulings. Low judicial salaries engender corruption; nearly one-fifth of surveyed Vietnamese households that have been to court declared that they had paid bribes at least once. Many businesses therefore avoid Vietnamese courts.
Along with corruption, the judicial system continues to face additional problems. For example, many judges and arbitrators lack adequate legal training and are appointed through personal or political contacts with party leaders or based on their political views. Regulations or enforcement actions are appealable, and appeals are adjudicated in the national court system. Through a separate legal mechanism, individuals and companies can file complaints against enforcement actions under the Law on Complaints.
The 2005 Commercial Law regulates commercial contracts between businesses. Specific regulations prescribe specific forms of contracts, depending on the nature of the deals. If a contract does not contain a dispute-resolution clause, courts will have jurisdiction over a possible dispute. Vietnamese law allows dispute-resolution clauses in commercial contracts explicitly through the Law on Commercial Arbitration. The law follows the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) model law as an international standard for procedural rules.
Vietnamese courts will only consider recognition of civil judgments issued by courts in countries that have entered into agreements on recognition of judgments with Vietnam or on a reciprocal basis. However, with the exception of France, these treaties only cover non-commercial judgments.
The legal system includes provisions to promote foreign investment. Vietnam uses a “negative list” approach to approve foreign investment, meaning foreign businesses are allowed to operate in all areas except for six prohibited sectors (illicit drugs, wildlife trade, prostitution, human trafficking, human cloning, and other commerce related to otherwise illegal activities).
The law also requires foreign and domestic investors be treated the same in cases of nationalization and confiscation. However, foreign investors are subject to different business-licensing processes and restrictions, and Vietnamese companies that have a majority foreign investment are subject to foreign-investor business-license procedures.
In 2019, Vietnam passed a new Securities Law, which stated the government’s long-term intention to remove some FOLs (but did not give specifics) and allows for the sale of certain derivatives. Also, in 2019, Vietnam adopted a new Labor Code, which allows greater flexibility in contract termination, allows employees to work more overtime hours, increases the retirement age, and adds more flexibility in terms of labor contracts. There is a “one-stop-shop” website for investment that provides relevant laws, rules, procedures, and reporting requirements for investors: https://vietnam.eregulations.org/
In 2018, Vietnam passed a new Law on Competition, which came into effect on July 1, 2019, replacing Vietnam’s Law on Competition of 2004. The Law includes punishments – such as fines – for those who violate the law. The government has not prosecuted any person or entity under this law since it came into effect, though there were prosecutions under the 2004 law. The law does not appear to have affected foreign investment.
Under Vietnamese law, the government can only expropriate investors’ property in cases of emergency, disaster, defense, or national interest, and the government is required to compensate investors if it expropriates property. Under the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, Vietnam must apply international standards of treatment in any case of expropriation or nationalization of U.S. investor assets, which includes acting in a non-discriminatory manner with due process of law and with prompt, adequate, and effective compensation. The U.S. Mission in Vietnam is unaware of any expropriation cases involving U.S. firms.
Vietnam has not yet acceded to the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Convention. MPI has submitted a proposal to the government to join the ICSID, but the government has not moved forward on this. Vietnam is a party to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the “New York Convention”), meaning that foreign arbitral awards rendered by a recognized international arbitration institution should be respected by Vietnamese courts without a review of cases’ merits.
Vietnam has signed 66 bilateral investment treaties, is party to 26 treaties with investment provisions, and is a member of 12 free trade agreements in force. Some of these include provisions for Investor-State Dispute Settlement. As a signatory to the New York Convention, Vietnam is required to recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards within its jurisdiction, with very few exceptions. Technically, foreign and domestic arbitral awards are legally enforceable in Vietnam; however, foreign investors in Vietnam do not trust the system will work in a fair and impartial manner. Vietnamese courts may reject foreign arbitral awards if the award is contrary to the basic principles of Vietnamese laws.
According to UNCTAD, over the last 10 years there were two dispute cases against the Vietnamese government involving U.S. companies. The courts decided in favor of the government in one case, and the parties decided to discontinue the other case. The Vietnamese government is currently in two pending, active disputes (with the UK and South Korea, respectively). More details are available at https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-dispute-settlement/country/229/viet-nam.
With an underdeveloped legal system, Vietnam’s courts are often ineffective in settling commercial disputes. Negotiation between concerned parties is the most common means of dispute resolution. Since the Law on Arbitration does not allow a foreign investor to refer an investment dispute to a court in a foreign jurisdiction, Vietnamese judges cannot apply foreign laws to a case before them, and foreign lawyers cannot represent plaintiffs in a court of law. Vietnam does not have a domestic arbitration body, but the Law on Commercial Arbitration of 2011 permits foreign arbitration centers to establish branches or representative offices (although none have done so).
There are no readily available statistics on how often domestic courts rule in favor of SOEs. In general, the court system in Vietnam works slowly. International arbitration awards, when enforced, may take years from original judgment to payment. Many foreign companies, due to concerns related to time, costs, and potential for bribery, have reported that they have turned to arbitration or asking influential individuals to weigh in.
Based on the 2014 Bankruptcy Law, bankruptcy is not criminalized unless it relates to another crime. The law clarified the definition of insolvency as an enterprise that is more than three months overdue in meeting its payment obligations. The law also provided provisions allowing creditors to commence bankruptcy proceedings against an enterprise and created procedures for credit institutions to file for bankruptcy. Despite these changes, according to the World Bank’s 2020 Ease of Doing Business Report, Vietnam ranked 122 out of 190 for resolving insolvency. The report noted that it still takes, on average, five years to conclude a bankruptcy case in Vietnam. The Credit Information Center of the State Bank of Vietnam provides credit information services for foreign investors concerned about the potential for bankruptcy with a Vietnamese partner.
Foreign investors are exempt from import duties on goods imported for their own use that cannot be procured locally, including machinery; vehicles; components and spare parts for machinery and equipment; raw materials; inputs for manufacturing; and construction materials. Remote and mountainous provinces are allowed to provide additional tax breaks and other incentives to prospective investors.
Projects in the following sectors are eligible for investment incentives, including lower corporate income tax rates, exemption of some import tariffs, and/or favorable land rental rates: high-tech; research and development; new materials; energy; clean energy; renewable energy; energy saving products; automobiles; software; waste treatment and management; and primary or vocational education.
The government rarely issues guarantees for financing FDI projects; when it does so, it is usually because the project links to a national security priority. Joint financing with the government occurs when a foreign entity partners with an SOE. The government’s reluctance to guarantee projects reflects its desire to stay below a statutory 65 percent public debt-to-GDP ratio cap, and a desire to avoid incurring liabilities from projects that would not be economically viable without the guarantee. This has delayed approval of some large-scale projects.
Vietnam has prioritized efforts to establish and develop foreign trade zones (FTZs) over the last decade. Vietnam currently has more than 350 industrial zones (IZs) and export processing zones (EPZs). Many foreign investors report that it is easier to implement projects in IZs because they do not have to be involved in site clearance and infrastructure construction. Enterprises pay no duties when importing raw materials if they export the finished products. Customs warehouse companies in FTZs can provide transportation services and act as distributors for the goods deposited.
Additional services relating to customs declaration, appraisal, insurance, reprocessing, or packaging require the approval of the provincial customs office. In practice, the time involved for clearance and delivery of goods by provincial custom officials can be lengthy and unpredictable. Vietnam also has economic zones which can contain IZs and EPZs. Companies operating economic zones are entitled to more tax reductions as measures to incentivize investments.
Vietnamese law states that employers can only recruit foreign nationals for high-skilled positions such as manager, managing director, expert, or technical worker. Local companies must also justify that their efforts to hire suitable local employees were unsuccessful before recruiting foreigners, and their justification must be approved in writing by the local authority and/or the national government. This does not apply to board members elected by shareholders or capital contributors.
Over the last four years, the government has issued decrees that have made it easier for foreign investors and workers to obtain visas, work permits, and residence. The government plans to further streamline this process in 2021.
On January 1, 2019, the Law on Cybersecurity (LOCS) came into effect, requiring cross-border services to store data of Vietnamese users in Vietnam, despite sustained international and domestic opposition to the regulation. The latest draft of the LOCS implementing decree, released in July 2019, sparked concerns among foreign digital services firms regarding the draft decree’s provisions on data localization and local presence for a broad range of services in the Internet economy, from cloud computing to email. Provisions of the LOCS require firms to provide unencrypted user information upon request by law enforcement. However, application of this requirement hinges on issuance of the implementing decree, which is still pending as of May 2020. The government committed to consider comments from the U.S. government, companies, and trade associations and promised to consult with the U.S. government before finalization.
On July 1, 2020, the Law on Tax Administration will come into effect and will require foreign entities doing business on digital platforms without permanent presence in Vietnam to register as taxpaying entities in Vietnam. The Ministry of Finance said it would issue guidance on this requirement but had not done so as of May 2020.
There are currently no measures preventing or unduly impeding companies from freely transmitting customer or other business-related data outside of Vietnam.
The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) issued Circular 38 on Cross Border Provisioning of Public Information in 2016. Circular 38 does not require localization of servers but does require offshore service providers in Vietnam to comply with local-content restrictions. This includes websites, social networks, mobile phone apps, search engines, and other similar services that 1) have more than one million monthly users in Vietnam or 2) lease a data center to store digital information in Vietnam in order to provide services. MIC’s Authority on Broadcasting and Electronic Information is currently reviewing Circular 38 and related legislation with the goal of revision by late 2020.
MIC released a draft of Decree 72 on Internet Services and Information Content Online for public comment on April 19, 2020. Foreign investors reported concerns regarding Decree 72’s provisions on mandatory licensing requirements for large foreign social networks; tightened regulations on social media companies; compulsory content review; and policies requiring responses to government takedown requests within 24 to 48 hours. The draft Decree requires local Internet service providers to terminate services for companies that fail to cooperate with the new regulations. According to the government’s plan for issuing legal documents, the revised decree is scheduled to go into effect in late 2020.
MIC is also revising Decree 06 on Management, Provision and Utilization of Radio and Television Services, which applies specifically to streaming services that provide online content. The first draft, released August 2019, required onerous licensing procedures, local-presence (including joint venture) requirements, local-content quotas, content preapproval, compulsory translation, and local advertising agents. These requirements are inconsistent with Vietnam’s commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The State collectively owns and manages all land in Vietnam, and therefore neither foreigners nor Vietnamese nationals can own land. However, the government grants land-use and building rights, often to individuals. According to the Ministry of National Resources and Environment (MONRE), as of September 2018 – the most recent time period in which the government has made figures available – the government has issued land-use rights certificates for 96.9 percent of land in Vietnam. If land is not used according to the land-use rights certificate or if it is unoccupied, it reverts to the government. Vietnam is building a national land-registration database, and some localities have already digitized their land records.
State protection of property rights are still evolving, and the law does not clearly demarcate circumstances in which the government would use eminent domain. Under the Housing Law and Real Estate Business Law passed by the National Assembly in November 2014, the government can take land if it deems it necessary for socio-economic development in the public or national interest and the Prime Minister, the National Assembly, or the Provincial People’s Council approves such action. However, the law loosely defines “socio-economic” development, and there are many outstanding legal disputes between landowners and local authorities – including some U.S. entities. Disputes over land rights continue to be a significant driver of social protest in Vietnam. Foreign investors also may be exposed to land disputes through merger and acquisition activities when they buy into a local company.
Foreign investors can lease land for renewable periods of 50 years, and up to 70 years in some underdeveloped areas of the country. This allows titleholders to conduct property transactions, including mortgages on property. Some investors have encountered difficulties amending investment licenses to expand operations onto land adjoining existing facilities. Investors also note that local authorities may seek to increase requirements for land-use rights when current rights must be renewed, particularly when the investment in question competes with Vietnamese companies.
The government is working on reforms relating to property rights. MONRE is currently drafting amendments to the 2013 Land Law, which would allow foreigners to own homes in Vietnam. MONRE expects to submit the draft law to the National Assembly for review and approval in late 2020.
Vietnam does not have a strong record on protecting and enforcing intellectual property (IP). There were positive developments over the past year, such as the issuance of the national IP strategy, public awareness campaigns and training activities, and reported improvements on border enforcement in some parts of the country. However, IP enforcement continues to be a challenge.
Lack of coordination among ministries and agencies responsible for enforcement is a primary obstacle, and capacity constraints related to enforcement persist, in part, due to a lack of resources and IP expertise. Vietnam continues to rely heavily on administrative enforcement actions, which have consistently failed to deter widespread counterfeiting and piracy.
The United States is closely monitoring and engaging with the Vietnamese government on the ongoing implementation of amendments to the 2015 Penal Code with respect to criminal enforcement of IP violations. Counterfeit goods are widely available online and in physical markets. In addition, online piracy (including the use of piracy devices and applications to access unauthorized audiovisual content); book piracy; lack of effective criminal measures for cable and satellite signal theft; and both private and public-sector software piracy remain problematic.
Vietnam’s system for protecting against the unfair commercial use and unauthorized disclosure of undisclosed test or other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical products needs clarification. The United States is monitoring the implementation of IP provisions of the CPTPP, which the National Assembly ratified in November 2018, and the EVFTA, which Vietnam’s National Assembly expects to ratify in late 2020.
In its international agreements, Vietnam committed to strengthen its IP regime and is in the process of drafting implementing legislation and other measures in a number of IP-related areas, including in preparation for acceding to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty. In September 2019, Vietnam acceded to the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs, and the United States will monitor the implementation of that agreement.
The United States, through the U.S.-Vietnam Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and other bilateral fora, continues to urge Vietnam to address these issues and to provide interested stakeholders with meaningful opportunities for input as it proceeds with these reforms. The United States and Vietnam signed a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement in December 2019, which will facilitate bilateral cooperation in IP enforcement.
In 2019, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP Vietnam) reported receiving 120,793 IP applications of all types (up 10 percent from 2018), of which 75,742 were registered for industrial property rights (up 16 percent from 2018). IP Vietnam reported granting 2,922 patents in 2019 (up 13 percent from 2018). Industrial designs registrations reached 2,172 in 2019 (down 8 percent from 2018). In total, IP Vietnam granted more than 40,715 protection titles for industrial property, out of more than 75,742 applications in 2019 (up 41 percent from 2018). The DMS processed 9,510 counterfeit and IP infringement cases and collected over USD 1.5 million in fines. The most infringed-upon products were clothes, consumer goods, electronics, foodstuffs, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, construction materials, and bicycle and automobile parts.
The Copyright Office of Vietnam received and settled 15 copyright petitions and five requests for copyright assessment in 2019. In 2019, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism’s Inspector General carried out inspections for software licensing compliance and discovered 111 violations, resulting in total fines of USD 150,000 – nearly triple the amount in 2018. For more information, please see the following reports from the U.S. Trade Representative:
Special 301 Report: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2019_Special_301_Report.pdf
Notorious Markets Report: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2019_Special_301_Report.pdf
For additional information about national laws and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/ .
The Vietnamese government generally encourages foreign portfolio investment. The country has two stock markets – the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, which lists publicly traded companies, and the Hanoi Stock Exchange, which lists bonds and derivatives. Vietnam also has a market for unlisted public companies (UPCOM) at the Hanoi Securities Center.
Although Vietnam welcomes portfolio investment, the country sometimes has difficulty in attracting such investment. Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) classifies Vietnam as a Frontier Market, which precludes some of the world’s biggest asset managers from investing in its stock markets. Vietnam is improving its legal framework to reach its goal of meeting the “emerging market” criteria in 2020 and attracting more foreign capital. However, exogenous events may make this difficult: in the first quarter of 2020, foreign investors withdrew USD 500 million in portfolio assets from Vietnam due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is enough liquidity in the markets to enter and maintain sizable positions. Combined market capitalization at the end of 2019 was approximately USD 189 billion, equal to 73 percent of Vietnam’s GDP, with the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange accounting for USD 141 billion, the Hanoi Exchange USD 8 billion, and the UPCOM USD 40 billion. Bond market capitalization reached over USD 50 billion in 2019, the majority of which were government bonds, largely held by domestic commercial banks.
Vietnam complies with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article VIII. The government notified the IMF that it accepted the obligations of Article VIII, Sections 2, 3, and 4, effective November 8, 2005.
Local banks generally allocate credit on market terms, but the banking sector is not as sophisticated or capitalized as those in advanced economies. Foreign investors can acquire credit in the local market, but both foreign and domestic firms often seek foreign financing since Vietnamese banks do not have sufficient capital at appropriate interest rate levels for a significant number of FDI projects.
Vietnam’s banking sector has been stable since recovering from the 2008 global recession. Nevertheless, the SBV estimated in 2018 that half of Vietnam’s population is underbanked or lacks bank accounts due to a preference for cash, distrust in commercial banking, limited geographical distribution of banks, and a lack of financial acumen. The World Bank’s Global Findex Database 2017 (the most recent available) estimated that only 31 percent of Vietnamese over the age of 15 had an account at a financial institution or through a mobile money provider.
Although the banking sector was stable during 2019, COVID-19 may challenge the sector. Ratings agency Moody’s reported, on April 7, 2020, that “the consumer finance industry in Vietnam is vulnerable to disruptions given its risky borrower profile,” and noted that layoffs, underemployment, and business closures resulting from COVID-19 further decrease the creditworthiness of borrowers. At the end of 2019, the SBV reported that the percentage of non-performing loans (NPLs) in the banking sector was 1.9 percent, a significant improvement from the 2.4 percent at the end of 2018.
The banking sector’s estimated total assets stood at USD 519 billion, of which USD 222 billion belonged to seven state-owned and majority state-owned commercial banks – accounting for 42 percent of total assets. Though classified as joint-stock (private) commercial banks, the Bank of Investment and Development Bank (BIDV), Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank), and Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) all are majority-owned by SBV. In addition, the SBV holds 100 percent of Agribank, Global Petro Commercial Bank (GPBank), Construction Bank (CBBank), and Oceanbank.
The U.S. Mission in Vietnam did not find any evidence that a Vietnamese bank had lost a correspondent banking relationship in the past three years; there is also no evidence that a correspondent banking relationship is currently in jeopardy.
There are no legal restrictions on foreign investors converting and repatriating earnings or investment capital from Vietnam. A foreign investor can convert and repatriate earnings provided the investor has the supporting documents required by law and has applied to remit money. The SBV sets the interbank lending rate and announces a daily interbank reference exchange rate. SBV determines the latter based on the previous day’s average interbank exchange rates, while considering movements in the currencies of Vietnam’s major trading and investment partners. The Vietnamese government generally keeps the exchange rate at a stable level compared to major world currencies.
Vietnam mandates that in-country transactions must be made in the local currency – Vietnamese dong (VND). The government allows foreign businesses to remit lawful profits, capital contributions, and other legal investment earnings via authorized institutions that handle foreign currency transactions. Although foreign companies can remit profits legally, sometimes these companies find difficulties bureaucratically, as they are required to provide supporting documentation (audited financial statements, import/foreign-service procurement contracts, proof of tax obligation fulfillment, etc.). SBV also requires foreign investors to submit notification of profit remittance abroad to tax authorities at least seven working days prior to the remittance; otherwise there is no waiting period to remit an investment return.
The inflow of foreign currency into Vietnam is less constrained. There are no recent changes or plans to change investment remittance policies that either tighten or relax access to foreign exchange for investment remittances.
Vietnam does not have a Sovereign Wealth Fund.
In 2018, the government created the Commission for State Capital Management at Enterprises (CMSC) to manage SOEs with increased transparency and accountability. The CMSC’s goals include accelerating privatization in a transparent manner, promoting public listings of SOEs, and transparency in overall financial management of SOEs.
SOEs do not operate on a level playing field with domestic companies and continue to benefit from preferential access to resources such as land, capital, and political largesse. In the 2019 PCI report, however, the percentage of surveyed firms agreeing with the statement “SOEs find it easier to win state contracts” dropped to 21 percent from 27 percent in 2015.
Third-party market analysts note that a significant number of SOEs have extensive liabilities, including pensions owed, real estate holdings in areas not related to the SOE’s ostensible remit, and a lack of transparency with respect to operations and financing.
Vietnam officially started privatizing SOEs in 1998. The process has been slow because privatization has historically transferred only a small share of an SOE (two to three percent) to the private sector, and investors have had concerns about the financial health of many companies. Additionally, the government has inadequate regulations with respect to privatization procedures.
Companies are required to publish their corporate social responsibility activities, corporate governance work, information of related parties and transactions, and compensation of management. Companies must also announce extraordinary circumstances, such as changes to management, dissolution, or establishment of subsidiaries, within 36 hours of the event.
Most multinational companies implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs that contribute to improving the business environment in Vietnam, and awareness of CSR programs is increasing among large domestic companies. The VCCI conducts CSR training and highlights corporate engagement on a dedicated website (http://www.csr-vietnam.eu/ ) in partnership with the UN.
AmCham also has a CSR group that organizes events and activities to raise awareness of social issues. Non-governmental organizations collaborate with government bodies, such as VCCI and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MOLISA), to promote business practices in Vietnam in line with international norms and standards.
Overall, the government has not defined responsible business conduct (RBC), nor has it established a national plan or agenda for RBC. The government has yet to establish a national point of contact or ombudsman for stakeholders to get information or raise concerns regarding RBC. The new Labor Code passed in December 2019 recognizes the right of employees to establish their own representative organizations. For a detailed description of regulations on worker/labor rights in Vietnam, see the Department of State’s Human Rights Report (https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/vietnam/).
Vietnam has laws to combat corruption by public officials, and they extend to all citizens. Corruption is due, in large part, to low levels of transparency, accountability, and media freedom, as well as poor remuneration for government officials and inadequate systems for holding officials accountable. Competition among agencies for control over businesses and investments has created overlapping jurisdictions and bureaucratic procedures that, in turn, create opportunities for corruption.
The government has tasked various agencies to deal with corruption, including the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption (chaired by the Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen), the Government Inspectorate, and line ministries and agencies. Formed in 2007, the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption has been under the purview of the CPV Central Commission of Internal Affairs since February 2013. The National Assembly provides oversight on the operations of government ministries. Civil society organizations have encouraged the government to establish a single independent agency with oversight and enforcement authority to ensure enforcement of anti-corruption laws.
Resource to Report Corruption
Contact at government agency responsible for combating corruption:
Mr. Phan Dinh Trac
Chairman, Communist Party Central Committee Internal Affairs
4 Nguyen Canh Chan; +84 0804-3557
Contact at NGO:
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Vien
Executive Director, Towards Transparency
Transparency International National Contact in Vietnam
Floor 4, No 37 Lane 35, Cat Linh street, Dong Da, Hanoi, Vietnam; +84-24-37153532
Fax: +84-24-37153443;
kieuvien@towardstransparency.vn
Vietnam is a unitary single-party state, and its political and security environment is largely stable. Protests and civil unrest are rare, though there are occasional demonstrations against perceived or real social, environmental, labor, and political injustices.
In August 2019, online commentators expressed outrage over the slow government response to an industrial fire in Hanoi that released unknown amounts of mercury. Other localized protests in 2019 and early 2020 broke out over alleged illegal dumping in waterways and on public land, and the perceived government attempts to cover up potential risks to local communities.
Citizens sometimes protest actions of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), usually online. For example, they did so in June 2019, when China Coast Guard vessels harassed the operations of Russian oil company Rosneft in Block 06-01, Vietnam’s highest-producing natural gas field.
In April 2016, after the Formosa Steel plant discharged toxic pollutants into the ocean and caused a large number of fish deaths, the affected fishermen and residents in central Vietnam began a series of regular protests against the company and the government’s lack of response to the disaster. Protests continued into 2017 in multiple cities until security forces largely suppressed the unrest. Many activists who helped organize or document these protests were subsequently arrested and imprisoned.
The Labor Code passed in December 2019 will come into effect on January 1, 2021. The CPTPP and the EVFTA helped advance labor reform in Vietnam. In particular, the EVFTA requires Vietnam to publish a timeline for ratifying the two remaining core International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions: Convention 105 (abolition of forced labor) in 2020; and Convention 87 (freedom of association and protection of the right to organize) in 2023. Convention 87, together with Convention 98, would allow trade unions, which are currently dominated by the sole national trade union, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, to better represent workers’ interests. Even with new momentum on labor issues, enactment of legal and regulatory changes to improve working conditions in Vietnam will still take years to fully develop and implement.
According to Vietnam’s General Statistics Office (GSO), in the first quarter of 2019 there were 55 million people participating in the formal labor force in Vietnam out of over 72 million people aged 15 and above. The labor force is relatively young, with workers 15-39 years of age accounting for half of the total labor force.
Estimates on the size of the informal economy differ widely. The IMF states 40 percent of Vietnam’s laborers work on the informal economy; the World Bank puts the figure at 55 percent; the ILO puts the figure as high as 79 percent if agricultural households are included.
An employer is permitted to lay off employees due to technological changes, organizational changes (in cases of a merger, consolidation, or cessation of operation of one or more departments), or when the employer faces economic difficulties. There are no waivers on labor requirements to attract foreign investment. COVID-19 has increased the number of layoffs in the Vietnamese economy. In March and April 2020, the Vietnamese government passed measures, including cash payments and supplemental cash for companies, to help pay salaries for workers and offer unemployment insurance.
The constitution affords the right of association and the right to demonstrate. The 2019 Labor Code, that will come into effect on January 1, 2021, allows workers to establish and join independent unions of their choice. However, the relevant governmental agencies are still drafting the implementing decrees on procedures to establish and join independent unions, and to determine the level of autonomy independent unions will have in administering their affairs.
Vietnam has been a member of the ILO since 1992, and has ratified six of the core ILO labor conventions (Conventions 100 and 111 on discrimination, Conventions 138 and 182 on child labor, Convention 29 on forced labor, and Convention 98 on rights to organize and collective bargaining). While the constitution and law prohibit forced or compulsory labor, Vietnam has not ratified Convention 105 on forced labor as a means of political coercion and discrimination and Convention 87 on freedom of association and protection of the rights to organize, although the government states it is currently taking steps toward ratification.
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the predecessor of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), signed a bilateral agreement with Vietnam in 1998, and Vietnam joined the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) in 1995.
On January 8, 2020, DFC CEO Adam Boehler made his first visit to Vietnam and met with the Prime Minister. CEO Boehler noted that the DFC hopes to make a multibillion-dollar commitment to Vietnam in the coming years, with investments in energy, healthcare, education, and small businesses.
Host Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (millions USD) 2019 USD 262 2019 USD 261 General Statistics Office (GSO) for Host Country and IMF for International Source
U.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions) 2019 USD 9.382 N/A N/A BEA data available at
Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions) 2019 N/A N/A N/A BEA data available at
Total inbound stock of FDI as % host GDP 2019 N/A N/A N/A UNCTAD data available at
ountry-Fact-Sheets.aspx
* General Statistics Office (GSO)
Data not available.
Top Five Partners (Millions, current US Dollars) (From MPI)
All Countries Amount 100% N/A N/A
Hong Kong 4,450 29%
Singapore 2,691 17%
South Korea 2,667 17%
Japan 1,246 8%
China 1,039 7%
Economic Section
7 Lang Ha, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam +84-24-3850-5000
InvestmentClimateVN@state.gov
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Vietnam
2020 Investment Climate Statements: Fiji
2020 Investment Climate Statements: Micronesia
2020 Investment Climate Statements: Burma
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Interfaith group: No Buddhist or Hindu statues in nightclubs
By WILLIAM J. KOLE , Associated Press, Associated Press
The headquarters of Live Nation is viewed Monday, June 29, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif. America's nightclubs are largely closed because of the coron... The headquarters of Live Nation is viewed Monday, June 29, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif. America's nightclubs are largely closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but that isn't stopping an interfaith coalition from launching a campaign to stop what organizers call the "disrespectful" use of Buddhist and Hindu statues as upscale decor. Representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Jewish and Christian traditions have formed an improbable alliance to end the practice, starting with upmarket clubs in Boston and other cities that are managed by Live Nation, a Beverly Hills, California-based entertainment conglomerate. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
BOSTON (AP) — America’s nightclubs are largely closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but that isn’t stopping an interfaith coalition from launching a campaign to stop what organizers call the “disrespectful” use of sacred Buddhist and Hindu statues as decor.
Representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Jewish and Christian traditions have formed an improbable alliance to end the practice, starting with upscale clubs in Boston and other cities that are managed by Beverly Hills, California-based Live Nation Entertainment.
Specifically, they’re targeting Foundation Room clubs in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Anaheim, California, that are part of Live Nation’s House of Blues network.
Campaign spokesperson Rajan Zed told The Associated Press the campaign was not deliberately timed to coincide with the national conversation on injustice in the aftermath of high-profile deaths of Black Americans, but acknowledged the time may be ripe to address what he called the “highly inappropriate” misuse of sacred icons.
“Symbols of faith shouldn’t be mishandled,” said Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, a Reno, Nevada-based organization that works to promote Hindu identity and foster dialogue between religions. “Hindu deities are meant to be worshiped in temples or home shrines — not to be thrown around loosely in a nightclub for dramatic effect.”
The coalition draws a distinction between sacred depictions of religious leaders such as Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, and the “Laughing Buddha” or “Fat Buddha” statues frequently seen at Asian restaurants.
In addition to pushing for the removal of statues of Buddha as well as Hindu divinities such as Ganesha, Shiva, Rama and Hanuman, the group is demanding a public apology from Live Nation executives for misappropriating the sacred figures.
Statues of revered figures such as Mahavira and Parshvanatha “belong in temples for veneration, not to be misused or mishandled by nightclub patrons,” Jainist leader Sulekh C. Jain said in a statement. He suggested Live Nation, which includes the Ticketmaster entertainment events platform, could donate the statues to Jain temples in the U.S., and the Jain community would pay the shipping costs.
Live Nation's House of Blues said in a statement that its Foundation Room clubs have "always been focused on promoting unity, peace and harmony — which is more important now to the world than ever.”
“In this spirit, we reached out to the coalition last week to discuss and mutually understand how we can best work together for the common good. We deeply apologize and immediately removed the statue Mahavira from all of our venues,” it said. "We are reassessing the presence of all deities in our venues and engaging with the coalition and other religious experts to advise on next steps, including removal, relocation or other appropriate actions. We have always strived to promote dialogue to bring us closer together and are committed to this sentiment moving forward.”
Zed has campaigned against what he considers the misuse of Eastern religious imagery for commercial purposes for several years. In 2019, he extracted an apology from a Virginia brewery that brewed a beer named for a Hindu deity, saying that associating Lord Hanuman with alcohol was disrespectful.
Practicing Hindus object to wine glasses being placed by intoxicated club patrons near or on sacred statues, Zed said, calling it “highly insensitive" and "quite denigrating.”
Zed said he's also lodged complaints with more than a dozen major companies for “inappropriate portrayal of Hinduism and misappropriation of our culture,” including Amazon, Etsy, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Walmart and Wayfair.
Asian cultures long have frowned on the cultural misappropriation of Buddha. At the airport in Bangkok, Thailand, for instance, immigration kiosks discourage tourists from exporting figurines with signs chiding visitors that Buddha is not a souvenir.
Follow AP New England editor Bill Kole on Twitter at http://twitter.com/billkole.
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Tom Hanks Discusses the Origin of Forrest Gump and Making ‘Toy Story 4’ on ‘The Graham Norton Show’
While appearing recent episode of BBC’s The Graham Norton Show with Peter Capaldi and David Walliams, beloved actor Tom Hanks talked about how he came up with the voice for his classic character Forrest Gump (above), and described what it’s like to record the voice of Woody in Pixar’s Toy Story films (below).
[The Graham Norton Show]
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Cinelinx - A Card Game For People Who Love Movies
Cinelinx is sort of "six degrees of Kevin Bacon" but in a card game and a bit more complicated than that... and doesn't have to involve Kevin Bacon (but it probably always should, just because). Anyway, they're in their final days on Kickstarter. They've made more than 2x their funding level, so there's extras as well to be had with your pledge.
From the campaign:
The Cinelinx game is designed to be accessible to all kinds of players. It's something you can quickly pick up and play with your friends, but if you're a movie buff you'll have an opportunity to prove how deep your film knowledge goes! For more seasoned card game players, there are options available to dive in deeper with more layers of strategy possible. We've been running a movie website for a few years now, but we knew upfront that we didn't want the game to be restricted to people who watch as many movies as we do.
So no matter what your level of skill when it comes to games, you'll find something exciting and enjoyable.
Card Games Cinelinx Crowdfunding Kickstarter News
The next Chapter in the Torn Armor Saga
BattleTech: Alpha Strike Data Package Available For Army Builder
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The Stack Archive
Telecommuting: telecommunications policy and market factors
Michael Shear is the President of the Broadband Planning Initiative in Washington DC. Having looked at the background facing proponents of telecommuting and issues of transport and environment, today Michael examines the influence of the telecommunications arena itself on the subject…
One of the most challenging aspects of our rapidly-changing world is the conversation around public policies for information and communications services. The lack of an integrated and holistic policy framework hampers our ability to deal with the hyper or over connected reality caused by the information and communications technologies revolution. Fundamental to this discussion is that the predominant role of government is to preserve and advance the ‘public good’ and must be balanced with our economic values and our understanding of the unique role of telecommunications as infrastructure.
While free, open and competitive markets are prized, the reality is that they rarely exist in perfect form. The past regulatory approach and structure of local PUC’s and FCC oversight has been reduced, leaving many fundamental issues (i.e. availability, quality, pricing, and privacy) unresolved in terms of ‘public good’.
Individuals lack clear policy direction from government in the way of assurance of access, equitable pricing, privacy protections, or acceptable service levels
In the early part of the 20th century competition for telephone services flourished, bringing with it challenges of interconnectivity. Depending upon the carrier providing the service, individuals might not be able to phone neighbors or family if they had a different carrier. Theodore Vale made the argument to the U.S. Congress that the nature of telephone services and its need for standards to allow interconnectivity justified his company, AT&T, to buy up smaller firms and create a more compatible network. In return for the right to purchase competitive firms, AT&T agreed to become a regulated monopoly. The result of this agreement was the passage of the Communications Act of 1934.
From 1934 to 1984, telecommunications services and technologies were essentially delineated as local and long-distance services. In the case of AT&T as the dominant provider in both local and long-distance services, services were regulated by local PUC’s and the FCC respectively. In the interest of stimulating the introduction and use of new technologies and to generate competition, the Justice Department, through the decision of Judge Greene, forced AT&T to separate local and long-distance operations and to divest itself of the local services operations. The decision’s intent of stimulating new technologies and services has certainly occurred. The creation of the Internet, though, was not a consequence of this decision but rather the result of the federal government’s investment and development. De-regulation however, most likely played a major role in the rapid speed of the commercialization of the Internet.
While a large number of companies were created in the post -1984 deregulatory environment, the marketplace essentially ‘collapsed’ from both over-investment and speculation, resulting in a period of consolidation and re-aggregation – perhaps a more normal market arrangement for infrastructure. The drawback is that while new technologies and services were being created and market structures were adjusting, public policy thought and dialogue had all but disappeared.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was the first major legislative and policy enunciation written since the Communications Act of 1934. While the 1934 legislation blessed the regulated monopoly structure for telecommunication services, the 1996 Act legitimized industry de-regulation with the objective of stimulating competition. This most recent legislation was the diminution of government involvement and policy discussions undermining the structural strength of policy formation in a time that the industries, technologies, and services were undergoing tremendous change.
The commercialization of the Internet expanded the nature of electronic communications beyond basic phone services to include data and video and connected services that have never been considered in prior public policy discussions. It is in this current environment that communities and individuals are left without adequate public policy participation or expertise. Evidence of this can be seen in the area of municipal owned networks for ubiquitous internet access.
Some courts and state legislatures have taken steps to restrict and prohibit communities from building and operating their own networks, which may well inhibit their ability to make these communities more competitive in their regions and in the global marketplace. While communities struggle with their role in leveraging telecommunications as an economic tool, individuals lack clear policy direction from government in the way of assurance of access, equitable pricing, privacy protections, or acceptable service levels.
In addition, a new aspect of industry aggregation and consolidation further complicates the complexities of public good and policy formation: the marriage of content and connectivity. While a number of issues arise from this development, network neutrality is, perhaps, the most visible consideration. It is this development in the United States that poses one of the most salient concerns and which is occurring at a time when government involvement, guidance and leadership is, perhaps, not prepared to preserve and advance the public good.
The explosion of information and communications technologies and services across the globe has rapidly shifted jobs abroad. The backwash of these events has been felt throughout every community in the country. Yet communities have been too disadvantaged to use these new technologies in ways that would improve the competitiveness and quality of life in America. The lack of open and educated policy discussions is a critical cause of this disadvantage.
It is important to understand the historic and current events surrounding provisioning of telecommunication services in rural communities. When universal service was the predominant public policy objective for telephone services, telecommunication investments in rural communities were subsidized through the Universal Service Fund, a method of offsetting the higher cost associated with lower density and greater geographic dispersion of customers. With the shift of telephone services to the internet and a diminishment of FCC and circumvention of state public service commissions’ regulatory involvement, the US Congress must wrestle with the difficult problem of determining the government’s role and establishing appropriate mechanisms to support rural broadband infrastructure in the age of the internet.
Telecommunications as Infrastructure
In order to maximize and effectively influence information and communications technologies investments, it is important to recognize the infrastructure character of telecommunications and its unique properties. Broadband is a General Purpose Technology (GPT) and it has been around longer than the internet. Telephone companies used broadband to control, signal, transmit, and bill telephone calls; large enterprise organizations used it to tie together their networks; and cable TV providers used it to bring more channels to the home, all decades before the internet was created. As a GPT, broadband’s functionality may be used to architect new approaches, but the power of the internet has blurred the distinction and overshadowed our basic understanding of broadband technologies independent of its most recent and successful application.
As with any infrastructure, telecommunications is best leveraged when we assess aggregated demands and opportunities. Infrastructure requires economies of scale that are best achieved by integrating the multiple needs of a community rather than pursuing redundant initiatives. In addition, the inherent characteristic of telecommunications infrastructure to disseminate information and connect geographically dispersed users and sources of information requires communities to ascertain collective opportunities to coordinate innovative and advanced telecommunications programs.
The foundations of the internet market and matters of public good and public policy are all in a precipitous state of flux
Broadband technologies and the internet are, perhaps, the most transformative and dramatic manifestations of information and telecommunications technologies to date. And, while these have propelled tremendous upheaval in globalization, little has been done to establish formal creation of community plans. Certainly, some communities have ventured into municipal access activities but, for the most part, this is a ‘if you build it, they will come’ conviction.
The drawback to these approaches is that further investigation and experimentation has been limited in applying innovative methodologies to the issues of economic growth and sustainability in American communities. We must also be aware that the foundations of the internet market and matters of public good and public policy are all in a precipitous state of flux. Additionally, issues regarding affordable high-speed universal access, network neutrality, privacy, and security are significant unresolved concerns.
An integrated and aggressive use of broadband technologies offers communities a unique and powerful competitive advantage to re-engineer local economies, enhance sustainability, and improve quality of life in the information age.
Read the previous article in this series: Telecommuting: transport and environment issues
In the next feature, Michael will examine how security, continuity of operations and emergency prepardeness are key issues in the future of telecommuting
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How to Stop Cheating in College
Can new technologies help counter today's ever-evolving strategies for cheating—and discourage students from doing it in the first place?
Margaret Barthel
bibiphoto / Shutterstock / Zak Bickel / The Atlantic
Cheating is omnipresent in American higher education. In 2015, Dartmouth College suspended 64 students suspected of cheating in—irony of ironies—an ethics class in the fall term. The previous school year, University of Georgia administrators reported investigating 603 possible cheating incidents; nearly 70 percent of the cases concluded with a student confession. In 2012, Harvard had its turn, investigating 125 students accused of improper collaboration on a final exam in a government class. Stanford University, New York State’s Upstate Medical University, Duke University, Indiana University, the University of Central Florida and even the famously honor code-bound University of Virginia have all faced cheating scandals in recent memory. And that’s just where I stopped Googling.
The nationwide statistics are bleak, too. The International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI), which has studied trends in academic dishonesty for more than a decade, reports that about 68 percent of undergraduate students surveyed admit to cheating on tests or in written work. Forty-three percent of graduate students do the same.
It’s easy to blame high levels of student dishonesty on new technologies, which can make cheating a matter of a swipe of a finger, rather than a stolen answer key or elaborate plot to share answers in the testing room. In a 2011 Pew study, 89 percent of college presidents blamed computers and the Internet for a perceived increase in plagiarism over the previous decade. Meanwhile, colleges are turning technology against the cheaters, using software products that proctor tests with webcams or check written work for plagiarism.
A Classroom Where No One Cheats
But Don McCabe, a retired professor at Rutgers University who led the ICAI student surveys for many years, is hesitant to blame today’s student cheating rates on easy access to the Internet, computers, mobile phones, and more. His survey data shows a more complicated portrait: The percentages of student cheating did begin to increase once the Internet became ubiquitous, but now are actually trending down again, toward pre-Internet levels. But he also sees a diminishing level of student participation in his surveys—fewer responses, and fewer thoughtful responses. His theory is that there’s a growing apathy toward school and cheating at school among today’s students.
What is the best way for universities to catch today’s ever-evolving cheaters—and discourage them from cheating in the first place?
One approach is to take advantage of a number of new technological tools like Turnitin that are designed to make academic dishonesty easier to sniff out. Turnitin, for its part, is a web service used at institutions around the globe to analyze written schoolwork, giving students who run their papers through it computer-generated advice on their writing’s organization and sentence structures. And it gives professors a grading platform that compares every sentence in a student essay to a big database: billions of archived web pages, millions of academic articles and—perhaps most interestingly—most of the other student papers submitted on Turnitin in the past, more than 337 million, according to the company’s website.
Some new ways of uncovering cheating may feel a little creepy. Proctortrack, a software that monitors online test-takers through a webcam, identifies slouching, stretching, shifts in lighting and picking up a dropped pencil as potentially dishonest behaviors. The company behind it, Verificent Technologies, says that Proctortrack is currently installed on 300,000 student computers, with over 1 million online exams proctored since its release.
Other data experiments happening in higher education could have implications for how schools patrol for cheating in the future: many universities are starting to use demographic data like the student’s age and family education history alongside information on classroom engagement to predict a student’s likelihood of passing a course or even of graduating in four years. It doesn’t take much to imagine how quantifying expectations for how well a student will do in class might sharpen the search for cheaters.
Many professors appreciate tools like Turnitin for saving them the time and effort of Google searches or library trips to catch plagiarism. Others have found it helpful as a teaching tool, allowing students to see and correct problem areas before they submit their final drafts. And Proctortrack, for its part, helps assure institutions that students taking tests off campus—particularly in online courses—completed their exams with integrity.
But some worry that over-reliance on technological methods in the fight against student cheating risks a technological arms race, with students inventing still-more-ingenious ways of beating the system and institutions using more and more invasive means of catching them.
Indeed, Teddi Fishman, the current director of ICAI, sees a link between the technological environment and the popularity of different strains of cheating. For the past decade, for instance, she’s seen cut-and-paste plagiarism increase steadily. But now, with the advent of plagiarism-checking technologies like Turnitin, cut-and-paste is falling by the wayside, replaced with what Fishman refers to as “bespoke essays or contract cheating”—services that write papers on behalf of a cheater, a much more difficult practice to police with the technologies currently available.
And even as existing algorithms get scary good at identifying student behavior that deviates from the expected norm, Turnitin, Proctortrack and other tech tools can’t pass nuanced ethical judgements on human actions. Particularly in cases where a student’s intentions aren’t clear, deciding whether a student did their work with integrity is a tricky business.
A quick read of case notes from the Williams College Honor and Discipline Committee’s rulings on cheating accusations bears this out. In one situation, “[t]he student was a first year student from a high school abroad in which citation was not taught at all,” but still was punished by flunking a paper that didn’t have appropriate citations. In another, a student who had taken a test early tried to respond in a “vague yet supportive” way to a classmate who wanted to know if her notes had been useful to him in studying for the exam—and lost a letter grade on his test for his trouble. In a third, a freshman claimed that he hadn’t cited ideas taken from footnotes in the course’s text because he had thought that they were his own. The committee failed him on the assignment, but not the course, “because some felt that he genuinely was unaware that the ideas had their origin outside of his own thinking.”
Fishman points out that while students usually understand the “gross boundaries” of cheating, the specifics are much fuzzier, especially when it comes to paraphrasing and citation. “Frankly, I’ve been in many, many groups of teachers who are discussing where the borders are of plagiarism, and most of the time [they] can’t agree on where the exact boundaries are,” she told me. The definition of common knowledge—which determines what information needs attribution, and what doesn’t—is one such point of contention. “That’s a really complicated idea,” she explained. “There’s no one box of stuff that we can say, ‘Okay, this is common knowledge,’ because it varies from community to community. What’s common knowledge amongst a group of medical students, and what’s common knowledge amongst a group of engineering students is going to be different.”
This kind of ambiguity is one of the main reasons Fishman counsels a more human-centric approach to college cheating. “There has to be space to fail,” she argues. “There has to be an opportunity for [students] to attempt something, screw it up, and then to get feedback and correct it, without it being a semester-killing matter.”
Elizabeth Kiss, the president of Agnes Scott College, says that one way to achieve this is an honor code. “Fundamentally, it’s about creating a culture which focuses on membership in the community being connected with academic honesty, and then also having the critical conversations that reinforce that culture,” she says. The student handbook echoes her: “The cornerstone of the entire structure of Agnes Scott life is the Honor System,” it states.
At Agnes Scott and around a hundred other schools across the country, students sign an honor code, a promise to act with integrity on campus. In exchange for their trustworthiness, the students receive privileges that indicate the community’s trust in them—in Agnes Scott’s case, these even include self-scheduled, non-proctored exams and a leadership role in the judicial process when a student violates the code.
There’s evidence that honor codes do, in fact, deter cheating. Behavioral research shows that people who were reminded of moral expectations—by writing out or signing an honor code, or copying down the Ten Commandments—before they took a test reduced cheating. McCabe’s surveys have found that honor code schools have lower rates of cheating than other institutions by around a quarter, provided that honor code was made a central part of campus culture.
At Agnes Scott, that translates to a number of things: Students under investigation for honor code violations can request a public hearing, open to the whole community. The student-run Honor Court and the faculty, administrators and students who serve on the Judicial Review Board work to have guilty students reflect meaningfully on their behavior before dispensing a punishment. Kiss recalls a Judicial Board hearing where a student had copied an incorrect answer off of a neighboring student—despite the fact that her own calculations were correct. “She compounded it by trying to come up with more and more ridiculous and outlandish reasons for why she would have gotten that answer. So our job was to get her to have a breakthrough.”
Fishman argues that these kind of academic community-wide discussions about what constitutes integrity reverberate beyond the classroom. “What we hear from employers is that when they get students from a Bachelor’s degree, they’re really good at doing what they’re told to do, but they’re not necessarily good at looking at the situation and figuring out what needs to be done. So that points to the idea that instead of more structure and more consistency, what we need to do is provide a range of problem-based scenarios and let the students try to figure it out.”
Even McCabe, who thinks that today’s students are apathetic about school, is convinced that honor codes are universities’ last best hope. “The only reason I imagine students stop cheating is because they’re being trusted,” he says. In other words, chicken or egg?
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As Hackers Torment Wikileaks, Assange Threatens Mass Release
"Rest assured I am deeply unhappy..."
LONDON (AP) -- WikiLeaks struggled to stay online Friday as governments and hackers hounded the organization across the Internet, trying to deprive it of a direct line to the public. Like a fugitive moving from house to house, WikiLeaks changed the name of its Web site after a U.S. company stopped directing traffic to wikileaks.org. French officials then moved to oust it from its new home.
"The first serious infowar is now engaged. The field of battle is WikiLeaks. You are the troops," tweeted John Perry Barlow, co-founder of the online free-speech group Electronic Frontier Foundation. His message was reposted by WikiLeaks to its 300,000-odd followers.
Legal pressure increased on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after Swedish authorities revised a warrant for his arrest in response to procedural questions from British officials.
Assange's lawyer said that he is in Britain but that she hadn't received a warrant by Friday afternoon.
The 39-year-old Australian is wanted on allegations of rape and other sex crimes that emerged after a trip to Sweden in August.
Assange said that his arrest would do nothing to halt the flow of American diplomatic cables being released by his group and newspapers in several countries, and he threatened to escalate the rush of information if he is taken into custody.
Hundreds of cables have been published by WikiLeaks and several newspapers in recent days. Assange said that all of the cables had already been distributed in a heavily encrypted form to tens of thousands of people.
If something happens to him, he suggested, the password needed to decrypt the data will be released and all the secrets will go out at once.
"History will win," Assange said in a Web chat with readers of The Guardian newspaper, one of the media organizations helping to coordinate the documents' publication. "The world will be elevated to a better place. Will we survive? That depends on you."
WikiLeaks doesn't depend entirely on its website for disseminating secret documents; if it were knocked off the Web, the nationless organization could continue to communicate directly with news organizations. But the site provides a direct line to the public, fulfilling the organization's stated goal of maximum distribution for the secret documents it receives from mainly anonymous contributors.
In an online chat with readers of The Guardian, Assange promised to improve the availability of the website as soon as possible.
"Rest assured I am deeply unhappy that the 3 1/2 years of my work and others is not easily available or searchable by the general public," Assange said.
EveryDNS - a company based in Manchester, New Hampshire, that had been directing traffic to the website wikileaks.org - stopped doing so late Thursday after cyber attacks threatened the rest of its network. WikiLeaks responded by moving to a Swiss domain name, wikileaks.ch - and calling on activists for support.
By late Friday, WikiLeaks was up in at least three new websites.
The loss of support from EveryDNS just a minor annoyance because the site can leap from one name to the next, said Fraser Howard, a researcher with Internet security firm Sophos.
"The whack-a-mole analogy is fairly good," he said.
The Swiss address directs traffic to servers in France, where Industry Minister Eric Besson called it unacceptable to host a site that "violates the secrecy of diplomatic relations and puts people protected by diplomatic secrecy in danger."
The general manager of French web hosting company OVH, Octave Klaba, confirmed that it had been hosting WikiLeaks since early Thursday, after a client asked for a "dedicated server with ... protection against attacks."
He said the company has asked a judge to decide on the legality of hosting the site on French soil.
"It is not up to the political realm or to OVH to request or decide the closure of a site, but rather up to the courts," Klaba said.
WikiLeaks has been brought down numerous times this week by what appear to be denial-of-service attacks. In a typical such attack, remote computers commandeered by rogue programs bombard a website with so many data packets that it becomes overwhelmed and unavailable to visitors. Pinpointing the culprits is difficult. The attacks are relatively easy to mount and can be performed by amateurs.
The attacks started Sunday, just before WikiLeaks released the diplomatic cables. To deal with the flood of traffic, WikiLeaks moved to Amazon.com's Web hosting facility, which has vast numbers of servers that can be rented as needed to meet surges.
But Amazon booted WikiLeaks from the site on Wednesday after U.S. congressional staffers started asking the company about its relationship to WikiLeaks. Amazon said it ousted the organization in part because the leaks could endanger innocent people.
The U.S. is conducting a criminal investigation into WikiLeaks' release of the diplomatic cables. Attorney General Eric Holder said this week that the leaks jeopardized national security, diplomatic efforts and U.S. relationships around the world.
In Washington, the lawmaker expected to take over the House Judiciary Committee in January, Republican Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, said he plans to conduct hearings on the matter.
Republican Sen. John Ensign of Nevada introduced a bill to amend the U.S. Espionage Act that would give prosecutors more flexibility to pursue a criminal case against Assange and his organization. But there was little chance of passing a new law in the remaining weeks of the congressional session.
Assange also risks legal action in his homeland, where Australia said it would detain Assange if possible in response to the warrant filed in the Swedish case by Interpol.
Wikileaks.ch, is owned by the Swiss Pirate Party, formed two years ago to campaign for freedom of information. Its officials said they gave Assange information on how to seek asylum in Switzerland.
Svensson reported from New York. Louise Nordstrom reported from Stockholm, Jenny Barchfield from Paris, Holly Ramer from Manchester, N.H., John Heilprin from Geneva and Larry Margasak from Washington.
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So How Much Did Michelle Obama's Summer Trip to Africa Cost?
Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, akes a bow after they danced with children during a visit to the Emthonjeni Community Center in Zandspruit Township, Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: AP)
The watchdog group Judicial Watch has done some good ol' fashion investigative work and number-crunching and come up with some figures regarding how much Michelle Obama's summer trip to South Africa cost. Here's what it found.
The group filed a freedom of Information Act request "seeking the mission taskings, transportation records, and passenger manifests for Michelle Obama’s Africa trip. It finally got them after filing a lawsuit.
It found the U.S. Air Force provided a C-32A aircraft, which is a modified Boeing 757, and that the cost for flying the First Lady and her entourage to and from Africa was $424,142 (34.8 flight hours x $12,188 per hour). In addition, it reports another $928.44 was spent on providing 192 meals for the 21 people who made the trip.
So who was part of the entourage? Well, as was reported at the time, the Obamas' children -- Sasha and Malia -- as well as Michelle's mother and niece and nephew joined her on the trip, which also included a personal safari and visit to Nelson Mandela. But here's where it could get interesting: Judicial watch found that the manifest lists some of them as "senior staff:"
The passenger manifests confirm the presence of Obama’s daughter’s, Malia and Sasha on the trip. The two girls are listed as “Senior Staff.” The manifests also list Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, and niece and nephew, Leslie and Avery Robinson, as well Mrs. Obama’s makeup and hairstylist (Carl Ray and Johnny Wright).
It's unclear if the costs are what would be expected for such a trip. It's also unclear if it is common practice to list family members as "senior staff."The information, then, might not fit into the "oh my God" category and instead should be filed under "interesting."
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If It's True What These Middle Schoolers Were Asked In Class, It's Unsettling
“This kind of stuff, I mean, this can’t happen again. These are our little kids."
A bullying prevention game played at Marinette Middle School has stirred controversy. (Image source: Screen grab via )
Nearly a dozen parents are upset after their children were allegedly forced to play what they consider a personally invasive game at a Wisconsin middle school last week.
A bullying prevention game played at Marinette Middle School has stirred controversy. (Image source: WLUK-TV)
According to WLUK-TV, students ranging from grades five to eight said Marinette Middle School officials forced them to play a game called "Cross the Line."
Children were reportedly asked questions including "Do your parents drink?" and "Has anyone in your family been to jail?"
Sarah Maitland said students were asked to disclose whether or not they have ever contemplated suicide. (Image source: WLUK-TV)
One student even told the station that she and her peers were asked to say whether or not they had ever felt the urge to commit suicide or physically harm themselves.
“She asked if you ever wanted to commit suicide to step forward and then after that she asked if you ever experienced or wanted to cut, to step forward,” Sarah Maitland told the local Fox affiliate.
Word of the game has infuriated parents.
“This kind of stuff, I mean, this can’t happen again. These are our little kids. We’re parents. We should’ve been protecting them. You should’ve gave us the benefit of the doubt of contacting us,” mother Lori Saunier, said.
[sharequote align="center"]“This kind of stuff, I mean, this can’t happen again. These are our little kids.[/sharequote]
School officials maintain that the game, part of a bullying prevention program, was optional. Students, however, said it would be reflected in their grades if they didn't participate.
During a meeting with the school superintendent, parents said they were essentially told their children were "lying."
“They basically told us that all the students were lying — all the students got together and planned it out and if they weren’t lying, it was all misperceptions," Amanda Fifarek, mother of a seventh-grade student, told WLUK. "They didn’t specifically say, 'Do your parents do drugs?'"
School officials also said the game was meant to have a positive impact on the student body.
"The intent of the activity was to build stronger, more respectful relationships among students," they reportedly said.
The school, which sent out a letter Friday about the game, said that in the future parents would be contacted about it ahead of time.
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Kaitlyn Schallhorn
Trump breaks with Pence on Syria: 'I disagree'
"He and I haven't spoken."
Donald Trump on stage during the second debate between the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016 at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. (Christian Gooden/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS via Getty Images)
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Sunday night that he disagrees with his running mate's views on Syria.
Trump was asked what he would do about the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo, the hotbed of the Syrian crisis, during the second 2016 presidential debate Sunday night when moderator Martha Raddatz reminded the Manhattan businessman of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's own comments.
Donald Trump, 2016 Republican presidential nominee, stands during the second U.S. presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. (Getty Images/Daniel Acker)
Raddatz said:
He said provocations by Russia need to be met by American strength and that if Russia continues to be involved in airstrikes along with the Syrian government forces of Assad, the United States of America should be prepared to use military force to strike the military targets of the Assad regime.
"He and I haven't spoken, and I disagree," Trump responded. "I think you have to knock out ISIS."
Trump did not agree with using U.S. military forces to strike targets of Syrian President Bashar Assad as he contended that the U.S. should worry about the Islamic State before getting "too involved" in Syria.
"I don't like Assad at all, but Assad is killing ISIS," Trump said from the debate stage at Washington University in St. Louis. "Russia is killing ISIS, and Iran is killing ISIS. And those three have now lined up because of our weak foreign policy."
Trump continued to say that Aleppo "basically has fallen" already and labeled it a humanitarian "disaster."
During the sole vice presidential debate last week, Pence called on the U.S. to "begin to exercise strong leadership" when it comes to the Syrian crisis to "protect the vulnerable citizens."
"I just have to tell you that the provocations by Russia need to be met by American strength, and if Russia chooses to continue to be involved on this barbaric attack on civilians in Aleppo, the United States of America should be prepared to use military force to strike military targets of the Assad regime to prevent them from this humanitarian crisis that is taking place in Aleppo," Pence said then.
"We just have to have American strength on the world stage," he continued.
Pence also referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as the country's "small and bullying leader" during the debate; Trump has called Putin a strong leader.
Follow Kaitlyn Schallhorn (@K_Schallhorn) on Twitter
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Jana J. Pruet
FBI report shows hate crimes increase in 2016; more than half motivated by race, ethnicity
Hate crimes reported in 2016 rose by 4.6 percent compared to the previous year, according to the latest data released by the FBI. Participating agencies reported a total of 6,121 hate crimes in 2016. (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
The FBI released data Monday showing that the number of hate crimes rose by 4.6 percent in 2016 over the previous year.
Information in the annual hate crime report is provided by 15,254 law enforcement agencies that participate in the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Criminal incidents reported are motivated by bias toward race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, or gender identity.
Participating agencies reported a total of 6,121 hate crimes last year, compared to 5,850 in 2015. It's the second consecutive year that such crimes have increased.
Similar to 2015, nearly six in 10 victims in 2016 were targeted "because of bias against the victim’s race or ethnicity," the Washington Post reported.
How accurate is the report?
Since the statistics cited are based on agencies' voluntary reporting, the number of actual hate crimes is expected to be higher.
According to NPR, nearly 90 cities with populations of more than 100,000 either reported zero hate crimes or reported no data at all for 2016.
"There's a dangerous disconnect between the rising problem of hate crimes and the lack of credible data being reported," Jonathan A. Greenblatt, Anti-Defamation League CEO, told NPR.
Greenblatt is calling for all law enforcement agencies to participate in reporting.
Earlier this year, then FBI Director James B. Comey acknowledged that the FBI needs “to do a better job of tracking and reporting hate crime, to fully understand what is happening in our communities, and how to stop it.”
“They [hate crimes] strike at the heart of one’s identity — they strike at our sense of self, our sense of belonging," Comey said. "The end result is loss — loss of trust, loss of dignity and, in the worst case, loss of life.”
What motivated the crimes?
Bias against religion was up in 2016. Of those crimes, there was an uptick in crimes targeting Jews and Muslims. About one in five were targeted because of religious bias.
Anti-Semitism was the leading cause, motivating about 55 percent of those episodes. An increasing anti-Muslim sentiment spurred about 25 percent, the report showed.
“No person should have to fear being violently attacked because of who they are, what they believe, [or] how they worship,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement after the report was released.
Crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people also rose in 2016. Sexual orientation motivated more than 17 percent of those crimes.
Hate crimes triggered by bias against a person’s racial or ethnic background increased to 3,489 from 3,310 a year earlier, according to the FBI report.
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Witmer, Robert. "Caribbean Music in Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 08 January 2015, Historica Canada. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/caribbean-emc. Accessed 20 January 2021.
Witmer, R., Caribbean Music in Canada (2015). In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/caribbean-emc
Witmer, Robert, "Caribbean Music in Canada". In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published February 07, 2006; Last Edited January 08, 2015. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/caribbean-emc
TURABIAN 8TH EDITION
Witmer, Robert. The Canadian Encyclopedia, s.v. "Caribbean Music in Canada", Last Edited January 08, 2015, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/caribbean-emc
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Caribbean Music in Canada
Article by Robert Witmer
Published Online February 7, 2006
Last Edited January 8, 2015
Caribbean music is an important component of musical life in Canada on two grounds: firstly, significant numbers of Caribbean peoples have immigrated to Canada, particularly beginning in the 1960s, and have continued the musical traditions of their homelands in the new environment; and secondly as early as the 1920s successive styles of Caribbean-derived music began to form part of the fabric of Euro-American pop music and thus part of the musical experience of many Canadians over the years.
The Caribbean Area
The Caribbean area includes the insular Caribbean, and also mainland territories washed by the Caribbean Sea having strong historical and cultural connections to the island territories (ie, Belize, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname). The Caribbean area is linguistically, culturally, and musically heterogeneous. Four major groupings are generally recognised, on the basis of shared colonial histories and language usage: the Hispanic Caribbean (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico); the French Caribbean (Haiti, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana); the Dutch Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaço, Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten); and the British Caribbean (The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, plus numerous smaller islands, some of them referred to collectively under the following groupings: Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, Virgin Islands). The term 'West Indies' is generally synonymous with 'Caribbean area'; in the Canadian context, however, 'West Indies' is often understood to refer to the British Caribbean only.
This article focusses on the British Caribbean musical presence in Canada, and secondarily on the French Caribbean presence. Music of the Dutch Antilles is as yet a minimal presence in Canada and is accordingly not treated as a separate entity here. The Hispanic Caribbean territories, although in the Caribbean area geographically, are historically and culturally more closely related to the mainland Latin American republics than to the non-Hispanic territories in the Caribbean: accordingly, Hispanic Caribbean music is covered only cursorily in this article
Socio-musical Overview
Each territory in the Caribbean area is socially stratified and ethnically/culturally pluralistic, but not in totally dissimilar ways. The colonial experience has resulted in each Caribbean country and territory being peopled by a similar set of population groups, each with its own historic musical traditions. In the area as a whole, the vast majority of the population consists of the descendants of African slaves. Numerically much smaller are the descendants of European colonists (principally Dutch, English, French and Spanish), entrepreneurs from the Near East (eg, Syria), and labourers from Asia (primarily China and India). In the Guianas a small residual Amerindian population maintains some semblance of a Native way of life. The musical culture of the Caribbean area thus comprises a plurality of world musics. In addition, miscegenation, and blendings of various musical practices have occurred over time - particularly between African and European strains - further enriching the plurality. The transplantation of Caribbean music to Canada through human migrations thus represents many distinct traditions.
The major immigrant group to Canada - and hence the one with the most prominent musical presence - has been the African-descended one. The majority of them hail from the larger countries of the British Caribbean (Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago) and have settled, in the main, in industrial centres in Ontario. The French-speaking immigrants have settled mainly in Montreal. Caribbean immigrants of East Indian descent, hailing mainly from Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, also comprise a substantial immigrant population, mainly in Ontario.
Caribbean-canadian Musical Communities
In Caribbean communities in Canada (and throughout the Caribbean diaspora) immigrants have maintained virtually intact the popular music cultures of their homelands, including the rapid adaptation to shifting trends. Jamaican reggae - along with its infrastructure of dance halls and night clubs, recording studios, resident and visiting performers, record stores, radio and TV programming, and coverage in both ethnic and mainstream print media - is a well established presence in Canada, particularly in southwestern Ontario. Almost as well established (again, particularly in southwestern Ontario) is Trinidadian calypso, and steelband music, and their infrastructures, including organized inter-city and intra-city competitions. French Caribbean popular music (eg, cadence, méringe, mini-jazz) is maintained by the French Caribbean populace in Montreal, and is supported by a local infrastructure that includes coverage by mainstream print media and broadcasting outlets. Canadian analogues to Trinidad's annual pre-Lenten Carnival are regular and highly visible fixtures of the summer music calendars of several Canadian urban centres, notably Toronto and Montreal. Following the demographics of their respective venues, Toronto's Caribana festival highlights music of the British Caribbean, whereas Montreal's Carifête festival gives pride of place to French Caribbean genres.
The Caribbean area has nurtured a rich vein of folk and traditional music, eg, work songs, country dance music ensembles that combine African and non-African musical practices and instruments, and devotional music for the rites of numerous Afro-Christian sects and cults. The state of these musical traditions in the Caribbean-Canadian diaspora has not as yet been systematically documented. There is evidence that some of the more prominent Caribbean Afro-Christian sects and cults are flourishing in Canada (eg, Jamaican Rastafarianism), and so too, necessarily, the associated musical practices. Caribbean secular folk music, being largely associated in the homelands with an agrarian milieu, does not appear to maintain in the Canadian urban environment the same level of prominence it exhibits in the homelands; it appears to be maintained primarily by semi-professional 'folkloric' dance and song troupes, of which there are a number.
Immigrants to Canada versed in the European colonial heritage and in dance band music and jazz have tended to gravitate to the parallel - and largely non-Caribbean - musical communities in Canada. They have included the danceband pianist Billy Munro, born in the British West Indies, who was brought to Canada as a child and the tenor Édouard Woolley, born in Haiti, who settled in Montreal in 1938. Many Caribbean-Canadians follow rock, and other non-Caribbean contemporary popular forms. Hindustani devotional music, and song hits from Indian films, are important among many East Indian Caribbean-Canadians; and Christian devotional music, in both European and 'Africanized' styles, is important across the spectrum of Caribbean-Canadians.
Caribbean Music In The Canadian And International Contexts
A number of Caribbean musical styles and genres have been familiar to Canadians for much of the 20th century. Already in the 1920s Trinidadian calypso records were being exported abroad. From the 1930s through the 1950s a succession of social dances and dance music of Caribbean derivation became popular throughout the Euro-American world: eg, rhumba, conga, beguine, méringue, merengue mambo, cha-cha-cha. In 1956 and 1957 Euro-american pop music went through an 'Island music' craze (eg, Harry Belafonte). From the mid-1960s to the early 1970s a number of recordings employing Jamaican rhythmic grooves (ska, rock steady, reggae) became international pop music hits. There were also experimentations in 'Latin rock'. From the mid-1970s on Jamaican reggae and Hispanic Caribbean salsa have become established subgenres of international popular music and have spawned numerous imitations and adaptations by non-Caribbean musicians. Trinidadian calypso and steelband music have attracted numerous aficionados outside the Caribbean and the Caribbean diaspora, and steelbands in school music curricula have been gaining currency in North America and elsewhere. Trinidad-style carnivals, such as Toronto's Caribana and Montreal's Carifête, occur throughout the Caribbean diaspora and attract hundreds of thousands of celebrants annually, both Caribbean and non-Caribbean. More intimate settings for the presentation of Caribbean music also exist throughout the Caribbean diaspora: notable Canadian examples include Winnipeg's Folkorama festival and Toronto's annual multicultural celebration, Caravan.
Documentation And Research
The study of Caribbean-Canadian music and musical life is as yet in its infancy. The available published literature consists almost entirely of topical/ephemeral 'music scene' news appearing in newspapers (both ethnic and mainstream), music trade and fan magazines, and entertainment tabloids. No systematic survey or synthesis of this material has yet been attempted.
A number of scholars at Canadian universities have been documenting Caribbean music and musical life, either on its home turf or in the Canadian context (and, in some cases, both). They include Claude Dauphin (Haitian peasant music) and Nicole Beaudry (voodoo music) at UQAM; Monique Desroches (music of Martinique), Josée Cardinal (flute music of the Lesser Antilles), and Geneviève Lefebvre (Haitian popular music) at the University of Montréal; Jocelyne Guilbault (zouk, and other music of Saint Lucia) at the University of Ottawa; and Nina De Shane (the Carnival complex), Annemarie Gallaugher (calypso), Pauline Haslebacher (steelband), James Robbins (Cuban music), Lise Waxer (salsa), and Robert Witmer (Jamaican music) at York University.
Roberts, John Storm. Black Music of Two Worlds. (New York 1972)
Bilby, Kenneth. 'The Caribbean as a musical area,' Caribbean Contours (Baltimore 1985)
Bergman, Bill, et al. Hot Sauces: Latin and Caribbean Pop (New York 1985)
Desroches, Monique. 'Structure sonore d'un espace sacré: la musique rituelle tamoule à la Martinique,' PH D thesis University of Montreal 1987
Nettl, Bruno. Folk and Traditional Music of the Western Continents (3rd edn, Englewood Cliffs 1990)
'Latin American and Caribbean musical cultures,' Ethnomusicology in Canada, ed Robert Witmer, CanMus Documents 5 (Toronto 1990)
Caribana Toronto FestivalSee all the latest news and events for Caribana, North America’s largest cultural festival.
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A prominent whistleblower has been banned from travelling to Canada. And there are implications for all of us [OPINION]
Tom Coburg
Award-winning whistleblower and political activist Chelsea Manning has received a banning order from the Canadian police. Manning is set to appeal against the ban. Because not only does the order appear faulty, but it is also a direct challenge to free speech.
In 2013, Manning was convicted of violating America’s Espionage Act – along with other offences – and sentenced to 35 years in prison. But in January 2017, after a series of global campaigns, US President Barack Obama commuted her sentence.
The order was issued by the police to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, after Manning tried to enter Canada on 22 September 2017:
The order, which the author caveats with “in my opinion”, goes on to say that the violations of the Espionage Act that Manning was convicted of in the US is equivalent to the crime of Treason in Canada. The Guardian reports:
Manning’s support team have responded with astonishment to the suggestion by Canadian authorities that her prosecution under the US Espionage Act was equivalent to treason under Canadian law.
They stressed that the Espionage Act was unprecedented around the world as it allows no margin for whistleblowers to argue that the disclosures they made were in the public interest.
Moreover, the Canadian Criminal Code [with highlighted sections, via Manning] states in section 2 (b):
Letter: The demonisation of Assange paves the way for more rape and murder by the State
Judge’s ruling in Assange’s extradition case could be seen as a declaration of war on journalists
[Every one commits treason who, in Canada] without lawful authority, communicates or makes available to an agent of a state other than Canada, military or scientific information or any sketch, plan, model, article, note or document of a military or scientific character that he knows or ought to know may be used by that state for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or defence of Canada.
But Manning did not directly provide material to an “agent of the state”, but to WikiLeaks, a publisher and media conduit. CIA director Mike Pompeo has previously described WikiLeaks as a “non-state” entity.
Nor are any of the media that went on to publish that material “agents of a state”. For example, articles based on Manning’s leaks appeared in The Guardian, The New York Times, Der Spiegel, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the BBC.
Flawed logic
Indeed, in an article published by The Guardian, Manning observed:
…when I was court-martialled for providing government documents and information that I felt were in the public interest to a media organization, the government charged me with “aiding the enemy” – a treason-related offense under the US constitution and military justice system that even civilians may be charged with. During one of my pre-trial hearings in January 2013, the military judge in my case, US Army Colonel Denise Lind, asked the government lawyers: ‘Does it make any difference – if we substituted Wikileaks for The New York Times: would the government still be charging this case in the manner that it has and proceeding as you’re doing?’ An assistant trial counsel for the government answered a straightforward ‘Yes, Ma’am’…
The New York Times was not prosecuted and Manning was. Manning added:
The government further argued that there was no distinction to be made between any media organizations that provided information to the public, if the government felt that would ‘aid’ the enemy: whether such information was published by a small-time blog, a controversial website like Wikileaks, a national newspaper like the Washington Post, or an international one like the Guardian, to the government, they can all be ‘aiding the enemy’.
Indeed, Manning was acquitted of ‘aiding the enemy [state]’ charge.
And on a technical point, the banning order fails to mention that Manning is a dual US-UK citizen, boasting an extensive Welsh-Irish family:
Police decision questioned
Canadian MP and New Democrat Party leadership candidate Niki Ashton has demanded that the banning order be rescinded:
Unacceptable to see @xychelsea unable to enter Canada. The government must fix this and allow her in our country. #cdnpoli https://t.co/5qp1ou82pF
— Niki Ashton (@nikiashton) September 25, 2017
And Manning stated she will appeal against the order:
the law cited by @CitImmCanada is *not* similiar at all https://t.co/RNtjKbclxk
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) September 25, 2017
CIA pressure
The ban by Canada came only days after Harvard University rescinded an invitation to be visiting fellow to Manning. This was as a result of pressure by a serving and a former director of the CIA.
At an anti-fascist rally in Berkeley, Manning was dismissive of Harvard’s moves:
Canada’s loss
Since her release from prison, Manning has been a relentless campaigner for human rights and LGBTQ+ rights and refugees. She is also the recipient of several awards. These include The Guardian’s Person of the Year and the prestigious Sean MacBride Peace Prize (though Manning made it clear she is not a pacifist).
Instead of banning the award-winning activist, Canada should welcome her. As political activism – as well as leaking information about war crimes – is not a threat to democracy but an asset.
– See more Global articles. And follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more independent international coverage.
– Support the Courage Foundation.
Featured image via screenshot
The Canary , 10th January 2021
Tom Coburg , 9th January 2021
Furious reaction as judge refuses Julian Assange bail
Pablo Navarrete , 6th January 2021
The PM just called this ‘achievement’ the greatest in human history. People are beside themselves [TWEETS]
You know it’s bad news for the DWP when a judge begins his ruling with ‘Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear.’
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Lupita Nyong’o to star in ‘Queen of Katwe’ film
Nov 19th, 2014 by Daaim Shabazz
Mira Nair, a highly-acclaimed, Indian-born director, will be producing a film adaptation of Tim Crothers’ book “The Queen of Katwe“. This book was a gripping story about Phiona Mutesi who hails from one of the poorest parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The very vivid account shows how the Ugandan girl from abject poverty found chess and how it transformed her life. It was a story about triumph more than about chess itself.
Lupita Nyong’o, Academy Award winner in “12 Years as a Slave”
Indiewire.com reports that the movie project for “The Queen of Katwe” came from a web of relationships and amazing coincidence. Known already for her amazing movies such as “Monsoon Wedding,” “Mississippi Masala,” “Salaam Bombay,” she decided on the idea of turning the Phiona’s story and casting her former film production intern, Lupita Nyong’o. The Kenyan actress first met Nair after her father (Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o) mentioned that he had a friend (Mahmood Mamdani) whose wife was a film director. They ultimately met and she began to work with Nair on several productions.
Now that Lupita’s international star has shone brightly since “12 Years a Slave”, she is in great demand and has agreed to star as Phiona in “The Queen of Katwe”. It is interesting that a Kenyan (born in Mexico) will portray a Ugandan in a movie directed by an Indian. This media of historical legacies make sense when one looks at the history of the region during the 50s, 60s and 70s. The movie “Mississippi Masala” (Denzel Washington, Sarita Choudhury) does a wonderful job of dramatizing this period.
Most of the chess world focuses so expeditiously on the latest wrinkles of opening theory and the top ten players in the world. So many human interest stories (involving chess) are missed. Phiona’s story is one such story. While most chess players may not appreciate the book’s peripheral references to chess, they may be able to appreciate the human element.
This most likely will not be a chess movie of the ilk of “Luzhin Defense” or “Brooklyn Castle” where the central focus is indeed chess. It is a story about a woman who dug herself out of poverty and despair by finding a refuge in the game chess. It was from this avenue that she found an escape and has taken her all over the world. She has been able to represent Uganda in the past three Olympiad tournaments and has extensively toured the U.S. in promotion of her book.
There is no stated timeline for the production of this movie, but with such star power headlined by one of the world’s most visible actresses, it could help raise the profile of chess and shed light on other stories. Movies such as “Algorithms” and “The Queen of Katwe” have captured the imagination of the viewers and cast them in a world they had not formally entered. The world of chess needs these types of stories to show the wide appeal of chess. While professional caters to a community of chess enthusiasts, this is where the growth of chess is. It is also through aforementioned stories that viewers will feel the human element. It is also through these channels chess will earn the praise it deserves.
Link: https://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/lupita-nyongo-will-star-in-mira-nairs-queen-of-katwe-film-adaptation-on-ugandan-chess-prodigy-phiona-mutesi-20141118
The Queen of Katwe – A short Documentary about Phiona Mutesi
Produced by Keith Furr.
Posted in Africa, India, Kenya, Media Stories, Uganda, Videos | 4 Comments
4 Responses to “Lupita Nyong’o to star in ‘Queen of Katwe’ film”
on 20 Nov 2014 at 3:55 am1 Ben Magana
PhionavMutesi has repped Uganda, not Kenya, in past Olympiads.
I really hope she benefits financially if such a movie is indeed made about her????
on 20 Nov 2014 at 7:53 am2 Daaim Shabazz
…but of course! 🙂
on 20 Nov 2014 at 10:09 am3 Daaim Shabazz
“Mississippi Masala“
(starring Roshan Seth, Denzel Washington and Sarita Choudhury)
on 30 Dec 2014 at 4:37 pm4 Daaim Shabazz
A Fork, A Spoon and A Knight
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Once a Valley Girl, She's Now Saving Wild Mustangs in Montana - Sunset
Once a "Total Valley Girl," She's Now Saving Wild Mustangs on a Montana Ranch
Wild Lands
Once a “Total Valley Girl,” She’s Now Saving Wild Mustangs on a Montana Ranch
For Jackie Kecskes, training horses is all about building trust. “They have so much to teach us.”
J.D. Simkins – January 4, 2021 | Updated January 5, 2021
Wildlands is your source for the world of travel, outdoor adventure, conservation, and the stories of those who choose to live wild lives.
“Fate” is a word you don’t often see on LinkedIn. But most career paths are influenced, in some way or another, by fortune, whim, or some combination thereof. For Jackie Kecskes, however, divine inspiration came in a most peculiar form: A beat-up, bootleg copy of the Nickelodeon television series Hey Dude.
This was 2007, and a torn ACL had landed the Division I college soccer player in the hospital for a stint. Named for its setting on a Tuscon, Arizona, dude ranch, Hey Dude aired on the network from the late 1980s to the early ’90s—and had been a favorite of hers, in passing anyway.
Now, fully immersed in the adventures of the teenage ranch hands while poring over one episode after another, Jackie punched through the nostalgia barrier to reach a sense of clarity, transcendence.
The self-described “total Valley Girl” whirled down a rabbit hole of ranch-related searches, bent on leaving California behind. And finally, there it was: A summer position on a ranch in Colorado.
“It just kind of took ahold of me,” Jackie says. So much so that after completing her degree from California State Northridge in the San Fernando Valley, she took a teaching job in a town conveniently located just outside the ranch, and then, when summer came around, launched her ranching career and never looked back.
“When I told my mom I wanted to be a teacher, you couldn’t get a word in between the two of us because of the yelling,” Jackie recalls of telling her conservative Hungarian parents. “They went without for so long, and now I’m choosing a profession that makes zero money.”
But life on the ranch offered different riches for Jackie, delivering a sense of camaraderie she had never before experienced. “We became like a family.”
Jackie Kecskes at Paws Up Resort.
The Plight of the Mustang
Decades before Jackie would approach her professional fork in the road, President Richard Nixon signed into law a bill declaring wild, free-roaming horses and burros “fast disappearing from the American scene” to be “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people.”
Say what you will of Nixon, but the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burro Act marked the culmination of a lifetime of efforts by Velma Bronn Johnston, better known as Wild Horse Annie, to protect wild horses and ensure their humane treatment. Johnston had witnessed firsthand the brutal eradication of mustangs and other breeds, which were rounded up, hog tied, and slaughtered for chicken feed and fertilizer.
The picture today, when it comes to mustangs, in particular, is more complex than simple right and wrong. New policies, even those with good intentions, can have downstream effects few crusaders could have envisioned.
Protected under the act, the population of the mustang, which derives its name from the Spanish word mesteño, or “running wild,” began to spike to unprecedented numbers, worrying ecologists that overgrazing could damage much of the West’s already fragile ecosystems.
To alleviate the growing apprehension, the Bureau of Land Management crafted parameters for ecological sustainability known as appropriate management levels, a measure designed to preserve the equilibrium between all wildlife and their corresponding habitats.
Under these guidelines, a cap sent wild horses exceeding appropriate management levels into holding pens, where, in a perfect world, they would enjoy a brief stay prior to adoption.
The only problem: Adoption rates have failed to come even remotely close to the soaring number of horses lingering in these short-term facilities, creating an interminable logjam that has hijacked funds allocated for long-term pasture care for ongoing maintenance purposes instead.
In turn, overcrowded short-term facilities can no longer afford to bring in additional wild horses to await adoptions that may never come. As a result, many of the animals live out their lives in these holding facilities while the population of horses on public lands continues to surge beyond what was once designated the appropriate management level.
“As of March 1, 2020, the wild horse and burro population on public lands was estimated to be about 95,000, which is more than triple the number of animals the land can sustainably support in balance with other public resource values, including wildlife, recreation, livestock grazing, energy resource development and others,” the Bureau of Land Management announced in August.
Excess mustang populations and scores of horses unable to live out natural lives on long-term pasture facilities means adoption is more critical than ever.
But adoption, as Jackie can attest, is only the first step toward a successful solution. Training a wild mustang can be, to no one’s surprise, an intimidating task. Sometimes, it takes the perspective of an outsider to inject a breath of fresh air.
“Too Big a Personality”
Early into her Nickelodeon-inspired career, Jackie set a course: She wanted to become a ranch horse manager. But those working the male-dominated job weren’t as keen on welcoming her into the club. Men on the Colorado ranch frequently scoffed at Jackie’s aspirations, calling her “obtuse” or “too big a personality.”
“I had to hear, ‘We’re just looking for that classic male cowboy look,’ or, ‘We’re just not willing to figure out housing for a female,’ or ‘We’re just not convinced that the physical aspects of this job can be handled by a woman.’”
Adding to the gender impasse were Jackie’s alternative training philosophies, which ran counter to the conventional wisdom where she practiced.
“In the horse world, everybody knows everything,” she says. “And you can’t tell anybody anything.”
Jackie knew she needed to look elsewhere if she was going to see her dream come to fruition. That’s when she discovered the Resort at Paws Up, a dude ranch outside of Missoula, Montana, where the well-heeled go to put on the velvet cowboy gloves. Jackie’s teaching background and enthusiasm persuaded resort management to bring her aboard, but she was first tasked with redesigning the children’s program.
It was Jackie’s then-boyfriend, not her, who landed the job as the lead horse manager at Paws Up. But that relationship ran its course, she says, and when he left the ranch and created a job vacancy, Jackie raised her hand.
“I was very honest with them,” she says. “I told them I didn’t have the same level of experience, but I’d work my butt off. That was good enough for them. Four years later and here I am.”
Jackie tried early into her tenure as horse manager to get mustangs to the property at Paws Up, but says her initial requests were answered with a hard “No.” Much like Jackie, the wild horses came with a perceived personality that was too big for life on a resort. But as has become a theme in her professional pursuits, persistence paid off.
Before long the property welcomed the arrival of its first set of mustangs, which Jackie quickly recognized as “a very different breed” that no one on the staff had any knowledge about. In many ways, the staff’s unfamiliarity leveled what was previously a lopsided playing field.
“At the other ranch I thought for a while that maybe I had to dumb myself down,” she says. “I lost myself for a little while there, thinking maybe I needed to talk a certain way, be a little more girly, or ask for help. Eventually I realized you have to just be who you are. Instead of trying to adapt to fit in, you have to find a place that’s willing to accept you for who you are.”
Paws Up not only accepted Jackie’s “big personality” but went the extra mile by embracing the unique training methods, often referred to as natural horsemanship, she brought to the table.
Among Jackie’s philosophical inspirations were the doctrines of Buck Brannaman, a renowned trainer who’s “probably the closest thing there is to what people would call a horse whisperer,” Jackie jokes, adding that “he’s also the first person who would punch you in the face for calling him that.”
Brannaman, who is the subject of the documentary Buck, is considered “one of the world’s leading practitioners of handling horses based on classical concepts from the California vaquero tradition,” according to his website. This approach emphasizes “working with the horse’s nature, using an understanding of how horses think and communicate to train the horse to accept humans and work confidently and responsively with them.”
The ultimate goal with this technique, according to Brannaman’s program, is to make “the animal feel safe and secure” and to ensure “the horse and rider can achieve a true union.” Much of the onus in Brannaman’s method is therefore placed on the human instead of the animal.
“If you don’t like the result that you’re getting, it’s not the horse’s fault. It’s your fault,” Jackie says. “You’re not communicating properly. Most people don’t want that level of accountability. When you tell someone there’s a better approach to something, it rubs them the wrong way.”
As with the property’s recently adopted mustangs, which Jackie now describes as “happy and enthusiastic,” horses brought to Paws Up arrive with little to no training. From there, Jackie and her team of trainers begin what they prefer to call the horse’s “education.”
“First, there’s the old-school cowboy method of breaking them—which much of the Western world still uses—where they tie the horse’s neck tight around a post so it can’t move,” she says. “The entire time this horse is bucking and rearing to do whatever it can to save its life. Another cowboy will come up and grab or rope the hind leg and then back the horse up so it’s stretched as far out as it can go. Eventually it exhausts itself and accepts its fate. But we believe in educating our horses instead of beating them senseless.”
Jackie’s formula, which separates the crew at Paws Up from many of the country’s equestrian centers, comes from a place of empathy. Horses look at humans with the distrust of a predator due to the appearance of our forward-facing eyes, Jackie says, something the animal can detect even from a great distance.
Learning how to extinguish that skepticism is what creates a willing partner in the relationship, she says. The team at Paws Up accomplishes this by presenting the horse with options. If it reacts with a fight-or-flight response, the trainers simply allow it.
“But when that doesn’t get the horse its desired result, which is me leaving it alone, it’s going to start looking for other things,” Jackie says. “Being left alone by the predator is a reward for the horse. All of a sudden, trust is being built because you’re giving this animal the opportunity to make mistakes and you’re not punishing it. The key is always to be consistent, because inconsistency is the killer of trust.”
“They Teach Us So Much”
Despite the hard road she faced breaking into the world of horse training, the trailblazing ranch hand is now finding herself to be something of a role model to a mostly female staff at Paws Up.
“It’s just crazy to see where I am now,” she says, “to be around all of these empowered women who come because they want that sisterhood.”
The familial atmosphere at Paws Up has also extended to visitors, where Jackie uses equine therapy on teenagers and adults who have endured a traumatic experience.
Having entrusted their well-being to Jackie and her staff, the mustangs at Paws Up now give their human companions an intimate window to their own strengths and vulnerabilities.
Even Jackie, who has now been immersed in the Hey Dude lifestyle for nearly a third of her existence, says she, too, is perpetually learning from her mustangs.
“How to present yourself, how to live with empathy for one another, how to approach things in a way that encourages people to want to be a part of your team, and how to believe in yourself without being prideful,” she says. “They teach us so much.”
Meet a Real Cowboy: Q&A with Clay Nannini of Mustang Monument
The Fight over America’s Wild Horses
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Covid-19: Canada unveils new economic relief package
The Canadian government has unveiled a new financial programme worth billions of Canadian dollars to boost the country’s economy amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The programme titled "Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19," the 237-page fiscal update offers a revised look at Canada's economy and the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 recession on the country’s economic outlook, reports Xinhua.
"The coming months will be difficult and ongoing fiscal support will remain necessary deep into 2021 in order to protect jobs and prevent widespread permanent losses in our economy," the Canadian government said in a statement on Monday.
Details of the stimulus programme of 70 billion to 100 billion Canadian dollars (54 billion to 77 billion US dollars) will be budgeted over the next three fiscal years starting from April 1, 2021.
The country's national deficit is projected to hit at least 381.6 billion Canadian dollars (293.9 billion dollars) for this fiscal year, up from the forecast of 343.2 billion Canadian dollars (264.3 billion dollars) in July.
The government's immediate priority is to do whatever it takes to help Canadians and businesses stay safe and solvent amid the pandemic challenge, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said at the Canadian House of Commons Monday afternoon.
"We will invest in every necessary and helpful public health measure. And we will support Canadian families and Canadian businesses, in a deliberate, prudent and effective way," she said, adding that the government plans to make the post-pandemic economy "more innovative, inclusive and resilient than the one that preceded it."
"Spending roughly three to four per cent of GDP, over three years, our government will make carefully judged, targeted and meaningful investments to create jobs and boost growth," she said.
The risks associated with not providing enough economic support right now outweigh those involved in spending too much, the minister said, adding that the government will keep monitoring the employment rate, total hours worked and the level of unemployment in the economy to determine when to end the stimulus spending.
The updated programme includes several policy announcements.
The Canadian government is moving ahead with a promise to require international digital companies such as Netflix to collect and remit federal sales tax on digital sales. It is also planning restrictions on stock option deduction.
A plan to offset the cost of energy retrofits for homeowners will receive 2.6 billion Canadian dollars (2 billion dollars) over seven years, and an existing programme to build electric vehicle charging stations will receive an additional 150 million Canadian dollars (115.5 million dollars).
The government is also increasing the maximum Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy rate from 65 per cent to 75 per cent, starting Dec. 20 and continuing until March 13, 2021.
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Stuart Barnes returns to The Hive as Chief Executive
In January, after 15 months away, we welcomed Stuart Barnes back to The Hive as our permanent CEO once again. Having worked for The Hive since before opening as employee 001 he left in October 2018 to take up a role with our “umbrella” charity, OnSide Youth Zones, heading up the opening of new facilities for young people across the U.K. Drawing on his experience from The Hive he led the team who successfully opened three new Youth Zones in London last year, making the OnSide network a truly national one.
After an interim spell supporting us on a part time basis, we are delighted that Stuart has now returned. He says;
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time in London, and I return to The Hive with new experiences, learning and ideas, having seen much of what we do from other perspectives. Having been asked to support The Hive last Autumn for a while, and after a serious accident which caused me to re-evaluate my priorities, I felt that it was at The Hive that I most wanted to focus my energy and vision.
The team at The Hive are beyond enthusiastic and passionate about what they do and The Wirral is a very special place, full of supporters, partners and others who are generous and who clearly care deeply about their community and young people.
I am relishing the opportunity to work once again with such incredible people and look forward to, together, ensuring that The Hive not only continues to open its doors 365 days a year but has an even greater impact on even more young people.”
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Trump's niece to release memoir on July 14
New York, United States / Tue, July 7, 2020 / 09:25 am
A woman looks over at copies of the book(R) 'The Room Where it Happened' a memoir by John Bolton at Costco in Marina del Rey, California on June 23, 2020. (AFP/Chris Delmas)
Donald Trump's niece will release her unflattering book on the US president on July 14, her publisher announced Monday, after a judge lifted a temporary ban on publication.
Simon & Schuster has brought forward the release of the memoir by two weeks, according to an update on its website.
In her 240-page book, Mary Trump dubs America's leader "the world's most dangerous man."
It is set to be the latest bombshell book to dish dirt on Trump after former aide John Bolton's tome, which describes Trump as corrupt and incompetent, hit shelves last month.
Last Wednesday, an appeals court judge in New York ruled that Simon & Schuster is allowed to release Mary Trump's book "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man."
The president's brother Robert Trump had asked for the restraining order, arguing that Mary was violating a non-disclosure agreement signed in 2001 after the settlement over the estate of Fred Trump -- the father of Donald and Robert and of Mary's father Fred Trump Jr.
Judge Alan Scheinkman postponed addressing whether the author had violated the agreement preventing her from revealing family secrets by writing the book. A hearing on that matter could take place this Friday.
Nevertheless Simon & Schuster "is not a party to the agreement," so the block of their publication of the book "is vacated," the judge ruled.
In the book, Mary, a clinical psychologist, recounts what she witnessed of the "toxic family" in the home of her grandparents, according to her publisher.
"She describes a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse," Simon & Schuster says in a blurb about the book.
The Daily Beast has reported it will reveal that Mary Trump was the crucial source for explosive New York Times reporting on Trump's finances, which suggested the billionaire paid little in tax for decades.
In late June, a judge refused to block the release of Bolton's book, titled "The Room Where It Happened," saying it was too late for the restraining order sought by the Trump administration.
Trump has characterized the portrait of 17 months up close with the leader, until Bolton was fired in September, as "fiction."
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Kosovo Gets Leader With Russian Ties
Pacolli, pictured Tuesday in the parliament in Pristina, owned the Swiss firm that renovated the Kremlin in 1999. Hazir Reka
PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo's parliament has elected as president a Kosovo-Swiss businessman suspected of bribing Russian officials to win a deal to renovate the Kremlin in 1999.
Lawmakers elected Behgjet Pacolli as president on Tuesday under a power-sharing deal with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci following December elections.
The main opposition parties boycotted the session, citing Pacolli's past business ties with Russia and accusing him of pursuing politics for business goals.
The only candidate for president, Pacolli was elected in the third round with 62 votes in the 120-seat parliament, sparing Kosovo early elections.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's government also won parliamentary approval.
Pacolli, 59, remains unpopular among the 2 million Kosovo Albanians, largely because of his close business ties with Moscow, which backs its ex-ruler Serbia in opposing Kosovo's independence.
His Mabetex company renovated the Kremlin.
"I shall work with all my might to get Kosovo on a level of respected countries in the world. It has the capabilities, and the Kosovars deserve this state," Pacolli said.
"I shall work with all Kosovars despite their race or ethnicity," he told the parliament in his acceptance speech, greeting ethnic Serbs in their own language.
In his book "From Challenge to Challenge," Pacolli says he has been interviewed by Swiss and Russian prosecutors on charges that he bribed former President Boris Yeltsin's administration to get lucrative construction contracts.
He denies the allegation.
"Pacolli does not care about the interest of Kosovo, but for his own interest. He served Thaci politically, and Thaci paid him back with public tenders," Visar Imeri, a lawmaker with the Self-Determination Movement, said before boycotting the vote.
Besides Pacolli's party, Thaci's PDK relies on the backing of more than 20 lawmakers from ethnic minorities, including Serbs who form the largest group, for a majority in the 120-seat parliament.
"This is scandalous. With this formula of governance, we shall be totally isolated from European countries. This president and prime minister represent the dark side of Kosovo," said Avni Zogiani, head of the Wake Up anti-corruption agency.
The images of Thaci and Kosovo were badly damaged after a Council of Europe report accused members of the former Kosovo Liberation Army loyal to Thaci of abductions, gun- and drug-running and trafficking in body parts from ethnic Serbs in the late 1990s.
Kosovo's previous president, Fatmir Sejdiu, was forced to resign after he violated the constitution because he served as party leader at the same time. His resignation after a Constitutional Court ruling precipitated early elections in mid-December.
(Reuters, AP)
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Embarrassing to discuss future ahead of Champions League final with Liverpool: Mauricio Pochettino
Updated May 28, 2019 | 07:20 IST | Times Now Digital
Mauricio Pochettino had suggested a move away from Tottenham Hotspur if the London club managed to end their trophy drought in the form of an unprecedented Champions League title.
"To think about individual things is a bit embarrassing and a shame," Pochettino said |  Photo Credit: AP
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino believes it would be embarrassing to discuss his much talked about future as Spurs gear up for a historic UEFA Champions League final against Premier League rivals Liverpool at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. The Argentine has hinted that he will no longer be apart of Spurs if the final's underdogs pulled another upset by defeating title-hungry Liverpool in Europe's biggest club competition. As per media reports, Pochettino will move away from Spurs if the London club managed to end their trophy drought in the form of an unprecedented Champions League title.
The 47-year-old has been heavily linked with football juggernauts including the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona, and Juventus. As the Turin giants have already parted ways with Massimiliano Allegri at season end, the Old Lady are said to be the emerging frontrunners to acquire Pochettino's services for next season.
Albeit the reigning Serie A champions are tipped to land Pochettino at Allianz Stadium, the Tottenham manager has refrained to hold discussions about his life after the London club ahead of the much-anticipated clash with Liverpool in Madrid. Speaking in a media conference ahead of the Champions League final, the Spurs manager said that his side can etch their name in history and give fans the enjoyment of club's first European trophy triumph.
"Today, nothing is more important than what lies ahead," Pochettino was quoted as saying, reports One Football. "We can make history. We can write our history and provide our fans and family with the best happiness in football," he added.
Shutting down his transfer talks once more, Pochettino said that it will be embarrassing to discuss about his future in football. "To think about individual things is a bit embarrassing and a shame. I am not important. We have bigger things ahead,'' he said.
The former Southampton head coach asserted that he is focused on the Madrid final and only after that, he can possibly answer questions surrounding his future. "Rumours are rumours and they are there. Our focus is 200 per cent on the final. After the final, we will have time to talk," he said.
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Therium’s Financial Commitments To Access To Justice Causes Surpass £1.7m
Total commitments to date since launching Therium Access in 2019 exceed £1.7million.
Therium Access commits almost £224,000 in its most recent round of grant awards estimated to benefit thousands across the UK as Therium continues to invest in access to justice.
The grants are focused on organisations that are dedicated to improving access to justice in the areas of employment and housing law, and supporting the issues faced by young people. Covid-19 continues to be priority.
Deadline for the next round of applications is 15th April 2021.
For further information and how to apply for a grant, please visit org.
Jersey, 15th December 2020: Therium Access, the not-for-profit arm of global litigation funder Therium Capital Management, has announced the recipients of its latest grant round. The Autumn 2020 grants have been awarded to six organisations and brings the total number of organisations receiving grants to 32 with over £1.7m committed since its inception in 2019.
The Autumn 2020 grant round remained focused on the issues exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, with a focus on supporting work which is difficult to find funding for elsewhere, scalable delivery models, preservation of legal specialisation and work of strategic importance. Areas of law such as employment and housing were focussed on as these services face a huge surge in demand. Issues facing vulnerable young people were also prioritised.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues into 2021, these organisations will continue to serve as a lifeline to the most vulnerable and marginalised in society. Additional grants have been awarded to two current grantees.
The recipients of the Therium Access Autumn 2020 grant round are:
Bristol Law Centre: The grant will increase capacity in employment and housing, enabling Bristol Law Centre to deliver a full service including complex advice and casework, in a wider geographical area without the limitations of Legal Aid work.
Child Poverty Action Group: The grant is for the continuation of funding for a solicitor in the charity’s strategic litigation team and other various costs as it continues to promote and protect the rights of children and families and maximise family incomes.
Legal Action Group: The grant is for a new Housing Possession Duty Desk: a practical guide. The Guide will provide a practical, accessible and affordable source of information for advisers at Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes.
Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens: The grant is towards PRCBC’s core costs to support delivery of their pro bono strategic casework that ensures young people are aware of and able to exercise their rights to British citizenship.
South West London Law Centre: This grant will fund a Housing Court Crisis Navigator who will give practical help and support to deal with the underlying issues of people seen by their housing and debt teams in Croydon.
Youth Legal: The grant is for the salary and associated costs of a part-time Development worker to support Youth Legal’s vital work and to reach out to their communities, develop strong networks, and coordinate projects.
Jeunesse Mensier, Grant Programme Director at Therium Access, said: “Our Autumn 2020 grant round has again shown us the excellent and necessary work that organisations and individuals provide across the country in facilitating access to justice. We are so pleased to be supporting these six impressive and inspiring organisations which help some of the most vulnerable in our society in the areas of citizenship, employment and housing.”
Lord Falconer, Chairman of Therium Access Advisory Committee said: “During such a difficult time, legal advice has never been more important. It’s so brilliant to see Therium Access lead the way and provide much-needed financial support to such worthy organisations that provide free legal advice to strive and reduce the ever-increasing justice gap. We look forward to seeing other funders follow suit.”
Solange Valdez-Symonds, Solicitor and Director of Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens said: “PRCBC’s core activity is assisting, including by litigation, children and young people to secure their rights to British citizenship. This grant from Therium Access is vital for our continued ability to deliver on this – and not only to directly assist more children and young people. It enables us to bring our expertise and experience to bear in challenging the several injustices in policy and practice that deprive so many more children and young people of the security and recognition that is theirs by right through registration of citizenship. Thank you Therium Access.”
Louisa McGeehan, Director of Policy at Child Poverty Action Group said: “Funding from Therium Access Fund for a further year will enable us to continue our award-winning work in ensuring low-income families have access to justice. The need is greater than ever given the unprecedented number of families claiming universal credit as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. renewed funding will help us in our ongoing work of ensuring that laws relating to social security entitlement are made and applied in compliance with fundamental rule of law requirements and that ordinary individuals will be able to hold the government to account when this is not the case.”
Applications for the Spring 2021 grant round will close on 15th April 2021 with priorities being confirmed in early 2021.
About Therium Access:
Therium Access is the primary expression of Therium’s corporate and social responsibility programme. Therium Access dispenses with the criteria of funding for profit and has the sole purpose of facilitating access to justice. Therium Access is a mark of Therium’s wider commitment to the pursuit of justice and the rule of law.
Therium Access accepts applications from charities and other entities whose services and projects facilitate access to justice or from those seeking assistance to obtain legal representation on cases (including defence) which have strategic importance. The applicant’s need and the impact of the grant will be important factors in our review process. The deadline for the submission of the next round of grant applications is 15 April 2021. In addition, urgent applications may be considered on an ad hoc basis. Applications need to be made by legal representatives or the entity seeking a grant. The board of Therium Access is assisted by an Advisory Committee which is chaired by Lord Falconer, former Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Secretary of State for Justice.
Therium Access aims to support access to justice in the broadest terms and considers applications that further the following causes (in no particular order):
The right to legal representation or due process;
The proper and efficient administration of justice;
The advancement of human rights;
The promotion of equality of rights and diversity;
The protection of children, the elderly, the disabled, minorities, asylum seekers and other vulnerable or disadvantaged groups;
The advancement of environmental protection or improvement;
The promotion of legal education that furthers the causes listed above; and
Any other case or project in which a person, group, or entity will not have access to justice without financial assistance.
Therium Access is intended to be a global initiative. Its initial focus is on the UK and it will be rolled out in other jurisdictions in a number of planned phases.
About Therium Capital Management:
Therium is a leading provider of investment capital to the legal industry and one of the largest, having raised over $1 bn since 2009. With investment teams in the UK, USA, Australia, Germany and Norway, Therium has funded litigation and arbitration claims exceeding $40 billion including many of the largest and most high profile funded cases in the UK and internationally, including arbitrations under rules of the LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL, LMAA, AAA, CIETAC, ICSID, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce and the Energy Charter Treaty. Therium has been Top Ranked by Chambers and Partners and Leaders League with investment officers across the UK, Europe, USA and Asia Pac recognised as leading individuals in litigation finance.
Last year to mark the firm’s tenth anniversary, Therium Access was launched as a not-for-profit venture to fund a wide range of access to justice projects and cases – supporting the most vulnerable in our society and helping to bridge the widening justice gap. With its own board composed of eminent figures from the legal community and a dedicated grants officer, Therium Access has made over £1.7 m in financial commitments over the last 22 months to over 32 different organisations. As the first initiative of its kind, Therium has been shortlisted for several awards for launching this ground-breaking initiative, including the FT Innovative Lawyer Awards 2019, the Lexis Nexis Awards 2020 and The Lawyer Awards 2020.
Therium also invests in AI and software projects to accelerate the advancement of the industry. As a founding member of both the ALF, ILFA and the Litigation Funding Working Group, Therium is also committed to shaping the future of legal finance and setting high standards for the industry.
Désirée Maghoo, Questor Consulting.
07775 522740 / dmaghoo@questorconsulting.com
Katie Villiers-Smith, Questor Consulting.
07500831206/ kvillierssmith@questorconsulting.com
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By E. Lisa Moses
In 2013, after being doused with sulphuric acid by a disgruntled dancer, Sergei Filin, artistic director of Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet, was left permanently scarred and partially blinded. Several years before, United Kingdom model and media personality Katie Piper suffered an attack by an angry ex-boyfriend that destroyed her facial skin and blinded her in one eye. And in Texas recently, a young truck driver unloading sulphuric acid at an International Paper facility suffered burns to 40 per cent of his body from a leak in a hose.
While accidents and incidents keep sulphuric acid in the headlines, behind the scenes this odourless and usually colourless viscous liquid facilitates the creation of innumerable products that we use every day. According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, the world production of sulphuric acid is 200 million tonnes — more than any other chemical.
It plays a part in producing, processing or refining paint, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, textiles and paper. In the textile industry, for example, sulphuric acid forms rayon fibres (viscose); in the paper industry, it helps to bleach paper; in the automotive industry, it works as battery acid.
It is also used in mineral processing, oil refining, waste-water processing and chemical synthesis. In agriculture, it is commonly used at harvest time to kill green potato shoots to keep them from getting entangled in the harvesting equipment. And in research labs, it can be mixed with various substances for testing. The majority of sulphuric acid, however, is used in the fertilizer industry, where it dissolves phosphate rock for use in soil improvement.
As a raw material or processing agent, sulphuric acid is classified by WHMIS as very toxic (Class D1A) and corrosive (Class E). It reacts violently when mixed with water, moisture and countless other chemicals. But its most dangerous characteristics are the speed and severity with which it attacks human tissue. Workers exposed to it in plants, labs and myriad other locations can be hit with anything from respiratory tract irritation and digestive tract burns to nosebleeds and tooth erosion. However, “the substance is not bio-accumulative,” according to Environment Canada. This means that “it does not accumulate in the tissues of organisms (for example, humans or fish) in a quantity that is considered hazardous.”
Awareness of the dangers, along with good policies and procedures for working safely with sulphuric acid, can prevent health threats and incidents.
Wherever sulphuric acid resides, workers must follow proper handling and storage guidelines, wear the right personal protective equipment (PPE) and apply effective first aid in case of an incident. For example, sulphuric acid must be stored carefully in containers made of nonreactive material in a cool, dry area. PPE should include items such as chemical-splash goggles, a face shield, protective clothing and a breathing apparatus.
In case of an accident, first-aid treatment for a burn must include taking off contaminated clothing and flushing damaged tissue with lukewarm water for at least 30 minutes. In some situations, safe handling and response requires advanced first-aid training. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) recommends that procedures be periodically reviewed by a doctor familiar with the chemical and its conditions of use in the workplace.
Sulphuric acid training needs vary widely — from workplaces that house small quantities in cleaners and batteries to those in chemical processing industries where specialized expertise and training are required.
According to Claire Stewart, marketing manager of Belleville, Ont.-based Electrolab Training Systems, sulphuric acid safety training should begin by informing employees about critical aspects of the substance, such as appearance, odour, toxicity and behaviour, as well as the health effects of exposure.
“Training should also include demonstrations on proper handling and storage, usage of personal protective equipment and effective first aid in an emergency,” she says.
Stewart points out that a wide range of multimedia training programs on sulphuric acid are available commercially that companies can adapt to their unique needs. These include everything from mandatory compliance to human factors influencing behaviour. Supplier websites generally offer online previews of modules for both trainers and workers that can include e-learning, DVDs and PowerPoint presentations.
Other chemical safety education and training scenarios in Canada include industry or company seminars, conferences and events.
Elmira, Ont.-based CCC Sulphur Products, which manufactures 200 tonnes of sulphuric acid and oleum (“fuming” sulphuric acid) per day, provides comprehensive on-site safety training to suppliers and customers that use sulphuric acid in businesses such as ethanol production, aluminum manufacturing and water and waste-water treatment. In addition, the company website houses downloadable technical documents that are available to anyone.
Ron Koniuch, vice-president of CCC Sulphur Products and corporate compliance, says the best way to safeguard workers against the dangers of sulphuric acid is to “diligently apply the basic principles of health and safety, identify potential risks and devise a plan to keep them to a minimum.”
In addition, the company believes in starting safety education at an early age, so it encourages school groups to tour the Elmira plant to learn about the dangers of sulphuric acid and best practices for dealing with it.
“Knowing it’s corrosive enough to eat jeans for lunch gets students’ attention,” says Koniuch. “They are then excited about discovering how to work safely around it — and what they learn raises their comfort level if they’re handling it in shop classes, for example.”
Student sessions also stress the importance of being careful at home when using cleaning products and materials that contain the substance.
As a member of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC), CCC Sulphur Products participates in the national TRANSCAER outreach program. In partnership with the Railway Association of Canada and other industrial associations across North America, the program provides first responders, residents and government officials with practical information and education about dealing with chemical emergencies on roads and rails. While TRANSCAER focus is community awareness, companies may find these events useful if they are looking for expertise or training in any specific substance.
Launched by CIAC to help address concerns about the massive quantities of chemicals moving through communities, the outreach program features the TRANSCAER Safety Train — a railway tank car converted into a classroom on wheels — that travels annually from one end of Canada to the other.
In 2015, some 25 events across Canada were attended by nearly 3,000 people, including emergency responders.
According to Kara Edwards, CIAC’s manager of transportation safety and security, “TRANSCAER is an opportunity for our member companies, all of whom are committed to environmental responsibility, to inform their industry partners and the public about their products and proper preparedness in case there is ever an incident.”
E. Lisa Moses is a freelance writer based in Cambridge, Ont. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared in the Dec/Jan 2016 issue of COS.
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NovaStar Reports Loss, Faces High Chance of Delisting
NovaStar Financial reported a third-quarter loss of $598 million after market close Wednesday, and said its shares could be de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange.
The Kansas City-based lender said there was a “high likelihood” that its shares would be de-listed and would probably resume trading on the over-the-counter bulletin board, a move which could lead to bankruptcy.
The subprime lender said it lost $64.05 per common share in the third quarter, compared to net income of $2.91 per common share, or $25.3 million a year earlier.
“As the mortgage environment has grown progressively worse through 2007, we have greatly reduced our business activity and simplified our organization,” said NovaStar Chief Executive Scott Hartman, in a statement.
“Going forward, our strategy is to manage the cash flows from our portfolio of mortgage-backed securities and operate our retail brokerage operations.”
Since the end of the third quarter, the embattled lender has sold $175 million in mortgage servicing rights and $364.3 million worth of home loans.
NovaStar has also suspended the payment of the next dividend on its Series C Preferred Stock and Series D-1 Preferred Stock.
It was one of the top 20 subprime mortgage lenders last year, originating more than $10 billion in home loans, according to Inside Mortgage Finance.
But recent turmoil in the mortgage industry forced the lender to shutter its wholesale division in August, leading to 500 layoffs.
And one month later, NovaStar announced that it would cut 275 jobs and close 12 of its 16 retail loan origination offices.
In mid-October, NovaStar warned of a possible delisting after the NYSE said it was terminating its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust, retroactive to the beginning of the year, for failure to pay investors a required dividend.
Shares of NovaStar ended the day down six cents, or 1.29%, to $4.59, but plummeted a further $1.79, or 39%, to $2.80 in after hours trading.
A decision from the NYSE on the possible delisting is expected on December 5th, the company noted.
Update: Shares of NovaStar were down $2.77, or 60.37%, to $1.82 in late trading Thursday, valuing the company at a mere $17 million and change.
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Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 22nd May 1995.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown , Cirencester and Tewkesbury 12:00 am, 22nd May 1995
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the total vehicle emissions in the United Kingdom for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen (a) in 1970 and (b) at the latest available date. [23878]
Link to this speech In context Individually
Mr Steven Norris , Epping Forest
Road transport emissions of carbon monoxide were 2.4 million tonnes in 1970 and 5.1 million tonnes in 1993; emissions of nitrogen oxides were 0.6 million tonnes in 1970 and 1.1 million tonnes in 1993; emissions of volatile organic compounds were 0.6 million tonnes in 1970 and 0.9 million tonnes in 1993.
Over the same period, total traffic rose from 200 billion to 410 billion vehicle kilometres.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown , Cirencester and Tewkesbury
Do not those figures prove not only that we can meet our existing targets on emissions for the year 2005, but that if the 20-point plan outlined in the document "Air Quality: Meeting the Challenge"—commissioned jointly by the Departments of Transport and of the Environment—were implemented in full, we should do considerably better than that? Does that not show that ours is the only party with realistic policies to deal with such difficult environmental problems, and that the Labour party is bereft of such policies?
My hon. Friend is entirely right. The Conservative party has consistently shown itself to be the only party prepared to grapple with the genuinely difficult issues involved in air quality. He is also right that the air quality statement produced by the Government will enable us to fulfil our Rio targets.
Joan Walley Shadow Spokesperson (Transport)
It is difficult to understand how the Government can claim such credit when they are merely looking through rose-tinted spectacles. People throughout the country are concerned about pollution, just as people were concerned about smog years ago. We have still heard nothing about how the Government intend to monitor emissions of PM10, which is clearly a major pollutant. What powers will now be given to local authorities so that we can start to improve the quality of life for people in both urban and rural areas?
The facts are quite the reverse. As the hon. Lady knows, it is the Government who are introducing tighter emission standards more than a year before the date when we are required to do so by the European Commission, and that it is her hon. Friend the well-known working-class Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) who has consistently refused to commit himself to any air quality policy; he is frightfully good at defining the problem, but pretty poor when it comes to the solution.
Sir Peter Emery , Honiton
I declare an interest as chairman of the National Asthma Campaign. Will my hon. Friend consult Ministers at the Department of Health to ensure that, when there are major inversions in the weather and we experience the problem encountered four weeks ago, the Government can warn people about the conditions that are likely to result from monoxides in the air? It would be helpful if the Government took the lead.
As my right hon. Friend will know, the Committee of Medical Experts on Air Pollution study set up by the Department of Health, with input from the Department of Transport, is addressing that important question. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that, given his experience of health matters, he gives high priority to this aspect of pollution control.
As for powers to control specific episodes of high pollution, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has accepted that we should explore the possibilities and ensure that the appropriate powers are in place, with one caveat: we ought not to consider only how to deal with the rare occasions on which air quality deteriorates badly because of atmospheric conditions—we need long-term measures to improve air quality permanently.
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Feature: What and when to tell clients about settlement policy tracking
By Linda Koco | May 24, 2010 at 08:00 PM
Life settlement advisors be informing their clients about the "ongoing maintenance" that occurs after the settlement transaction has been completed. Here is why.
There is a “hidden secret” about which life settlement advisors and clients should know, says William Scott Page.
The secret is that there is “ongoing maintenance” after the settlement transaction has been completed, says the chief executive officer of Track-Life, Atlanta.
This maintenance comes in the form of what the industry calls “policy tracking,” says Page. “It is one of the obligations of the settlement contract, and many states require that it be done.”
But it’s a “hidden secret,” he says, because many agents and advisors don’t know about it and/or don’t discuss it with clients before the settlement transaction is completed.
Advisors need to become informed about this process so they can tell their clients, he says.
Policy tracking is typically performed by an administrative service or firm that make phone calls to the insured on the settled contract. The purpose of the calls is to get updates on the insured’s health status, Page says.
There may be other forms of contact, too, such as sending emails, postcards and letters seeking updated status information.
If the insured is too ill or otherwise unable to respond, the contacts are made to a responsible third party, Page says.
The inquiries often seek updates about visits to the doctor, prescription drug changes, and general health. Sometimes, they include updates or verification of address and phone number. The policy tracking service may also seek HIPAA authorization updates, and perhaps access to current medical records, Page says.
Jerry Iwanski, owner of Alternative Senior Financing, Denver, agrees with Page, that the agent or advisor should let the customer know, before the settlement is completed, that this activity will occur–so that there are no surprises.
“I’ve heard horror stories about people who say that they did not know that someone would be calling them and checking up on their health status after the settlement was finished,” says Iwanski, a broker and agent who specializes in settlements.
“My approach is to let them know up front that they will be getting these calls, and I explain why.”
Why do policy tracking
Page says policy tracking is conducted on behalf of the new policyowner, who is the investor that bought the policy and is now making the premium payments.
“The investor needs to know in a timely way when death occurs so that the death claim can be paid to the investor,” says Page.
The investor also needs to know if the insured’s health status has changed, he says. For instance, if the health status improves substantially, that will make the life expectancy longer than projected in the original LE report, so the investor will need to make premium payments for a longer period of time.
“In that case, the investor might decide to write off the case as a bad investment and take it as a loss,” Page says. “Or the investor might decide to try to sell the policy to someone else, in which case the investor will still need the updated information from the tracking service.”
Alternatively, if the insured’s health status has declined more rapidly than expected, the investor will be paying premiums for a shorter period than anticipated. This increases the value of the investment, and that may help the investor make decisions about other investments, Page indicates.
How many contacts
Some states mandate that the post-settlement communications be done on a specific schedule, say every three months, Page says.
But policy tracking is also done on policies settled in states where there are no mandates, he points out. For that reason, advisors in all states should be discussing post-settlement communication with their settlement customers, he says.
Iwanski, the agent, says the frequency of contact depends on the health status of the insured and varies from provider to provider.
How to broach the topic
Page says some agents are reluctant to talk about this ongoing post-settlement communication, because it opens up discussion with the customer about mortality and about how long the insured is likely to live, and that can be uncomfortable.
But, he says, if this part of the transaction is “sugar-coated” or not even discussed before the policy is sold, the customer may not realize it is an obligation of the contract. Then, when the policy tracking contacts start, the customer may be confused or view the contacts as intrusive.
For his part, Iwanski says he has no trouble broaching the subject with clients during the pre-settlement discussions. “It’s easy to talk about, once you’ve already discussed the life expectancy report and why those are done,” he says.
He typically includes a family member or other trusted person in the discussion, particularly if he has any lingering concern about the insured’s competency or ability to remember. That way, should the insured forget or be too ill to respond later on, “someone who is close to the insured will know and understand,” he says.
Page offers some other ideas for advisors, too:
–Point out that communicating about the insured’s health status “is a post-settlement obligation.”
–Explain the need for the information in a rational way, and stress that the process is not intrusive.
–Discuss how life settlements involve a longer and more involved relationship that just selling the policy. It involves an ongoing relationship with the tracking firm or administrator and is “until death do us part.”
–Point out how the ongoing post-sale communication is “the trade-off for being able to sell the policy and get the money right away.”
At his own firm, Page says the callers are either registered nurses or social workers. They are trained to make contact in a friendly way that fosters relationship-building with the insured, he says,.
If the insured and family are educated in advance about the communications, the whole process goes easier, he maintains. “Imagine what would happen if a husband gets these calls about his wife, or family members get them about their parents, and they don’t know anything about why that’s happening.”
Iwanski concludes: “Everything that happens in the life settlement process should be transparent, and that includes what happens after the transaction is completed.”
Life Insurers, Financial Pros Welcome Biden-Harris Administration
The administration's first actions have focused on topics other than life insurance.
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UiPath.com
Pocket insights from industry experts
We’ve assembled a cast of world-class automation pioneers to share their experience from stage to your notebook.
Scroll & discover the full list of speakers
Daniel Dines
Daniel Dines is the founder and CEO of UiPath, the fastest growing and leading provider of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software. Dines started UiPath in 2005 with the goal of building a technology that could help humans reduce the time and stress that come from menial, administrative business tasks. Today, UiPath is the most highly-valued AI enterprise software company.
With a vision to deliver A Robot for Every Person, Dines is committed to ushering in the “automation first” era; an era delivering both substantial productivity gains and also higher employee satisfaction and engagement to businesses of all sizes. Dines is focused on helping the workforce adapt to this change through a global commitment to democratize RPA, offering free training, software and programs to help skill, reskill, and upskill the workforce of the future.
Since incorporating UiPath in 2015, and moving its headquarters to New York in 2017, Dines has led the company through substantial growth becoming one of the world’s fastest growing enterprise software company in history. In September 2019, Dines was featured as Boss of the Bots on the cover of Forbes magazine.
Dines began his engineering career at Microsoft where he designed and developed the SQL Server Agent. Still a hacker at heart, he is active in driving the company’s RPA platform and supporting over 500,000 developers who are building automations on the UiPath platform.
Param Kahlon
Param Kahlon is the Chief Product Officer at UiPath. In his role at UiPath, he is responsible for product strategy and roadmap. Prior to UiPath, Param was a General Manager at Microsoft responsible for Dynamics 365 customer engagement apps (sales, customer service, and field service) and, prior to Microsoft, managed customer service and order management products for SAP and Siebel/Oracle. Param has been in the enterprise software space for over two decades leading strategic planning, CRM product management, and new product introduction. Param holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science & Engineering from Punjabi University, India.
Guy Kirkwood
Chief Evangelist
Guy Kirkwood, as chief evangelist of UiPath, is using RPA and AI to reboot work with a robot for every person. Joining in 2015 when UiPath was 27 people in one city, Guy has helped the company to grow to 3,300 people across 25 countries; and from $1m to $250m in ARR, making UiPath the fastest-growing enterprise software company in history.
Bobby Patrick
Having begun his career at 16 as a computer specialist with the FBI, Bobby Patrick is now Chief Marketing Officer of UiPath, the fastest growing enterprise software company in history and leader in Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and AI. For over two decades Bobby has driven significant growth in technology businesses, ranging from Fortune 50 to start-ups. Before joining UiPath, Bobby served as CMO for Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s $4 Billion-dollar Cloud business. He served previously as CMO for Basho (acquired by Bet365), GXS (acquired by OpenText), and Digex (acquired by Verizon). He strongly believes that digital workforces will reshape businesses in their journey to become digital enterprises, complementing and empowering the human workforce to better business outcomes, job satisfaction, and workplace experiences.
Bellagio · Las Vegas
© 2020 UiPath. All rights reserved
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Bert Liverance
Bert Liverance creates brightly coloured floral watercolour & oil paintings in a hyper-realistic style with stunning details.
Experience Bert's Virtual Studio Tour
Award-winning artist, Bert Liverance, creates larger than life floral paintings that are so alive you’re sure you can smell them. As a sculptor turned painter, Bert achieves a three-dimensional feeling through a highly realistic rendering of light and shadow.
Bold compositions and vibrant colours round out his trademark style. Bert has been recognized by the McMichael Canadian Art Gallery, Botanical Artists of Canada, and the American Society of Botanical Artists. He has also designed floral coins for the Royal Canadian Mint.
His work has been featured in publications, galleries, and juried exhibitions throughout North America and his paintings are in public and private collections around the world.
I have been influenced by many artists including the French Impressionists with their bold colours and scenes of everyday life. The Canadian Group of Seven also inspired me with their use of colour reflected in the Canadian wilderness. Georgia O’Keefe who put flower paintings front and center in the art world is another influence. But I would have to say the most significant influence in my work is the flowers themselves. Each one is a blessing that could be so easily overlooked.
I love celebrating their beauty and grace and preserving that on canvas and paper. That’s why they’re big and bold. I want the flowers to command your attention.
Option 1 - Virtual Tour
Bert will be sharing his work and his studio with guests virtually this year. To experience Bert's Virtual Studio Tour come back to this page in September.
Contact Bert
To learn more about Bert's studio, or to purchase a piece of work, contact Bert directly through his website, by email, or by giving him a call.
bertliverance.com
bert@colishcreations.com
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Central Africa Republic Elections
Thousands of Central African refugees at a camp in Cameroon were able to cast their ballot in their country's recent presidential elections, but others in other parts of the world could not. But regardless of who becomes the next leader after a runoff ballot later this month, Central Africans around the world say they are excited and can't wait for their country to emerge from its crisis. VOA's Mariama Diallo reports.
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HIV Activists Pressure US Government over AIDS Funding
By Nico Colombant
HIV activists are putting pressure on the U.S. government to provide more and better funding in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The pleas for aid come before the International AIDS conference later this month in Austria.
The president of the U.S-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Michael Weinstein, says he feels U.S. policies to fight AIDS worldwide implemented under former President George W. Bush are no longer a priority.
"We are very disappointed frankly in the Obama administration and in the Congress," said Michael Weinstein.
As a candidate, then Senator Barack Obama promised $50 billion over five years as part of the ongoing PEPFAR program, which stands for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
But in 2010, the PEPFAR funding request was less than $7 billion, the first year in the program's brief history there was no noticeable increase. The proposed budget for 2011 includes just a slight increase, frustrating activists like Weinstein.
"We understand the fact that we are in a financial crunch so there are two things that we can do, number one, put the highest priority on saving lives, and secondly we can make this program run more efficiently and effectively," he said.
Panelists at a recent press briefing in Washington complained too much U.S. money is being spent on administrative costs and logistics or training workshops, rather than treatment.
An HIV medic and person living with AIDS in Uganda, Grace Akupumuza, said more and more HIV positive patients are being put on waiting lists or turned away from clinics which used to give free antiretroviral drugs to all who needed them.
"They should look into this thing of treatment because more people have been testing for HIV because in Uganda there is a campaign of routine testing and counseling," said Grace Akupumuza. "If we have that campaign, if there is no treatment, people are not going to come in for testing. Someone will say, 'why should I go for a test if I know I am not going to get any treatment', so they will just wait and die as it used to be before."
The head of PEPFAR, Eric Goosby, has expressed concern about the situation in Uganda and elsewhere, and insisted the U.S. government is still committed in doing everything it can to fight AIDS.
In a message broadcast on the Internet earlier this year, he said the global challenges were still immense.
"For every two people we put on treatment, five more have become infected," said Eric Goosby. "AIDS is still the leading cause of death for women of reproductive age. If we are to sustain the gains we have had and made against this epidemic in the coming years, PEPFAR must work in closer collaboration with country governments to support and mount a truly global response to the shared global burden of disease."
Goosby called for transitioning the fight against AIDS from an emergency situation to finding a sustainable solution, with more focus on prevention and strengthening health systems.
Activists are worried this will mean less money for immediate treatments. In one of several demonstrations, thousands of marchers in South Africa recently protested in front of the U.S. consulate in Johannesburg demanding an increase in U.S. funding against AIDS. South Africa has more than five million people estimated to be HIV positive, more than any in the world, making it the largest PEPFAR recipient.
U.S. officials in South Africa released a statement saying the U.S. government remains fully committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS, especially in Africa, and remains the largest funder of the global response.
Last month, the U.S. government announced a six-year, $63 billion, global health initiative, which brings PEPFAR into the fold of a broader fight against major diseases.
UN Presses Asia To Counter Rising HIV Infections
The United Nations is calling for countries in Asia to step up efforts to counter a rising trend of HIV infections among women who are becoming infected due to their partners' high-risk behavior. U.N. AIDS experts, meeting in Thailand, say a rising incidence of HIV infections among women and girls in Asia requires an acceleration of programs to empower women and provide greater protection against the risk of HIV infection.UNAIDS says female populations in…
South Africa Tackles Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission
Around 70,000 babies are born with HIV in South Africa every year. It is one of the main contributors to the country's high infant mortality rate. In a hopeful sign, programs aimed at preventing the transmission of HIV from mother-to-child are meeting with success. One such program is part of a community-based project called Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE).
By Lisa Schlein
Report: Nearly 12 Percent of Mozambique Population is HIV/AIDS Positive
Study found women represent largest number infected by HIV
By David Dyar
Obama Unveils National AIDS Strategy Amid Praise and Criticism
President Barack Obama on Tuesday unveiled what he calls a comprehensive national strategy to fight HIV/AIDS. Critics assert that the plan falls far short of what is needed, while others call it an important step toward a more coordinated and effective national response to AIDS.The plan aims to reduce infections by 25 percent within five years, expand education about the disease, and increase the number of infected people who are aware of their HIV-positive status.
By Dan Robinson
Nico Colombant
Democrats Take Narrow Control of US Senate as Three New Members Sworn In
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legacy July 14, 2013
Cory Monteith Was Invaluable To Glee. Where Does the Show Go Now?
By Lauren Hoffman
GLEE: Finn (Cory Monteith, L) and Will (Matthew Morrison, R) tend to Rachel (Lea Michele, C) in the super-sized 90 minute “Born This Way” episode of GLEE airing Tuesday, April 26 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2011 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Adam Rose/FOX Photo: Adam Rose/FOX
Regardless of the cause, Cory Monteith’s death is a tragic one. He was young and talented — a gifted drummer, an awkward-as-hell dancer, and a reliable nailer of power ballads. And he was Finn Hudson, Glee’s main testament to the life-changing power of music, arguably the show’s primary message.
The loss of Finn alters the show’s landscape permanently and irrevocably. There’s a part of me that thinks, “Is it too soon to consider what the show will look like now that he’s gone?” But as Vulture’s Glee recapper for the past two seasons, I think that considering the question is a respectful act; it speaks to his invaluable contribution. And Glee’s cast and creative team don’t have the luxury of declaring it too soon to move forward; filming on season five is currently scheduled to begin in a week or so, and the writers have been at work for a while now. While Ryan Murphy hasn’t said much publicly about what this year holds, he negotiated a two-season renewal for Glee last spring, and consensus is that he wouldn’t have been able to do so without some sort of master plan (or at the very least, a general sense) of how this next chunk of story plays out.
This isn’t a reshuffling of the deck, then. It’s 52 Pickup. Whenever Glee has been at a loss for story in the past, it’s circled back to three key relationships: Kurt and Blaine, Brittany and Santana, and Finn and Rachel. Monteith’s death and Heather Morris’s departure further destabilize a show already on shaky ground as it struggles to take on a more mature tone following the graduation of several of its main characters from high school. Deftly tackling the narrative challenge of Finn’s departure from the show seems an almost impossible task. If the season begins with Finn glibly written out (“Oh, he moved to L.A. with Mercedes!”), it will be criticized for insensitivity; if Finn’s storyline mirrors Monteith’s passing more closely, it will be criticized for exploitation.
Glee has always encouraged viewers to suspend disbelief when it comes to the fact that its main cast is a bunch of 20-something-year-old adults pretending to be teens. They’ve done this by emphasizing the characters rather than the actors (consider, for example, the fact that the entire cast did a world tour completely in character) and by near-obsessive control of the cast’s collective public image.
Sure, there have been drunk appearances at award shows and magazine spreads of questionable taste, but for a cast of late Millennials (Monteith was 31), heady on fame or something close to it for the first time, they come off as reasonably wholesome. Even Monteith’s own stint in rehab this spring was spun by the powers that be at Glee not as a scandal, but as a responsible choice by someone taking control of his own well-being (and rightly so). Glee’s promise of youth and escape is seen clearly in its return to Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” in multiple episodes, almost as an anthem. “You and I,” Glee promises, “We’ll be young forever.”
That image of squeaky-clean youth is shattered now, and that seems irreversible. Glee works as escapist television, and it almost always flounders when it tries to be something bigger. Season four’s misbegotten school shooting, prostate cancer, teen molestation, and eating disorder storylines – all either insensitively handled or dropped without explanation – are undeniable proof of that.
Monteith’s final performance on Glee was a reprise of “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the same song that closed the pilot. It’s just a coincidence, although it’s hard not to lend it more significance than it perhaps deserves. Either way, Cory Monteith’s death means it will be a little harder to believe in Glee from now on.
Cory Monteith: One of Glee’s Invaluable Players
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