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Contemporary (1968-Now)
Disney - Pocahontas Pin – 25th Anniversary – Limited Release
Disney Park Pocahontas 25th Anniversary Pin - Limited Release- Legacy Collection
Disney Pocahontas 25th Anniversary Pin - Limited Release- Legacy Collection
Disney Studio Store Hollywood Pocahontas 25th Anniversary Limited Edition LE Pin
£13.950 bids
allisona2024 (359 )
allisona2024 has no other items for sale.
Details about Disney Pocahontas 25th Anniversary Pin - Limited Release- Legacy Collection
Long Beach, California, United States
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, Korea, South, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Republic of, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French Guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macau, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Vietnam, Uruguay, Russian Federation, Ukraine | See exclusions
Disney Legacy Collection - Rapunzel Tangled Pin – 10th Anniversary – LR
Disney Fantasia 80th Anniversary Mystery Pin- Small Hop Low Orange Mushroom
Disney 20th Anniversary -The Emperor's New Groove - Legacy Collection Pin Yzma
Disney Pin: 2020 Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Millenium Falcon Limited Release
Disney Happy Valentine’s Day *Tangled Rapunzel Flynn* Limited Edition LE Pin
Hyacinth Hippo Fantasia 80th Anniversary LR Mystery Box Disney Pin
Red Mushroom Disney Parks Fantasia 80th Anniversary Mystery Box Pin Hop Low
Jasmine Disney Loungefly Princess Cake Pin- Wedding Cake- Aladdin Genie
Tiana Disney Loungefly Princess Cake Pin- Wedding Cake- Princess & The Frog
Ariel Disney Loungefly Princess Cake Pin- Wedding Cake- Little Mermaid
Disney Donald Duck Pin Trading and 20th Anniversary Logo COMPLETER Pin SET
Snow White Disney Loungefly Princess Cake Pin- Wedding Cake- small scratch on It
Character/Story/Theme: Pocahontas
Brand: Disney Year: 2020
Type: Single
Item location: Long Beach, California, United States
Postage to: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, Korea, South, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Republic of, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French Guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macau, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Vietnam, Uruguay, Russian Federation, Ukraine
Disney Pocahontas 25th Anniversary Pin - Limited Releas... Disney Pocahontas 25th Anniversary Pin - Limited Releas...
Buy it now - Disney Pocahontas 25th Anniversary Pin - Limited Release- Legacy Collection Add to Watch list Added to your Watch list
Disney Pocahontas Disney Pins & Buttons (1968-Now),
Pocahontas Disney Pins & Buttons (1968-Now),
Pocahontas Disney Pins/Buttons/Patches (1968-Now),
Pocahontas Limited Edition Disneyana,
Disney Collectable Badges/Pins,
Disney Disney Pins & Buttons (1968-Now) Limited Edition,
Pocahontas Disney Figurines (1968-Now),
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Disney Pins & Buttons (1968-Now) Limited Edition,
Disney Badges/Pin Collectable Character Badges
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FAST Act Guidance
Action: Interim Guidance for Implementing FAST Act Section 1439:
Elimination of Barriers to Improve At-Risk Bridges
Gloria M. Shepherd
Associate Administrator for Planning, Environment, and Realty
In Reply Refer To:
HEPE
Directors of Field Services
Division Administrators &
Environmental Staff
On December 4, 2015, the President signed into law the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) (Pub. L. 114-94). Section 1439 of the FAST Act temporarily authorizes, under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA; 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), the take of nesting swallows between April 1 and August 31 for bridge construction projects that are: (1) eligible for funding under title 23, United States Code, and (2) have any component condition rated 3 or less as defined by the National Bridge Inventory General Condition Guidance. The FHWA published general condition guidance in Recording and Coding Guide for the Structure Inventory and Appraisal of the Nation’s Bridges (1995) (FHWA Report No. FHWA-PD-96-001), which will be used as the source for general condition ratings. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance on the required procedures for implementation of this section of the FAST Act. Our guidance was developed in collaboration with the Migratory Bird Program at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) headquarters office. I request that you share these resources with your State partners and work with them to ensure that appropriate action is taken when applying this provision.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Daniel Buford (202-366-8168) or Susan Jones (202-493-2139) of the Office of Project Development and Environmental Review.
FHWA Interim Guidance on Implementing FAST Act Section 1439
Section 1439 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) provides a temporary authorization, between April 1 and August 31 of each year, for the take of nesting swallows on certain bridge construction projects. This authorization will remain in full force until the effective date of a final rule from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) authorizing the take of nesting swallows to facilitate bridge repair, maintenance, or construction. The USFWS, in consultation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), may suspend or withdraw the temporary take authorization through notice in the Federal Register if it is determined that the taking of nesting swallows is having a significant adverse effect on swallow populations. The FHWA provides the following guidance and recommendations in implementing section 1439 of the FAST Act.
Take. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) specifically protects swallows and their nests from possession, sale, purchase, barter, transport, import, export, and “take.” “Take” is defined by regulation to mean “to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect.” (50 CFR 10.12).
Person. Section 1439 places notification requirements upon the “person” acting with the temporary authority to take nesting swallows. Regulations applicable to the MBTA at 50 CFR 10.12 define “person” as any “individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, club, or private body, any one or all, as the context requires.” Thus, in the context of implementing bridge construction projects pursuant to title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.), the term “person” includes all of the following that apply: the contractor doing the work and the agencies responsible for authorizing or carrying out the action.
Population. This term is defined in 50 CFR 21.3 to mean “a group of distinct, coexisting, conspecific individual[ birds], whose breeding site fidelity, migration routes, and wintering areas are temporally and spatially stable, sufficiently distinct geographically (at some time of the year), and adequately described so that the population can be effectively monitored to discern changes in its status.” Determination of population should also be relevant to the species’ status in Bird Conservation Regions and flyways.
Significant adverse effect on a population is defined in 50 CFR 21.3 as “an effect that could, within a reasonable period of time, diminish the capacity of a population of migratory bird species to sustain itself at a biologically viable level. A population is ‘biologically viable’ when its ability to maintain its genetic diversity, to reproduce, and to function effectively in its native ecosystem is not significantly harmed. This effect may be characterized by increased risk to the population from actions that cause direct mortality or a reduction in fecundity. Assessment of impacts should take into account yearly variations and migratory movements of the impacted species.”
Section 1439 of the FAST Act authorizes the temporary take of nesting swallows that is otherwise prohibited under the MBTA. “Nesting swallows” include all members of the swallow family occurring in the U.S. and its territories. The temporary authorization of “take” does not apply under any other Federal, State, or local laws.
Swallow Species. Take is authorized for the following members of the swallow family (Hirundinidae):
Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea
Caribbean Martin Progne dominicensis
Purple Martin Progne subis
Cave Swallow Hirundo fulva
Cliff Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
Bahama Swallow Tachycineta cyaneoviridis
Section 1439 of the FAST Act does not authorize take of any other species protected by the MBTA (see 50 CFR 10.13 for a full list). It is prohibited to take members of the swift family (Apodidae), which are similar in appearance to swallows. White-throated swifts (Aeronautes saxatalis), for example, occur in the Western United States and have been documented utilizing bridges for nesting. For taking of species other than those swallow species listed in this document, applicants must apply for a depredation permit in instances of Human Health and Safety or Bird Health to the Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office in their Region. For more information on these types of permits, visit: http://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/permits/regional-permit-contacts.php.
Bridges. The temporary authorization of take of nesting swallows applies to bridge construction projects (1) that are eligible for funding under title 23, U.S.C., and (2) that have any component condition rated 3 or less as defined by the National Bridge Inventory General Condition Guidance. The FHWA published general condition guidance in Recording and Coding Guide for the Structure Inventory and Appraisal of the Nation’s Bridges (1995) (FHWA Report No. FHWA-PD-96-001), which will be used as the source for general condition ratings. The component condition ratings of a bridge that are included in the National Bridge Inventory are as follows: deck, superstructure, substructure, and culvert. Section 1439 of the FAST Act applies to bridges with any component condition rating of 3 or less.
Rating Description
3 Serious Condition – loss of section, deterioration, spalling or scour have seriously affected primary structural components. Local failures are possible. Fatigue cracks in steel or shear cracks in concrete may be present.
2 Critical Condition – advanced deterioration of primary structural elements. Fatigue cracks in steel or shear cracks in concrete may be present or scour may have removed substructure support. Unless closely monitored it may be necessary to close the bridge until corrective action is taken.
1 “Imminent” Failure Condition – major deterioration or section loss present in critical structural components or obvious vertical or horizontal movement affecting structure stability. Bridge is closed to traffic but correction action may put back in light service.
0 Failed Condition – out of service - beyond correction action.
Period take is authorized. The take of nesting swallows is temporarily authorized from April 1 through August 31 in any year unless, as described in detail below, the provision is terminated, suspended, or withdrawn. (FAST Act § 1439(b)(2) or (c)). Swallows may begin nesting in some parts of their range before April 1, but section 1439 of the FAST Act does not authorize take prior to April 1.
Termination. The temporary authorization will remain in full force until the effective date of a final rule promulgated under the authority of section 3 of the MBTA (16 U.S.C. 704) that authorizes the take of nesting swallows to facilitate bridge repair, maintenance, or construction—(A) without individual permit requirements; and (B) under terms and conditions determined to be consistent with treaties relating to migratory birds that protect swallow species occurring in the United States. (FAST Act § 1439(b)).
Suspension or withdrawal of authorization. The temporary authorization may be suspended or withdrawn through publication in the Federal Register if the USFWS, in consultation with the FHWA, determines that taking of nesting swallows is having a significant adverse impact on swallow populations. (FAST Act § 1439(c)).
Other statutes and laws. The authorization of take under the MBTA does not remove protections afforded pursuant to other Federal, State, or local laws.
Procedural Requirements and Recommendations
Section 1439(a)(2) of the FAST Act requires that notifications be sent to the USFWS before and after taking. All notifications before and after taking should be sent by the State or local transportation agency or Federal agency proposing the action. Notifications may be sent by the contractor(s) on behalf of the agencies proposing the action if authorized by the agencies to do so. Copies of notifications should be retained in the administrative record/project file for the action.
Notification before taking
Notifications shall be submitted to the Migratory Bird Program at the appropriate USFWS Regional Office (see below) prior to taking nesting swallows. (FAST Act § 1439(a)(2)(A)). A response from USFWS is not required or expected. However, notifications should be sent at least 30 calendar days prior to the taking to afford the opportunity to USFWS to communicate any special or unforeseen circumstances. Notifications before taking shall include the following information required by the FAST Act (bolded). Notifications should include additional information (not bolded) to support the administrative record and to assist the USFWS in managing trust resources:
project/bridge name, location, and bridge rating;
the name of the agency(s) and contractors acting under the authority of section 1439 of the FAST Act to take nesting swallows;
list of practicable measures that will be undertaken to minimize or mitigate significant adverse impacts on the population of that species (see below);
the time period during which activities will be carried out that will result in the taking of swallows; and
the number of swallow nests (from species listed above) estimated to occur on the bridge each year (based upon a survey or assessment method); and
an estimate of the number of individuals, by species and age class (egg, juvenile, adult), to be injured or killed.
Notification after taking
Notifications shall be submitted to the appropriate USFWS Regional Office, Migratory Bird Program, no later than 60 calendar days after the last taking of a nesting swallow by the project in a calendar year. (FAST Act § 1439(a)(2)(B)). Notifications after taking shall include the following information required by the FAST Act (bolded). Notifications should include additional information (not bolded) to support the administrative record and to assist the USFWS in managing trust resources:
the project/bridge name, location, and bridge rating;
the name of the agency(s) and contractor(s) that acted under the authority of section 1439 of the FAST Act to take nesting swallows;
the list of measures implemented to minimize or mitigate adverse impacts;
the time period activities were carried out that resulted in the taking of swallows; and
the number of individuals, by species and age class (egg, juvenile, adult), that were found to be injured or killed.
The FHWA strongly recommends that any unauthorized take be reported to the Migratory Bird Office in the region where take occurred within 2 working days.
Measures to Minimize Impacts
Mitigation can include avoidance, minimization, and compensation, as appropriate (23 CFR 777). The FHWA recommends implementing actions prior to and during the nesting season to discourage swallows from nesting on work areas, to attract them to alternative habitats, to minimize reproductive failures, and to benefit the swallow’s conservation by improving habitat conditions. The measures implemented should be scaled to the expected impact and can be coupled with other mitigation requirements.
As noted earlier, the person undertaking the bridge construction project must submit a document that contains the practicable measures that will be undertaken to mitigate or minimize significant adverse effects on nesting swallows. The following, developed in collaboration with USFWS, are examples of measures that would minimize adverse effects on nesting swallows:
Time bridge construction activities to avoid the nesting season to the extent possible.
Apply bird exclusion devices to work areas prior to nest initiation in the spring, potentially before April 1. Devices may include plastic sheeting that is thick enough to withstand the elements; or weather-resistant polypropylene netting with 0.25-inch or smaller openings. Netting is an option that is often used, but is not recommended as nets have been known to result in mortalities by trapping adult swallows. Install bird exclusion devices such that bird access to the underside of the bridge, including its exterior girders, is completely blocked. Clean bird waste or other debris from the contact surfaces of the bridge girders before installing the exclusion devices. Monitor the devices daily and maintain and repair them to keep them effective. Remove bird exclusion devices from the job site at the end of each nesting season.
Swallow nests that are near but not in the immediate work area can be left alone if they do not pose a safety concern.
Conduct nest removal efforts at the onset of nest-building activity, potentially before April 1, in order to encourage use of alternative areas and avoid mortality of eggs, hatchlings, and adults. Take of eggs, juveniles, and adults is authorized only from April 1 to August 31.
If an established nest must be removed from a work area before young have fledged, then remove the nest as early in the nesting cycle as possible, from April 1 to August 31, to encourage re-nesting elsewhere.
Construct temporary alternative habitat/nesting substrate(s) in the vicinity of the bridge to attract displaced swallows prior to their return in spring. Alternative habitats should be species-specific and could include temporary structures for swallows and/or traditional purple martin houses.
Restore, rehabilitate, and/or preserve habitats that will benefit swallows.
Injured swallows may be taken to an authorized wildlife rehabilitation facility.
Dead swallows that are retrieved should be disposed of appropriately either by burial or in a landfill if allowable.
Send notifications to the Migratory Bird Program at the appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office:
Pacific Regional Office (R1)
Northeast Regional Office (R5)
300 Westgate Center Drive
Hadley, Massachusetts 01035-9589
Southwest Regional Office (R2)
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103-1306
Mountain-Prairie Regional Office (R6)
134 Union Boulevard
Midwest Regional Office (R3)
5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990
Bloomington, Minnesota 55437-1458
Alaska Regional Office (R7)
1011 E Tudor Rd #200
Southeast Regional Office (R4)
1875 Century Blvd., Suite 400
Pacific Southwest Regional Office (R8)
2800 Cottage Way W-2606
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Home News ETN “RETAILERS CAN COUNT ON OUR SUPPORT”
“RETAILERS CAN COUNT ON OUR SUPPORT”
We haven’t worked so hard for a long time, says this dedicated business owner in his lockdown diary for ETN.
Malcolm Ainge is chairman of Shires Equestrian Products.
The Herefordshire based company he founded more than 50 years ago – when Malcolm sold loaned stock at local cattle markets - is now a leading global brand with distribution hubs in America and Ireland. Shires also has its own factory in China.
“How things can change in a very short space of time,” says Malcolm, reflecting on the coronavirus pandemic.
“It doesn’t seem long since I flew to and from the USA in January, and I was on the tube in London in early March. We took ease of travel for granted. When will we be able to travel so freely again?
Trump made decision for me
“In late March, I had a ticket booked to the USA again. I was agonising over whether or not I should go, when Donald Trump made the decision for me and barred UK people from entry.
“I’m glad he did, because had I gone, I would probably still be there now!
“I have another ticket booked to the US in August. Will I be able to travel? Probably not.
“That reminds me, I’m still waiting for a voucher for my flight in March. It’s impossible to get in touch with British Airways. Hopefully they will get around to sending me a voucher at some stage…
Police visit
“Since then, the world has changed dramatically. Shires is still open and I consider ourselves fortunate that we are still able to trade - in spite of a visit from the Police and Trading Standards.
“However, our workforce of 80 has reduced to 20, four of whom are directors. We haven’t worked so hard for a long time. We have had to furlough 60 of our staff.
“Being of a certain age, my family insisted that I stayed at home which I did for ten days, until I realised that two of our skeleton staff are in their 60s.
“I didn’t feel comfortable hiding myself away while others took a risk for the company, so I’ve been back at work for the last three weeks.
35% normal turnover
“We will turnover about 35% of what we would normally turnover in April, but it’s better than nothing.
“Our Irish warehouse is closed. We closed our US warehouse for a while, but as we are in New Hampshire and Covid-19 is not too bad there, we were allowed to open.
“Our sales there are mainly drop ship orders that we are despatching on behalf of our [retail] customers. Not great business but once again, better than nothing.
“The one bright spot is our factory in China. We were a week late opening after Chinese New Year but have been in full production ever since.
“Hopefully the products we are making will be in demand in the autumn; although who knows what the situation will be by then?
Government help
“I think the Government has done a good job on behalf of business, in spite of constant criticism. If we hadn’t been able to furlough our staff, we would probably have had to make some redundant.
“We have taken advantage of a Coronavirus Business Interruption loan. It replaces our overdraft, so there is quite a saving there.
“I continue to make a nuisance of myself with our local council who still insist on charging us £100,000 per annum in business rates. I don’t think they like me very much - but if it saves us part of that, I will be more than happy.
Count on our support
“I don’t think we will have a V-shaped recovery; but the equestrian trade is very resilient and I’m sure we will all make the best of the new normal, whatever that might be.
“I also hope the riding public will support their local retailers when they re-open. They can count on our support.”
Image by rawpixel.com
Malcolm Ainge
Previous articleBROKEN SUPPLY CHAINS, PONY PAMPERING AND MASKING PROBLEMS…
Next articleTHERE’LL BE ONE HELL OF A PARTY WHEN IT’S ALL OVER!”
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SUSAN FRIEND Daily PressDaily Press
DON'T SWEAT IT. Remember learning as a child that people in hot climates eat spicy food to make themselves perspire and, thus, be cooler? Ever wonder why that doesn't work so well in hot, humid Tidewater? Radar took that question to HU Assistant Professor Scott Bailey, who teaches atmospheric science at the Hampton school. Partly, he says, it's where we live - air near water has more water in it. Ever the teacher, he added, "Remember what's important to us isn't the absolute amount of water in the air, it's the relative amount of water in the air - relative to how much water can that air possibly hold. Hot air holds a lot more than cool air. And if we get hot air full of water, our sweat doesn't do anything to help us because the sweat can't evaporate. The air can't absorb that water, so we feel the heat much more than we would in a hot, dry area." Bailey grew up in Maryland so he knows all about muggy. But he went to grad school in Colorado. "Out there, we hit temperatures of 100 degrees, but I could still go mountain-biking or whatever and really enjoy myself," he says. (Read more about the atmospheric science behind the weather in Monday's Radar Interview.)
BUSCH GARDENS ON TV. Sometime during the last two weeks in July, viewers who tune in CBS-TV's "This Morning" are likely to catch a glimpse of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The show is introduced from a different location each day and several of the theme park's characters will be featured in its segment. Among them is Peanut, an Amazon parrot who will sing "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning." Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been voted the country's "Most Beautiful Theme Park" for seven straight years and was recently also chosen as America's favorite theme park.
BACK AT WORK. Jim Peach - who owns and operates Peach Texaco Service on Mellen Street in Phoebus - returned to work this week. Peach, a colorful figure who often posts comments about local politics on his business sign, spent a month in the hospital after his gall bladder ruptured. "I'm here for two to three hours a day," he said Friday. "I'm still real weak, but I needed to get out and get some fresh air." Peach said for two weeks of his hospital stay he was unaware of where he was. "When I woke up I thought I had been in a car accident in Virginia Beach," he recalled.
IT has MOVED, but not that far. The U.S. Airways summer catalog features a print titled "Coastal Breeze," which is described as portraying the "irresistible charm of the New England coastline." Only problem is the lighthouse that's shown is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on North Carolina's Outer Banks.
POLITICAL POTPOURRI. State Sen. Henry Maxwell of NN will kick off his re-election campaign at a reception at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Virginia Living Museum. For more info, call 245-2855. ... Hampton House of Delegates candidate Rudy Langford will kick off his campaign with a "Family Day" cookout at 4 p.m. July 17. It's at the home of Leroy Crosby at 130 Schooner Drive in Hampton. Call 726-0269 for more info.
BLIPS, TIPS. Radar sends condolences to the family of the late Aubrey Perry, who died Wednesday. Perry was the food service manager at the Hampton jail for 32 years before his retirement in 1991. His funeral is at noon Monday at Queen Street Baptist Church in Hampton. ... The first-ever Coliseum Central Holiday Celebration Parade has been set for Nov. 20. Applications for parade entrants will be accepted until Sept. 24. To request an application form, contact Mary Carson at 826-6351. ... A story in the July 4 New York Times Magazine on how half of American motels are now owned by Indians - most from a single Hindu subcaste - quotes David Mumford, president of a hotel brokerage in NN. Mumford says by the mid-70s many motel owners were retiring, and by the end of that decade and the beginning of the next, there were hundreds of motels for sale.
- Have a tip? Radar wants to hear it. Call 247-7863 or send e-mail to sfriend@dailypress.com
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What potential Brexit outcomes remain after Theresa May's Commons defeat
Parliament remains split over what form of leaving the EU would be best for Britain - but what are the options?
Andrew Woodcock
Our Politics newsletter is now daily. Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox.
After Theresa May's defeat Parliament remains fundamentally split over what form of Brexit would be best for Britain.
But how do the options differ?
- Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement
Despite the huge defeat the agreement may still be on the table in an amended form as May seeks cross-party talks for "genuinely negotiable" solutions she can take to Brussels.
From the start of the Brexit process, May had insisted that she wanted a "bespoke" deal tailored specifically for the UK and not an off-the-shelf model shaped around arrangements offered to other trading partners.
The Withdrawal Agreement reached in November guarantees the rights of UK citizens currently living in the EU27 states and European nationals in Britain, settles the UK's outstanding liabilities to Brussels budgets for a payment of around £39 billion and takes Britain out of the EU single market and customs union, the common agriculture and fisheries policies and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.
It offers a 21-month transition period after the official Brexit date of March 29 2019 to prepare for the new arrangements.
Alongside this is a Political Declaration agreed by the UK and EU27, setting out a common determination to forge a close future relationship in areas such as trade and security. If this cannot be secured by the end of the transition in December 2020, the period can be extended by a further two years. If the transition concludes without a deal, the so-called "backstop" must be triggered, keeping the whole UK in a customs union with the remaining EU to prevent a hard border in Ireland.
Nicola Sturgeon demands second Brexit referendum after 'time wasted' on Theresa May's defeat
- No deal
If no alternative to May's deal is agreed, the default option is for the UK to leave the EU without a deal on March 29. This would mean there would be no transition period, and individuals and businesses would have to adapt immediately to new arrangements.
The UK would leave EU structures such as the single market and customs union and would fall back on World Trade Organisation rules, which require tariffs on many imports and exports.
Experts and businesses have warned that an abrupt withdrawal could cause chaos, with speculation over gridlock at the Channel ports, empty supermarket shelves, a collapse in the value of the pound and even aeroplanes being stopped from flying.
But advocates of no deal say the warnings are exaggerated and the UK would benefit by being able immediately to strike new trade deals around the world.
Brexiteers argue that the UK could save its £39 billion "divorce bill" by leaving without a deal, but this could be challenged by the EU in the courts.
Brexit defeat of Theresa May EU deal is biggest loss in Commons in modern British history
- The 'Canada option'
The holy grail for some Eurosceptics is an ambitious Canada-style free trade agreement with the EU, removing tariffs from almost all imports and exports of goods, offering co-operation on standards and allowing mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
A Canada-style agreement would allow the UK to leave the EU institutions, end freedom of movement and strike new trade deals elsewhere in the world.
Critics say that the model would severely restrict access to European markets for the UK's vital service industries - particularly the financial sector. But the option's fans say services could be included in what they term a Canada-plus-plus-plus deal.
Ministers warn that it would not resolve the backstop problem, as Brussels would still demand the North remains in the EU customs area to avoid a hard border.
Brexit vote result as Theresa May EU deal suffers crushing defeat by MPs in Commons landslide
- The 'Norway option'
Some supporters of a "soft Brexit" argue that the UK should take its lead from the members of the European Free Trade Association (Efta) - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland - and seek a close relationship with the EU short of full membership.
As a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), Norway enjoys full access to the internal market for most trade in goods, but must implement the bulk of Brussels regulations without having a say in its decisions. It also pays substantial sums into the EU budget.
Switzerland, which is outside the EEA, has a more remote relationship with the EU, based on dozens of bilateral agreements which must be constantly updated. The Swiss are required to follow EU laws in areas which give them access to the single market but make much lower contributions to Brussels budgets. Crucially, the arrangements do not cover services.
Proposals for a "Norway-style" option often envisage a single market and customs union relationship with the EU after Brexit, but the Efta states are actually not part of the customs union. It is far from clear that existing Efta members would accept a UK application to join.
Jeremy Corbyn tables no confidence vote in general election bid after Theresa May's Brexit defeat
- Remain
If the UK chose to abandon Brexit - either through a second referendum or by simply revoking its Article 50 notice of withdrawal - before March 29, it would retain its membership of the EU under existing terms.
Trade with EU neighbours would continue to be free of tariffs and non-tariff barriers under single market rules, and UK and EU nationals would retain the right to work and settle in one another's countries. The UK would keep its seat in the EU's decision-making bodies and hasty arrangements would have to be made for the election of MEPs in May.
The UK would be subject to ECJ rulings and would continue to make contributions to Brussels budgets, currently running at around £9 billion a year net, but the "divorce bill" would no longer be payable. Future trade deals would be made as part of the EU bloc and not bilaterally.
If the UK applied to rejoin after the Article 50 deadline has passed, it would have to go through a lengthy accession process which would almost certainly involve giving up the rebate negotiated by Margaret Thatcher, as well as opt-outs in areas such as justice and home affairs. It could be required to join the Schengen free movement area and the euro as part of the price of readmission.
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45 civilians killed by YPG terror group since Oct. 9
ISTANBUL War On Terror
Dec 04, 2019 5:41 pm GMT+3
The PKK terror organization's Syrian branch, the People's Protection Units (YPG), has killed at least 45 civilians and injured 244 others both within and outside Turkey since early October, when Turkey's anti-terror operation started in northern Syria, Turkey's National Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
"Since Oct. 9, the YPG terrorists' car bombing attacks directly targeting civilians in Operation Peace Spring area killed 23 civilians and injured 55 others," the ministry said on Twitter, referring to Turkey's latest anti-terror operation in northern Syria.
"Twenty-two innocent citizens were also killed in domestic mortar/rocket attacks, while 189 others were injured," it added.
The ministry said activities to establish a safe zone east of the Euphrates River in Syria were ongoing in compliance with the deals reached with the U.S. and Russia on Oct. 17 and Oct. 22, respectively.
On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.
Under the two separate deals reached with the U.S. and Russia, Turkey has paused the operation to allow for the withdrawal of YPG terrorists from the planned Syria safe zone.
The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot. In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
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foodRestaurant News
After 60 years in Dallas, El Fenix restaurant closed on Lemmon Avenue
The Dallas Tex-Mex company celebrated its 100th birthday in 2018.
El Fenix is a Tex-Mex chain known for its enchiladas. The operators have more than a dozen El Fenix restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth, but one closed on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas.(El Fenix / Staff Photographer)
By Sarah Blaskovich
3:38 PM on Oct 2, 2020 CDT
El Fenix Mexican Restaurant on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas, near Inwood Road, has closed. It opened on Sept. 1, 1960, just over 60 years ago.
“We would like to thank our guests for over 60 years at our Lemmon location,” says Mike Karns, founder and CEO of El Fenix’s parent company, Local Favorite Restaurants. “Given current conditions, unfortunately we have made the difficult decision to not renew our lease."
The company operates 14 El Fenix restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Beyond four stores in Dallas proper, the company sells its famous enchiladas at restaurants in Plano, Fort Worth, Arlington and more. (The El Fenix on Colorado Boulevard in North Oak Cliff was demolished in summer 2020 — a closure not related to the coronavirus pandemic. The landmark property was razed so a developer could build apartments in its place.)
The existing El Fenix restaurants offer takeout, curbside service and dine-in at 75% capacity, to comply with Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order.
The Love Field-area El Fenix closed after business on Sept. 25. The sign had already been removed from the exterior of the building on Oct. 2.
On the flagship El Fenix in downtown Dallas, a mural says "Don't mess with Tex-Mex."(Ron Baselice / Staff Photographer)
The storied Tex-Mex brand celebrated its 100th birthday in 2018. Its founder Miguel “Mike” Martinez started the first restaurant in 1918; the family sold the business about 90 years later to Karns, who continues to operate the company today.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced dozens of restaurants across Dallas to close for good. About 15% of the 50,000 restaurants in Texas have closed during the crisis, says Emily Williams Knight, the CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. With no more financial aid from the government, Knight estimates that the number of restaurant closures in Texas will balloon to 25%.
When asked what advice she offers restaurant owners who are considering closing their doors, Knight says they need to be realistic about the lack of government help. “There isn’t financial relief coming,” she says.
“If you’re waiting for something to happen, it’s not coming. It’s heartbreaking.”
The Texas Restaurant Association reports that 700,000 jobs were lost at the beginning of the pandemic in Texas. About 200,000 or 250,000 restaurant workers remain out of work today, Knight says.
The pandemic gutted about half of the restaurants in Trinity Groves in West Dallas. It caused the closure of Five Sixty By Wolfgang Puck, the celebrity-chef restaurant at the top of Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas, and has threatened the future of Luby’s and Fuddruckers, two Texas-based brands. The pandemic also brought on the demise of Highland Park Cafeteria, which closed five years shy of its 100th birthday.
For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on Twitter at @sblaskovich.
Sarah Blaskovich, food writer. Sarah writes about restaurants, bars and culture in Dallas. Follow @sblaskovich and ask her what to do, where to eat or where to drink in your area.
sblaskovich@dallasnews.com /sarah.blaskovich @sblaskovich Instagram Icon@sarahblaskovich
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Subscribe to our foodie newsletter to get stories about restaurant openings, closings and where to eat next.
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Snyder's-Lance to cut 250 positions companywide
The jobs are planned to be eliminated by the end of the week
Lillian Reed
Snyder's-Lance plans to cut 250 positions from its global workforce by the end of the week, company officials announced in a press release Tuesday.
The positions are planned to be eliminated from across the organization, which has facilities and corporate offices in Hanover, by the end of the week. Company officials also plan to close a chips plant in Perry, Florida, by the end of September, the release states.
The Charlotte-Observer reported Tuesday that the company cut 24 Charlotte employees in accounts receivable and accounts payable because it had moved that work to a consolidated facility in Hanover.
A spokesperson for the company declined Tuesday to detail whether there will be staff reductions in Hanover, but said the 100 employees at the Florida facility are not included in the 250 anticipated companywide cuts.
The eliminated positions come with the launch of a performance transformation plan, intended to streamline the company's processes and structure, the release states.
"This has been a very difficult decision for our organization and we sincerely appreciate how difficult this is for our impacted team members and their families," Brian Driscoll, president and CEO of Snyder's-Lance, said in the release. "However, this is a required first step to improve our financial performance, balancing costs and expected levels of profitability in a very competitive environment."
Snyder's-Lance officials plan to provide a comprehensive overview of the multi-year transformation plan when second-quarter financial results are reported Aug. 8.
The company also announced John Maples has been appointed as chief customer officer, effective immediately. Frank Schuster was appointed to president of sales execution, and will report to Maples, the release states.
York Daily Record reporter Gary Haber contributed to this report.
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A new year is upon us.
View ProfileRSS Feed
You've likely heard the news already. Just before 1 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, Rashid Anderson was shot in the chest at a private party at the East Erie Turners building, his death marking Erie's first homicide of 2014 barely five days into the new year.
During the same night that Anderson lost his life, another man and two women also suffered gunshot wounds. The next day at his swearing-in ceremony, Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott pledged to continue efforts to fight what he called "senseless" violence in Erie, stating also that "anti-violence initiatives have worked to curb this stuff," as reported by Erie Times-News' Kevin Flowers, "but it continues. We have to have community involvement."
Community involvement is key. And involvement means action.
We can talk all we want — from Facebook messages to community meetings — about the atrocities, about the complexity of the troubled times we face, about what we think to be the root of the problem — but as they say: Talk is cheap.
It's cheap because it doesn't cost us much, our time, our energy, our efforts, our money. Action — what we need now more than ever — does. And people like self-starter, self-motivator, self-made local millionaire, and investor "Mr. Joe" give us hope that folks in our community are investing in action.
The subject of our "You Ought To Know" in this issue, "Mr. Joe," who came from poverty himself but who is now both successful and wealthy, created the "Thousandaires Club," an initiative that involves him traveling to various schools and organizations to speak to children about the importance of sound financial investment. And he walks in with a thousand dollars, a fat stack of cash that these kids can fan a thumb through and feel the weight of in their hands.
"I don't want to change much," Joe told Ryan Smith. "I just want to change the world." And once you read his story, you'll see how he's doing it.
But change doesn't stop there. By now, in addition to having heard the news, you've heard the weather reports. It's cold. Record-breaking cold, as the Polar Vortex has Erie in its grips. In this issue, Rebecca Styn writes about the various warming shelters and aid available for those not fortunate enough to have the luxury of a warm bed and a roof over their heads.
And let's face it, there can never be enough action-seekers in our city, because they're the ones actually fighting to make a difference, to make Erie a better place for us all. Enter Bob Jensen and the Blue Pike Music Awards, our first cover feature of the new year.
Last year, Bob had an idea: support the local music scene with an award show that celebrates and recognizes the vast pool of talent swimming around the Erie area. And to capture the gravity of just how vital such a notion is, he named it after a fish once indigenous to Lake Erie. To find out what happened to that fish — and what's happening as Bob and company host their second awards show — you'll have to read Matthew Flowers' captivating story.
The celebration of heroes — the Mr. Joes, the folks looking to lend some time to those in need, the Bob Jensens — can be found in all walks of Erie life. And as a publication that strives to put Erie's best foot forward, we're happy to share these stories with you, and we're excited to introduce new ways to highlight Erie any chance we get, which is why we're proud to present "ER Sports" with Erie's own James R. LeCorchick.
It's no secret that given different deadlines than a daily newspaper, it's difficult for an alt-weekly to cover sports consistently in print. That's why we believe there's no better fit than JRL because of his knowledge of local sports, his relentless attention to detail, and his ability to capture the deeper sports stories in our city that illuminate the people behind the numbers and stats to leave you with the names you won't forget.
So if there's one thing that will usher in the bright future of 2014, it's the people of Erie. And we're happy to continue on our journey here in our fourth volume to continue to bring you the stories that matter to the people — from the musicians, to the activists, to the investors, and beyond — who make Erie a good place to call home.
From the Editors: The gift of gratitude
by The Editors11/18/2020, 1:15 PM
November 18, 2020: Shop Local
From the Editors: On Keeping Our Heads On
by The Editors10/21/2020, 9:30 AM
From the Editors: Local Businesses Aim to Level Up
by The Editors9/23/2020, 9:00 AM
Is life a game of chance or a game of skill? And what happens when the rules change?
From the Editors: Divisibility and indivisibility
by The Editors8/26/2020, 2:45 PM
From the Editors: Signaling for help
Unfortunately, many pleas for help are neither seen nor heard, however visible or loud the distress signals
From the Editors: Pomp and Consequence
June 17 - July 28, 2020 Vol. 10 No. 8
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Surveillance critic Bruce Schneier heads to software startup
Written by Dan Verton
Jan 6, 2014 | FEDSCOOP
Bruce Schneier. (Credit: www.schneier.com)
Noted cryptographer Bruce Schneier, who’s been a vocal and active opponent of the domestic surveillance operations of the U.S. and British governments, has landed a new position as the chief technology officer of Cambridge, Mass.-based software developer Co3 Systems Inc.
Schneier recently announced his departure from BT, where he served as the company’s “security futurologist” since 2006 when BT acquired Counterpane Internet Security Inc., the company Schneier founded. Although his departure from BT came after FedScoop investigated the potential conflict of interest between Schneier’s role as an executive with a government contractor and his public role assisting journalists analyze classified U.S. and U.K. documents stolen by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, BT and Schneier have both maintained his exit had nothing to do with the NSA scandal.
Founded in 2010, Co3 Systems develops incident response management software for cybersecurity incidents and privacy breaches.
“Remember protection, detection and response? Counterpane was about the second. Co3 is about the third,” Schneier said in an email to FedScoop. “It’s something we should have done at Counterpane, and probably would have had BT not purchased us in 2006.”
“Bruce has always been a real visionary and major agent of change in the security market,” said John Bruce, CEO of Co3. “I shared his vision for effective security at Counterpane more than a decade ago, and we’ve always been aligned in the way that we view the world and threats to its stability.”
Schneier and Bruce had worked together previously at Counterpane, and Schneier joined the Co3 advisory board in early 2013.
The company said in a statement Schneier’s role will be to “inform and guide Co3’s technology and business strategy, evangelizing the ‘responsive security’ model that he has advocated for many years.”
Schneier confirmed to FedScoop in December he plans to continue working as a paid consultant to the Guardian newspaper as that organization tries to make sense of the technical details contained in the mountain of classified documents leaked by Snowden.
Although he denied his work with the Guardian led to his ouster at BT, Schneier acknowledged in an email to FedScoop the company “wasn’t always happy with my writings on the topic, but they knew that I am an independent thinker and they didn’t try to muzzle me in any way.”
“I’m pretty excited about this,” Schneier said, referring to his new position at Co3 Systems. “It’s good to be back at a startup.”
-In this Story-
Bruce Schneier, BT, Co3 Systems, Counterpane, Cybersecurity, Department of Defense (DOD), Departments, Edward Snowden, encryption, National Security Agency (NSA), Tech
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BOOK REVIEW: The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security
Miller, Mark. The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, N.J. 2010. 223 pages.
$11.53 at Amazon, $11.69 at Books-A-Million (click on book to purchase).
The timing couldn't be worse, as author Mark Miller points out in his introduction: The largest generation our nation has ever seen is approaching retirement during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Miller, a journalist who covers retirement security issues, has written a much-needed manual packed with strategies for achieving a happy and fulfilling retirement despite the dismal economy.
Aimed primarily at boosting the retirement I.Q.s of baby boomers, The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security's focus is on how approaches to money, work and living can be interwoven and leveraged for retirement security. In the section on money, Miller outlines in easy-to-read fashion the main retirement income options -- from Social Security to income annuities to 401(k)s -- and how to wring the last penny out of each. A chapter on managing nearly inevitable health expenses offers a reality check on what health care will cost in retirement, despite the existence of Medicare. Incorporating the recently enacted health reform law, this chapter also briefly explains COBRA rules for those too young for Medicare and presents a thumbnail guide to long-term care insurance, which Medicare covers hardly at all. (Medicaid planning, however, receives scant attention.) Another chapter examines the impact of taxes in retirement and explains basic strategies for minimizing them, including using a Roth IRA. For those who want to go beyond do-it-yourself planning, there's a helpful chapter on how to interview and select a financial advisor.
More than half of Americans file for Social Security at age 62, before their normal retirement age. The section on work quantifies how working a little longer can brighten one's retirement picture considerably and offers valuable pointers for those competing against younger workers for jobs. The section addresses, for example, which sectors are hiring older workers, e-mail etiquette tips and what LinkedIn is all about and how to use it. (The good news is that the jobless rate for older workers has been lower than average, even during the recession.) There's even a chapter on becoming an entrepreneur after age 50. As Miller points out, this is something about which he has firsthand knowledge. Readers of this intelligent and valuable guide will be among the beneficiaries of Miller's new career.
For a free download of one of the book's chapters -- "Getting the Most from Social Security" click here.
Download Free Chapter of New Post-Crash Retirement Security Guide
A new book gives Baby Boomers the first examination of retirement issues in the new post-crash economy . . ....
The Boomer's Guide to Aging Parents
As members of the Boomer generation become caretakers for their parents, more and more guides are popping up to aid them. Thi...
Next Steps: A Practical Guide to Planning for the Best Half of Your Life
The authors of a nationally syndicated newspaper column on elder law have written a book based on decades of experience help...
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200 houses are mapped for South Side
Valentino Lucio Feb. 13, 2013
The vision for Verano: a mix of residential and commercial space anchored by Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
Photo: Courtesy illustration
In the grand scheme of things, it's not much. But it's a start.
Development firm Verano Land Group is set to build 200 single-family homes on its 2,500-acre master-planned site that encompasses the Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus on the South Side.
It's the first phase of a plan to build more than 2,000 single-family homes there over the next decade, said Brooke Rogers, vice president of business development for the firm.
The one- and two-story houses will range from 1,400 square feet to more than 2,000 square feet. The developer will market about 10 floor plans for homes with two to four bedrooms. Amenities include front porches, garages with rear access and a clubhouse with pool.
The homes will cost $150,000 to $225,000.
Construction hasn't started, but the first homes could come online by December.
“We feel that there's a huge pent-up demand for housing on the South Side,” Rogers said. “And we want to meet the needs of the market in every way that we can.”
She added that growth for the university and the Eagle Ford Shale will be key components of the increasing demand for housing in the area.
The development firm plans to announce other projects this year, but Rogers declined to provide details.
The grander vision for Verano is to create a mix of residential and commercial space, essentially anchored by the university.
A group of investors from Las Vegas acquired the site in 2005 for about $65 million.
The residential component of Verano's plan includes more than 4,000 apartments and condo units. The commercial portion calls for more than 1 million square feet each of office and retail space, and more than 3 million square feet of industrial space.
The firm recently sued three former partners — who managed the project in San Antonio — and a law firm.
The suit alleges the one-time partners donated more land to Texas A&M for a campus — 694 acres, valued at $25 million — than the 400-acre maximum the majority partners said they'd agreed to.
Also, the former managers are accused of setting up a separate entity that stood to receive an infusion of public money for the reimbursement of development costs because the property lies in a tax increment reinvestment zone, according to previous San Antonio Express-News reports.
Rogers declined to comment on the suit, but said the dispute would have no impact on the development plans.
Currently, the university has a single 90,000-square-foot building on campus and two main roads, University Way and Verano Parkway.
vlucio@express-news.net
Valentino Lucio
Follow Valentino on:
vlucio
Valentino Lucio has been a business reporter for the Express-News since 2010. He currently covers commercial and residential real estate.
He joined the Express-News in 2005 and has covered a variety of issues related to technology, criminal justice, religion, city government and the local beer brewing industry.
Valentino is a graduate of the University of the Incarnate Word where he earned a bachelor's degree in organization development.
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How a lucky stray from San Pedro Park found a home
How to honor MLK Day in San Antonio
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Hacker who helped feds walks free
News // U.S.
New York Times May 27, 2014 Updated: May 27, 2014 9:59 p.m.
Federal authorities lauded Hector Xavier Monsegur (center) for his “extraordinary cooperation” in helping the FBI take down an aggressive group of hackers.
Photo: Anthony Lanzilote / New York Times
NEW YORK — A man who helped the authorities infiltrate the shadowy world of computer hacking and disrupt at least 300 cyberattacks on targets that included the U.S. military, courts and private companies was given a greatly reduced sentence Tuesday of time served and was allowed to walk free.
Federal prosecutors had sought leniency for the hacker, Hector Xavier Monsegur, citing what they called his “extraordinary cooperation” in helping the FBI take down an aggressive group of hackers who were part of the collective Anonymous, of which he was a member.
He also helped federal officials strike at its splinter groups, which had taken credit for attacking government and corporate websites.
Monsegur's information, the authorities said, led to the arrest of eight “major co-conspirators,” including Jeremy Hammond, whom the FBI had called its top “cybercriminal target.” He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in November.
Judge Loretta Preska of U.S. District Court gave Monsegur credit for time served; he spent seven months in custody in 2012.
The advisory federal sentencing guidelines had called for a sentence of 21 to 26 years, although prosecutors had asked that he receive a substantially lower sentence, saying he'd been “an extremely valuable and productive cooperator,” whose information was “consistently reliable and complete, corroborated by documents and electronic files, as well as by statements from other witnesses.”
In seeking leniency, the office of Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said Monsegur had begun cooperating immediately after the FBI in confronted him in 2011. Bharara's office also said Monsegur was vilified online by supporters of Anonymous and repeatedly was “approached on the street and threatened or menaced about his cooperation once it became publicly known” in 2012.
There was such concern about the threats that the government relocated Monsegur and certain members of his family, prosecutors told Preska in a memorandum filed last week.
Monsegur, 30, pleaded guilty in August 2011 to 12 counts of hacking conspiracy, identify theft and other charges.
He' been released on bail, but his bail was revoked in May 2012 after he made “unauthorized online postings,” the government has said, without elaborating on what they were.
He served seven months in prison and was again released on bail in Dec. 18, 2012; he has remained free since then.
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7 Jan 2020 Banking and capital markets
13 Aug 2020 AI
Welcome to EY Bahrain (EN)
You are visiting now EY Bahrain (EN)
How to use success to empower others
3 minute read 10 May 2019
EY Global
By EY Global
Multidisciplinary professional services organization
Related topics Growth Workforce Performance improvement
Show resources
Successful consumer interactions demand new, people-focused skill sets that aren’t always learned at universities.
Patrick Kabuya says it was what he learnt from his grandparents that shaped his career and life. He attributes his success to his grandmother who raised him. “I owe all my gratitude for her because she was a strong believer in education and in good values,” he says.
An EY alumnus, Patrick is now Senior Governance Specialist at the World Bank Group. Patrick was drawn to accounting and bookkeeping at a very young age, watching his grandfather crunching numbers at his butchery in Nairobi. “I saw that he focused and concentrated, pouring himself into this book, doing calculations, writing over the margins, and that intrigued me.”
But it wasn’t just the love for accounting and bookkeeping that Patrick got from his grandfather. He learnt that it is important to use your skills to serve others. “Use what you have to reach out to others, and help other people's lives grow," his grandfather would say. And Patrick has lived by those words all his life.
A lifelong member of the EY family
During his nine-year stint at EY, Patrick worked in a variety of sectors and learnt about the various aspects of accounting and business. “I am paying a lot of gratitude to EY for giving me that development opportunity, which equipped me with skills that grounded me and has made me who I am today.” EY is also where the lessons he learnt from his grandfather were reinforced.
Patrick left EY in 2002, but still sees himself as a member of the EY family and continues to engage with partners across the African region. And when he engages with them, he challenges them. “I challenge them saying ‘What are you doing in this country to help to reach out to the youth, who are in the rural areas, who don't have access to become accountants? What are you doing to develop the professional accountancy organization in your country, so it can become a voice? A voice that can reach out, a voice that can have impact, not just in your country, but in the African continent. And I'm happy to say that they never disappoint.’”
Reaching out to others and helping other people's lives grow is the mark of true success.
EY Client Portal
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EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
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ResearchReports
Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index 2019 – Asian edition
Bookmark for later
A focus on Asia Company universe
Chinese Sustainable Meat Declaration
Chinese meat demand & Amazon deforestation
Sustainable proteins in Asia
A focus on Asia
This report is a summary of the Index results for the 28 companies based in Asia. They represent 47% of the companies assessed in the Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index with a combined market capitalisation of $189.75 billion.
Intensive farming in Asia
Intensive farming – which prioritises feed efficiency and rapid weight gain – is now standard practice across all farmed species. It has helped to increase global meat, egg and milk production by 140% since 1961, and make farm animals, led by cattle and pigs, the largest mammalian biomass on the planet. In Asia, production and consumption of animal products has followed the same trend, though the absolute level of animal protein consumption varies across the region. Malaysia, Vietnam and China have seen the highest growth in meat consumption per capita since 1990, at 90%, 197% and 335% respectively. In contrast, meat consumption in India has grown less, up 18% from 1990.
As home to the world’s largest national population (1.4 billion as of 2019), China remains the world’s largest single market for meat. Socioeconomic changes including a growing middle class and urbanisation continue to drive growth in per capita meat consumption; given the scale of China’s demand, this growing appetite has global implications. This is most visible in countries like Brazil, where 74% of soy exports (for animal feed) and 44% of beef exports go to China and Hong Kong. Meat demand in China has exacerbated Brazil’s growing deforestation problem, especially in ecologically sensitive areas such as the Amazon biome and Cerrado savannah.
The rapid growth of the meat sector in many Asian countries has transformed the availability and accessibility of cheap protein sources and resulted in economic and social benefits. However, these benefits have come at a steep cost: the sector is one of the primary drivers of the most serious environmental and social risks facing our planet and society. Global multinationals that breed, grow and process livestock and fish are ultimately on the front lines of managing and mitigating these risks. The lack of scrutiny on the sector has meant that these companies have been allowed to scale their operations, markets and production volumes without clear controls. This creates systemic risks: not just for companies, but also their global food customers, investors, consumers and society at large.
The FAIRR Initiative is working to leverage the power of institutional capital to effect change in the livestock and farmed fish sectors. One of our key research initiatives is the Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index. This ranks 60 of the world’s largest protein producers on their disclosure and management of material environmental and social risks. The Index is the world’s only benchmark dedicated to profiling animal protein producers and showcasing critical gaps and areas of best practice in the sector.
The primary purpose of this Index is to enable and support investor decision-making on the protein sector. We hope investors will integrate the data and analysis on the performance of these global listed assets into their stewardship and investment decisions. The Index is also a benchmark to help animal protein companies assess themselves against their peers in the sector and improve their management and reporting of risks.
This report is a summary of the Index results for the animal protein producer companies headquartered in Asia.
In May 2017, 64 Chinese companies (including six companies featured in the Index) signed the Chinese Sustainable Meat Declaration, launched by the China Meat Association and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Signatories of the declaration made eight commitments, including to avoid deforestation and to reduce GHG emissions and pollution. A progress report was published in September 2019, highlighting progress on implementation for four large meat companies.
Investors should build on this momentum by engaging with signatories to drive implementation. The investment community should also engage meat producers who have yet to join the initiative in order to widen its potential impact.
Asian Index constituents
This Index focuses on listed companies primarily involved in breeding, processing, distributing and selling meat, dairy or aquaculture products. The 28 Asian Index constituents have a combined market capitalisation of $189.75 billion.
Impacts of soy and cattle production
Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef, providing close to 20% of the total global exports. The single largest destination for Brazilian beef is China and Hong Kong, accounting for 38% of the country’s beef exports in 2017.
80% of the Amazon forests cleared since 2014 have been occupied by cattle. Nearly 40% of the country’s cattle herd is in the Amazon region.
Brazil is also one of Asia’s largest soy exporters, most of which goes towards feeding pigs and other livestock. Soy-related deforestation has been significant in southern Brazil, where the Cerrado savannah is located. The escalation of the US-China trade war has exacerbated the negative impacts on deforestation. China’s retaliatory tariffs slapped on US exports have reduced Chinese soy imports from the US. US exports of soy to China dropped by 50% in 2018. To fill the gap, China has increased imports of Brazilian soybean and beef.
Despite this risk, there is a lack of disclosure on how Asian companies in the Index are managing deforestation risks in beef and soy supply chains.
23 companies (82%) do not disclose information on how they manage deforestation risks linked to soy.
Only two Asian companies (Japanese pork producer NH Foods and Charoen Pokphand Foods) disclose deforestation information to CDP.
Charoen Pokphand Foods is the only company that has a commitment that 100% of soy will have zero net deforestation and forest degradation by 2020.
10 out of 13 companies (77%) that source cattle provide no disclosure on how deforestation risks are managed. For companies that do disclose, only high-level information is provided, and no commitments have been made.
How ASF is impacting production and profits
African Swine Fever (ASF) has been described as the “largest ever animal disease outbreak”. Cases were first reported in August 2018 and the disease has continued to spread rapidly in Asia, with the most recent cases confirmed in South Korea and the Philippines. There are fears that ASF will reach the UK within a year and there are calls for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs to actively work with the UK border force to prevent this.
To date, almost five million pigs in Asia have died either directly from the disease or because they have been culled to halt the spread of the disease. However, some projections estimate that the number will be much higher at 150-200 million to be culled or to die from the disease.
Although ASF does not affect humans, it has the potential to spread very rapidly and has devastating socio-economic and public health impacts. The outbreak has resulted in significant financial impacts to Chinese pork producers. The world’s largest pork producer, WH Group, saw a 31.6% drop in operating profit in its fresh pork division for the six months to 30 June 2019 as a result of ASF outbreaks.
The ASF outbreak has shown how a dependency on one commodity or protein type can result in significant volatility for protein producers. It also highlights the wide range of sustainability risks associated with intensification of farming. Animal protein companies should be managing such risks and exploring opportunities to build more resilient business models, for example by diversifying into more sustainable proteins.
Company performance
The 2019 Index demonstrates that the vast majority of companies in Asia have yet to meaningfully address even the most basic sustainability risks. 28 companies, valued at $189.75 billion and with combined revenues of over $133 billion, are ranked as high risk (worst performers) by the Index.
28 Asian companies scored an average of 12% on managing greenhouse gas emissions, as compared with 17% attained by all 60 Index companies.
24 companies (86%), valued at $162 billion and with revenues of $78 billion, are categorised as high risk i.e. there is little to no disclosure on greenhouse gas emissions targets across their operations and supply chain.
None of the companies have a science-based target for emissions reduction.
Almost 90% of Asian Index companies – valued at $178 billion – do not discuss human rights due diligence processes to identify, prevent and remedy human rights abuses in their operations.
No company discusses how it is meeting the UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights, though Thai-based aquaculture producer Thai Union has a dedicated human rights policy stating its commitment to respecting human rights in its value chain.
13 companies (46%) do not disclose data on work-related injuries and fatalities.
Asian Index companies score an average of 23% on working conditions overall, compared to 39% attained by all other non-Asian Index companies.
Water Use and Scarcity
25 companies (96%), valued at $177 billion and with revenues of $105 billion, are categorised as ‘high risk’ including eight producers who provide no disclosure of how they manage water use.
26 meat and dairy companies based in Asia are critically dependent on fresh water sources, yet they scored an average of 2% on managing water scarcity risks in feed supply chains. This is lower than the average of 5% attained by all 50 meat and dairy companies in the Index.
Five meat and dairy companies have set specific time-bound water use targets for their facilities, but the targets aren’t ‘risk differentiated’ i.e. more ambitious in more water-stressed areas.
Water Pollution in Livestock Production
24 companies (92%), valued at $171 billion and with revenues of $99 billion, are categorised as high risk, includingseven producers which provide no disclosure on how they manage fertilizer use and manure.
Meat and dairy companies in the Index scored an average of 14% on managing water pollution, in line with the average of 13% attained by all 50 meat and dairy companies in the Index.
4 companies (54%) demonstrate little to no awareness of the need to manage manure sustainably.
27 companies (96%), valued at $189 billion and with revenues of $132 billion, are categorised as ‘high risk’, including 15 companies (54%) who do not disclose any information on its policy or its commitment on limiting antibiotics use.
24 companies (86%) do not disclose the quantity of antibiotics used.
Asian Index companies scored an average of 8% on their management of antibiotics compared with an average of 50% amongst Index companies headquartered in Europe and Russia.
GFPT is the only Asian company rated ‘low risk’, having committed to not using antibiotics in its poultry business.
26 companies (93%), valued at $188 billion and with revenues of $131 billion, are categorised as ‘high risk’.
Only one company (GFPT) has its operations by a monitored and audited by a third-party farm assurance programme.
Asian Index companies scored an average of 7% on animal welfare compared to 30% attained by all 60 Index companies.
Five out of seven companies with aquaculture businesses (71%) do not discuss the importance of aquatic animal welfare to the company.
16 companies (57%) have at least some facilities certified by programmes recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), which indicates compliance with international food safety standards.
Asian Index companies scored an average of 44% on food safety compared to 48% attained by all other non-Asian Index companies.
WH Group is the only company that disclosed recall events in the reporting period and included details of each recall, impact on consumer, volume of product, location and corrective actions.
Protein diversification
Enthusiasm around sustainable proteins is growing, both globally and in Asia specifically. The Good Food Institute (GFI) estimates that sales of plant-based meat in China reached $910 million in 2018, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 14.2%.
There are several drivers behind the growth in the sustainable proteins market in the region, which mirror those in other regions. These dietary shifts are partly due to changes in consumer preferences from greater awareness around animal welfare, environmental impacts and, more importantly, health concerns. The leading cause of death in China is obesity and cardiovascular disease, which have been linked to higher levels of meat consumption.
These market opportunities haven’t gone unnoticed by international players: JUST, a plant-based egg company valued at $1 billion, plans to open a manufacturing facility in Asia. Impossible Foods has stated that China is its top priority for future international expansion, to target the greatest the number of meat eating consumers. However, global brands will face some competition: the domestic market for plant-based food already has some established names. Though in the past they have targeted religious establishments such as temples and monasteries, they are repositioning their products and marketing to a wider omnivorous audience.
Some Asian Index meat and dairy companies show evidence of diversification, signalling awareness of the opportunities present in the alternative protein market.
Five companies (18%) – Charoen Pokphand Foods, China Mengniu Dairy, Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group, Vietnam Dairy Products, WH group are present in the alternative protein market.
Chinese dairy company China Mengniu has a plant-based protein beverage business under the brand ZhiPuMoFang, which supplies products to Starbucks. This business line accounts for 1.1% of Mengniu’s total revenue (RMB 356.4 million).
These dietary shifts, coupled with the sheer potential market size in Asia, present a huge opportunity to companies and investors. Companies that diversify their product offering early will have first-mover advantage in this growing market.
Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index 2019
Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index 2019 – LATAM Edition
The next decade looks set to be the most disruptive the animal protein industry has ever seen. To safeguard returns, investors will need to assess…
3rd Sep 2019 | faaziadam
This report is a summary of the Index results for nine companies based in Latin America. They represent 9 (15%) of the 60 Index…
12th Nov 2019 | faaziadam
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Why Haas are confident they'll right the wrongs of 2019 in 2020
Magnussen
“Very, very good.” That was Kevin Magnussen’s description of Haas’ VF-19 after he guided the black and gold machine to sixth in the season opening Australian Grand Prix last year…
But that result proved to be a false dawn. The car became “bloody undriveable” as Romain Grosjean once put it and they ended up ninth of 10 teams in the standings. Their boss Guenther Steiner, however, remains optimistic that last year was just a blip.
“We just went wrong in the development of the car,” says Steiner, as we chat in the Haas hospitality unit. Haas battled for fourth with Renault for most of 2018 before ending up fifth, a best-ever result for the team who joined the grid in 2016 – but one which raised hopes for 2019.
DRIVER MARKET: Hamilton and Ricciardo take control of the 2021 F1 merry-go-round
Magnussen's P6 in Australia both flattered – and deceived!
Their times in 2019 pre-season testing at a cold Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya were impressive, and suggested they would once again compete at the head of the midfield. Australia was encouraging, with Magnussen taking sixth in cool conditions. But when things heated up in Bahrain, the car dropped down the field like a lead balloon.
Things didn’t improve thereafter but they held out hope that an update set for Spain would do the trick, as their data initially suggested it would. Magnussen and Grosjean didn’t like the new package, though; they felt it was worse, and the data suggested it was too – but the car was reasonably quick so the team opted to push on. This was a mistake.
READ MORE: We should have listened to the drivers more amid struggles, admit Haas
If we had been brave in Barcelona, we wouldn't have been where we are now
Guenther Steiner
“We have to be more critical of ourselves,” concedes Steiner. “When we brought the upgrade to Barcelona, the drivers weren’t sure about it. No one was brave enough to say ‘this doesn't work’ because the car was quick. The data didn't look good, but the car was quick. So what do you believe? The good things, of course. It's the wrong thing to do. Barcelona is a special circuit, which our car works very well on. We pushed on and once we realised we were in the wrong direction, it was too late... If we had been brave in Barcelona, we wouldn't have been where we are now.”
In qualifying trim, the car was a contender for Q3 but in the race, a lack of rear downforce, particularly in the slow-speed corners, sent them spiraling backwards. It was a depressingly common occurrence – and Haas couldn’t work out why.
Eventually, they decided to revert back to the Melbourne-spec – and they ended up with that car with small modifications at the final race of the season, something unheard of F1. But the good news was that they had understood what had gone wrong.
READ MORE: Haas’s 2019 struggles have given me strength, says Magnussen
The VF-19 that appeared in Abu Dhabi was a lightly modified version of the one the team ran in Melbourne
The aerodynamic concept was flawed. That, coupled with a lack of correlation between CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and wind tunnel data and the track, compounded the problem. Work set about focusing on making sure this was corrected for the following season, with the remainder of 2019 nothing more than an extended test session for the following campaign.
“It's a numbers game,” says Steiner. “I'm very confident that we will be back to where we were in 2018, or very similar [in 2020]. You can never say, as the other teams have a say as well. But we went back to work the way we worked before and that gives me the confidence we can get it done.”
Haas ended up ninth in 2019, ahead of only Williams, with just 28 points, their lowest haul since they entered the sport in 2016. It ended an improving run of form, which had seen them score 29, 47 and 93 points respectively in the preceding three years.
The bottom half of the 2019 constructors' fight
6 Toro Rosso 85
7 Racing Point 73
8 Alfa Romeo Racing 57
9 Haas F1 Team 28
10 Williams 1
That will hurt the team’s morale, but also their finances, as a drop of four places in the constructors’ championship brings a reduced share of the revenues. Add in the loss of title sponsor Rich Energy and 2019 was a costly season. They had been in the running to sign Orlen – and Robert Kubica as a development driver for this year – which would have delivered a healthy financial boost and supplemented owner Gene Haas’ sizeable investment. But ultimately, they lost out to Alfa Romeo.
“It's a big loss,” admits Steiner. “But we just need to try and get over it and find solutions for the team, be even more efficient than then we are already and do our best to get out of the hole.”
READ MORE: 10 things every F1 fan should be excited for in 2020
The continued Magnussen/Grosjean partnership gives the team stability
They will at least enter 2020 with stability in their drivers, with Grosjean and Magnussen staying for the fourth and third year respectively. With so much work to do on the car, Steiner and Haas say they stuck with what they had to avoid adding more variables to the pot. That said, it is believed that had Nico Hulkenberg fancied a one-year deal, rather than pushing for two, it is a strong possibility he would have partnered Magnussen.
READ MORE: Why Haas chose to stick rather than twist with 2020 driver line-up
2019 might have been a difficult campaign, but Steiner feels it was a one-off. The climb up is slower and tougher than the drop down, so it’s going to be a challenge. But they’ve already shown the resilience needed to survive in F1. Let’s see if it pays off.
Leclerc proved team leader credentials with ‘important’ 2020 season, says Binotto
Verstappen says change of mindset helped him overcome 2020 title frustrations
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US President-elect Joe Biden twists ankle while playing with his dog
''Initial X-rays are reassuring that there is no obvious fracture, and he will be getting an additional CT for more detailed imaging,'' Dr Kevin O'Connor said.
Biden would be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on January 20 next. (File photo: Reuters)
US President-elect Joe Biden has sustained a sprain to his right foot while playing with his dog, officials said Sunday.
”Initial X-rays are reassuring that there is no obvious fracture, and he will be getting an additional CT for more detailed imaging,” Dr Kevin O’Connor said.
Donald Trump to make Mar-a-Lago estate his permanent home after leaving White House
Biden twisted his ankle on Saturday when he slipped while playing with his dog Major. The President-elect was examined by an orthopedist ‘out of an abundance of caution’.
In order to avoid disrupting regularly scheduled appointments on Monday, arrangements were made for President-elect Biden to receive an x-ray and then an additional CT Sunday afternoon, with the expected delays involved when opening closed offices and giving personnel time to set up, a Biden spokesperson said.
Biden would be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on January 20 next. At 78, he would be the oldest person to be sworn in as the US president.
Biden’s last health record was released in December 2019 by Dr O’Connor, an associate professor of Medicine at George Washington University.
The physician said, ”Biden is ‘healthy, vigorous’ and ‘fit’ to be the president. Biden does not use tobacco or drink alcohol and exercises five days a week. He is taking blood thinners and medication for acid reflux, cholesterol, and seasonal allergies, said the report.
”Biden did spend a good deal of time in the sun in his youth. He has had several localized, non-melanoma skin cancers removed with Mohs surgery. These lesions were completely excised, with clear margins. He continues to receive close dermatologic surveillance,” it said.
The Bidens adopted Major in 2018, and acquired their first dog, Champ, after the 2008 election.
US President-elect Joe Biden twists ankle while playing with his dog
1US Inauguration: Joe Biden sworn in as 46th US President, Kamala Harris creates history as first-ever female VP
2Donald Trump leaves White House, skips Biden’s inauguration ceremony
3Donald Trump to make Mar-a-Lago estate his permanent home after leaving White House
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STDs reach an all-time high in California
File photo (Flickr / tmarsee530)
SACRAMENTO, CA (FOX 11) - Rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to increase in California, according to new statistics from the California Department of Public Health.
These diseases are reportable to the state and local health departments. The data are presented in CDPH's 2016 STD Annual Report: a summary can also be found on the CDPH's website.
Over a quarter million cases of STDs were reported in 2016, a 40% increase compared to five years ago including, 198,503 cases of chlamydia, 64,677 of gonorrhea, and 11,222 of early syphilis.
Particularly concerning to health officials, 207 cases of congenital syphilis were reported. If not caught early, syphilis during pregnancy can result in congenital syphilis leading to stillbirth or permanent, lifelong disabilities. Syphilis can also cause permanent loss of vision, hearing and other neurologic problems in adults. If left untreated, STDs can increase the risk of HIV infection and lead to lifelong reproductive health problems.
"The number of reported STDs in California is increasing at a concerning rate," said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. "This is the third year in a row that we have seen increases in chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis."
These three diseases can be prevented by consistent use of condoms, and they can be cured with antibiotics, so regular testing and treatment is very important, even for people who have no symptoms.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea rates are highest among people under age 30. Rates of chlamydia are highest among young women, whereas males account for the majority of syphilis and gonorrhea cases.
Regular screening for STDs is recommended for people who are sexually active. STD services also provide opportunities for further prevention of HIV through testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.
"All Californians need to know how to protect themselves and their partners," said Smith. "Getting tested regularly is one of the most important steps."
A directory of where to get tested can be found at this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage.
Copyright 2017 FOX 11 Los Angeles : Download our mobile app for breaking news alerts or to watch FOX 11 News | Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Country Club Hills woman charged with looting, burglary in Gold Coast
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Seahawks officially put Beast Mode into retirement mode
BY foxsports • May 5, 2016
Beast Mode is in retirement mode.
The Seattle Seahawks placed running back Marshawn Lynch on the NFL's reserve/retired list Thursday, making official what was implied in February when Lynch indicated he was ready to end his football career.
The star running back was placed on the list Thursday. It was a procedural step, but one that needed to be taken to make Lynch's intended retirement official.
Lynch stole attention from the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl in February when he posted a picture on Twitter with a pair of green football cleats hanging from a telephone or electrical wire. His agent confirmed a day later that Lynch intended to retire.
✌? pic.twitter.com/wesip4IhOR
— Shawn Lynch (@MoneyLynch) February 8, 2016
Seattle made a series of moves this offseason that indicated the running back who led the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title was ready to step away, including picking three running backs in the NFL draft last week. Lynch would have been an $11.5 million cap hit if he remained on Seattle's roster for the 2016 season. The Seahawks will save $6.5 million with Lynch's retirement.
Lynch has spent the offseason promoting his clothing line, traveling to Egypt to participant in a football camp and ride camels, and doing relief work in Haiti. Basically doing everything but get ready for the upcoming NFL season.
When Lynch was brought to Seattle early in the 2010 season, he was acquired because the Seahawks desperately needed a running back. What he ended up providing was an attitude and style that became the foundation for bringing that first Super Bowl title to the franchise.
And for that, Lynch will forever hold a special place with the Seahawks. He may have been more of a headache off the field than anyone let on during his time in Seattle, but he'll ultimately be lauded as the running back that got the Seahawks to a place they had never been.
Lynch will step aside after nine seasons in the league. Six of those came in Seattle, where he played in the postseason five times. He's second all-time in Seattle history for rushing touchdowns and fourth in yards rushing. He tied for the NFL lead in rushing touchdowns in 2013 and 2014 and is No. 8 all-time in total yards rushing during the postseason. He was an All-Pro, a Pro Bowl selection, and perhaps the most revered Seahawks player in the opinion of their fans.
Lynch concluded his career with 9,112 yards rushing and 74 touchdowns in the regular season, and another nine touchdowns in the postseason. He caused seismic activity with his tackle-shedding run against New Orleans in the 2010 playoffs and was rarely brought down by just one defender.
Seahawks place RB @moneylynch on reserve/retired list. #ThankYouBeastMode
READ [https://t.co/YNXo6E3ZCc]https://t.co/DWoAydjDdF
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 5, 2016
"Since I've been here he's been the heart and soul, the engine of our offense. A vocal leader. A great influence and one of the best teammates I've ever had," Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin said last month of Lynch. "I can't say enough about him."
Along with what Lynch provided on the field came his peculiarities when he wasn't carrying the ball. His contract disputes. His avoidance of the media. His memorable performances during two Super Bowl weeks that became as much a topic as the game itself: "I'm just here so I won't get fined." And during his injury-filled final season, ruling himself out of Seattle's NFC wild-card game at Minnesota just minutes before the team left for the airport.
There was almost certainly going to be a separation between Lynch and the Seahawks after the 2015 season for financial and evolutionary reasons. Seattle was always going to become Russell Wilson's team moving forward — the nature of a quarterback with a long-term contract agreement — and Wilson's performance last season showed the evolution was in process.
But Lynch's will always be responsible for setting the foundation for what coach Pete Carroll wanted to create with the Seahawks.
"He's a dog. His whole demeanor," Seattle safety Earl Thomas said before Super Bowl 49. "He's a man (among) boys out there."
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A Nation Must Think Before it Acts Can China Help GUAM Diversify Away from Russia?
Black Sea Strategy Papers
Can China Help GUAM Diversify Away from Russia?
Qiyang Niu
Eurasia Program
Home / Articles / Can China Help GUAM Diversify Away from Russia?
Map of GUAM Members (Source: Valdemar_AT/WikiMedia Commons)
Established in 1997, GUAM—a platform named after its members Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova and originally created to improve multilateral collaboration between member states—is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. Despite this milestone year, the organization now lacks a clear purpose. The group was initiated with much support from the U.S., with the aim of establishing an institution to bring together countries that wanted a counterbalance to Russian influence and a guarantee of geopolitical pluralism in the post-Soviet space.
Despite U.S. support, GUAM has languished in recent years. Some of its key collaboration areas, such as the rule of law and regional stability, are now being contradicted by member states. For instance, the political situation in Azerbaijan, which is increasingly autocratic, directly violates GUAM’s democratic principles. Meanwhile, the organization has not proven an effective defense against Russia. For example, during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, Georgia was blockaded by Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, whose base was in Sevastopol, on the territory of GUAM member Ukraine.
Since 2008, GUAM has been generally inactive. The first high-level GUAM meeting since 2008 did not occur until 2017. Even the symbolic meetings of foreign ministers between GUAM and the U.S., once held annually throughout the 2000s, have stopped.
What explains this inactivity? The biggest issue is that GUAM, as an organization, lacks clear common political ground. Its member states have divergent political interests, particularly with regard to Russia. For instance, Moldovan leadership has wavered between the West and Russia. Its former president, Vladimir Voronin, is believed to have skipped the 2008 summit to win Russia’s support. In April 2017, Moldova’s President Igor Dodon sought to obtain an observer status in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, which would seem to contradict the purpose of GUAM. Likewise, Azerbaijan is also developing closer relations with Russia because of its economic downturn and cooling relations with the EU and the U.S. This lack of common political ground does not just explain GUAM’s internal inaction; it has also prevented GUAM from building ties with the U.S., which has resulted in diminishing interest from Washington.
As GUAM became inactive and U.S. support cooled, China began to show its ambition in broader Eurasia. In September 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping initiated the “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) across Eurasia. GUAM not only falls within the Silk Road Economic Belt, but it also draws China’s attention with its Trans-Caspian potential.
What is China Doing in the Region?
Under the banner of its OBOR theme, Beijing is promoting economic ties as well as deepening geopolitical connections with the GUAM states.
Although not the largest economy in GUAM, Georgia attracts most of China’s attention. In recent years, China’s trade volume and investment in Georgia dramatically increased. In 2014, China became the third largest trade partner and the largest investor in Georgia. In 2016, China became the third largest importer of Georgian wine—one of the major exports of Georgia. Chinese companies have become active in every industry from real estate to mining, and have started to move into the tourism sector. In 2015, China and Georgia started negotiating the China-Georgia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), China’s first such agreement in Eurasia. The two countries signed the agreement on May 13, 2017, and it is scheduled to go into force over the next year. This FTA will likely boost bilateral trade to new heights.
One Belt, One Road Map (Source: Xxjkingdom/WikiMedia Commons)
Before the war in Ukraine and China’s launch of OBOR, Ukraine’s economic ties with China were not particularly robust. From 2005 to 2012, China hardly entered top ten destinations of Ukrainian exports. With the Ukrainian crisis, however, China has been on the list of top four export destinations for every year since 2013. Relations have become stronger, as Kyiv looks to diversify its economic ties. In 2015, China became the largest consumer of Ukrainian agricultural products, and Ukraine overtook the U.S. as China’s biggest supplier of corn. In 2016, China was the second biggest destination for Ukrainian exports. This fact is especially important in light of Ukraine’s loss of a big portion of its traditional markets—the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries—because of Russia’s transport ban on Ukraine in January 2016. With China’s support, however, Ukraine, on January 15, 2016, launched its pilot freight train to China, bypassing Russia via Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan as a continuation of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). This new route has offered Kyiv a compelling strategic alternative to connect with Asia and bypass the Russian ban.
Compared to Georgia and Ukraine, Azerbaijan has weaker economic ties with China. Nevertheless, the two sides have actively developed economic relations. By the end of 2015, China, for the first time, became one of the top ten trade partners of Azerbaijan. From late 2015 to mid-2016, within half a year, China and Azerbaijan had a series of senior-level official visits involving the Azerbaijani president and two Chinese politburo members (including one Standing Committee member). Such frequency is rarely observed between China and any other Eastern European country. During the visit of Zhang Gaoli, China’s first vice prime minister, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), and China National Petroleum Corporation signed an agreement to cooperate in the oil, gas, and petrochemical spheres. Particular attention was also paid to the cooperation in transport and logistics, particularly in the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which will link the railways of China and Europe. In addition to the achievements of governmental interaction, in December 2016, the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved a $600 million loan—the largest AIIB loan so far—to finance the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) from Azerbaijan through Georgia to Turkey.
Of all the GUAM states, Moldova has the most limited relations with China. The size of Moldovan exports to China is quite small, and Moldovan imports from China have been decreasing. Nevertheless, the latest report by Alibaba Group, China’s largest e-commerce company, published in April 2017, shows that Moldova ranks seventh in the E-Commerce Connectivity Index (ECI) among 65 countries along OBOR. The index indicates how products are traded between China and partner countries through e-commerce. Regarding China-Moldova export e-commerce connectivity, Moldova ranks fifth, which implies that Moldova-China economic ties have a strong base from which to grow.
Geopolitical Implications for the GUAM Region
Given these developments, there is no doubt that China’s activities in the region are economically benefitting GUAM states as well as China itself. For all sides, the activities involving OBOR provide significant opportunities for opening new markets, increasing trade, and developing investments. Compared with the fruitful cooperation with Georgia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan, Chinese cooperation with Moldova is lagging behind. But as a part of GUAM, Moldova could still enjoy much of China’s support, such as the expansion of TITR.
In terms of geopolitics and security, the GUAM states are likely to benefit even more if they continue welcoming China’s activities in the region. Currently, all of the GUAM states have either frozen or ongoing conflicts with different levels of Russian intervention. Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Ukraine’s Crimea and Donbas, Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh, and Moldova’s Transnistria are all either under de facto Russian control or influenced by Russian presence. China has not recognized any of the separatist movements in this region. In both the 2008 Russo-Georgian war and the 2014 Ukrainian crisis, Beijing abstained from voting on the UN Security Council resolutions, demonstrating support for territorial integrity and sovereignty. Although China is unlikely to directly counteract Russia’s activities in the region, a more engaged China will reduce GUAM states’ sense of threat from Russia, especially since the continuous Russia-West confrontations leave Russia no choice but to stay close to China. In other words, the closer that the GUAM states get with China, the safer they are from Russia because they will have more diversified economic relations.
What Does This Mean for Russia and the United States?
While it is true that China’s closer ties with the GUAM states will decrease Moscow’s advantage in the region, this advantage is more likely a temporary one than a permanent one. After all, the GUAM-Russian frozen conflicts continue to exist. Moreover, Russia’s influence will remain significant, even if China plays a bigger role. Even when Beijing offers Kyiv a new transit route to avoid Moscow’s transit ban, this is more of a political decision than a realistic alternative for Ukrainian exports because of the high cost. Although something is better than nothing, this alternative route, at least in the short term, does not bring substantial change to the situation. Politically, while China’s engagement offers GUAM a way to be safer from Russian aggression, some countries may not choose to take the offer. For instance, Moldova and Azerbaijan are developing closer relations with Russia despite their respective disputes with it in Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh. Against this backdrop, China’s activities can do little to change the big picture of the region’s political dynamics in the near future.
However, China’s enhanced presence in the GUAM states still provides challenges for Russia. Moscow should worry that China’s presence will create new ground for cooperation among the GUAM states. Although Beijing is not able to create a political commonality for GUAM, with Beijing’s active participation, GUAM’s economic basis is being injected with fresh impetus. At its latest 2017 meeting, GUAM members decided to embrace a more economic agenda and focus primarily on TITR and a free trade agreement among GUAM member states. This common economic ground will likely expand with the development of China-backed regional projects, such as TITR and TANAP. With the development of a GUAM FTA and with the activation of the China-Georgia FTA, the integration of the region’s economy will increase.
In fact, the necessity of reconsidering U.S. strategy in the South Caucasus was already confronted in 2010, which indicates that the U.S. was not getting enough control on GUAM well before China’s Eurasia plan started. Moreover, the U.S. aim of using GUAM to counterbalance Russia has become even less effective in recent years as Azerbaijan got closer with Russia and Moldova elected a pro-Russian president. Washington probably needs to accelerate its change of strategy before worrying about Beijing’s activities. Barring a radical shift in the United States’ regional strategy, Beijing’s presence in GUAM is favorable to Washington’s geopolitical interests: a counterbalance against Russian influence. It may not be the ideal option for the U.S. as no state wants to see an organization that it helped create fall under another country’s influence. But the U.S. has few other good options. Confronting China in the GUAM region would only benefit Russia. Besides, the U.S. cannot compete economically with Russia and China in the region. Even its once sizeable oil imports from Azerbaijan have dropped substantially in recent years.
Although GUAM states will remain geopolitically engaged with the U.S. and Russia, Beijing will help reunify the flailing GUAM organization. This developing situation will allow GUAM countries to be more independent from Moscow and Washington, while closer to Beijing. If Beijing eventually creates a “4+1” platform with GUAM resembling its “16+1 Forum” with Central Eastern European countries, concern from Washington and Moscow may increase. But just like Beijing’s OBOR and AIIB, with new developments in GUAM-China relations, current international political conditions leave Moscow no choice but to comply fully. Even Washington possesses no efficient ways to curb Beijing in Eurasia. Indeed, in May 2017, President Trump sent a senior-level delegation to attend Beijing’s first OBOR forum—an action the Obama administration would have never taken. But the once tough-on-China Trump has no choice but to recognize China’s growing role in the Black Sea region.
Qiyang Niu is a former intern at EastWest Institute and UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS.
What Will Moldovan Politics Look Like in 2017?
This month marks the launch of the Moldova Monthly, a new publication series from the Eurasia Program at the Foreign […]
China’s Strategy in the Caucasus
When leaders of Azerbaijan and Georgia took part in a session titled “The Silk Road Effect” at the 2017 World […]
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Galway City Walking Tours
WALK HOME
WALK WITH BRIAN
GALWAY TOURS
FIRESIDE TOURS
WALKS BLOG
Galway Walking Tours
A truly entertaining and engaging way to see and experience the history and culture of Galway
Walking Tours of Galway - Galway Walking Tours
Galway Walking Tour Lynch Window
The infamous Lynch Window in Galway is reputed to be where the Mayor of Galway hanged his son for murder. Whether true or not, the story will raise the hair on the back of your neck...eerie!
The Famine, A Galway City Tour Story
The Great Hunger, or The Famine, was caused by the failure of the potato crop and exacerbated by the actions of an anti-catholic and anti-poor British administration unduly effected the younger and older people in the population. They died in their millions from starvation and disease. Galway was not excepted and by 1847 dozens of people were starving to death or dying of disease each day in Galway City. Emigration was the only escape for millions of poor Irish
O'Connor's Pub Fireside Tour
The Fireside tour of O'Connor's Pub in Salthill, Galway is the shortest walking tour of Ireland, just 50 feet, and includes a drink and a 1 hour invitation to a conversation in one of the most interesting pubs in Ireland
Galway Walking Tour, Blakes Castle
Blakes castle was one of the tower houses that guarded the entrances to the city. In Blakes castle ships captains had their ships papers checked and waited to meet the Galway traders with whom trade was being done. Later on, after the Cromwellian and Williamite Wars Blakes Castle was used as Galway's Prison. One of the first prisoners was one of the Blake family who commanded the Galway garrison in 1692.
Galway Hookers - Galway Tour
The Galway Hooker was a large sturdy working boat, primarily used in carriage of turf, seaweed, animals and people. Several Hookers have sailed to America, and many worked off Newfoundland fishing for Cod. they were the working boat of Galway Bay and could hold up to 100 passengers, or 50 sheep, or 20 cattle, or a huge load of turf or seaweed. Used for fishing too, they look beautiful plying the bay of a summers evening
Galway Walking Tour, Norman Abbey
The Vikings raided abbeys and monasteries all around Ireland. they came to Galway in 870 ad and raided the abbey at Annaghdown, completely surprising the monks and the O'Flahertys who were the local lords. The vikings were so happy that thought they would come back again for a second dip the following year. This time the O'Flahertys were waiting for them and killed everyone on the two viking longboats. Once bitten twice shy!
Galway Walking Tours - My Favourite Quote; "I bring to you today the greetings of the people of Galway, New York; Dublin, New Hampshire; the people of Killarney, West Virginia; Kilkenny, Minnesota; the people of Limerick, Maine; and the people of Shamrock, Texas." JFK's speech in Galway, June 1963
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Harry Potter Png
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Harry Potter is a British-American film series which have the same name and the plots the novels by authored by J. K. Rowling. The series is distributed by Warner Bros. and consists of eight fantasy films, beginning with Harry Potter and additionally the substance (2001) and culminating with Harry Potter and additionally the Deathly Hallows (2011). A product prequel series which can embrace five films started with Fantastic Beasts and where to go looking out them (2016), marking the beginning of the Wizarding World shared media franchise.
The series was primarily created by David Heyman, and stars Daniel Radcliffe, blue blood Grint, and Emma Watson as a result of the three leading characters: Harry Potter, Chad Weasley, and Hermione farmer. Four directors worked on the series: Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, transducer Newell, and David Yates. Archangel Goldenberg wrote the book for Harry Potter and additionally the Order of the Phoenix (2007), whereas the remaining films had their screenplays written by Steve Kloves. Production materialized over ten years, with the foremost story arc following Harry Potter's quest to beat his arch-enemy, Lord Voldemort.
Harry Potter and additionally the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final novel among the series, was made-to-order into two feature-length parts. Four of the series' eight films area unit among the fifty highest-grossing films of all time, with Harry Potter and additionally the Deathly Hallows is one of the highest-grossing films among the series and one all told thirty-six films to gross over $1 billion, ranking at selection eleven. Whereas not inflation adjustment, it is the third highest-grossing film series with $7.7 billion in worldwide receipts.
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BY Paul Teasdale in In Frame, In Focus | 03 MAY 16
In Frame, In Focus
An interview with Jacob Proctor and Fabian Schöneich, advisors to Frame and Focus
BY Paul Teasdale in In Frame, In Focus | 03 MAY 16
Curators Jacob Proctor and Fabian Schöneich give an insight into the selection process for Frame and Focus and what they have been noticing about young galleries and artists in their research for the fair. The Frame section features 18 galleries, founded in or after 2009, presenting solo projects, while the Focus section features 32 galleries, founded in or after 2004, showing either one-, two-person or three-person presentations.
Jacin Giordano, Arrow Heads #6 (wall installation), 2016, dimensions variable. Courtesy: the artist and Galerie Sultana, Paris
Paul Teasdale Fabian and Jacob, you’re both curators at institutions connected to schools: Portikus to the Städelschule in Frankfurt, and the Neubauer Collegium to a research institute at the University of Chicago respectively. Can you explain your involvement with the Frame and Focus sections?
Fabian Schöneich We advise on Frame and Focus, helping the Frieze New York committee to decide which galleries to include in those sections. It’s important to mention that Frame and Focus are not curated. We’re not commissioning as such, rather we’re helping the committee to select from the proposals they receive. At the end of the day it’s a fair, so it about the galleries, their programmes and their artists.
Jacob focuses on galleries in the Americas and parts of Europe and Asia, and I cover Europe, the Middle East, Africa and some of Asia too. We both travel a lot and look out for the young galleries that are relevant in their local or regional context, in the landscape they’re active in, and also galleries who we feel are interesting and strong enough to be presented within the context of an art fair.
Jacob Proctor I think it’s about striking a balance of identifying galleries that have an energy and are setting the agenda in their own scene, but who also have international ambitions. It’s not necessarily an easy thing to do, to come to an international art fair and stand out.
FS As well as advising the Fair committee on the galleries who submit applications, we also encourage galleries who we personally feel are strong to apply. With them we discuss the artists they might consider applying with, and especially with younger galleries to think about the concept they might come up with that works for both the gallery and for Frieze.
Ryoko Aoki, Bag, No. 1, 2015, acrylic on cloth, 32.5 x 21 cm. Courtesy: the artist and Take Ninagawa, Tokyo
JP Frame is really proposal driven, it’s the specific projects being proposed, whereas Focus is a little more about the galleries themselves and their programme more generally. In both cases we’re often discussing with those galleries ahead of time what kind of proposal makes sense.
PT When do you start to see the overview of the projects and artists being presented and how they all fit together in their respective sections?
JP We have an idea throughout the process but really it comes together in the layout of each section.
FS It’s different to the Spotlight section. Spotlight, the section dedicated to solo historical presentations, is put together thinking more about the entire section. The way we deal with Focus and Frame is to start with very strong individual presentations, then arrange it so that the individual projects function together. It’s a bit like putting together a group show: making sure each participating artist has the space and context to present their work in the best possible way.
PT Each gallery is trying to sell their own artists’ work, and wants their booth to stand out, but it must make a huge difference for all participating when the section looks good as a whole.
JP Our experience as curators definitely helps in the planning. We’re thinking about how to make works amplify each other rather than cancel each other out. We are trying to make the sections look, if not necessarily coherent, then at least cohesive as a grouping. Some projects are very good neighbours and help each other and others can be quite the opposite. That’s where having the overview helps as we can look at the plans and the proposals and anticipate where to place galleries.
Débora Bolsoni, Pipocas, 2008, ceramic, dimensions variable. Courtesy: the artist and Jacqueline Martins, São Paulo
PT As part of your research, and on your travels, have you noticed a difference in the way that young galleries are working now as opposed to, say, a decade ago?
FS It’s interesting, I’ve definitely noticed that young galleries are working on a highly professional level right from the beginning. But its also a trickier climate for young galleries to be starting out in now compared with ten years ago when the conditions were a bit more welcoming for younger galleries and young artists.
JP I also think there’s a geographical component to it. In cities where the financial stakes are maybe a little lower, there is a bit more room for experimental spaces to grow, and then become commercial spaces – you see that in Berlin, for example. Both of the galleries in Frame from Chicago essentially started out as artist-run project spaces and only recently made the transition to becoming more commercial ventures. I think there’s more room for that in a city like Chicago or Berlin. Los Angeles, which used to be like that, feels like it may be going the other way. As Fabian says, galleries are coming into it already having a very high level of professionalism.
PT Do you feel young artists are also becoming more professionalized in their approach?
JP I think that the internationalization of art schools and the increased communication about what is being exhibited, and also seen online, has had a huge impact. But I think that just because an artist thinks they have a fully articulated practice or project doesn’t mean that it actually is. In a lot of MFA programmes, artists are not necessarily learning how to make things, they’re learning how articulate what they’re trying to do. It’s not necessarily a new development, but I think it’s reflective of a huge shift in the way that art schools function.
Liu Shiyuan, You Can Add Anything To This, 2015, cotton, thread and black wood frame, 24 x 34 x 4 cm. Courtesy the artist and Leo Xu Projects, Shanghai
FS I’ve seen the same development. It’s true that schools have something to do with it. It’s also something to do with the increased speed over recent years at which art circulates. A lot of artists are doing a lot of things very fast because of their increased visibility and the danger is that they get quite strategic and controlling about how they want their work to be perceived – but it varies from case to case.
PT Perhaps because of the global connectivity of contemporary art today, it seems to me there’s a yearning for more localized community networks. Is that something you’ve noticed?
FS I don’t think it’s a new thing necessarily. You’ve always had artists working together and sharing ideas. Group Material consisted of a set of individuals, each with their own practice, who made this other kind of work as a group. The Kitchen in New York wasn’t just a space but also a community. You’ve had these developments in a variety of communities and cities. I think the difference now is that these groups are very professional in promoting their work as strong community projects.
JP I think in a way it’s just more visible as a result of the speed of everything in the art world now. Whereas 15 or 20 years ago we might not have been aware in New York or London about what’s going on in Vilnius or Buenos Aires or Zurich. Part of it’s the ease of travel but it’s also to do with the ease of distribution and the interaction of local scenes with each other. But these things have always happened. Think about the way that conceptual art spread and the relationship between European and American conceptual artists in the late ’60s and ’70s. That was very much a community where everybody knew everybody else.
FS I would also question the idea that there really is a strong community as such. Artists work collaboratively together but it doesn’t mean everybody is specifically standing behind a project or believes they are part of a community. It’s more of a networking relationship.
Igshaan Adams, Surah al-kafiroon II (part two), 2016, woven nylon rope, beads and string, 1.4 x 1.8 m. Courtesy: the artist and blank projects, Cape Town
JP It’s like a physical manifestation of a social network, with the same kinds of loose connectivity.
PT Have you noticed any trends in the artists and works that galleries have been proposing to bring this year?
FS I’ve noticed some galleries are bringing artists with more of an interpretative approach to sculpture, using lighter more natural materials. It’s evident in galleries from different continents and artists of different generations too, but it seems very contemporary. These artists are using a lot of things already well discussed but are taking a fresh interpretative approach. It’s almost like a Biedermeier revival but not quite so conservative!
JP It’s not so different from larger trends in contemporary art, but I’m noticing experimentation with new kinds of production technologies and also new ways of dealing with identity. Not in a ’90s “identity politics” way but more a concern with articulating the fluidity of gender identity. It’s definitely something that can be felt in a number of projects this year, both by young artists but also historical work that people are now becoming interested in.
PT Is there anything you’re especially excited about in this year’s Frame and Focus sections?
JP In both sections there’s a nice geographical mix. In Frame there’s a diversity of approaches without it feeling cacophonous. Sometimes you’ll go to an art fair and you can spot the three things that you have to include to be legible as contemporary art that year. I think we’ve managed to avoid that. There’s very little ticking of boxes this year.
PT Looking through the list of artists and galleries there’s some I know about but also a lot I don’t, so for me that’s intriguing. Do you still find proposals and artists and galleries that surprise you?
FS For me there are a lot of surprises.
Josh Brand, Untitled, 2012, unique c-type print, ink, dyes and mixed media, 15 x 10 cm. Courtesy: the artist, MISAKO & ROSEN, Tokyo, and Herald St, London
JP I think if you combine our knowledge bases we cover a lot of ground but its always nice when someone throws you a curve ball. Maybe it’s a space that you know applying with an artist that they’ve just started working with …
FS Or it’s an artist you know but a new project or new group of work. It’s the same with galleries too. Galleries that you know and trust can suddenly surprise you with a new artist or a new direction.
PT Can we expect many experimental projects?
JP I think there are some more experimental presentations this year. It’s important to have those positions. Obviously it’s a balance but it’s important to be able to support those more ambitious proposals when you get them.
PT What are you most looking forward to seeing?
FS I’m curious to see how some galleries are received in New York. For example, it’s the first time for Truth and Consequences from Geneva. I think it’s a super interesting young gallery. It’s a Swiss gallery but it comes from the French part of Switzerland that’s not really part of the Zurich/Basel scene that’s been so visible over the last few years, and they’re bringing two really interesting artists, Dewar & Gicquel, who have also not had much exposure in New York. I’m curious to see how they are received. It’s also the same for Jan Kaps, a young and ambitious gallery from Cologne, who is building up a programme of artists that not many other galleries work with. It will be fascinating to see how that will work next to galleries like Regards from Chicago, another first time participant. There are some interesting combinations.
JP I’m really happy with how many first time exhibitors are in Frame and how many very young galleries there are this year. Living partly in Chicago I’m looking forward to seeing both Night Club and Regards. They’ve both been doing really interesting things that I don’t think have been represented in the fair before.
The full lineup of the galleries participating in Focus can be found here and those galleries in Frame can be found here.
Fabian Schöneich is currently Curator of Portikus in Frankfurt am Main, an institution for contemporary art, which is connected to Städelschule, Staatliche Hochschule für Bildende Künste, one of Europe’s most influential art schools. Prior to moving to Frankfurt, Fabian worked as Assistant Curator at Kunsthalle Basel and as Curator of LISTE’s performance project.
Jacob Proctor is Curator of the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society, an institute for humanistic research at the University of Chicago, where he also teaches. A regular contributor to Artforum, he was previously Curator at the Aspen Art Museum and at the University of Michigan Museum of Art.
PAUL TEASDALE
Paul Teasdale is editor of frieze.com. He is based in London.
Frieze New York 2016
Jacob Proctor
Fabian Schöneich
Jan Kaps
Focus: Emerging Artists from Around the World
Discover today's most exciting emerging artists on Frieze Viewing Room from 9 to 16 October 2020
'Innovative and Diverse": An Introduction to Frame by Laura McLean-Ferris
The curator talks through her highlights from Frieze Viewing Room's section for emering galleries and artists
Frame: Emerging Artists from Around the World
Featuring solos by Carmen Argote, Le'Andra LeSeur, Claudia Pena Salinas, Gao Yuan and many more on Frieze Viewing Room
Cezary Poniatowski and the Demons of A Broken Society
An exhibition at Jan Kaps, Cologne, stresses the trauma of economic transformations in formerly socialist countries
BY Moritz Scheper | 08 APR 20
Virginia Overton and the Beauty of Broken Businesses
For her exhibition at Galerie Francesca Pia, Zurich, the artist reassembled disused advertising signs into abstract sculptures
BY Fabian Schöneich | 14 FEB 20
Frieze Week LA: New Exhibitions and Special Events Across the City
From February 10 to 16 featuring Barbara Kruger, Art for Justice, Shirin Neshat, Kayode Ojo and Betye Saar and many others
Focus LA
Curated by Rita Gonzalez, a new section at Frieze Los Angeles will showcase LA's emerging art scene
Toy Story: Geumhyung Jeong’s Cyborg Erotics
Fabian Schöneich on the artist’s new performance at Kunsthalle Basel
BY Fabian Schöneich | 24 SEP 19
Critic's Guides
A Guide To The Best Shows in Dusseldorf and Cologne During DC Open
Celebrating a new season of exhibition openings, your guide to what to see in the Rhineland cities
BY Moritz Scheper | 06 SEP 19
Your Guide to Brussels Gallery Weekend
Ahead of this year’s edition of the gallery event, the pick of exhibitions to see in town
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Beware! How to shoot yourself with an AR-50 rifle | Accidentally Shooting self
This is one of the videos that Will and Guy thought long and hard before publishing. Our justification is that we want to warn budding gunmen to take care. Two of our close friends have shot themselves in the foot - each of those events had a funny side. But this shooting self video is just chilling.
How to Shoot Yourself with an AR-50 rifle
Man Shoot Self in Foot
Couple Injured Shooting at Mice
Dog Accidentally Shoots Hunter
Not So Quick Off the Draw
Here is Our Crack-shot. Lining up the Target with is his Armalite AR-50 Rifle
Look here - The ricochet has knocked off his headphones
The ear-muffs probably saved his life
What happened was the crack-shot hit the target about 100 yards away, but the bullet ricocheted back and hit his helmet. He was lucky. What we want to emphasis is if you don't learn from accidents such of these, then you are destined to repeat them. Our friends who shot themselves in the foot were only using air rifles, whereas rifles such as the Armalite AR-50 fire a much more deadly round. N.B. With some browsers you need to click twice on the Play arrow
to start the video. N.B. Help for Mozilla browsers
Free Download of Shooting self (Right click, Save Target As)
Man Shoots Himself in Foot
A man from the USA has injured himself in both legs after attempting to loosen a stiff wheel-nut by blasting it with his gun; the 66-year-old man from Washington state was repairing his car outside his home when the accident took place. The man, from South Kitsap, 10 miles southwest of Seattle, had been repairing his Lincoln Continental for two weeks, according to BBC news and had removed all but one of the nuts on the right rear wheel. Frustrated by the one remaining nut which refused to budge, he resorted to fire power in an effort to shift it.
He opened fire at the wheel from arm's length with his 12-gauge shotgun and he was peppered with buckshot and debris. Police say the man was not inebriated when he shot himself, and he was taken to hospital with severe, but not life-threatening injuries.
Couple Injured Shooting at Mice: You Couldn't Make It Up
The Hilariously Funny and True Story of This Month's Losers
A woman living in a small travel trailer in Potter Valley, Mendocino County, California, USA, shot herself and her male companion in an almost fatal accident Will and Guy have recently learned.
The woman, aged 43 years had spotted several mice running around in her trailer home. As you do when this happens, she drew her .44-caliber Magnum revolver from its holster to fire at the invading rodents. Unfortunately, she dropped the pistol which went off as it landed on the floor. The bullet went through the woman's right kneecap, then hit keys hanging on the belt loop of a 42-year-old man who happened to be in the trailer. The bullet glanced off the keys and tore a hole in the man's trousers and grazed his groin before stopping in his pocket, where it was recovered for evidence. As yet we have been unable to find out the names of the people involved and there is no further news regarding the mice.
Army Baseball!
Houston Texas January 2008 Chambers County sheriff's investigators have concluded a teacher, Perry Alvin Price III, was fatally shot by his own dog in a freak hunting accident. Just after shooting a goose, Mr Price, set the gun down in the back of his truck and was about to open the tailgate to release his tracking dog when the shotgun fired, investigators said. The blast penetrated the truck's tailgate before hitting Price "I've been in law enforcement 20 years and this is probably the strangest one I've had," said Chambers County Sheriff Joe LaRive. Pellets from the shotgun went through the back of Price's tailgate, striking him in the pelvic area of his right thigh. Investigators found paw prints and mud from the dog, a chocolate Labrador retriever named Arthur, on the shotgun, LaRive said. Price was taken to a local hospital by Mr Gronberg, but died from a loss of blood after doctors were unable to revive him. Price taught at Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown. Other accidents of this type:
In October 2007, a 37-year-old man from Tama, Iowa was also shot in the leg at close range by his dog. Once again it appeared that the dog stepped on his shotgun and tripped the trigger.
James Harris was hit in the calf on the opening day of pheasant season. In that case, the wound was not life-threatening.
Will and Guy never cease to be totally amazed at the antics of some people. The expression, 'you just couldn't make it up is relevant in this case. A man shot himself in the leg with a revolver when he was practising a 'quick draw.' The bullet entered his leg below his knee and came to rest in his foot the police from Barre, Vermont, USA have informed us. We have learned that the 61 year old man, who should know better, is in a stable condition. Footnote Do take heed of these 'Shooting self in foot' stories. Remember the wise words of George Santyana: Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
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How a Facebook message cleared a man on rape charges
Danny Kay was released from jail after his rape conviction was overturned when his sister-in-law Sarah Maddison found archived Facebook messages Why an innocent man spent 21 years in prison
by Brittany Vonow
2nd Jan 2018 6:49 AM
A MAN who was wrongly jailed for rape has spoken out of the years of hell that only ended when his family managed to find deleted Facebook messages that proved his innocence.
Danny Kay, of Derby, UK, spent more than two years behind bars after police relied on an "edited and misleading" conversation between himself and his accuser - with cops now reviewing just how they got it so wrong.
Mr Kay told The Mail On Sunday he had trusted the system would find the truth after he was arrested on suspicion of rape in 2012 but was instead brought to trial and eventually convicted.
The now 26-year-old said: "Even now, with the conviction quashed, I still can't believe that it took years of pain and stress for this nightmare to end.
"And the terrifying thought is that if the police and justice system could fail me like this, it could happen to anyone."
It wasn't until his sister-in-law Sarah Maddison checked his Facebook account and was able to find the full archived conversation - which supported Mr Kay's version of events - that his appeal could be set in motion.
Danny Kay was released from jail after his sister-in-law Sarah Maddison found archived Facebook messages that cleared him
It comes after three high-profile rape cases collapsed in the same week, including two where bungling cops did not disclose crucial texts sent by the alleged victims.
Ms Maddison said it had taken her mere minutes to find the archived conversation, despite not being a social media expert, with surprised cops asking her: "How did you know how to find the messages and we didn't?"
Mr Kay, who had trained as a welder, said: "This isn't some small matter - this is my life and for the police not to do those basic checks is horrendous."
During the 2013 trial, the jury had been given the impression that a message from Mr Kay saying "sorry" was over the alleged rape - but the deleted messages instead showed it had been referring to the woman asking why he had been ignoring her.
Other messages proved that Mr Kay had not lied about his age, as had been presented in court.
Derby Crown Court where Danny Kay went to trial in 2013
Mr Kay had engaged in a fling with his accuser in March 2012, with the accusations brought against him six months later.
Appeal judge Mr Justice Goss said: "We have come to the conclusion that, in a case of one word against another, the full Facebook message exchange provides very cogent evidence both in relation to the truthfulness and reliability of (the woman) ... and the reliability of (Mr Kay's) account and his truthfulness."
Derbyshire Police said: "We will be reviewing our investigation to find out whether lessons can be learnt."
This article was originally published in The Sun and is reproduced here with permission.
Court rules dad can spy on kid’s chats
Are text messages ever really deleted?
editors picks facebook rape social media
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Williams wants to make amends in Melbourne derby
Rhys Williams (left) wants a reaction after defeat to Sydney. JOE CASTRO
by Matt Windley, Herald Sun
8th Oct 2017 5:13 PM
DEFENDER Rhys Williams says Saturday night's Melbourne derby is the perfect chance for Melbourne Victory to atone for its first-up loss to Sydney FC.
Victory came up short in last Saturday's grand final rematch, losing 1-0 at Etihad Stadium after a Thomas Deng own goal early in the second half put Sydney in front.
But it will be a different looking Victory team that attacks Melbourne City at the same venue this weekend, with Mark Milligan, James Troisi and Kosta Barbarouses all set to return from international duty.
Barbarouses is back in Melbourne after playing 71 minutes in New Zealand's 2-1 friendly loss away to Japan on Friday night, while Troisi and Milligan will be involved in the second leg of the Socceroos' World Cup playoff tie against Syria in Sydney tomorrow night.
Argentine recruit Matias Sanchez is also a chance to make his A-League debut after missing the Sydney game with hamstring soreness.
Williams said there were "a lot of positives” to take out of the game against the Sky Blues, despite the result, adding that his first Melbourne derby experience is also a great opportunity for his new club to get itself into the winner's circle for the first time this season.
"What a chance to right the wrongs,” Williams said.
"I thought we were unlucky (against Sydney) but we move along to next week and what better occasion to hopefully start winning.
"I've watched plenty of these games on TV. Obviously we've been getting ready for Round 1 and our attention was on that.
"But now we do look forward to next week. So we'll have a quick review of the game and then we'll turn our attention to the derby.”
Asked how he found his own Victory debut on the weekend, the former Perth Glory stopper said: "I loved it to be honest, the only downside was to concede a goal in the way that we did”.
The 29-year-old appeared to hurt himself in the dying stages of the match, but played out the game.
"I think it was just a bit of cramp in my calf, just from stretching and jumping so much during the game,” he said.
"It's quite a firm pitch, first game of the season, all of that.
"But I feel fine. I'll get myself into the club and have it checked out and I'll be good to go for training on Monday.”
a-league 2017
a-league 2017 melbourne city melbourne victory
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November 13 - January 3
210 South Bass Rd.
From Friday, November 13, through Sunday, January 3, Night of a Million Lights will transform Give Kids The World's whimsical storybook Village into a dazzling winter wonderland. More than three million glittering lights will immerse guests in a festive kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, including a shimmering 150-foot tunnel leading to 45 exquisitely decorated wish family residential villas; more than 50 larger-than-life holiday-themed wireframe displays; an enchanting, incandescent gingerbread arch; and out-of-this-world space-themed decor adorning the Village's delectable new centerpiece, Henri's Starlite Scoops.
Admission for guests of all ages includes complimentary ice cream and hot cocoa, as well as unlimited access to the Village's wheelchair-accessible rides and attractions, lavishly decked out for the holidays. Additional food and beverages, as well as special edition holiday merchandise – including 3D glasses that will bring every magnificent bulb to life – will be available for purchase. An appearance by Santa and other special surprises will make this Central Florida's most beloved new holiday tradition!
Night of a Million Lights will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, with staggered entry times to promote social distancing. Mask wearing will be required for all guests.
About Give Kids The World
Rated Four Stars by Charity Navigator, Give Kids The World Village is an 89-acre, storybook nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides critically ill children and their families with magical week-long wish vacations at no cost. Each family receives transportation, accommodations in one of the Village's 166 storybook residential villas, all meals and snacks, nightly entertainment, tickets to Orlando's world-class theme parks and attractions, and priceless interactive experiences at the Village. Since 1986, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 176,000 families from 50 states and more than 76 countries.
Give Kids The World Village closed to wish families in mid-March due to the global pandemic, delaying more than 4,000 wishes. Night of a Million Lights is designed to raise funds to ensure that the wishes of critically ill children can return bigger and better than ever before once the Village reopens. Learn more.
© 2021 Give Kids The World, Inc.
Give Kids The World Village is a magical resort
for children with critical illnesses and their families.
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New commercial formats debut this week on The Glenn Beck Program
Earlier this year, Glenn said that he wanted to experiment with new ways to do commercial advertisements on TV. He wants to focus on the stories behind the products and use those minutes between the show content to continue to tell stories so people won't change the channel or fast forward on their DVR. The new format will debut tonight, only during Glenn's show.
Back in January, Glenn told viewers “The commercial breaks we make have to be entertaining, they have to be meaningful, interesting, storylines, everything. So, you’re watching this show you don’t want to change the channel because it’s something good."
"We want to redefine advertising by bringing the ideas and concepts behind radio and original TV advertising to TV today," Glenn said in an email to Ad Age. "Live, in-program advertising benefits our viewers by entertaining them, and benefits our advertisers by most effectively sharing stories of why their products and services are so beneficial."
Joel Cheatwood, President and Chief Creative Officer, said "There's a universal concern over the drop-off in audience during the commercial breaks. We wanted to find a way to keep viewers engaged where you don't lose the audience and they are paying attention to the advertiser's message."
"We were reminiscing about how advertisers use to sell products -- relying on trusted individuals, whether it was Johnny Carson or Edward R. Murrow, to present the product," Joel said. "There's a level of trust and you never lose contact with the key person of the program."
Ad Age reported:
The new tests will present live ads that more resemble TV commercials, with visual components that could include product demonstrations or employee interviews as well as the logo of the advertiser. Mr. Beck may or may not take part in the conversation, the company said. The network is working with the test's 10 advertisers -- which include Liberty Safe, Blinds.com and TV Guardian -- to develop their creative approaches.
TV networks have been experimenting with different forms of TV spots as it becomes harder to get viewers to watch commercials. The results episode of "American Idol" on Fox last week included a commercial break that accompanied ads with live camera feeds from the "Idol" stage, backstage and the audience. It seemed to be the first time the "double-box" format, which has been used during some sports broadcasts, appeared in an entertainment series.
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: We ARE NOT the people to give in to violence
PxHere
I want to talk to you about something that probably didn't make a lot of sense a long time ago. In fact, I can't tell you how many program directors and how many stations threatened to cancel. Or how many calls I got from the average listener saying; What the hell are you even talking about when I talked about, the leadership of Martin Luther King.
I have done everything I can — as much as I possibly can — to teach you about Martin Luther King and nonviolent protests. And I don't think there's anybody in the media who has talked about nonviolence longer and more in-depth on commercial airwaves than me. Preachers, certainly. But commercial airwaves — I don't think anybody has.
Now I think many are beginning to understand why I tried to lay that foundation. I have told you since September 11th that I have this feeling you are going to be the group of people that will, in the end, save the republic.
I've always believed that. I don't know how it's saved. It might just be preserved in our hearts, I don't know. But I believe it now.
I never wanted us to get to this point — everything I've done is to prevent us from getting here. But everybody is so politically tied to their side that no one will let their shields down and actually listen to one another.
And we're at that desperate point now.
You are equipped to save the republic because you at least hopefully have a fundamental understanding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. And you have at least a basic understanding of American history. More importantly, what makes this audience so phenomenal is that it is the most generous and service-minded audience of any show in America and perhaps the world.
That's part of what continues to be so frustrating about the Capitol invasion last week. Because you're being maligned.
I know who you are. This is the most peaceful, generous, loving, God-fearing, authentic and patriotic audience in America. And you are frustrated and you are tired of being hit in the face and being called bigot and everything else no matter what you do.
I've been called an anti-Semite just in the last 24 hours by everybody, unjustly.
You are now being tainted by the actions of complete imbeciles who do not represent you and me. It's not fair. But that's the hand that we're being dealt and God is in charge and He is not surprised.
We know the left's current tactics fail in the long run. Silencing. Canceling. Taking away rights.
We know the left's current tactics fail in the long run. Silencing. Canceling. Taking away rights. These are the hallmarks of regime, after regime, after Marxist regime on the ash heaps of history. Now China is still there because they've taken the so-called free market and took the capitalist system and they combined it with their Marxist utopia.
I don't know what's going to happen to the people over there. Especially seeing that our high-tech has joined them to weed out the dissidents. But it's not inevitable that we join them.
And it is going to require us to take a stand. Just not in the way that most people — especially if they're angry — think is most effective. Look at the ratings of BLM. 78 percent of Americans, at the beginning of the summer, thought that they were swell.
That number is in the low 20s now. Why? Because violence doesn't work.
I don't know if you saw the fellowship of the ring, but if you did, do you remember when Frodo said: "I don't want to do this!"
He's lamenting having to face down the evil and he's just one guy. I'll never forget it because it was right after 9/11, that the movie came out. I'll never forget Gandalf's reply. He said: "So do we all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what we're going to do with the time that is given us."
We can't decide what others are going to do. We can't control the dangerous Orwellian darkness that seems to be descending on America. All we can control is our response and strive to lead by example. If you know anyone in your sphere of influence who might be planning to attend one of these armed rallies in the coming days, beg them not to go. Do everything you can to stop them.
That's not a way to take a stand and it will not protect anything you hold dear and it will endanger the republic. It is what the other side wants.
So how do we take a stand?
The first thing I need you to do today is to help lower the temperature. It has been so hard for me not to respond to people on Twitter who have called me every name under the sun because I quoted the leading Holocaust historian last night on Tucker Carlson.
But see, that wasn't an attack on me, that was an attack on Tucker. If you can scare the guests from coming on to Tucker, you destroy Tucker. That's what they're doing.
Do not vent your anger on social media. At this point, it is probably just going to get your account shut down.
I want you to write this down and I want you to keep this in front of you.
Blessed are the peacemakers. For they will be called the children of God.
That means something today, much more than it did six months ago.
Blessed be the peacemakers.
Be a peacemaker.
And this is the hard part, you can't disconnect. Because things are moving too rapidly. You must stay plugged in.
But I want you to reach out to someone in kindness on social media. Encourage someone. Do not engage with the darkness. Be the light in the corner of your world.
You need to be a leader for what is to come.
And I know I'm asking you almost the impossible. I know you're angry and frustrated and it is gut-wrenching to feel that you're powerless to stop your nation from what you believe is sliding into the abyss.
You are not powerless. You are not voiceless.
I believe it too, with everything in me. I wish I was wrong. I hope that I am. I pray that I am. But know this: You are not powerless. You are not voiceless. You may be the only voice that anyone hears. Voices like mine will go away. I am trying to think of what I need to share with you before, God forbid, that ever happens. Because I cannot live with myself if I talked about something stupid politically and I find my voice silenced and then saying, I wish I would have said this or I wish I would have told them that.
You wield more power than you know. Not because of your voice or being able to call your congressman. You're more powerful than you know because you understand the real problem in America. The real problem in America is not political.
It is spiritual.
If you're like me when you get angry, you think that you are going to take on this challenge on your own — you are not being humble. You think you'll fix it. Everything that is happening to us is because we are an arrogant, out of control people.
We must humble ourselves. Please, you have the skill and the strength to endure the fiery darts that are going to come your way or already are. But this is a problem with our hearts.
You cannot reach someone's head without capturing their heart and no one is going to capture anyone's heart through violence.
Start in your own home and then reach out and if you're able, serve your neighbor. If you can, serve your local community. You must be a beacon of light in a very dark place. I'm going to ask you to do something you're really not going to like. And that's how I know things are from God. When I hear something or I think something and I'm like — oh crap, I don't want to do that — and you just know it it's right. You just know it's what God wants. And you're hoping that maybe you didn't hear it.
And it's so horrible. Because it's the last thing you want to do. But God is unlike many of our churches and preachers, He doesn't tell us what we want to hear. He doesn't have to pay for the church or get collection. Or be judged by how many people go.
Rise above the fray, with service and love, with malice toward none and charity toward all.
He'll say the same thing and he'll lose whole flocks. And they'll eventually start to go — oh wait, where is the Shepherd again?
But I have to tell you now some things that I want you to do. And they're not new. But I need you to hear me. I am asking you if you want to stand for the republic, I need you first to pray.
Pray like you've never prayed before. Pray for humility. Pray for guidance. Pray for peace. Pray for those people who you think you hate. Because you don't. Because hatred does not come from any good place.
Then I want you go out and serve someone in any way possible. On inauguration day especially, get your family and your children involved. Volunteer somewhere, take someone a meal. Do something to lift the spirits of hospital workers or your local police department.
Help a stranger mow a lawn, fix someone's car, pick up trash on the side of the highway. Do what you can do. But the most important thing is to do it with a sincere heart. And if someone asks you, why are you doing this? Just say, because I love my country.
Rise above the fray with service and love, with malice toward none and charity toward all.
Watch how the conversation went on radio HERE:
A pre-Inauguration Day plea: You wield MUCH more power than you know youtu.be
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House Bill 3224 Policy
OVERIDING PRINCIPLES
As a district attorney’s office, let us be clear about what we aim for: To protect the public, by delivering justice. Ultimately, that is the overriding principle that governs our decision-making. The legislative branch is responsible for writing law. Ultimately, the laws they write are our primary policy manual. If any specific policy provision below conflicts with our ability to achieve our aim within the parameters of law, then pursuit of our stated aim will take precedence over any specific policy provision below. These policies are to be viewed as principles to follow rather than as strict edicts.
Professionalism and Prosecutorial Ethics
All employees of this office hold a public trust and represent the Office of the District Attorney. You are expected to abide by the Grant County District Attorney Office’s Declaration of Principles. All employees are expected to exercise good judgment and common sense in their everyday dealings with the public, representatives of other departments, agencies, organizations, and each other.
All staff employed by this office are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards. This means that everyone is expected to be mindful that public service is a public trust and our job as public servants is to serve with integrity. We are all expected to do the right thing for the right reasons.
It is important to remember that, as a professional, your job does not end at the close of the workday. You are responsible for your behavior outside of the organization and need to be aware that public perception can be a powerful influence. We have a responsibility to perform our duties as public servants with integrity and to serve the public trust.
All employees will be familiar with the canons of professional ethics of the Oregon State Bar and perform their duties in a manner consistent with those standards. In addition, attorneys are expected to know and follow all rules promulgated by the Oregon Supreme Court and by the Circuit Court of Grant County.
Pursuing Just Outcomes
Justice Delayed
In order to maintain ordered liberty for a free society, it is essential that society have confidence in its laws to produce justice for aggrieved persons, ie: crime victims. Inefficiency and excessive delay in our system erodes confidence that our system can produce justice. It is a legal maxim that justice delayed is justice denied. Deputy District Attorneys have a duty to ensure that society, and specifically victims, receive justice in a timely fashion.
Charging Decisions
All charging decisions are to be made pursuant to the aim of protecting the public by delivering justice. Deciding if criminal charges should be filed and initiating the charging process is the responsibility of Deputy District Attorneys. Screening is the process by which a determination is made whether to initiate or pursue criminal charges. Deputy District Attorneys should use discretion in screening to eliminate cases in which prosecution is not justified. Deputy District Attorneys also have the responsibility to see that charges selected adequately describes the offense(s) committed and the charges provide for an adequate sentence for the offense(s). Deputy District Attorneys are not obligated to file all possible charges that the evidence might support. The prosecutor may properly exercise discretion to present only those charges which are consistent with the evidence and in the best interests of justice.
In making the charging decision, Deputy District Attorneys shall file only those charges which are reasonably substantiated by admissible evidence at trial. Deputy District Attorneys shall also avoid charging an excessive number of counts, indictments, or informations merely to provide sufficient leverage to persuade a defendant to enter a guilty plea to one or several charges.
Innocence and Evidence
All Deputy District Attorneys shall be alert for cases where the accused is innocent or proof falls below the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of the offense(s) charged. If such is discovered, the victim and police investigator will be contacted and then dismissal will be sought immediately.
Plea Offers
“Truth in Sentencing” is a fundamental value of this office, which includes attempting to ensure that the sentence ordered by the court is fundamentally served. Ultimately, negotiations should be made with an eye towards what we aim for: protecting the public by delivering justice. Plea offers are not mandatory to make in criminal cases. They are to be provided to defendants pursuant to promoting efficient yet just outcomes. Deputy District Attorneys will retain the discretion to negotiate dismissals, nonprosecution, and sentencing recommendations in all cases subject to the general standards for plea agreements.
The Grant County District Attorney’s Office will conduct its plea negotiation efforts in a professional, nondiscriminatory and nonpartisan manner. In all plea negotiations this office shall be guided by the relevant constitutional, ethical and statutory considerations.
The following are some of the factors to take into consideration in deciding whether a plea or sentencing negotiation is warranted: nature of the offense; degree of offense charged; mitigating circumstances; age, background, and criminal record of the accused; age of the victim; undue hardship caused to the victim or the accused; expressed wish of the victim; relationship between the accused and the victim; sufficiency of admissible evidence to support a verdict; deterrent value of prosecution; feasibility of restitution being made; attitude and mental state of the accused at the present time; aid to other prosecution goals through non-prosecution; consequences to a defendant or victim; history of non-enforcement of the statute involved; age of the case; likelihood of prosecution in other jurisdictions.
Victim Input and Consultation
Consistent with the Oregon Constitution and the philosophy of the Grant County District Attorney’s office, the assigned Deputy District Attorney shall solicit input from the victim and consult with the victim during the plea negotiation process where required by law. In the exercise of the discretion to negotiate, the Deputy District Attorney in charge of the case should strongly consider the victim’s wishes.
Crime Victim's Rights
The Grant County District Attorney’s Office makes every effort to ensure crime victims play a meaningful role in the criminal and juvenile justice system. We treat them with dignity and respect. We make every effort to provide victims with as large a part as possible in each phase of a criminal case. Deputy District Attorneys shall familiarize themselves with the Crime Victims Bill of Rights as well as with Article 1, Section 42 of the Oregon Constitution, the Crime Victim’s Rights Amendment. The interests of the victim should be kept in mind when setting the hearing date and during plea negotiations in any felony involving a person.
Victim Restitution
It is our policy to seek restitution equaling the amount of pecuniary loss for victims of all types of crimes. Seeking such restitution in no way supersedes or obviates any civil claims a victim might make against the defendant. Deputy District Attorneys should inform Victims Assistance of pending criminal cases. Victim Advocates shall supply victims with financial loss forms to facilitate restitution. Victim Assistance will then take responsibility tracking these forms, communicating with the victim(s) and Crime Victim Compensation. The financial loss documents will include monies paid or pending to be paid by victim insurance companies. After completion, the loss forms shall be put in the case file prior to the appropriate court date of case disposition. During the sentencing hearing, Deputy District Attorneys should refer to the completed loss forms to request that restitution be made part of the sentence. Restitution should be ordered based on the loss to the victim, not the offender’s ability to pay at the time of sentencing. In cases in which more than one defendant is held responsible for a criminal act, causing a pecuniary loss, this office views all defendants as being jointly and severally liable for paying restitution. As a result, Deputy District Attorneys should request that judges pronounce sentence in such a way that leaves all defendants jointly and severally liable for the victim’s losses and equally responsible for the expenses incurred by all parties as a result of their criminal actions (ORS 147.005 –147.365). When restitution is legally unattainable as no pecuniary loss is provable, Deputy District Attorneys should consider alternative options such as compensatory fines or community service.
Homicide Cases
Prior to arriving at a homicide plea offer, the trial Deputy District Attorney should, in all but exceptional circumstances, inform and consult with the primary detectives and the family of the victim as to the appropriateness of the offer and any opinions or suggestions they may have.
Before any plea offer is extended in any homicide case, the case Deputy District Attorney and a supervising attorney must meet with the District Attorney. During this meeting the case Deputy District Attorney will present a factual summary of the case and review the mitigating and aggravating factors in the case.
Decision to Pursue Death Penalty
All attorneys responsible for the prosecution of aggravated murder cases must consider the law and evidence of each case and make a determination as to whether seeking the death penalty would be a just outcome. This determination is to be made in consultation with the District Attorney and at least one other supervising attorney.
Mandatory Sentence Cases
All plea offers on felony cases with minimum sentences, including but not limited to, Ballot Measure 11, Ballot Measure 57, Ballot Measure 73, Aggravated Vehicular Homicide per ORS 163.149, Gun Minimums under ORS 161.610, and Dangerous Offender under ORS 161.725 et seq., will be reviewed with the District Attorney prior to plea or trial. These case reviews will examine the strength of the case, the victim’s concerns and opinions, any mitigating factors, and any aggravating factors.
Fines, Fees and Taxpayer Reimbursement
In some instances justice is best achieved by recommending that a defendant pay fines or fees. Deputy District Attorneys may recommend payment of fines and fees in those instances where doing so will serve to protect the public and deliver justice.
Dignity increases whenever a defendant pays back to society what resources he or she has taken from society. Deputy District Attorneys look for appropriate instances to recommend that defendants pay for some or all of their court appointed attorney costs.
Truth in Sentencing
“Truth in Sentencing” is a fundamental value of this office, which includes attempting to ensure that the sentence ordered by the court is fundamentally served.
Sentence Reduction Provisions
Deputy District Attorneys are careful to advocate that sentence provisions which reduce the initial sentence declared by the judge are only given after all required legal findings are made. (ie: ORS 137.751 for AIPs.)
Civil Compromise
Civil compromises are available under Oregon law (ORS 135.703 and ORS 135.705) in instances in which a defendant is charged with a crime punishable as a misdemeanor. The injured party may seek to handle the matter as a civil proceeding. The Court, on payment of costs and expenses incurred, may order the complaint dismissed. As a policy principle, we generally oppose civil compromises. Civil compromises, if used frequently, tend to favor affluent criminals and provide them with more lenient treatment within the criminal justice system. Treating an accused more leniently because of their affluence is inappropriate. In the interest of justice and in the interest of protecting community safety, this office believes that criminal acts should be handled in criminal court.
The Oregon State Bar has ruled that it is unethical under certain circumstances for a prosecuting attorney to advise an injured party against opting for a civil compromise of a criminal case.
Conditional Discharge – First Time Possession Drug Offenses
For first time user amount drug offenses, defendants are generally offered a conditional discharge opportunity that requires them to complete an appropriate treatment program. However, a conditional discharge offer may not be appropriate in instances where the defendant already has an extensive criminal history. Deputy District Attorneys work with the court and parole and probation to ensure proper monitoring and compliance with conditional discharge agreements. Conditional discharges are strict compliance agreements. Conditional discharges should not be offered for second or subsequent drug offenses.
Pre-trial release
The following provisions directly govern Oregon’s scheme for pre-trial release:
Article I, § 14 of the Oregon Constitution;
Article I, § 43 of the Oregon Constitution; and
ORS 135.230 – ORS 135.290.
All Deputy District Attorneys are expected to be familiar with these laws and to advocate for implementation of their provisions.
The discovery obligations of the Grant County District Attorney’s Office are generally established by ORS 135.805 – 135.825; ORS 135.845 – 135.855; Brady v. Maryland, 373 US 83 (1963); Giglio v. United States, 405 US 150 (1972) and Rule 3.8 of the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct. In order to meet discovery obligations in a given case, prosecutors must be familiar with these authorities and with the judicial interpretations that discuss or address the application of these authorities to particular facts. In addition, it is important for prosecutors to thoroughly consider how to meet their discovery obligations in each case and consult with their supervisors for guidance whenever appropriate.
It is the practice of this office to disclose appropriate police reports and other discoverable materials to defense counsel at the earliest opportunity once a case is filed. Our office has an open file policy. All discovery contained in our criminal files are open and available at the Grant County District Attorney’s Office for defendants and their attorneys to come and look at, by appointment, free of cost. Copies of discovery materials are also made available to defendants and their attorneys once payment for the same has been made in full.
All district attorney office records must be maintained in compliance with the Records Retention & Destruction Schedule published by the Secretary of State or by State law.
Transparency and Confidentiality
This office is committed to transparency to the public it serves. Public records requests made to the Grant County District Attorney’s office will be processed in a timely and fiscally reasonable manner. If a law or court order requires that information possessed by this office be kept confidential, then the Grant County District Attorney’s Office will ensure that such laws or orders are complied with. (e.g. Juvenile files, victim information, medical files, personnel files or matters.)
Affidavits of Prejudice Against A Judge
When a Deputy District Attorney believes that a sitting judge’s prejudice against the state is such that in their estimation they should seek to disqualify a judge from hearing a case or cases, then that Deputy shall provide their reasons for their position in writing to a Senior Deputy District Attorney. Affidavits of prejudice, motions to excuse, or requests for a judge to recuse himself or herself can be filed only with the written approval of the District Attorney. Affidavits of prejudice are filed by the District Attorney with the presiding Circuit Court judge. A copy is provided to the judge who is the subject of the affidavit.
Ballot Measure 110
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Net Quotient Snatches Up 13,249 SF, Takes Five-Year Lease at Prominent Point
AUSTIN-Net Quotient Consulting Group of Austin is snatching up 13,249 sf of prime office space that had been on the market less than three weeks at the Prominent Point Building, 8310 Capital of Texas Highway.
By Connie Gore | October 07, 2000 at 01:01 AM
AUSTIN-Net Quotient Consulting Group of Austin is snatching up 13,249 sf of prime office space that had been on the market less than three weeks at the Prominent Point Building, 8310 Capital of Texas Highway. The five-year lease opens the door for Net Quotient to expand in 2001.
Kevin Granger, vice president of Trammell Crow Co.’s office division, brokered the lease along with Diann Cowling of Quick & Co. in Austin, who has been representing Net Quotient in its year-long search for a suitable site.
Granger told GlobeSt.com that the most amount of space to open up this year in Prominent Point has been about 4,000 sf until 2-1/2 weeks ago. “It’s rare to have that big of a block,” he says. The space has been vacated by a company that has been declared in default, says Granger. The lease, which takes effect Jan. 1, returns the building to full occupancy and gives Net Quotient expansion rights for future space at the structure owned by Cigna Insurance Co.
The Web-based consulting firm, founded five years ago, employs 40 people, but is planning to beef up its staff to at least 55 in 2001, according to Net Quotient’s office manager, Theresa Fritschle. She says the company will begin to move into the space in mid-December.
Net Quotient has been officing in less than 5,000 sf at a building along Bee Caves Road, says Cowling. Her client has been searching for more space since last year, hoping to stay in the same vicinity. But, the task hasn’t been easy. “Anything from 10,000 sf to 20,000 sf is very hard to find,” she told GlobeSt.com. Prominent Point not only is located close to Net Quotient’s present office, but the interior requires very few changes, says Cowling.
Net Quotient’s parent company is Applicom Software Industries, an Israeli firm publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Applicom is a subsidiary of The Formula Group, Israel’s largest high-tech company consisting of 30 software businesses.
7700 Parmer Calls for Transformation to a Mixed-Use Destination
Lisa Brown | December 23, 2020
Situated adjacent to Apple’s future $1 billion campus, which will initially house 5,000 employees, the 129-acre 7700 Parmer site is currently home to a wide range of tech companies.
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Apple: News, Upcoming Launches, Gadgets, Features & Reviews
Depending on your level of knowledge about technology, you might know more or less when it comes to the giant company that is Apple. It’s a company that transformed the technology world in many ways and that still today attempts to innovate in the most unexpected ways. Various products have come around and presentations, buzz and line-ups in front of stores were all part of the story to lead us where Apple is today. If you’ve been looking for a summary about Apple Inc., you’ve come to the right place.
Apple’s history started in 1976 with its founding by Steve Jobs and Steve Woziak. Apple’s first focus was personal computers and they first reached success at that with the release of the Macintosh in 1984. At the end of the 90s, the iMac then came around to solidify Apple’s position on that market. Apple then become a more popular brand that would serve people at home, at work and in schools as well. Not all of Apple’s first products were successful, but they most often paved the way for better modern versions that became must-haves in the future, such as the iPad we know today. Through great packaging and well-thought environments for the user, Apple managed to reach success in the mobile, MP3 players and tablets markets starting from the 2000s. The iPod notably became an iconic item after its first release in 2001. The name “iPod” is now often used to describe any MP3 player simply because of its popularity.
Apple’s logo has always been an important trademark for the company, and while it was at first used with multiple colors in it, it’s still looking very good in its simpler version today. The idea came to Jobs when he visited an apple farm. Of course, advertisement then always played a role in Apple’s success throughout the years, With important campaigns such as the one in 1984 set in a dystopian future that was ahead of its time. Apple then stayed ahead of the curve when it comes to ads such as with the use of catchy songs and lively commercials for its iPod line in recent years.
Brand loyalty then played an important role in gaining and retaining customers, and Apple has always rewarded users who were using multiple devices of the company together. In between the personal computers and the music players, synchronization has always been easy and efficient, and then the introduction of the Apple Store and iTunes Store ended up making a difference in how people enjoy Apple’s products. Apple has then been able to deliver official and premium content on its own basis and while the environment might be hard to reach for independent creators, the stores generally offers quality content that users can trust when it comes to apps and music.
Apple’s headquarters are located in Cupertino, California and is the main spot where all the innovation unfolds. Over 12 000 employees work there and the location expands and improves constantly when it comes to installations, design and green spaces. Then, the Apple Stores come in to provide a location for the old and new customers to discover the latest creations by Apple. The stores are generally trendy and lively, and most often used glass as a material to make things transparent and attractive. Customers can then return and obtain service in-person, instead of online. The Apple Stores are where the bigger lineups usually happen when the company launches a new product. On the manufacturing end, Apple Inc. is generally able to produce a lot for these launches to happen, and an important part of their activities are happening abroad. And finally, when it comes to Apple Inc. is also the all-so-important stock value of the company, as it is listed on NASDAQ as AAPL. Stocks play an important role when it comes to its image in the news and product announcements, rumors and speculation all play roles in determining how the company is valued at any given moment.
When it comes to products, Apple offers a wide variety of them and have expanded their selection over the years. Here are the main ones:
The Mac is probably what got everything started for Apple when it comes to big numbers. The Mac is a well-reputed personal computer that performs especially well when it comes to video, editing and such tasks. The operating systems used are called Mac OS and OS X and feature the latest in terms of hardware parts.
Apple MB323LL/A iMac
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Apple MacBook Air MJVE2LL/A
Apple iMac MF885LL/A
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The iPad is a tablet-type of mobile computer and one of Apple’s most successful products. Through powerful mobile hardware, the iPad is able to deliver games, media content and take pictures. The device is generally expensive, but it comes in different memory sizes and fortunately always offers a state-of-the-art display when it comes to the latest versions to justify its price.
Apple iPad Air 2 MGKM2LL/A
Apple iPad Air MD785LL/A
Apple iPad mini 3 MGNV2LL/A
The iPod is Apple’s own version of the MP3 player and after several generations, still is the leader in that market. The iPod doesn’t only have generations and improvements but also different formats such as the iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano to suit different needs and budgets. The associated software is of course the iTunes store and the iPod stands as the perfect way to enjoy music.
Apple iPod touch 6th Generation
Apple Ipod Nano 7th Generation
Apple iPod shuffle 5th Generation
The Apple TV is a product that has received more attention lately and with the more widespread use of online video content. The Apple TV comes with a remote and can install apps just like any other Apple device. It can also make use of voice commands.
The iPhone is the product for which lineups at Apple Stores are most common and offers the latest in terms of mobile capabilities. Apple is generally expected to put forward its most innovative ideas on this product and everything from the feel of the device to its internal changes are carefully analyzed by experts. As a smartphone, the iPhone can perform many tasks, such as make calls, play music and be used as a GPS device. The iPhone generally features strong hardware, which makes it great for games as well.
Apple iPhone 6 Plus, Gold
Apple iPhone 6, Gold
The hot product of the moment. The Apple Watch is Apple’s offering for the wearables market that’s about to get really competitive. With this watch, you can check some notifications and text messages on the go, track various data and use different apps. Depending on your lifestyle, this could replace your iPhone on some occasions.
Daretang Bluetooth Smart Watch
Price: $69.99 & FREE Shipping
Apple Watch Sport 42mm Space
Just like other ambitious companies such as Google, Apple is stepping in the automobile field to produce a car that will reflect the quality of its other, much smaller, products. 2020 is the current date expected for its first arrival.
Software is also truly important to the success of Apple Inc. The company creates its own software to run on the machine that they build, and that shows in the end result.
Apple Sim
Apple Sim enables owners of Apple mobile products such as iPads to have access to mobile Internet.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the corporate culture behind all products outlined here generates almost as much interest as what you buy on the shelves. Besides Steve Jobs, there have also been a ton of incredibly talented individuals involved in the creation and transformation of the Apple products. Apple prides itself in working like a small motivated company would and in rewarding the best individuals internally. The Apple Fellowship program is one thing in place to reward the people who contribute the most to the Apple technology that we use today.
And then, when it comes to the environment, Apple is also staying competitive, although at times of the demand of groups like Greenpeace, by making changes to the way that they use energy to create their products. Then, in the end, customer service is really what comes at the rescue of any issue that might arise with Apple products. The devices might be expensive for some people, but the supporting staff is specialized in only one kind of products at Apple, and that might be what provides the customer the most peace of mind that the problem will be spotted and clearly communicated.
In its Apple Stores, Apple even delivers the Genius Bar, a stand made in respect of older devices where users can get help with older purchases. There always seems to be an extra reason to go with Apple, and that’s why Apple Inc. has been able to stay so competitive. We hope you’ve enjoyed this overview of what Apple offers and that you now get a better idea on why it’s one of the most important electronics companies around. From the products to its culture, Apple Inc. Knows how to trigger the interest of fans around the globe, even in 2015. Big plays and big announcements are all part of their habits and they continue to get involved in the newest technologies before the trends start. New devices might come out, but generally the older ones always benefit from the improvements in some shape or form, be it simply in the form of software at the very least.
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Home Christian news Raul Ries: he faced a choice of prison or Vietnam
Raul Ries: he faced a choice of prison or Vietnam
Raul Ries
He was raised in Mexico City by an abusive, alcoholic father and a mother originally from New York.
“My father had a very bad habit,” says Raul Ries. “He had started drinking when he was nine years old. Because of his drinking, our home was not a normal home. As far back as I can remember, there was yelling and cursing in our home. I can remember my father physically abusing my mother and my grandmother. As little kids we would scream and yell because we were so scared.”
When Raul was only five-years-old, his father took him into nightclubs and bars. “My father was a brawler; he liked fighting,” he recalls. “He had a good job with the Bank of Mexico, but the drinking led him to violence.”
They usually left the bar on his father’s scooter, with his father driving “drunk” and arriving home “by the grace of God.”
“I remember this whole experience, him hitting me and beating me when I was growing up. I was so rebellious. By the time I was 8 or 9 years old, my goal was to kill my dad.”
One night his father came home drunk and passed out. Early the next morning, his mother took Raul to the airport and they flew to Los Angeles, where she arranged for them to live with Raul’s aunt and grandparents. “I remember how happy I was because we were rid of my dad,” he recounts.
A year later, however, his father began writing letters to them expressing his unhappiness, saying how much he missed them. He promised he had changed.
“My mother allowed him to come to America and live with us. I remember hating my mother because she brought him back into our lives. I didn’t want him to live with us. I didn’t have any feelings for him, I was so bitter towards him. And again, he began to drink and abuse my mom.”
“Every time dinner came, there would be arguing, fighting and screaming. My father would get so drunk, that he would get violent and hit everybody. I remember at the age of 15 having a lot of confrontations with him, and I began to get violent. I began to take my frustrations and anger out on people. At parties or on the streets, I would start beating up people.”
Raul’s inner rage became “a consuming fire” in his heart. “By grace, I didn’t kill anyone on the streets. There were times when we left people lying there and we thought they were dead.”
The ugly pattern continued during Raul’s four years at Baldwin Park High School in Southern California.
By the time he was a senior, Raul had been in and out of jail. One night he went to a party in a neighboring town, and saw another guy with his girlfriend.
Overcome with jealousy and rage, he left and got all his friends. “We went back to the party and ripped people apart,” he recounts. “The guy almost died. The next day, the police came to the high school, took me in and booked me. Eventually, I had to go to court.”
At 18, he was about to graduate. The judge gave him a stark choice: either go to prison or go into the military. At the time, the Vietnam War was reaching a boiling point.
I’ll just go to Vietnam, he decided. It’s a license to kill and I can do whatever I want.
Raul entered Marine Corps Boot Camp, scored highly in physical fitness, and was made a platoon leader.
Leaving for Vietnam
He left San Diego with 5,000 other Marines on the USS Gaffey. After two weeks, they arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Immediately he was sent to Alpha Company, patrolling the outskirts of Da Nang.
In the military
“Watching some of my friends become casualties or being wounded in combat, I became angry within. This anger toward the enemy consumed me to the point of hating my enemy. By this time, I had already been wounded twice and my time of service was almost completed so I started to think crazy things in my mind.”
When he shared his inner thoughts, others became concerned. His commanding officer sent him in for psychological evaluation. As a result, he was sent home to Oakland Naval Hospital for further observation and treatment.
But there was a dark side to his violent thoughts that went beyond mental illness. “Satan had taken possession of my life,” he confessed. “I spent the next six months of my life under psychiatric care, group therapy counseling, because I was so violent.”
Despite his disturbing mental state, doctors recommended an honorable discharge and he reentered civilian life.
Re-entering civilian life
Sharon Ries
Raul married his former girlfriend, Sharon, who had become pregnant. He found a job in L.A. at Union Bank.
“I started going back to my old life,” he admits. “I wasn’t afraid to kill now, I wasn’t afraid to do anything. When we would go to parties or whatever we would do, we would cause chaos.”
Sharon’s quiet faith began to touch him. “My wife would never preach to me, she would share the gospel with me by sharing her love with me. She showed me God’s love through her life, living it.”
Sadly, he began to repeat a familial pattern, undoubtedly intensified by PTSD and satanic strongholds. “I never wanted to be like my dad, and become a physical abuser. Well, I did. The first thing I did was start pushing Sharon around, kicking her and punching her. Pretty soon, I was choking her, but by the grace of God, the angels protected her.”
After 4 ½ years, Sharon told him she was leaving. “When I realized she was going to leave me, I decided that nobody would ever have her or my kids. The best way to do that was to execute her and my kids, and kill myself. As the police would come, I would just shoot it out with them and that would be the end of everything. And then nobody wins.”
A murderous plan
He planned the massacre for Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972. “I had already made up my mind to kill her. So I got home, and I saw her packed bags on the side. I walked into the house, went to the closet, got my rifle and loaded it with eighteen rounds. I started walking around the house; I began to destroy my whole house, just knocking down everything.
“I went next to the TV and I was just standing there. I was so angry and so mad inside; I took the butt of the rifle and hit the TV. When I hit it, it came on. And when the TV came on, there was this bald headed guy talking about Jesus; it was Chuck Smith.”
Pastor Chuck Smith, the founder of Calvary Chapel, happened to be a guest on Katherine Kuhlman’s program, talking about “The Jesus People.”
Kathryn Kuhlman with Pastor Chuck Smith
“I was listening and I wanted to shoot him with my gun, but I couldn’t pull the trigger. It seemed as (if) he was talking directly to me. It was like a bow was being pulled back, the arrows were letting go and they were stabbing me in the heart.”
“Man, why don’t you shut up?” he yelled at the TV. “What are you trying to say?”
Suddenly, Raul fell to his knees and began to cry like a baby. Then he cried out to God, “God if you’re really real, and you are a God that can save people, as you saved my wife, I want you tonight, right know, to come into my life.”
By faith, he prayed a simple prayer of repentance, surrendering his life to Jesus as His Lord and Savior. He was born again by God’s grace!
Immediately, he felt something was different. “I felt a complete change in my life. As I got up from my knees, I wiped off my tears and put away my rifle. I got in my car and went looking for my wife, to tell her what had happened to me. I couldn’t find her. As I entered the church that she attended, they were giving the altar call. So I just went up to the altar, and when they got done counseling me, I went home.”
When he got home, he knocked on the door and could hear his wife weeping and crying inside. “Sharon open the door, it’s me.”
She opened the door slightly, with a chain still latched in place. “What do you want?” she asked, cautiously.
“I’m born again! I accepted Christ.”
With utter disbelief, Sharon slammed the door in his face.
Raul knocked again. “Sharon honest, I’m born again.” She finally opened the door.
It took almost two years for her to trust in his salvation, as she watched his life change.
Raul and Sharon Ries after his conversion
The day after his salvation he bought a Bible and began to attend Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California. He immersed himself in studying God’s Word.
Led by the Holy Spirit, he returned to his former high school and began a lunchtime outreach. “A couple of months went by, and I stood there faithfully every day. All of a sudden, the Lord began to open the doors. Kids began to come and talk to me, and I talked to them.
One day, he got up on a picnic bench, and began to speak: “Hey, for God so loved the world man, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whosoever would…”
“As I was talking, the Holy Spirit was zapping people. The Holy Spirit fell on that school so heavily, all of a sudden, as I looked out, there were about 1800 kids sitting on the grass listening.
When he finished speaking he asked, “Anyone here want to accept Jesus Christ?”
Five hundred kids came up and got on their knees and gave their lives to Jesus Christ. “The school was totally blown away. Then Gladstone High School opened up, Azusa High School opened up, Charter Oak High School opened up, Glendora High School opened up, Bassett High School opened up, and soon, I was visiting eight high schools a week. I was just going out on the streets; that’s how my ministry started.”
“I never dreamed that God would do such a thing. He has not only blessed my life personally, but the ministry he has given me. He took me from my Kung Fu Studio, to pastoring a church of over 12,000 people on 28 acres. Along with teaching, He has opened up the doors for us to have a Bible School and Pastoral Program. With these programs, we have been able to spread the Word to Central and South America.”
Pastor Raul Ries
“Looking back on all the things God has allowed me to do, I, Raul Ries, am still amazed that God chose to use me. My desire, my heart, is to finish the race and to do it well. It is important that we not only run the race, but we finish well.”
Pastor Raul Ries testimony
Raul Ries story
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Lynda August 16, 2017 At 11:07 pm
Thank you for sharing this beautiful testimony. My husband is also a U.S. Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam war. He was angry and violent, too, before he fell on his knees and became born again. Now my husband is a chaplain, a very loving, gentle man, and the most generous person I know. Only Christ can do that!
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Lipouts
By Mark Soltau
CHASKA, Minn. -- The second round of the PGA Championship featured tougher conditions than Thursday. Only two players, Ernie Els and Tim Clark, shot rounds in the 60s, a testament most of all to the stronger winds.
"I played well. [My] defense wasn't as good as my offense. So I'll have to tone it down a bit tomorrow. But 10 birdies in two rounds I'll take." -- Lucas Glover, who is tied for second at three-under through two rounds
"[I'm] very happy to be going back home, sitting and watching it from my armchair. Yeah. I'll be very happy." -- Early-starter Ian Poulter, who was two-under after a second-round 70
"It's gusting, and it makes it particularly tough off the tees. You're trying to get it in play. It's definitely made it a lot tougher than it was yesterday." -- Clark, who had little problem with the strong wind, shooting 68, tied with Els for the day's best score
"It was swirling, swirling among the trees. The greens are firming up. You [had] to have your wits about you." -- Padraig Harrington, after a one-over 73
"It was pretty blustery. It was changing direction a little bit here and there. It was affecting putts. You had to play the wind on putts. It was, all in all, just a very difficult day." --* Tiger Woods, whose second-round 70 has him in the lead by four strokes*
HARRINGTON IMPRESSES TIGER
"That's one of the best shots I've ever seen. I don't remember what the number was, but you could hear, he didn't mis‑hit that. He hit it flush, out of a bunker uphill lie where you can't use your legs to get any power. [The] chance of slipping is there, but [he] still hit it flush enough to carry it that far. It was a pretty impressive shot, and it was definitely worth the price of admission." --* Woods on Harrington's marvelous second shot from the fairway bunker at 15*
"He did say to me he would have paid to have seen it. Did he tell you that? So I asked him for $50." -- Harrington
PUTTING WOES
"I'm not going to beat many people putting the way I am." -- Phil Mickelson, who had a combined 67 putts the first two rounds and shot 74-74 to make the cut on the number
"My putting has gone cold again, unfortunately." --* Ernie Els, who nevertheless matched Clark's 68 with the day's top round*
"It's almost impossible to make a putt here. I'll be watching TV this afternoon [to see] what the leaders do, because if they are making putts, they are doing something special." -- Clark
STRESS IN THE U.S.
"I started my professional career in Japan. When I came over here, for some reason I found it a very stressful place. You're playing for ridiculous money each week, and everyone's looking at the top 125 and top 40s and top 60s and whatever. But when I went back to Japan, I played great there the last few years, and I'm just very, very relaxed. And the cameras aren't on you all the time. You just go about your day-to-day life, and go out and play golf." -- Australian-born Brendan Jones, who plays the Japan Tour
"I think the British Open was a lot more stressful because at any moment I could have gotten a phone call saying Jo was going into labor. So I was always kind of tentative, shall we say, and fortunately she managed to hold on. Unfortunately I didn't manage to do the same." -- Ross Fisher, whose wife gave birth to a daughter, Eve, shortly after the British Open
"I teed off 1 and finished on 18." -- U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin, when asked about his round
UNEXPECTED CONTENDER
"Oakmont is its own beast in and of itself. There are certain ways that Oakmont's definitely more challenging. But I've never played anywhere close to this situation or atmosphere." -- Oakmont assistant pro Grant Sturgeon, who is seven shots off the lead after finishing T-13 at even par 144
__ TOMS ON MICKELSON__
"He's grinding pretty hard. I think he was probably trying to find it off the tee a little bit. He hit some wayward shots and that cost him a lot of strokes. But as far as his competitive spirit and everything, it seems like he's into it. I think he's fine emotionally, and probably has not been able to put the time in with his golf game that he wants to." -- David Toms, who played with Mickelson the first two rounds
Mark Soltau is a contributing editor to Golf Digest and the editor of TigerWoods.com.
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ARCHITECTURE INTERIORS PLANNING
North 40 Outfitters, formerly Big R Stores,expanded its existing store by 50,000 SF as part of a major re-branding and market expansion effort. Working in a design-build effort with Young Construction Group, a clear span pre-engineered building structure was chosen as the most cost effective solution. Utilizing a combination of metal siding, CMU, and architectural detailing, the design solution achieved the goal of a new identity while appearing nothing like a typical pre-engineered metal building. The existing building has been re-faced and detailed to compliment the addition.
NORTH 40 OUTFITTERS EXPANSION
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Home Community Mad Liberation
Mad Liberation
Web Exclusive: With sold out shows nationwide, metro Detroit DJ GRiZ plans to release his third album next fall.
Casey Nesterowich
Sincerity and calmness would be two words to define DJ and producer Grant Kwiecinski, better known as GRiZ, as he sat backstage in his signature varsity jacket the few minutes before stepping onstage to headline last Friday’s sold out show at The Intersection in Grand Rapids.
Originally from Southfield, the authentic sounds created by this 23-year-old are not just noteworthy, but innovative and timeless. With two albums under his belt, and a third slated to come out this fall, Kwiecinski is traveling nonstop around the nation. But he still calls Detroit home.
By utilizing a variety of layers within his music, playing his saxophone for most songs, and incorporating samples from old vinyls, this young man has an edge against the competition — for good reason. He’s headlined at well-known music festivals like Lollapalooza and Snowball and has come a long way from the days of DJing in basement parties at Michigan State University.
“I had a five-year plan, but I achieved my five-year plan way too fast,” he says. Hour Detroit sat down with Kwiecinski to chat about his Michigan roots and future plans.
How does it feel to be back in Michigan? Does it feel different performing here compared to other places around the nation?
I think there’s only one other place that I get this sort of hometown feel, and that’s Colorado. Between these two places, Colorado and Michigan, it feels like you’re walking into a room of people who actually know who you are. It’s really amazing, and they connect with you on such a deeper level, it’s like a homecoming.
Tell me about your newest album. You obviously incorporate the saxophone in most of your music, but how are you changing it up?
I’m trying to incorporate the saxophone into a horns section, so I’m starting to make it less of a solo instrument and more of a rhythmic instrument. So it’s something that plays with the track more. I’m trying to make the sax more a prominent part of the track and make it really shine through. This new record, I’m not really settled on a new name yet. I’ve got a few floating around, but I’m doing some very new special things.
I’ve been doing a lot of sampling in my career, which is going and grabbing old vinyls from the 60s and 70s — any era really — including some disco shit. I’m taking small cuts, and incorporating that into my songs to give it that kind of classic sound.
I’m trying to recreate that classic sound with musicians today, like going into recording sessions with other artists who can add a unique sound. We’ve done this in Detroit with the dudes from Will Sessions, which is a funk group, and I’m working with a ton of people to create songs that have old, instrumental vibes, so I have original samples to choose from.
Your music has many layers to it, and incorporates many different musical elements. What are your newest ideas to keep things fresh?
Well one of the people sitting in this room — this guy Dan Hacker, his project called Muzzy, from the Mad Liberation record days — we’ve been working together and he’s been playing guitar with me to help write some tunes. We have Dan singing on some records, and have him playing guitar on a lot of them. I’ve got a bunch of samples worked in there and a bunch of digital and analogue instruments as well. On this new record I just purchased an analogue synthesizer to add some more depth, and for me it’s all about creating an environment of sounds, this overall vibe. So when you listen to a song everything is glued together, and that takes a lot of layers to establish that. Many of the new tunes have that nasty electronic vibe to it, where people can really dance to it, but they also sound organic and just nice enough that you would be able to play it out of a record player.
You travel around a lot, but have somewhat of a home base in Detroit. What does it feel like to call the city home?
I’ve got a studio and also live with my brother Cort in Detroit, and one of the things I really noticed was prior to college, I spent a decent time seeing shows with the Scrummage Dudes, which is like a small artist collective in downtown Detroit. I spent a lot of time in their warehouse, and going from that to senior year of college where all my friends didn’t have jobs yet or were looking for jobs, and many either moved out of town or moved to downtown Detroit — I chose Detroit.
A lot of kids are moving downtown lately, and I’ve seen this transformation on a cosmetic level. Of course there are many political problems that have corrupted Detroit, but many people really are coming down to invest their time and creativity into making a mark on Detroit. You have all these little marks being made right now from just kids, and I think that open-mindedness is driving a lot of the change we are seeing.
How did your most recent collaboration to design a varsity jacket with Akomplice begin? What does it symbolize for you, or is it just a fashion statement?
The second show I ever played in was in Colorado and my manager had this varsity jacket that was made by Akomplice, and I went on stage with it and said “Listen, I can’t take this off,” but I obviously had to give it back to him. Our relationship with Akomplice grew over time, and when it came down to it, I just really wanted to work with them. I wanted to design a new varsity jacket from the ground up because one, I really like the team idea, and when everyone’s wearing it, it’s hard to describe how awesome it looks. We were recently at Snowball in Colorado and everyone was rolling around with these varsity jackets, I thought, “wow we look mean, we look good,” and it made me proud to be there. It just unites us, and lets you know this is the crew, don’t mess with us. It’s really nice to have a sense of belonging, and I want to be identifiable in these jackets.
You’ve gained a lot of popularity over the last couple years. What are some of your new goals?
I had a five-year plan, but I achieved my five-year plan way too fast. The new five-year plan is something along the lines of taking everything the way it is, but expanding it even more in the most organic and natural way possible. The plan is to always make sure the new fans we are picking up are actual, real fans. I want to work on cultivating a culture, not just getting more popular.
To follow GRiZ’s tour or listen to his newest album, visit: mynameisgriz.com
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Houston-Area Teen Earns A Top Award For Artistic Contribution To Sixth Ward
A Girl Scout teams up with MECA to transform an empty lot into a work of art.
| Posted on July 30, 2015, 8:30 AM (Last Updated: December 1, 2015, 10:53 AM )
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Seventeen-year-old Francesca Farris has been working outside under the hot Houston sun for the past month or so. With the help of a few friends, she’s created a labyrinth on what was once a vacant grass lot on White Street near the Washington Avenue corridor. Within a few days of working on it, some of the neighbors in the area started asking if they could help out.
“As it came together, we had this dad and daughter walk by,” Farris says. “The little daughter – I think she was around three or four years old – was like, ‘I want to help, I want to help!’ and so she came out for two or three hours. She helped us lay bricks and then she was at the closing ceremony and running around.”
Farris worked in partnership with MECA – the Multicultural Education and Counseling through Art center. They had camp kids create about two dozen colorful mosaics, spaced out along the brick-lined foot path. Farris said that MECA also came up with the name.
“It is called, Tierra, Viento, y Luz, which is Earth, Wind, and Light, she says. “It’s just very whimsical. It’s not like any other labyrinth I’ve ever seen.”
The project was part of Farris earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest award in the organization. It recognizes efforts made by girls who demonstrate leadership and community engagement.
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Friday’s Show: COVID-19’s Effect On The Homeless, And Theaters Cope With Lost Seasons (March 27, 2020)
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How Students In Houston’s Third Ward Are Getting More Space To Pursue The Arts
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Houston Symphony Soars With Aerialists And Acrobats This Weekend
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Meet Aloys, the barber from Muruma
Aloys Nsabimana fires up his electric clippers and gets to work. Overhead, Chelsea FC’s 2013 line-up and a group of “new super stars” look down from a jumble of posters. A customer watches TV.
Squint hard enough and you’re almost in London. But this is Muruma village, Bugesera District, Eastern Province, Rwanda – in short, a world away – where the floors are swept clean but there’s no tile underfoot, just raw earth, and the posters conceal crumbling mud brick.
Business is buzzing
Ask Aloys how CARE and Hand in Hand have changed his life and he’ll happily count the ways. “Before I had nothing – nothing – to spend each day. Now I can spend 1,000 RWF (US $1.45) or 1,500 RWF (US $2.20) in a morning. I have a cow. I have a house. I have wife and five children. I can pay school fees, I can buy health insurance and when the children are sick, I can buy medicine.”
His secret: electricity. There are plenty of barbers in Bugesera District, but despite government plans to electrify 70 percent of homes and businesses nationwide by 2017, only one is connected to the grid. Want a buzzcut? Aloys is your man. Some TV? He’s got that covered, too. Factor in his side business charging mobile phones and the 40-year-old is making 180,000 RWF (US $260) a month – almost five times the national average.
A dark past
Aloys was 20 years old when the genocide literally decimated Rwanda, displacing an estimated 800,000 people and killing some 800,000 more. The country has come a long way in the 20 years since: in 2014, the UNDP noted Rwanda’s “accelerated progress” on 15 MDG indicators – the fourth most anywhere – and in 2017, the World Bank’s “ease of doing business” index ranked it 56th to Belgium’s 42 and Luxembourg’s 59. But there’s still a long way to go. Globally, Rwanda ranks 158 of 189 on the UN Human Development Index – and it gets worse. In rural Rwanda, home to Aloys and the rest of Hand in Hand’s entrepreneurs, poverty is three times greater than in the city.
The country’s dual fortunes – improving, but not fast enough – are neatly summed up in its education rates. Primary school enrolment is now above 98 percent, the highest in all of Africa. But more than three-quarters of students, 72 percent, don’t make it to secondary school.
Aloys was one of them. Lacking education – though not the entrepreneurial spirit – he started off selling clothes in Kigali, then moved to the country to start his own farm when the venture failed to take off. When that failed too, he set up shop underneath a tree in Murama village, Ngeruka sector, and started cutting hair at 100RFW a pop. Finally, he’d found his calling.
But it wasn’t until 2009, when he joined a local Village Savings and Loan Group organised by Hand in Hand field partner CARE, that he also found success.
The going was tough to begin with. In the months following the group’s inception, Aloys and others could barely scrape together 150 RWF (US $0.20) per week. Today, having all met success, they’re each saving 500 RWF (US $0.70). It was a loan for 280,000 RWF (US $400) that enabled Aloys to start his first barbershop, still going strong with help from two employees, at home. Buoyed by his initial success, and with help from a Hand in Hand business trainer, he next applied for a loan of 500,000 RWF (US $700) from the Savings and Credit Organisation.
Plans to expand
Aloys knows he won’t be the only barber in Bugesera with electricity for long. That’s why, ever the entrepreneur, he plans to take a course on cutting women’s hair just as soon as he becomes debt-free. A third loan will follow, this one to pay for the resulting equipment. He’ll probably get some new posters, too.
Aloys’ results
Possible to provide health insurance and medicine for his family
Monthly income of 180,000 RWF (US $260) – almost five times the national average
Able to send all of this children to school
Hand in Hand Eastern Africa and CARE Rwanda are co-operating to empower some 100,000 Rwandans, mostly women, to work their way out of poverty by running their own sustainable businesses. The three-year, US $3.2 million partnership is grounded in our shared belief in the power of entrepreneurship to fight poverty.
Meet Zacharie, the salesman from Rwinkwavu
Ambition, the gift of gab, a relentless work ethic – Zacharie Itegekaharmde has all the traits of a born salesman. What he didn’t have was capital.
Then he found Hand in Hand.
Limited progress
Until a few years ago, Zacharie lived with his brother and elderly mother as one of the almost 80 percent of Rwandans who farm for a living, many at the subsistence level. Stuck on a cramped plot in the Eastern Province village of Rwinkwavu, the family struggled to eat three meals a day. “The farming was just for survival,” he says. “We could not get enough food to eat. We used to make and sell banana beer so that we could afford to buy clothes.”
Rwanda has come a long way since the 1994 genocide claimed some 800,000 lives. The country made “especially impressive progress” on a number of UN Millennium Development Goals, particularly in the areas of extreme poverty reduction and primary school education. But there remains a hugely long way to go. On the UN Human Development Index, for example, Rwanda ranks a sobering 158 of 189.
Sell phones
Life changed the day a sceptical Zacharie was persuaded by friends to join a Village Savings and Loan Group established by Hand in Hand partner organization CARE. To his surprise, admits the 25-year-old, the training was interesting. Better still, it was useful. “You learn that if you get a loan it is not to solve your problems but to make money,” he says. That’s exactly what he’s doing.
The Rwandan telecoms market is exploding. Between 2005 and 2010, the number of families with at least one cellphone grew 39 percent, climbing past 45 percent from only 6.2. By 2013, cellphone penetration countrywide was more than 61 percent.
Zacharie didn’t need business training to spot the opportunity. In fact, he’d been selling cellphone products on the side for years, making all but enough to invest and expand. Getting a loan from his savings group was easy enough. Pitching South African telecom company MTN for an exclusive airtime card distribution deal was harder. But armed with the skills he’d learned in his group from a Hand in Hand trainer, Zacharie pulled it off. Today his ‘patch’ spans a 125-mile radius, an area so big he’s had to hire help. Even better, his income has skyrocketed to 110,000 Rwandan francs (US $160) a month – almost three times the monthly national average of 37,000 RWF (US $55).
The resulting lifestyle change has been immense. Not only has Zacharie built a brick home, he’s furnished it – just in time for his upcoming wedding.
Zacharie’s results
Increased monthly income to 110,000 Rwandan francs (US $160)
Able to build and furnish a new brick home for him and his family
Able to hire a employee from his village
Meet Sam, the barber from Nyabikenka
Sam Nsengimana was 7 when news of his mother’s murder came through the radio. By the time the genocide was over less than three months later 800,000 people had been killed in just 100 days.
Sam, who fled to Tanzania with a relative, was one of the lucky ones. “I grew up in an orphanage and no one to help me,” says the 27-year-old. He later returned to Rwanda and moved in with his grandparents in Nyabikenka village, Eastern Province, where he still lives today. The better life he’d been hoping to find was elusive at first.
Moving forward, slowly
Rwanda is a study in contrasts. On one hand, the east African country of 11.5 million was a rare MDG success story, posting significant gains across the board. With primary school enrolment comfortably above 98 percent, for example, it’s no wonder that the UNDP calls the country “especially impressive”. On the other hand, more than a third of Rwandans live in extreme poverty, particularly in rural areas.
Until recently, Sam – along with his daughter, brother and 76-year-old grandmother Marie – was one of them. Sure, the family of farmers earned an income during harvest. But in between yields, for four months at a time, they had nothing. “I couldn’t even afford health insurance or a mattress to sleep on,” says Sam. Then, in 2011, he joined a Village Savings and Loan Association organised by Hand in Hand field partner CARE.
The going was tough to begin with. Some months, Sam couldn’t afford his contribution to the group’s savings fund. But he persisted, and eventually borrowed 250,000 RWF (US $365) to set up a barbershop. Thanks in part to help from his Hand in Hand trainer, it’s been a massive success. “I’ve never been able to have 100,000 RWF (US $148) in my pocket,” he says. “Today I can count up to 200,000 RWF (US $295).”
With side businesses in farming and mobile phone charging, Sam has been able to hire an employee from outside his family, furnish the family home and put money aside for his daughter’s education. He also has plans to open a second barbershop in the nearby town of Kabarandou and start yet another business selling produce.
“I live a better life today,” he says. “I have peace of mind.”
Sam’s results
Total savings of 200,000 RWF (US $295) so far
Able to employ one person
Plans to open a second barbershop in a nearby town and yet another business selling produce
Hand in Hand Eastern Africa and CARE Rwanda are co-operating to empower some 80,000 Rwandans, mostly women, to work their way out of poverty by running their own sustainable businesses. The three-year, US $3.2 million partnership is grounded in our shared belief in the power of entrepreneurship to fight poverty.
Meet Rahabu, the shop owner from Nyarubuye
Five years ago, Rahabu Mukampenda couldn’t get credit. Today, she provides it. And to think it’s all down to a few simple skills she learned at a Village Savings and Loans Group.
Tomato catch-up
Stop by Rahabu’s bustling shop in Burembo village, Rwanda and there’s a few things you’ll quickly notice. First, the variety of stock. The 44-year-old started out in 2010 with a crop of tomatoes she’d grown herself, having noted their popularity in nearby markets, but today her bestsellers range from cooking oil to body lotion, each chosen to satisfy customer demand.
Second is the abundance of customers. There are two nearby shops in Rahuba’s corner of Nyarubuye district, Eastern Province, but neither is as conveniently located. As a result she nets 20,000 Rwandan Francs (US $30) a month.
A long way travelled, a longer way to go
The human cost of Rwanda’s genocide is well-known, if inconceivable: over the course of 100 days in 1994 an estimated 800,000 were killed, literally decimating the country’s population. The economic cost is underreported, if staggering: in ’94 alone, growth dropped by 50 percent while inflation rose to 64 percent. The plunge helps explain how, despite high growth rates and decreasing poverty, the country remains one where almost 80 percent of the population is involved in farming, most at the subsistence level.
Rahabu was one of them. Back in 2009, before she joined a Village Savings and Loans Group organised by Hand in Hand Eastern Africa field partner CARE Rwanda, the mother of seven daughters aged 6 to 23 tended a small patch of land for 12 hours a day, growing just enough for the family to eat once daily. Soap, new clothes and secondary school fees were out of the question.
When she first joined the group, Rahabu worked for others to earn the 400 RWF (US $0.60) in required weekly savings. Discipline came easy. “You sometimes go to market to buy beans but when you are there you see something else that you would like and so you spend more than you meant to,” she said. “Because of the training I learned to buy what I need and save the rest.”
Having learned how to save, Rahabu soon graduated to learning basic financial and marketing skills. Now she’ll hold on to stock until prices rise, or extend credit to customers who can’t afford the essentials.
Back at home, things have changed immeasurably. Rahabu didn’t just buy dishes – she bought cupboards to store them. She even bought a modern stove. Even better, she says, her four youngest children will attend secondary school – a first in the family. With success like that, Rahubu’s husband Mutabagisha has been happy to take over the family farm. And Rahabu? She’s busy puzzling over her next move: how to expand her business.
Rahabu’s results
Net profit of 20,000 Rwandan Francs (US $30) a month
Able to send her four youngest children to secondary school
Planning to expand her business
In 2013, Hand in Hand Eastern Africa and CARE Rwanda co-operated to empower some 100,000 Rwandans, mostly women, to work their way out of poverty by running their own sustainable businesses. The three-year, US $3.2 million partnership was grounded in our shared belief in the power of entrepreneurship to fight poverty.
Meet Florida, the young mother saving to put her children through school
So often, beneficiaries in the developing world are reduced to cold numbers. But ask Florida Mukarugema what’s been the biggest change since she opened her shop and her answer won’t fit on any graph. “I am feeling happy. I am no longer crying.”
Florida joined a Village Savings and Loan group organised by Hand in Hand field partner CARE in 2009, driven, like so many others, by sheer desperation. “We used to eat just once a day, in the evening. We didn’t have our own home but stayed with others. I couldn’t even afford a bunch of bananas,” she says.
How things have changed. Today, bananas are Florida’s bestselling item, the staple around which the young mother built her growing business, which also sells rice, maize flour and more. Recently, with help from a Hand in Hand business trainer, she borrowed 108,000 Rwandan francs (US $158) to build a water facility and sell clean water. Tally her earnings from both and Florida’s annual income is 1,200,000 RWF (US $1,760), almost ten times what she made previously and three times the gross national income per capita.
A country rebuilds
Life in Rwanda has improved beyond description in the 20 years since genocide convulsed the country, claiming some 800,000 lives in just 100 days. The economy is growing at upwards of 8 percent a year. Rwanda was- “top-performing” at the Millennium Development Goals, according to the UN. Social progress, evinced by the world’s greatest proportion of women MPs – 64 percent – has been undeniable. And yet there remains a hugely long way to go.
Florida’s neighborhood
Rural Rwanda, home to Florida’s Eastern Province village of Kinamba, experiences three times more poverty than urban Rwanda. Countrywide, more than 80 percent of Rwandans are engaged in agriculture, many at the subsistence level. And almost a third of Rwandans are considered undernourished by the International Food Policy Research Institute.
Savings and loans
Florida was one of them. Then she borrowed 15,000 RWF (US $22) from her Village Savings and Loan group and bought three bundles of bananas, which quickly sold for 28,000 RWF (US $41). Buoyed by a series of ever-bigger successes, Florida went on to borrow 200,000 RWF (US $294) from her group to open a shop.
“Before I joined the group I was not even able to buy salt,” she says. “I did not know how to use the bank and I did not understand how to buy and sell and make a profit.”
Today, Florida, her husband and the couple’s four children – two of whom are adopted – live in a furnished three-room home with clean water. “I will make sure they go to university and then live in a nice place,” she says.
Florida’s results
Annual income of 1,200,000 RWF (US $1,760) – 10 times her previous income
200,000 RWF (US $290) in savings
Saving to pay for children’s university fees
Business heats up for chilli farmer Marie Consolee
The 1994 genocide in Rwanda took Marie Consolee’s husband and child. For almost 20 years, it also took her ability to hope. But on a hot, still day in January 2014, the one-time teacher from Kiziguro village finds herself dreaming of a better future. “I am no longer begging for things or money. I can get what I need on my own.”
An unspeakable past
Rwanda has come an immensely long way since the 1994 genocide claimed some 800,000 lives. Poverty is decreasing rapidly – almost 12 percent between 2006 and 2011 – and the country’s primary school enrolment rate, 98.7 percent, is the highest anywhere in Africa.
But for every reason to be optimistic there’s a reminder of just how it has left to go: 40 percent of Rwandans still live in extreme poverty, and secondary school enrolment is only 21 percent. In rural Rwanda, home to more than 80 percent of the population – including Marie – poverty rates are three times higher. Almost 14 percent of rural dwellers are landless peasants living in extreme poverty.
Before the genocide, Marie was a teacher in Northern Province. Afterwards, as one of 800,000 refugees and displaced people, she withdrew to the tiny Eastern Province hamlet of Kiziguro with her remaining son and newly orphaned nieces. The plan was to settle into a quiet, isolated life living off a small plot of land she’d inherited from her mother. In practice, the family of five found themselves begging for food from neighbours as part of the 28 percent of Rwandans classified as ‘food-insecure’. Occasional day labour in the fields meanwhile brought in a handful of francs a day – enough, most months, to total about 30,000 Rwandan francs (US $40).
Kiziguro, Rwanda
A brighter future
The family scraped by until 2009. Then Marie joined a Village Savings and Loan group organised by Hand in Hand partner CARE and, gradually, everything changed. But first she had to cut down on the sugar. “Instead of spending 500 RWF (US $0.70) on sugar, I would spend just 300 RWF (US $0.40) and so find the 200 RWF (US $0.30) I needed each week for the group savings fund,” says the 53-year-old.
“I changed my life”
Nine months later, after the group of 30 villagers had saved enough to start funding micro-businesses, Marie was among the first to apply for a loan. Knowing that chilli peppers always sold for a good price, she borrowed 50,000 RWF and bought her first seedlings.
The weather that year was unusually dry. But Marie, with “more friends and a bigger network than before,” was feeling unusually confident. When her seedlings were threatened, she borrowed another 70,000 RWF to hire help carrying water from the local pump. The investment paid off: Marie netted 480,000 RWF (US $700) that first season, enough to pay off her loans and purchase new land. Today, having diversified to grow chillies and bananas, her annual income has increased almost eight-fold to 3,840,000 RWF (US £5,520). And depending on the time of year she employs as many as 16 neighbours.
And there’s no plan to stop there. To stay ahead of her competitors, Marie has begun saving the 800,000 RWF (US $1,000) she’ll need to build a water tank. After that, she can start her own nursery and begin selling thousands of seedlings for 10,000 RWF (US $15) each. “I changed my life,” she says.
She also changed her home. In isolated Kiziguro, 10 bumpy miles off the main road from Kigali, most houses are made of mud and tree stumps. Not Marie’s. “I have cement walls and floors so it’s clean and nice,” she says. “There’s also enough food and my family can afford health insurance.”
But perhaps the biggest change of all has been internal. “At local meetings neighbours and government officials want to hear how I changed my life,” says Marie, who’d once lost hope. “I am now a counsellor and advisor on how to start a small business to people in this village and beyond. I am a role model.”
Marie’s results
Annual income increased almost eight-fold to 3,840,000 RWF (US $5,520)
Employs up to 16 neighbours
New home and health insurance for her family
Read more about Marie Consolee in The Huffington Post
Meet Maida, the supercharged entrepreneur
The first thing you notice at Maida Mushimiyimana’s home in Agatare village is what’s not there. Besides a table, two benches, a large battery and a few charging mobile phones, the room is empty.
The second thing you notice, moments after the 43-year-old begins describing her Village Savings and Loans group, is how beautifully she speaks: “When 30 heads meet together you have 30 ideas to improve your life.”
By the standards of Rwanda’s Eastern Province – where 50.4 percent of the population is poor – Maida’s business is booming. The fledgling micro-entrepreneur earns 70,000 Rwanda francs (US $100) a month charging mobile phones at 100 RWF (US $0.14) a piece. So far, the biggest challenge has been keeping up with demand.
Like so many Rwandans, Maida, her husband and their three children lost everything during the 1994 genocide. They were the lucky ones. Across the country, an estimated 800,000 men, women and children – about 20 percent of the total population – lost their lives in just 100 days.
Looking to start life afresh, Maida’s family settled in Agatare and began farming a small plot of land. “We could only get one bag of beans from the land. We had no money so it was difficult to buy the extra food we needed. It was also difficult to cook because we could not buy oil,” says Maida.
Their situation is not unique. Despite growing optimism about Rwanda’s future – the country is among a handful in Africa that made “especially impressive progress” on the Millennium Development Goals, according to UNDP – there is still an immensely long way to go. True, the poverty rate decreased almost 12 percent between 2006 and 2011, but an astonishingly high 24 percent of Rwandans still live in extreme poverty. And although primary education enrolment has reached almost 97 percent – the highest anywhere in Africa – secondary school enrolment continues to languish at 28 percent.
The power of savings
Hand in Hand micro-entrepreneurs join savings and loans groups organised by Hand in Hand partner CARE for lots of reasons – ambition, loneliness, desperation. For Maida, it was simple curiosity. “They said they were for poor people but I did not know if it would make a difference in our lives,” she says. “Now we are no longer isolated and lead a hopeful life. Some did not join and they are sorry now.”
“When 30 heads meet together you have 30 ideas to improve your life”
In the beginning, the group could only manage 100 RWF (US $0.14) each in savings a week. Maida bided her time, all the while attending classes to learn basic business skills. But her plan was there from the very start.
An electric idea
Almost 65 percent of Rwandans owned mobile phones in July 2013. At the same time, only about 20 percent had electricity in their homes. With a gap like that, how do you charge your phone?
If you live in Agatare, you spend 3,000 RWF (US $4) to get to the nearby town of Rwamagana, then pay to get it charged there. At least, you used to. These days, ever since Madia borrowed 50,000 RWF (US $72) from the group and bought herself a battery, you walk a few minutes and charge it for 100 RWF (US $0.14). Simple.
Maida quickly repaid her loan and bought a second battery, followed by a solar panel to keep business running while her batteries themselves go off to get charged. Today, her customers include government officials who stop by to get their laptops charged.
Maida still meets with her savings group each and every week.
“We all support each other now. Today our group saves 750 RWF (US $1) each a week, plus another 50 RWF (US$0.07) for our social fund. If someone is sick or their home is damaged, or if someone is getting married then we can help,” she says.
Maida also has a savings fund of her own to make sure her daughter Mukeshimana Zamdha, 10, has the brightest future possible. “Now that I have my own business I am able to pay the 20,000 RWF (US $28) a term that it costs to send her to a good school, with all the books, bags and uniforms she needs.”
Maida’s results
Average weekly savings of 750 RWF (US $1) per member
Personal savings will send her daughter to a good school
Access to informal medical insurance
Business as usual: Clementine’s climb from farmer to leader
It started with a pig. Then Clementine Uwimana traded up and rented out a shop. Next, she plans to build a new house with a shelter for a cow. And after that – “I am confident that any challenge I face I can solve,” she says.
Clementine’s rise from subsistence farmer to business owner and local community leader began in 2001, when she joined a local village savings group organised by Hand in Hand partner CARE.
Credit is nonexistent in Clementine’s native Kabarondo, an isolated village almost 35 miles from Kigali. Skills and business training, also provided to the group, are equally unheard of (countrywide, secondary school enrolment is only 28 percent). Across the district, nearly 50 percent of Clementine’s neighbours are defined as poor. Homes are typically built out of mud and tree trunks. And less than 10 percent of people have access to electricity.
Rwanda has come an incredibly long way since the 1994 genocide claimed some 800,000 lives. According to the World Bank’s 2017 ‘Doing Business’ report, the country is now the 56th best in the world in terms of overall ease of doing business, ranking second in Africa behind only Mauritius. Still, the east African country has an immeasurably long way to go: more than 80 percent of the working population remains engaged in agriculture, many at the subsistence level, while some 29 percent of Rwandans are considered undernourished by the International Food Policy Research Institute.
Kabarondo, Rwanda
In a place like Kabarondo, belonging to a savings group can make all the difference. “The trainer gave me the training and confidence to take a loan of 35,000 Rwandan francs (US $35),” says Clementine.
“I am confident that any challenge I face I can solve”
The 30-year-old used the loan to buy a pig, which she later sold for 70,000 RWF (US $100). The money was enough to pay off her loan and invest in stock for her shop, which today sells everything from beans and charcoal to potatoes and cabbages that Clementine grows herself. With the 2,500 RWF (US $4) she earns in profit each day, Clementine has begun to make a more comfortable life – literally.
“I have bought a mattress and a bed,” she says. “And because important people come to visit me I have also bought cups and plates.” Her most recent purchase, corrugated iron for the roof of her house, stands in the corner of the shop waiting to be installed.
Lately, Clementine’s shop has become more than a place to buy goods, doubling as a buzzing gathering place.
“Most of the problems the women face in the village are discussed in my shop. Local government officials also come to visit me and discuss ideas to improve the community,” says Clementine. Of course, her decision to brew and sell sorghum, a local beer, hasn’t hurt either. As Kabarondo’s leading retailer, she is hopeful about the future. “I am happy. If I work hard I can get everything I want.”
Clementine’s results
2,500 RWF (US $4) profit per day
Planning to build a new house
Newfound influence in the local community
Meet Gloria, the former refugee growing crops – and profits
It took 15 years for Gloria Kabagwira to get back to her native Rwanda. With the right training and access to credit, it only took three more for the 46-year-old to become one of her district’s most successful farmers.
A country of farmers
Rwanda is on the rise. In its efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals, says the UN, the country was “top-performing”. But despite a sizeable mining sector and ambitious government plans to electrify 70 percent of homes and businesses by 2017, Rwanda’s economy remains overwhelmingly agricultural. Almost 80 percent of the population is engaged in farming, most at the subsistence level.
Gloria’s village is no exception. Here in Mpanga, some 12 miles from the nearest paved road, homes are made from mud bricks, electricity is non-existent and the nearest water pump is a good half-mile away. “And it’s not good water,” she says.
Twenty years ago, the Rwandan genocide claimed an estimated 800,000 lives. Another 800,000 people were displaced. Gloria, who returned from Tanzania in 2009 after the government promised her a free hectare of land, was among them. “When we came back we were poor. The government gave us the land but we did not know how to use it,” she says. “We survived because in this area it is easy to grow bananas and maize. Not much else, though.”
Mpanga region, Rwanda
Life savings
Things began to change in 2011 when Gloria joined a local community savings group, compelled by a mixture of curiosity and desperation. For the first time in her life, the mother of eight had access to skills and business training.
Crucially, she could also access credit via the group fund. “I contributed 400 Rwandan Francs (US $0.60) a week by working in the fields,” she says. “It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.” Before long, the 30-strong group was ready to start lending. Gloria, meanwhile, was ready to borrow. “I was growing a few crops to eat but I knew that if I grew tomatoes and cabbages then I would be able to sell them, so I took a loan from the group of 25,000 RWF (US $36) to buy tomato seedlings,” she says. “It was a lot. I was afraid how to pay it back, it was so big.” But pay it back she did. Today, Gloria’s crops bring in some 500,000 RWF (US $720) a season, $250,000 RWF (US $360) in pure profit. And she isn’t stopping there.
A capital idea
Between her own savings and help from the Rwandan government’s agricultural grants scheme, also facilitated by the group, Gloria has managed to build a water reservoir and instal her own biogas system, erasing the need to forage for fuel. She’s also expanded her acreage to grow passion fruit and papaya.
She credits her new income with much more than an improved quality of life. “In Rwanda, if you are a woman you look to everything from your husband. If you need salt, soap or clothes you must ask. You feel like you don’t have value,” she says. “Today I no longer have to beg from my husband. We share responsibility.”
For all her success, Gloria has even bigger plans for her children:
“I don’t want them to cultivate vegetables. I want them to get a good education and learn to speak English so that they can get good jobs.”
Gloria’s results
250,000 RWF (US $360) in pure profit per season
One of her district’s most successful farmers
Greater financial autonomy within the family
Reaping what she sews: Odette Mukarusagara
Odette Mukarusagara still can’t believe it. “Local government officials come to visit me as a senior and respected member of the community, my neighbours trust me. I’m even on one of the senior committees of the National Women’s Council,” says the 43-year-old, incredulous.
It’s a far cry from two years ago, when Odette and her family survived off a small patch of land in Kiziguro, a rural village in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, growing beans, maize and bananas. “Honestly, our crops were only for food. They did not give us an income,” says the married mother of four. Most days they only ate once.
Odette tried her best to supplement the family income by making and selling clothes, but without enough startup capital – and even less business knowledge – soon found her efforts unravelling. Something had to change.
In early-2012, it finally did. Using what little income she’d earned selling clothes, Odette bought into a Village Savings and Loans (VSL) group organised by Hand in Hand partner CARE where members learned the basics of business and money management – saving, borrowing, paying loans back. Across Eastern Province, the groups are contributing to progress the UN Development Programme calls “especially impressive”.
There can be no doubt the country has come an immensely long way since 1994,when genocide claimed some 800,000 lives – about 20 percent of the total population – in just 100 days. But for every reason to be optimistic there’s a corresponding reminder of how far the country has left to go.
True, the poverty rate decreased almost 12 percent between 2006 and 2011, but an astonishingly high 24 percent of Rwandans still live in extreme poverty. Likewise, although primary education enrolment has reached almost 99 percent – the highest anywhere in Africa – secondary school enrolment continues to languish at 28 percent.
Urban-rural divide
The urban-rural divide is another cause for concern. Countrywide, poverty is three times greater outside Rwanda’s cities, and Odette’s district is no exception.
Here, just an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Kigali, homes are built out of mud-covered tree trunks and only 2.5 percent of people use electric lighting. Not surprisingly, formal sources of finance are vanishingly rare.
Unless, of course, you belong to a savings group. Odette borrowed 50,000 Rwandan francs (US $70) from the VSL group’s fund and quickly set about establishing her clothing business. Equipped with capital and newfound savvy, the budding micro-entrepreneur devised a plan to sell school uniforms to coincide with an upcoming term. They quickly sold for 100,000 RWF (US $140) – more than enough to cover her loan and invest in future growth. Odette was in business.
Future sewn up
Today, Odette owns four sewing machines, runs a sewing school and earns 50,000RWF (US $70) a month. Her success has inspired competition, but as the only tailor in her village with access to a nearby co-operative boasting more advanced machines, the tailor-cum-teacher isn’t worried. Perhaps best of all, subsistence farming is a thing of the past. “We employ others to work the land for us, we can buy things we can’t grow such as oil and we have more food,” says Odette.
“Local government officials come to visit me as a senior and respected member of the community, my neighbours trust me. I’m even on one of the senior committees of the National Women’s Council”
More time, too, most of which has gone into expanding her business. With help from her Hand in Hand trainer, Odette has already started saving for new space and machines for students. The resulting income, she says, will ensure an even brighter future for her five-year-old daughter, Divine.
“Now that we have a regular income I’ll be able to afford the fees, clothes, books and bags for secondary school and university,” says Odette.
Odette’s results
Monthly earnings 50,000 RWF (US $70)
Earnings covered loan and investments for future growth
Able to afford secondary school and university for her daughter
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has refused to confirm if an Australian academic was released from Iran as part of a prisoner swap for terrorists. Kylie Gilbert-Moore is finally free after 804 days behind bars and will soon be reunited with her family in Australia. While Mr Morrison said no prisoner was released from Australia, he was tight-lipped about detainees in other parts of the world. "The Australian government doesn't acknowledge or confirm any such arrangement regarding any release of any other persons in any other places," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday. "If other people are being released in other places, they are the decisions of the sovereign governments in those places." Iranian media claims three of the country's citizens were released on Thursday in exchange for Dr Gilbert-Moore. Other reports suggest the men had been behind bars in Thailand since 2012 on charges of having planned to bomb Bangkok and assassinate Israeli diplomats. Dr Moore-Gilbert thanked the Australian government and diplomats for securing her release, as well as supporters who campaigned for her freedom. "It has meant the world to me to have you behind me throughout what has been a long and traumatic ordeal," she said. The Middle Eastern studies lecturer said it was bittersweet to depart Iran, despite the injustices she was subjected to. "I have nothing but respect, love and admiration for the great nation of Iran and its warm-hearted, generous and brave people," she said. "I came to Iran as a friend and with friendly intentions, and depart Iran with those sentiments not only still intact, but strengthened."' Mr Morrison said he spoke with Dr Gilbert-Moore shortly before she was released. "I have always believed in miracles and I'm just thankful for this one as well," he said. Dr Moore-Gilbert's family thanked those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure her freedom. "We are relieved and ecstatic with the release of Kylie after over 800 days of incredible hardship. We cannot convey the overwhelming happiness that each of us feel at this incredible news," they said. "We also thank the public for their interest and concern but ask that Kylie and us, her family, are given the space needed to re-adjust and re-acclimatise after such a traumatic experience." Friends and colleagues of Dr Moore-Gilbert are over the moon. "An innocent woman is finally free. Today is a very bright day in Australia indeed," they said in a statement. Dr Moore-Gilbert was a lecturer on Middle Eastern studies when she was arrested at a Tehran airport while trying to leave the country after a conference in 2018. She was sent to Evin prison, convicted of spying and sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Dr Moore-Gilbert vehemently denied the charges and maintained her innocence. She wrote a series of letters to the prime minister from prison, saying she had been locked up "to extort" the Australian government. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese described her detention as outrageous. "It's outrageous, very clearly, that the Iranian government has used this situation, effectively as a hostage situation," he told reporters in Sydney International pressure had been building on Iran to release Dr Moore-Gilbert. She went on repeated hunger strikes and her health had deteriorated during long stretches in solitary confinement. In recent months, she was transferred to the remote Qarchak Prison, east of Tehran, as fears escalated over the spread of the coronavirus in the country's notoriously crowded prisons. Australian Associated Press
/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/10dc97fd-97f1-4c04-b596-621c7024b13a.jpg/r0_74_800_526_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
PM refuses to confirm Iran prisoner swap
Daniel McCulloch and Matt Coughlan
Kylie Moore-Gilbert has thanked Australian diplomats and supporters after her release in Iran.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has refused to confirm if an Australian academic was released from Iran as part of a prisoner swap for terrorists.
Kylie Gilbert-Moore is finally free after 804 days behind bars and will soon be reunited with her family in Australia.
While Mr Morrison said no prisoner was released from Australia, he was tight-lipped about detainees in other parts of the world.
"The Australian government doesn't acknowledge or confirm any such arrangement regarding any release of any other persons in any other places," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
"If other people are being released in other places, they are the decisions of the sovereign governments in those places."
Iranian media claims three of the country's citizens were released on Thursday in exchange for Dr Gilbert-Moore.
Other reports suggest the men had been behind bars in Thailand since 2012 on charges of having planned to bomb Bangkok and assassinate Israeli diplomats.
Dr Moore-Gilbert thanked the Australian government and diplomats for securing her release, as well as supporters who campaigned for her freedom.
"It has meant the world to me to have you behind me throughout what has been a long and traumatic ordeal," she said.
The Middle Eastern studies lecturer said it was bittersweet to depart Iran, despite the injustices she was subjected to.
"I have nothing but respect, love and admiration for the great nation of Iran and its warm-hearted, generous and brave people," she said.
"I came to Iran as a friend and with friendly intentions, and depart Iran with those sentiments not only still intact, but strengthened."'
Mr Morrison said he spoke with Dr Gilbert-Moore shortly before she was released.
"I have always believed in miracles and I'm just thankful for this one as well," he said.
Dr Moore-Gilbert's family thanked those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure her freedom.
"We are relieved and ecstatic with the release of Kylie after over 800 days of incredible hardship. We cannot convey the overwhelming happiness that each of us feel at this incredible news," they said.
"We also thank the public for their interest and concern but ask that Kylie and us, her family, are given the space needed to re-adjust and re-acclimatise after such a traumatic experience."
Friends and colleagues of Dr Moore-Gilbert are over the moon.
"An innocent woman is finally free. Today is a very bright day in Australia indeed," they said in a statement.
Dr Moore-Gilbert was a lecturer on Middle Eastern studies when she was arrested at a Tehran airport while trying to leave the country after a conference in 2018.
She was sent to Evin prison, convicted of spying and sentenced to 10 years behind bars.
Dr Moore-Gilbert vehemently denied the charges and maintained her innocence.
She wrote a series of letters to the prime minister from prison, saying she had been locked up "to extort" the Australian government.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese described her detention as outrageous.
"It's outrageous, very clearly, that the Iranian government has used this situation, effectively as a hostage situation," he told reporters in Sydney
International pressure had been building on Iran to release Dr Moore-Gilbert.
She went on repeated hunger strikes and her health had deteriorated during long stretches in solitary confinement.
In recent months, she was transferred to the remote Qarchak Prison, east of Tehran, as fears escalated over the spread of the coronavirus in the country's notoriously crowded prisons.
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サービス - News
Interview by the Belgian special interest magazine “Crescendo” with the programme director at G. Henle Publishers
August 27, 2019. The Belgian music magazine “Crescendo” interviewed our head of publishing, Dr. Norbert Gertsch, also deputy managing director, on the philosophy, focus points and future plans of G. Henle Verlag. The interview was conducted by Pierre-Jean Tribot (original in English). Thank you for your permission to publish.
Crescendo Magazine, 27 August 2019 (online):
In the music publishing industry, German publishers G. Henle Verlag are renowned for the exceptional quality of their Urtext publications. Founded over 70 years ago, G. Henle Verlag has developed unique know-how and competence in the musicological approach to editing music, and reached a level of competence that guarantees perfection. “Crescendo” magazine interviewed Dr. Norbert Gertsch, head of publishing at G. Henle Verlag, and responsible for the Henle programme (original in English).
Crescendo: G. Henle Verlag is one of the major players in music publishing. It is also an old publisher, with more than 70 years in excellence. How do you perpetuate this legacy?
Gertsch: Actually, Henle is one of the youngsters amongst publishers in the classical music realm. Just think of Breitkopf & Härtel who are celebrating their 300th year in 2019, Schott Music who will be 250 years in 2020 or Peters Edition who have been in business over 200 years. When Günter Henle founded the publishing house in 1948, he was first and foremost committed to one thing: Urtext editions. This was a huge opportunity because the scholarly method of editing sheet music had not been exploited by others in a big way. It was largely uncharted territory and obviously musicians were eager for him to fill it as soon as possible. Urtext editions at Henle’s have been a success story ever since. Because of the extremely time-consuming work we do – projects usually take years – it has taken decades to fill the catalogue and even today we are still publishing true masterpieces. Just think of the Mozart String Quartets, two volumes of which are out and two more in preparation. And some important concertos are also still missing: Tschaikovsky’s and Liszt’s Piano Concertos, the Dvorák Cello Concerto, to name just a few. So, to answer your question how we perpetuate our legacy: We continue to work at the highest quality level to publish scores prepared with scholarly excellence and optimally fitted out for performance.
G. Henle Verlag has a very high recognized expertise in publishing Urtext. Since then, many other publishing companies have taken an interest in Urtext. What are your working methods to preserve the know-how of G. Henle Verlag?
G. Henle Verlag was indeed the first publishing house to place the editing of Urtext scores in the centre of their activities. We did not invent the term “Urtext” nor were we the first to publish scores marked “Urtext”. But we were certainly the first to systematically build up a whole catalogue of Urtext editions, starting with piano solo music and works for solo string instruments with piano accompaniment. With over 1,200 editions in our catalogue at present, we have a huge advantage over other publishers in the area of Urtext, but of course, our competitors are slowly catching up. I would describe our know-how as being twofold: on the one hand Urtext, but on the other, a deep understanding of how to present scores in the best possible way – both for practice and performance. We create practical Urtext editions. Our scholarly work of editing or of supervising the editing of others is done by five PhD musicologists, all of whom are also musicians. There is no compromise when it comes to following our scholarly method and a lot of V.I.P. artists support our work by contributing fingerings and bowings, cadenzas, piano reductions and general advice, especially when it comes to difficult editorial questions which can only be solved through the joint efforts of a scholar and musician. I believe that this commitment to a true and practical musical text is still unsurpassed in the music publishing world.
How do you determine the editorial program?
Of course we would love to publish as much of the wonderful music out there as soon as possible. But there are certain limitations which we have to take into consideration when planning. First and foremost, there is the copyright issue. Because Henle Verlag has traditionally not been working with living composers, we do not hold any copyrights for music of the 20th or 21st century (with the exception of Evgeny Kissin’s works). To be able to add a composer to our catalogue, the copyright on the music has to have run out. In Germany and most countries in the world this happens 70 years after the composer’s death. So, for example, in 2020 we will be allowed to publish the works of Richard Strauss. When a new name enters our catalogue, we endeavour to follow the strategy that we have always followed for our catalogue: We first look at piano music, then at works for string instruments and piano, then smaller chamber music ensembles etc. However, we are also guided by the popularity of the works and we will try to publish Urtext editions of the most important compositions as soon as possible.
As for works of composers from the 17th to 19th century, whose works are, of course, all out of copyright, we decide mainly on the basis of popularity and demand. Many artists contact us and ask for particular works to be edited. We then evaluate the situation – including some financial calculations – and decide what to do. If there is one thing we have learned from the past, it is that a mediocre composition or an unknown composer will not become successful just because the music is published by Henle. It’s very hard for us, but we often have to say no when it comes to lesser-known works and composers. There is still so much to do!
What are the major challenges facing a publishing company specializing in Urtext in 2019?
Well, of course, with every Urtext project we also have to consider the financial side of things; we cannot publish everything. As a consequence, it will become increasingly difficult in the not so distant future to “find” good repertoire for our core catalogue that will also provide the necessary earnings for the publishing house. This is why we are branching out into new areas and testing their market value. It really is a learning-by-doing process.
Although many see the age of digitalization as a huge challenge, we have fully embraced the changes that musicians are asking for. Thinking digital, thinking online has been on the table for many years and plays a role in our strategy for the future. We are not scared of the free-download competition on the Internet, quality will always come out on top!
You have also developed an app for iOS and Android. Why is digital important to you?
Publishing digital scores in an app was actually a reaction to the demands of the market. I myself had an “awakening” at an MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) conference where I was giving a talk about Urtext. After the talk, members of the audience lined up, waving their iPads, asking when we would finally publish a digital version of our scores. As a more traditional publishing house, this did catch us a bit by surprise. But what won us over in the following months were the amazing possibilities that digital scores offer us. There are some unique features that are only possible in the digital version, for example showing the score with or without fingerings and bowings. Or offering several different fingering and bowing layers by great musicians etc. We could see these advantages and decided that it made sense to offer our scores in a different medium. And, as we have since found out, so do many musicians today.
You are currently working on a complete edition of Bartók's works. What are the motivations behind this editorial adventure? What binds a German publisher to a Hungarian composer?
Henle’s roots have always been in piano music, so there was no question that when the copyright for Bartók’s works ran out, we would start publishing his music. After all, he is one of the most important composers of the 20th century and made a significant contribution to the piano repertoire. We also felt that it was time for a new complete edition project at Henle’s, because two of our current three complete editions series, Haydn and Beethoven, will come to an end in the foreseeable future. We cannot edit the full oeuvre of a prolific composer such as Bartók – our team is too small. We need to partner up with a scholarly institution, to ask them to do the editing work so that we can then publish the complete edition volumes, which usually also comprise a large amount of text, and finally add Urtext editions to our catalogue. The Bartók Archives in Budapest are the ideal partner for such an undertaking, we are happy to have them on board.
2020 will be the Beethoven year! Your collection of Beethoven's Complete Works is an absolute must! What do Henle publishing plans to mark this anniversary?
When planning the Beethoven year, we first of all wondered whether it was such a blessing that we had the whole Beethoven oeuvre in our catalogue. What could we actually do to top what was already there? Our most prestigious current project is, of course, the new edition of all the Beethoven Piano Sonatas, edited by Murray Perahia and myself: The Perahia edition. But it won’t be completed by 2020, so we decided to present two attractive volumes, five famous and five “easy” Sonatas respectively. They were already published last month. And, the Symphonies will be finished in 2020. So, we will publish them all in a complete set of study scores, also in an attractive slip case. We have also published a revision of all piano variations and several other study editions. In addition to our publication plan, there are other events on the horizon that I’m afraid I can’t talk about yet. You’ll just have to be patient.
You will also publish scores by the famous Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin? Isn't it a challenge to propose works alongside those of legendary composers?
Maestro Kissin has always been admired immensely by the Henle family and the team at the publishing house. As you know we don’t publish music by contemporary composers. But when Evgeny Kissin asked us if we were interested in publishing his first three opera – a cycle of piano pieces, a cello sonata and a string quartet – we felt we couldn’t just say no because we “normally” don’t do this. Maestro Kissin’s music is a wonderful addition to the repertoire and is already being played by some of the big names in the classical world. It’s an honour to have his name in the catalogue.
What are the other major projects of the Henle publishing house?
We will branch out into new areas. For example, up to now we have tended to publish works for accomplished musicians, often technically demanding ones. But there is a whole world of beginners and good amateurs out there that we could serve. But I won’t say any more, except, perhaps, watch this space!
» Read the interview here at Crescendo online (French)
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Independent documentary films' director and freelance editor & globetrotter camera(wo)man.
I was born and raised in Paris, France, and currently living in New York. Two years after graduating from university, I decided to switch tracks from my major, journalism, to what was becoming a more passionate interest: filmmaking.
My passion for documentary films subsequently blossomed when I met Jacques Willemont, a venerable, experimental independent filmmaker whose background was ethnography. With him, I worked on several project on which we collaborated with CNRS (and especially a film on Maurice Gaudelier, the famous french anthropologist).
I, myself, directed my first documentary film in 2007 in Africa - Ngwane, The Kingdom of Swaziland, with little money but a lot of faith! I sold the 52 min documentary to TV5 Monde. It was screened in several film festivals worldwide.
SUPPORT THE CHILDREN
I also began editing longer documentary films. That’s where I met Michel Royer, finding myself working on his current project as a camerawoman and editor. Michel is a documentarian whose film Dans Le Peau de Jacques Chirac (In Jacques Chirac’s Skin) won the César (France’s equivalent of the Oscar) for Best Documentary. In-between my collaborations with him, I traveled quite a lot to Africa and North India, involving myself in various film projects. As a result I have directed several films, all based on a ‘cinema vérité’ process.
My last documentary film was shot this past winter in Switzerland. This film is about Grisélidis Réal (1929- 2005), a unique powerful woman who was both a popular writer and a revolutionary prostitute.
If you want to know more, have a look at my website.
NYC based documentary filmmaker & producer, founder of a full service film and media production company Kinoserge Inc.
Born in Belarus/USSR, I began my career in storytelling as a journalist for the nation's largest independent newspaper, since crushed by the regime. Upon moving to US in 2000, I got interested in visual storytelling and after setting shop in Brooklyn in 2004 I became a full time independent filmmaker concentrating on producing challenging documentary / narrative films, non-fiction cinematography and commercial/branding projects.
Films I helped bring to screen participated in over two hundred film festivals worldwide and won dozens of awards, including Grand Jury prizes at Chicago Int’l, Slamdance, San Francisco Int’l, Seattle Int’l, Gen ART (The Ladies, directed by C. Voros), Directors Guild Of America and CINE Golden Eagle Award (Smoke and Mirrors, directed by Theresa Wu), Best Feature Documentary and Public Award at Cape Verde Int’l Film Festival, Best Long Documentary at Beijing Int’l Movie Festival, Documentary Jury Prize.
At Baghdad Int’l Film Festival (Cultures of Resistance, directed by Iara Lee). Many of these and other films got wide distribution both in US and abroad. I served as member of a jury at Cinema Mobile Short Film Festival in Belarus for the last two years.
I am an avid hiker and skier since I was a toddler, am interested in art, science, social & cultural anthropology, volcanoes and helping others.
If you want to know more, visit my company website with more info, projects past and present, reels and trailers and/or visit my IMDB (a movie database that tracks people’s careers in the film world).
Self employed technical entrepreneur, focus on Innovation Management and Product Development. School drop out from Applied Physics at University Twente, and now run my own consultancy company.
I was born in Barneveld (village in the center of The Netherlands), where I obtained my carpenter diploma in 1993,
finished Technical Secondary School for Construction Engineering in 1996 and Road construction in 1998, leading to a growing interest in mathematics and physics. Started a bachelor in Applied Physics in 1999 and a company in 2002. Even though this company didn't provide the abundant wealth as my (first-in-life) business plan predicted, it made me decide to quit studying to become entrepreneur.
All my projects contain parts of Product Development / Management, marketing technical ideas, and valorisation of (scientific) knowledge. I love to search for innovative business models to support new technologies ("Who is going to pay?").
Until recently these projects mainly focussed on Software Development or Wireless Communication. This was until I met Willem in NYC, summer of 2010, which started to get me enthusiastic about nanomedicine in general, and the work of Willem Mulder in specific.
nanodocumentary@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/HighOnNano
© 2021 by High on Nano
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Tom Brady is being criticized for jumping off a cliff with his daughter
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is facing backlash after posting a video of jumping into water from a cliff with his daughter.
The video posted to Brady's Instagram account shows Brady and his 6-year-old daughter, Vivian, jumping off a cliff. Vivian seemingly hesitates after Brady jumps, resulting in an awkward landing in the water. She swam over to Brady shortly.
If Vivi is going to be an Olympic champion one day, it probably won’t be in synchronized diving. Daddy always gives her a 10 though!
A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady) onJul 19, 2019 at 1:26pm PDT
"If Vivi is going to be an Olympic champion one day, it probably won’t be in synchronized diving," Brady captioned the video. "Daddy always gives her a 10 though!"
But many are calling the jump irresponsible or dangerous, pointing out the rocks below.
"Absolutely the most stupid and dangerous thing for a 6 yr. old child to do," one person commented. "You should be ASHAMED."
A few celebrities also commented on Brady's post.
"You KNOW I have complete faith in you as a man, friend, player and father - but this just gave me anxiety. Geeezus," Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson wrote in a comment on the post, along with two clapping emojis and a crying laughing emoji.
Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry and rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs commented with more crying laughing emojis, and former NFL player Brett Favre said, "She is a 10 but old dad gets a (thumbs down emoji)."
Some comments defended Brady against the criticism.
"As much as I don’t like the patriots nor Tom Brady, I don’t understand the outrage," one comment said. "They were holding hands and planned to jump in, she froze while still holding hands. I think it would’ve been worse had he let go of her hand because she could’ve lost balance and fell on the rocks."
"We live in a world where kids are wrapped in cotton wool," another said. "Let him be a dad and her a little girl."
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Hydrotronics
The Initiative is coordinated by researchers at the Institute for Theory of Condensed Matter at KIT. The KIT team consists of theorists who have made major contributions to problems in the areas of quantum transport, mesoscopic physics, and hydrodynamics of electronic materials with particular focus on graphene and related systems.
The Weizmann Institute team consists of theoretical and experimental groups. The theoretical group is led by Gregory Falkovich who is one world-leading experts in the field of fluid dynamics. The experimental group of Shahal Ilani is a world leader in the scanning probe imaging and has recently achieved the first observation of Poiseuille flow of hydrodynamic electrons.
Fondanzione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologica
The Genova group led by Marco Polini is renowned for its works on the theory of Fermi-liquid hydrodynamics as well as solid-state optics and plasmonics.
The Manchester team consists of experimental and theoretical groups. The experimental group (Andre Geim, Irina Grigorieva) is famous for the Nobel-Prize winning discovery of graphene and possesses an outstanding expertise in investigation of its transport and magnetic properties. Recent activity of the group had a particular focus on van der Waals heterostructures. The theory group (Alessandro Principi) has a superb research record in modelling optical, transport and magnetic properties of graphene.
Stichting Katholieke Universiteit
The Nijmegen group (Mikhail Katsnelson, Mikhail Titov) is renowned for ground-breaking theoretical results that have provided theoretical foundation for graphene research. The group has also outstanding expertise in computational approaches to strongly correlated systems and in hydrodynamics of multiband materials.
Wolfram Research Europe Limited
The Wolfram Research group (leaders: Jon McLoone, Mark Braithwaite) has an outstanding experience in development of computational technologies that include platforms and algorithms for solving complex problems of hydrodynamics.
The University of Chile group led by Luis Foa Torres has a proven record of research on computational approaches to quantum transport and, in particular, to periodically driven systems.
The Louisiana group led by Daniel Sheehy has a strong research record in the field of hydrodynamics of strongly-interacting many-body systems, including graphene at criticality.
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nº 873028.
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IAR Systems provides C99 compliance to 8051 software tools
Uppsala, Sweden—September 19, 2011— IAR Systems has announced that its development toolsuite IAR Embedded Workbench for 8051 now complies with the ISO/IEC 9899:1999 standard, also known as C99. The IAR C/C++ compiler is believed to be the world’s first compiler for the 8051 architecture to fully support C99. It is the current C standard, developed as an improvement of the previous C90 standard and introducing several new language features.
Being the current C programming standard, C99 is a warrant for future portability since more and more microcontroller architectures become supported by C99 compliant compilers. Most of IAR Systems’ compilers are compliant to the C99 standard, a fact that can make porting code between microcontroller architectures more efficient and safe.
IAR Embedded Workbench for 8051 is a set of reliable and powerful C and C++ tools for building and debugging embedded system software for embedded systems. It provides a user friendly integrated development environment including a project manager, editor, build tools and debugger. In a continuous workflow, source files and projects can be created, built and debugged on hardware or in a simulator.
Evaluate the latest version at www.iar.com/downloads.
+++ Ends
Editor's Note: IAR Systems, IAR Embedded Workbench, C-SPY, visualSTATE, The Code to Success, IAR KickStart Kit, IAR and the logotype of IAR Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by IAR Systems AB. J-Link and J-Trace are trademarks licensed to IAR Systems AB. All other products are trademarks of their respective owners.
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Tim Malzhan, Director of Trail Operations, honored as Outstanding Trail Leader
Award presented by American Trails, a national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests.
Cross Plains, Wisconsin – Director of Trail Operations for the Ice Age Trail Alliance, Tim Malzhan, was honored with the prestigious Outstanding Trail Leader Award by American Trails. The award was presented at the 23rd International Trails Symposium on Sunday, May 7, 2017.
American Trails honors the contributions of leaders who are working for the advancement of trails across the country and around the world. The Outstanding Trail Leader awards recognizes individuals who have made compelling and significant contributions to the trails movement in their home states— advocating, designing, building, maintaining, promoting, adapting technologies, and a myriad of activities.
Tim Malzhan fell in love with the Ice Age National Scenic Trail during a thru-hike in 1991. Upon joining the Alliance in 2000, Malzhan’s passion for the Trail led him to create the successful Mobile Skills Crew (MSC) Program to support the building and maintaining of the Ice Age Trail. The first event of this model program was held in 2002. MSC harnesses the dedication of ordinary citizen volunteers, who are trained in advanced trail construction and crew leadership techniques. Malzhan also created the “trails notebook” series. These notebooks provide standards and give direction to the trailbuilding efforts of volunteers statewide.
As Pete Englund, Trail Crew Foreman for the Iowa DNR, who nominated Malzhan for the award, states, “Tim says that “trail building is people building.” He believes the work the volunteers do, not only touches them in profound ways, but also carries on to people who use the trail. His gratification for the volunteers he works with shows in everything he does. [Tim’s] dedication to the trails community shows through the stories and laughter around project campfires by those who have been touched by his work.”
American Trails presents the National & International Trails Awards Program to recognize the tremendous contributions of volunteers, professionals, and other leaders who are working for the betterment of trails both nationally and internationally in both rural and urban settings.
The Ice Age Trail Alliance is a nonprofit volunteer-and member-based organization established in 1958 that works to create, support and protect the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. One of only 11 National Scenic Trails, the Ice Age Trail is a thousand-mile footpath that highlights Wisconsin’s world-renowned Ice Age heritage and natural resources. Visit www.iceagetrail.org to learn more.
American Trails advances the development of diverse, high quality trails and greenways for the benefit of people and communities. Through collaboration, education, and communication, American Trails raises awareness of the value these trail systems offer. It is a national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests, including hiking, bicycling, mountain biking, horseback riding, water trails, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, trail motorcycling, ATVs, snowmobiling and four-wheeling. American Trails members want to create and protect America’s network of interconnected trails. Visit www.americantrails.org to learn more.
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Thomas, Pelleth Y.,et al. "Evaluation of an Academic and Student Administration System in its Post-Implementation Phase: A Case Study at the University of Botswana." IJEIS 14.3 (2018): 79-90. Web. 20 Jan. 2021. doi:10.4018/IJEIS.2018070104
Thomas, P. Y., Mmereki, R. N., & Boy, R. L. (2018). Evaluation of an Academic and Student Administration System in its Post-Implementation Phase: A Case Study at the University of Botswana. International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems (IJEIS), 14(3), 79-90. doi:10.4018/IJEIS.2018070104
Thomas, Pelleth Y. and Rebana N. Mmereki, and Rudolph L. Boy. "Evaluation of an Academic and Student Administration System in its Post-Implementation Phase: A Case Study at the University of Botswana," International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems (IJEIS) 14 (2018): 3, accessed (January 20, 2021), doi:10.4018/IJEIS.2018070104
InfoSci-Business Knowledge Solutions – Journals
Evaluation of an Academic and Student Administration System in its Post-Implementation Phase: A Case Study at the University of Botswana
Pelleth Y. Thomas (Educational Technology Unit, Centre for Academic Development, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana), Rebana N. Mmereki (Department of Management, Faculty of Business, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana) and Rudolph L. Boy (Department of Management, Faculty of Business, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana)
Source Title: International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems (IJEIS) 14(3)
DOI: 10.4018/IJEIS.2018070104
The article seeks to evaluate the Academic and Student Administration System (ASAS) at the University of Botswana (UB) in order to determine whether the system was performing successfully in its post-implementation phase. It was guided by the Delone and Mclean IS success evaluation model. Three independent ASAS quality variables and one dependent variable (user satisfaction) were included in the study Model. The study also examined if the Model was appropriate for evaluating ASAS in the UB context. The study used quantitative approaches that included a questionnaire, and statistical tools such as reliability test, descriptive statistics, and paired samples t-test. The study found that: (1) users were satisfied with the ASAS performance; however, they felt that there was still room for improvement; (2) the Model was found to be credible for evaluating ASAS in the UB context. Areas that needed improvement were identified and recommendations were made on how to address them.
In a constantly changing global business environment, an increasing number of organizations are deploying robust Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems with a view to expanding their business functionality and sharpening their competitive edge. ERP is a large-scale information system (IS). It has advanced information processing capabilities that support seamless real-time communication and faster decision making, and thus better customer service, and enhanced productivity. University of Botswana (UB) deployed ERP Systems in 2012 to replace its 20-year old management IS called Integrated Tertiary System (ITS). ERP systems comprise several modules and ASAS is just one of them.
Despite promises of numerous benefits of ERP Systems, extant literature (eg., Chung et al., 2015; Rubik, 2014; Dey et al., 2013; Dwivedi et al., 2013; Chen & Lin, 2008) indicates that its implementation can be a challenging task due to its inherent complex nature. These scholars have indicated that there are numerous occurrences of high failure rate at its implementation stage due to several technical, managerial, and organizational challenges, thus encountering performance issues and unfortunate situations of not being able to tap its full potential in the post implementation phase.
1.1. Motivation for the Study
Since the launch of ASAS/ERP in 2012, the researchers have taken note of challenges faced by both instructors and students particularly in the beginning and end of every semester. Their concerns included system unavailability, slow system response and the like. Being a very costly investment, any sort of performance failure of the system could cause heavy financial losses to the organisation. As far as the Researchers know, no formal evaluation of the System has ever been undertaken although it has been in use for the past five years. Therefore, it was pertinent to conduct an evaluation study in order to determine whether the system was performing successfully as expected, and if not, to identify the challenges and propose recommendations to address those challenges; and hence the main purpose of this study. The main research question was: “How do users of UB ASAS perceive the system performance in its post-implementation phase?” In order to justify the outcome of the study, it is necessary to find out whether the DeLone and Mclean (D&M) IS success evaluation model adapted in the study is appropriate for ASAS evaluation in the UB context. Therefore, a second research question was formulated; it is: “Is the DeLone and Mclean IS success evaluation model appropriate for evaluating UB ASAS?” Therefore, this piece work is basically an evaluation study of a five year old ASAS at UB and also an attempt to determine the appropriateness of D&M Model in the study.
1.2. Significance of the Study
Being the first evaluation study of its kind, the ERP System managers in UB may use its outcome to assess the realised payoffs against their original expectations and can pay sufficient attention to improve the System performance. It may help them allocate scares resources where it is most needed. Thus, the study can immensely contribute towards improving current practices, and achieve the full potential of ASAS / ERP Systems in UB as well as other similar organisations.
It makes significant theoretical and practical contributions to the field related to the evaluation of post-implementation success of ISs because insights from this study could help practitioners, academics and entrepreneurs to plan and develop good strategies to tap the full potential of ASAS/ ERP Systems in their organisations. It could also be useful to other organisations that intend to launch ERP Systems. As ERP Systems continue to spread widely in the higher education arena, the need for new research of this kind cannot be overemphasised.
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Re/Max retains top global real estate franchisor spot
Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Keller Williams and Prudential also make list of 50 global franchisors
Re/Max, which netted $225 million in an initial public offering last week, has retained its title as the top real estate franchisor — and is also the 14th-largest U.S.-based franchise operation in any industry by worldwide sales volume, according to an annual ranking from the Franchise Times.
With an increase of about 10 percent of its global sales — a bump of $681 million — from 2011 to 2012, the Denver-based franchisor jumped two spots from last year’s ranking.
Of the 500 U.S.-based franchisors that Franchise Times ranked by 2012 sales volume, seven were residential real estate brands.
Franchise Times 2013 ranking of real estate franchisors
Franchisor Ranking, by global sales volume Worldwide sales volume, 2012* No. of franchised offices worldwide, 2012 No. of franchised offices in the U.S., 2012
Re/Max 14 $7.4 billion 6,331 3.314
Coldwell Banker Real Estate 26 $4.5 billion 4,475 2,446
Century 21 Real Estate 28 $4.0 billion 7,100 2,500
Keller Williams Realty 36 $3.2 billion 663 647
Prudential Real Estate 45 $2.7 billion 1,400 1,400
Sotheby’s International Realty 79 $1.2 billion 659 403
ERA Real Estate 113 $613 million 2,322 571
Source: Franchise Times *Estimate by Franchise Times by multiplying total sales volume by 2.5 percent.
Increased sales volume also brought all but one of the other six top real estate franchisors higher up on this year’s Franchise Times list, including four owned by real estate giant Realogy: Coldwell Banker Real Estate (No. 26), Century 21 Real Estate (No. 28), Sotheby’s International Realty (No. 79) and ERA Real Estate (No. 113).
Austin, Texas-based Keller Williams Realty, which now claims to have more affiliated agents in North America than any other brand, jumped nine spots this year to land at No. 36 on the list.
Prudential Real Estate, the other real estate brand ranked among the top 500 global franchisors, was the only real estate franchisor to drop in the rankings — from 41 in 2012 to 45 this year — despite its sales volume growing by $83 million in 2012 from the previous year.
According to the terms of a 2011 sale of the Prudential Real Estate brand from Prudential Financial to Brookfield Asset Management, the brand is slated to fade away as a real estate brand when the final license to it expires in the 2020s.
HomeServices of America Inc., which took a majority interest in the Prudential brand last year from Brookfield, formed Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices this year, in part, to absorb the Prudential-affiliated firms who are losing, or will lose, their right to license the Prudential brand.
Sotheby’s International Realty’s sales volume growth of 37 percent from the previous year put it first in percent sales growth for the year out of all 500 franchisors ranked by Franchise Times. The international luxury brand also had the greatest percentage growth in the number of new firms that affiliated with it (31 percent) of any the other franchisors on the list.
Re/Max claims that its agents did more deals in the U.S. and Canada than any other brand in 2012.
Re/Max’s CEO Margaret Kelly told CNBC on Wednesday after its IPO that the company is focused on franchising. “We are a franchisor who happens to be in the real estate business,” she said.
Re/Max claims top US, Canadian market share
Keller Williams claims North America agent count throne
Re/Max IPO nets $225 million as underwriters exercise full option to purchase additional stock
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No piracy
Apple TV+ joins ACE, the entertainment industry's anti-piracy group
A far cry from the CD ripping days on iTunes.
Joe Wituschek
Apple TV+ has joined the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment.
The group fights piracy in the entertainment industry.
Apple will serve on the governing board along with Amazon and the Motion Picture Association.
Reported by Variety, Apple TV+ is joining the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment, an entertainment industry group that protects against piracy. It is a move that helps to strengthen Apple's position with the industry. According to the report, Apple will be on the governing board of the group, along with Amazon and the Motion Picture Association.
ACE was founded in 2017 by the MPA and 30 entertainment companies. At the time, it represented a novel partnership among the legacy studios and the streaming services. Netflix subsequently joined the Motion Picture Association in 2019, cementing the partnership.
Charles Rivkin, chairman of the MPA and of ACE, says that the board that Apple TV+ will now be a part of, sets the group's strategy on how to fight against piracy in the market.
"We are the premier anti-piracy force," said Charles Rivkin, chairman of the MPA and of ACE, in an interview. "The governing board is what determines the strategy and where to spend the budget."
ACE specifically investigates piracy services and hardware that gives access to pirated content. The group has filed lawsuits that have succeeded in shutting down services and hardware companies that aid piracy efforts.
"It's an ongoing fight but i'm really proud of the way ACE has been advancing and protecting content creators," Rivkin said. "When you shut down these illegal sites… what happens is it drives traffic to legitimate sites."
According to the group, over 23 million users currently subscribe to a pirating entertainment service.
100% exclusive content for the price of a cup of coffee.
With TV+, you can watch well-produced, big-budget TV shows from famed directors, and starring award-winning actors and actresses across all your Apple devices and with up to six members of your Family Sharing group.
$5 per month at Apple
Joe Wituschek has been in the technology industry for over a decade. Formerly Apple, Joe now covers the company as a news writer for iMore. Connect with Joe on Twitter @joewituschek.
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There he goes
Apple's VP of communications is leaving, Phil Schiller to step in
Another high-profile employee has left Apple.
Brandon Russell
Apple's VP of communications Steve Dowling announced he's leaving the company after 5 years in the position.
Dowling has been with Apple for a total of 16 years.
Apple's Phil Schiller will step in to Dowling's role on an interim basis.
Apple's VP of communications Steve Dowling is leaving the company, according to a memo sent to staff this week (via Vox). Dowling was head of communications for the past five years and spent a total of 16 years at Apple.
Here's the memo, in part:
After 16 years at Apple, countless keynotes, product launches and the occasional PR crisis, I've decided that the time is right for me to step away from our remarkable company. This is something that has been on my mind for a while, and it came into sharp focus during the latest — and for me, last — launch cycle. Your plans are set and the team is executing brilliantly as ever. So, it's time.
Dowling has been with Apple through some of its biggest launches, including AirPods, iPhone X, and iPad Pro. Apple said of his departure:
Following another successful product launch, he has decided to leave Apple to spend some much deserved time with his family. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy that will serve the company well into the future. We're grateful to him for all that he's given to Apple and wish him the best.
Apple's Phil Schiller will take over Dowling's duties on an interim basis. It's unclear who is being lined up to replace Dowling, but Vox's report said both internal and external candidates are being considered.
Dowling ends his memo by praising Apple and showing gratitude to CEO Tim Cook:
My loyalty to Apple and its people knows no bounds. Working with Tim and this team, accomplishing all we have done together, has been the highlight of my career. I want to thank you for your hard work, your patience and your friendship. And I wish you every success.
I will always bleed six colors.
Dowling's departure comes on the heels of a report that claimed Apple's leadership team is growing increasingly thinner amidst changes and employee growth. The source in the report said Apple's current leadership structure "doesn't look particularly effective."
Dowling's memo said he will be available through the end of October before Schiller takes over.
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Dr. Subrata Kumar Mitra
skmitra@imtnag.ac.in
: skmitra@imtnag.ac.in
Ph.D. (Financial Management & Quantitative Techniques ), in 2006 from University of Pune.
Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP2) , in 2001 from Sun Microsystems
Chartered Financial Analyst C.F.A (Finance), in 1999 from ICFAI.
Master in Computer Management (MCM) , in 1993 from University of Pune, India
Graduation in Operational Research in 1987 from O. R. Society of India, Calcutta, India
Graduateship Exam. in Industrial Engineering. in 1985 from Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai
B. E. (Mechanical Engg.), in 1980 from Regional Engg. College, Durgapur.
Professor - Finance, Institute of Management Technology, Nagpur since October 2019
Indian Institute of Management, Raipur (April 2012 to October 2019)
Professor - Finance, Institute of Management Technology, Nagpur (April 2007 to April 2012).
Institute of Rural Management, Anand (Nov 2003 - Apri 2007).
Century Enka Limited, Pune (Jan 1997 - Oct 2003).
Philips India Limited, Pune (April 1994 - Jan 1997).
Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, Pune (june 1990 - April 1994).
Bharat Electronics Ltd, Taloja, New Bombay (July 1988 - June 1990).
Cement Corporation of India Ltd, Charkhi Dadri, Haryana (Oct 1985 - July 1988).
Associated Cement Cos, Ltd, Chaibasa, Jharkhand (March 1981 - Sep 1985).
Financial Management, Cost Management, Investment Analysis, Portfolio Management, Derivatives.
Mitra, S. K. & Yadav, R. A. (1988). Cement Prarambhika (in Hindi), Awarded 2nd Rank (All India) in 1987-88 under Indira Gandhi Rajbhasa Award for writing a original book in Hindi awarded by Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India.
Garg, A. K., Ray, K. K. & Mitra, S. K., (2015), Cases in Management (Strategy and General Management), ET Cases, Times of India Group, 978-81-931001-1-0
Garg, A. K., Ray, K. K. & Mitra, S. K., (2015), Cases in Management (Finance, Marketing, and HR), ET Cases, Times of India Group, 978-81-931001-0-3
Summary of publications in reputed journals
Sl #
No. of papers
Journal Category
Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications
5 Papers
ABDC A
Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory
Theoretical and Applied Climatology
Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies Journal
ABDC C
Applied Economics Letters
ABDC B
Decision (IIMC)
Finance Research Letters
International Journal of Hospitality Management
ABDC A*
Opsearch
Academy of Marketing Studies Journal
Annals of Tourism Research
Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics
Climate and Development
Indian Journal of Industrial Relations
International J of Business Forecasting and Marketing Intelligence
International Journal of Production Economics
International Journal of Tourism Research.
International Review of Finance
Investigación económica
Journal of Behavioral Finance
Journal of Economic Research
Journal of Policy Modeling
Management Review
Research in Transportation Business & Management.
Transportation Research Part A: policy and practice
Vikalpa (IIMA)
Current Issues in Tourism
Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research
Resources Policy
A partial list of papers in ABDC/ABS/Web of Science Journals
Paper Citation
Mitra, S. K. (2019). A different perspective to measure tourism attractiveness. Current Issues in Tourism, 1-5.
Chattopadhyay, M., Mitra, S. K., (2019). What Airbnb host listings influence peer-to-peer tourist accommodation price?, Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research (Accepted)
Mitra, S. K., Chattopadhyay, M. & Jana, R. K. (2019). Spillover analysis of tourist movements within Europe, Annals of Tourism Research, vol 79.
Mitra, S. K. (2019). Is tourism?led growth hypothesis still valid?. International Journal of Tourism Research, (https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2285)
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2019). Correlation dynamics of crude oil with agricultural commodities: A comparison between energy and food crops. Economic Modelling.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2019). Hedging bitcoin with other financial assets. Finance Research Letters, 30, 30-36.
Chattopadhyay, M., & Mitra, S. K. (2019). Do airbnb host listing attributes influence room pricing homogenously?. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 81, 54-64.
Bawa, J. K., Goyal, V., Mitra, S. K., & Basu, S. (2019). An analysis of NPAs of Indian banks: Using a comprehensive framework of 31 financial ratios. IIMB Management Review, 31(1), 51-62.
Kumar, S. B., Goyal, V., & Mitra, S. K. (2019). The relationship between earnings round up/down and global financial crisis: evidence from BRICS markets. Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, 1-24.
IF: 0.478
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2019), Asymmetric oil price transmission to the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar: A multiple threshold NARDL modelling approach. Resources Policy, Vol 64.
Chattopadhyay, M., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). Determinants of revenue per available room: Influential roles of average daily rate, demand, seasonality and yearly trend. International Journal of Hospitality Management.
Jana, R. K., Mitra, S. K., & Sharma, D. K. (2018). Software vendors travel management decisions using an elitist nonhomogeneous genetic algorithm. International Journal of Production Economics, 202, 123-131.
Rohit, A., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). Momentum Trading with the ?1-filter: Are the Markets Efficient?, International Review of Finance, DOI: 10.1111/irfi.12245
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). Oil price and automobile stock return co-movement: A wavelet coherence analysis. Economic Modelling.
Chattopadhyay, M., Garg, A. K., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). Herding by Foreign Institutional Investors: An Evidential Exploration for Persistence and Predictability. Journal of Behavioral Finance, 19(1), 73-88.
Mitra, S. K., Bhatia, V., Jana, R. K., Charan, P., & Chattopadhyay, M. (2018). Changing value detrended cross-correlation coefficient over time: Between crude oil and crop prices. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). Interdependence between crude oil and world food prices: A detrended cross-correlation analysis. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 492, 1032-1044.
Rohit, A., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). The co-movement of monetary policy and its time-varying nature: A DCCA approach. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 492, 1439-1448.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). Asymmetric impact of rainfall on India’s foodgrain production: evidence from quantile autoregressive distributed lag model. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 131(1-2), 69-76.
IF 2.321
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). The efficiency of microfinance institutions with problem loans: A directional distance function approach. Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, 24(3), 285-307.
Bhatia, V., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). Crude oil and stock market co-movement: Evidence from G7 and BRICS nations. Journal of Economic Research, 23(1), 57-80.
Gupta, S., Goyal, V., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). Relationship between energy commodities: Markov Regime-Switching Approach. Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies Journal, 22(2).
Bhatia, V., Das, S., & Mitra, S. K. (2018). Crude Oil Hedging with Precious Metals: A DCC-GARCH Approach. Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies Journal, 22(1), 1-8.
Mitra, S. K. (2018). An analysis of brand value and its determinants using quantile regression. Academy of Marketing Studies Journal, 22(3).
Singh, R. K., Mitra, S. K., & Gupta, S. (2018). Does Big Data Influence the Efficiency of the Capital Markets?. Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, 53(4).
Bhatia, V., Basu, S., Mitra, S. K., & Dash, P. (2018). A review of bank efficiency and productivity. Opsearch, 1-44.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2017). Time-frequency contained co-movement of crude oil and world food prices: A wavelet-based analysis. Energy Economics, 62, 230-239.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2017). The environmental Kuznets curve for carbon dioxide in India and China: Growth and pollution at crossroad. Journal of Policy Modeling, 39(2), 371-385.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2017). Diesel and soybean price relationship in the USA: evidence from a quantile autoregressive distributed lag model. Empirical Economics, 52(4), 1609-1626.
Mitra, S. K., & Bawa, J. (2017). Can trade opportunities and returns be generated in a trend persistent series? Evidence from global indices. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 469, 124-135.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2017). Interdependence between crude oil and world food prices: A detrended cross-correlation analysis. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications.
Mitra, S. K., Bawa, J., Kannadhasan, M., Goyal, V., & Chattopadhyay, M. (2017). Can profitability through momentum strategies be enhanced applying a range to standard deviation filter? Finance Research Letters, 20, 269-273.
Mitra, S. K., Chattopadhyay, M., Charan, P., & Bawa, J. (2017). Identifying periods of market inefficiency for return predictability. Applied Economics Letters, 24(10), 668-671.
Chattopadhyay, M., & Mitra, S. K. (2017). Assessing the predictability of different kinds of models in estimating impacts of climatic factors on food grain availability in India. Opsearch, 1-15.
Prashar, S., & Mitra, S. K. (2017). Forecasting impulse buying behaviour: a comparative study of select five statistical methods. International Journal of Business Forecasting and Marketing Intelligence, 3(3), 289-308.
Roy, V., Mitra, S. K., Chattopadhyay, M., & Sahay, B. S. (2017). Facilitating the extraction of extended insights on logistics performance from the logistics performance index dataset: A two-stage methodological framework and its application. Research in Transportation Business & Management.
Mitra, S. K., & Chattopadhyay, M. (2017). The nexus between food price inflation and monsoon rainfall in India: exploring through comparative data mining models. Climate and Development, 9(7), 584-592.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2017). Does the number of borrowers per loan officer influence microfinance institution asset quality? A stochastic frontier analysis. Investigación económica, 76(300), 81-103.
Chattopadhyay, M., & Mitra, S. K. (2017). Applicability and effectiveness of classifications models for achieving the twin objectives of growth and outreach of microfinance institutions. Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, 23(4), 451-474.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2017). The efficiency of microfinance institutions with problem loans: A directional distance function approach. Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, 1-23.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2016). An application of the directional distance function with the number of accidents as an undesirable output to measure the technical efficiency of state road transport in India. Transportation research part A: policy and practice, 93, 1-12.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2016). Asymmetric oil product pricing in India: Evidence from a multiple threshold nonlinear ARDL model. Economic Modelling, 59, 314-328.
Chattopadhyay, M., & Mitra, S. K. (2016). Comparative decision models for anticipating shortage of food grain production in India. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 1-8.
IF 2.31
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2016). Asymmetric impact of rainfall on India’s foodgrain production: evidence from quantile autoregressive distributed lag model. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 1-8.
Garg, A. K., Mitra, S. K., & Kumar, D. (2016). Do foreign institutional investors herd in emerging markets? A study of individual stocks. Decision (IIMC), 43(3), 281-300.
Kannadhasan, M., Aramvalarthan, S., Mitra, S. K., & Goyal, V. (2016). Relationship between Biopsychosocial Factors and Financial Risk Tolerance: An Empirical Study. Vikalpa (IIMA), 41(2), 117-131.
Chattopadhyay, M., & Mitra, S. K. (2015). Exploring asymmetric behavior pattern from Indian oil products prices using NARDL and GHSOM approaches. Energy Policy, 86, 262-272.
Pal, D., & Mitra, S. K. (2015). Asymmetric impact of crude price on oil product pricing in the United States: An application of multiple threshold nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model. Economic Modelling, 51, 436-443.
Garg, A. K., & Mitra, S. K. (2015). A study of lead-lag relation between FIIs herding and stock market returns in emerging economies: evidence from India. Decision (IIMC), 42(3), 279-292.
Mitra, S. K. (2014). Nonlinear impact of rain on foodgrain production in India. Applied Economics Letters, 21(14), 1001-1005.
Mitra, S. K. (2011). How rewarding is technical analysis in the Indian stock market?. Quantitative Finance, 11(2), 287-297.
Ph. D Guidance
Guided following research scholars of the fellow program (Ph.D.) at IIM Raipur
Rajesh Kumar Singh (Thesis Submitted in 2019), “Essay on the Emerging Dynamics Between Big Data And Capital Markets- An Analytical View”, Supervised as TAC Chairman
Surya Bhusan Kumar (Ph.D. awarded in 2019), “Three Essays on Earning Management In India”, Supervised as a TAC Member
Vaneet Bhatia (FPM awarded in 2018), “Essays on the Dynamic Relationship between Crude Oil, Precious Metals and Stock Markets", Supervised as TAC Chairman
Abhishek Kumar Rohit (FPM awarded in 2018), "Three Essays on International Transmission of Monetary Policy”, Supervised as a TAC Member
Jaslene Kaur Bawa (FPM awarded in 2017), "Four Essays on the Theory of Efficient Market Hypothesis and Credit Risk", Supervised as a TAC Member
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IrishAmericanJournal.com
IrishAmericanJournal.com is an online journal covering the history and culture of the Irish people who became Americans.
Irish Cross Memorial New Orleans
The Celtic Cross Memorial in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo by Adrian McGrath. Click the image for the story about the cross.
Drogheda and the Curse of Cromwell
By Adrian McGrath
A statue honoring a bigot and mass murderer stands next to the House of Commons in Westminster in London, England. The fact that this criminal (who was never brought to justice or even officially charged with a crime) still has a place of high regard -- standing next to the very seat of government of Britain, placed there in 1899 during the Victorian Era -- shows us why this story of mindless hatred and atrocities must be told again and again. Never forget his crimes.
Massacre at Drogheda, Ireland, 1649
(Wikipedia)
Although his brutality and war crimes occurred 400 years ago, they had a profound and lasting impact on the Irish -- especially Irish Catholics whom he hated -- and affected the history of the Irish who eventually came to America. Beyond this, the story of his prejudice and injustice should serve as a warning to people everywhere and in all times of the terrible consequences for humanity of pseudo-religious fanaticism, blatant bigotry, and hate.
And can anyone honestly answer this question: Why does this statue to Oliver Cromwell, such a morally depraved and grotesquely intolerant killer, still stand next to the very house of government often referred to as the “mother of parliaments?”
The story begins during the English Civil War when the monarchy of England was at war with the Parliament of England. In this struggle which consisted of a series of wars with many players from 1642 to 1651, the Parliamentary side prevailed. Oliver Cromwell, who began as a fairly unknown member of Parliament ended up as virtual dictator -- called Lord Protector -- of Britain.
His highly trained and well equipped fighting force, called the New Model Army, was successful in battle time and again.
Cromwell began his political/military career in response to the tragic deaths of Protestants in Ireland at the hands of some misguided Irish Catholics during the Rebellion of 1641 where about 5,000 Protestants died either directly from war or even deliberate massacre or indirectly from homelessness or starvation. An infamous mass killing occurred in the north of Ireland at Portadown in Armagh in November of 1641. About 300 or fewer Protestant civilians were murdered, many forcibly drowned in the cold River Bann. One witness put the number at 100, however. Whatever the number, it was clearly a case of murder and an atrocity.
The Irish were rebelling against something called “The Plantation.” This was a land-grab process which King Henry VIII began, confiscating land owned by Irish Catholics and giving it to Protestants loyal to the British. The stealing of the Catholic lands continued with other English rulers including Queen Elizabeth and on and on to Oliver Cromwell. Land was given to English and later Scottish Protestants, and the Irish Catholics were driven away.
Land in those days was not merely where one lived but also was the means to survival in an agrarian or agricultural society. Land was everything.
Cromwell took the news of the deaths from the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and greatly exaggerated them to the English people, claiming that the Irish Catholics had murdered 150,000 or more. Such a claim was completely false. He then used this exaggeration as an excuse to lay waste to Catholic Ireland in his invasion of 1649 to 1650. (He, of course, did not mention the number of Irish Catholics who had been killed or who suffered under English tyranny over centuries.)
The forces opposing Cromwell in Ireland in 1649 were a mixed bag. There were rebelling Irish Catholic gentry and Irish Catholic peasants, and elite English Loyalists, who were often Catholic, who supported the British monarchy, and Protestants who were loyal to the monarchy. As the old saying goes: An enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Some of the Irish peasants would probably have even favored Cromwell’s views on protecting the rights of commoners; but his religious intolerance, racism, and brutality against the Irish would quickly change their minds.
Statue of Oliver Cromwell
Westminster, London, England
Cromwell landed in Dublin in August of 1649 with 17,000 troops. His first great atrocity occurred at a fortress town 30 miles north of Dublin called Drogheda (pronounced by the Irish with the "g" being silent).On one side was an odd coalition of the Irish Catholic Confederation together with the English Royalists, loyal to the King. On the other side was Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan Army. (The Puritans originally wanted to “purify” Roman Catholic influences from the Church of England. Cromwell wanted to eliminate Catholicism.)
Cromwell demanded the surrender of Drogheda, but the enemy commander, a man named Sir Arthur Ashton, an English Catholic, refused. Cromwell then attacked the fortified town and conquered it believing himself to be an instrument of God. Ashton was killed along with thousands of other soldiers and civilians -- no quarter being given by Cromwell. No serious effort in distinction was made between soldier and civilian.
The historian Seumas MacManus in his authoritative work called The Story of the Irish Race says that Cromwell in effect incited his troops to atrocious violence by placing with them Puritan preachers who openly hated Catholicism. The slaughter in Drogheda went on for three days.
Cromwell himself wrote a report back to Parliament stating, referring to his soldiers,, “I forbade them to spare any that were in arms in the town.” He went on to write, “... and that night they put to the sword about two thousand men.” Cromwell added, “It has pleased God to bless our endeavor at Drogheda … I believe we put to the sword the whole number … and now give me leave to say how this work was wrought. It was set upon … by the spirit of God.” (See MacManus above, p. 425, where Cromwell is quoted.)
Crowell’s men killed some of the enemy who had laid down their arms and surrendered. Cromwell’s men sacked Catholic churches and even burned out the steeple of St. Peter’s Church.
Some prisoners were taken alive and were sent as slave labor to the Barbadoes, the British Caribbean colonies where sugar cane and other spices were grown. Some English Royalist officers were beheaded, and their heads were displayed on pikes. Reportedly, hundreds of civilians died.
Many prisoners were sent as virtual slaves to British colonies in America. Cromwell wrote a letter to John Bradshaw, president of the Council of State (the new executive branch of the English government replacing the king), recorded as September 17, 1649, and said: “I do not think that thirty of the whole number escaped with their lives, those that did are in safe custody for Barbados.” Cromwell added, addressing Parliament, “The soldiers in the other tower [a defensive position in Drogheda] were all spared and shipped likewise for the Barbados.” Some prisoners were most likely sent as slave labor to the Caribbean island called Montserrat, where Irish descendants live to this day.
Part of the reason for Cromwell’s savagery at Drogheda was his racism against the Irish, his pseudo-religious bigotry against Catholics (and even some Anglicans), and his hatred of Royalists. But there was another reason: Cromwell wanted to use the massacre as a warning to other Irish cities and fortifications to surrender quickly or become like Drogheda. Cromwell wrote the following to Parliament: “I am persuaded that this is a righteous judgment of God on these barbarous wretches … it will tend to prevent the effusion of blood for the future, which are satisfactory grounds for such actions …”
After Drogheda Cromwell went on to commit other atrocities in Wexford notably, and across Ireland. Adding to the prejudice against the Irish, wild stories were contrived that the Irish were not really human and were, in effect, animals with tails. MacManus notes in his book (see above at page 426 footnote 6) that Cromwell's soldiers stated upon capturing some of the Irish that they had tails several inches long. Of course, this was totally false and complete nonsense either the result of self-delusion or a deliberate lie to dehumanize the Irish. It is much easier to oppress and kill an enemy who is not really human.
But the destruction did not stop there. While some Irish soldiers, mainly professional soldiers, whom Cromwell could not defeat or capture were given a deal whereby they could leave Ireland and join the armies of certain foreign lands (these Irish were known as the “Wild Geese”), others were driven westward across the Shannon River to to be trapped on the least hospitable lands for agriculture in the province called Connaught (also spelled sometimes as Connacht).
For Oliver Cromwell, the majority of the Irish could go “To Hell or Connaught.” And that expression has gone down in infamy in Irish history. Cromwell allowed many of the Irish peasants to remain east of the Shannon to provide labor for the new conquerors. He hoped that with their Catholic Gaelic leaders gone and the Catholic clergy killed or exiled, these simple people would eventually side with him and support his interests, even converting away from Catholicism. Cromwell, of course, was wrong. The Irish -- or most of them -- remained loyal to Ireland and Catholicism and simply hated Cromwell in return.
Connaught (in green), the west of Ireland
(Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons)
The results of this Cromwellian invasion of Ireland were many. The chief physical result was the destruction of the old Gaelic, Irish Catholic rule in Ireland. After Cromwell the power in Ireland was English and Protestant. But … Cromwell failed to eliminate the Irish or their beliefs. And although Ireland would not gain independence until the 1920’s, almost three hundred years after Cromwell, the Curse of Cromwell -- the injustices, murders, and horrors he was responsible for -- instead of suppressing the Irish to nonexistence, backfired, and simply encouraged future Irish rebels to remember and fight harder.
Much like in American history with the expression “Remember the Alamo,” the Curse of Cromwell only provided the impetus for more Irish rebellion and fighting.
Sources and further reading: TV program called “Cromwell: God’s Executioner” by The History Channel and RTE (Ireland), Michael O’Siochru, Tile Films, 2008; Book review of “God’s Executioner” by Michael O’Siochru in The Guardian newspaper, “The face that haunts Ireland’s history” by Finton O’Toole, 2008, at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/aug/24/history; Wikipedia article on the “Siege of Drogheda” at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Drogheda#Massacre; News article called “To Hell or Barbados” Feb 18, 2009 by Independent.ie (Drogheda Independent, Ireland) http://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/lifestyle/to-hell-or-barbados-27131463.html ; Wikipedia article on the English Civil Wat at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War#Ireland ; Wikipedia article on Oliver Cromwell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell ; The Story of the Irish Race by Seumas MacManus, The Devin-Adair Company, New York, 1921, esp. pp 423 to 427. Ireland: A Terrible Beauty by Jill and Leon Uris, A Bantam Book, 1976. The photo of Oliver Cromwell’s statue is from Wikimedia Commons and can be found at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oliver_Cromwell_statue_Parliament_Square.jpg;
The public domain artwork of the Massacre at Drogheda can be found at Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons) at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Massacre_at_Drogheda.jpeg; Map of Connaught (Locator Map of Connacht) is from Wikimedia Commons/ Creative Commons at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Connacht_locator_map.svg ; Wikimedia article on Portadown Massacre at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portadown_massacre
Posted by Adrian McGrath at 5:47 PM
A very tragic history of the Irish.
Robert Emmett Rohan June 15, 2020 at 9:02 PM
Thank you for the article. I first learned of this
monster almost 60 years ago. We have paid a dear price for our culture. I pray we keep it alive; keep it growing. We no longer are The Silent People.
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Annie Kerr (1905-1942) Belfast
Home Annie Kerr (1905-1942) Belfast
The Belfast Girl on the Front-line
Claire Melvin, UK
My great grandmother Mary Molloy would often say that she thought her family must have gypsy blood as she, her sister and many of her children had travelled the world but it was her oldest daughter Annie Kerr who found herself in the greatest danger.
Marriage record of Joseph Kerr & Mary Molloy, Belfast, 1904.
Annie Kerr’s mother Mary Molloy had been working as a servant for a pawn broker in the Pottinger area of the Belfast, when her grandmother Roseanne had started taking in lodgers, including a young man called Joseph Kerr who was a committed Marxist, heavily into nationalist politics and worked in the mills as a flax dresser. Joseph had refused to talk about his family or his past, possibly because his family were everything he despised. His mother’s family, the Auchenlecks had inherited wealth, and his grandfather and uncle were part of the Dublin ascendancy, gentlemen who did not need to work and lived off their property income. Joseph had been well educated and had left a good job as a clerk in a fashionable department store and his family’s large comfortable home in the Crumlin Road area of the city to work bare foot in harsh conditions in the mills and live with Mary’s family in cramped conditions in Plevna Street near the Falls Road.
Annie’s father’s political convictions would mean times were often hard and she and her sister had to support the family.
By 1905, Mary had fallen for Joseph Kerr and the two had married.
They had then moved to a house in Abyssinia Street, where Annie Kerr had been born, the oldest of six children, including my grandmother Molly.
Attempts were going on to strengthen the trade union movement in the mills. There were strikes which caused hardship to Joseph and his family. There were also attempts to get the trade union movement going in the ship yards, where her father Joseph had worked for a while as a timekeeper but there was a lot of anti-Catholic feeling there and he found it a difficult place to work.
Annie’s mother’s cousin John McHenry who was also from Belfast and would later become a fulltime official of the National Union of Seamen had got a job working as a fireman on the ferries between Belfast and Ardrossan, in Scotland. With the outbreak of the First World War, in 1915 he suggested the family should come to live with him in Saltcoats in Scotland. Saltcoats was a small seaside town but it was also the home to what was known as “the Dynamite”, a huge explosive works which had been set up by Alfred Noble, the inventor of dynamite. The town had been chosen as the location because sand banks could be built around the works to reduce the impact of any explosion and because of its close location to ports which made export easier. The work was well paid and with the outbreak of the First World War business was booming so jobs were plentiful but it was also very dangerous. Annie and her brothers and sister liked living by the sea but the family was still battling prejudice. When they moved into a tenement flat near the sea front, the neighbours protested to the building owner that an Irish family had been allowed to move in and asked for them to be evicted. The factor (the owner’s agent) came round to see her mother and look at how she was keeping the house. In the end he advised her to ‘hold her own with the neighbours’. He could see she kept the house clean and as she was the only one who paid the rent on time he wasn’t going to evict her. Annie’s mother did ‘hold her own with the neighbours’ and in the end she even made friends with them.
Edward Carson, one of the founders of Northern Ireland.
With the end of the war, there was less work at “the Dynamite” and Annie’s mother decided she didn’t want her sons working in such a dangerous place so had persuaded Joseph to head back to the Falls and Belfast. In 1920, following what was known as the Fourth Home Rule Bill, the unionist politician Carson had delivered a speech warning of the dangers of Sinn Fein which would have an inflammatory effect on the city in what became known as the Belfast Pogroms. 5,000 Catholics who had been working in the ship yards were attacked and forced to leave their jobs. There was gunfire in the area between the Falls and the Shankill neighbourhood. Catholic shops and businesses were looted, property was burnt, churches, monasteries and convents were attacked. It was estimated over £1m in damage was done to properties. What had started in the shipyards, spread to other businesses and it was estimated 8,000 catholic men and left wing Protestants in warehouses, factories and other concerns were expelled from their jobs. People who had lived in mixed areas were chased from their homes, some managed to swap houses with people of other religions in a similar position but tents were put up in the Falls Road to try to accommodate them. There were curfews and 465 civilians were killed, and over a thousand people were injured. One night, in 1921 the violence came directly to Annie’s door. She didn’t know why, it may have been a reprisal and she didn’t know who although the men were dressed like soldiers. At that point every man in the street, her father included was taken out, lined up and every second one was shot. Joseph was one of the lucky ones but at that point the family decided they could no longer stay in Ireland.
They fled that night to Scotland. There was no time to take possessions so they left with little more than their clothes and a big clock which had been bought recently for Annie’s baby brother Denis who had just been born. There were not alone in doing that, several thousand Belfast families fled at that time mostly to Glasgow or Dublin. Annie’s parents decided to go to Glasgow. Joseph felt he couldn’t go back to Saltcoats as the people they knew there would think they had failed. The family of eight ended up in a single room in Glasgow’s infamous Gorbals area. This time it was very different than it had been at the “Dynamite”, Joseph couldn’t get regular work and Annie and her sister Molly were soon working in a garment factory to try and support the family. The sisters would take the baby Denis out in the pram and walk the streets crying she they were so unhappy in the new home. The local Irish community in Glasgow tried to support the refugees. Collections were made to get them food and clothes. However, when they discovered their landlady had food and clothes hidden under the bed in her kitchen which she was embarrassed to be found with, they suspected she had stolen food parcels which had been brought round for them.
One day while walking in the Govan (shipyard area) of the city, Annie’s mother bumped into her father’s sister Ellen Molloy who had moved there from Belfast with her husband many years before and she helped the family get back on her feet and found them a new home in the area. From their new flat in a tenement block it was possible to see all the huge ships, which were being built there and it was that which was inspiring Annie and her brother George. By the age of 15 George had left for Canada on a church sponsored scheme.
While his sister Annie still working in the garment factory had similar dreams of seeing the world but a very different way in mind to do it. Annie had found out about an order of Middle Eastern nuns, who had convents in France and in what was then Palestine. She had decided to join them but before she did she needed to raise the money for the fare to Marseilles where she would need to do her training. Annie was artistic and would later teach art, so she and her sister Molly began designing and making clothes to sell, and Annie also took a second job as a cinema usherette at the Lyceum cinema in Govan.
Finally, she had enough money and was able to join the sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition who were a teaching order in Marseilles, and took the name Sister Leila. With their help she trained to be a teacher and was sent to Palestine to teach, where the order had convents in Jerusalem and Jaffa. She painted the amazing sites she saw and sent the pictures back to her family. However, by 1938, she was writing to her mother asking her to pray for her, worried she might never see her family again. For a girl who had lived through the Belfast Pogroms, what was happening around her again was worryingly familiar. The nuns’ schools were in the Middle of the Arab uprising. By 1938, the Palestinian government had lost control. Troops had occupied Jerusalem. There was violence on the streets, people were being abducted and over 900 people had been murdered. However, she did see her family again in 1939 and she was sent by the nuns then to teach in a school in Malta.
What none of the family knew in March 1939 was that World War II was coming.
Annie Kerr had been living in the convent in the ancient city of Valetta in Malta, and was teaching English and Art in the school which the sisters ran there. She had a good friend Sister Ita O’Reilly, who was from an America Irish family and her pupils included the children of Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia. As a new front open in Africa, Malta became the site of fierce fighting as the Germans and Italians tried to seize it. Over a period of two years, over 3,000 bombing raids were carried out on the island. The convent close as it was to the Grand Harbour was now in the firing line. The island came effectively under siege for two years, running out of all essential commodities and the whole population of the island would later be awarded the George Cross. Food and water was hard to find, as the bombing had broken the water pipes. All livestock had been slaughtered. The convoys taking supplies to the island were being bombarded and very little supplies were getting through. However, there was one person who managed to get through was Annie’s brother George. At the start of the war he had been a merchant seaman travelling the world but he like many others had been co-opted into the navy. By the end of the war he had been involved in the Africa campaign, had been on the Atlantic convoys to New York, and would earn the Pacific Star with trips to South America. His ship the Trocas, however had limped into Malta in need of repairs and for a brief time stuck in Valetta, he was able to walk every day from the Grand Harbour to see his sister in the convent. Little did he know as he finally left the island that would be the last time any of them would see his sister. Back in Scotland, Annie’s sister Molly had a dream they were playing with a rope in the garden, the rope had broken and her sister had slipped away. She would later receive a letter from Sister Ita, telling her, her sister had died that day. The nuns and their pupils had been stuck in the shelters for days in a place called Balzan, as the bombing had continued and had been forced to drink contaminated water. Annie Kerr had been one of the 1,300 civilian casualties. She was buried in a grave in Valetta which merely said, “The sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition”.
Annie’s mother had jokingly put her children’s desire to see the world down to ‘gypsy blood’ but it was probably more about the city of Belfast they had come from – a city where you could see the big ships that would go out into the world being built but also a city which they had been chased from so they never quite felt at home again after that.
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All Things To Do In "Campgrounds"
Anastasia contains four miles of pristine beach. Camping, hiking, boating/sailing and canoeing along Salt Run.
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Dutton Island Preserve
Dutton Island consists of 9,000ft of nature trails, a fishing and viewing pier, a canoe/kayak launch, picnic areas, pavilions and camping areas.
Faver-Dykes State Park
Fishing, picnicking, and nature walks are popular activities here.
Fort Clinch
Enjoy a variety outdoor activities including the beach, nature walks, camping, fishing, canoeing and more.
Ginnie Springs
Seven crystal-clear, freshwater springs nestled in over 200 wooded acres along the banks of the Santa Fe River in Florida.
Go Tuk’n Inc.
Go Tuk’n’s kid’s tours and scavenger hunts are perfect for you and your children. Children’s tours start at only $10.
Hanna Park and Campground
Hiking and biking trails, beach and water playground, covered pavilions, picnic tables, outdoor BBQ grills, fishing, kayaking. and canoes.
Happy Acres Ranch
Enjoy this spacious 10 acre ranch for your next private celebration!
Huguenot Memorial Park
Features a beautiful beach, waterfront campsites, swimming, fishing, picnic shelters, and bird observation area.
Little Talbot Island State Park
The park has a full–facility campground, a youth/group tent campground, beachside picnic pavilions, fishing and 5 miles of white, sandy beaches.
Manatee Springs State Park
Popular for snorkeling and scuba diving, the headwaters of the spring are also a great spot for swimming.
Otter Springs Park and Campground
Otter Springs, is a second magnitude natural spring with an average temperature of 73 degrees daily.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
21,000-acre preserve offering a “rich array of habitats for wildlife, including alligators, bison, wild horses, and over 270 species of birds”.
Rainbow Springs is Florida’s fourth largest spring.
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The main attraction is the ancient subterranean springs which flow year-round at a constant temperature of 72 degrees which has been said is the legendary “Fountain of Youth”.
Silver Springs State Park
“Silver Springs State Park combines the charm of a historic Florida attraction with the crystal clear beauty of one of the last uninhabited spring runs in the state.”
St. Mary’s River Fish Camp & Campground
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God Bless our Troops-Special Guest Post by Rafael Hines
Jena Henry Blog, Charli's World 2 0
Thank you to my new and cherished friend, Rafael Amadeus Hines, for this magnificent tribute to our Armed Forces.
Mr. Hines begins…As an author of military-thrillers, despite having never served in the United States Armed Forces,
I feel extremely fortunate to have been surrounded by combat veterans for most of my life.
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of hearing their jaw dropping firsthand accounts of battles and tactics, of belly laughing at their tales of the often hilarious and improbable moments that happen in war, and shedding tears when they occasionally talk about the men and women they’ve served with who never made it home.
I recognize what an honor it is to have these friendships and personal access to living legends who were actually reading my draft chapters while serving in Combat Outposts in Afghanistan. It has also made me keenly aware of the personal side of military life, and how much sacrifice these brave men and women make when they volunteer to serve in our Armed Forces.
My belief is that we enrich our own lives by giving to others (discussed in more detail on the Giving Page of my website http://www.rafaelhines.com/giving/) and this is especially true when it comes to those who are serving, or who have served. Supporting our troops is something we should all try to do on a daily basis, not just on Memorial Day.
Every year on May 30th we honor the men and women of our armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives in service to our great nation. So many have fallen and the numbers are staggering. More than 1,300,000 of our citizens have died in battle over the last 240 years, and sadly, many more names will be added to the rolls. On Memorial Day we honor these sons and daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers who have died too young, and died violently protecting our freedoms.
How do you thank someone for putting themselves in harm’s way and being laid to rest with an American flag draped over their coffin?
Each of us must decide that for ourselves, but whether it’s through prayer, a donation, cooking and personally delivering a meal to a grieving family, silent reflection, or committing simple acts of kindness, every American should feel compelled to take some form of action. This year on Monday May 30th the IAVA (Iraq Afghanistan Veterans Association) is calling for a pledge to Go Silent at 12:01PM EDT for 1 minute to honor the fallen. You can sign up on their website at www.iava.org as I have if you want to participate.
It is also important to remember that although Memorial Day is a tribute to those who have died in combat, the ravages of war continue for so many who have actually survived it. More than 22 veterans commit suicide every single day! So on your day off on Monday May 30th think about the fallen as well as the still suffering men and women who will end their lives within those 24 hours. It’s a sobering thought on a day known for heavy drinking and barbeques, but we can all make a difference by raising awareness, and by helping those who really need it.
Make this Memorial Day special. Take action and get involved… And remember, honoring and helping others through simple acts of kindness will make you feel really good.
Thank you and may God bless and protect our troops.
Rafael Hines
Rafael Amadeus Hines is a native New Yorker with Panamanian, Jamaican, and Irish roots, who was born and raised on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Dipping into his early Alphabet City memories, he loosely based many of the characters in his first novel, Bishop’s War, on the people he grew up with, and adapted many of his own experiences into the book as well. Rafael is a former Jazz club owner and restaurateur, and has worked in the financial and energy markets for over twenty years. On 9/11 he watched his office along with all the others in the Twin Towers come crashing down and, like many New Yorkers on that day, he anticipated follow up attacks to take place throughout the city. Years later he envisioned a lone citizen soldier preventing these attacks and the hero Sgt. John Bishop appeared on paper. Rafael is the father of three and still lives in the New York neighborhood where he grew up.
Mr. Hines is the author of Bishop’s War (Bishop Series Book 1). This fast-paced and action-packed suspense thriller introduces us to Special Forces Sergeant John Bishop, decorated war hero. After returning home from Afghanistan John’s hopes for a peaceful future are quickly shattered when he is catapulted back into the global war on terror through a succession of life-threatening events and corrupt intrigue.
Armed Forces Iraq Afghanistan Veterans Association Memorial Day Rafael Hines Rafaelhines.com troops
2 Responses to God Bless our Troops-Special Guest Post by Rafael Hines
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Julie Geller
http://www.juliegeller.com
Julie Geller delivers her lyric-driven songs with honesty, clarity, and most of all, hope. The veins that run through Julie’s music are connection and courage. Connection, because her music makes us feel both a part of something greater and more in touch with our deepest selves. Courage, because her lyrics are about the struggle to develop into the people we know we can be.
If music is the heart of what Julie does, then storytelling is the soul. This comes across in her lyrics, live shows, and blog. By telling the stories of her own life – her sucesses and failures – as well as the stories behind her songs, there is a recognition of our shared humanity. That is the power of Julie’s music, and it is what makes her a riveting live perfomer.
Julie has released six albums. She has been producing one new music video every month for over three and a half years, and recently gave a TEDx talk about this project. Where do all the songs come from? In her own words, “It’s the sheer joy of creating, the exuberance of expressing something about being alive. Art moves us when it is real, not when it’s perfect. That’s what I focus on . . . getting to what’s most real.”
A graduate of Harvard University with a Certificate of Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory of Music, Julie is fearless in her drive to create and in her desire to help others through music. She was was invited to the White House in 2014 and was recently chosen as one of the Top 25 Women changing the world by Conversations Magazine. She lives in Denver, CO with her husband and three children.
Music by Julie Geller
Julie Geller — I Believe in Miracles
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LAUSD defends against claims in lengthy arbitration involving the right to assign personnel where needed
Clients Los Angeles Unified School District
Jones Day defended the Los Angeles Unified School District ("LAUSD") in a lengthy arbitration regarding the right of the school district to assign personnel where needed. We also litigated the subsequent civil action brought against LAUSD and several of its employees, including a claim brought under § 1983, alleging that the employee’s reassignment was retaliation for protest activities.
Richard Selby v. LAUSD, et al., Case No. 02-8601 PAJTLx, (C.D. Cal.)
Business & Tort Litigation
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The Leviticus Fund is motivated by faith and founded on the biblical verse of Leviticus 25:23 and its call for justice in the stewardship of economic resources. The Fund supports transformative solutions that serve low-income and vulnerable people by combining flexible capital from social impact investors and contributors with knowledge-sharing to create sustainable and affordable communities.
In December 1981, a group of religious leaders from the Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment met to discuss a new model for addressing the needs of the disadvantaged. They saw that, if they pooled and invested their resources together, they could do more to reflect and advance the faith-driven values they shared: ensuring that the economically poor could live with dignity and self-determination; using their shared resources for the benefit of those with less; and protecting and sharing the earth’s resources.
In May 1983, 27 of the religious congregations pooled $360,000 in capital to form the Leviticus 25:23 Alternative Fund.
This vision of social and economic justice has endured as our driving force for over 37 years. It guided our first two loans in 1984, which supported a tenant-owned cooperative in New York City and a workplace and training center for mentally-challenged adults in Nyack, NY. It led us to become one of the nation’s first certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in 1994, to expand our investments into early care and education in 1997, and to more recently launch new programs for manufactured housing communities, community health centers, charter public schools, and healthy food-access. And it has inspired the numerous loans we have made in recent years to foster decent homes, schools, jobs, and health and social services for thousands of low-income families across five states.
Our impact has grown steadily over time, from $1.5 million invested in our first 10 years to over $131 million as of today. We now have 67 member investors and 94 individual and institutional associate investors, each of whom ensure we can continue to fulfill the vision of our founders: to share the gift of economic resources in order to advance a more just and equitable society—one in which all people can meet their basic needs and access opportunities.
View Our New Video – Leviticus Fund Celebrates 35 Years
https://www.leviticusfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Leviticus-Fund-2018_website.mp4
Sr. Rosemary Jeffries, RSM
All-Africa Conference: Sister to Sister
Darlene Robinson
Board Vice President
Vice President, Commercial Community Development Lending
Toni Palamar
Province Business Administrator
Sisters of the Good Shepherd
Sr. Ellenrita Purcaro, OP
Empowerment Center at Harmony Farm
Elaine Dovas
CRA Officer & First Vice President
Apple Bank for Savings
Jonathan Hummel
Managing Director, Risk Management
Becky Koch
Senior Relationship Manager & Team Leader
HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
Dan Letendre
Managing Director and CDFI Lending & Investing Executive
Joseph F. Reilly
Community Development Trust, Inc.
Sr. Peggy Scarano, OP
Regional Representative
SOAR!
Shona St. Angelo
Concern for Independent Living, Inc.
Elizabeth Torres
HousingSmarts, LLC
Rev. Julius Walls, Jr.
Greater Centennial Community Development Corporation
Greg Maher
gmaher@leviticusfund.org
Greg joined the Leviticus Fund as Executive Director in 2013, and is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of our operations and for formulating new initiatives to address the needs of the low-income people and communities that we serve. Previously, he spent 23 years at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the last seven as Senior Vice President for Lending. While a member of LISC’s Loan Committee he reviewed and helped shape over 2,500 loan requests totaling over $1.1 billion to a wide variety of projects. Greg is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and St. John’s University School of Law.
Loan Manager
hdavis@leviticusfund.org
Helen is our Loan Manager and provides direct support to the lending staff throughout the lending process from origination through closing, disbursement and payoff, including monitoring and reporting. Prior to joining Leviticus, she worked for a commercial real estate management company and has held several jobs in the banking sector that involved internal auditing, and reporting design and implementation. A lawyer, Helen also worked with legal services in Westchester County. She has volunteered with Girl Scouts and her school district’s Special Education PTA. She holds a BBA in Finance from Pace University and a law degree from Fordham University School of Law.
Kayla Jeffrey
kjeffrey@leviticusfund.org
Kayla is our Loan Officer and works closely with our Executive Director and Senior Loan Officer in business development and customer relations, as well as supporting the development of new lending programs and products, and completing initial loan feasibility assessments. Prior to Leviticus, she worked as a Development Assistant and Leasing Specialist with Regan Development Corp, which specializes in affordable housing and special needs housing. Kayla most recently completed studies at the University College in London, earning a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Urbanism. She also holds a B.A. in Urban Studies and a Planning degree from The University at Albany.
Jelani Jones
Lending Associate
jjones@leviticusfund.org
Jelani is our Lending Associate and his work involves all aspects of our lending, from pre-loan application process to providing support for loan portfolio management, to business development and relationship management. He also assists in gathering impact data related to financed projects, and helps coordinate Leviticus’ communications that profile our borrowers. Jelani holds a BA in Management with a background in finance from New York University’s Stern Business School, and worked as an intern with Leviticus in 2019. Jelani helped raise over $1 million for The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation fighting pediatric cancer over the course of two years.
Kevin P. McQueen
Director of Lending
kmcqueen@leviticusfund.org
Kevin joined the Leviticus Fund as Director of Lending in 2020. He is responsible for all facets of our lending programs, ensuring that we achieve our strategic goals and maintain flexibility and responsiveness in meeting the needs of the organizations we serve. Prior to joining Leviticus, he was a partner at BWB Solutions LLC, a consulting firm specializing in strategy development for organizations committed to social impact. Kevin is also an Adjunct Instructor at The Milano School of Policy, Management and Environment, where he teaches community development finance. Kevin graduated from Brown University and is completing a graduate degree in Economics at The New School for Social Research.
Hayley Morland
Finance & Operations Associate
hmorland@leviticusfund.org
Hayley is our Finance & Operations Associate and is responsible for a broad range of tasks related to bookkeeping and support to our Finance Director, in addition to general administrative support for staff. Prior to Leviticus, she spent the last decade working in corporate accounting and recruitment. Hayley recently received her 300-Hour Yoga and 100-Hour Meditation teacher training certifications, and is passionate about encouraging mindfulness and offering workshops on maintaining healthy relationships with money and finances. She holds a BA in English Language & Literature from the University of Reading, UK.
jrivera@leviticusfund.org
Jose is our Finance Director and oversees all facets of bookkeeping, accounting, treasury functions and loan servicing. He also provides support to the Executive Director for securing new debt and existing debt renewals and increases. Jose has extensive financial management experience in the nonprofit sector, having worked for social service agencies, a charter public school and a supportive services provider. Jose is active in community-based programs that serve disabled and emotionally fragile youth and has served as a facilitator in racial and social-economic oppression workshops. He holds a B.B.A. Accounting degree from Iona College.
Colleen M. Ryan
Resource Development Officer
cryan@leviticusfund.org
Colleen joined the Leviticus Fund as Resource Development Officer in 2020. She is responsible for increasing resources to support Leviticus’ work, including membership expansion, advancing initiatives to secure investments from faith-based colleges and universities, and developing and implementing a Legacy Fund. In addition to her work with Leviticus, Colleen is principal of CMR Communications, a consulting firm certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by NYS, which provides association and grants management support for nonprofits serving vulnerable populations. She is a graduate of the College of St. Rose in Albany.
Maryann Sorese
Communications & Compliance Officer
msorese@leviticusfund.org
As our Communications and Compliance Officer, Maryann handles all compliance reporting to our investors, funders and federal agencies and manages our print and electronic communications and impact tracking database. Before Leviticus, Maryann worked in fundraising for an international nonprofit and lived in Brazil for nine years involved in housing and land access issues. She serves on the Board of Directors for IFCA Housing Network, a nonprofit housing agency in her community. She holds a BA in Journalism from New York University and an MBA from Mercy College.
There are no new staff positions open at this time.
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Sr. Margaret St. Hugh Keenan, OSF
Wednesday, September 4th, 1929 - Thursday, August 13th, 2020
To share your memory on the wall of Sr. Margaret St. Hugh Keenan, OSF, sign in using one of the following options:
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Sr. Margaret St. Hugh's Tribute Fund
Sister Margaret St. Hugh Keenan, OSF, (90) died in Assisi House on August 13. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 69 years. Sister Margaret was born in Philadelphia where she was a member of Visitation Pa... Read More
Sister Margaret St. Hugh Keenan, OSF, (90) died in Assisi House on August 13. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 69 years. Sister Margaret was born in Philadelphia where she was a member of Visitation Parish. She entered the congregation in 1949 and professed her first vows in 1951. She earned a B.S. in Education from Mt. St. Mary University in Emmitsburg. She ministered primarily in education.
During her 30 years of ministry in the Diocese of Wilmington, Sister Margaret taught at St. Joseph on the Brandywine School, St. Paul School, Holy Angels School, and St. Peter School in New Castle. During her later years in the diocese, she served at the Ministry of Caring.
During her nine years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, Sister Margaret taught at Nativity School. She also ministered in the Diocese of Naples where she taught for five years at St. Ann School. During her two years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, she taught at St. Vincent School.
In 1997 Sister Margaret moved to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where, for the next 21 years, she ministered with our retired sisters at Assisi House. In 2018 she moved to Assisi House and served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.
All services will be held in Assisi House on Wednesday, August 19, at 11 A.M. and will be private. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Margaret is survived by nieces, nephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sr. Margaret St. Hugh Keenan, OSF, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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Assisi House
600 Red Hill Rd.
Aston, PA 19014
Due to current restrictions, services will be private at the convenience of The Sisters of St. Francis.
Our Lady Of Angels Cemetery
609 Convent Rd.
We encourage you to share your most beloved memories of Sr. Margaret St. Hugh here, so that the family and other loved ones can always see it. You can upload cherished photographs, or share your favorite stories, and can even comment on those shared by others.
Provide comfort for the family of Sr. Margaret St. Hugh Keenan, OSF by sending flowers.
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Budget incentives for property sector
This is the last in a series of articles by PricewaterhouseCoopers which appear on Mondays and Wednesdays leading up to Budget 2010
Abolishment of the real property gains tax, reduction in stamp duty for properties in a certain price range, and the construction and property sector gaining most from the stimulus packages announced – these are clear indications of the Government’s focus on this sector to help accelerate economic growth.
The positive multiplier effect from an improved performance in the construction and property sector is tremendous, with the stakeholder chain including the manufacture and supply of building materials; the service industry of contractors, architects, engineers, etc; the developers and even the financial institutions.
This industry is not just about residential and commercial development but also the tourism and industrial economy. It is a holistic economic driver.
Take the tourism industry for example. When tourist arrivals are up, there will also be a boost to hotel and retail consumer demand. With tourism being one of the Government’s top priority growth sectors, there has been a focus on encouraging the development of affordable three-star hotels to attract mass tourists.
However, with the country shifting towards a modern developed economy, we must turn our attention to attracting investments into upmarket, boutique and innovative hotel property development to bring the industry to the next level; tourist arrivals must increase together with the increase in value spending.
Hotel owners should be given additional incentives to bring the investment yield return earlier. It may be worthy to relook at the existing investment tax allowance incentive as well as the availability of duty exemption for materials in hotel property development.
Closely linked to the tourism industry is the availability of retail attractions to complement hotels of similar class, with retail development popularly linked to commercial office space development to provide the consistent retail traffic. Commercial space also remains the top three property interest of Malaysian and foreign investors.
Currently, there are no incentives for the retail sector. Consideration should be given to developing incentives holistically and linking it with initiatives to drive tourism, thus providing further push to the sector. Perhaps tax incentives such as income exemption based on retail investment turnover value or spending on green technology can be given to retail outlets or “green” commercial buildings.
When it comes to landed or high-rise residential properties, crisis or not, there seems to be no lack of demand, with some of these properties being snapped up on launch.
This show of investor confidence bodes well for the real estate sector which has attracted much foreign investment and known to offer a reasonable investment yield.
Hence, we must continue to attract foreign investment into the high-end property development market and leverage our “preferred location” status in this part of the world.
Here, the attraction for foreign investors would not be tax incentives but rather, high quality development with full facilities and in a prime location – the formula to high investment yield. Hence, the Government should continue to deliver on its policies to facilitate a speedy investment process for foreigners.
A final analysis on the property sector is for the Government to consider how it can support the wish of most Malaysians to own their own home. Malaysia has a large middle-income population who strive to own a home and it is this dream which can keep the demand for residential property healthy.
With pockets of initiatives sporadically introduced such as the reduction in interest rates, subsidies given to developers for low-cost housing and even financial institutions’ willingness to reschedule loan repayments, we must ask if more can be done.
Relative to our salary standards, it is becoming more difficult for the middle-income group/family to sustain a home, let alone own one. Suggestions previously put forward such as first home subsidy and deduction for interest expense on loans for home purchases should be reviewed.
Some other thoughts are tax rebates for a certain period of the loan term depending on the value of property purchased, different stamp duty rates for different property prices, unprecedented tax breaks for developers undertaking certain types of projects or development type.
The challenge will be in ensuring that the savings given to developers is passed on.
The property sector plays a crucial role in sustaining and spurring economic growth. There is a compelling need to review and introduce policies that are holistic and integrated, with incentives provided to each player in the property chain and across the portfolio of properties.
● Ng Say Guat is executive director at PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services Sdn Bhd.
By The Star (by Ng Say Guat)
Labels: budget 2010, Property Market
TA Global aims to beef up hotel portfolio
TA Global wants to build at least two hotels in Kuala Lumpur and make acquisitions in overseas markets from London to Canada
TA GLOBAL Bhd, set to become Malaysia's fifth biggest listed property group, plans to double the number of hotels it owns in five years, adding to a portfolio that includes the Radisson Plaza in Sydney and the Westin Melbourne.
It wants to build at least two hotels in Kuala Lumpur and make acquisitions in overseas markets from London to Canada, said Datin Alicia Tiah, managing director and co-founder of parent company TA Enterprise Bhd.
"Definitely, we want more. We want to develop our own chain. I want to buy hotels in gateway cities like London," she said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur.
"But some are not cheap; some too big, some too small. It takes time to get the right fit. I want people to show me what they have."
TA Enterprise, shares of which have more than doubled this year, folded all its property assets into TA Global, which will be listed on Bursa Malaysia on November 23 to tap a resurgent stock market.
The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index has gained 46 per cent so far this year. TA Enterprise closed 0.7 per cent down at RM1.46 yesterday. Shares earlier gained as much as 1.4 per cent.
TA Global, which currently owns four hotels, is being spun off into a separate listing to realise its value and help it expand. The group spent about RM756 million from December last year to August to buy the Westin Melbourne hotel, the Swissotel Merchant Court hotel in Singapore and the Coast Whistler Hotel in Canada, taking advantage of depressed prices during the global recession.
The acquisitions will triple hotel revenue at TA Global next year, Tiah said, without giving the current figure.
"A lot of hotels were going for below their replacement costs," she said. "We managed to get great assets at a time when things were so gloomy."
TA Global will have a market value of RM2.4 billion when it is listed and will be ranked the fifth largest property group, HwangDBS Vickers Research Sdn Bhd said in a September 29 report.
"The timing is quite good to list," Tiah said. "We have accumulated great assets."
TA Global, which has total assets valued at RM2.4 billion, has lined up more than RM6 billion of property development projects from now till 2012, said Tiah.
The company also owns the 24-story Terasen Centre, an office building in Vancouver, Canada, and Menara TA One, a 34-storey office in Kuala Lumpur.
By listing the property unit, TA Enterprise will be "unlocking the hidden value" of its property assets, ECM Libra Capital Sdn Bhd said in a report yesterday.
TA Global will raise RM230 million from the share sale. It also owns offices in Kuala Lumpur and Canada. TA Enterprise will retain a 57 per cent stake after the listing, said Tiah.
"We have a good stream of income: good time, bad time, it will be there," she said, referring to the hotels.
"I love hospitality, you can up the rates", as opposed to office buildings where rates are fixed by contracts, she added.
L&G to build condo, residential units
Land and General Bhd (L&G), developer of the 1,200-acre Bandar Sri Damansara, aims to develop the remaining 45 acres of the township next year, its managing director Low Gay Teik said today.
He said the company hoped to get the authorities' approval by end of this year and planned to develop a new condominium and residential units.
Asked on its other landbanks in Johor and Sg.Petani, he said L&G had no plans to develop the land there for now.
"We believe it's not the time to develop yet. We will wait for the right time before developing the land," he told reporters at the company's ground-breaking ceremony for its 8trium mixed property development project in Petaling Jaya today.
L&G is consistently looking at acquiring new land and also at joint venture possibilities, Low said.
"Currently, we are in talks with several parties to acquire new landbanks for new mixed-commercial and residential development in the Klang Valley," he added.
On the 8trium project, he said the project is due for completion by 2012.
With a gross development value (GDV) of RM160 million, 8trium is a mixed commercial development project combining a two-storey retail podium and 260 units of office suites contained in two suite towers.
Since the launch in July, 90 per cent of the Tower 2 has been sold, while the Tower 1, launched 10 days ago has recorded almost 30 per cent sales.
"I believe, based on the current response, we should achieve 90 per cent sales for both towers by middle of next year," he added.
The project is expected to contribute positively to its financial year ending March 31, 2010.
Labels: Apartment / Condominium / Residences, Property Market
European commercial property deals rise
LONDON: Investment in European commercial properties rose 34 per cent in the third quarter as more deals were completed in the UK and Germany, CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. said.
Investors bought ?17.3 billion euros (?1 = RM5.03) of shops, offices and warehouses in the third quarter, 44 per cent less than in the year-earlier period, according to a report released yesterday by the Los Angeles-based adviser.
European commercial property sales have fallen for more than two years after credit dried up and companies slashed spending on
offices. About ?295 billion of commercial real estate changed hands in 2006, with more than e80 billion spent in the fourth quarter alone, according to data compiled by Cushman and Wakefield.
“Many investors believe the European market is approaching the bottom of the cycle,” said Michael Haddock, head of capital markets research for the Europe, the Middle East and Africa at CB Richard Ellis.
Labels: Europe
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Kanda Myojin Shrine was founded in 730, and has held a special presence in Edo-Tokyo for almost 1,300 years. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), this shrine was said to guard and protect the whole of Edo (the former name for Tokyo), from the Shogun to the common people, as the local deity of the city. Even today, this deity is familiar as the guardian of prosperity within the family, marriage, and business, and protection against evil. The 108 towns of Tokyo that make up the shrine's parishioners are those steeped in the lifestyles and culture of Edo and Tokyo. "Myojin-sama" is said to continue to watch over these towns, which blend tradition and creation, and the shrine grounds are always bustling with visitors who revere and admire Myojin-sama.
2-16-2 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
A 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Ochanomizu Station Exit 1
A 7-minute walk from Keihin Tohoku Line/Yamanote Line Akihabara Station Electric Town Exit
Prayers available: 9:00-16:00
Omamori (charms) available: 9:00-19:00 (subject to change)
http://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/what/
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Trending > Space & Astronomy
MAY 25, 2020 5:23 AM PDT
Virgin Orbit Wants to Launch Space Rockets From 747 Jets
Entities from all around the world, be it companies or government space agencies, are continuously innovating in an attempt to make space rocket launches as efficient and reliable as possible. One of the apparent goals in doing so is to reduce the cost of spaceflight altogether, as it would open the door for new scientific opportunities, as well as the potential for novel economic endeavors.
Image Credit: Virgin Orbit
Commercial space company SpaceX put a substantial dent in the cost of spaceflight when it developed and fine-tuned reusable rocket technology, allowing the company to get its money’s worth out of each rocket launch time and time again. Later, startups like Electron Rocket came about, promising to reduce the cost of space travel for tinier satellites by launching them with a smaller rocket that didn’t consume as much fuel.
All wonderful ideas… but Virgin Orbit, a subsidiary of the Virgin airliner company, intends to take a different approach that involves lofting a smaller rocket and its ~500kg cargo to cruise altitude with a Boeing 747 jet before releasing the rocket and igniting its engines.
The concept of launching space rockets from airplanes isn’t new, and three years ago, China’s space agency considered implementing this very same concept. It just so happens that Virgin has a lot of large jets at its disposal, and it plans to use them for monetization purposes that will benefit the space industry in a plethora of ways.
So how will this work? In a nutshell, a special Boeing 747 jet with a miniature rocket launch system embedded under its left wing will fly to around 35,000 feet in the air. Once ready, the pilot can initiate the launch sequence, tilt the airplane 35º in the air, and drop the rocket, after which the rocket’s engines will ignite and carry itself the rest of the way into space.
It seems like a difficult and unnecessary maneuver at first glance, but it’s actually particularly clever. Jet fuel is a good amount cheaper than rocket fuel, and after the jet does most of the heavy lifting, it’s smooth sailing the rest of the way into outer space. This method effectively eliminates all the drag of the Earth’s thick atmosphere below 35,000 feet.
Obviously, this launch method wouldn’t work for larger satellites, as these launches require massive rockets that are much too large to strap to an airplane’s wing. On the other hand, the sudden surge in the number of CubeSats and SmallSats small enough to ride on smaller rockets like the one supplied by Virgin Orbit could see launch cost savings and avoid having to shack up with larger payloads on larger rockets to split the cost.
Related: SmallSats could make space exploration more tangible
Virgin Orbit’s concept has already attracted some attention. The company was recently awarded a $35M contract from the United States Space Force to conduct 44 small satellite launches spanned over a period of time, and it’s poised to perform its first Demo launch this week. The first window of opportunity opened yesterday, but a sensor issue unfortunately postponed the launch. The next window of opportunity for launch opens today (Monday, May 25th) between 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. Pacific time.
Whatever the outcome of the Demo launch might be, this seems like an exciting way to move the space industry forward as demand for smaller, lower-cost satellites increases.
Source: Virgin Orbit via Seeker
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edyn acquires Cambridge location for expansion of Locke brand.
24 February 2020, London: edyn has today announced the acquisition of a site that is part of the University of Cambridge’s development of Eddington, which will become the latest location for its boutique aparthotel brand, Locke.
The 18,814 sqm development, which is due to open in the summer 2021, will become the eleventh Locke in Europe (based on its existing pipeline), continuing the rapid expansion of the brand since its first opening, Leman Locke, in 2016.
The aparthotel, which was designed by Sterling Prize-winning architects dRMM, will comprise 180 keys, with studio to one and two bedroom apartments, a restaurant, cocktail bar, coffee shop, retail space, co-working facilities, meeting rooms and an event space.
The site is part of the first phase of the University of Cambridge’s development of Eddington, serving as a focal point for the new community. The mixed-use destination will include 3,000 new residential units, retail facilities, a doctor’s surgery, community and performance arts centre, sports pitches, parklands, a school and student accommodation, as well as academic and research facilities.
Eddington will become a thriving destination which will compliment Cambridge’s rich and diverse community with its tradition of curiosity and discovery. We will position Locke in the centre of that ecosystem of commerce, learning, innovation and community. We are excited to be investing in this important destination, one of the biggest centres for knowledge in the world.
Stephen McCall, CEO of edyn.
Furthermore, also in the Eddington development, and co-habiting with Locke, edyn has entered into an agreement to develop and operate the first Hyatt Centric Hotel in the UK. The 150-room Hyatt Centric Cambridge is expected to open in 2021.
Cambridge is the latest addition to the Locke pipeline and follows another acquisition of a site under development in Munich, which will open in the Autumn this year. Munich will be edyn’s largest Locke to date, standing at 360 keys as well as five food and beverage outlets.
Our recent acquisitions in Cambridge and Munich are aligned with our plans for expansion of the Locke brand across the UK and Europe. We look forward to continuing this momentum as we receive strong demand for our pioneering approach to hospitality.
Eric Jafari, Chief Development Officer and Creative Director at edyn.
edyn is targeting gateway cities across Europe as part of its expansion plans, with six Locke openings confirmed for 2020 including three sites in London, two in Dublin and one in Munich. A number of acquisitions sustain its active pipeline, for example with sites planned in Berlin and London (opening 2021), Lisbon (opening 2022) and Copenhagen (opening 2023).
Download this press release.
Open PDF.
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Lottery Winners: 10+ Unbelievable...
Adam Osmond: The Lottery Addict
His Own Private Casino
Deeper and Deeper
The Cry for Help
It Can Happen to Anyone
By Nicholas Christensen
It’s not uncommon for lottery players to purchase one or more tickets on a weekly—if not daily—basis. In fact, it’s to be expected. However, some people take it to a whole new level—and end up paying for it big time! Adam Osmond, a former convenience store owner, is living proof that lottery addiction could lead to one’s ruin. Thanks to his insatiable thirst for gambling, he lost everything.
Starting Small
A resident of Farmington, Connecticut, Adam Osmond seemed like he was on the way to success. Osmond studied business and not long after graduating and getting his degree, he set up his own convenience store. With hard work, patience and perseverance, anyone could make it work. Unfortunately, Osmond became addicted to the lottery and it became nearly impossible for him to stop.
Like most gambling addicts, Osmond started small. He bought his first every lottery ticket in 1986, but it didn’t hook him in right off the bat. It was gradual—spending just a few dollars here and there. As he continued playing, it became harder and harder to stop. He was hooked. In the years to come, he was spending more money on tickets.
It got worse the more his income grew.
As a convenience store owner, Osmond had direct access to lottery tickets. As he put it, having his own store was “like having your own casino.” If you’re a casual player, it’s certainly a nice perk to have. However, for someone with an ever-growing gambling addiction, it was basically an express train to rock bottom.
In no time at all, it became a dangerously unhealthy cycle. And for 6 years starting in 2002, Osmond fell deeper and deeper into the hole of his own making. Unbeknownst to his family and friends, he would spend his workdays—and even weekends—just gambling at his store, buying thousands of dollars’ worth of tickets every week. When he won, he would immediately funnel whatever winnings he got back to lottery tickets.
But it wasn’t until 2007 that he started to really spiral out of control.
Most people would call it a day after winning $50,000, but Osmond—who actually won that amount–didn’t really care about the win. At least, not entirely. As a gambling addict, it was more about the next hit. In other words, he was more concerned about pushing the envelope, winning bigger and bigger prizes. He just had to outdo his $50,000 win.
After taxes, Osmond took home $37,500. And within a week, he burned through his entire winnings! Not only that, but he also spent all his income on tickets as well. It was a clear sign that he needed to stop, but Osmond—now more than neck-deep in his gambling addiction—went on in pursuit of the next big hit.
Adam's addiction grew so out of control that he had amassed stacks upon stacks of tickets.
After more than a decade of being at the mercy of his addiction, Osmond suffered a nervous breakdown in March 2008, and proceeded to print out a ridiculous amount of tickets—54,000 pieces, to be exact. However, not one ticket was cashed in. Osmond also never bothered to check all the numbers because such a high volume of tickets was an impossible task for just one man.
What’s worse, lottery officials came calling because Osmond—as you may have guessed by now—did not pay for any of the tickets he printed out. It wasn’t a scam of some sort, nor was there any malice behind it; he just couldn’t pay for the tickets. But, his addiction was, at that point, far beyond his control. In a way, it was a cry for help.
His printing spree went on for around three weeks until his ticket machine was shut down by lottery officials. It was the final nail in the coffin. Eventually, he had to close his entire business down, and it was only then when his family and friends learned of his gambling addiction. By the end of his printing binge, Osmond had racked up over $250,000 worth of lottery tickets.
Although he never cashed the tickets in, Osmond was nevertheless ordered to pay for them. He acknowledged that the money could have been used for his family’s expenses or funneled into his savings. He also lamented that he could have paid for his house in full already if it weren’t for his gambling problems. Most importantly, Osmond regrets letting down his family and friends.
Eventually, he slowly managed to pay a portion of what the Connecticut Lottery said he owed, which set him back thousands of dollars. Fortunately, the court decided years later that the initial court order was illegal because he never actually cashed the tickets in. In other words, Osmond didn’t have to pay anymore.
Though the loss of everything he had worked hard for still loomed over him, it was a small blessing nonetheless.
Three years after quitting gambling in 2008, Osmond switched to a healthier and much more fulfilling hobby: running. He has competed in over 200 marathons and ultra marathons, and, in 2016, was aiming to run in over 169 towns in Connecticut.
Perhaps more importantly, he also helps spread the word about gambling addiction. As an accountant by trade, he uses his skills in data analysis to educate people about the perils of gambling. He even testified in the state capital to help push for the funding of treatment programs specifically aimed at gambling addicts.
And he doesn’t stop there! He also helps recovering gambling addicts get back up on their feet again. How? It’s simple—he introduces them to running! It helped him lead a healthier and more positive life after all, and he is certain it can help others as well.
If you think that gambling addiction can never happen to you, you are sadly mistaken. It doesn’t matter who it is, gambling addiction can easily sink its claws into your life the way it did to Adam Osmond’s. It will always start out small and you may never realize you’re addicted until you’re thousands of dollars in debt.
This is why some lottery sites, like Multilotto, offer features that promote responsible gambling. If you feel that you’re starting to get addicted, it’s important to take advantage of features like account limits or self-exclusion. Of course, features such as these only help curb addiction to a certain extent and not outright rid you of it. These are, after all, just tools—their effectivity depends on you. If you’re willing to stop and make a change in your life, then there is hope.
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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 2: The Race Against Time
Written by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Illustrated by Joe Berger
Part of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Series
LoveReading View on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 2: The Race Against Time
The second official sequel to Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, written by one of the country's favourite authors, Frank Cottrell Boyce jumps into the driving seat with his trademark wit, warmth and sense of story to bring a new generation. More fun, fast, feel-good adventure with the world's greatest car ...driven by the world's most hapless family.
The first official sequel to Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2012.
LoveReading4Kids
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 2: The Race Against Time Synopsis
Uh-oh! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is stuck in reverse. And Little Harry's pressed a button that means she's reversing through time - with the Tootings aboard. When they finally come to a stop, it's at the feet of a very hungry-looking T-rex. How are the Tootings -- and Chitty -- going to get out of this one? More fun, fast, feel-good adventure with the world's greatest car ...driven by the world's most hapless family.
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books an imprint of Pan Macmillan
Publication date: 6th June 2013
Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce
Illustrator: Joe Berger
Suitable for: 11+ readers, 9+ readers
Recommendations: eBooks
About Frank Cottrell Boyce
A World Book Day Author 2019 Frank Cottrell Boyce is an accomplished, successful and award-winning author and screenwriter. His books have been shortlisted for a multitude of prizes, including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Fiction Award (now the Costa Book Award) and the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and Millions, his debut children's novel, won the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2004. Millions was was later turned into a film by Danny Boyle and it features in the Book Trust’s 100 Best Books List for 9-11 year olds. Frank is also a successful writer of film scripts and was the ...
More About Frank Cottrell Boyce
More Books By Frank Cottrell Boyce
View All Books By Frank Cottrell Boyce
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Eligibility for Employment-Based Residency Extended
By Mathur Law Offices, P.C.
Recently, León Rodríguez, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that eligibility for employment authorization will be extended to spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants who are H-4 dependent. This change will be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security as of May 26th, 2015.
This change is part of the initiative that President Obama announced in November 2014 for Immigration Executive Actions. The goal of this initiate is to grow the national economy and create job opportunities through the improvement and renovation of visa programs.
The requirements of this eligibility include:
Principle beneficiaries named on an approved I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, or
Under American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000 sections 106(a) and (b), are granted status of H-1B
"Allowing the spouses of these visa holders to legally work in the United States makes perfect sense," Rodríguez said. "It helps U.S. businesses keep their highly skilled workers by increasing the chances these workers will choose to stay in this country during the transition from temporary workers to permanent residents. It also provides more economic stability and better quality of life for the affected families."
The intention of this expansion is to provide relief to the financial and personal stress that H-1B nonimmigrants and their families endure while transitioning to permanent residency, and encourage a smoother integration process. Additionally, the goal is to prevent nonimmigrants from giving up on gaining permanent resident status, which has previously caused disruption to American businesses that employ them.
To learn more about your eligibility, contact our team of Dallas immigration lawyers at Mathur Law Offices, P.C., today!
Website: www.mathurlawoffices.com
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Six Career Tips Shared at Biotechnology Day
Northwestern's annual event featured advice that any professional should follow, even if you have no connection to biotech.
Students who attended Northwestern University's Biotechnology Day on Friday, March 15, heard stories of new inventions, industry challenges and countless areas for growth and opportunity.
As part of the day, 10 guest speakers spent the afternoon talking about their personal career paths and answering questions about what they do, what they've learned and what advice they'd give to current students in Northwestern's Master of Biotechnology program (MBP). Along the way, those in attendance heard career advice that was not only relevant to those interested in biotechnology but could be applied to any industry.
Here are six career tips from some of Biotechnology Day's guest speakers.
Realize that networking is critical
When Patrick Shanley (MBP '13) was an MBP student at Northwestern, he met the founder of Attune Medical, a Chicago-based startup committed to advancing temperature management therapy in all clinical contexts. The company's ensoETM gives healthcare providers easy access to a patient's core and allows precise temperature control — whether warming or cooling — through the esophageal environment.
Shanley interned with Attune Medical and went on to become the company's first full-time employee. Seven years later, he is the Senior Director of Operations and has guided Attune Medical's products to regulatory clearance in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia.
As Shanley explained, finding a job is often about who you know. If you want to know more people, Shanley suggested attended some networking events — just don't go expecting to leave with a job offer.
"You don't need to get something out of it," he said. "Just start talking and get to know people."
Understand the value of teamwork
Stacy-Anne Morgan received her MSc. and PhD from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto and went on to be a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. From there, she transitioned to an industry position as a scientist at Zymergen, Inc. in Emeryville, California.
When it comes to her current role, she enjoys the constant education she receives, particularly from her colleagues.
"You're always learning new things," Morgan said. "Everyone thinks about a problem differently, and it's very fulfilling to me."
Work where you believe in the mission
Visit the homepage of Baxter Healthcare Corporation and you'll quickly see that the company considers itself "at the intersection of saving and sustaining lives." That's a mission that Craig Spencer could easily get behind.
Spencer started his industrial career at Baxter as a member of the Technical Development Program. He went on to be a Principal Engineer and Senior Engineer in R&D at Baxter, and today he manages the Technical Development Program he first started in.
"I love my job," Spencer said. "Our mission is to save lives. The company allows me to make an impact on the patient or customer."
Recognize the risks and rewards of your decisions
Michael Köpke is a pioneer in genetic engineering and strain development of gas fermenting organisms to convert carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide to useful products. For the past decade, he's worked as the Director of Synthetic Biology at LanzaTech, a company that has developed a proprietary gas fermentation process that is treating waste carbon as an opportunity instead of a liability.
When Köpke joined LanzaTech, the company had approximately 20 people. Now, he says there are roughly 150.
"Going to a startup is always a risk," he said, "but there's also a great opportunity."
Frank Li is the Director of Process Development at Catalent Biologics in Bloomington, Indiana. In that role, he leads the process, analytical, and formulation development to meet client drug substance and drug product development needs.
As important as those responsibilities are, one of his most important jobs is the one he holds on the side. Li serves as adjunct associate professor in The Department of Industrial & Physical Pharmacy at Purdue University, where he teaches various classes to graduate students and pharmacy students on the biopharmaceutical development.
"I like to teach," Li said, "to pass on knowledge to younger generations."
With more than 25 years of experience in drug development, registration, and commercialization, Gregg Pratt said there was a lot of advice he could offer to attendees who were preparing to start their career.
After all, Pratt, who is currently Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Assertio Therapeutics in Lake Forest, Illinois, has held positions of increasing responsibility in R&D and Regulatory Affairs functions at Abbott, Abbvie, Baxter, and Luncdbeck.
Instead of offering a long list of items students should learn from his journey, Pratt opted to pass on just one piece of advice.
"Love what you're doing, or at least like it a lot," Pratt said. "If you don't feel that in your job, go find another one."
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Ceci Freed / Media Matters
PragerU relies on a veneer of respectability to obscure its propagandist mission
Written by Parker Molloy
Despite the name, Prager University is not, to quote from the disclaimer pasted on the bottom of its homepage, “an accredited academic institution” -- nor does it “offer certifications or diplomas.”
Despite its claim that its videos are being “censored” by social media platforms, the site boasts that those same videos have racked up more than 2.45 billion views across YouTube and Facebook.
Despite -- once again, quoting from its homepage -- being “a place where you are free to learn,” it’s liable to leave you misinformed.
And despite being built upon this absurd collection of contradictions, PragerU is arguably one of the most influential right-wing propaganda networks put into motion since Fox News.
A 2018 BuzzFeed report told the story of one high school student whose political views did an about-face over the span of just a couple of months of watching PragerU videos. A PragerU brochure makes bold-yet-believable claims about its viewing demographics and its ability to sway their political leanings, noting that more than 60% of its YouTube viewers are under the age of 35 and 70% of surveyed viewers said a video had changed their minds. A March 2018 Mother Jones article called PragerU a “Right-Wing YouTube Empire That’s Quietly Turning Millennials Into Conservatives,” and the Los Angeles Times recently said PragerU was “having more success rallying young people to Trump’s side than many campaign committees aligned with the president.”
One could also argue that unlike websites like Breitbart, The Daily Caller, or The Daily Wire, which have well-earned reputations as hyperpartisan cesspools of misinformation, PragerU has been able to mostly avoid such stigma -- even though it shares a number of key associations with those sites.
PragerU cloaks its extremism in a veneer of respectability, and that’s crucial to its success.
The site, founded in 2011, is known for its polished and persuasive five-minute videos. Some videos focus on history, like the legacy of Christopher Columbus (apparently he’s gotten a bad rap) or the legacy of Franklin Roosevelt (the “New Deal” actually made things worse). Others tackle ongoing issues dividing the world such as religion (the West can thank “Judeo-Christian values” for its success) or the push for a $15 minimum wage (a bad idea!).
If you didn’t know much about the specific presenters, their bios give the impression that many of them are relatively mainstream right-leaning media figures. For instance, PragerU has videos hosted by multiple Pulitzer Prize winners, popular TV hosts, sports journalists, current and former Washington Post columnists, a Canadian former prime minister, a five-time Emmy Award winner, a nominee to head the Labor Department, a two-time presidential candidate, a former White House press secretary, as well as current and former faculty at respected institutions such as West Point, Stanford, UCLA, Harvard, and Princeton, among others.
Some of the site’s videos are … well, they’re fine. Comedian Yakov Smirnoff hosts a clip about the importance of laughter in healthy relationships. Col. Ty Seidule delivers a straightforward answer to the question of whether or not the Civil War was really about slavery (he says it was). Other clips, such as Adam Carolla’s ode to personal change, Jordan Peterson’s call to “fix yourself,” or Michele Tafoya’s “secret to success,” are just boilerplate self-help speeches we’ve all probably heard dozens of variations on in our lives. It’s the combination of respectable-sounding presenters with a handful of harmless clips that cover for the site’s hard-right ideology.
From PragerU's February 2014 video, "Feminism 2.0."
Peterson’s “Fix Yourself” video is a perfect example of PragerU’s ability to use gateway videos to pivot to something much darker.
Peterson posted “Fix Yourself” -- a standard clip about self-reflection and improvement -- in January 2018. But a few months later, he came up with a video titled “Dangerous People Are Teaching Your Kids,” in which he rails against professors who are “indoctrinating young minds throughout the West with their resentment-ridden ideology.”
These people “have made it their life's mission to undermine Western civilization itself, which they regard as corrupt, oppressive, and patriarchal.” This “gang of nihilists,” as Peterson puts it, is made up of “post-modern neo-Marxists” whose ideas “should be consigned to the dustbin of history.”
Peterson’s views make him an extremist, and he’s far from the only one with a PragerU platform. YouTuber Steven Crowder’s video about Columbus Day engages in wild historical revisionism and claims that criticizing Columbus is “an exercise in hating Western civilization, which is really just an exercise in hating yourself.” The site posted (and later deleted) a video by slur-slinging right-wing conspiracy theorist Owen Benjamin demonizing leftists. Author Douglas Murray appeared in a video claiming that the decision of European countries to take in refugees from the Middle East and North Africa was a form of “suicide, the self-annihilation of a culture.” Ben Shapiro’s treatise on Western superiority was built upon bad facts and bad arguments. Shapiro’s Daily Wire colleagues Andrew Klavan, Michael Knowles, and Matt Walsh railed against feminism, political correctness, and the very concept of self-esteem, respectively.
It’s no huge surprise that PragerU’s content often mirrors the views long championed by its namesake, Dennis Prager, a radio-host-turned-digital media mogul.
No one article can truly encapsulate Prager’s decades of political commentary, but he did a pretty decent job summarizing his own worldview in a March column in the National Review. In the piece, he explained why he didn’t believe the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to disrupt the 2016 election:
But the biggest reason I never believed the Russian collusion charge was that the charge emanated from the left. And the Left lies about everything. Truth is a liberal value, and truth is a conservative value, but it has never been a left-wing value. People on the left say whatever advances their immediate agenda. Power is their moral lodestar; therefore, truth is always subservient to it.
If you always doubt a leftist claim, you will almost always be closer to the truth. I employed that rule in concluding the collusion story was a fraud, and it served me well.
There’s a big difference between critical thinking and reflexive contrarianism. A 2011 blog post shines further light on how Prager sees the world:
Ever since I attended college, I have been convinced that either “studies” confirm what common sense suggests or that they are mistaken. I realized this when I was presented with study after study showing that boys and girls were not inherently different from one another, and they acted differently only because of sexist upbringings.
To Prager, if evidence doesn’t support his existing beliefs, the evidence must be wrong. This is instructive when it comes to understanding what kind of education one might get from a diet of PragerU videos.
Like many of his PragerU presenters, Prager himself is a far-right extremist on a number of issues. He’s claimed that the Green New Deal “will lead to bloodshed, loss of liberty, loss of human rights.” He has a long history of making false claims about HIV and AIDS -- specifically that it’s not something straight people need to concern themselves with. He’s compared a wife’s “obligation” to have sex with her husband whether she wants to or not to a man’s obligation to go to work even if he’s not in the mood. He’s argued that legalizing same-sex marriage would open the door to legalized incest and polygamy, compared the Supreme Court’s Prop 8 ruling to a coup, and said that banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity would lead to “fascism.” He’s also one of several conservative commentators who were adamant that the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard wasn’t motivated by anti-gay hate.
He’s stated a belief that people saying “happy holidays” instead of “merry Christmas” is a sign that “Americans today are less free than at any time since the abolition of slavery (with the obvious exception of blacks under Jim Crow).” Prager also argues that discussion of campus rape culture is “a gargantuan lie” pushed by feminists “to get votes.” In 2012, Prager equated the NCAA’s punishment of Penn State University for its role in covering for assistant coach Jerry Sandusky’s serial sexual abuse of young boys with the act itself, writing, “The lesson the NCAA is teaching young people — that history and truth don’t matter if enough powerful people don’t want them to matter — can be as injurious to society as the cover-up was to the victims of Sandusky.” In 2006, he wrote a column arguing that Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN), a Muslim, should not be allowed to be sworn into Congress unless he did so with his hand on the Bible, not the Quran as he planned on doing. In that column, Prager compared the Quran to Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and L. Ron Hubbard’s Dianetics.
From PragerU's November 2016 video, "Just Say 'Merry Christmas.'"
PragerU's funding largely comes from extremely religious GOP mega-donors with ties to the fossil fuel industry.
Thanks in large part to the backing of fracking billionaires and Daily Wire funders Dan and Farris Wilks, Prager was able to fund PragerU, creating an outsized platform for his extremist views.
An April 2015 report in Rewire put a spotlight on the organization and its plan to get its videos incorporated into public school lessons. At that time, according to Rewire, the Wilks family had given more than $6.5 million to PragerU. A brief look at some of their beliefs shows why they made for such a perfect fit for Prager:
In 2013, at a Pastors and Pews event sponsored by the American Family Association, Dan Wilks had this to say about education: “I just think we have to make people aware, you know, and bring the Bible back into the school, and start teaching our kids at a younger age, and, uh, you know, and focus on the younger generation.”
His brother Farris went on to add: “They’re being taught the other ideas, the gay agenda, every day out in the world so we have to stand up and explain to them that that’s not real, that’s not proper, it’s not right.”
A Reuters report about the brothers’ support of Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign helped further illustrate their extreme positions on things like LGBTQ rights and climate change:
In sermons, recordings of which were reviewed by Reuters, Farris Wilks has called homosexuality “a perversion tantamount to bestiality, pedophilia and incest.” “It’s a predatorial lifestyle in that they need your children, and straight people having kids, to fulfill their sexual habits,” he said.
Climate change, he says, is God’s will. “If (God) wants the polar caps to remain in place, then he will leave them there,” he told congregants at a service in July 2013.
With large chunks of money coming in from these extremely religious GOP mega-donors with ties to the fossil fuel industry, it’s not exactly shocking that the site would have videos with titles like “Climate Change: What’s So Alarming?” “Do 97% of Climate Scientists Really Agree?” “The Paris Climate Agreement Won’t Change the Climate,” “Fossil Fuels: The Greenest Energy,” and “The Truth about CO2.” PragerU also has an entire series about the Ten Commandments, which Dennis Prager describes as “all that is necessary to make a good world.” And George Will, Kimberley Strassel, and David French all have videos explaining why campaign finance reform and/or public disclosure laws are actually tyrannical, anti-democratic, and/or a way for progressives to ruin the lives of people they disagree with.
From PragerU's January 2017 video, "What’s Holding the Arab World Back?"
PragerU’s extremist, factually inaccurate propaganda has even drawn criticism from some on the right.
Whether it’s gaslighting viewers about President Donald Trump’s “very fine people” comments after the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally or engaging in some truly bizarre Vietnam War revisionism, PragerU has no apparent problem with blatant misinformation in its videos. Some of these distortions are too much for allies (and occasional allies) to handle.
Writing in The American Conservative, Paul Gottfried slammed a PragerU video by Dinesh D’Souza for labeling fascism a leftist worldview based on a factually bereft understanding of Italian philosopher Giovanni Gentile’s belief system:
[Prager and D’Souza] zoom to the heart of Gentile’s neo-Hegelian worldview in thirty seconds and state with absolute certainty that he was a “leftist.” We have to assume that Prager, D’Souza and the rest of their crowd know this intuitively, inasmuch they give no indication of having ever read a word of Gentile’s thought, perhaps outside of a few phrases that they extracted from his Doctrine of Fascism. Their judgment also clashes with that of almost all scholars of Gentile’s work, from across the political spectrum, who view him, as I do in my study of fascism, as the most distinguished intellectual of the revolutionary right.
According to our two stars in what has been laughably named “Prager University,” Gentile proves that “fascism bears a deep kinship to today’s Left.” After all, “Democrat progressives, in full agreement with Gentile, love and push for a centralized state, which manifests itself in stuff like recent state expansion into the private sector.” Among the questions that are left begging are these: “Do the modern Left and Gentile agree on the purpose and functions of the state?” “Would Gentile and Mussolini, who glorified Roman manliness, have rallied to the present Left in its support of feminism and gay marriage?” Did Gentile back in the 1920s favor the kind of “the stuff’ the administrative state is pushing right now?” The answer to all these questions, which of course wouldn’t be acceptable at Prager University, is an emphatic “no.” Control of the national economy by the Italian fascist state, down until its German-puppet version was established as the Italian Social Republic in September 1943, was about the equivalent of that of New Deal America.
In a blog post for the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, Alex Nowrasteh picked apart a PragerU video narrated by Michelle Malkin titled “A Nation of Immigration,” saying it is “poorly framed, rife with errors and half-truths, leaves out a lot of relevant information, and comes to an anti-legal immigration conclusion that is unsupported by the evidence presented in the rest of the video.” While it’s unsurprising that the pro-immigration Cato Institute would disagree with Malkin’s conclusions on ideological grounds, Nowrasteh’s dissection of Malkin’s factual errors is illustrative of PragerU’s reliance on omission to advance its narrative.
Reason’s Billy Binion has obliterated PragerU’s claims of censorship on multiple occasions. In one article, he rebutted Prager’s argument that “YouTube's decision to restrict approximately 20 percent of his online 5-minute video shorts on the grounds that they contain mature content -- thus hiding those videos from the approximately 1.5 percent of users who elect for restricted control” was evidence that PragerU was being punished for hosting “a conservative perspective”:
Unfortunately for this argument, Google records show that the Huffington Post, Vox, Buzzfeed, NowThis, and The Daily Show all have much larger swaths of content restricted under YouTube's policy. Seventy-one percent of videos from The Young Turks -- a leftist channel -- are blocked, dwarfing PragerU's share.
In a separate piece, Binion debunked Prager’s claims that Google search’s autofill suggestions were evidence of bias against PragerU.
It’s not enough to just say that PragerU isn’t an actual university. It’s outright propaganda, and those appearing on the channel are propagandists.
As an institution, PragerU has proved to be toxic, and it should be best understood as -- as its “About Us” page notes -- a “digital marketing campaign.” If one of Prager University’s goals really is to “[make] the world a better place, five minutes at a time,” it deserves a failing grade for its current output.
PragerU posts a video about Christopher Columbus that features a racist depiction of indigenous people
NRO's Dennis Prager: LGBT Non-Discrimination Efforts Breed “Fascism”
CNN pro-Trump commentator Steve Cortes stars in a new PragerU video rewriting Trump’s comments about Charlottesville
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Now is the time for intersectional action
Editorials Opinions
Martlet Staff
Stolen Sisters March as important as any demonstration
A photo from the 2018 Women’s March. Victorians need to turn up in similar numbers to the Stolen Sisters March. Photo by Belle White, Photo Editor
Victoria’s first Stolen Sisters Memorial March was held Feb. 14, 2009, on the unceded and traditional territories of the Lekwungen communities, Songhees, and Esquimalt First Nations. A nationwide event, the Memorial March is an opportunity for communities to remember and honour Indigenous women, girls, and 2spirit people who have gone missing and been murdered. On Feb. 17, Victoria will once again come together as a community to seek justice and to find healing.
There is a lot to heal.
In November 2017, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released an Interim Report that aims to provide Canadians with a clearer understanding of their work to date. Despite the information gathered thus far, we still don’t know exactly how many Indigenous women and girls are missing or have been murdered
Indigenous women and girls, living at the intersection of gender and race, face much higher rates of violence than non-Indigenous women.
We may never know how many sisters have been stolen in this country, but it is essential that we don’t lose any more Indigenous women, girls, and 2spirit people to violence. In order to do that, we must act.
We can not allow space for people who seek to deny the severity of the cultural genocide committed against Indigenous people in Canada, including the role played by the Residential School System that is perpetuated by the foster care system now.
We must hold the media to account when it perpetuates racist stereotypes, as it did with the death of Tina Fontaine. Fontaine was 15 years old when she died in Manitoba in 2014, and her body was eventually found in the Red River after having been weighed down with 11.5 kgs of rocks. When the trial started for Raymond Cormier, the 55-year-old man charged with the murder of Fontaine, Canadian media outlets jumped on the fact that Fontaine had alcohol and cannabis in her system when she died.
Never mind the fact that a 15-year-old girl, ignored by paramedics and police on the day of her death, is dead. Never mind the fact the toxicology report was done only because Cormier’s team were trying to argue that drugs, not Cormier, had killed Fontaine.
We must do work as journalists, but we also must do work as people.
We must participate in the Stolen Sisters Memorial March with the same fervour found at the Women’s March in January. At Victoria’s Women’s march, the word of the day was “intersectionality.” The thousands of people in Centennial Square cheered at the notions of protecting and advocating for Indigenous women, and now is the time to prove that this enthusiasm can be transformed into action.
Whether people commit to providing better support in their day-to-day lives, or take a longer approach with sustained political action, change must happen.
It is the Martlet’s responsibility — as a paper without any formal territory acknowledgement in our paper or newsroom — to help change how some media publications report about Indigenous people and take steps to establishing better relationships.
It is our responsibility as settlers to recognize the ways we contribute to, and benefit from, colonialism and racism in society today. If we want to be honest about dismantling systems of oppression, it is our responsibility to seek information regarding the long history of these systems which continue to marginalize Indigenous women and girls.
And on Feb. 17, it is our responsibility to show up and listen.
The Stolen Sisters March will take place Saturday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Our Place Society, 919 Pandora Ave.
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Biden national security team to bring sense of calm (Editorial)
Updated Nov 24, 2020; Posted Nov 24, 2020
By The Republican Editorials
“Because it’s national security.”
That was President-elect Joe Biden’s answer on Monday when he was asked why he named the folks who’d make up his national security team first.
Seems so obvious, doesn’t it? And a reassuring sign of a return to normalcy just ahead.
Biden named a host of experienced professionals to fill some of the key roles in his incoming administration. Antony Blinken will be secretary of State, Jake Sullivan will serve as national security adviser, and Linda Thomas-Greenfield will be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. In addition, Alejandro Mayorkas will be secretary of Homeland Security, Avril Haines was named to be director of national intelligence, and former Secretary of State John Kerry will be special presidential envoy for climate.
Those who aren’t exactly familiar with most of those names, other than Kerry -- and ordinary people should have no reason to be -- can rest assured that the next president’s administration is going to be populated by truly experienced pros, members of the A Team, people who can be trusted to take seriously their oaths to the Constitution.
Want to know what’s likely ahead after Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20? Here’s one way to look at it: Imagine going a day, or two, or four or more without thinking about what the president is up to. Though it seems almost inconceivable after what we’ve endured for the past four years, this is how it has always been, from the earliest days of our republic.
Joe and Jane Average should have other things on their minds in their day-to-day than the doings and Twitter postings of our nation’s chief executive. They might be considering an upcoming vacation, helping their daughter plan for college, thinking of a career change -- anything at all except what’s going on at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in our nation’s federal city.
If you don’t work in the executive branch of our nation’s federal government or aren’t a reporter covering the White House, you really ought to be able to go through most of your waking hours without giving our country’s chief executive officer a second thought.
And, one imagines, with Biden’s chosen team of professionals in key posts in the federal government, that’s exactly how it will be once again.
Normalcy. Governing from the political center. Quietly taking care of business.
Thank goodness.
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Michael Charney and Muslims in Arakan
04/04/2019 Arakan
Compiled by Aman Ullah
In the nineteenth century, the Arakan Littoral’s Muslim population consisted of large numbers of fisherman, agriculturalists, and textile-makers (“weavers and dyers”). [1] According to the colonial census-takers who collected data in Arakan for the Report on the Census of British Burma (1872), [2] few Arakanese Muslims identified themselves as Sayyids, the term for the prestigious status-group consisting of claimed descendants of Muhammed. Instead they called themselves Shaykhs, who formed a lower status-group among the Muslims of northern India. [3] But an additional factor makes these Muslims relevant to the process of religious change in early modem Arakan: a substantial portion of Arakan’s Muslim population was made up of descendants of Muslims who had lived in Arakan for centuries. I am concerned chiefly with these Muslim cultivators, to whom I refer collectively as the “Muslim cultivator class.” In the nineteenth century, the British pinned the hopes of developing eastern Danra-waddy’s agricultural potential upon this large and successful group of Muslim cultivators who dominated western Danra-waddy (chiefly the Kala-dan Valley).
From the available evidence, however, a Muslim cultivator class does not seem to appear in Arakan until the early seventeenth century. Even then, prior to the nineteenth century, few large-scale and permanent Muslim communities emerged in the Arakan Littoral outside the northern section of the Arakan Littoral (the Chittagong area, for example) and Danra-waddy. [4]
Determining, then, how a Muslim cultivator class emerged in Arakan is an important question. There is no evidence, however, to suggest for Arakan anything similar to Eaton’s vision, which he mentioned in his book ‘Rise of IsIam and the Bengal Frontier’, of the rise of Muslim cultivators in Bengal. Eaton’s scenario for the Islamization of rural Bengal posits Mughal land-grants to predominantly Muslim rural gentry, and the inclusion of support for the local mosque in the wording of these land- grants. These local mosques, Eaton continues, provided agency in two developments: the organization of communities and land reclamation on the one hand, and the slow inclusion of Muslim belief into the indigenous religious framework on the other. [ 5]
Arakan does not fit specifically into such a model. Instead, in Danra-waddy, the rise of a Muslim cultivator class, as well as of Muslim town-dwellers (elites, artisans, and others), owed much to the emergence of the Luso-Arakanese ‘slave-trade’ in captives drawn from Banga throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
I will assert that there was a long-term but relatively minor Muslim presence in the Arakan littoral, as early as the ninth century. Large and permanent Muslim settlements, however, arose m Danra-waddy only from the late sixteenth century at the earliest. I will support this assertion with an examination of the impact of the Luso- Arakanese trade in Bengali captives upon both the royal city and outlying areas in Danra- waddy during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Early Muslims and Itinerant Muslim Traders in the Arakan Littoral
Although large and permanent Muslim communities did not develop until the seventeenth century in Danra-waddy, I do recognize that there was a small but, on the whole, itinerant Muslim population in Danra-waddy from as early as the ninth century. Thus, as individuals, Muslims had been associated with Arakan long before the seventeenth century, although I think there is little reason to believe that they formed “communities” in the Arakan littoral on a par with those that developed in the seventeenth century. These “individuals” consisted of castaways, mercenaries, intermediary service elites (that is, court functionaries, such as scribes, eunuchs who handled matters involving the royal harem, the royal bodyguard, and so on), and itinerant traders.
Arakanese traditions hold that as early as the eighth or ninth centuries, Muslim traders were shipwrecked on the coast of Rama-waddy. These castaways were then sent to Danra-waddy, where they settled in villages, [6] but do not seem to have provoked any religious changes.
The growth of the Muslim presence in Arakan coincided with the emergence of the early Mrauk-U dynasty. During this period Muslim mercenaries were brought to Arakan to fight in special campaigns or to solve special problems. [7] During the early seventeenth century, Min-raza-kri tried to solve his problems with Muslim mercenaries from Masulipatam [8] it is unlikely that these mercenaries had no influence in terms of advertising Islam to the Arakanese. After all, the Muslim mercenaries who helped restore Nara-meik-hla to his throne seem to have built the Santikan mosque in Mrauk-U in about 1430. [9]
There was also certainly a small Muslim presence among the intermediary service elites in the royal city during the early Mrauk-U period. The requirements of acting as a Bengali-Muslim sultan required people skilled in Persian, stamping Muslim-style coinage, and tailoring Islamic clothing. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, there were many Muslims in the Arakanese court, including a Turkish courtier (referred to in Guerreiro’s text as a “rume,” but more properly, “Rum”) who seems to have become a kind of royal adviser. [10] There is no reason to suppose, however, that these Muslims would have been any more than individual foreigners in the service of the Arakanese royal court. In any case, they formed an ‘invisible’ population, since we do not find written evidence of their presence until the late sixteenth century. [11]
The Mrauk-U Muslim merchant community during this and later period’s itinerant community waxed and waned in correlation to the vitality of Mrauk-U’s maritime trade. Temporary commercial wayfarers, Muslim traders found a special place in the tolerant Arakanese royal city. In the 1510s, these traders included Kalingas and Bengalis.[12] By the 1580s, Parsees (Persians?) “Using ocean-going ships and boats,” came to trade in Mrauk-U “yearly without fail.” [13] Some Muslim traders or travellers were also employed in Arakanese royal service as advisers or mercenaries, or port officials. [14] Despite Portuguese fears of a Muslim dominance in the court, [15] the number of Muslims permanently settled in Arakan prior to the 1620s must have been relatively small and limited almost completely to Mrauk-U.
During some periods, Muslim traders likely abandoned the royal city altogether. When the Portuguese freebooters at Syriam began raiding the eastern Bay of Bengal from 1603, for example, they targeted Muslim shipping, either forcing it into Syriam or destroying it. [16] Portuguese activity after 1607, made it nearly impossible for Muslim trade with Arakan to continue. The self-made king of Sundiva, the pirate Sebastiao Gonsalvesy Tibao, for example, raided the entire Arakanese coast and temporarily ruined Mrauk-U’s maritime trade, [17] likely forcing Muslim traders to pull out. [18] Confirming this, one contemporary source speaks of the concern of the Arakanese king to bring back “Indian” traders (this usually referred to Muslim Indian traders during this period) to Arakan, implying that these traders had stopped coming to Mrauk-U. [19]
After the Arakanese suppressed Gonsalvesy Tibao’s “kingdom in 1617, however, Muslim trade with Arakan certainly resumed, in the early 1620s, William Methwold speaks of “Moores, Persians and Arabians” (likely traders), who enjoyed the favor of the Arakanese king. [20] Manrique confirms the presence of large numbers of Muslim (and other) traders from Masulipatam, Aceh, and elsewhere. [21] The Dutch sources, as well, indicate that in the 1630s there was a settlement of Muslim traders near Mrauk-U which the Dutch knew as “Moorsche Bandel.” [22] Thereafter, Muslim traders continued to form a small, possibly influential, segment of Danra-waddy’s population throughout the remainder of the pre-1784 period. [23]
As a result, it is doubtful if we can really talk about a stable, large, or permanent Muslim community during the early Mrauk-U period. I would suggest that most Muslims in Danra-waddy prior to the 1620s lived in Mrauk-U as temporary visitors. Although they likely advertised Islam, there are no sources which indicate that they contributed in a major way to religious change in Arakan.
Development of Early Trade in the Rakhiang Littoral
In 1430, the Arakanese king Narameikhla (r. 1404-1434), who had taken refuge in Gaur since 1404 due to Mon and Burman invasions, returned to central Arakan with the aid of the Sultan of Bengal and built the town of Mrauk-U as the royal city for his new dynasty.’ Utilizing revenues from Muslim trade connections and the agricultural and human resources of the Danya-waddy delta, Narameikhla’s successors in the space of a century and a half constructed a maritime trading state which, by the beginning of the seventeenth century, encompassed not only the entire eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal up to Tippera, but also the Lower Burmese coast from Cape Negrais to what is now Moulmein.
The initial growth of 15th century maritime trade in Rakhang had much to do with the development of contacts with Muslims trade centers elsewhere in Southeast Asia and in India. The Rakhaing Littoral and Lower Burma/Myanmar delta benefited particularly from the establishment, early in the 15th century, of Melaka, whose role of both commercial entrepot of Sultanate helped foster the development of trade routes between the Muslims ports of eastern India and the Straits of Melaka. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, communities of Muslims and other traders in the Rakhaing littoral and in lower Burma owed their existence partly to their position midway along these trade routes. While the potential benefits of Muslims trade connections may have been well known to raters throughout Danya-Wati, Nara-meik-hla (r- 1404-1434), founder of the town of Mrauk-U and of the Mrauk-U Dynaty, was apparently the first ruler in Rakhiang actively to seek connections with Muslim Indian. This attempt may have been inspired by previous contacts with Muslims traders (perhaps steered by Danya-Wati’s position as a major outlet for rubies from Awa (Ava), but a more certain factor was the fall of Laun-kriet Dynasty, which left other major centers in the Rakhiang littoral, such as Thantwai (Sandoway), under the control of the Muns (Mons) and therefore effectively eliminated as potential indigenous rivals for the Muslims trade. In any case, once the Muslim commercial connection was established, Mrauk-U sought to monopolize the recovers necessary to its development. In exchange for the Muslim Court of Bengal’s support in establishing Mrauk-U control of the Danya-Wati river basin region, Nara-meik-hla and his successors accepted nominal Muslim vassalage and trappings of Muslim Sultanship. Early Mrauk-U Dynastic rulers in this way became the chief patrons of Islamic culture in the region and through this role maintained connections between visiting Muslim traders and Rakhaing commercial establishment.
Perhaps the component of Islamic commercial connection that must enhanced the Dya-wati river basin’s authority in the Rakhiaing littoral was access to Muslim firearms. Generally, warfare in early modern Southeast Asia consisted of armies of elephants, horses, and warriors armed with spears, bows and arrows, and often war boats, often discouraged continued resistance by opponents who were not equally armed. In many cases, the daunting sight and explosive sounds of firearms increased the tactical advantage of Mrauk-U armies not yet introduced to such weapons. But most importantly, firearms increased the tactical advantage of Mrauk-U armies by increasing the physical distance from and the accuracy with which they could inflict casualties on an opponent, and by enhancing the defensive strength of Rakhaing fortified towns, especially the royal capital at Mrauk-U. For example, after extending the town, digging reservoirs, and rebuilding the walls, Min-ba-Kri filled it with muskets, cannon, and motors, all likely of Muslim origin. These preparations helped Mrauk-U repute a Portuguese attack in 1534. ta-bin-shwe-hti’s attack on Thantwai in 1545 and Mrauk-U in 1546 likewise failed when his firearms were repulsed with cannon fire.
Muslim connections and increasingly royal access to commercial revenues also made it possible for early Mrauk-U rulers to hire Muslim mercenaries most of whom came apparently from eastern India, particularly Bengal and, beginning in the late 16th century, the great Muslim trading state of Masulipatam. The first such mercenaries accompanied Nara-meik-hla on his return from those places to Mrauk-U in 1430. Other contingents constituted to arrive from other Muslim States, Masulipatam, for example, into early 17th century. This increasing military strength allowed early Mrauk-U rulers to bring rival centers in to submission, increase control over centers already under subjugation and discourage hill tribes from engaging in debilitating raids. Firearms-bearing troops were concentrated in the Dya-wati river basin and in outlying centers at the coastal frontiers, that strengthening central authority one the most distant royal holdings while simultaneously denying other major centers within the Rakhaing littoral access to such firearms. Muslim and Portuguese traders and communities remained the chief suppliers of several resources, including mercenaries and firearms, pertinent to early modern state formation.
Early Mrauk-U rulers fashioned a state which was dependent primarily upon maritime-derived resources, such as commercial revenues and increasingly access to firearms. Through the monopolization of the significant amounts of these resources, and further empowered by agricultural and demographic superiority of Danya-wati delta, easily Mrauk-U rulers brought the Rakhaing littoral under the sway and then proceeded to expand their control beyond the littoral both east and west.
The dramatic rise of the tiny maritime state of Arakan in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries can only be paralleled in magnitude and speed by its collapse in the second half of the seventeenth century, which left the Arakanese kingdom destitute of maritime trade, politically fragmented, and geographically reduced to a portion of the Arakanese coast.
Captive Raids
Arakanese slave-raids during the 17th century contributed to the emergence of a permanent Muslim community in early modem Arakan. Although Arakanese Muslims of this period had diverse roots, clearly Arakanese slave-raiding into Bengal in the seventeenth century dramatically increased the presence of Islam in Danra-waddy. Over the 17th century the Muslim community in Arakan emerged from a numerically important group to perhaps the majority population in the Danra- waddy zone, at least in very large sections of it.
The Purposes and Organization of the Luso-Arakanese Slave-raids
From the late 1610s or early 1620s, both the Arakanese and Portuguese under Arakanese over lordship raided Bengal for captives, but out of different motives. Although it has been suggested that the Arakanese began raiding Banga for captives and loot only from the beginning of the 17th century, [22] this practice actually goes back at least a century-and-a-half earlier. During the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, for example, the Arakanese raided the northern Arakan Littoral and Banga for captives and booty. Arakanese raiding into the Irra-waddy Valley for the same ends actually goes back even centuries earlier.
Purposes of royal courts
In a population-poor region, plagued by diseases and disasters, this frequently could carry off a substantial part of the population at any moment; it made sense that royal courts sought new and frequent population inputs. Arakan itself was a target for such raiding: hill tribes, for example, also raided the Arakan Littoral’s lowlands for captives and many Arakanese found themselves sold in Upper Burma from time to time. [23] Captive-raiding was a normal part of life not only in the Arakan Littoral, but throughout early modem Southeast Asia.
Anthony Reid has drawn conceptions of slavery derived from scholars working on early modem Africa and has applied them usefully to early modem Southeast Asia. As Reid suggests, as in Africa, in early modem Southeast Asia there were examples of both “open” and “closed” systems of slavery. In an “open” system, the system which prevailed in cities, slaves gradually were absorbed by general society. By contrast, in a “closed” system, a system prevailing in labor-intensive agricultural areas, slaves formed a class apart and their social position was characterized by low status and hereditary social barriers that prevented movement out of slavery. [24] In pre-seventeenth century Arakan, a “closed” system did exist in the form of Buddhist pagoda slaves, those who were “donated to the sasana” and became members of a hereditary and low-status community servicing monasteries and monastery- and pagoda-lands. [25] There is no evidence from the pre-seventeenth century that captives in Arakan were bought or sold. Instead, Arakanese society of that period seems to have treated villagers and others captured in raids much as they would local and pre-existing villagers. The likely reason for this was that Arakanese rulers were especially interested in adding new productive agricultural villages to rural Arakan, perhaps to provide sustenance to the court elite, perhaps to provide produce or special goods for maritime markets. The sources, however, do not tell us enough about this to make any reliable assertions. In any case, in the pre-seventeenth century, the Arakanese brought back captives destined to live in rural Arakan as communities, not as individuals. Entire villages carried to Arakan from the Irrawaddy Valley spotted the lowlands of the Arakan Littoral and remained agricultural communities just as they had been prior to their deportation to Arakan. [26] The Arakanese also sought new population inputs for the court. When Arakanese raiders took royal service groups, such as dancers or scribes, from defeated royal courts, for example, the Arakanese brought these royal service groups back to Arakan where they became Arakanese royal service groups, with the same kinds of tasks as they had before (that is, dancers remained dancers, and scribes remained scribes). [27] We know that when Arakanese raiders returned with captives from Bengal, the captives were interrogated regarding their skills and other personal data, and based upon this information, the best were brought into the royal court. [28] It should not be surprising that elite Muslim women captured in Banga entered the Arakanese royal harem or became concubines to Arakanese elite men. [29] Likewise, many Bengalis, probably Muslims, were castrated and entered into the royal court as eunuchs. Some, like the Muslim eunuch Ashraf Khan in the seventeenth-century Arakanese court even gained positions of authority in the royal city.[30]
In the seventeenth century, however, Arakanese rulers realized that income could be derived directly or indirectly from selling some of their captives. The European arrival into the early modem Bay of Bengal, for example, ushered in the rise of attractive markets for selling human captives. [31] The Arakanese court gave permission to autonomous groups of raiders, especially the Portuguese at Chittagong, to raid Banga for slaves without fear of royal retaliation (Banga was one of the Arakanese king’s claimed domains). Those who wished to raid Banga thus had to secure permission from the Arakanese king to do so. In exchange for royal permission, crown servants were to be allowed to hand- pick one-fourth of the captives and one half of the material loot, although the crown demands often exceeded these limits. [32] Out of the slaves picked by the court, those who were not selected for royal service were either placed or sold in the domestic labor market for agricultural labor.[33]
The purposes of Dutch East India Company (VOC)
The beginning of the Dutch trade with Arakan also prompted the Arakanese court to become directly involved in selling slaves outside the domestic market. The V. O. C. (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie or Dutch East India Company) needed slaves and rice for their plantations in the ‘Spice Islands’ of Banda and Amboina, as well as for labor in shipyards and workshops in the company’s factories.[34] The closest source for both slaves and rice was, of course, Java, but indigenous rulers there were unwilling to provide either to their Dutch enemy, especially since Javanese Muslim rulers were hesitant to sell Muslims to gentiles. Further, Coromandel markets for slaves hinged upon unpredictable local famines (many sold themselves into slavery during such famines).[35] Thus, the Dutch, turned to the Arakanese Littoral, where slaves could be had very cheaply. [36] The Arakanese court, however, via the royal monopoly, prevented the Dutch from trading with the Luso-Arakanese slavers based at Chittagong. Instead, the court forced the Dutch to trade goods and silver for Bengali slaves and Arakanese rice at Mrauk-U. [37] Although the Dutch trade was substantial, it effectively disappeared in the 1660s, in part because of Mughal pressure (stemming from Mughal concerns over the continual plunder of their districts in Banga by the Luso-Arakanese raiders) upon the Dutch to end their trade with Arakan. [38] Despite the decline of the Dutch trade, however, Arakanese slave-raiding into Banga (for labor inputs at home rather than for sale in maritime markets) continued up through and after the Burman conquest, and does not seem to have changed in character. [39]
The purposes of the Portuguese slave-raiding
The Portuguese began slave-raiding in Banga solely for the purposes of selling the captives in slave-markets. The Portuguese at Chittagong, for example, were profiteers, and they primarily sought Bengali captives to sell in maritime markets in eastern India. [40] In doing so they responded to the early modem labor crisis which took place in European ports and enclaves in the Bay of Bengal. Europeans, for example, found it difficult to reconcile the high cost of paid labor in these ports and the demand for profit at home. [41] Thus, slaves were a low-cost alternative. [42] On at least one occasion, the Portuguese on Sundiva island, under Sebastiao Gonsalvesy Tibau, also sold captive Arakanese crews whom they had captured. [43]
The Portuguese at Chittagong do not seem to have undertaken substantial slave- raiding in Banga until the second decade of the seventeenth century. This was in part due to the way in which the Arakanese ruler Min-kamaun brought them under more forcible Arakanese authority after the Gonsalvesy Tibau episode. In the past, the Portuguese at Chittagong had been a motley group of free traders, exiles from the Estado da India, and mercenaries who garrisoned Arakan’s chief northern port. After Min-kamaun brought Sundiva under Arakanese rule and resettled the Portuguese survivors at Chittagong, the Portuguese were given revenue-lands to support themselves and were expected to provide service to the Arakanese crown in war. [44] The Arakanese crown also demanded half their revenues to the king, but the Portuguese were left to their own devices as to the source of these revenues, either through the revenues of their estates or through raiding Banga for slaves, not only in. eastern India, but also in Java. In so doing, the Portuguese slavers made little differentiation between whom they captured or to whom they sold their captives, [45] even selling the slaves back to the Mughals. [46]
Further, the Portuguese were freer to raid Banga than they had been in the past. Previously, the Portuguese had probably been restricted by Arakanese claims to be protectors of Banga. Prior to the 1620s, for example, the Arakanese court conceived of Banga as part of the Arakanese kingdom. In 1430, when Nara-meik-hla needed Muslim -support to recapture the Laun-kret throne, he is said to have transferred Arakanese claims to Banga to the sultanate of Bengal. Later, Min-ba-kri rescinded this transfer of sovereignty and claimed authority over the “twelve towns of Banga.” [47] This claim was more symbolic than real, but certainly the Arakanese were able to demonstrate physical control of portions of Banga during several campaigns in the late sixteenth and early control of portions of Banga during several campaigns in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. By the 1620s, however, a series of military defeats in Bengal, during the reigns of Min-raza-kri and Min-kamaun, seems to have demonstrated to the court that regardless of their claim to sovereignty in Banga, the Mughals exercised real control. As a result, the Arakanese court accepted an arrangement with the Portuguese community at Chittagong that half the booty taken in Banga was to be sent to the Arakanese court.
The Demographics of Slave-raiding
Whether it was the Arakanese or the Portuguese slavers who raided Bengal, large numbers of Bengali Muslim captives were funneled into Danra-waddy settlements. The Portuguese sent half their loot from Bengal, including the captives, for example, to Danra- waddy as tribute to the Arakanese court. [48]
The regional impact of the Luso-Arakanese slave-trade is indicated in part by Muslim settlement patterns which continued up through the nineteenth century (as well as the twentieth). The colonial Census of 1891 fortunately provided village, circle, township, and district tabulations of returns regarding declarations of religious affiliation, which allow us to construct a fairly clear picture of Muslim settlement patterns in Arakan. Table 1 indicates that about ninety-four percent of all Muslims in the Arakan Littoral lived in Danra-waddy, other zones (Rama-waddy, Mekha-waddy, and Dwara- waddy) accounting for about six percent of the total Muslim population (I have left the Arakan Hill Tracts out of this tabulation as they are not relevant to this discussion). Look at another way, as a percentage of the population in each zone, Muslims made up a substantial portion of Danra-waddy’s population, but only four percent at most in other areas.
We do not have the necessary data, however, to provide a detailed and completely reliable quantitative analysis of the increasing numbers of Bengali Muslims in the Arakanese littoral in the seventeenth century. Simply stating that Muslims became a numerically important group in the seventeenth century is insufficient in itself and requires at least some quantitative evidence to demonstrate the point. I will attempt to provide a rough estimate of the numerical impact of Bengalis (and, as I will explain in the following subsection, Muslims) upon the population base of the Danra-waddy zone in the seventeenth century. My rough estimate of the population of the Danra-waddy zone in the early seventeenth century is about 170,000 people.[49] I focus upon the Danrawaddy zone, because Muslims were numerically insignificant in Rama-waddy, Mekha- waddy, and Dwara-waddy during this and later centuries. I think that this strengthens the view that Bengali Muslim setdement was of critical importance for the royal capital, because Bengali Muslim captives were concentrated into settlements in the Danra-waddy zone, which was the central zone wherein sat the royal capital. This concentration increased their effect upon Danra-waddy and the royal city in the seventeenth century than would have been the case if they had been scattered more evenly throughout the Arakan littoral. I will thus attempt to come up with a rough estimate of the numbers of these Bengali Muslim captives. By comparing these two rough estimates, those for the overall population of Danra-waddy in the seventeenth century and for the number of Bengali Muslim captives, the numerical impact of Bengali Muslim captives upon Danra- waddy’s population base becomes clearer.
When we compare the ceiling population (as above, 170,000) with the demographic inputs provided by Bengali deportees, it is fairly certain that they had an important impact upon Danra-waddy’s population base. We have general statistics for the 1622-1629 period: Manrique claimed that the Portuguese brought 24,000 Bengali captives, or about 3,000 per year, to the two settlements near Chittagong known as Dianga and Angarcale. [50] For the 1630-1634 period, Manrique claims that the Portuguese brought 18,000 slaves, or about 3,600 per year, to these two settlements. [51] These statistics are likely not as incredible as those provided by the priests for ambiguous “conversions” of the captives. The Dutch records show, for example, that Arakanese royal agents at Chittagong kept detailed lists of the personal data for each captive in “big black books.”[52] Further, since these slaves were commodities to the Portuguese, the Portuguese likely had a keen interest in keeping detailed records and (in view of the percentage of booty which had to be given to the royal court) would have underestimated, rather than overestimated these numbers. Manrique, who worked amongst these captives and had day-to-day interactions with both Arakanese royal authorities and the Portuguese slavers, easily had access to either source. Thus, from 1622-1634, 42,000 Bengali captives likely passed through Dianga and Angarcale. This does not include Bengalis taken captive during royally-sponsored campaigns.
Arriving at an estimate for the number of Bengali captives brought into Arakan during the period prior to 1622 or after 1634 is more problematic. It becomes easier if the parameters of an estimate are limited to a beginning year of 1618 (when the Portuguese slaver community likely became active at Chittagong) and 1666 (when the Mughals captured Chittagong). Thus, estimates need to be made for the 1617-1621 periods (five years) and the 1635-1666 periods (32 years). If we apply the lowest average (that for the 1622-1629 period) of 3,000 captives per year to the 1617-1621 and 1635-1666 periods, we arrive at the rough estimates of 15,000 captives for the 1617-1621 period and 90,000 captives for the 1617-1621 period. Altogether, this would amount to 147,000 Bengali captives brought to Arakan between 1617 and 1666.
Of course other factors would reduce the 147,000 figure. A high death rate among people brutally captured, treated, and transplanted must have occurred. According to Dutch sources, for example, forty percent of the ten thousand captives taken by Thiri- thudhamma-raza in a raid in the 1630s died quickly in captivity. [53] Even then, out of a group of slaves who had survived the journey to Mrauk-U, seventy-five percent died after they were bought by the Dutch. [54] Many Bengali captives also escaped throughout the seventeenth century, and it is not impossible to imagine that the overall numbers of captives may have included many people captured a second or a third time. Finally, the Portuguese-Arakanese arrangement supposedly limited the number of captives delivered to the Arakanese royal agents at one-fourth of the total (even though this was often exceeded), or about 37,000 captives.
Again, however, numerous Arakanese royal campaigns also brought thousands of additional Bengali captives to the Arakan Littoral. By 1630, there may have been about eleven thousand Bengali families settled in rural areas of Danra-waddy. [55] I do not know what Manrique meant by “family” or how many people made up each family. If Manrique referred to households, they likely numbered on the average about five people. [56] This would give us roughly 55,000 Bengalis in rural Danra-waddy in 1630 or so. Arakanese raiding afterwards would have added to this figure. [57]
Since the Dutch factors at Mrauk-U were only allowed to buy “new” Bengalis (that is, newly-captured Bengalis and not those who had been settled in Danra-waddy already), [58] Dutch slave purchases after 1630 indicate the continuity of the influx of Bengali captives. [59] As slave raids into Bengal in the eighteenth century could bring in as many as eighteen hundred Bengali captives at any given time, [60] the Bengali population inputs could easily add further tens of thousands to the Danra-waddy population base over the century between the 1660s and the 1760s, even when we allow for Bengalis who migrated back home. I suggest that a conservative estimate for the number of Bengalis who survived their resettlement to Danra-waddy by the end of the seventeenth century was perhaps sixty thousand, probably much higher.
I have tried to provide a rough estimate of the number of Bengali Muslims who survived the journey to Danra-waddy. According to these estimates, Bengali Muslim captives may have comprised thirty percent or so of the pre-existing population by the 1660s. Of course, their numbers were maintained (or even grew) not only through increase but also due to the continuation of slave-raiding in Banga throughout the eighteenth century. In this light, it is not surprising that in the late 1770s, as observers based in Chittagong explained: “Almost three-fourths of the inhabitants of Rekheng [Danra- waddy] are said to be natives of Bengal, or descendants of such…” [61] In short, despite the lack of complete data, it is still apparent that the demographic contribution of Bengali captives to Danra-waddy’s population base was considerable.
Original Locale and Religious “Identities” of the Captives
The Bengalis whom the Arakanese brought to Danra-waddy as captives were not hill peoples nor were they from the inner or western reaches of what we think of today as Bengal. Rather, they came from the harsh and yet bountiful environment of the Brahmaputra-Meghna delta and thus had developed perceptions of the ways in which the human and natural world worked which were not dissimilar from those of the indigenous population of Danra-waddy. For one thing, these traditions involved a highly flexible religious framework. Second, these traditions developed in response to the threats of the natural and human environment and provided the means to cope with these threats.
Most Bengali slaves came from Banga. On occasion, Arakanese royal expeditions under the command of the ko-ran-kri, for example, might attempt to raid as far as Orissa, but Banga was the usual target. [62] The Luso-Portuguese slavers as well raided areas in Banga along the major rivers and many miles inland along their banks. As Manrique explained:
[The Portuguese] were given permission [to go] with their Gelias [boats] into the kingdoms of Bengala, subjects to the Gran Mogol [the Great Mughal], where they sacked and devastated all the towns and settlements which were on the banks of the Ganges and two or three leagues [ten or fifteen miles] inland, [and] carried away all the movable possessions which they found were of great importance, capturing also all the people whom they encountered. [63]
The areas from which Bengali captives were taken by the Arakanese, then, were areas which had been influenced by Islam for several centuries. However, this does not mean that Islamic identities had developed in the sense of modem orthodox Islam or that clearly Muslim identities were yet recognizable. Abdul Karim and Richard Eaton have both argued that outside urban centers, “Islam” and “Hindu” were not clearly defined identities in Bengal during this period. Eaton, for example, views a single “Bengali folk religion.” As he explains:
Instead of visualizing two separate and self-contained social groups, Hindus and Muslims, participating in rites in which each stepped beyond its ‘natural’ communal boundaries, one may see instead a single undifferentiated mass of Bengali villagers who, in their ongoing struggle with life’s usual tribulations, unsympathetically picked and chose from an array of reputed instruments — a holy man here, a holy river there — in order to tap superhuman power. [64]
But the existence of a common religious framework, a common perspective on the ways in which the world works, does not necessarily mean that religious identities were not in the process of forming. Karim, for example, seems to view a similar kind of folk religion at work for both Bengali Hindus and Muslims (and even retroactively to Bengali Buddhists of an earlier time) and a cross-sharing by them of the symbols and the sites of Bengali folk religion at least through the sixteenth century. But Karim differs with Eaton by suggesting that there was enough differentiation in the identification of these symbols and sites (holy men, the importance of physical representations of supernatural forces, holy sites, etc) to suggest separate popular religious identities.
Karim suggests that for Muslims in rural Bengali, folk religion had developed into “popular Islam.” Karim first differentiates between orthodox and popular Islam as it was understood by Bengalis up through the sixteenth century. Karim defines orthodox Islam, for example, according to five practices: “Iman or belief in God and His Apostles, Namaz or prayer to God, Roza or fasting … Hajj or pilgrimage to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah [and] Zakat (poor-rate).” [65] Popular Islam, however, reflected more of the indigenous Bengali religious framework. As Karim explains, the three aspects of Bengali popular Islam were: “(i) Pirism or the concept of the supremacy of the Pirs, (ii) Mullaism or the growth of the priestly influence and (iii) the reverence to the foot-prints of the Prophet” [66]
These aspects of popular Islam, or Islamized aspects of Bengali folk religion, provided protection from the human and natural environment. Pirism, for example, also reflects Eaton’s suggestion of the importance of holy men in Bengali folk religion. [67] Certain men were believed to be endowed with superhuman powers and were worshipped, or rather important sites associated with them were revered by both Hindus and Muslims (for Muslims, these men or pirs were interpreted as Sufi saints).
In addition to living holy men, other sources of protective power were provided by physical symbols of holy men or god(s). Reverence to the foot-prints of the Prophet, like reverence to the tombs of pirs, for example, concertized powerful symbols of God or superhuman in the local or accessible environment (in the latter case, these symbols became pilgrimage sites). Mullaism also offered a means of holding communities together, which ensured group protection and group prosperity. Mullaism refers to the social importance of mullas, who were socially-respected Muslim holymen, with many social functions similar to those of Brahman priests in Hindu society, but who did not constitute a caste or separate class of priests. [68]
As I will explain in the following section, popular Islam helped agriculturalists to cope with Danra-waddy’s human and natural environment. Although not all Bengalis who were brought to Danra-waddy were Muslim, “Muslims” and “Hindus” brought from Bengal shared a prior text – Eaton’s Bengali folk religion — which offered similar notions of how one could protect oneself in a strange and dangerous new land. [69] With this shared prior text, I will explain, Bengali Hindus and Muslims brought to Danra-waddy likely were open to Muslim influences in the Arakan Littoral which stemmed from the spread of saint cults in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and additional Muslim influence from Mrauk-U’s Muslim population and visiting Muslim traders along the coasts.
Muslims in Danra-waddy
Bengali Muslim captives resettled in Danra-waddy gradually formed two different kinds of social groups over the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. As I explained earlier, the Arakanese court took its pick of the skilled and elite captives and sent non-elites and agriculturalists into the countryside, sometimes to be sold in domestic markets. The difference was important. Muslim Bengalis in the countryside, for example, lived close to the soil and traditional spirits. Their Islam was conditioned by their daily interaction with the natural environment and rural agriculture. I will discuss rural Muslim Bengalis and then I will turn to the Bengali Muslims in the royal city. Bengali Muslims retained in the court and the royal city, however, were distant from the rural surroundings of their counterparts in agricultural villages. Bengali Muslims in the royal city came into contact with ideas and people from different cultural and religious backgrounds, including Muslim traders from Persia and the Middle East.
Servants to the Soil
Although there is very little evidence of a rural Muslim community in Arakan prior to the 1570s, they clearly made up a substantial proportion of the population in the 1770s, prior to Burman rule. Perhaps up to three-quarters of Danra-waddy’s population by the 1770s may have been Muslim. [70] In the 1830s, however, only thirty percent of Arakan’s general population was Muslim. When we adjust for the absence of large numbers of Muslims in Rama-waddy, Mekha-waddy, and Dwara-waddy, however, the proportion of Muslims in the Danra-waddy zone’s population was probably much higher. At least upon the surface, then, in the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Arakanese history brought dramatic changes to the religious landscape of Danra-waddy.
As discussed earlier, captives were divided by the Portuguese and Arakanese according to their skills and status and sent to different places for settlement or sale. Upper caste Bengali captives and Bengali artisans and others who reached Danra-waddy likely ended up in the palace or in royal service-groups in and around the royal city. Others, those who were considered common laborers or agriculturalists found a different home. This may explain the ‘caste’ divisions suggested in the Census of 1891, the first colonial census to tabulate returns according to ‘caste’ distinctions, although for Muslims these were status distinctions. The extremes of these distinctions were Sayyid (those who claimed descent from Muhammad) and Shaykhs (a. humbler designation, which Eaton suggests was how most Muslim cultivators in Bengal identified themselves). These distinctions, as they applied to Arakanese Muslims are indicated in table 2.
According to Table 2, 99% of 58,255 Muslims of Dara-waddy were Shaykhs; 99% of 3,917 Muslims of Rama-waddy and Mekha-waddy were also Shayks and 98% of 2,121 Muslims were Shayks and 5% of them were Sayyids. That’s means 99% of 64,293 of total Arakan were Shayks and only 5% of them were Sayyids.
As the tabulations indicate, the Arakanese Muslims identified themselves as anything but Shaykhs. This lends some support to my contention that it was chiefly agriculturalists among the Bengali captives who increasingly populated Danra-waddy’s rural landscape.
Although Bengali captives coped with the local environment in ways similar to that of the indigenous population, their approach to the local environment was gradually reinterpreted in Muslim terms. In short, by examining settlements of Bengali agriculturalists we can see in part how broader Arakanese or Banga beliefs and perceptions of how things worked were Islamized.
The Arakanese placed or sold many captives procured from Bengal into rural areas as agricultural cultivators. [71] There is evidence to suggest that the Arakanese court placed some of the captives in uncultivated areas (“in the forest”) in order to foster the development of new agricultural communities. [72] European captives also may have wound up in such communities. [73] Others may have been sold to local su-kris (headmen) or others to work land already under cultivation. According to one Arakanese source, those who were captured in one expedition in 1753 were placed “in markets just like cattle and were sold.” [74]
Bengali captives also entered agricultural communities which were to supply food and other necessities to monasteries, perhaps aranya-vasi monasteries, which would have had greater need for such labor than gama-vasi monasteries which received popular donations to sustain themselves. Some slaves sold in the market-place, for example, became monastery slaves,[75] which indicates either that some of the captives were bought for the purposes of donation or that the administrators for sangha lands were directly purchasing such captives. Bengalis captured in royal campaigns were also donated directly by the king to the sangha. In 1723, for example, Sanda-wizaya-raza, after a successful campaign against Chittagong, brought back captive Bengalis (these particular captives were called Kala-douns in the chronicles) who were then donated as pagoda- slaves in the ordination halls and monasteries, including the Maha-muni shrine complex.[76]
These Bengalis, whether they were Muslim or Hindu, likely faced many problems after resettlement in the Danra-waddy. Although the environmental threats faced in their new locale were similar to those they had faced in Banga, traditional means of security had been either removed or shaken badly. The ‘Arakanese captivity’ shattered the community bonds of the captives at four different levels. First, although large numbers of people from particular communities were captured, I doubt if entire communities could be taken without many escaping capture. Second, around Chittagong, the Luso-Arakanese slavers divided up the captives and royal agents sent a large number of them to Danra- waddy. Third, within Danra-waddy, royal agents divided up the captives according to their skills and status, sending some to the royal city and some to rural Arakan. Fourth, in rural Arakan, many of the captives were sold in domestic markets, which likely entailed further separation of fellow villagers and families. For some, traditional local spirits, shrines, or sites in Banga were also no longer relevant or at least accessible in the new locale. Bengali captives, then, had to find new means of protection and security in a new (and often hostile) human and natural environment.
The populations of Banga and Danra-waddy faced the same challenges from the natural environment. For a solution to (or protection from) these challenges, they tried to control the environment by appeasing the forces of nature via the worship of local spirits, present in the natural environment. These spirits lived in natural objects, trees, rivers, rocks and so on. I have already discussed how Buddhism influenced the indigenous religious framework by reinterpreting local spirit images as the Buddha or Buddhist images or adding Buddhist images to the local repertoire of protective objects. These images continued to fill the rural landscape and by paying obeisance to them, natural disasters and disease could be avoided or rectified. In a similar way, popular Islam provided security and protection to Bengali communities from a hostile human and natural environment. Indigenous communities maintained the worship of preexisting images even after their acceptance of Islam. [77] Popular Islam allowed Bengalis a way of easily introducing (and re-identifying) new sacred sites, symbols, and holy men into their lives. [78] Since these sites, symbols, and holy men emerged from an environment and a perspective similar to that within which Bengali folk religion (or popular Islam) had emerged, the Bengalis in Danra-waddy shared a prior text and a similar religious framework with the indigenous population.
Coming from an indigenous religious framework which saw nature spirits in the natural environment, Arakanese-Banga Muslims, like Arakanese Buddhists, made sense of their new religion by making it relevant to the traditional perceptions of how things worked. This meant connecting Islam with the natural environment and making Islam locally relevant. Islam was reinforced by continued contacts with Banga, with Muslim sailors and traders, and by Muslim holy men. Growing maritime connections between Bengal and maritime Southeast Asia in the mid- to late-eighteenth century contributed to the spread of these saint-cults. Along the maritime coasts of western mainland Southeast Asia, Muslim traders also began to set up mosques in the seventeenth century in honor of the Muslim Sufi saint, Budder Auliah. One of these mosques, the Buddermokan, near modern-day Akyab, was probably built in the early seventeenth century (although current stories claim this occurred in 1756) and served as a mosque for Arakanese Muslims in the area. [79]
Although Muslims in Mrauk-U had greater opportunity for interaction with Muslim merchants and others from outside the Arakan Littoral, Muslim agricultural communities were not necessarily isolated from the Muslim world. Many Bengali Muslims returned to Banga at various times when Mrauk-U was too weak to bring them back, but many Muslims joined rural Muslim communities in Arakan when times were bad or tax collections too severe in Chittagong and elsewhere. It seems that since many of the rural Muslim communities were located closer to the coast than was Mrauk-U, maritime traders conducted their business at markets in rural Muslim communities in the area [80] More generally, Muslim traders stopped periodically along the Arakanese and other western mainland coasts for food and water during their journey from India and Bengal to maritime Southeast Asia.
Muslims in the Court and Capital
Muslim residents in Mrauk-U came from a number of different sources. The majority of Muslims in the royal city were probably captives brought over from Banga. As I have mentioned, Arakanese royal agents perused the collections of captured Bengalis at Dianga and Angarcale, interrogating each as to their special skills, status, and other information. Those with skills useful to the court were given a place in the royal service. Further, sometimes captured crews from Muslim ships, regardless of their ethnicity, would be divided as spoils among the Mrauk-U elite. [81] Other, lowlier destinations awaited some captives, who might be assigned to the galleys or to the king’s elephant herds: “[the king] has had all the Muslim, Gentile and Christian prisoners . . . who had been brought here on ships, made into grass cutters for his elephants and rowers on his boats.” [82] As also noted, there was a smaller, but wealthy and influential community of Muslim traders. Even higher status Muslims arrived as political refugees from Bengal with Shah Shuja in the mid-seventeenth century. [83] Together Muslims in the royal city formed a special social group with a privileged and unique socio-political role than their rural counterparts enjoyed, with different connections to the Muslim world.
Many Muslim captives from Banga entered royal service in the royal city. [84] Some Bengali Muslims, if they were craftsmen, probably formed specialized communities in or around the royal city, providing the court with special items or producing goods which would be sold by the king’s agents to maritime traders. Such craftsmen were so important to the royal court that on several occasions the king himself forbade the Dutch from buying artisans or anyone with a trade: “I do not want that craftsmen should be sold to you [the Dutch], or taken out of this land.” [85] Craftsmen or ‘tradesmen’ emerged in the following two centuries as a devoted and influential segment of Arakan’s Muslim population. In the nineteenth century, for example, it was the Muslim craftsmen of Mrauk-U who sponsored and repaired the Santikhan mosque. [86]
By the mid-seventeenth century, a substantial number of minor court officials and some important ministers were Muslim. [87] According to Manrique, the commander of the royal bodyguard in 1630 was a Muslim, entitled lashkar-wazir, [88] Likewise, port officials and others were often drawn from the Muslim traders in Mrauk-U. Like all titles in the Mrauk-U polity, revenues came along with such appointments. The lashkar-wazir, whom Subrahmanyam believes was the eunuch Ashraf Khan, for example, was also given the revenues from the rice-trade at Chittagong. [89] According to Muslim Bengali works (written in Mrauk-U) in 1630s Arakan, Ashraf Khan had the “rajaniti (government) largely in his hands.”[90] There was also a Muslim minister to whom Manrique attributes all kinds of ritual excesses. Manrique admits that these stories were rumors, and all Manrique really tells us is that the king placed great faith in this Muslim minister and that the minister was well known for having gone on the hajj. [91] perhaps the rumors heard by Manrique were stories circulated by elites in Mrauk-U who feared a minister who was getting too close to the king, and hence pushing them further away from the royal center. [92] Any case, without evidence this suggested scenario must remain conjecture.
Another Bengali Muslim, Magan Siddiqi, was a high court official under two successive Arakanese rulers (1645-1660) [93] Muslims in the royal city remained influential in the Arakanese court until the Burman conquest in 1784. [94] What often seems to be anti- Muslim activity may very well have been purely the pursuit of material or political gain against a community that did quite well in Mrauk-U. [95]
Unlike Bengali Muslims settled in rural villages in Danra-waddy, some Bengali Muslims in Mrauk-U participated in the development of an elite Muslim culture in the royal city, perhaps reflecting their privileged backgrounds in Banga. The Bengali Muslims whom the Arakanese had selected for settlement in the royal city, for example, came from educated elites or specially-skilled groups (such as scribes). High and mid-level posts in the royal court and chief ministries, a literate and elite urban culture, and association with traders and others from elsewhere in the Muslim world gave them greater access to mainstream cultural trends in the Muslim world. These Muslim elites in turn helped foster the development of an elite Muslim culture in the Arakanese royal city. The more successful urban Muslims, for example, displayed their wealth and support of Islam by sponsoring Bengali-Muslim poetry and other forms of cultural expression. In the 1630s, for example, Ashraf Khan patronized the Muslim Bengali poet Daulat Qazi, who was also in Mrauk-U and who is today recognized as the founder of modem Bengali poetry. [96] The Bengali work begun by Daulat Qazi and completed by Sayyid Alaol, ‘Sati Mavana Q Lora Chandrani’ praises the virtue of “[t]hat vessel of righteousness, the virtuous Ashraf Khan, Of the Hanafite sect, and a Chishti lineage.” [97] Urban Muslims were also literate and often well-educated, as opposed to the Bengali Muslims settled in rural Arakan. It thus seems fair to assume that they were more likely to be familiar with text-based Islam than were rural Bengali Muslims.
Muslims in the royal city, as opposed to the rural captives, seem to have played a special role in converting some in Arakan to Islam. Some of these Muslim elites, especially rich traders, for example, were also great purchasers of Bengali slaves and even European captives or children as well. [98] In one case, for example, the Mrauk-U lashkar Ashraf Khan had circumcised and converted a Dutchman of whom he had taken possession. [99]
It is likely during periods of heavy taxation, famine, or epidemics that Arakanese tried to sell themselves to wealthy and high-status Muslim traders and officials (as well as to non-Muslim elites) in Mrauk-U. Remco Raben, for example, has made the valuable observation for India of this period that during times of famine, “starvation forced many people to sell themselves.” [100] The rationale was that rich owners would provide food and security. During the Arakanese famine of the mid-1640s, for example, numerous Arakanese tried to sell to the Dutch their wives, sisters, and friends. [101] Since Muslim officials and traders were wealthy, just like their Buddhist counterparts in the royal court (even more so, as there seems to have been no indigenous, non-Muslim class of free merchants), [102] they, like the Dutch, may have offered the most likely prospects for hungry Arakanese. We do have evidence that wealthy Muslim merchants in Mrauk-U were indeed buying slaves. [103]
Another factor was the flight by Arakanese from royal taxation, which could be quite onerous. As one Dutch source explains of the heavy royal taxes in Arakan under Narapati-kri in the early 1640s, men “had therefore to sell their women and children.” [104] These were likely temporary transfers of family members for the duration of a loan. As Lieberman has explained, this form of slavery, debt-bondage, often involved no more difficult or demanding life than that encountered among many asis (free people) and ahmú-dáns (royal servicemen) generally. Debt-slavery, for example, removed the burdens of royal taxes and corvee labor (although corvee labor might have been required in lieu of the master’s personal obligations). [105] Again, Muslim officials had the wealth necessary to provide both loans and the authority necessary to ensure that royal tax and corvee demands upon their slaves (as clients) were circumvented. Even then, this scenario does not include the more common patron-client relationships which accompanied wealth and influence, and through which clients likely emulated the religious identity of their patron. It is difficult to ascertain, however, which identity, Muslim or Bengali, had developed sufficiently, even as late as the mid-seventeenth century, to define this urban elite. On the one hand, it, especially the class of rich merchants, sponsored Bengali- language poetry and culture. They spoke Bengali or a dialect of it, and the Arakanese chronicles, after all, knew them mainly as Kalas (Indians), not frequently as Muslims. On the other hand, the authors of Bengali Muslim poetry during this period praised their patrons as Muslims, and they may have been important sponsors of mosque-building in certain villages. Given the high degree of Islamization that was developing in southeastern Banga, whence most of these Bengali and Muslim elites came, we could view their identity in a different way: for these elites, to be Bengali was to be Muslim. Of course, this cannot be demonstrated with any degree of certainty, but it does help explain why the Bengali population brought over to Arakan from Banga developed over the next two centuries into Arakan’s large Muslim population.
What happened to the Muslim elites of Mrauk-U is a difficult question. As I mentioned in the introduction to this chapter, Muslims in nineteenth century Danra- waddy identified themselves not as Sayyids, but rather as Shaykhs, a more common designation frequently adopted by Muslim agriculturalists in Bengal. Nineteenth century Arakan’s Muslim population was almost wholly agricultural, save for the Muslim descendants of ko-rans deported to Rama-waddy in the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century. The Burmans after conquest of Arakan deported tens of thousands of Arakanese (Muslim and Buddhist) from Mrauk-U and surrounding areas to the Irra-waddy Valley. It is likely that many of the descendants of Mrauk-U’s Muslims were removed from Danra-waddy in this way. Further the Burman rule led to the depopulation of eastern Danra-waddy, including the Mrauk-U area as a result of excessive exploitation of human and material resources there. Although there is little data to extrapolate from, I conjecture that many Muslim elites fled elsewhere, perhaps to Bengal. Two other components of Mrauk-U’s Muslim elites should be pointed out as well. First, Muslim traders formed an itinerant population and by the eighteenth century, only a few Muslim traders appear to have continued to come to Danra-waddy. Second, we cannot expect many descendants from Muslim officials in the Mrauk-U court, who often seem to have been eunuchs, for obvious reasons (although there was the possibility of adopting heirs). As a result, when I speak of the descendants of seventeenth century captives in nineteenth-century Arakan, I chiefly refer to the Muslim agriculturalists of western Danra-waddy.
Arakan: Within or Without the Islamic World?
The Mrauk-U court had done well by the mid-seventeenth century. Learned Muslim and Buddhist ministers staffed the opulent Arakanese court; the harem was extensive; wealth poured in from maritime trade, including that in slaves, rice and other commodities with the Dutch, and this trade wealth and the goods from trade were funneled into political and religious patronage. But beneath the veneer of an opulent court, tensions had developed over the preceding decades which would affect the direction of religious change in Arakan. One major development was that Arakan’s relationship with Islamdom became clearer, in large part due to its problems with the Mughals as well as Arakan’s activities in Banga. For many Muslims, Arakan was no longer a distant and tolerant outpost for Muslim traders, but rather a land of piratical gentiles who pillaged Banga and enslaved Muslims. Another development was the increasing influence of the Buddhist sangha upon the Arakanese court and royal perceptions of the Muslim community as a threat.
We should not necessarily expect that Arakan had a favorable image in Islamdom because of the existence of a large Muslim community in mid-seventeenth century Mrauk-U. For Bay of Bengal Muslims, the image of Arakan changed over the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries. In the sixteenth century, Arakan, with an Islamicized court allied with several of the more important Muslim courts of eastern India, did not stand out so sharply from its Muslim neighbors such as Bengal Increasingly throughout the first half of the seventeenth century, however, the Muslim world’s image of Arakan changed: Arakan became the sweeper of Muslim lands, the enslaver of Sayyids and Shaykhs in Bengal, and the chief obstacle to Mughal expansion in the East. By the mid-seventeenth century a series of Mughal military conquests brought Bengal under their firm political control and Mughal control into the northern Arakan littoral. At the same time, changing trade patterns had made the Arakanese king take a more direct role in squeezing revenues from maritime trade which was drying up in the mid-seventeenth century. This included increasing royal competition with Muslim traders, an aggressive approach to rival Muslim trading polities in the Bay of Bengal, [106] the occasional refusal to allow Acehnese and other Muslim merchants to leave Mrauk-U, and the seizure of Muslim ships at sea.[107] Other Muslim rulers did not turn a blind eye to this activity: in 1643, in response to the Arakanese capture of a Muslim merchant and his ship, an Arakanese ship and its captain were captured in Masulipatnam — the Arakanese king abandoned trade with Masulipatnam and sent his ships to Dutch Melaka instead. [108]
Arakan was now more of an untamed frontier on the fringe of Mughal Bengal than it was a haven for Muslim merchants in western mainland Southeast Asia. Some contemporary Muslim sources, such as the Persian-language account of Shihabuddin Talish even fell silent regarding the presence of Muslim traders at Mrauk-U. [108] Muslims now assessed the Arakanese kingdom by how much it veered from Islam.[109] The rumor in mid-seventeenth century eastern India was, for example, that the Arakanese kings drank “raw buffalo blood” and were not the equal even of Mughal captains.[110] On two counts, then, Arakan’s place in Banga was a threat: it was the sole remaining indigenous challenger of Mughal control in the northeastern Bay of Bengal and, second, orthodox Muslims could now only see the Arakanese as aggressive gentiles.[111]
The hostility found amongst many Muslims in the Bay of Bengal towards Arakan was coupled by prejudices which emerged the other way around. In the early seventeenth century, perhaps earlier, some Arakanese Buddhist monks seem to have begun to view
the proselytizers of other religions as threats. Catholic missionaries in the 1630s, for example, claimed that Buddhist monks prevented them from entering villages and threatened villagers that if they accepted Christianity, they would be punished by the Buddha:
[They] determined to impede the entrance of the Religiosos into the poblaciones [villages] and [to keep them from] treating or speaking to the people, persuading all that [if they listened to the priests] they would be punished by their Pora [Hpara here refers to “Lord” Buddha] with sickness, hunger, and war and if they did make amends [for having done so] fire would come from the sky and incinerate them all. [112]
Buddhist monks also refused both Christians and Muslims entry to Buddhist pagodas, especially the chief pagoda, the Shitthaung-para, in Mrauk-U. [113] Although we cannot be sure of the source, rumors in Mrauk-U in the 1630s claimed that a Muslim “priest” was conducting human sacrifices outside the royal city.[114]
Of course, by themselves, these are relatively minor indicators of changes in the way in which the Arakanese court was perceived by Muslims and how the Arakanese sangha and court dealt with the Muslim (and Christian) world. The hostile view of Arakan among Bay of Begal Muslims and the strengthening of the Buddhist sangha’s influence in the royal court came to a head in the reign of Sanda-thu-dhamma-raza.
[1]) Comstock, “Notes on Arakan,” 220, 238; and Foley, “Geological and Statistical Account of the Island of Rambree,” 202-203.
[2] Report on the Census of British Burma Taken in August 1872 (Rangoon: Government Press, 1875).
[3] “Appendix 1: Arakan Division,” in Report on the Census of British Burma Taken in August 1872 (Rangoon: Government Press, 1875), 17.
[4] Chittagong fell under Mughal rule in the 1660s and it is unclear how much the Islamization of Chittagong owed to the post-1660s period rather than to the period of Arakanese rule. Out of the four remaining zones which remained part of the Arakanese kingdom, significant Muslim communities of longstanding duration emerged chiefly in Danra-waddy. Exceptions include the small group of Muslims whose ancestors were deported to Rama-waddy in the 1660s and the Muslim community in San-twei which seems to have developed out of a garrison of Muslim soldiers left behind by the Burmans after 1784. See Tydd, Burma Gazetteer Sandowav District. 19; Report on the Settlement Operations in the Sandowav District Season 1897-1898. 2; “Report on the Revision of Soil Classification and Land Revenue Rates in the Kyaukpyu District, Season 1898-99,” 3.
[5] Eaton, Richard M. The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204-1760. Berkeley: University of California Pres. 265, 268-9, 302-303.
[6] Ahmad Hasan Dani, “Early Muslim Contact with Bengal,” in S. Moinul Haq, ed., The Proceedings of the All Pakistan History Conference. First Session, Held at Karachi, 30th. 31st March & 1st April 1951 (Karachi: Pakistan Historical Society, n.d), 193.
[7] For a discussion of the benefits which maritime-derived resources such as mercenaries and firearms, offered to indigenous rulers, see the discussion in Lieberman, “Europeans, Trade and the Unification of Burma,” 203-226; on the dangers of using mercenaries during this period, see Victor Lieberman, “Was the Seventeenth Century a Watershed in Burmese History?,” in Southeast Asia in the Early Modem Era: Trade. Power, and Belief Anthony Reid, ed. (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1993), 228
[8] Guerreiro, Relacao Anual. 3:84
[9] Forchhammer. Report. 39
[10]Guerreiro. Relacao Anual. 1:291
[11] According to one source, in 1571, when Min-palaun ascended the throne, his subjects included” မူစလင္ စ ေသာ ကုလားအေပါင္း”: (the Indians together, amongst whom were the Mussalmans [Muslims]).” Mi, “Rakhine Razawm,” 160b.
[12] HPires. Siima Oriental. 1:95.
[13] Sanda-maIa-linkaya. Rakhine Razawin thet-kvan. 2:93.
[14] ln 1601, for example, Min-raza-kri took advice from a Turkish Muslim and Muslim representatives of the Sultan of Masnlipatam. See Guerreiro, Relacao Anual. 1:291.
[15] ibid., 1:291.
[16] Documentos Remettidos da India ou Livres das Moncoes. Raymundo de Bulhao Pato, ed. (Lisbon: Ordem da Classe de Sciencias Moraes, Politicas e Bellas-Lettras da Academia Real das Sriendas de Lisboa. 1885), 2:392
[17] Ibid., 1:357; 2:393. For a general account of Tibao, see Faria e Sousa, Asia Portuguesa, with an introduction by M. Lopes d’Almeida (Coimbra: Livraria Civiliza^ao, n.d.), 5:284-292; 6:80-86. See also the discussion in Charmey, “Crisis and Reformation in a Maritime Kingdom,” 196-198.
[18]-°See Gonzales, New Relation. 5-11, partially translated for me by Stephan van Galen.
[20] William Methwold, “Relations of the Kingdome of Golchonda and Other Neighbouring Nations within the Gulf of Bengala, Arrecan, Pegu, Tannassery, etc., and the English Trade in Those Parts,” in Relations of Golconda in the Early Seventeenth Century. W. H. Moreland, ed. (London: Hakluyt Society, 1931), 42.
[21]Manrique, Itinerario. 1:192.
[22] HabibulIah, “Arakan in the pre-Mughal History of Bengal” 33.
[23] Mi, “Rakhine Razawin,” 205a, 209b.
[24] “‘Closed’ and ‘Open’ Slave Systems in Pre-Colonial Southeast Asia,” in Slavery. Bondage and Dependency in Southeast Asia” Anthony Reid, ed. (New York) 1983, 156-7
[25] The most colorful example of this is the case of Ukka Bran as discussed in San Shwe Bu, “U Ga Byan, Governor of Sindin, Arakan,” Journal of the Burma Research Society 9 (1919): 151-2.
[26] Kawi-thara, “Rakhine Arei-taw-poun,” 59b; and “Rakhine Min Raza-kri Arei-taw Sadan,” 21a.
[27] Ibid; and Kawi-thara, “Rakhine Arei-taw-poun,” 59b.
[28] The Arakanese, as the account continues: “Only the Feringi pirates sold their prisoners__the Maghs employed all their captives in agriculture and other kinds of service.” Shihabuddin Talish, “The Feringi Pirates of Chatgaon, 1665 AJD.,” translated by Jadunath Sarkar, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, n. s., 3 (1907): 422; ‘Upon their arrival they were conducted to the rajah…who chose from among them for his slaves all the handicraftsmen, and most useful persons, amounting to about one fourth of the whole number:…” R. E. Roberts, “Account of Aracan. Written at Islamabad (Chittagong) in June, 1777,” Asiatic Annual Register 1 (1799): 157. According to Stephan van Galen, Dutch sources claim that seventeenth century Dutch traders observed that the Arakanese wrote down all kinds of data regarding Bengali captives in big black books (parabeiksl). These “books,” however, have since been lost. Stephan van Galen, personal communication, Leiden the Netherlands, June, 1998.
[30] As Talish explains: “Many high-born persons and Sayyads, many pure and Sayyad-bom women, were compelled to undergo the disgrace of the slavery service or concubinage…of these wicked men.” Talish, “The Feringi Pirates of Chatgaon,” 422.
[31] See Subrahmanyam, “Slaves and Tyrants,” 222-223.
[32] Ennappah Arasaratnam, “Slave Trade in the Indian Ocean in the Seventeenth Century,” in Mariners. Merchants and Oceans: Studies in Maritime History. BC S. Mathew, ed. (New Delhi: Manohar, 1995), 197.
[33] As an account of 1777 relates: “The rajah of Rekheng…will not permit any of his subjects to leave his country, to plunder and makes slaves, until he had received from them a considerable sum of money. When these plunderers return to Rekheng, everything they have made prize of is carried to the rajah. Of the goods it is his allowed privilege to take half, and of the prisoners, one-fourth; but he generally exacts the lion’s share.” Roberts, “Account of Aracan,” 159.
[34] According to one source: “the rest [of the captives, the Arakanese king] returned to the captors, who conducted them, by ropes about their necks, to a market, and there sold them from twenty to seventy rupees each, according to their strength, abilities, &c. The purchasers assigned them the cultivation of their lands, and other laborious employments …” Ibid., 157.
[34] Remco Raben, “Batavia and Columbo:-The Ethnic and Spatial Order of Two Colonial Cities 1600-1800,” (PhD. diss., Leiden University, 1996): 120; Khin Maung Nyunt, “Burma’s Rice Trade in the 17th Century,” Guardian 17, 4 (April, 1970): 15; Charney, “Crisis and Reformation in a Maritime Kingdom,” 200-201.
[35] Raben, “Batavia and Columbo,” 120.
[36] Om Prakash, ed., The Dutch Factories in India. 1617-1623: A Collection of Dutch East India Company Documents Pertaining to India (New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1984), 52.
[37] Ibid, 205; and Raben, Batavia and Columbo. 120.
[38] Roberts, “Account of Aracan,” 157.
[39] Arasaratnam, “Slave Trade in the Indian Ocean,” 197
[40] ibid. 198, 203.
[41] Xhis is inferred from ibid., 197.
[42] Antonio Bocarro, Decada 13 da Hfstoria da India Comnosto nor Antonio Bocarro Chronista d’Aauelle Estado (Lisboa: Academia Real das Sciences de Lisboa, 1876), 2:442.
[43] Manrique, Itmerario. 1:252; and Charny, “Crisis and Reformation in a Maritime Kingdom,” 203.
[44] The Portuguese captured both Hindus and Muslims without differentiating between them
[45] Talish, “The Feringi Pirates of Chatgaon,” 422. Further, they even sold slaves taken from Mughal Bengal back to the Mughals. 35°The Arakanese, as the account continues: “Only the Feringi pirates sold their prisoners …
[46] the Maghs employed all their captives in agriculture and other kinds of service.” Ibid. 422.
[47] “Rakhine Min Raza-kri Arei-taw Sadan,” 13b-14a.
[48] Talish, “The Feringi Pirates of Chatgaon,” 424
[49] for an explanation of how I arrived at this estimate, see Appendix V.
[50] Manrique cites two previous Portuguese priests who were at Dianga and Angarcale prior to him. At a later point, Manrique encompasses these years with the five years he was in Arakan (late 1629 to early 1635) under “thirteen years.” Thus, the earlier total should refer to the years from 1622 to the end of 1629. Manrique, Itinerario. 1:253
[51] Manrique was in Arakan from the very end of 1629 to the very beginning of 1635. Thus, his “five years” in Arakan mainly refers to the period 1630-1634. Manrique, Itinerario. 1:253
[52] This comes from Stephan van Galen, personal communication, Leiden, the Netherlands, June, 1998, from his research in the Dutch archives.
[53] Subrahmanyam, “Slaves and Tyrants,”
[55] Manrique, Itinerario. 1:133
[56] I borrow five as a standard family base from Than Tun. Than Tun used an average family size of five people to calculate the probable size of Burma’s population in the 1630s-1640s. See Than Tun, “Administration Under King Thalun 1629-1648,” Journal of Burma Studies 51 (1968): 175.
[57] In 1751, there was an Arakanese royal expedition against Banga, which also reached Dhaka. A more thorough campaign took place against the northern portion of the Arakan Littoral in 1753. The Arakanese plundered the Muslim Bengalis who lived along the coasts and rivers of Chittagong and Ramu. Mi, “Rakhine Razawin,” 224b.
[58] Subrahmanyam, “Slaves and Tyrants,” 225.
[59] See Appendix VI.
[61] lbid., 159.
[62] Roberts, “Account of Aracan,” 159
[63] ubrahmanyam, “Slave and Tyrants,” 226, 232.
[64] Manrique, Itinerario. 1:252.
[65] Eaton, Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier. 281.
[66] Abdul Karim, Social History of the Muslims; in Bengal (Down to A.D. 1538) (Dacca: the Asiatic Society of Pakistan, Dacca, 1959), 162.
[68] Eaton. The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier. 281.
[69] Karim. Social History of the Muslims: in Bengal. 162.
[70] Eaton, The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier. 281.
[72] The Arakanese, as the account continues: “Only the Feringi pirates sold their prisoners … the Maghs employed all their captives in agriculture and other kinds of service.” Talish, “The Feringi Pirates of Chatgaon,” 422; “The purchasers assigned them the cultivation of their lands, and other laborious employments, giving each person, for his monthly support, only fifteen seers of rice.” Roberts, “Account of Aracan,” 157; As the Portuguese Catholic priest, Sebastiao Manrique claimed to have told Thiri-thu- dhamma-raza in the 1630s, Min-kamaun had depopulated Arakan during his wars against Pegu, Assam, and the Mughals; the “Portuguese” repopulated them with entire villages and towns brought over from Bengal, involving over eleven thousand families. Manrique, Itinerario. 1:133; Roberts explains of the king’s handling of slaves he did not want: “the rest he returned to the captors, who conducted them, by ropes about their necks, to a market, and there sold them from twenty to seventy rupees each, according to their strength, abilities, &c.” Roberts, “Account of Aracan,” 157.
[73] Subrahmanyam, “Slave and Tyrants,” 215.
[74] Ibid., 234, 243.
[75] Mi, “Rakhine Razawin,” 224b.
[77] ibid., 216b.
[78] Buchanan hints at this practice as late as the end of the eighteenth century when he journeyed through that part of the Arakan Littoral which had been taken by the Mughals from Arakan in the 1660s. As Buchanan explains: “Here the Hindoos make offerings of grain flowers and eggs to the Gods of the place, Ram and Seeta: They are imitated by the foolish Mohammedans of this province.” Francis Buchanan, Francis Buchanan in Southeast Bengal (‘1798’): His Joumey to Chittagong, the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Noakhali and Comilla. Willem van Schendel, ed. (Dhaka: University Press, 1992), 103.
[79] Whatever its actual origins, the Buddermokan ‘mosque’ in Akyab (at the mouth of the Kaladan River) was also a shrine venerated by Arakanese Buddhists and Hindus in the nineteenth century. Forchhammer, Report. 60.
[80] Subrahmanyam, “Slaves and Tyrants,” 237, 241; and Forchhammer, Report. 60.
[82] Quoted in ibid. 236.
[83] Shah. Shuja fled from the usurpation of his throne in Bengal by his younger brother Aurangzeb. Shah Shuja’s party included not only his family, but also two hundred followers. Jean Baptiste Tavemier, Travels in India, translated by V. Ball (London: Hakluyt Society, 1889): 1:368. Another estimate is much lower: “Shah Shuja. . . hurried to Rakhang with all his family and those forty or fifty men, who. . .had remained loyal and faithful to him.” Aqil Khan Razi, The Waqiat-I-Alamgiri of Aqil Khan Razi Tan Account of the war of succession between the sons of Empernr Shah Jahan). translated by Khan Bahadur Maulvi Haji Zafar Hasan (Delhi: Mercantile Printing Press, 1946), 54
[84] According to one source: “the Maghs employed all their captives in agriculture and other kinds of service.” Talish, “The Feringi Pirates of Chatgaon,” 422. The royal seizure of skilled Bengalis from slave-raids for use in the royal court continued at least until the 1770s. Roberts, “Account of Aracan,” 157.
[85] Dutch letter translated in Subrahmanyam, “Slaves and Tyrants,” 225. See also Ibid. 232.
[86] Fnrrhhammer- Report. 39.
[87] From our knowledge of the size of the Muslim population, Taverner’s comment that only “Several Muhammadans were settled” in Arakan can be seen as extreme understatement. Tavemier, ‘Travels in India’. 1:368
[88] Manrique, Itinerario. 2:15.
[89] Subrahmanyam, “Slaves and Tyrants,” 221-2.
[90] Ibid., 223.
[91] ManriqueT Itinerario. 1:316
[92] After all, Manrique says they were heard by the Portuguese from others and considering the intimate connections between the women of the Portuguese community and Arakanese handmaidens in the royal palace it is likely that the Portuguese community had a keen ear for the rumor-mill among the Mrauk- U elite.
[93] Yunus, A History of Arakan. 88.
[94] In the 1770s, for example, a Bengali Muslim, Tahes Mahmud, “was formerly the rajah’s derrwan, and afterwards became his dewan [and had] gained some riches in that part…” Roberts, “Account of Aracan,” 159.
[95] The Tahes Mahmud case is important, because it stresses that when the king of Arakan sought to remove him, it was not because of his religious affiliation, but because of the wealth he had accumulated in the king’s service, and the king wished to take it. Ibid. 159
[96] Yunus, History of Arakan. 87; and Subrahmanyam, “Slaves and Tyrants,” 222
[97] Ibid„ 222.
[98] lbid., 224, 246.
[100] Raben, ‘Batavia and Colombo’, 120, as Raben also explains “massive transactions [in slaves] were only possible in times of food shortages and epidemics.” Ibid. 119
[101] Subrahmanyam, “Slaves and Tyrants,” 234
[102] The reasons for the absence of an indigenous class of free merchants in Arakan seem to have been the same as those in other areas of early modem mainland Southeast Asia. One reason was the absence of alienable property rights by the general populace as the king theoretically owned everything. Insecurity of property was also aggravated by frequent seizures by the king. See an excellent discussion in Jeyamalar Kathirithamby-Wells, “Restraints on the Development of Merchant Capitalism in Southeast Asia before c. 1800,” in Southeast Asia in the Earlv Modem Era: Trade. Power, and Belief. Anthony Reid, ed. (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1993), 123-148.
[104] Quoted in ibid, 229
[105] Liebennan. ‘Burmese Administrative Cycles’, 108
[106] In the 1630s, for example, Aceh, and Golchonda both had special grievances against the actions of the Arakanese court. Subrahmanyam, “Slaves and Tyrants in Mrauk-U,” 222
[107] A Muslim-owned ship returning from Aceh was taken by the king in the 1630s. In 1643, the ko-ran-kri captured Muslim-owned ships enroute from the Maldives. la the same year, a ship owned by a Masulipatnam Muslim trader, Isma’il Beg, was captured by the Arakanese near Pegu. Further, the capture by the Arakanese of even non-Muslim ships coming out of Muslim ports such as Aceh must have caused irritation as well. See ibid., 224, 226, 227″, 232.
[108] Ibid. 226
[109] As Talish explaine± “They do not admit into their country any other tribe than the Christians, who visit it by the sea-route for purposes of trade.” Talish “The Feringi Pirates of Chatgaon,” 419
[110] Talish explained in the seventeenth century: “The inhabitants have no definite faith or religion.” Ibid. 419
[111] This was reflected in Manucci’s account, Niccolao Manucci, Storia do Mogor or Mogul India 1653-1708. translated by William Irvine (London: John Murray, 1907), 1:374.
[112] As the Alamgimama states: “Arakan which is the worst and meanest of the places in the world and where infidels reside . . .” Alamgimama. translated and quoted in M. Siddiq Khan, “The Tragedy of Mrauk-U (1660-1661),” Journal of the Asiatic Society of Pakistan 11 (1966): 208.
[112] Manrique. Itinerario. 1:254
[113] lbid„ 2:29
[114] Ibid. 1:315-317. Some scholars interpret these accounts as part of the standard hyperbole or the invention of Catholic priests of the period, Jacques Leider, personal communication, Leiden, Amsterdam, June 1998. I suggest that there are elements of these stories which certainly were based on what the Catholic priests involved heard and sometimes saw.
Michael W. Charney
BA (U. of Michigan-Flint), MA (U. of Michigan-Ann Arbor), MA (Ohio), PhD (U. of Michigan-Ann Arbor)
Professor of Asian and Military History and member of Centre of Buddhist Studies in Department of History, SOAS South Asian Institute.
Professor Michael W. Charney is a military and imperial historian specialising in South East Asia in both the premodern and modern periods. He received his PhD at the University of Michigan in 1999. After two years as a postdoctoral research fellow with the Centre for Advanced Studies at the National University of Singapore (1999-2001), he joined SOAS. He was project professor with the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia at the University of Tokyo from 2012 to 2014. He wrote many books and article on Arakan, Burma and Asia.
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About Colombia Study in Colombia Visa Requirements Schools
About Colombia
Colombia is bordered on the northwest by Panama, on the east by Venezuela and Brazil, and on the southwest by Peru and Ecuador.In recent years Colombia's economic growth has been impressive, reaching 8.2% in 2007, one of the highest rates of growth in Latin America.
Colombia is a South American country located in the northern part of the continent.The country shares borders with Panama to the northwest, Venezuela and Brazil to the east, and Ecuador and Peru to the south.Colombia also has coastlines along the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.The country is the second largest (by population) Spanish speaking country in the world.Major industries include coffee, flowers, emeralds, textiles, chemicals, plastics, steel, coal, petroleum and financial services.Colombia offers a diversity of landscapes from beaches and jungles to mountains.Spanish is the official language and Colombian Peso is the currency.
Colombia has five major geographical regions – the Andes Mountains (Bogata, Medellin and Cali), the Caribbean coast (Cartagena), the Pacific coast, the Orinoco plains and the Amazon forest. Although Colombia is located almost on the equator, the country still sees a wide range of climatic conditions due to differences in elevation. Most of the country is warm year-round, with an average temperature of about 24 degrees C. Areas with elevations of 2000-3000 meters have an average temperature of 12 degrees C and elevations above 4500 meters have snow. The country is usually rainy, with a dry season from December to March in most parts except for the coast, which is always rainy.
Because of its location, Colombian culture has been influenced by a wide range of cultures, including Native American, Spanish, African, Caribbean and even Middle Eastern. Until recently, the country’ s rugged terrain made travel difficult, so various areas in Colombia have developed strong regional identities and cultures as well. In general, Colombians have a fun-loving culture that offers dancing and some of the best salsa music in the world. In addition to delicious cuisine, Colombian culture include painting, sculpture, literature, music, theater and film. Sports are also very popular, with soccer being by far the most popular. Other popular sports include cycling, baseball, car racing and Taekwondo.
Despite its world-class infrastructure, the cost of living in Colombia is low. Apartments can be rented in major cities for under $US 500 per month and other living expenses are low as well; a student can expect to live in the country for about $US 1,000 per month, exclusive of tuition. Student visas do not generally allow international students to work.
Study in Colombia
Higher Education in Colombia
Colombia does not have colleges, only universities and other educational institutes that offer professional, technical or technological diplomas to prepare students for a given profession. Undergraduate programs last for up to five years for most programs. Technical and technological institutions offer only undergraduate degrees, while universities offer both undergraduate and graduate programs, including doctorate degrees. In addition, university or technological institutes offer undergraduate degrees and master’ s programs.
Why Study in Colombia?
Colombia provides a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, high quality academic environment for international students. Colombia is also a great place to learn or perfect Spanish skills for non-native speakers, as the Spanish spoken in the country is standardized, very clear and easy for foreigners to understand. Since Spanish is the second most widely spoken language for international communications, those proficient in the language will be highly sought after by international corporations. Its location also makes it a good jumping off point for those who want to travel to North America, Central America, South America and even Caribbean countries.
Universities in Colombia
Colombia has 20 accredited universities, and both public and private institutes of higher education exist. Master’ s degrees are offered in a wide range of academic disciplines, including engineering, marketing, finance and public health, just to name a few. Nearly all programs are taught in Spanish.
Average tuition at Colombian universities is about $US 6,000 per year and can be as high as $US 14,000 per year. Most master’ s degree programs take two years to complete, but some can be completed in as little as one year.
Most institutions and programs use the semester system. There are two calendars, “ A” and “ B,” although A is the predominant calendar. The first semester for the A calendar begins in February and ends in June and the second semester begins in July and ends in November. The first semester of the B calendar runs from September through December and the second semester runs from January through June.
Colombian citizens will find a wide range of opportunities for employment or doctoral research studies once they complete their master's programs. However, post-graduate employment options for foreign nationals in Colombia are available only in some industries, such as the petroleum industry and other industries that are international in nature.
International students must be enrolled in a program of study that requires at least 10 hours per week and have a Temporary Student Visa (TE). The student may obtain this visa from the Colombian embassy or consulate in their home country. The Visa is granted for a maximum term of one year and may be renewed. To obtain the visa, the student must provide proof of admission to a legal education institution in Colombia, proof of financial solvency and proof that the program of study requires a minimum of 10 hours per week. The student must obtain the visa in person at the embassy or consulate and all documents submitted must be translated into Spanish if they are in another language.
The Colombian health care system is dominated by private insurance. Students should obtain insurance in their home country that is valid in Colombia. Even with insurance, many doctors and hospitals will still require an up-front cash payment, although some may accept credit cards.
Some Colombian cities are at very high elevations, in particular Bogota, which is at nearly 3,000 meters. Students studying in or traveling to high elevations should take precautions such as maintaining hydration and allowing the body to adjust gradually to the higher elevation.
Students not already proficient in Spanish may want to consider learning Spanish in Colombia before applying for master’ s degree programs.
Schools & Universities in Colombia
Masters in Colombia
MScs in Colombia
How A Colombian University is Preserving Indigenous Culture
As Western values continue to penetrate indigenous societies in Colombia, the country’s indigenous Misak people have taken an innovative mea...
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Careers & Advancement/
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The Materials Theory Award recognizes exceptional advances made by materials theory to the fundamental understanding of the structure and behavior of materials. This award is intended to honor both those who have pioneered the development of a new theoretical approach and those who have used existing approaches to provide significant new insight into materials behavior.
MRS acknowledges the generosity of Dr. Gwo-Ching Wang and Dr. Toh-Ming Lu in endowing the Materials Theory Award.
The nomination site is open March 1 – April 1.
The annual award consists of a $5,000 cash prize, a presentation trophy and a certificate. Meeting registration fee, transportation and hotel expenses to attend the MRS meeting at which the award is presented will be reimbursed.
Nominations for the Materials Theory Award will be accepted through April 1. Rules and eligibility, nomination package requirements and more are available here.
Materials Theory Award Recipients
Jean-Luc Bredas, The University of Arizona (2020)
“for seminal theoretical contributions to the design and understanding of novel molecules and materials in thefields of organic electronics and photonics"
Jean-Luc Brédas is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona. He received his BSc and PhD degrees from the University of Namur, Belgium. In 1988, he was appointed Professor at University of Mons, Belgium, where he established the Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials. He joined Arizona in 1999 before moving to Georgia Tech in 2003, where he became Regents’ Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and held the Vasser-Woolley and Georgia Research Alliance Chair in Molecular Design until 2019. Between 2014 and 2016, he joined KAUST as a Distnguished Professor. He returned to Georgia Tech in 2017 and moved back to Arizona in 2020. Jean-Luc Brédas is an elected Member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science, the Royal Academy of Belgium, and the European Academy of Sciences.
Lu Sham, University of California, San Diego (2019)
“for pioneering contributions to the quantum theory of molecules and solids, especially the Kohn–Sham formulation of density functional theory "
Lu Sham, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of California, San Diego, is a condensed matter theorist, working on many electron and phonon properties and quantum optical processes in semiconductor nanostructures and ferromagnets. An early practitioner of first-principle computations of lattice vibration spectra and the density functional theory, his recent interest is motivated by quantum information and spintronics. He enjoys collaboration with experimentalists. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and Academia Sinica, ROC, and a fellow of APS, Optical Society of America, and AAAS. He served as a chair of the Semiconductor Commission of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics and a member of the Council and of the Executive Board of the American Physical Society and of the Executive Committee of its Division of Condensed Matter Physics. He was born in Hong Kong and is a graduate of Puiching Middle School, Imperial College, London, and Cambridge.
Giulia Galli, The University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory (2018)
“For the development of advanced first-principles simulation methods and their application to the understanding, prediction and design of complex nanostructured materials "
Glenn H. Fredrickson, University of California, Santa Barbara (2017)
“For pioneering the development of field-theoretic computer simulation methods and their application to investigate and design self-assembling polymers and soft materials"
Gerbrand Ceder, University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2016)
“For seminal contributions to the emerging field of computationally guided materials exploiting high-throughput computation and promoting the development of open databases to enable widespread use."
Steven G. Louie, University of California, Berkeley (2015)
"For his seminal contributions to the development of ab initio methods for and the elucidation of many-electron effects in electronic excitations and optical properties of solids and nanostructures."
Long-Qing Chen, The Pennsylvania State University (2014)
"For his pioneering work in the development of phase-field method and its applications in the computational modeling of mesoscale structures and their dynamics in inhomogeneous materials."
David J. Srolovitz, University of Pennsylvania (2013)
"For decisive and highly influential contributions to the theory and simulation of microstructure, morphological evolution, mechanical behavior, and the structure and dynamics of interfaces."
John P. Perdew, Tulane University (2012)
"For his pioneering contributions to the fundamental development and nonempirical approximations in density functional theory."
Alex Zunger, University of Colorado, Boulder (2011)
"For his development of the inverse band structure approach to materials by design and the foundational developments of methods of first-principles theory of solids, leading to innovative and transformative studies of renewable-energy materials and nanostructures."
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U.S. Commerce Department Maintains Non-Market Economy Status For China
On Thursday, Oct. 26, The U.S. Commerce Department announced that it will maintain its designation of China a non-market economy (NME).
In its 200-page report on the matter, the department said, “[A]t its core, the framework of China’s economy is set by the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, which exercise control directly and indirectly over the allocation of resources through instruments such as government ownership and control of key economic actors and government directives.”
As part of the Manufacturers for Trade Enforcement coalition, the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) had fought for retention of NME for China. Click here to read the coalition’s statement, which was issued after the Commerce Department’s decision.
On Friday, Oct. 27, the day after the NME announcement, the department said that it had decided to impose preliminary anti-dumping duties on imports of aluminum foil from China. The duties, which were calculated based on the retained NME status, will range between 96.8 percent and 162.2 percent. As a result of the preliminary affirmative determinations, the Commerce Department will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to require cash deposits based on these preliminary rates.
The department is scheduled to release its final determination in this matter on February 23, 2018.
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Mt Lemmon AZ Images
Birding Hotspots
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Cassin's Vireo
Gambel's Quail
Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher
Williamson's Sapsucker
Parting Shots
Texas Coast Part IV: Big Thicket to High Island and Boy Scout Woods
Kentucky Warbler, Big Thicket
Happy Fall! It has been a busy summer, and the blog has been quiet, but now is the time for me to catch up by completing the last two posts for the Texas Coast followed by more on Mt Lemmon!
The first three Texas coast posts covered the Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island, a Reddish Egret dancing for his lunch on Galveston Bay, and the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Today we are going to the Big Thicket, then south back to High Island and Boy Scout woods. Part V (coming soon) will take us on the ferry from Bolivar Peninsula to Galveston, and then to Brazos Bend State Park.
Just north of Big Thicket National Preserve (BITH) is the Angelina National Forest where we spotted this Prairie Warbler on a branch. Prairie Warblers winter in coastal Central America, southern Florida, Cuba and the Caribbean, and breed in the eastern U.S. as far north as Massachusetts. Both winter and summer they favor regenerating forests and dunes and shrubby old fields.
[Ref: Birds of North America, Cornell Lab of Ornithology].
These images were captured early in the morning in very low light with overcast skies, at some distance, accounting for the soft quality.
Kentucky Warbler
South of the Angelina National Forest we entered the Big Thicket, and the Big Thicket National Preserve. The Big Thicket is a large area of very dense forest, considered one of the most biodiverse areas in the world outside of the tropics. The preserve was established in 1974 to protect the many plant and animal species within. The original area covered more than 2 million acres in east Texas.
The map below shows the boundaries as defined by the Spanish settlers before the Texas Revolution (1835). The area has a rich and colorful history. Its dense and almost impenetrable center became the preferred place "to disappear" beginning with confederate deserters during the Civil War. Before deforestation, it was said to be so dense that sections could only be accessed by crawling in on hands and knees. It was said that "if a snake crawls in, it has to back out."
Historical limits of the Big Thicket prior to the Texas Revolution in 1835. Ref: Wikipedia.
This Kentucky Warbler was spotted at some distance from the trail, above the understory and in good light.
Kentucky Warblers are ground-nesting birds, generally staying low in the understory, heard more often than seen. However, this is spring, when males take to the heights and sing motionless for 5-15 minute sets. They winter in Central America, breeding in the eastern U.S. This bird is likely in migration, heading to Missouri or Illinois. [Ref: Birds of North America, Cornell Lab of Ornithology]
The Yellow-breasted Chat winters in Central America and coastal Mexico, migrating north to breed from California to the eastern seaboard.
This chat favors low, dense vegetation without a closed tree canopy, including shrubby habitat along streams, swamps, and ponds. Richard Taylor's field guide Birds of Southeastern Arizona lists the Yellow-breasted Chat as a summer resident in SE Arizona below 5000 feet. It prefers dense brushy areas, which combined with its secretive nature, make it hard to spot. Here we see what is likely a male singing his heart out on a pine branch.
The Yellow-breasted Chat was previously placed in the family Parulidae, but in 2017, was elevated to its own family, Icteriidae (Chesser et al. 2017). [Ref: Birds of North America, Cornell Lab of Ornithology]
For the photo geeks out there, again, early morning, low light, milky sky.
Whooping Cranes!
OMG, a pair of Whooping Cranes! On the way to High Island, our guide Bob Behrstock followed up on a report of two Whooping Cranes in a nearby agricultural field. Here they are, likely a male and a female, with radio transmitters on their legs, one transmitter on the right (maybe the male) and one on on the left.
The Whooping Crane has become a symbol of national and international efforts to recover endangered species, returning from the brink of extinction, but remaining at risk. In 1941, the species reached a low of 15 or 16 migratory individuals wintering in Texas and 6 non-migratory birds in Louisiana. Even with intense management efforts, the Whooping Crane remains one of the rarest birds in North America, and on the Endangered Species list. It remains ecologically dependent on inland freshwater wetlands and, in winter, on coastal brackish wetlands.
These birds may be part of a year round population that lives in Louisiana who decided to forage a bit west of home, or they may be on their way back to their breeding ground in Canada from wintering ground further south on the Texas coast.
Both birds have radio transmitters on their legs, detail below.
Whooping Cranes are in the same family as Sandhill Cranes, who are regular winter residents of SE Arizona and New Mexico. See my posts from White Water Draw and Bosque del Apache.
Reference: Birds of North America, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
On the way to High Island, just south of Winnie, we spotted a Blue Grosbeak, a large bunting often seen singing from roadside wires and tree tops. The Blue Grosbeak is in the family Cardinalidae along with other Grosbeaks, Tanager’s, the Northern Cardinal, the Pyrrhuloxia, other buntings and the Dickcissel. It feeds on insects, especially grasshoppers and crickets, as well as the seeds of wild and cultivated grains. They nest in shrubs or tangles of vines along the forest edge or roadside.
This bird is likely in migration to the southern U.S. from wintering grounds in southern Mexico and Central America, making the trek across the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
Arriving on High Island we spot an Indigo Bunting sitting on a wire by the side of the road. The Indigo Bunting is another member of the Cardinalidae family. This small bunting winters in Mexico and Central America, flying north to breed in the U.S., east of the great plains. This bird is likely in transit.
Indigo Buntings live in shrubby areas and weedy fields. They eat seeds, berries and insects, and in migration, mainly seeds of grasses, as we can see in these images. Note that this male has grabbed the top of the grass with the seeds, along with the wire. Looks like corn on the cob.
At High Island we found a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, another member of the Cardinalidae family, hopping in and around a mulberry tree, feasting on the fruit. They winter in Central and South America, and migrate long distances north to breed in the eastern and mid-United States and into Canada. This is definitely a migrant, stocking up on food after the long flight across the gulf.
Chuck-wills-widow
Hiding out napping in a secluded spot in a tree, we found a Chuck-will's-widow, saving up his energy for an active evening of hunting insects. They hunt at dawn and dusk, flying low to the ground and catching insects, and an occasional bird. They will forage later into the evening under the light of a full moon. Their name comes from the continuous, repetitive song often heard at night. These birds live in the southeast U.S. wintering in Florida, Cuba, and Central America.
Chuck-will's-widow is in the family of Nightjars and Allies, along with the Common Nighthawk (see last entry below), other Nighthawks and Nightjars, and the Eastern and Mexican Whip-poor-will. The family is in the Order Caprimulgiformes along with the Swift Family, and all the hummingbirds.
There are big gaps in our knowledge of this species, especially about habitat and breeding success. Sounds like an opportunity for a graduate student who likes working at night!
I have to admit that to my eye these birds look like hamsters with wings! They are the biggest Nightjar in North America.
My last offering from High Island, a Common Nighthawk perched on a wire. The Common Nighthawk winters in South America and breeds throughout the U.S. and Canada, giving this species one of the longest migration routes of any North American bird. This bird could be in migration or may be getting ready to nest.
Common Nighthawks are often observed on the wing at dusk or dawn grabbing insects in both urban and rural areas. They nest on open ground, gravel beaches, rocky outcrops, and burned-over woodlands, as well as flat gravel roofs, especially in cities.
That's it for Part IV. Part V coming soon!
Henry Johnson, photographer and author of this site. For more detail, see About
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SEMCO Energy Gas Company’s Program Year 2022 – 2023 Energy Waste Reduction Portfolio, Residential & Commercial Energy Waste Reduction Implementation Contractor(s) RFP
SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company, headquartered in Port Huron, Michigan, is a regulated public utility that delivers natural gas to approximately 300,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in service territories in the southern half of the state's Lower Peninsula (including in and around the cities of Albion, Battle Creek, Holland, Niles, Port Huron, and Three Rivers) and in the central, eastern, and western parts of the state's Upper Peninsula.
SEMCO is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify and select a qualified firm(s) (CONTRACTOR or Bidder) to implement COMPANY’s portfolio of Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) programs. Qualified firms are organizations that can cost-effectively implement COMPANY’s current list of EWR programs for the purposes of meeting COMPANY’s EWR Plan objectives as determined through a forthcoming case filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC or Commission). Learn more>
View the SEMCO Energy Program Measure Workbook.
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HomeComputeNvidia Plus Mellanox: Talking Datacenter Architecture With Jensen Huang
Nvidia Plus Mellanox: Talking Datacenter Architecture With Jensen Huang
April 27, 2020 Timothy Prickett Morgan Compute, Connect 0
The deal for Nvidia to acquire Mellanox, which was announced last March for $6.9 billion, has finally passed muster with all of the regulatory bodies of the world and closed today. The combination of the two companies presents many possibilities, some of which we have explored here and there in The Next Platform for the past year.
We all have ideas, but the ones that matter the most are the ones that have been conceived of and mulled over by Nvidia co-founder and chief executive officer, Jensen Huang. It was a busy day for Huang, to be sure, but he took some time to have a chat with us about how Nvidia and Mellanox would be helping to create the system architecture of the future. It was a long conversation between two people who think in paragraphs and who love systems, so get some coffee.
Timothy Prickett Morgan: I have been dying to have this conversation with you since March last year. It was it was pretty clear in 2018 that someone was going to buy Mellanox. It could have been AMD, Intel, or IBM. I’m personally glad that it was Nvidia. I think that networking businesses have historically had difficulty when they got merged into Intel – that’s the polite way of saying it – but it looks like it may be different with Barefoot Networks. I made a case a long time ago that what IBM should do is put the OpenPower Consortium into a company and glue it all together to make a real strong single competitor to counterbalance Intel in the market. That obviously didn’t happen.
But what I’m trying to figure out now is this: You have got Mellanox, and you got it for what I think is a very good price. It has turned out to be a much stronger company than we have ever seen it be, which is interesting in its own right. And there’s all kinds of really good technology that you can deploy. So what is it that makes Mellanox a really good fit for Nvidia?
Jensen Huang: The first thing that we know is that that Amdahl’s Law is obeyed. And one of the things that we do, as you know, is accelerate computing. So we take a problem and we refactor it from software to system to chips to interconnects. And as a result, we speed up the application by orders of magnitude. It was almost illogical when we first started doing it, that somehow there is enough performance left on the table that that a company could speed up the application by a couple of orders of magnitude sometimes, and in some cases we were delivering a 10X, 20X, 30X speed up, taking something that would have taken weeks to run and reducing it down to hours.
It took a decade and a half for people to realize that this model of computing makes a tremendous amount of sense for problems that are difficult to solve and will remain difficult to solve for a long time. And so we created accelerated computing and it has taken a long time, but it’s past the tipping point.
Now, when you take a large scale problem that spans the whole datacenter – it doesn’t fit in any single computer – and you accelerate the computation part of it by several orders of magnitude, then the problem is going to become everything else. And then everything else we started to solve, piece by piece by piece. But the one piece that you will never be able to solve is connecting multiple computers together. Because we will always have problems that are larger than one computer – hopefully. And when a problem is greater than one computer, then the network becomes the problem, and it is needs to be very fast. And so that’s the reason why our relationship with Mellanox goes back a decade and we’ve been working with them for quite a long time.
The networking problem is much, much more complex than just having faster and faster networking. And the reason for that is because of the amount of data that you are transmitting, synchronizing, collecting, and reducing across this distributed datacenter-scale computer and the computation on the fabric itself is complicated.
TPM: When you say that, do you mean you mean the computation you are embedding in the switches or are you saying that you are also assuming SmartNICs? And I want to talk about that in a second, because, to my mind, the SmartNICs and the ideas that Mellanox has developed are probably more important right now than how much bandwidth can we get next year. Getting things off of the CPU that don’t belong there, or the GPU for that matter, is key to driving computational efficiency for the whole system.
Jensen Huang: That’s right. So, for example, you never want to copy the same data twice. Ideally, you never move the data at all. And if you wanted to move the data, ideally you compressed it, you somehow reduced it, before you moved it. And so the shuffling of information, the intelligence about what information to shuffle, when do you shuffle it and in what format do you shuffle it, and what computation did you do in advance before you moved it – all of that is computation on the network. And we do some of it. We did some of it, which called NCCL, which is the breakthrough that made it possible for us to do our RDMA directly into GPU memory and to do collectives and reductions on the network using our GPUs. They do the same on the network switch side.
And so the point being that when you move data, it’s not just simply brute force moving a ton of data because it’s just too much data. And when you’re moving that much data around a large computer, you want to be smart about it. So the idea of calling it a SmartNIC is great because you could pre-process the data, you could compress the data, or you could avoid doing it altogether.
Putting intelligence in the network computation – and processing in the network – is vitally important to performance. And it’s not just about data rate. Exactly. Because data rate can only get you so far, and it only moves as fast as Moore’s Law – if that. You want to cheat the laws of physics, you don’t want to confront them.
TPM: I guess my point was that it was just as important for a SmartNIC to do some GPU offload work. I can make a case for why you are sacrificing a third of your cores when you buy an X86 processor if you keep all these network functions on there. There must be some work that the GPU is doing itself that’s somehow related to the network or you could do a much cheaper version of pre-processing on a SmartNIC and lighten up the load on the GPU and get more work done through it. I don’t know if that’s logically true or not – that’s one of the things I’m trying to get my brain wrapped around.
Jensen Huang: It’s not super logical to do that part of it. But everything else that you said is spot on. I mean, the thing is, we don’t want to run the network software on the CPU – it makes no sense. A lot of the data movement is done on the CPU. It makes no sense. You have to offload that to a data processing unit, or DPU, which is what a SmartNIC is. A lot of datacenters today have every single packet that is transmitted secured because you want to reduce the attack surface of the datacenter until it’s basically every single transaction. There’s no way you going to do that on the CPU. So you have to move the networking stack off. You want to move the security stack off and you want to move the data processing and data movement stack off. And this is something that you want to do right at the NIC before it even comes into the computer and at the NIC before it leaves the computer.
TPM: There are cases that Mellanox is demonstrating with storage, for instance, where you don’t need to host processor as we know it. And it is very streamlined. They use the “Bluefield” Arm chip in the NIC, and you put Ceph or whatever on it, you cluster them together, you have NVM-Express over Fabrics, and bam, you have a distributed storage system and there’s no host as we know it. There is no X86 processor. And I can imagine a world where you could do disaggregated and then composable GPU blocks of compute with these kinds of Bluefield hosts doing some of the housekeeping work for them. The GPUs might need a host, but you don’t need a full blown server necessarily.
Jensen Huang: The onion, celery, and carrots – you know, the holy trinity of computing soup – is the CPU, the GPU, and the DPU. These three processors are fundamental to computing. And if you had if you had a world-class processor in each one, you’re going to have a really great computer. And what you want to do is do the right job on the right processor. There’s a place for CPUs. In fact, there are three types of processors that are necessary. The first is the CPU. The CPU is a is a catch all for everything that doesn’t fit somewhere else. And it’s good to have. If I had to bet my life on it, I always, always want to have a CPU around. And the reason for that is because I’ll think of an idea that needs CPUs and it’s always there for you. However, once you figure out what algorithm you want to run, once you figure out what data formats are and how you want to transmit data, the best way to do it is in the other two processors.
In the case of Mellanox, of course, things are moving around between computers, are moving around between storage – the bits and bytes that go across the network should be secured with deep packet inspection and such, and all of that processing should be done in the SmartNIC, what will eventually become a DPU. A DPU is going to be programable, it’s going to do all of that processing that you and I have already talked about, and it’s going to offload the movement of data into the granular processing of the data as it’s being transmitted and keep it from ever bothering the CPUs and GPUs and avoid redundant copies of data. That’s the architecture of the future. And that’s the reason why we’re so excited about Mellanox.
And the combination of Mellanox and Nvidia makes the most sense because we drive computing to the limits more than anybody else and we expose the weaknesses of all of the other elements of the computer more severely and more quickly than anybody else. And if we can solve issues, we solve them for everybody.
TPM: Yeah, I get it. I have rarely seen a server, like the DGX-2, that has eight 100 Gb/sec NIC cards in it. And soon you will be able to double that up to 200 Gb/sec and not too long from now double it again to 400 Gb/sec.
Jensen Huang: And even with that, the number of algorithms that are used to reduce the memory copies, to compress the memory, to do pre-processing on it before any transmission is done, is extreme.
The amount of software that is done on top of that, we call we call that entire layer Magnum I/O. And Magnum I/O includes NCCL, it includes RDMA on our GPUs, RDMA on the NICs – on the GPU side we call NCCL and on the switch side they call it UCX and all of that software to to make efficient copy and efficient transmission and copying of data is really complex stuff, stuff and it’s inside the layer we call Magnum I/O. So just the amount of software above the silicon is really quite complex. This was one of the reasons why it makes perfect sense for us to be together.
I think the first strategic reason the strategic reason, of course, is that we’ve now combined the forces of two companies that focus intensely on high performance computing. We work on two of the largest problems. One of the one of which is computation, the other is networking. So if these two problems could be worked on in harmony, we could advance computing significantly.
The second reason – and you mentioned the idea of disaggregation and composition earlier – is a trend is moving very fast.
You know well that the most powerful computer revolution in the past two decades was cloud computing. And what made it possible was, was the simplistic scaling using hyperconverged servers, where everything is fit into one. You want more storage, buy another server. If you want more CPU or memory, buy another server. That was easy to manage, it was easy to program, it was easy to scale out. And that started the cloud computing revolution. The thing that happened in the last ten years and that is particularly accelerating now is the emergence of artificial intelligence and the explosive growth of data. And the hyperconverged way of scaling became very inefficient and so we came to this idea of disaggregation and composability.
Disaggregation was really a concept that would not have been practical if not for the work that Mellanox did with RDMA and with the storage vendors. That logic of disaggregation and composability applied perfectly to GPUs. So when the cloud datacenters started to move towards AI, they needed to have servers that were good at accelerating AI and CPUs weren’t well suited for that. And instead of installing GPUs into every server and waiting until the datacenter was upgraded with new hyperconverged infrastructure with GPUs in the machines, they could they could disaggregate the GPU and put GPU servers anywhere, and also put the storage servers are anywhere, and they could they could orchestrate the whole thing using Kubernetes.
And so in this new world of microservices and containers, we were now composing your datacenter out of disaggregated computing elements in the shape and size of the form that makes perfect sense for the workload. And when you think about this, it is that fabric that made it possible to do this. And that’s why Mellanox has knocked it out of the park. They enabled disaggregation and because of that, East-West traffic became intensely high. But the datacenter became much easier to compose, and the utilization goes up and the throughput goes up because now you can put accelerators like GPUs anywhere you like. And so it all came together into this new style of datacenters that is disaggregated, composable, and accelerated.
TPM: I think they just don’t want the stranded capacity anywhere. That is what I object to. And also that you never get to tune the CPU capacity to the GPU capacity to the FPGA capacity – to whatever you need in the mix for the workflow that matches the application as it runs across this datacenter. And this should be able to change on the fly, and we are really not there yet. They do a pretty good job of disaggregation. I would say the hyperscalers composability is not something for mere mortals to play around with. I don’t think they’re good at it yet. Otherwise, we would all be able to make an instance type out of whatever components we wanted on a public cloud– and we can’t. That’s why there are instance types.
Jensen Huang: There are some parts that are that are still missing, and I am anxious to show you some technology that we’re building that makes it possible to make it easier to compose. But I will say this: The pieces are coming together. I think that that that the fundamental capability of Kubernetes to compose a disaggregated datacenter exists. The networks are being upgraded. That’s one of the reasons why Mellanox is doing so well – people are upgrading to 25 Gb/sec as fast as they can. It took them a long time to move beyond 10 Gb/sec. But people are moving superfast now, and the reason for that is because of these composed, orchestrated microservices and containerized applications, which really chew up a lot of East-West traffic. And once you upgrade the switch and upgrade the NICs, the throughput per datacenter really, really goes up. And the added benefit is that if your East-West traffic was this high, then you could reach out to a GPU server that’s sitting anywhere in the datacenter and bring that into your composition. Once you bring that into your composition, then your deep learning performance just goes through the roof.
So two things have to happen. We have to upgrade datacenters much more quickly to allow for a lot more East-West traffic, which then puts all of the Nvidia accelerators anywhere datacenter available to all workloads. And Nvida has to make these AI accelerators much, much better at morphing between training and inference, scale up and scale out. They just have to be a lot more fungible. If they are a lot more fungible, than any workload can use them. Today our Volta GPUs are really designed for scale up training and our Turing GPUs are designed for scale out inference. They are fine in the beginning of the AI revolution. But if you want your datacenter to be completely programable, then the processors there – including the GPUs – really want to be a lot more flexible.
TPM: How do you how do you do that? How do you reconcile that with NVSwitch under the skins to make a memory atomic addressable interconnect – what is essentially a NUMA GPU server, I mean, it’s a shared memory, shared compute, you address it as one unit. Can you can you stretch that out over an InfiniBand or Ethernet fabric to give that atomics? Will you ever be able to do that? Or is that just stupid on the face of it because of latency and other issues? In other words, will you always need something like an NVSwitch to scale up GPU compute and then you need something like InfiniBand or Ethernet to scale it out, or will you need both? Your own Saturn-V supercomputer does both, but “Summit” and “Sierra” do not because NVSwitch was not available at the time the bids were going into the US Department of Energy.
Jensen Huang: That’s the challenge. A scale up computer is architected in such a way that it’s inefficient for scale out.
TPM: But it is easier to program, so you get some benefit from that.
Jensen Huang: We want to find a solution. And, of course, a solution will never be simultaneous. You don’t have a virtualized system that is simultaneously scale up as well as scale out.
TPM: I have never seen one in all these years. I have seen people claim it, but there is always that little asterisk at the bottom – oh, wait, this is only good for a messaging applications, do not run a database and SAP applications on this. Software-based NUMA, for instance, has had a lot of limitations – usually. I feel the same kinds of issues apply to what we are talking about here.
Jensen Huang: If we constrain the problem some, and we don’t think of it as multi-tenant but think of it as a configurable computer, it’s probably possible to create something.
I do think that it’s a solvable problem. Mellanox, as with all great companies and their products, is not universal in everything, but it is useful in things that it promises to do. And I think the combination of Mellanox and Kubernetes and the trend towards disaggregation, we might be able to, in combination, come up with a new style of datacenters that could be good in today’s world but help take us into a much more composable datacenter in tomorrow’s world.
TPM: I need to ask you a housekeeping question. How do you run this thing? I mean, you’ve got partnerships with a lot of your competitors. It’s the nature of the business. Mellanox has partnerships with a lot of your competitors as well. Know you don’t sell compute without networking. Do you run this at arm’s length? Or do you just merge it into your datacenter group? IBM took a hands-off attitude so far with Red Hat, and I think it’s working for them. But I don’t think it’s necessary in this case, either. What are your thoughts about how to integrate Mellanox?
Jensen Huang: It’s going to be a business unit, and Mellanox will be our networking brand and Israel will be our networking center. We are going to use Mellanox technology in cloud gaming, in high-performance computing, in hyperscale, at the edge, in robotics, in self-driving cars. Remember, with data processing, high speed data is essential to everything and anything related to high performance computing and AI. They have such a deep expertise in networking, storage, and security. My excitement is in using Mellanox across the board.
With respect to working with the industry, we’re going to continue to be open. We work really closely with Intel, for instance, building laptops. If you look at our Max Q laptop, it’s so thin, but it’s a game console in a thin little laptop. And to put an RTX 2080 in it is a bit of a technical miracle. And we work very closely with AMD. The relationships at the management level and the engineering level is much more collaborative than people think. We give them are our earliest samples. We get their get their earliest samples. We all very good at keeping confidentiality. We have teams that work with Intel, we have teams that work with AMD, and we have teams that work with other companies. And so we are going to keep that going. The industry is not conquered by one, it’s advanced by all. Interoperability is important in building computers, and that’s our sensibility.
TPM: I have one last question and then I will let you go – and it goes against the spirit of what you just said. Sort of. But I have to ask, because I’m always curious. You have GPU computing, and you basically own that market. Yes, you have some competitors coming online from AMD with Radeon Instincts getting better, and who knows what Intel Xe is going to be but it is coming and we will see. You could lay down a matrix math unit, not a GPU, any day you wanted to out of Tensor Cores and have something that looks and smells like a TPU or some of these other neural network engines. You have got the networking now. I have wanted you to have server CPUs for a long time, and I was excited by Project Denver way back when.
Now, I know you don’t need it. You don’t have to do it. But it sure would be interesting if you did it. So do you think there’s a place for an Nvidia server CPU? You already do Tegra Arm chips for your client devices, so you could do an Arm server processor. You could get on the Arm Neoverse roadmap easily. You have got a tight relationship with TSMC. You could really do it all if you wanted to and still be open to all the other things. It doesn’t change anything. But the question is, can you get market share? Does it make money? Can you do a better job than the people that are already in there? I can see you doing RISC-V even. I could see you being the first credible RISC-V server chip vendor if you wanted it.
So what do you what do you think about that when you think about the CPU?
Jensen Huang: That’s a great question. And there are all kinds of ways to dissect that. But I think about it, really, in one single lens, as I think about almost everything. And here is the question: What unique contribution can we bring? I always start there.
You know, I have got no trouble working with other people’s technologies so long as in doing so, we could make that unique contribution that moves the world forward. And it’s something that the people on the conference call from Nvidia hears me say all the time: We have got to not squander our incredible time and resource and expertise, and not do something that somebody else already has, with the singular purpose of taking share. Taking share is not nearly as constructive to the world as creating something that’s new. And I prefer not to squander our resources if possible.
If we are locked in a situation where the only way to advance our state of the art is to become a world-class memory designer – and it turns out than Nvidia is a world-class as SRAM designer – we will do it, for instance. And the reason for that is because – and people don’t know that this – a GPU has a ton more cache and bandwidth distributed across the GPU than any processor, ever. And so we had to learn that in order to create something new. And I have got no problem or trouble doing that. But on the balance, I have got to ask myself: What are the new things we can do?
Now in the case of Mellanox, it allows us to create something that the world doesn’t have. And you and I spent a lot of time talking about it already. This is the giant new architecture. The really exciting thing right now is not to build yet another server. The exciting thing for the world is the server is not the computing unit anymore. The datacenter is the computing unit. You are going to program a datacenter, not a server.
TPM: Well, here’s where I would push back, and if I asked you to do a CPU for me, personally, I would say that we need a processor that does not have memory and I/O so tightly defined by it. This is the secret. And I recently told Renee James, the chief executive officer at Ampere Computing, the same thing. Stop putting PCI-Express controllers and Ethernet controllers and memory controllers on the die and start putting on more generic, fast SerDes like IBM is doing in part with its Power chips. IBM is right. It can be done. Once we have these SerDes, they can be the network interface, they can be a NUMA link or part of an extended fabric. Now we can dial up and down how much memory and I/O we need within the server or across servers – make this composable, too. The problem is that we have this old way of making CPUs. It needs to be broken. I want the CPU broken from the memory, literally. I want disaggregated main memory and disaggregated I/O, not just flash pools and GPU pools. I think we’re stuck, and this is what makes infrastructure not composable.
Jensen Huang: I think your dream will come true, OK? It’s a great dream and it’s the right dream. And it’s not an easy dream to achieve. It turns out that building a new CPU might not be the answer to doing that. And in fact, you and I already kind of circled around it. One of the most important things to disaggregate out of the server node and its CPU is the data processing. That is a giant when the amount of unnecessary CPU cores running unnecessary software in the datacenter. I don’t know how much – it’s maybe 30 percent to 50 percent.
TPM: I think you’re right. Well, it’s probably 30 percent of computing cycles should be offloaded from the CPU and there is probably another 20 percent that never gets done because the clock cycles are just spinning waiting for data.
Jensen Huang: It is soaked up doing things that can be done nearly infinitely fast on a DPU on a SmartNIC. My attitude is not to think about the server as a computer, but to think of a CPU server, a GPU server, a storage server, and a programable switch as computing elements that are inside the computer, and the computer unit is now the datacenter. And in that world, networking is all important. And in that world, knowing how to build a computer end-to-end and recognizing the importance of the software stack, which is so complicated from top to bottom, is where we are focused. And I think that in new world where the datacenter is the computer is really quite exciting and I think we have we have the essential pieces.
TPM: I think we can both retire when it’s done. [Laughter]
Jensen Huang: Then, you know, we will go build something else.
TPM: True, I’m not going to stop working – that stupid’s, that’s what kills you.T
Jensen Huang: But that’s the sea change that we’re seeing right now. And we’re on the cusp of it. The people who run these datacenters are smart, and they recognize the incredible underutilization of the datacenter today. I really do think that when you when you offload the data processing on the SmartNIC, when you’re able to disaggregate the converged server, when you can put accelerators anywhere in datacenter and then can compose and reconfigure that datacenter for this specific workload – that’s a revolution.
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That is not a typo in the title. We did not mean to say GPU in title above, or even make a joke that in […]
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NHAC father-and-son owners Sam Hackler and Jason Hackler.
20,000 square feet, 2,000 consignors and 200 dealers, all under one roof.
A view of The Gallery at NHAC, featuring fine art & period furniture.
New Hampshire Antique Co-op is New England's best spot to go antiquing. In fact, Yankee Magazine named NHAC #1 for Antiques & Collectibles. Here you'll find authentic affordable antiques, quality smalls, vintage home decor, collectibles and so much more. There's something to be found for everyone, in all price ranges. With 200 dealers, fresh inventory arrives daily. It's never the same old thing at New Hampshire Antique Co-op.
The shop was founded in 1983 by the Hackler family. As one of the first group shops to appear in New England, NHAC is known for its breadth of expertise, diversity of product and commitment to excellence. Located in Milford, NH, the shop has grown to nearly 20,000 square feet over the decades.
More than 200 dealers from greater New England and beyond exhibit in the shop. Each dealer shares a common passion for the old: whether it be period Federal furniture, ancient Chinese art, sterling silver, Viennese bronze, etc., all areas of interest are covered.
Go antiquing down New Hampshire Antique Co-op's Main Street and Small Treasures Hall. Explore Market Square's dealer offerings and hunt for bargains in the Discovery Barn. View 19th and 20th century fine art in Tower and Upstairs Galleries. Then recharge with a cup of coffee in The Plaza.
New Hampshire Antique Co-op has 20,000 square feet of constantly changing merchandise. Since New Hampshire Antique Co-op is a family-operated business, you will typically find one of the Hacklers present to answer questions about a particular style, area of origin or condition of an object.
Go antiquing! Click here for directions.
VISIT NHAC
NHAC STAFF
Family owned & operated since 1983.
Open Wednesday - Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Located in Milford, NH, just one hour from Boston in Southern NH
Expert appraisal, consignment, restoration & estate sale services offered.
Always interested in purchasing single objects, collections or entire estates.
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News Music News
The National’s Aaron Dessner on Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’: “We both felt that this was some of the best work we have done”
"It does feel like an ongoing collaboration. Now Taylor is starting to help with other things."
By Patrick Clarke
Aaron Dessner and Taylor Swift CREDIT: Getty
Aaron Dessner of The National has given an interview detailing his work with Taylor Swift on her surprise new album ‘folklore’.
READ MORE: Taylor Swift’s new album ‘Folklore’: all the hidden meanings and Easter eggs
Producer and multi-instrumentalist Dessner worked on 11 of the album’s 16 tracks, which he said were recorded entirely secretly and remotely during lockdown.
Speaking to Pitchfork, Dessner said that he first met Swift on the set of Saturday Night Live in 2014, and that Swift had come to see The National perform last year.
“She talked a lot with my brother and me. That’s when we realized how much of a fan she was, and how lovely and down to earth,” he recalled. “I don’t know that many people who have that sort of success, so it’s a nice feeling to realize they’re cool. That left a good impression.”
Swift then texted him in April this year, asking if he wanted to collaborate. “I said, ‘Wow. Of course.’ he continued. “We were pretty much in touch daily for three or four months by text and phone calls. Some of it was about production and restructuring things but a lot of it was just excitement. We both felt that this was some of the best work we have done.”
Elsewhere Dessner discussed how they enlisted his Big Red Machine collaborator Bon Iver for a guest feature, and the pressure he felt working on such a high-profile release.
He also revealed that he and Swift may well work together again. “It does feel like an ongoing collaboration. Now Taylor is starting to help with other things. We’re bouncing other ideas off each other, whether it’s Big Red Machine or other things. There’s a community aspect. I think that’s how music should be.”
‘folklore’ was released unexpectedly today (June 24) to widespread acclaim. In a four-star review, NME described it as “an extraordinary indie-folk makeover” that “might just feature Taylor’s best song ever”
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Asia’s 5 Best Cities for Culture
June 3, 2019 May 30, 2012 by Money Beagle
There are hundreds of cities to consider for a trip to Asia. However, there are a few that stand out among the rest as excellent places to get a full dose of culture.
Shanghai is a huge metropolis that has everything China has to offer and more. If your time is limited, but you want to get the best experience of Chinese culture, then Shanghai is surely the way to do it. Book into a Shanghai hostel to save money as there is plenty to do and see. Perhaps you’re after the hustle and bustle of everyday life, then get down to the markets, where the smell of deep-fried soy is unmistakable. As for architecture, you’ll find old buildings like the Jing’an Temple nestled among shining modern towers, and Western-style buildings speak to its eclectic influences. The city is old, and it has held its cultural and political importance since the 1930s. It is the place to get to know China.
Image: Jing’an Temple. Credit: by kanegen
Go across the Sea of Japan to spend some time in the planet’s largest city, Tokyo. The Japanese capital is also its cultural and architectural flagship. All the sushi you can hope for, while staying in capsule hotels, is waiting for you. There’s the Imperial Palace Gardens to enjoy, along with dozens of other cultural sites, including several Shinto shrines. The skyline is beautiful, and finding top points for taking some amazing pictures is a worthwhile activity. Nearby nature sites and parks are plentiful, and distant snow-capped mountains make for a soothing backdrop to an energetic city.
Image: Sushi. Credit: by Francisco Antunes
In Southeast Asia travelers have the opportunity to visit Singapore, a small and country that offers a stark contrast to its neighbors. The city’s main attraction is its level-headed diversity, from Malay to Chinese and Tamil. Different districts will surprise you, especially when you find a mosque beside a temple. It is also a wonderful place to experiment in diverse cuisines. One night you might be enjoying chili crab, and the next you’ll be delving into the tastiness of Laksa or satay. Culturally, Singapore is set apart with so much diversity and travellers will find the city packed with contemporary and stylish hostels to choose from
Image: Singapore. Credit: by jjcb.
Nearby Kuala Lumpur presents an entirely different cultural exhibition. It shares some traits with its neighbor, such as the apt combination of shiny high rises and shack-like market streets. Kuala Lumpur is remarkable also for its newness, as only 150 years previous it was no more than a village. The real delight is in wandering aimlessly and observing the daily goings-on of a new capital. The best cultural experience to be had is gastronomic. Head to the Golden Triangle to find restaurants, or otherwise hang out beside the street Mamuk stalls—the pickings are incredible.
Image: Street food. Credit: by j.o.h.n. walker
Finally, a list of Asia’s best cultural cities would not be complete without mention of Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. Although it shares the attributes of other grand metropolises, it boasts some of the greatest architectural and cultural diversity in the region. You’ll find palaces mixed with modern structures, prime among them the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. You’ll also find plenty of museums and cultural centers throughout the city. One of the most attractive things about Bangkok is its canals, and a boat ride through them is a sure way to get that feeling of immersion.
Image: Grand Palace. Credit: by MadeByMark
There are so many more Asian cities to visit, but keep in mind that these listed here are among the best, and are well-serviced by buses or trains to surrounding villages and towns.
Categories Guest Post, TravelTags asia, cities, culture Post navigation
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3 thoughts on “Asia’s 5 Best Cities for Culture”
I agree with it. Being an Indian I would like to see a city of India appearing here but only after they come on merit. These cities are much more deserving.
Thanks for the comment. Hopefully one day we can all visit all these and your favorite places for ourselves and debate which is the best 🙂
The places that you mentioned are good but you did not mentioned India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan have a unique culture and are remarkable in Asia.
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Review: Omission (Alumnae Theatre)
January 21, 2018 Sam Mooney
Alumnae Theatre in Toronto celebrates 100 years of female-run theatre with Omission
Friday wasn’t exactly 100 years since Alumnae Theatre presented their first play in Toronto; it was 99 years and 25 days. Close enough. Alumnae is the longest running female-run theatre company in North America — definitely cause for a celebration. And celebrate they did with balloons, cupcakes, and a special cocktail before the world premier of Omission by Alice Abracen.
I love theatre that entertains me and makes me think without ever feeling like I’m being beaten over the head. It can be difficult to raise moral questions and teach lessons about morality without becoming didactic. Abracen does it with ease; she’s a playwright to watch. The play is wonderful — compelling plot, interesting characters, and great character development. I love that her dialogue includes the little throwaway lines and quips that are part of everyday conversation. Anne Harper directs an impressive cast with ease.
Omission is a play about atonement and forgiveness. It’s set in an unnamed South American country just before the Papal Conclave. Thirty years earlier it was ruled by a right-wing dictator. People, including Catholic clergy, were branded Communists, taken by the military, and never seen again.
The characters are all complex and multi-faceted and the roles are challenging. The actors all rise to the challenge.
Thomas O’Neill gives a stellar performance as Cardinal Matias Iglesias, one of the Cardinals in the running to become Pope. He’s completely convincing as a man who believes that his lack of action 30 years prior cost two of his friends their lives and he’s spent the intervening years trying to atone for his behaviour. He believes that he can make positives changes in the world as Pope.
Part of the time he’s talking with a young Canadian journalist, Megan Gutierrez (Gillain Reed) in the present and he’s a charming, strong man who believes he has done the right things with his life. The other parts of the play are flashbacks to 30 years earlier and we see a more authoritarian priest who believes that he is protecting ‘his’ people by keeping a low profile and covering his ass. O’Neill deftly switches between the two.
Reed’s Gutierrez begins as a polite young woman, a bit defensive, progressives to show her determination to expose the Cardinal’s part in the death of his friends, starts to believe what really happened but remains unwilling to forgive him, and ends up absolving him of responsibility. She makes all the transitions smoothly so that she’s always the same person, but experiencing different emotions.
One of the two friends is Father Gabriel Mejia played by Evan Walsh. He’s just as convincing early in the play as a young, uncertain priest as he is by the end of the play when he has become actively engaged against the government. It’s like watching someone mature and grow in real life but in a really compressed time frame.
Andrea Irwin brings so much energy to the role of Laura Ballan-Kohn, the Cardinal’s second friend, a political science professor. She’s smart, funny and completely devoted to the cause. Underneath the bravado there’s a sadness and fear that’s almost tangible. Who knows if she and O’Neill like, or even know each other in real life. On the stage, their friendship seems real.
There’s a third friend, the one who causes the disappearances of the other two. Lawrence Aronovitch, as General Angelo Flores, is terrific as a man torn between needing to prove to the other generals that he could get the job done and needing absolution from Iglesias, his childhood friend. You could feel his inner conflict and vulnerability.
I also like the way that Margaret Spence’s costumes for the females reinforces the characters. Gutierrez is very much the female journalist circa 2010-ish in casual pants, a long sleeve shirt, black denim vest, and a backpack. Ballan-Kohn is early 80’s professional woman in black trouser and turtleneck, a hot yellow short jacket with shoulder pads and big gold buttons, portfolio in hand.
I could go on and on about Omission, it’s a wonderful production and I really enjoyed it, but you should go see it for yourself. You won’t regret it.
Omission is playing until February 3, 2018 at Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley St)
Show times: Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm, Tuesday January 23 at 2:00 pm
Tickets are $25.00, $12.50 on Wednesday, PWYC on Sunday (cash only at the box office)
Tickets are available online, and at the box office
Photo of Evan Walsh and Thomas O’Neill by Bruce Peters
Previous PostReview: Calpurnia (Nightwood Theatre and Sulong Theatre Company)Next PostReview: The Crucible (Hart House Theatre)
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As Seen On Me
The G.O.A.T.
#Celebrity
Kerry Washington is a Real-Life Role Model and Here’s Why
by Jennifer Lafferty
Like her character Olivia Pope on ABC’s smash hit drama Scandal, Kerry Washington is a smart, successful, well-informed woman of the 21st century, which are just some of the qualities that make her a great role model. Part political activist, part fashion icon, it’s impossible to label Washington, who is a true individual. Here are the ways she most inspires us.
She’s Down to Earth
Washington has never given off a diva vibe and that’s probably because she isn’t one. According to colleagues, she is known for being a team player, cheerleading the Scandal cast and crew, and remembering everyone’s name.
She’s a Political and Social Activist
Encouraged by her parents to be socially conscious, Washington has a long history of political and social activism, from promoting safe sex as a teen, to currently serving on President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
She Has a Distinguished Resume
Scandal’s Olivia Pope is such a popular character, she overshadows the actress’ other roles. But Washington has acted in many other impressive projects including films Django Unchained, The Last King of Scotland, Ray and TV’s Boston Legal.
She Has an Impressive Education
One of the reasons Washington has had such a successful career is because of her education. After attending the prestigious Spence School in Manhattan, she earned a degree in performance studies from George Washington University.
She’s Athletic
Another similarity between Kerry and her Olivia Pope character is that Washington was also on her high school swim team. Mature beyond her years, she took up the sport because proficiency in swimming could enable her to save lives.
She’s Musical
Washington has always had a wide variety of interests and while a student at the Spence School, she showed off her musical side, performing with a nine-girl a cappella singing group called Triple Trio.
She Testified Before Congress
Further proof that Kerry Washington is truly dedicated to causes that she cares about, in 2007 she joined fellow performers John Legend and Robert Redford in testifying before Congress to support the Arts.
She’s a Style Icon
Since Washington began playing the fashionable Olivia Pope, she has become a style icon. The actress has even collaborated with Scandal’s costumer Lyn Paolo and The Limited for a fashion line inspired by Pope and other female characters.
She Never Complains
Despite all the perks of being a star, it’s rare to find one who doesn’t whine a least a little. Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes told Vanity Fair: “I have never heard Kerry Washington complain.”
She Designed an Interdisciplinary Major at GWU
Not only was she an excellent student at George Washington University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1998, but the actress also actually designed her own interdisciplinary major in performance studies that included anthropology and sociology.
She’s Prepared for Motherhood
Washington says portraying Olivia Pope helped prepare her for motherhood to daughter Isabelle (born in 2014), explaining, “I feel like playing her made me feel like, ‘All right, I can do it. I will figure out how to juggle it all.'”
She’s Ranked as One of the Most Influential People in the World
It’s one thing to be a popular celebrity and something else to be a widely influential celeb. Kerry Washington held a spot in Time magazine’s 2014 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
She’s a Savvy Businesswoman
In addition to her involvement with The Limited’s Scandal fashion line, Washington is partnering with companies like Neutrogena, Apple Music, and Movado. She’s also executive producing the HBO film Confirmation, in which she stars as Anita Hill.
She’s in a Good Relationship
Despite rumors to the contrary, Washington’s nearly three-year marriage to former NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha seems solid. In 2013 a friend talked to People about the couple’s compatibility saying: “They have the same values, and are very close to their families.”
She Inspires Us with her Portrayal of Olivia Pope
Kerry Washington does more than entertain viewers by playing DC fixer Olivia Pope, she inspires us with her compelling performance as this powerful contemporary woman who is extremely successful without sacrificing her femininity or sex appeal.
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Bryant Park Picnics Announces 2018 Summer Season
(NEW YORK, NY) -- Bryant Park Corporation has announced the schedule for its newly-renamed summer performing arts series Bryant Park Picnics. This season, Bryant Park Picnics hosts events with some of New York's most renowned music, theater, and dance institutions. Carnegie Hall Citywide offers five free outdoor concerts with extraordinary classical, blues, Latin, gospel, and world music artists. 2018 also marks the five-year anniversary of The Drilling Company's Shakespeare at Bryant Park, as well as the third year of collaboration with New York City Opera. For the first time, Bryant Park hosts a massive, free outdoor ballet master class in partnership with American Ballet Theatre.
Shakespeare - For the 5th consecutive summer, The Drilling Company returns with a trio of beloved Shakespeare plays as well as a special Shakespeare birthday event.
The Drilling Company, led by director/producer Hamilton Clancy, returns for their fifth summer season at Bryant Park. Best known for their Shakespeare in the Parking Lot performance series (now entering its 24th season), The Drilling Company brings three of The Bard's best-known plays to the park this summer: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, and Macbeth. The series kicks off with a special performance on Shakespeare's birthday, The Folio Is Female: Great Women of Shakespeare (April 23). Clancy explains, "We're trying a simple experiment in Bryant Park: pairing a great comedy, a great tragedy and an annual return of one of the greatest in the canon, Twelfth Night. We thought an annual Twelfth Night in Bryant Park, in the middle of the summer, could become something New Yorkers and visitors look forward to. We chose A Midsummer Night's Dream for its accents of comedy and love and Macbeth for its political overtones.
"In the last five years with Bryant Park, we've grown to be the second largest producer of free Shakespeare in the city. We're obviously inspired by Joseph Papp, the predecessor of free Shakespeare in Manhattan. But Bryant Park offers something different than the Delacorte. There are no tickets and no lines. With an expansive Lawn and thousands of chairs, we can welcome all who come. It's a tremendous privilege. And each production is set against the buzz of the park and the backdrop of the city."
The Folio Is Female: Great Women of Shakespeare - Monday, April 23, 6:00pm - 8:00pm; Fountain Stage. A special birth (and death) day party for William Shakespeare that celebrates the dynamic female leads of Shakespeare's plays. Audiences can expect to see climactic moments from both Shakespearean comedies and dramas at this special event, including excerpts from Othello, Cymbeline, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice and The Taming of the Shrew. The Folio is Female director Jane Bradley says, "In this cultural moment of Pantsuit Nation, #MeToo and real-life heroes like Emma Gonzales, it has become abundantly clear that the future is female ... and so is the Folio. Shakespeare's plays contain some of theater's greatest female leaders, icons and trailblazers, characters we're still coming to terms with centuries later." Since Shakespeare's death as well as his birth are traditionally noted as April 23, the evening will feature a New Orleans Second Line funeral processional to spirit the Bard into Bryant Park, played by guest artists, the Jambalaya Brass Band, and accompanied by the entire cast.
Midsummer Night's Dream - May 18 - June 2 (Fridays and Saturdays), 7:00pm - 9:00pm; Upper Terrace. A familiar sight ---- a romantic Bryant Park wedding ---- develops into a modern-day twist on Shakespeare's classic comedy, full of madcap revelry and literary fantasy. A Midsummer Night's Dream's cast will be led by director Drew Valins, assisted by Karla Hendrick, and will feature Drew Valins, Mary Linehan, Brad Frost, Kathleen Simmonds, Eddie Shields, Serena Miller, Emmanuel Elpenord, David Marantz, Jarrod Bates, Una Clancy, and design by Jennifer Varbalow.
Twelfth Night - July 27 and July 28 (Friday and Saturday), 7:00pm - 9:00pm; July 29 (Sunday), 3:00pm - 5:00pm; Bryant Park Stage. Twins Sebastian and Viola stumble upon the flamboyant, technicolor world of Illyria, visually inspired by the surreal wonderlands of The Wizard of Oz, Yellow Submarine and the works of Doctor Seuss --an exuberant live-action cartoon. Twelfth Night, directed by Jane Bradley, returns with last year's cast mostly intact, led by Natalie Smith, Kathleen Simmonds, Lukas Raphael, Rachel A. Collins, Andrew Gombas, Emmanuel Elpenord, Jack Sochet, and Haley Simmonds. Susan Edkinsreturns as designer.
Macbeth - August 24 - September 8 (Fridays and Saturdays), 7:00pm - 9:00pm; Upper Terrace. A Gangs of New York-styled Macbeth, set in the mid-1800s when early settlers fought for turf in the infamous Five Points area. Macbeth will be led by Alessandro Colla, with Brad Frost in the leading role; the remainder of the cast will be announced soon.
New York City Opera - Extraordinary performances produced by New York City Opera, including Carmen, Madama Butterfly, The Crucible, and Barber of Seville.
Carmen - Monday, May 14, 6:00pm - 7:00pm; Upper Terrace. Passions flare in this hour-long adaptation of one of the world's most beloved operas.
Madama Butterfly - Wednesday, June 13, 6:00pm - 7:00pm; Upper Terrace. Puccini composed some of his greatest music for this tragic story of an abandoned geisha bride.
The Crucible - Tuesday, August 28, 6:00pm - 7:00pm; Upper Terrace. City Opera presents a preview of its season-opening production of this American classic.
Barber of Seville - Monday, September 17, 6:00pm - 7:00pm; Upper Terrace. Rossini's sparkling music animates the hijinks of Figaro, opera's most famous barber.
A Night of Ballet - A Master Class with American Ballet Theatre's Cynthia Harvey and Conversation with ABT Dancers.
Learn ballet moves on the Bryant Park Lawn by participating in a massive, one-night-only free master class led by Cynthia Harvey, former American Ballet Theatre ballerina and current Artistic Director of ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Following the master class, Principal Dancers from American Ballet Theatre come to the stage for an inspiring conversation, sharing their journeys to the highest ranks of ballet as artist athletes. To round out the evening, ballet companies ---- to be announced ---- perform on the Bryant Park Stage.
More details about the event ---- including exact times and instructions for how to pre-register for the master class ---- will be available in the coming weeks. Check BryantPark.org for details.
Friday, June 15, Time TBA; Bryant Park Stage.
Contemporary Dance - Fresh and original, innovative artists showcase exhilarating works. Curated by Tiffany Rea-Fisher.
Artists include Kate Weare, Bryn Cohn + Artists, NOW Dance Project, Kinetic Architecture, Earl Mosely School, Joe Monteleone, Eryc Taylor, Tina Croll, Benny Royce, Diva Dancers, Julia Ehrstrand, Igal Perry Peridance Company, Tiffany Mills, Steps on Broadway Summer Study NYC, and Harlem School of the Arts.
More artists and the full schedule of performances will be announced in coming weeks. Check BryantPark.org for details.
Fridays, June 22 through July 20, 6:00pm - 8:00pm; Bryant Park Stage
Carnegie Hall Citywide - Carnegie Hall offers five free concerts featuring outstanding classical, blues, Latin, gospel, and world music artists. Tapping into the pulse of the city, these performances bring New Yorkers together to share in the joy of music.
"For more than four decades, Carnegie Hall has partnered with community organizations in all five boroughs, offering free performances by renowned mainstage artists and rising musical stars in New York City neighborhoods, bringing together local residents and people from all over to share in great music," said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall's Executive and Artistic Director. "As part of this commitment to community, we are thrilled to partner with Bryant Park for the very first time this summer, presenting five fantastic concerts, kicking off next season's Carnegie Hall Citywide series."
Brave Combo - Wednesday, July 18, 5:30pm - 7:00pm; Upper Terrace. Texas-based Brave Combo's performances are eclectic and exuberant journeys to the worlds of salsa, merengue, rock, cumbia, conjunto, polka, zydeco, classical, blues, and more. One of the premier dance bands, the group has won two Grammy Awards, and its music has been heard in feature films and on television. Brave Combo's foot-tapping music always sparks a party ---- the band played at David Byrne's wedding reception and appeared on an episode of The Simpsons.
Decoda - Wednesday, July 25, 5:30pm - 7:00pm; Upper Terrace. Anything can happen (and it frequently does) when the sensational musicians of Decoda ---- alumni of the acclaimed Ensemble Connect ---- perform. Decoda surprises and delights with the melodic splendor of Ennio Morricone's Cinema Paradiso film score, a colorful arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, and Libertango, Piazzolla's groundbreaking foray into a new and expressive tango style.
Locos por Juana - Wednesday, August 1, 5:30pm - 7:00pm; Upper Terrace. "Locos por Juana pulls listeners into a reverse Gulf Stream churning through the Straits of Florida south to Jamaica, Venezuela, and Colombia, and over to Puerto Rico," said The Los Angeles Times. Vocalist Itawe Correa, guitarist Mark Kondrat, and drummer Javier Delgado form the band's core, though they frequently incorporate trombone and percussion soloists. This Grammy-nominated, bilingual, Latin jam-band draws on the diverse backgrounds of its members, riffing on traditional Colombian rhythms and tapping into reggae, ragga, dub, hip-hop, rock, and funk traditions to deliver what Kondrat calls "island swing."
Sinkane - Wednesday, August 8, 5:30pm - 7:00pm; Upper Terrace. London-born Ahmed Gallab, who makes music as Sinkane, lived in Sudan until he was five years old. In these early years, he absorbed the North African musical culture that inspires his rapturous hybrid sound, laced with percussion-heavy Sudanese pop, electronica, funk, and free jazz. He is a prolific recording artist with critically acclaimed EPs and albums to his credit. Sinkane's most recent recording, Life & Livin' It, has won rave reviews, with The Guardian touting its "socially conscious music suffused with joy."
Carnegie Hall Citywide Night: Les Grands Hurleurs, Jordan Officer, Ismael & The Radiant Select, Tribu Baharú, and The Campbell Brothers - Friday, August 10, 5:00pm - 10:00pm; Bryant Park Stage. Carnegie Hall Citywide Night is a sensational celebration of music from around the globe and across the country. From foot-stomping sounds of Quebec to the effervescent song and dance of Guinea, the music is free and fun all night.
You'll experience the energy of a Québécois house party when Les Grands Hurleurs take the stage. The three musicians present the traditional music of their homeland, with traces of classical, gypsy music, and electronica. Since the trio's founding in 2009, it has captivated audiences around the world, as well as in Canada, with memorable performances at Canada Day 2017 and the Canada Summer Games. Les Grands Hurleurs' newest album, 3/4 Fort, showcases spectacular vocals and virtuoso fiddle, guitar, and mandolin playing.
Jordan Officer is a virtuoso jazz guitarist, composer, and singer who has wowed audiences in his native Montreal and throughout Canada. Now it's time for the US to experience his unique jazz, blues, rock, and country music. Acclaimed for his collaborations with singer Susie Arioli, Officer has been enjoying a solo career that puts his songwriting front and center. Three Rivers, his recent album inspired by a road trip to the American South, is an irresistible blend of warm and witty songwriting and crisp guitar playing.
Ismael Kouyaté's joyful and passionate music is rooted in Guinea, his West Africa homeland. Born to a family of griots (West African poet-musicians), his high-flying vocals and dancing catapulted an international career that led to a stirring appearance in the Broadway musical Fela!, a performance that caught the attention of Beyoncé, who enlisted him as a featured vocalist on her hit song "Grown Woman." Kouyaté now fronts his own band, which blends the effervescent West African sound with the gritty funk of New York.
Tribu Baharú's exuberant performances of champeta music ---- a fusion of Colombian, African, and Afro-Caribbean styles ---- are driven by lively vocals, sparkling Congolese guitar, and high-energy bass and drums. A Tribu Baharú performance recreates the joyous, impromptu spirit of the verbena dances that are popular in Colombian neighborhoods during holidays. With traces of soukous, zouk, calypso, soca, rap, and more, Tribu Baharú celebrates the colorful Colombian musical spectrum.
The Campbell Brothers' brand of electrified, ecstatic music sets pulses racing and hands clapping. Led by the "sacred steel" guitar riffs of brothers Chuck (pedal steel) and Darick (lap steel), buoyed by a rhythm section that pumps out irresistible beats, and featuring the soaring vocals of Denise Brown, it's gospel music with a rock and blues heart. Pure, passionate, and jumping with the energy, The Campbell Brothers have thrilled audiences for nearly two decades ---- come hear why.
Accordions Around the World - A musical journey representing cultures from all over the globe each week, culminating in the Accordion Festival. Curated by Ariana Hellerman. Accordions Around the World is a five-week series that brings dozens of accordionists, as well as bandoneón, bayan, concertina, and harmonium-players of different musical genres, to perform at Bryant Park. Audiences have a chance to experience the range of this often-overlooked instrument. The series culminates on a Friday with the Accordion Festival, which showcases five bands, each featuring an accordion, playing music from a range of different cultures.
Wednesday, August 15, 5:30pm - 7:30pm - Bryant Park Lawn; Phil Passantino (Cajun + Zydeco), Maestro Tito Castro (Bandoneón: Argentine Tango), Foncho Castellar (Colombian Cumbia + Vallenato), Gregory Grene (Irish Rock), Eduardo de Carvalho (Brazilian Forró), Christina Crowder (Klezmer & Moldavian Folk), Jenny Luna (Balkan + Turkish), Susan Hwang (Blues + Soul), Jody Kruskal (Concertina: Old Americana), Dmitry Sokolovsky (Retro, Samba, Musette + Jazz), Nathan Koci (American and English Folk Tunes), and Barry Adler (German + Austrian)
Wednesday, August 22, 5:30pm - 7:30pm - Bryant Park Lawn. John Sherman (Cajun, Appalachian + Blues), Tinta Roja (Argentine Bandoneón + Guitar), El Toro de la Sierra (Mexican Norteño), Dan Gurney (Traditional Irish), Felipe Hostins (Northeast Brazilian), Ben Rosenblum (Jazz + Klezmer), The Bumper Crop Boys (Blues and Country), Yuri Lemeshev (World, Classical + Jazz), Sam Reider (American Roots), Erica Mancini (Jazz, Blues + Country), Mario Tacca (French Musette + Waltz), more artists TBA
Wednesday, August 29, 5:30pm - 7:30pm - Bryant Park Lawn. Kenny Margolis (Zydeco + Blues), David Hodges (Bandoneón: Argentine Tango), Harold Rodriguez (Colombian Vallenato), Annmarie Acosta (Williams Traditional Irish), Rob Curto (Brazilian Bluegrass), Ed Goldberg & the Odessa Klezmer Band (Eastern European Klezmer), Peter Stan + Peter Stan (Balkan), George Saenz (Music from Texas-Mexico Border), Smörgåsbandet (Scandinavian), Earl Ball (Polka, French + Tango), Mindra Sahadeo (Harmonium: South Asian), and Rachelle Garniez (Genre-fluid story-songs)
Wednesday, September 5, 5:30pm - 7:30pm - Bryant Park Lawn. Laren Droll (Cajun + Zydeco), Laura Vilche (Bandoneón: Argentine Tango), Nain, Acordeonista de los M-1 (Mexican Norteño), Cordeone (Portuguese Fado), Ilya Shneyveys (Traditional + Original Klezmer), Eva Salina and Peter Stan (Vintage Balkan Roma Ballads), Melissa Elledge (Pop + Rock), Albert Behar (French Musette + Gypsy Jazz), Alan Morrow (Waltzes, Tango + Blues), and Papa Bavarian (German Oktoberfest), more artists TBA
Wednesday, September 12, 5:30pm - 7:30pm - Bryant Park Lawn. Julie Winterbottom (Cajun Music from Louisiana), Javier Sánchez (Bandoneón: Argentine Tango), Sadys Rodrigo Espitia (Colombian Cumbia + Vallenato), Patty Furlong (Traditional Irish), Vitor Gonçalves (Brazilian Choro + Forró), Shoko Nagai (Japanese + Jewish), Papa Joe De Clemente (Italian + American Standards), Will Holshouser (Jazz + Folk), Ismail Butera (Ancient Mediterranean), Ryan O'Donnell + Friends (Ukrainian), Maestro (Electronic Balkan), and Guillermo Vaisman (Coastal Argentine Chamamé)
Accordion Festival - September 14, 5:00pm - 10:00pm; Bryant Park Stage. Shashmaqam (Bukharan Jewish music and and Central Asian dance), Rimel (Norteño from Northern Mexico), Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Pizzica tarantata from Puglia, Italy), Shilpa Ray (Indie rock with the harmonium), and more TBA
Shashmaqam is a vibrantly colorful ensemble from Queens, NY that performs the highly compelling and centuries-old musical traditions of Central Asia. As the United States' premier ensemble dedicated to Central Asia's Bukharan Jewish music and dance traditions, Shashmaqam performs a panorama of classical and folk music from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Simultaneously, they perform the liturgical repertoire of Bukharan Jews which instrumentation includes the tar (lute), doire (frame drum) and accordion. Shashmaqam, which takes its name from the ancient repertoire they perform, was founded through musical evenings dancer Firuza Yagudeava hosted at her former restaurant in Manhattan in the late 1970s. Since then, they have performed on stages across the US and have recorded for Smithsonian Folkways Records.
Rimel is a regional Mexican band formed by sisters: Letty (vocals and bajo quinto), Shely (accordion), Tita (vocals and bass) and Melen (drums). Rimel's goal is to create a stronger presence and awareness of women in Norteño (also known as regional Mexican) and to expose this style of music that has traditionally been played only in the Latino community ---- all over the world.
Formed by writer Rina Durante in 1975, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino is regarded as Italy's leading and longest-standing traditional music ensemble, hailing from the Salento, the heel of the Italian boot, in Puglia. CGS is a dichotomy of tradition and modernity together; the seven-piece band and dancer are the leading exponents in a new wave of young performers re-inventing Southern Italy's Pizzica musical and dance traditions. The ancient ritual of pizzica tarantata is said to cure the taranta spider's bite and the resulting altered state of consciousness, with its frenzied trance dances. Fueled by the tamburello (a frame drum which resounds like a never-stopping beating heart), CGS shows are explosive: full of energy, passion, rhythm and mystery. They bring the audience from the past into modernity, and back. Critically acclaimed with 18 albums and countless live performances throughout USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, in 2010 CGS was awarded Best Italian World Music Group at Italy's MEI confab. They have also performed at globalFEST, SXSW, and Festival international de Jazz de Montréal.
Nobody grows up wanting to be an artist's artist. Appreciated by the sub sect of the sub sect is like being the beauty queen at the leper colony. Anybody who claims they grew up wanting to even be an artist rather than an astronaut or a Cthulhu is probably lying or was a corny kid. Your friends will find you irritating and your parents will certainly not throw you a parade. Shilpa Ray is, through no fault of her own, one of our unsung great artists. Having made her bones with the gothic Sturm und Drang of Beat The Devil and moving forward to the blues erosion of ... and The Happy Hookers, Shilpa Ray has been, armed only with an incomparable voice and harmonium haunted by the ghosts of dead lovers, perpetually crying in the wind, hoisting both middle fingers in the general direction of god. It's not a life a wise man would choose. But, again, what can you do?
Emerging Music Festival - Ten on-the-rise bands perform on one of the biggest stages of their young careers. Emerging Music Festival returns for its third year with thousands of music lovers packing the Bryant Park lawn for New York's best new music, including indie rock, soul, R&B, singer-songwriter, and more. Featuring Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton with Terry Waldo's Rum House Jass Band, EZTV, Plastic Picnic, Katie von Schleicher, Underground System, and more TBA.
Friday, August 17, 5:00pm - 10:00pm; Saturday, August 18, 5:00pm - 10:00pm; Bryant Park Stage.
Dance Party - Weekly parties with superb bands and dance instruction, hosted and produced by Talia Castro-Pozo. At each Dance Party event, learn basic steps with expert instructors from 6pm to 7pm by the fountain at Bryant Park every Wednesday from May 2 to June 6; then, test out your new moves with live music performed by some of the New York City's best dance bands from 7pm to 8:30pm.
The Dance Party series celebrates some of the most popular music and dance genres, from easy-to-learn favorites like salsa and swing, to bhangra and Tangolandó. The cast of instructors and dance hosts is incredible, all steeped in the traditions of their upbringing around the world. Don't miss the grand finale on Friday, June 8 for a one-night-only Latin Festival, featuring Cha Cha, Boogaloo, and Salsa dancing with live sets from New Swing Sextet and Quintero's Salsa Project.
Salsa Dura: Doug Beavers & Titanes del Trombon - Tribute to Cheo Feliciano - Wednesday, May 2, 6:00pm - 8:30pm; Fountain Stage. 2018 Grammy Nominee Doug Beavers brings his hard-hitting 3-trombone band "Titanes del Trombón" for a special tribute to one of his idols: Puerto Rican salsa legend Jose Luis "Cheo" Feliciano. The band will present Beaver's all-time favorites of Feliciano's as well as seldom-performed material from Cheo's late-70's and 80's work.
Bhangra: Rhythm Tolee Plays Bhangra & Bollywood - Wednesday, May 9, 6:00pm - 8:30pm; Fountain Stage. For the first time, Bryant Park hosts a bhangra dance party. The joyful and free-spirited Indian dance style is taught by the acclaimed Bhangra Masala Dance Company. Live bhangra and Bollywood music is performed by award-winning New York-based Punjabi band Rhythm Tolee.
Tangolandó: Sofia Tosello & Yuri Juarez - Wednesday, May 16, 6:00pm - 8:30pm; Fountain Stage. Tangolandó is a new form of dance music that fuses tango with varieties of Latin and African rhythms. Learn the steps to this cross-cultural art form, and then dance to live music by the artists ---- Sofia Tosello and Yuri Juarez ---- who helped create it.
Swing: Svetlana and the Delancey Six - Wednesday, May 23, 6:00pm - 8:30pm; Fountain Stage. Svetlana and the Delancey Six make sophisticated, sultry, foot-stomping swing music. Led by exciting young vocalist Svetlana Shmulyian, the band combines swing with pop and songwriter sensibilities to create revelries fit for the 21st century.
Cumbia & Vallenato: Gregorio Uribe - Wednesday, May 30, 6:00pm - 8:30pm; Fountain Stage. One of the most well-known and acclaimed Colombian musicians in New York, Gregorio Uribe brings his powerful band to perform a show featuring two classics of Colombian folk music: Cumbia and Vallenato.
Bachata: Wilson Daniel & Orquestra - Wednesday, June 6, 6:00pm - 8:30pm; Fountain Stage. Beloved Bachatero Wilson Daniel and seven other talented musicians from the Dominican Republic come together to play bachata with a classical feel and rooted sound.
Latin Festival: Cha Cha, Boogaloo, and Salsa - The New Swing Sextet and Quintero's Salsa Project - Friday, June 8, 5:00pm - 10:00pm; Fountain Stage. An innovative exponent of Latin jazz, salsa, and pop music for five decades, the Grammy-nominated New Swing Sextet plays Cha Cha and Boogaloo tunes that capture the excitement and turbulence of 1960's New York. Renowned Venezuelan percussionist Luisito Quintero ---- who has played with such greats as Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, and Tito Puente and was Grammy-nominated in 2015 for his 3rd Element Latin Jazz album ---- infuses salsa music with Afro-Caribbean rhythms to create a fresh and dynamic sound.
All Bryant Park Picnics events are free to the public with no dress code, no tickets, and no lines. At each show, Bryant Park lends out over 200 free blankets for audience members to spread out and relax while enjoying the performance. Hester Street Fair brings an exciting array of local food vendors including Brooklyn Oyster Company, Bonsai Kakigori, Sweet Face Snowballs and more to be announced. Beer and wine is available for purchase, and entertainment abounds with jugglers, supersized games, and much more.
"Bryant Park Picnics is one of the most accessible and inviting ways to experience this city's incredible performing arts," said Dan Fishman, Public Events Manager at Bryant Park Corporation. "Grab a blanket and try something new: listen to opera for the first time, learn a ballet move, or watchMacbeth. It's completely free, and there is nothing like watching a world-class performance from the comfort of a picnic."
The current schedule of programming follows. Please visit BryantPark.org for up-to-the-minute lineup updates and show additions.
PHOTO CREDITS: (from top to bottom) Lee Wexler, Matthew Eisman, Ian Whelan and Richard Corman, Fadi Kheir, Matthew Eisman, Ryan Muir, Angelito Jusay
Passage Theatre Announces Changes To The Second Half Of Its 2020-21 Season
The Dryden Ensemble Presents Three Virtual Concerts In Three Months
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A Look Back at the Biggest Data Breaches of 2016
Organizations worldwide were hit with a rude awakening this year in terms of data protection. From medical providers, to financial institutions, and government agencies, hackers this year did not discriminate in terms of who’s the next organization to be breached. As we stand to enter the New Year, let’s reflect on some of the largest data breaches that occurred in 2016.
21st Century Oncology
21st Century Oncology, a Fort Myers-based cancer care services provider, released a statement on their website indicating that 2.2 million patients could have had their personal information stolen during a breach of the company’s system in October 2015. The breach was disclosed to the public in March of 2016, and there’s no evidence the stolen information has been used in any way. Though hackers did have access to the names, social security numbers, doctor names, diagnosis and treatment information, and insurance information of 21st Century Oncology patients.
National Payment Corporation of India
The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) was notified by international banks that some of its customers’ debit cards were being used fraudulently. Many experts believe the breach began with a malware attack that originated at an ATM. Since the attack, banks across India have replaced as many as 3.25 million debit cards with fears that the card data may have been compromised. Of those affected, about 2.65 million are on Visa and MasterCard platforms, and 600,000 are on RuPay.
Philippine Commission on Elections
A breach of the database for the Philippe Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is being deemed the worst government data breach to happen anywhere. It’s believed that the personal information of every Philippine voter, roughly 55 million people, was comprised on March 27, 2016, by Anonymous. The information has since been published in a database online and is available for anyone online to steal and engage in identity theft. Anonymous claims the leak was an effort to push the COMELEC to turn on security features in the vote counting machines before the national elections took place on May 9, 2016.
Russia’s popular social media site VK.com experienced a breach in June of this year, leaking details on more than 100 million VK users. The database contained information including first & last names, email addresses, plain-text passwords, location information, phone numbers, and in some cases, secondary email addresses. The hacker responsible, known as Peace, claims the passwords were already in plain text when VK.com was hacked and were not cracked at a later date. Peace is selling the stolen data for 1 bitcoin, but another set of 71 million accounts, he’s decided to not sell.
LinkedIn, the popular professional networking site, was hacked four years ago in 2012. While the company originally thought the hacks impact was the theft of 6.5 million passwords, the company came to find out this year that the number of impacted individuals is much larger- 117 million to be exact. LinkedIn acted swiftly and invalidated the passwords of all accounts that were created prior to 2012 and had not undergone a reset since the breach.
Yet another adult website was taken down by hackers this year, with this breach nearly 13 times the size of last year’s hack of Ashley Madison. Approximately 412 million users had their personal information stolen and published online as a result of this attack. The breached information included email addresses, passwords, VIP member status, browser info, last IP address to log in, and purchases. The company has since only admitted to finding a vulnerability within their systems but has not yet confirmed the attack.
427 million passwords of Myspace users were leaked back in May 2016. LeakedSource and Peace are the hackers responsible for this breach and claim the credentials are from a past, unreported breach. Understandably, this attack occurred during an era where security measures were not as strong as they are today. Hacker ‘TheCthulhu’ published the database of 427 million passwords for more than 360 million users of the social network onto the dark web.
2016 was a particularly rough year for Yahoo, who suffered two of the most notorious breaches in history this past year. In September, Yahoo announced that a hacker stole information from a minimum of 500 million accounts in late 2014. The thief who’s believed to be working with some sort of government, stolen email addresses, passwords, full user names, birth dates, phone numbers, and in some cases, security questions and answers.
Yahoo suffered an additional attack that they disclosed in December claiming more than 1 billion user accounts were compromised in August 2013, making this the largest data breach in history. Yahoo’s Chief Information Security Officer, Bob Lord, claims hackers used ‘forged cookies’- pieces of code that stay in the user’s browser cache allowing a website to not require a login with ever visit. Similar to the 2014 breach, the information stolen may have included names, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, hacked passwords, and in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers.
NNT’s Breach Detection- Host Intrusion Detection Solutions
The fiscal and reputational damage posed by data breaches and cyber-attacks should be more than enough reason to persuade organizations to maintain a vulnerability free IT environment, yet as the years progress, the lessons are never learned and billions of victims suffer from their negligence. Organizations must comprehend the seriousness of protecting this incredibly sensitive personal information and implement Breach Detection- Host Intrusion Detection solutions to help combat these ever growing cyber-attacks.
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Anthony's convictions include unlawful possession of a firearm, three counts of resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of burglary, eight counts of tampering with a motor vehicle, stealing and three counts of forgery.
The release from prosecutors says Anthony also has prior felony convictions for distribution of a controlled substance and forgery.
In May of 2015, Anthony stole a pickup truck and fled from police on two separate occasions, according to the release. During one of those pursuits, Anthony hit a utility pole and caused thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Also in May of last year, the release says, Anthony was found in possession of five vehicles that had been stolen from a local car lot.
The release says Anthony also committed a pair of residential burglaries in July of 2015 and then forged checks he stole from one of the homes.
The release says Anthony cost his victims almost $50,000 as a result of the crimes.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors asked that Anthony get 12 years, while his attorney asked for seven to nine years, according to the release.
Anthony's attorney did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment for this report.
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From Republic, inmates can either bond out and be given a ride to Springfield or transferred by deputies to other jails.
Cirtin said it's unknown at the moment if using the Greene County Jail's booking area to house inmates will be a temporary or permanent change.
"There are a lot of moving pieces," Cirtin said.
Republic City Council passed a resolution allowing the municipal facility to be used by the county as a booking station in an 8-0 vote. The resolution said the agreement's term lasts until the end of this year and can be extended if both parties agree.
Greene County is also in the process of looking at building a temporary jail in a parking lot.
County leaders are considering accepting a bid submitted in June from a company that, among other things, builds modular structures used as emergency shelters after natural disasters.
According to the request for proposal, the county wants the temporary modular structures to hold a minimum of 108 beds, have heating and cooling and a security camera system.
The complex in the parking lot would be surrounded by a 10-foot-tall maximum security fence topped by razor wire, the document said.
The company's bid called for the county to pay $873,000 a year for the first two years, according to Chris Mericle with Greene County's purchasing department.
Mericle said a temporary jail would be up for a minimum of two years, and possibly for five or more years, depending on revenue and the community's needs.
At a meeting Thursday morning, Mericle said legal representatives from the company and the county are trying to negotiate a lease. Nothing has been finalized yet.
Cirtin says jail space expansion would be "huge cost savings" for the county.
Overcrowding at the local jail has strained the Greene County budget. The county pays other counties to house overflow inmates — a cost that is estimated to top $2.5 million by the end of the year.
That figure includes the money the county pays to other counties for each inmate, per day, but not the cost of fuel and staff hours needed to transport people to several different jails across the state.
Cpl. Cathy Ussery told the News-Leader the number of Greene County inmates housed out-of-county can fluctuate between single digits to more than 120 on any given day.
County leaders have been seriously considering seeking additional revenue sources — in part to help fund the community's overburdened criminal justice system. They will likely ask voters to pass a 1/2-cent sales tax.
However, efforts to put a tax hike on the ballot have been postponed until a resolution is reached in an ongoing lawsuit over the jail between the city, county and sheriff.
The city sued the county and sheriff after the sheriff barred people arrested for municipal offenses from the local jail due to overcrowding.
Greene County again considers building temporary jail in parking lot
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The 6-foot-6 forward who played in only two games last season due to a back injury is scheduled to graduate in August. He will be eligible next season at St. John's as a graduate transfer.
"I want to thank the fans for welcoming me in from day one, my teammates, former teammates and coaching staff," Mvouika — @Nitodreamchaser on Twitter — wrote on the social media network.
Mvouika underwent back surgery in February and it was thought his playing career was over. But he's made a successful recovery and said last month that he wanted to play his final season of eligibility either at Missouri State or elsewhere.
Missouri State reportedly offered Mvouika the opportunity to return as a walk-on, not wanting to risk a scholarship on an uncertain health situation.
"I understand the coaching staff's position," Mvouika said. "It was not an easy position if I was in their shoes, with an older player who had back issues.
"But my goal was to come back and play. I had to do what was best for me. I've love it here and I'll always be a part of the Bears family."
Mvouika, a native of Paris, France, came to Missouri State after two seasons in junior college. He averaged 6.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 2013-14 as the Bears won 20 games, shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from 3-point range.
St. John's, in the Big East Conference, recently hired alum and former NBA standout Chris Mullin as its new head coach.
Mvouika said the connection with St. John's came through a former coach of his in France that knew one of the St. John's coaches. He said he's excited to play in a power conference like the Big East.
"But the fact that I can get back on the court and play, no matter where, is the biggest dream for me," Mvouika said.
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Bardot reveal if a reunion is on the cards
As their single ‘Poison’ marks its debut on the top of the charts 20 years ago this week, members of girl group Bardot discuss their time in the spotlight.
Bree Player
Stellar MagazineApril 20, 20209:44am
Take a look behind the scenes of Karl Stefanovic with Stellar....
Take a look behind the scenes of Karl Stefanovic with Stellar.
Members of the pop group Bardot. Picture: MICK TSIKAS.Source:Supplied
At the turn of the century, more than 2500 young Australian women signed up to become part of a giant televised experiment that hoped to unearth Australia’s answer to the Spice Girls.
The platform? A new reality television show called Popstars, a joint Seven Network/Warner Music production with Jackie “Jackie O” Henderson among the judges.
One of the first reality TV talent shows in the country, Popstars was an instant hit, hooking an average of 2.6 million viewers; by the time it finished its run, public interest in the girl group it produced – comprised of Katie Underwood, Tiffani Wood, Belinda Chapple, Sally Polihronas and a pre-fame Sophie Monk – was at fever pitch.
A scandal that saw original member Chantelle Barry kicked out and replaced by Wood only added to the hype, and suddenly the five members had gone from unknowns to fully fledged pop stars in a matter of weeks.
Bardot on the red carpet at the 2000 Aria Awards in Sydney. Pictured from left, Sophie Monk, Sally Polihronas, Katie Underwood, Tiffani Wood, and Belinda Chapple. (Picture: Mick Tsikas)Source:Supplied
As Underwood recalls that heady period, she tells Stellar, “That was probably the strangest thing in my life. I had trouble going anywhere because it was so intense, especially for me and Sophie because we were very spottable.
“The media maintained that the hype was unjustified because at, that point in time, we hadn’t done anything – we’d just been on TV.”
That was quickly rectified when Bardot’s first single ‘Poison’ was released in April 2000 and debuted at number one on the ARIA charts; a self-titled debut album followed a few weeks later. Fans couldn’t get enough, with thousands piling into shopping malls across the country to see the girls perform.
“The screaming was echoing through the walls,” Chapple recalls. “I was just so dumbfounded and overwhelmed by it all that it was hard to sing and dance.”
Fans were as fanatical about the band’s fashion as they were about the music and a self-titled clothing label was born so girls could dress like their idols in leather, snakeskin print, scarf tops, asymmetrical dresses and Wood’s signature cowgirl hat.
Bardot performing at a shopping centre in Perth. (Picture: Ross Swanbprpugh)Source:NEWS LTD
Underwood wasn’t so keen on that aspect of the job. “I never wanted to be a model,” she explains. “I remember being angry at certain times because we spent more time in photo shoots than we did singing. When you sign up to be a female pop star, it’s implicit you’re also signing up to be a make-up, hair and fashion model.”
The band spent two years travelling the world and performing to packed arenas, but success abated just as quickly as it had arrived. Underwood was the first to break away when she left after a year to pursue a career in musical theatre.
The remaining four released a second album in November 2001, but by the following April – two years on from ‘Poison’ – an official statement announced their disbandment as a “mutual decision”.
Rumours persisted Monk’s desire to embark on a solo career was the catalyst, which she denied at the time, and which Polihronas seemed to quell a couple of years later during an interview.
“I remember being angry at certain times because we spent more time in photo shoots than we did singing.” (Picture: Pip Blackwood)Source:Supplied
“When Sophie went solo, everyone assumed that it was she who broke up the band, which wasn’t right,” she claimed. “I don’t know whether I should say this, but I wanted out for a long time.”
Whatever the reason, Chapple and Wood maintain they were blindsided by the break-up. Chapple tells Stellar, “It happened very suddenly and most of us had no idea it was coming. We were all made to sign a release to say we were tired, and some of us were tired, but most were fine. Looking back now, I would have never signed that, but I was young and put on the spot.”
Wood agrees, “I was devastated! All I ever dreamed of was to be in a girl band, and to think I actually got it and two years later it was taken away from me. Out of the blue came the announcement that Sophie didn’t want to be in the band anymore and that’s when the whole she-said-she-said came about. Every girl will tell you something different about how it ended.”
Monk’s solo career didn’t last long, but she found success as an actor, radio host and TV personality.
“I was devastated! All I ever dreamed of was to be in a girl band, and to think I actually got it and two years later it was taken away from me.” (Picture: Jo-Anna Robinson)Source:Supplied
Underwood lives in Melbourne with her twin daughters, where she’s a sound therapist with her own practice called Underwood Healing.
Mother-of-two Polihronas went on to work behind the scenes in production and management for live TV events, while Wood has her hands full with six children and her own business, Popstar Kidz, where she teaches singing and runs holiday workshops.
Chapple, meanwhile, relocated to Singapore a year ago and heads up the design business House of Chapple Interiors.
“I live up the road from the old HMV store where we once did a signing for hundreds of fans,” she tells Stellar. “Now when I walk past, I think, if someone had told me that I’d live down the road in 20 years’ time and no-one will know who you are...” She laughs at the notion. “When you’re in the thick of it, you forget how life can be. Fame really is so fickle.”
Bardot features in this Sunday’s Stellar.Source:News Corp Australia
Talk of a reunion comes up from time to time. Die-hard fans who follow the women on social media will have noticed an official Instagram account has been created, with Wood, Chapple and Underwood keen to reconnect with their fans and reminisce about Bardot’s heyday.
When Stellar asks if a reunion is in fact in the works, Wood elaborates.
“We all got on [a call], except for Sophie, and had a chat. It went so well that we were close to doing something, but old wounds opened up and people’s lives are busy.
“I’ve heard Sophie say ‘never say never’, but she’s never said yes – or maybe she’s said no every time, which is fair enough. She’s doing her own thing. But we all have our own reasons, and it’s not going ahead.”
Nonetheless, she keeps the door open – and offers a suggestion. “Maybe when we’re 50, we can give it another shot...”
READ MORE EXCLUSIVES FROM STELLAR.
Originally published asBardot reveal if a reunion is on the cards
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California's Democrat Governor Praises Trump's Response to Coronavirus on Cruise Ship: 'Every Single Thing he Said They Followed Through On'
By Jason Lemon On 3/9/20 at 1:29 PM EDT
U.S. Gavin Newsom California Donald Trump Coronavirus
California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom praised President Donald Trump on Monday for supporting his state as it assisted with the repatriation of passengers from the coronavirus-infected Grand Princess cruise ship.
Trump and his administration have faced criticism for their response to the coronavirus. But Newsom, who declared a state of emergency in California last Wednesday, shared positive remarks about the way the president had responded and supported the West Coast state as it allowed the Grand Princess, which had 21 infected passengers aboard, to dock in Oakland.
"We had a private conversation, but he said, 'We're gonna do the right thing' and 'You have my support, all of our support, logistically and otherwise,'" Newsom told reporters at a Monday news conference.
"He said everything I could have hoped for," the governor asserted. "And we had a very long conversation and every single thing he said, they followed through on," he noted.
"Every single thing... has been consistent with expectation we'd repatriate these passengers and do it in a way that does justice to the spirit that defines the best of our country," the governor said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference at the California Department of Public Health on February 27 in Sacramento, California Justin Sullivan/Getty
Newsom said that he has received "consistent" support from Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the administration's response to the coronavirus outbreak.
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Democratic opponents have questioned the administration's handling of the virus. At a rally in February, Trump said that Democrats' criticism of his administration's response to the virus was a "hoax." The president also later questioned health experts on why the virus couldn't be treated with an ordinary flu shot, and suggested that people with COVID-19 could still go to work during an interview with Fox News.
Even some Republicans have urged Trump to follow the advice of health experts and avoid sharing information not supported by science.
"I listen to the scientists when it comes to the numbers, and I would encourage the president if he's going to report things to make sure the science is behind what he's saying," GOP Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who generally defends the president, told reporters on Thursday.
Trump himself has repeatedly pushed back against critics, arguing that the media and Democrats are unfairly attacking his administration's response to coronavirus.
"The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant," he tweeted on Monday morning.
More than 100,000 people have been infected by coronavirus globally, with the majority of those cases being in China, where the virus was first discovered. The World Health Organization officially puts the death toll from confirmed cases at 3.4 percent.
But health experts have estimated that the overall death rate may be 2 percent or less, noting that many cases go untested and are not confirmed. Symptoms are mild for many individuals, meaning they may never even realize they've contracted COVID-19.
According to the available data, those under 30 have a significantly lower chance of dying from the virus, while the death rate increases among the elderly. Those with pre-existing health conditions – such as heart disease, diabetes and respiratory problems – appear to be at greater risk of facing serious complications from the virus.
Correction: This article and headline has been updated to clarify that Governor Newsom was specifically referring to the support from the White House regarding the docking of the Grand Princess cruise ship. This article was also corrected to say that Trump called Democrats' criticism of the administration's handing of the virus a hoax, not that the virus itself was a hoax.
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New Zealand|Politics
Helen Clark Foundation set up to tackle big issues of the day
4 Mar, 2019 01:25 AM 4 minutes to read
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark will be patron of the Helen Clark Foundation, which will publish research papers on the big issues of the day. Photo / Greg Bowker
By: Derek Cheng
Derek Cheng is a political reporter for the New Zealand Herald
derek.cheng@nzme.co.nz
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark is set to launch her own foundation for independent research into major issues of the day, including climate change and drug policy reform.
Clark, who was Prime Minister from 1999 to 2008 and then ran the United Nations Development Programme for eight years, announced that she would be the foundation's patron on Twitter today.
Pleased to announce that I’ll serve as Patron of the Helen Clark Foundation @HelenClarkFound, a new independent public policy think tank being set up in partnership with @AUTuni. Inaugural Exec Director: Kathy Errington. See website here; on Facebook too; https://t.co/aYNtRzqV6t.
— Helen Clark (@HelenClarkNZ) March 3, 2019
The foundation's board is chaired by her husband Peter Davis, a public health specialist.
The board also includes Clark's long-time friend and confidante Joan Caulfield, who served as her electorate agent, as well as accountant Geoff Pownall and lawyer Simon Mitchell.
It is unclear whether this is the same Simon Mitchell who once worked in Clark's electorate office and bought the painting at the centre of 'Paintergate' controversy.
Clark had signed a painting that she had not painted, and it was auctioned for charity. Mitchell bought the painting from the original buyer and then gave it to Caulfield, who destroyed it.
Former Labour Party president Mike Williams is an outreach advisor to the foundation, as is artist and long-time friend and supporter Helen Killser During, who was the photographer for the film My Year with Helen: The Helen Clark Documentary.
The foundation is partnering with the Auckland University of Technology and The Policy Observatory while the Foundation becomes established.
Kathy Errington, a former New Zealand diplomat who met Clark for the first time only last year, is the executive director.
"We're a think-tank and we will publish research papers on policy issues that affect New Zealand," Errington said.
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"We're not partisan. Obviously Helen Clark's background is well known, but we don't campaign for parties or candidates."
The foundation's first paper will be on climate change and green hydrogen, including looking at how New Zealand could export renewable energy.
Errington said Clark was not involved in the research, nor did she have a veto on what the foundation publishes.
"On those operational decisions, she's not involved. She's way too busy to drill down into every word I write."
Errington said the foundation was first put forward last year by Clark's husband Peter Davis, and as patron Clark is not involved in day-to-day operations.
"But she will be present at some but not all of our events. Some of our topics will be based on topics that she champions internationally, for example drug policy."
Clark is a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which promotes drug policy based on people's health and safety.
Errington said that the foundation needed to fundraise, and believed the funding so far had come from Clark herself.
"We're just trying to get off the ground. Anyone who is keen to be part of it should feel free to approach us."
According to its website, the foundation's mission is to publish evidence-based research that contributes to a "more just, sustainable and peaceful society".
"Unacceptable levels of inequality persist. Women's interests remain underrepresented. Through new technology we are more connected than ever, yet loneliness is increasing, and civic engagement is declining.
"We aim to address these issues in a manner consistent with the values of former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who serves as our patron."
An official launch reception for the foundation is scheduled for March 21 at the AUT campus, followed by a seminar at AUT on April 3 on next generation energy issues.
Clark was last year named as patron of the National Council of Women.
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The Curious Case of New York’s Flip-Flopping Congressional Race
By Isaac Schorr
About Isaac Schorr
Follow Isaac Schorr on Twitter
President Donald Trump delivers remarks during an event in support of candidate for congress Claudia Tenney in Utica, N.Y., August 13, 2018. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)
Nearly a month after Election Day, the constituents of New York’s 22nd congressional district still don’t know who will be representing them in the House of Representatives for the next two years.
The ever-changing updates as to who’s leading have been curious to watch, to say the least.
Republican Claudia Tenney, who was unseated by Democrat Anthony Brindisi in 2018, had been ahead by 28,422 votes on Election Day. But a few weeks later, Brindisi suddenly declared victory after overcoming that massive deficit to seemingly edge out Tenney by 13 votes, thanks to his overwhelming lead among mail-in and absentee voters.
The thrill of victory didn’t last long. As of Monday morning, Tenney leads by 13 votes in their rematch thanks to a revision in the vote count out of Herkimer County.
So … what’s going on?
The race was widely expected to be one of the tightest and most hotly contested in the country. Per the Campaign Finance Institute, more independent expenditures were made on behalf of Tenney and Brindisi than any other pair of House candidates save for those in New Mexico’s 2nd congressional district. It has more than lived up to those expectations.
Prior to Herkimer County’s revisions, Brindisi’s sudden lead prompted some commentators to suggest that NY-22 was being “stolen” from Republicans. A RedState writer claimed that “a Democrat judge stepped in and put his stamp of approval on enough rejected ballots to make it happen.” HotAir’s Jazz Shaw complained that “a Democrat judge… miraculously ‘found’ enough ballots that he felt were okay.”
That Democratic judge, state Supreme Court Justice Scott DelConte, has indicated that he will be making determinations about whether to count ballots that were initially rejected — a power that the Tenney campaign disputes — but most of that work has yet to be done. DelConte ruled that both campaigns would have until 5 p.m. today to file motions related to the disputed ballots.
There are many issues with the ballots being argued over by attorneys representing the Tenney and Brindisi campaigns. Some were dropped off at polling places as far away as New York City and Albany. Others were rejected but did not have the reason why indicated on the ballot, as is mandated by state law. In some counties, sticky notes with the explanations for the ballots’ rejection were attached to the ballots instead. To make matters worse, many of those sticky notes fell off and have since disappeared. Moreover, local election officials have been unable to say whether some ballots have already been counted or not.
What we’re seeing then is not any one party attempting to “steal” the election, but two parties using the legal means at their disposal to win an election that has been tainted by the mismanagement of local officials and asininity of New York State’s election laws. When Brindisi was winning last week, he declared victory. Now that Tenney has pulled ahead, she has filed a motion requesting that DelConte allow the eight counties in her district to certify the results of the election by the end of the day.
Eventually, we’ll have a winner in NY-22, and it is possible that a dubious ruling from DelConte will cost Tenney the election. But both victory laps and charges of a “stolen” election remain premature for now.
Isaac Schorr is an ISI Fellow at National Review. @isaac_schorr
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Grandmother Accused in Slaying, Identity Theft Arrested in Texas
Authorities believe the suspect killed two victims with the same gun
Published on April 19, 2018 at 10:34 pm
Authorities believe Lois Riess shot and killed a woman in Florida to assume her identity.
She was arrested in Texas on Thursday.
Riess is also accused of killing her husband in March.
A tip-off in a Texas resort town led to the arrest of a woman who investigators believe killed her husband in Minnesota then fled to Florida, where she fatally shot her doppelganger with the intention of assuming her identity, police said Friday.
Two federal deputy marshals arrested Lois Riess, 56, about 8:30 p.m. Thursday at a restaurant in South Padre Island, Texas, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement. South Padre Island is a beach resort community 27 miles (43 kilometers) from the crossing into Mexico.
City spokeswoman Angelique Soto said Friday that a witness called authorities saying a woman matching Riess' description was at the restaurant. Her identity was confirmed by officers and the car she was using was towed and impounded "for forensic processing," Soto said.
Riess had checked into a local motel and was sitting at a nearby restaurant's bar with others, though authorities don't know if Riess had met the individuals in South Padre or elsewhere, South Padre Island Police Chief Randy Smith said Friday.
Riess was first approached by undercover officers and did not resist arrest when she was taken into custody, Smith said, adding that she did not have a weapon on her.
"I think she's kind of built up a resilience, where she thought she may not get caught. So she seemed to have let her guard down a bit," he said.
Riess had been on the run since at least late March when her husband, 54-year-old David Riess, was found fatally shot at their home in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. She became the subject of a nationwide hunt.
She had been seen on March 23 at a convenience store and casino in northern Iowa. Authorities released video showing Riess approaching the store cashier, buying a sandwich and asking for directions south of the state. The store is next to a casino where authorities say Riess spent the day gambling before stopping at the gas station.
It was also on March 23 that David Riess' business partner called authorities to ask them to check on him. The partner said no one at work had seen David Riess in more than two weeks. Authorities found David Riess' body inside his home with multiple gunshots.
They were not able to determine how long he had been dead and could not find his wife. They learned Lois Riess may have been at the casino in Iowa, but she wasn't there when they went looking for her.
From there, investigators believed she went to Florida where she killed 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson of Bradenton, Florida.
Authorities were called to Fort Myers Beach on April 9 and found Hutchinson dead, with gunshot wounds. Investigators believe Riess used the same gun to kill her husband and Hutchinson, and that she killed the woman to assume her identity.
Surveillance video showed Riess smiling and talking with Hutchinson on April 5 at a brewery in Fort Myers Beach. Authorities say she may have targeted Hutchinson because the two women looked alike.
Hutchinson had moved to Florida last year from Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Riess is being held in the South Padre Island jail. Soto, the city spokeswoman, said it is unclear to where she will be extradited and on which charges.
"Right now it's still in the air. We are waiting to confirm whether she will go to Florida or Minnesota," Soto said.
The police chief said Friday that local authorities had not yet questioned Smith because they were waiting for other law enforcement agencies to arrive in South Padre.
Minnesota court records show that Riess was suspended as guardian for her disabled 61-year-old sister after a report that she had been transferring funds from a guardianship account to her own account, then withdrawing funds at a casino.
A 2015 affidavit said thousands of dollars had been spent at Diamond Jo Casino in northern Iowa, not far from Riess' Blooming Prairie home. Riess was never charged with a crime, but was ordered to pay her sister more than $100,000.
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On Equal Pay Day, how far have we come?
A woman holds a sign that reads, "Equal Pay" during "A Day Without A Woman" demonstration on March 8, 2017 in Miami.Joe Raedle / Getty Images file
April 10, 2018, 5:53 PM UTC / Updated April 10, 2018, 5:53 PM UTC
By Renee Morad
On Tuesday, April 10, 2018, Americans come together to raise awareness for Equal Pay Day, which was launched by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) in 1996 to illustrate the wage gap between men and women. The current wage gap, based on ACS Census data, has women earning 80 cents for every dollar a male worker earns. Equal Pay Day occurs on a Tuesday to show how far into the next work week women would have to work to make as much as men did the previous week. The day is also marked by wearing red to symbolize how far women and minorities are “in the red” with their pay.
Below you will find some important things you should know about Equal Pay Day, including the scope of the current gender wage gap in the U.S., what obstacles are standing in the way of real progress for pay equality and ways you can make your voice heard today and moving forward.
According to Korn Ferry’s Gender Pay Index, which analyzed gender and pay for more than 1.3 million employees in 777 companies, women in the U.S. make on-average 17.6 percent less than men make. However, the Korn Ferry Gender Pay Index also found that when evaluating the same job level, the gap plummeted to 7 percent. And when considering the same level at the same company, the gap fell to 2.6 percent. When the data is further narrowed to the same company, at the same level of work and the same function, the gap falls to 0.9 percent.
“Our data show that women earn nearly 20 percent less than men as a whole, which is a real, significant issue, but this doesn’t paint a complete picture,” said Maryam Morse, senior client partner at Korn Ferry. “While there are still a number of organizations that pay women less for the same role, on average, when we compared women and men in the same jobs, the gap is significantly reduced.” In other words, it’s not that women and men have that much pay disparity when in the same roles, but that men tend to be employed in more senior positions and in higher-paying industries.
“There has been a lot of progress over the years in equal pay for equal work,” Morse said. “The issue we face today is that there aren’t enough women in higher levels of organizations and in higher paying fields, like tech, finance and R&D.” She added “Women clearly have the skills and competencies to succeed in higher-paying roles, and it's an organization's imperative to help them get there.”
What’s still standing in the way of progress?
In 1963, more than 30 years before the first Equal Pay Day, the U.S. passed the Equal Pay Act. This law made it illegal for employers to pay men and women differently for similar work. During this time, women were earning just 59 percent of men’s wages. However, the law’s impact was limited, especially since women were not—and still today, often are not—employed in the highest-paying segments of the labor market.
Then, in 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which overturned a Supreme Court ruling that said employees could not bring a salary discrimination suit if more than 180 days passed since the initial wage discrimination occurred, even if it had continued. Essentially, this law restored protection against gender-based pay discrimination and allowed women to fight for pay equality regardless of when they were first discriminated against.
But continued progress hasn’t been easy. In 2014, just five years after President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Republicans blocked a bill called the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would make it illegal for employers to penalize employees who discuss their salaries and would require the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to collect pay data from employers.
More recently, individual states have taken measures to report pay data to identify wage gaps and to help address them. Washington, for example, recently passed legislation that addresses gender discrimination and pay secrecy policies and ensures that workers who talk about their pay are not retaliated against.
How can companies help make change
Morse suggested that companies complete an analysis to understand their pay gap and determine a remediation process on how to close the gap. “Once the gap is understood, the organization should objectively review the key people processes to understand the root cause(s) of the gap, whether it be in hiring, the opportunity for development, advancement and promotion or bias in performance,” she said.
“Once organizations have done the work of ensuring bias-free people processes, the ongoing work is to deliberately focus on creating a culture of inclusiveness – diversity alone is not enough,” Morse said. “Inclusion is recognizing, valuing and fully leveraging the diversity of others to create a culture that promotes equality and delivers results.”
How employees can make a stand
While progress has been made, there’s still a long way to go, and just like years past, activists will find creative ways to make their voices heard on this year’s Equal Pay Day. In Washington, D.C., for example, a large coalition of equal pay advocacy groups will observe the day by gathering outside of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to hold a rally highlighting those most impacted by the wage gap. There will also be a “social media storm” to raise more awareness and take steps to further equal pay initiatives. A NYC Equal Pay Day Rally in City Hall Park in Manhattan will take place, as will a number of college events, such as a rally at UConn Women’s Center.
That said, closing the wage gap is a year-round effort, and steps can be taken by employees every day to help make change. It can range from negotiating your own salary from an informed place as a female employee to mentoring other women in the workplace. By encouraging other women to take on management roles and explore positions in high-paying industries, every action counts—and will ultimately bring us closer to closing the gap.
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Meet the Press Transcript - June 21, 2015
June 21, 2015, 5:26 PM UTC
MEET THE PRESS - JUNE 21, 2015
CHUCK TODD:
This Sunday, After Charleston, the worst race attack since before the Civil Rights era.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
Racism remains a blight that we have to combat together.
I'll be joined by the family members of Reverend Daniel Simmons, one of nine who lost their lives on Wednesday. And should the Confederate battle flag continue flying on the grounds of the South Carolina state capitol? 2016 Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee joins me.
Plus, the dynasty candidates. Is America ready to embrace or reject them? The latest from our brand new NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll. Finally, a special segment on gun violence in America. A truly remarkable video. Convicted murderers and their regrets over ever picking up a gun.
MALE CONVICT:
I took his buddy away from him. Me. How does that sit with me?
I'm Chuck Todd. And joining me for insight and analysis this Sunday morning are the New York Times's David Brooks, Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post, Helene Cooper of the New York Times, and Jerry Seib of the Wall Street Journal. Welcome to Sunday. It's Meet the Press.
ANNOUNCER:
From NBC News in Washington, this is Meet the Press with Chuck Todd.
Well, good morning. This is the scene outside the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina this morning where the congregation is gathering for the first service since a gunman murdered nine people there on Wednesday evening at Bible study.
The victims: Reverend Clementa Pinckney, Reverend Sharonda Singleton, Tywanza Sanders, Ethel Lance, Myra Thompson, Reverend DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Reverend Daniel Simmons Sr., Susie Jackson, and Cynthia Hurd. It was the worst racial attack in decades.
I believe brings back painful memories of other notorious incidents. The 1963 church bombing which killed four young girls in Birmingham, Alabama. And, of course, those killings of three civil rights activists in June of 1964 in Mississippi. But in Charleston, the process of healing has already begun.
And that was shown when family members of the victims showed such remarkable dignity at a hearing for the killer, Dylan Storm Roof on Friday. We're going to hear from the family of one of Wednesday's victims in a moment. But first, I want to go to my colleague Ron Allen who is outside Mother Emanuel this morning. Ron, tell me about the scene out there on this what looks like a very nice, sunny Sunday morning.
RON ALLEN:
It is, Chuck. But it's also a very emotional time, a very disturbing time, a very powerful moment. There have been people gathering here outside the church throughout the week since this horrific incident happened, paying their respect. So much public mourning, grief, and sorrow.
It's also a time for healing and a time to celebrate the lives of those nine souls lost whose names you just read. There's also a sense of history here. Because this church has existed, this congregation, for some 200 years. At other times, it was at the forefront of slave insurrections and rebellions.
Icons of the Civil Rights Movement like Martin Luther King Jr. have visited and worshiped here. And in more recent times, the pastor Reverend Pinckney and others have been in the forefront of the call for social justice. Remember, North Charleston is not far from here where Walter Scott was allegedly shot and killed by a North Charleston police officer not long ago.
But, again, today is mostly about healing, celebrating the lives of those who lost their lives, and trying to begin to move this community forward. A real sense that this could be a turning point for this community, if not the rest of the nation as well.
Ron--
Chuck.
Charleston has been amazing in all this. Ron Allen, thanks very much.
Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr. was victims of the horrific attack on Wednesday night at Bible study. He not only served parishioners in multiple South Carolina churches, including, of course, at Emmanuel AME. He also served this during the Vietnam War. His family, who has lost a man described as gentle and humorous, joins us now, including Alana Simmons, who faced the man charged with her grandfather's death in court and told him this: "Hate won't win." Thank you, Simmons family for joining us this morning. And, of course, I join with the entire country in offering condolences.
ALANA SIMMONS:
Thank you--
DANIEL SIMMONS:
Alana, let me start with you. "Hate won't win." Why was it important to you to send that message in court last week?
Well, earlier this week when all of the families spoke, I was actually inspired by some of the other families who immediately forgave the suspect when they had the opportunity to speak to him. And that made me think of how strong love is. And although my grandfather and the other victims died at the hands of the hatred from this man, the love of the community, and the love of Christ, and just the love of all of the families for the victims was so overwhelming that it outweighed the hate that he had for them.
Daniel, tell me about your dad.
My dad was a loving father. He was a great, inspirational leader. He cared deeply for his family, his community, his faith and he loved God.
What would he say how the community should respond to this horrific attack? What would he be telling you? What do you think he would say to you if he were here to sort of bring the community together?
First of all, I would like to thank the city of Charleston, how they have come together and shown unity and love. He would be so overwhelmed with how everyone has been unified to act on one accord.
My grandfather really loved Charleston. And one of our best memories of him was coming down two summers ago. And he took us on this grand tour of Charleston. And he just kept talking about how great the people of Charleston were. And we saw that. We saw that this week.
Alana, a lot of people want to use this incident to have a bigger conversation to try to do something. Racial reconciliation, guns. There's a lot of issues that people want to grab onto. What do you want the country to take away from this? And what do you want the country to be having and our political leaders to be having a conversation about?
Well, we elect not to talk about politics, or policies, or race issues at this time. At this time, we just want to focus on our grandfather and the other victims and making sure that the communities and the families heal and move on from this tragedy.
And Daniel, the importance of his faith, the importance of faith to everybody in that room that is mourning your father. Explain it.
It's easily explained. It's love.
That was a good answer. We love each other. We loved our grandfather. And the outpour of love from the community, and from the officials, from our community in Hampton Roads, Virginia, it's just been so overwhelming that it's given us, all of us I would like to say a grace that, you know, is past understanding.
Well, your family is quite an example for all of us in this country. Reconciliation, forgiveness, love, faith. Unbelievable. My condolences--
And Charleston has been a great example to the rest of the country as well. We just really, really appreciate how everyone has come together. And, like, people of all races, all religions, genders, orientations. At the prayer vigil we went to Friday night, everyone was there. And it was just so overwhelming and just so wonderful to see everyone coming together not to bash or to talk about the suspect but to celebrate the lives and to heal together.
Well, it's too bad that it took a tragedy like this to make that happen. But perhaps if this is what comes out of it, maybe we're a better society for it. Thank you, Simmons family.
I'm joined now by the Democratic congressman from South Carolina James Clyburn. Of course, welcome back to Meet the Press. And Congressman, my condolences.
REP. JAMES CLYBURN:
Thank you so much for having me.
I know these folks--
Thank you very much though.
They were constituents. But they were personal friends. Tell me about some of your friendships.
Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me. You know, speaking with Clem’s family, he and I are the same age. In fact, the last time that I did a morning service at Emmanuel, I think he was a pastor there at the time. I have gotten to know his family very, very well. His in-laws all constituents.
Pinckney, this guy was just absolutely the salt of the earth. I first met him when he was a student here at Allen University in Columbia. And, of course, his hometown, home church all in my congressional district. And Emmanuel is just one block outside my congressional district.
But he and I had a very close, personal relationship. Malcolm Graham, who has been on various shows this morning, his sister Cynthia was one of my daughters Mignon’s best friends. She was a librarian like my wife. And there's just so much interwoven in here. That Middleton, her father, he called himself my AME campaign manager. He was just a great guy. So I know all of these people--
I know--
--in a very personal way.
Congressman, you're from a generation that was in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement. You saw the pain and protests of the '60s, some of these attacks that took place in the '60s. Did you think this was at all possible, that something like this could happen in the 21st century?
Unfortunately, Chuck, I did. I have been saying for some time now, and my friends in the Congressional Black Caucus will tell you I've been saying to them, that there's a rightward drift in the country that I think has gone too far. And people are getting emboldened by all of this. We hear all the discussion about the Confederate battle flag.
And what is so interesting about that, Chuck, is that that is not the Confederate flag. That's the battle flag that flies in front of the statehouse. That is the flag of rebellion. We would not be having this discussion if that were the Confederate flag or the flag of the Confederate States of America.
Because that flag is not a symbol of hate. So when you see the resurrection of this, a young man, 21 years old wearing all of these apartheid things on his shirt, burning the United States flag, and glorifying the elongated version of the battle flag, certainly you're creating a climate that'll allow this kind of thing to happen.
You know, about ten years ago, you led a compromise effort on the flag. And there were Democratic presidential candidates who were threatening boycotts. And you were trying to be the peacemaker back then of saying, "Let's find a compromise on that flag." Looking back, do you wish you had just pushed harder and said, "You know what? No. We shouldn't have compromised?”
No, sir. If they had followed the compromise, we would not be here. The compromise was to put that flag in front of the Wade Hampton office building next to the Wade Hampton statue. What happened was when some people rejected the compromise, the legislature out of defiance put that flag where it is today in front of the statehouse.
That is not what the compromise was. The compromise was to put it on the back side of the statehouse out of public view so it would not have any appearance of sovereignty. And that's not what the legislature did. And I wish they would come back. They are coming back here to do the budget. They can very well take it up. Now, let me say one other thing, Chuck. They keep saying that it takes two thirds to bring it down. That may be true. But it only takes a simple majority to get rid of that two thirds law.
That's a very interesting way to put it. I'm going to leave it there. Congressman Clyburn, always a pleasure. Thanks for coming on Meet the Press this morning. And, again, my condolences. I know it's a rough, rough Sunday morning at church today.
All right. Well, the panel is here. Of course, the New York Times' David Brooks, author of the new book The Road to Character. Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post, a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina. Helene Cooper, Pentagon correspondent for the New York Times. And Jerry Seib, the Washington bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal. Welcome all. Gene, I'm going to start with you. This is your home.
EUGENE ROBINSON:
Yeah, it is. My whole mother's side of the family is from Charleston. I had a great, great grandfather who had a blacksmith's shop around the corner from where that church stands today. So it is personal. Just to what Congressman Clyburn said just now. Just very quickly on the flag issue. Do you know when that flag was first flown at the Columbia statehouse in Columbia?
That's right. This is very important. 1961. Not 18--
Not 1861.
1961. And why?
Well, forgive the metaphor. But it was a middle finger directed at the federal government. It was flown there as a symbol of massive resistance to racial desegregation. Period. It was all this all this nonsense about honoring the valor of Southern manhood, you know, 150 years ago. They didn't have any urge to do that for a century after the Civil War.
It was only after Brown v. Board, after Little Rock, after desegregation began that South Carolinians and put up the flag on the statehouse, that other states in the South adopted the battle flag as part of their state flags. So it was massive resistance.
Let me put up--Let me put up the two flags. Because you heard Congressman Clyburn talk about that one is not actually the Confederate flag. Here it is. The actual flag of the Confederacy, the first one is the one on the left with the circle stars. What is known as the Confederate flag today is actually the battle flag of the Northern Virginia Army that was led by Robert E. Lee. That was sort of adopted as the symbol as you say, Gene, in the '60s. David Brooks, you write about character morality. Your reaction to all this? I mean, I guess I didn't think in the 21st century we were going to have race-based massacres.
DAVID BROOKS:
Yeah. Well, there were two sides of the week. There was the massacre, which was the shocking side. But I thought the family's reaction and what we just saw at the top of the show was an equally newsworthy event. Somebody used the phrase grace that surpasses understanding.
And to see that forgiveness. You know, the natural human reaction is to greet hatred with hatred, revenge by revenge. That's the natural genetic reaction. But what we saw in the courtroom and then just now was lives transformed by faith, people living out the faith, people walking the walk. And it's an example to the rest of us. First of all, all of us who are in politics with these little petty feuds. And here's a bunch of families who have forgiven that?
I have to say Donald Trump was the story earlier this week. Could there be anything more opposite of wanting to discuss an-- you know, you're absolutely right.
Yeah. So, you know, I just thought that's first of all an example of the beautiful role faith can play in private life and public life. And just something that should be seared into our minds.
You know, Jerry Seib, this is not part of our NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll. But we have this online poll conducted by SurveyMonkey. We just asked specifically symbolism. "This Confederate flag, what does it symbolize: Southern pride or racism?" Split right down the middle, 49-49. I wonder if there's an education process when it comes to the Confederate battle flag.
GERALD SEIB:
Well, I think there is. And, you know, it's interesting. We could be talking about how wonderful Charleston has been. Or we could be talking about the flag. We're talking about the flag. And I have to think people in South Carolina have to be asking themselves, "Is that really the conversation we want to have or not?"
That number, Chuck, also reminded me of something you and I have seen in polling over the years, which is that white people tend to like to think that racial issues have been put behind us. And African Americans do not think that. And this split comes out over and over again.
Can I just tell you, Helene? I want you to react to something here. Josh DuBois, who of course was the president's first head of the White House Faith-based Initiative, he wrote this in the Daily Beast about this, what Jerry just brought up. "The question now is: Will we convince ourselves of the delusion that this killer is the only one who is sick? Or will we examine our national conscious and finally take steps to become well?
One of those steps has to be white Americans having an honest conversation about white culture." And he goes on to saying, you know, "We always say we got to have blacks and whites having a conversation together. Blacks need to have a conversation. But we never do call on white America to look inward."
HELENE COOPER:
No, we don't. I thought it was extraordinary essay. And I was glad to see that he wrote that. And I think it's something that we probably-- I don't know that I'm necessarily the person to be talking about white America having conversations at their dinner table. But I think it's something that we as the media don't really call on when we talk about, you know, having a conversation about race.
We talk about blacks and whites having a conversation about race. I know when I first got hired by the Wall Street Journal and I had not really been very far South before, I remember driving. I was hired in the Atlanta bureau of the Wall Street Journal. Driving across the border into Georgia and realizing at the time-- this was 1994.
And the Georgia state side had the Confederate flag on it. And as a black woman, I blanched. And I can't describe for you. When I see that battle flag, for me it's a symbol of hatred. And so it's very hard for me to cross that bridge and try to understand when. You know, and I understand that a lot of people in the South believe that this is heritage. You know, and as a black woman, I see that. And it's a tough one for me.
All right. We're going to pick up this conversation a little bit later in the show. But when we come back, we're also going to pick up the other subject that has been brought up after this massacre. And that's guns. This is a unique look though at the issue of gun violence in America. It's a video of inmates who committed murder talking about their regrets about ever picking up a firearm.
And they say to themselves, "If I'm careful, if I'm careful, then I can reach this good thing as long as nothing bad happens." And then I happened to him.
***Commercial Break***
Every country has violent, hateful, or mentally unstable people. What's different is not every country is awash with easily accessible guns. And so I refuse to act as if this is the new normal or to pretend that it's simply sufficient to grieve and that any mention of us doing something to stop it is somehow politicizing the problem.
That was President Obama Friday in the wake of the Charleston massacre on the issue of the availability of guns in America. Earlier, we heard the moving words of family members of the victims. So this morning, we wanted to take a look at American gun violence from a different perspective: From that of the person pointing the gun. We have a remarkable video to show you.
NBC News producer Dan Slepian volunteered to make a video about gun violence on his own time with convicted murderers at Sing Sing. It’s the infamous prison just north of New York City. The circumstances you are about to see are very different from the racist violence in Charleston. In this case, the inmates are African American that you’re going to hear from. But their lessons remain important. We simply ask you to look at this be a colorblind issue, as about just simply gun violence. Dan Slepian put these folks alone in a room with a camera. And asked them to do something unique, talk to their 12-year-old selves. What would they say now that could've made them put down the gun that ended a life and landed them in prison?
MALE INMATE #1:
My name is Tyrone Abraham I’m 40 years old, I made a choice a gun. That I held in my hands. A gun, when I first held one gave me a sense of power made me feel strong. Made me feel like, I was invincible
You can be the bad thing that happens to somebody. Think about that, right? There could be a family. There’s a child. And and and and a father and there’s a mother and there’s a family. They come here from Africa to build a better life and they say to themselves ‘If I’m careful, if I’m careful I can reach this good thing as long as nothing bad happens’. And then I happened to him. You want to be the bad? You want to be the bad?
When I was 17 one of my friends suggested to me ‘why don’t you carry a gun? You need this.’ So I took up a gun. I held it. And then this gun became my security.
NEWS ANCHOR:
The bullets shot into the crowd were real last night at a premier of the movie Godfather III
I entered a movie theater with a group of friends. Then another group of teens came in yelling. Pretty soon an argument erupted between my group and that group. One of them pulled out a gun and fired it. I returned fire.
Police rushed in to find four innocent victims wounded in the crossfire. Two of them them teenagers including Tremaine Hall.
I didn’t think I was gonna hit anybody but I did it anyway. A little boy was shot. He died that night.
And it is that fast and it is over and it’s done. And you don’t even know what you did. And by the time you understand. It is too late.
When I think of that I think of what happened at my trial. His father got on the stand. His father called his kid his buddy. That was his buddy. I took his buddy away from him. Me. How does that sit with me?
David, you write a lot about character and culture in general. And it's usually among the always when you do passed around things. The political conversation is one conversation on guns. This is a different way to have it.
First, thanks for coming to me first. That was tough. That was powerful. You know, I think what comes out of it: You got so many young men who feel psychologically weak. And then the gun is the source of power. It's all they got. They in some cases don't have educations, don't have jobs, don't have privilege. And then the gun becomes the power source. We even saw this in this Charleston's kid's photo of him with the guns. It has the psychological effect. "The gun is my thing. The gun is my thing"
When that one man described the security he felt holding it.
Yeah. And so that's a powerful look at inside the mind of how the gun becomes this psychological totem, this thing of who I am. And it's almost as if using the gun is going to be the thing that's going to be my expression of how I make a difference in the world. And that has a distorting cultural effect of just the physical presence of a gun in the hands of someone who feels he has nothing else.
I mean, and, Gene, changing a law, passing a law isn't going to change the culture.
No. Well, but passing the right law, passing a law that we're frankly not going to pass would take a lot of guns out of circulation, would make the gun not the normal thing one reaches for when one wants to aggrandize one's self-esteem. You know, I thought that was a very powerful piece. One small thing I would mention because I haven't seen the whole piece is it wasn't a terribly diverse set of people who were talking. Right now, we're talking about a horrific crime committed by a white man
White man. That's right
We're talking about the search for two escaped murderers.
Who are white men.
So we should point out--
Absolutely--
--that this is not just an African American problem.
No. No, no, no. And it wasn't intended to be that way. But, Helene, guns in our culture, that's what makes it politically so difficult.
Yes, that is what makes it politically so difficult. We seem in this country to be very wedded to them. I've heard so many different reasons for why. People say that, you know, gun control can't pass in Congress and that taking it on is political suicide. The first thing I thought, you know, when Charleston happened was that this isn't going to change the debate.
Because if Newtown, Connecticut isn't going to change the debate and we're not going to do anything about somebody going into an elementary school and shooting up a bunch of kindergarteners, we're certainly not going to do anything because a lunatic walked into a black church and shot nine people.
And that was a really cynical reaction on my part. And I think that's sad. I think that says a lot about, you know, sort of giving up hope about any sort of change or any real attempt to address gun control in this country. And I think that says a lot about the media and how we approach it. That the first thing that we say is, "It's going to be done--"
It's not going to happen.
"So forget it."
So forget it. Yeah.
Well, that's true. But, you know, it's interesting. We're all Washington creatures here.
So we think what are politicians in the government going to do. We've used the term conversation several times here. You know, if nothing else happens, there are conversations going on in society. And that's not nothing. That's kind of the reaction I have to that video and to watching the families in Charleston.
All right. By the way, that inmate video is being shown to young people by, among others, the New York City Police Department. You can see the entire video on our website, MeetthePressNBC.com. When we come back, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee joins me.
Meet the Press is brought to you by Morgan Stanley, where capital creates change.
Republican presidential candidates flocked to Washington this week to make the case to evangelicals that their religious convictions would be at the center of their decision making if they are elected.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE:
But when you're pro-life, you need to be pro-life for the whole life.
SEN. TED CRUZ:
I would encourage everyone here to be lifting up in prayer the court.
RICK PERRY:
Bring this nation a revival, a revival of opportunity for everyone.
JEB BUSH:
And when I was asked to intervene on behalf of a woman who could not speak up for herself, I stood on her side. I stood on the side of Terry Schiavo and her parents.
Many of the messages to evangelicals were familiar. But this week, another religious leader introduced a new topic, climate change. That was a big part of Pope Francis's encyclical, which turned out to be a 184-page indictment of the global economy as a whole. The science of climate change is clear, the Pope said.
Humans are at fault. And they're turning the Earth into a, quote, "immense pile of filth." Well, suddenly several Republican candidates for president were put in the awkward bind of arguing that religion and religious leaders should stay out of political debates.
We don't go to Mass for economic policy or for things in politics. I got enough people helping me along the way with that.
RICK SANTORUM:
Pope can talk about whatever he wants to talk about. I'm just saying, "What should the Pope use his moral authority for?"
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and, of course, a former Baptist minister. And he joins me now. Governor Huckabee, welcome back to Meet the Press.
FMR. GOV MIKE HUCKABEE:
Thank you, Chuck. Great to be here.
Before I get to that topic and the intermingling of religion and government, let me start on a couple of Charleston things in South Carolina and get your reaction. The flag debate is something you were a part of back in 2008. I want to play what you said when you last ran for president when the issue came up during the South Carolina primary.
MIKE HUCKABEE (ON TAPE):
You don't like people from outside the state coming down and telling you what to do with your flag. In fact, if somebody came to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we'd tell them where to put the pole. That's what we'd do.
Governor, how do you feel this morning?
I still feel like it's not an issue for a person running for president. Here's what I think the question underlying all of this is: We're asking, "Is South Carolina a racist state because of the flag that flies on their Capitol grounds?" Here's what I can tell you as a frequent visitor to South Carolina.
This is a state that largely white people elected a female governor of Indian descent and the first ever African American United States senator from the South. They have more diversity in the people that they have elected to statewide office than New York, Connecticut, or Massachusetts. There's 4.8 million people in South Carolina.
I don't think you could say that the presence of one lunatic racist who everybody in this country feels contempt for and no one is defending is somehow evidence of the people of South Carolina. I think we've seen the people of South Carolina and their character by what you saw in Charleston with people of all races, Democrats, Republicans from every perspective hugging, praying. Nobody was burning down their community. They weren't breaking windows. They weren't beating up on cops. They were exhibiting a true Christian spirit that really is, I think, exemplary to the rest of the country.
I guess the question is: Should government be sanctioning a symbol that a large chunk of residents believe is a symbol of racism?
Well, it depends on which level of government. If the state government of South Carolina wishes to address an issue in their state, that's fine. But, Chuck, if you can point me to an article and section of the Constitution in which a United States president ought to weigh in on what states use as symbols, then please refresh my memory on that. But for those of us running for president, everyone's being baited with this question as if somehow that has anything to do whatsoever with running for president. And my position is: It most certainly does not. If you--
Would you ever fly the flag--
People want their president to be focused on the economy, keeping America safe, some really big issues for the nation, I don't think they want us to weigh in on every little issue in all 50 states that might be an important issue to the people of those states but it's not on the desk of the president.
Well, let me just ask you this personally. Are you comfortable displaying the Confederate battle flag in public?
I don't personally display it anywhere. So it's not an issue for me. And so that's an issue for the people of South Carolina. Do you display it? I doubt it. Does anyone on your panel display it? I doubt it. For us, it's not an issue.
Let me move on to this larger debate about race relations in America. If you were president of the United States today and you have this racially motivated massacre that took place in Charleston. But we've had some social unrest as well, this trust issue between African Americans and law enforcement officials. How would you be addressing this today if you were president?
I think the best way to address it is the way that we have seen from the church members there at Emanuel AME Church. If you look at the pastor, the pastor who was murdered, it occurs to me that here is a shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. A great example of biblical love, of Christian spirit.
And when you hear the family members as we heard on that very powerful interview earlier, it reminds us that Christianity is not this cartoonish, contemptible, laughable faith that people today try to marginalize. It is a powerful force of healing and reconciliation.
And while I know there are many people in our culture who don't want people to bring faith into the discussion, Chuck, after watching that family and seeing the members of this church in court the other day, I would say that most Americans stand back in awe and maybe would understand that it is precisely faith that would help this country have true racial reconciliation.
Let me just add this personally. When I was a young pastor in my 20's, I stood in front of what had been an all-white church. This was well over 30 years ago. And I welcomed the first African American member to that church. I had death threats. There were people who said they would leave the church.
But instead, I held my ground. I said, "If he goes, I go." The result was our church grew exponentially. And even though people said that they would cut off their giving, the very next month we had a record level of giving in that church. Sometimes it just takes courage to stand up and call out something to be evil and to express that the reason it's evil because it is a defiance and a defilement of God's grace.
And we've seen God's grace in the Emanuel AME Church and its members. A great testimony to the leadership of that pastor who instilled such a faith in his members that when they were faced with the greatest crisis of their experience, they reflected all that he had taught them. That I believe is the greatest witness we can hope for.
Let me go to the question that I introduced this topic on. And that is what the Pope said about climate change. And what's interesting is the way he based his position on climate change is actually very similar to the way you have based your position in the past.
And you have said this back in 2007. "Whether there is or there isn't," when it comes to climate change, "It doesn't release us from the responsibility to be good stewards of the environment. It's a spiritual issue. The earth belongs to God. I have no right to destroy it." It sounds like you agree with the Pope, sort of a faith-based focus on dealing with climate change. Do you still believe that?
Well, I've always believed that the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. I believe that I'm not the owner of the natural resources. I'm just a manager, a steward. I get to use them, but I don't get to abuse them. I think what the Pope has done is to help us to start talking about our stewardship.
But let me be very clear. I think one of the ways that we would really help a lot of people is to use the energy that we have until we develop energy that right now is not that economically viable. I also would say to the Pope if we could get the prices of energy down and make it more affordable, the difference between $5 a gallon gasoline and $2 a gallon gasoline is a pay raise to a single mom strapping a couple of kids into car seats, taking them to daycare, and then on her way to work.
Lower energy prices means that 84-year-old woman in south Arkansas can turn her air conditioning on in the hottest day of 100° sweltering August sun. And so those are real, true moral and economic issues for a lot of people. So our goal is not just to say, "Let's not use the resources." Let's use them in a way that empowers people to live the best life they can possibly live.
Okay, I understand that. But go to the key point of climate change. A) Do you believe it's man-made? And B) do you think that if you're elected president, this has to be on your agenda?
Whether it's man-made or not, I know that when I was in college I was being taught that if we didn't act very quickly, that we were going to entering a global freezing. And, you know, go back and look at the covers of Time and Newsweek from the early '70s. And we were told that if we didn't do something by 1980, we'd be popsicles.
Now we're told that we're all burning up. Science is not as settled on that as it is on some things. I find it interesting. The Left has completely embraced the Pope's message on climate change. But the Pope in that very same encyclical talked about the science of life and that there's no justification for taking the life of an innocent person when we know that the science is settled on the biology of the human life coming into being at the point of conception.
So let's embrace all of the Pope's message. And I'm waiting for the folks on the left who love this part about climate change. I'm waiting for them to also agree with him on the sanctity of every human life and that there's no such thing as an unwanted, disposable, or expendable human being.
All right. So if president, climate change is not in your top of your agenda? Just to--
Well, climate change is maybe the wrong question. Good, stable energy prices and making America an exporter of energy not just for economic reasons but quite frankly to disrupt the balance of power with Russia, Iran, and the Saudis. This is a game changer. And America needs to be using the resources that it has, use them responsibly, but for heaven's sakes use them to empower Americans, help poverty, and also change the global balance.
All right, governor. I got to leave it there. We had a lengthy conversation obviously about the horrific news of the past week. I hope to have you on again. We can talk taxes, spending, foreign policy, a lot of other things. It's a long campaign. Be safe on the trail, sir.
Thank you very much, Chuck.
Up next, just out this morning. The latest NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll on the presidential race and the two names that have been with us for a long time, Bush and Clinton. Stay with us.
**Commercial Break**
Last week, we introduced our new segment, Meet the Next. The idea is to bring you interesting or intriguing ideas from around the country. Well, this week's new idea comes from the Annenberg Working Group on Presidential Campaign Debate Reform. This group of political operatives have many ideas that they would use to improve the debate process.
Among them, a chess clock like this one. The idea is this: Instead of allowing a set time for each answer for candidates to give, instead they would get a total amount of time that they can use for the entire debate. So it would work like this. Let's say you're Ted Cruz and your position on health care reform is crystal clear, repeal every word of Obamacare.
Done. You hit the clock. And then you have more time for other answers where you might want more nuance. The Annenberg folks had other suggestions. Eliminating most on-site audiences, embracing social media. But the chess clock was probably the most intriguing one and maybe the only one I really wanted to embrace. Well, now I'm being told I'm out of time. So we'll be back with the latest from the NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll and what voters think about the dynasty candidates Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton.
In this week's nerd screen, we have some brand new NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll results. And the big headline: America is not all that concerned about Jeb or Hillary's last names. In fact, we asked people to tell us what their top concerns were about the upcoming presidential race. We gave them a list of choices. And here's what came out on top. Ready for this?
33% were concerned that wealthy people and companies will have too much influence. That was number one. Number two issue with 25% was the idea that there will be more negativity in the campaign instead of actual debate about solutions to problems. That was a big surprise, that both issues were process issues that the country was concerned about.
Only 4% chose too many people from the same family running for president as their top concern. Conventional wisdom has been that the names Bush and Clinton are an issue to voters. But our poll shows that people are much more worried about how the campaigns will be conducted and paid for, not who's running.
And speaking of these famous last names, there is actually more good news in our poll for Jeb Bush. Back in March, only 49% of Republican voters said they could picture themselves supporting Jeb Bush eventually as the nominee. Well, guess what? After his announcement, that number is now 75%.
A huge jump for him and a big noteworthy point post-presidential announcement. As for the other guy that got into the race last week, Donald Trump. 66% of Republicans said they could not see supporting him. That is by far the highest on the list of can't support among Republicans of all the candidates that we tested.
But guess what? The good news for Trump: It was better than his showing in March, which was 74%. Now, here are the top five Republicans who have the most potential support in the primary: Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Mike Huckabee, Scott Walker, and Rick Perry. There is your top five among the Republicans that say they could see themselves supporting as the nominee.
So there's your sneak peek on the NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll. We're going to have a lot more tomorrow. But in a moment before we go to break, a reminder. If you can't be in front of a TV to see Meet the Press live, there's no problem with that. We're always available on demand. And don't forget to make us a season pass on your DVR. So even if it's not Sunday, it's still Meet the Press. Back in a moment with our end game segment.
Stay tuned for end game brought to you by Boeing.
Time now for Meet the Press end game brought to you by Boeing, where the drive to build something better inspires us every day.
End game time. The panel is here. I want to go back to the gun video we showed because we've gotten a lot of comments on social media already. I'm going to read one tweet. It says, "Unfortunately Meet the Press decided to show that guns don't kill people but black powerless kids with guns kill people. Wrong time." Gene, you brought this up. That was the first reaction you had.
Yeah, I just--
Look, that is not, we wanted to have a different conversation about guns, about the societal issues, the why people choose to go get one. It wasn't meant to be a black and white issue. And I understand maybe in one of these moments where everybody's only seeing things through black and white.
Yeah. You know, here's one thing it teaches, is, you know, we have to be conscious of the way we talk about race. And we ought to do it more often. If we did it more often and it was part of the general conversation, then it wouldn't be so striking and so noticeable to so many people when, for example, you do something about gun violence and you only have black people in it. So, again, let's keep the dialogue going. And let's broaden it as well.
You know, David, look, the reason to bring up gun violence is we looked up these statistics. 50 Americans since 9/11 have been killed in terrorist attacks. We're up to nearly 400,000 people since 9/11 have been killed by firearms.
Right. But the way the news events have happened with Ferguson, and this, and a bunch of Baltimore, a lot of them have had huge racial components. But then the conversation has slipped over into things like poverty and things like that. And so we've overly intermixed race and poverty.
I mean, most poor people in America are white. The family breakdown issue is an issue that crosses all sorts of racial lines. High school dropout issues. But because of the flow of events which involve the racial component, we've sometimes confused racial issues with other issues which are trans-racial.
No. And this is, I think, the challenge for political leaders. And, Jerry, it may go to the fact that, you know, the president, he went guns, not race in his immediate aftermath. And I talked to people close to him. The president is self-aware that when he talks about race, he thinks it polarizes the conversation. And therefore it defeats the purpose that he wants to have.
Yeah. And this is the great irony, I think, of the first African American president. In some ways, he finds it harder to talk about race because he carries, you know, his own background into it obviously. He's not seen necessarily as a neutral observer. He's not having much effect. And I think you see the frustration when he talks about these things on either front, on the racial front or on the guns front. You can tell that bothers him.
You know, Helene, I had long conversations with aides. "Why guns, not race?" And they were just saying, "Well, guns is, believe it or not, less polarizing."
Yeah, it is sort of ironic. I don't necessarily think that Obama has problems talking about race. I think that he has been jumped on a lot whenever he has. I remember the Skip Gates thing back at the beginning of his first term where he said the Cambridge police behaved stupidly for arresting Professor Henry Louis Gates for trying to go into his own house.
And when he said it, I remember sitting at the press conference and thinking, "That's what I thought." That kind of made sense to me. And I remember writing a story. And then the next day came the backlash and everybody saying, "Why is he going after the Cambridge Police? He's a police officer's blah b;ah blah."
And it was very much, I thought. And that sort of has dogged him, I think, for years ever since then. That he gives his initial reaction. And then that ends up being polarizing because of who he is and because he is a black man. I think when he has spoken about race in a real issue, he can be great on it. He can be awesome.
He was the most powerful--His symbolism may be more powerful than anything else. But, Gene, to go back to the gun video that we showed, it is a reminder and in fact on law enforcement that, you know, white people do not see this issue the same because I've never been pulled over because of the color of my skin--
Right--
--by a police officer.
And white parents don't have to have that talk with their sons about how to act when you're approached by police, and, "Don't make any sudden movements," and, "Keep your hands, you know, visible," and that sort of thing. You know, look, we could talk about this all day.
We could talk about mass incarceration. We could talk about disparities in drug sentencing. We could talk about a lot of things. I do want to point out that at the conference of mayors the other day Hillary Clinton gave a very tough speech on race where she really went into the issue in a very tough way. And also, President Obama on the second day--
Yes, he did--
--in fact did get into race in a more substantial way than he did the first day.
Well--
But Hillary Clinton was very tough.
It's Father's Day. It's been a heavy day for a lot of people. Heavy issues for a lot of Americans that are having these conversations. But I want to wish a happy Father's Day to all dads and granddads out there. We'll be back next week. If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
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Coralie Carlson
Measles Outbreak in NJ Sickens at Least 3: Officials
Published March 16, 2019 • Updated on March 17, 2019 at 9:12 am
A third person contracted measles in Ocean County in a new outbreak and health officials are warning others who may have been exposed.
The New Jersey Department of Health said Friday that the person visited several locations in Lakewood from March 9 to March 14. Anyone who has been exposed should call a doctor immediately. Those exposed could develop symptoms through April 7.
Measles is a highly contagious disease, and symptoms include rash, high fever, cough and red, watery eyes.
The Health Department says anyone who visited the following locations in Lakewood may have been exposed:
Congregation Bais Tefilla, 33 East 8th St.
March 9, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
March 10 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Beth Medrash Govoha, Bais Yitzchok Hall
March 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
March 13 from 12:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Beth Medrash Govoha, Yoshon Hall
March 10 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Beth Hamedrash Zichron Binyomin, 701 Princeton Ave.
March 9 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
March 10 from 9:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. (March 11)
March 13 from 10:45 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. (March 14)
Lake Terrace Hall, 1690 Oak St.
March 11 from 10:00 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. (March 12)
Kol Shimshon, 323 Squankum Rd.
March 12 from 9:00 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.
Coralie CarlsonDepartment of HealthOcean CountyHealth Department
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Share their stories to help endangered reporters' vital work
Nour al-Khal, an Iraqi living in New York City. The Independent
by Kim Sengupta
NOUR al-Khal was a resourceful, smart and brave Iraqi journalist.
I worked with her in Basra during violent times and it was thanks to her that The Independent revealed damning secrets about abuse of prisoners, exposés which led to the newspaper being nominated for a press award.
The same year, 2005, she was taken from the street, along with a US reporter, Steven Vincent, by armed men in police uniforms. Both were shot.
Steven died. Nour was dumped on the roadside but survived.
They had sealed their fate by investigating the infiltration of the security forces by the Shia militia, the Mehdi Army.
After a long process of recovery in Baghdad - she would not have been safe in a Basra hospital - Nour fled the country.
She now lives in America; a group of journalists played a part in arranging the move, by prolonged lobbying of the US authorities.
Attempts to get the British government, which at that time was supposedly in charge of security in southern Iraq, to track down the gunmen came to nothing.
Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, a 24-year-old trainee journalist, was sentenced to death in Afghanistan for trying to examine how women's rights were being clawed back.
The Independent publicised what was happening to him and ran a two-year campaign.
I visited the prisons in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif where he was being held a number of times; our then Afghanistan correspondent, Jerome Starkey, pursued the story with great diligence.
The case was taken up by human rights organisations.
Hillary Clinton, then US Secretary of State, and David Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary, were among those who raised the matter with Hamid Karzai.
After his re-election in 2009, the Afghan President issued a pardon, but even that had to be done in secret, such was the trepidation about the fury this would cause among hardline religious clergy.
Pervez, too, now lives abroad, in exile from his homeland.
The media can, at times, help those in our trade who are in such difficult and dangerous situations; and there is significant support from the public when that happens.
An online petition launched by this newspaper to stop the execution of Pervez attracted more than 100,000 signatures within months and undoubtedly helped secure the international intervention on his behalf with President Karzai.
But the targeting of journalists, killings, imprisonment, torture, show no signs of ending.
The perpetrators are regimes whose secrets are being exposed; they also include insurgents and criminal gangs, so-called "non-state actors", who do not want their own misdeeds exposed, or, at times, try to raise funds through kidnap ransoms.
Voices in Danger, launched by The Independent's owner, Evgeny Lebedev, seeks to highlight the plight of journalists who continue to be persecuted for doing their job, sometimes paying with their lives.
Anna Politkovskya, who worked for Novaya Gazeta, one of the few investigative newspapers in Russia, was shot dead outside her home, after charting abuse by government forces in Chechnya.
Syed Saleem Shahzad, a Pakistani reporter who had written about links between his country's intelligence service, ISI, and Islamist terrorists, was murdered after being warned to stay away from the subject. Sattar Beheshti, an Iranian blogger, was arrested by the police.
A week later his family received a call from the authorities to collect his body.
The lethal toll of members of the media covering wars continue to rise; 121 were killed last year alone.
They included the Sunday Times' writer Marie Colvin, a close friend to many of us; a photographer with her, Paul Conroy, another friend, suffered severe injuries to his legs in the same bombardment in Homs.
There are, at present, seven foreign reporters and photographers missing amid Syria's bloody turmoil.
My colleague Jim Armitage, who carried out a series of revelatory interviews with persecuted journalists, found that many were not involved in covering conflict, but engaged in what would, in a safer places, be regarded as straightforward work - holding public figures accountable, looking into allegations of fraud in institutions, the activities of businessmen; essential safeguards provided by the Fourth Estate in a civic society.
On Wednesday evening the Frontline Club in London held a forum on safety of journalists working in hazardous places.
Among those taking part were representatives of Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, A Day Without News and Voices In Danger. The statistics on the media under attack were grim.
But what was also clear was that campaigning on the issue, holding the perpetrators to account, and pressuring governments and bodies like the UN and the International Criminal Court provides vital help to those trying against the odds to shed light on dark places.
Read more on the Voices in Danger website today.
Beirut rocket strikes confirm need for action in Syria: Carr
Iraq torture claims: New allegations to go to ICC
editors picks iraq journalists
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Featured / Taste of Norway
Aass Brewery is Norway’s oldest
Published November 2, 2018 · Updated December 31, 2020
A long and hoppy history
Photo courtesy of Aass Brewer
Aass’s five export beers.
M. Michael Brady
Asker, Norway
At age 16 in 1852, Poul Lauritz Aass left the family farm near the bucolic hamlet of Skotselv in Buskerud County, bid farewell with his father’s instruction “Jeg har lært deg jeg kan lære deg. Nå får du greie deg selv, gutten min” (I’ve taught you all I can. Now you must cope for yourself, my boy.) For the time, it was a commonplace parting. By tradition, boys of 16 left home to start their working lives. The young Aass went to the burgeoning commercial center of Drammen, where his uncle Lars Aass had a company. There he worked for his uncle and for a grain company in Oslo. He also attended business school and at the age of 25 qualified for a business license on April 24, 1861.
Toward the end of his studies, Aass began looking for a way to start a business. An opportunity came in 1860 with the death of Halvor Ellingsen, a ship chandler in Drammen who owned a company founded in 1834 that in addition to provisioning ships dealt in household supplies and had a bakery and a brewery. Aass learned that the company was to be sold. He had neither money nor financial backing but had a friend who did, shipowner H.L. Gjessing. The two bought Ellingsen’s company and renamed it Gjessing & Aass.
Despite the name, Gjessing remained a shipowner. Aass was left to manage the company, to the surprise of Gjessing, who remarked “Jeg skjønner ikke hva Aass vil med det bryggeriet.” (I don’t understand what Aass wants to do with that brewery.) It was a challenge. The way Aass and his descendants responded is the story of the Aass Brewery, told and illustrated in a commemorative book published upon its 180th anniversary in 2014 (further reading).
Photo courtesy of Aass Brewery
Three local brewery owners meet, circa 1900. From left: Johan Rief, Poul Lauritz Aass, and Gustav Wriedt.
In 1867, founders Gjessing and Aass formalized their differing commercial interests. Aass bought out Gjessing’s share to assume sole ownership of the company, including its land and buildings on the north bank of Drammenselva (The Drammen River). The company grew apace, and the brewery was awarded medals for the quality of its beers at international exhibitions in Amsterdam, Melbourne, Copenhagen, and Paris. At the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris, Aass beers together with those of eight other Norwegian breweries were awarded the Grand Prix.
Poul Aass died on Aug. 3, 1904, and his oldest son took over as the CEO of the company. That set a tradition that exists to this day—Aass Brewery is a family company, passed on from generation to generation. It’s a resilient tradition that has resisted the temptations of moneymaking, most recently in 2007 when the Aass Brewery rejected an offer of takeover by Hansa Borg, Norway’s second-largest beer company, an amalgamation of three local breweries.
The family company tradition is entrenched in its official name, AS P Ltz Aass (an abbreviation for “Poul Lauritz Aass Inc.”), registered by the second-generation heirs on Nov. 19, 1904. Thereafter, the company story reflects the evolution of brewing and beer consumption in Norway.
In June 1917, Norwegian beer taxation was revised into four categories according to alcohol by volume (ABV): Class A: near beer with an ABV of less than 0.7%, Class B: lettøl (light beer) with an ABV of 0.7% to 2.75%, Class C: seldom used, with an ABV of 2.75% to 3.75%, Class D: butikkstyrke (shop strength) beers as sold in supermarkets. Beer over 4.75% ABV is called sterkøl (strong beer) and is sold only by Vinmonopolet (government-owned wine and liquor shops). Beers for export usually have higher ABVs; the five Aass beers for export have an ABV of 6.5%.
Photo courtesy of Aass BreweryTurn of last century Aass beer delivery wagons.
From the beginning, logistics was an essential part of company operations. Until the late 1920s to early 1930s, beer was delivered by horse-drawn beer wagons. Then Ford Model A open-cab pickups were phased in. By 1944, during the World War II occupation, the Aass Brewery had 11 trucks and 12 horses in service. A 1950s photo of the delivery fleet shows only trucks plus one American Jeep used for deliveries on roads too rough for the other vehicles.
Like other breweries in Norway, Aass also bottles soft drinks. Their most popular original has been Solo, a Norwegian brand of carbonated orangeade. Also like many other breweries, Aass brews varieties of beers from abroad, including India pale ale (IPA) and India pale lager (IPL), so named because they were developed in the 1840s in England by breweries near the East India Company docks for export to India. Another popular import is vøerteøl, a non-alcoholic carbonated malt beverage similar to the Malta soft drink popular in Latin America.
Today the Aass Brewery catalog includes 44 beverages for the Norwegian market plus five strong beers for the export market, all described in its websites (further reading).
Aass Brewery today, in autumn.
Pronouncing Aass (hint: not a body part)
English speakers often mispronounce the name Aass, sometimes facetiously. The mistake is one of the many accidents in the histories of the languages that evolved around the North Sea. The initial Aa letter group is a leftover from medieval times when doubled letters were often used to write long vowels. Attempts to represent the long a vowel sound (like the O in rope) with a single grapheme date from the 16th century, when historian Olaus Petri (1493-1526) introduced Å, now called “A ring,” in a Catechism published in 1526 in Stockholm. In the 18th century, Scandinavian linguists tried to modernize orthography by proposing that the letter Å be introduced in written Norwegian. In 1917, Å replaced the aa in official spellings and in 1938 was made mandatory in public documents and schoolbooks. General acceptance lagged. The upshot today is that the Aa letter group and the single letter Å coexist in written Norwegian.
• Aass Bryggeri, website at www.aass.no in Norwegian), with selected pages in English at www.aass.no/en/aass-bryggeri-en.
• Norges Eldste Bryggeri 180 år (Norway’s oldest brewery now 180 years old), commemorative book by Reidar Heieren, Aass Bryggeri (in Norwegian).
M. Michael Brady was born, raised, and educated as a scientist in the United States. After relocating to the Oslo area, he turned to writing and translating. In Norway, he is now classified as a bilingual dual national.
Norwegian physics research evaluated: Physics research community in international forefront
by The Norwegian American · Published March 4, 2010
International election observers in place
by The Norwegian American · Published September 14, 2009
Israeli criticism of Hamsun commemoration
by The Norwegian American · Published August 23, 2009
Next Comics 11/16
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The Blast From The Past & The Future
CULTURE/TRENDS
We Love The Pop Classics
Shania Twain is Performing Her Greatest Hits at 2019 American Music Awards
Mary Rozzi
The iconic country singer and one of the best-selling music artists of our time, Shania Twain, is ready to make a comeback at the 2019 American Music Awards.
It was announced today that the five-time AMA's winner will take the stage at this year's awards show to perform a medley of her greatest hits. Twain's performance at the 2019 AMA's will be the first time she's performed on that stage since 2003—so you know it's about to be an unforgettable and legendary performance.
Get your playlists ready and start brushing up on her iconic discography!
With more than 90 million albums sold worldwide, The Woman in Me singer remains the top-selling female country artist of all time. Twain is also the first and only woman to receive the Artist of a Lifetime Award at the CMT Music Awards and she recently received the Icon Award at Billboard's Women in Music ceremony.
As the decade comes to a close, this year's AMA's will celebrate the past ten years of movers and shakers in the music scene with some of the best live performances from the biggest names in the industry. And the five-time Grammy winner and Queen of Country Pop will be there on one of music's biggest nights to put on an incredible show.
Listen to Shania Twain's music hits down below.
Happy 42nd Birthday, Aaliyah!
Happy 53rd Birthday, LL Cool J!
Happy 50th Birthday, Mary J. Blige!
CONNECT WITH OUR DIVISIONS
Nostalgic Express® created by QUEEN OF BEATS. The platform that gives you a blast from the past and the future – from news/histories, music, film, events and concert tickets.
© 2020 Nostalgic Express
Global MIC. Entertainment
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"Assault Weapons" and "Large" Magazines
The congressionally-mandated study of the federal “assault weapon ban” of 1994-2004 found that the ban had no impact on crime, in part because “the banned guns were never used in more than a modest fraction of gun murders.” (Urban Institute[1]) Rifles of any type are used in only two percent of murders. (FBI[2]) Subsequent research conducted by the RAND Corporation found no conclusive evidence that banning “assault weapons” or “large” capacity magazines has an effect on mass shootings or violent crime.[3]
“Murder rates were 19.3% higher when the Federal [assault weapon] ban was in effect.”[4]
Americans own over eleven million AR-15s and buy hundreds of thousands of new ones every year. (NSSF[5])
AR-15s are the most commonly used rifles in marksmanship competitions, training, and home defense.
Total violent crime and murder has fallen to near historic lows, while ownership of the firearms and magazines that gun control supporters want banned has risen to all-time highs. (FBI,[6] NSSF[7])
AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles are not the fully-automatic, military-grade firearms they are often claimed to be by gun control supporters and the media.
Ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds are standard equipment for many handguns and rifles that Americans keep for self-defense.
The terrorist attacks in France and Belgium show that gun bans—including those on semi-automatic firearms and standard-capacity magazines—don’t prevent crime. In both countries, the ownership of firearms, including semi-automatics, is severely restricted.
Gun control supporters are wrong to claim that “assault weapons” are used in most mass shootings. While the media focus on this false narrative, mass killings have been committed with firearms of all types, and without firearms of any type.
Second Amendment – Firearms that gun control supporters call “assault weapons” and ammunition magazines that they call “large” are among the arms protected by the Second Amendment. Because they’re among the arms that are most useful for the entire range of defensive purposes, they’re “in common use” for defensive purposes, a standard articulated by the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008).[8] This is true, regardless of which of gun control supporters’ ever-expanding definitions of “assault weapons” one uses.[9] In 2015, Heller decision author Justice Antonin Scalia reiterated that the Second Amendment and Heller preclude “assault weapons” bans when he signed onto a dissent from the denial of certiorari in Friedman v. Highland Park.[10]
More “assault weapons” and “large” magazines, less crime – From 1991, when violent crime hit an all-time high, to 2017, the nation’s total violent crime rate decreased 48 percent, including a 46 percent decrease in the murder rate.[11] Meanwhile, Americans bought about 200 million new firearms,[12] including more than eleven million AR-15s,[13] and so many tens of millions of “large” handgun and rifle magazines that it seems pointless to attempt a count.[14]
Different guns, same old tune – In the 1970s, gun control supporters predicted that crime would rise unless Congress banned all handguns.[15] In the 1980s, they said the same thing about compact, small-caliber handguns.[16] For a quarter-century, they’ve said the same thing about “assault weapons” and “large” magazines[17] and Right-to-Carry laws under which people carry semi-automatic handguns and “large” magazines for self-defense.[18]Every one of these predictions has been proven false.[19] Nevertheless, they have expanded their definition of “assault weapon” to include virtually all semi-automatic shotguns and detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles, comparable handguns, and various fixed-magazine rifles, and continue to press for a ban on magazines.[20]
Study for Congress and follow-up studies – The congressionally-mandated study of the federal “assault weapon” and “large” magazine “ban” concluded that “the banned guns were never used in more than a modest fraction of all gun murders” before the ban, and the ban’s 10-round limit on new magazines wasn’t a factor in multiple-victim or multiple-wound crimes.[21] A follow-up study concluded that “AWs [assault weapons] and LCMs [large capacity magazines] were used in only a minority of gun crimes prior to the 1994 federal ban,” “relatively few attacks involve more than 10 shots fired,” and “the ban’s effects on gun violence are likely to be small at best and perhaps too small for reliable measurement.”[22] Another follow-up study found “gunshot injury incidents involving pistols [many of which use magazines that hold more than 10 rounds] were less likely to produce a death than those involving revolvers [which typically hold five or six rounds]” and “the average number of wounds for pistol victims was actually lower than that for revolver victims.”[23] In 2018, the RAND Corporation released a study that surveyed the available research on the effects of bans on “assault weapons” and “large” capacity magazines. The study found no conclusive evidence that such bans have an effect on mass shootings or violent crime.[24]
History of semi-automatic firearms – Semi-automatic firearms were introduced in the 19th century. The first semi-automatic rifle was introduced in 1885, the first semi-automatic pistol in 1892, and the first semi-automatic shotgun in 1902.[25] Semi-automatics account for 20-25 percent of the approximately 400 million privately-owned firearms in the United States today and the percentage is rising, because semi-automatics account for over half of the 10-15 million new firearms bought annually.[26] Semi-automatics fire only one shot when the trigger is pulled—like revolvers, bolt-actions, lever-actions, pump-actions, double-barrels and all other types of firearms except fully-automatics (machine guns).[27] Thus, semi-automatics cannot “spray fire” and they’re not designed to be fired “from the hip.”[28] They aren’t “high-powered,”[29] there are no devices that convert them into machine guns legally,[30] they aren’t equipped with “grenade launchers” and “rocket launchers,”[31] and they certainly aren’t “weapons of mass destruction.”[32]
Origin of the issue – The most popular semi-automatic firearm that gun control supporters call an “assault weapon,” the AR-15, was introduced in 1963, but gun control supporters didn’t decide to call it and other semi-automatic firearms “assault weapons” until 1984.[33] Gun control activists began campaigning against “assault weapons” only after they realized that their previous campaign to get handguns banned had failed.[34] In 1988, an anti-handgun activist group recommended to other such groups:
[A]ssault weapons . . . will . . . strengthen the handgun restriction lobby . . . . [H]andgun restriction consistently remains a non-issue with the vast majority of legislators, the press, and public. . . . Assault weapons . . . are a new topic. The weapons’ menacing looks, coupled with the public’s confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons—anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun—can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons. . . . Efforts to restrict assault weapons are more likely to succeed than those to restrict handguns.[35]
ATF 1989 importation ban – The anti-handgun group also recommended that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) adopt guidelines to prohibit the importation of “assault weapons.”[36] The following year, ATF banned the importation of 43 models of semi-automatic rifles that it had previously approved for importation.[37]
Because federal law requires ATF to approve the importation of any firearm that is “particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes,”[38] the agency took the curious position that “target shooting” meant only “organized marksmanship competition.” Furthermore, ATF ignored the portion of the law requiring approval of the importation of firearms that are “readily adaptable to sporting purposes.”
In 1998, ATF expanded its ban to include any semi-automatic rifle capable of using a detachable magazine that could hold more than 10 rounds.[39] Gun control supporters periodically insist that the importation restrictions be tightened.[40]
California’s and New Jersey’s bans – California banned “assault weapons” in 1989, and New Jersey banned “assault firearms” in 1990. New Jersey’s ban included the Marlin Model 60 .22 caliber squirrel rifle, which an anti-gun New Jersey politician called a “people-killing machine.” Both states allowed owners to register and keep banned guns already owned, but only about 10 percent of owners complied with the registration requirements.[41] Several other states subsequently banned “assault weapons,” “assault pistols,” and/or “large” magazines.[42]
Clinton “assault weapon ban” – President Bill Clinton campaigned for a federal “assault weapon” and “large” magazine “ban” proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.,), saying people “can’t be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans.”[43] Crime reports and felon surveys showed that “assault weapons” were used in only 1-2 percent of violent crimes, and in the 10 preceding years murders committed without guns outnumbered those with “assault weapons” by about 37-to-1.[44] Nevertheless, the Clinton/Feinstein “ban” on new manufacture of “assault weapons” and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds was imposed from 1994 to 2004.
Pushing for an expanded ban – As the scheduled 2004 expiration of the ban approached, gun control supporters campaigned to have the ban not only extended, but also expanded, the Brady Campaign calling California’s ban the “model for the nation.”[45] But because “assault weapons” are used in only a tiny percentage of murders, California’s murder rate increased every year for five years after its 1989 ban, 26 percent overall, while in the rest of the country murder increased 10 percent. During the first five years after California expanded its ban in 2000, the state’s murder rate increased 10 percent, compared to a five percent decrease in the rest of country.[46]
Nevertheless, in 2013 Feinstein introduced a ban much more restrictive than the one in effect between 1994 and 2004.[47] Whereas her 1994 “ban” merely prohibited manufacturing or assembling one of the targeted firearms with its full complement of standard external attachments, her 2013 bill would have banned the manufacture of the same firearms altogether, as well as banned the manufacture of other firearms not addressed in the 1994 legislation. Her 2013 bill would have banned the manufacture of any semi-automatic shotgun or detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifle that had any “characteristic that can function as a grip,” as well as various fixed magazine rifles and self-defense handguns, and prohibit anyone from selling or otherwise transferring a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds. The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Million Mom March have proposed that pump-action firearms be banned as “assault weapons” too.[48]
Semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 are the most popular rifles in the United States for home protection and defensive skills-based firearm training and marksmanship competitions,[49] and they’re increasingly popular among hunters.[50] Ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds are standard equipment for many handguns and rifles designed for defensive purposes, they’re commonly used in handguns kept for protection at home and carried for protection away from home, and they’re commonly used in defensive skills-based firearm training and sports.[51]
[1] Roth, Koper, et al., Impact Evaluation of the Public Safety and recreational Firearms Use Protection Act of 1994, Urban Institute, March 13, 1997.
[2] FBI, Crime in the United States 2014, Expanded Homicide Table 8.
[3] Rand Corporation, The Science of Gun Policy: A Critical Synthesis of Research Evidence on the Effects of Gun Policies in the United States, 2018, p. 66.
[4] Mark Gius, An examination of the effects of concealed weapons laws and assault weapons bans on state-level murder rates, Applied Economic Letters, Vol. 21, No. 4.
[5] National Shooting Sports Foundation, 1990 – 2016 estimated US firearm production – exports + imports of MSR/AR, AK Platform Semi-automatic rifles.
[6] 2017 is the most recent year of data available. See the FBI UCR Data Tool and the FBI Uniform Crime Reports Section for crime data for years prior to 2017 and, Crime in the United States 2017, Violent Crime Table 4 for 2017. Annual FBI national crime reports prior to those posted on the FBI’s website are on file with NRA-ILA. See also Claude Fischer, A crime puzzle, The Public Intellectual, May 2, 2011.
[7] Note 5.
[8] See the Court’s decision. The Court said that “the inherent right of self-defense has been central to the Second Amendment right,” which is “the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation,” including “all instruments that constitute bearable arms.” It struck down D.C.’s handgun ban, saying the “handgun ban amounts to a prohibition of an entire class of ‘arms’ that is overwhelmingly chosen by American society for the lawful purpose” of self-defense. Explaining its deference to the firearm preferences of the American people, the Court cited its decision in U.S. v. Miller (1939), that the Second Amendment protects the right to arms that have a “reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia” and, citing the decision of the Tennessee Supreme Court in Aymette v. State (1840), arms that are “part of the ordinary military equipment” and/or that could be used to “contribute to the common defense.” The Miller Court said that citizens called into militia service were traditionally expected to appear “bearing arms supplied by themselves and of the kind in common use at the time.”
[9] Gun control supporters have tried to add more types of firearms to their lists of guns they want banned as “assault weapons.” For example, the federal “assault weapon” and “large” magazine “ban” of 1994-2004, authored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), defined “assault weapons” to include detachable-magazine, semi-automatic rifles having two or more external attachments named in the law, and comparable shotguns and handguns. But, in 2013, Feinstein proposed S. 150, which, because of the bill’s definition of “pistol grip,” would have banned firearms regardless of their number of external attachments, as well as certain fixed-magazine, semi-automatic rifles. Other gun control supporters have proposed that pump-action shotguns and pump-action rifles be banned as “assault weapons” too. (Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, LCAV Model Law to Ban Assault Weapons (2004 version, no longer online, but on file with NRA-ILA) and Donna Dees-Thomases and Carolynne Jarvis, “Why wait to tackle gun violence: Germany’s timely action should serve as example for America,” Detroit Free Press, Aug. 8, 2002.)
[10] See dissent from denial of certiorari in Friedman v. Highland Park. In the dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote, “Roughly five million Americans own AR-style semiautomatic rifles. The overwhelming majority of citizens who own and use such rifles do so for lawful purposes, including self-defense and target shooting. Under our precedents, that is all that is needed for citizens to have a right under the Second Amendment to keep such weapons.” Justice Antonin Scalia joined the dissent.
[11] Note 6.
[12] Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Firearm Commerce in the United States 2018.
[14] According to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who sponsored the federal “assault weapons” and “large” magazine “ban” when he was in the House of Representatives, 50 million “large” magazines were imported during the 10 years the “ban” was in effect. (Schumer press release, Schumer Moves to Renew Federal Ban on Assault Weapons, May 8, 2003.) Magazines that hold more than 10 rounds are standard-equipment, supplied with millions of semi-automatic pistols and rifles manufactured and sold each year.
[15] In the 1970s, the Brady Campaign (then called the National Council to Control Handguns) predicted: “There are now 40 million handguns owned by private individuals in the United States—about one gun for every American family. At the present rate of proliferation, the number could build to 100 million by the year 2000 (which isn’t as far off as you think). The consequences can be terrible to imagine—unless something is done.” (NCCH pamphlet, “There is now a nationwide, full-time, professional organization to battle the gun lobby!,” no date, circa 1975.) A few years later, the group, renamed Handgun Control, Inc., updated its prediction, saying, “Right now over 50 million HANDGUNS flood the houses and streets of our nation. . . . HANDGUN production and sales are out of control. . . . If we continue at this pace, we will have equipped ourselves with more than 100 million HANDGUNS by the turn of the century. One hundred million HANDGUNS. Will we be safer then?” (HCI pamphlet, “By this time tomorrow, 24 Americans will be murdered,” circa 1979 or 1980.)
[16] In the early 1980s, the National Coalition to Ban Handguns said “rifles and shotguns serve a sporting purpose. . . . It is the concealable handgun that threatens and intimidates the citizens of this country—not the rifle and not the shotgun.” (NCBH pamphlet, “20 Questions and Answers,” circa 1981.)
[17] For example, in 1989, the Brady Campaign (then known as Handgun Control, Inc.) said that “assault weapon” legislation introduced in the Senate “will stop the importation, sale, and domestic manufacture of these killing machines.” (HCI fund-raising mailer, no date.) In 1994, after the federal “assault weapon” and “large” magazine “ban” passed the Senate, the Brady Campaign said, “We Want a Nationwide Ban on These Weapons of Destruction!,” calling it “an Important Tool in the Fight Against Crime.” (HCI ad urging passage of H.R. 3527, introduced by then-Rep. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Roll Call, April 18, 1994.) Just before the “ban” expired in 2004, the Brady Campaign said, “The threat is so immediate and deadly that state and local governments should rapidly enact local laws to restrict assault weapons in case Congress and President Bush fail to renew and strengthen the federal law. . . . With the Federal Assault Weapon Ban set to expire on September 13, 2004, the safety and security of our communities is in jeopardy. . . . The imminent expiration of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban poses a serious public safety threat to local communities across America as deadly weapons like the AK47 (sic) could again flood our streets.” (Brady Campaign, “Assault Weapons Threaten Our Safety and Security,” 2004 version.)
[18] In 1987, in reaction to legislation proposing a Right-to-Carry law in Florida, gun control supporters began predicting that such legislation would cause crime to rise. The number of RTC states has risen from 10 to 42, accounting for three-fourths the U.S. population, and through 2014, the nation’s murder rate has fallen to an all-time low.
[19] Notes 6, 12.
[20] Note 2 and NRA-ILA S. 150 Fact Sheet.
[21] Jeffrey A. Roth, Christopher S. Koper, Impact Evaluation of the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act of 1994, Urban Institute, March 13, 1997.
[22] Christopher S. Koper, An Updated Assessment of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban: Impacts on Gun Markets and Gun Violence, 1994-2003, Report to the National Institute of Justice, June 2004.
[23] Reedy and Koper, “Impact of handgun types on gun assault outcomes,” Injury Prevention, Sept. 2003.
[25] Rifle, a Mannlicher; pistol, a Schoenberger; shotgun, the Browning Auto-5.
[26] Notes 5, 12; Small Arms Survey, Estimating Global Civilian-held Firearms Numbers, June 2018, p. 4.
[27] See, for example, the definition of “semiautomatic rifle” under federal law, 18 USC 921(a)(28).
[28] Violence Policy Center, Bullet Hoses: Semiautomatic Assault Weapons—What Are They? What’s So Bad About Them, Ten Key Points about What Assault Weapons Are and Why They Are So Deadly, point 8.
[29] Semi-automatic rifles and shotguns use the same ammunition as many other rifles and shotguns, and semi-automatic handguns use ammunition that is shaped differently, as compared to revolver ammunition, but comparable in power. For example, the standard .223 Remington cartridge, for which the AR-15 is designed, has a muzzle energy of approximately 1,280 ft.-lbs., as compared to the most popular deer hunting cartridge, .30-’06 Springfield, at approximately 2,800 ft.-lbs.
[30] In 2013, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), promoting her gun ban bill, S. 150 (see note 2), said that she looked at publications in 1993 and 2012, that guns today are “more sophisticated and technologically advanced,” and that “there are even devices which can be put in them legally, which make them fully-automatic.” (C-Span, Senators Feinstein and Blumenthal React to NRA, Dec. 21, 2012, beginning at 8:53.) The claim is false. Federal law prohibits converting a firearm to fire fully-automatically.
[31] Feinstein’s S. 150 (see note 2) defined a semi-automatic rifle as an “assault weapon” if it had a “grenade launcher” or a “rocket launcher,” but this was entirely for propaganda purposes, as such devices are restricted under the National Firearms Act, thus not standard to semi-automatic firearms.
[32] Promoting her federal “assault weapon” and “large” magazine “ban” of 1994-2004, Feinstein said “[W]eapons of war have no place on the streets of our communities. . . . [W]e need to classify semiautomatic weapons as those of mass destruction.” (Congressional Record, July 29, 1993.)
[33] The Brady Campaign has implied that the “gun industry” invented the term “assault weapon” in 1986. (Brady Campaign, “The Assault Weapons Ban: Frequently Asked Questions,” (eighth question), version no longer on the group’s website.) However, in 1984, when the group was known as Handgun Control, Inc., it referred to a rifle as an “‘assault’ weapon” in a newspaper ad. (Handgun Control, Inc., “Within the Next 50 Minutes Another One of Us Will Be Murdered by a Handgun,” copy on file with NRA-ILA.)
[34] In 1974, two anti-handgun groups were formed, the National Coalition to Ban Handguns, the name of which states the group’s purpose, and the National Council to Control Handguns, the purpose of which was explained by its leader, Nelson Shields, in 1976. Shields said, “The first problem is to slow down the increasing number of handguns being produced and sold in this country. The second problem is to get handguns registered. And the final problem is to make the possession of all handguns and all handgun ammunition—except for the military, policemen, licensed security guards, licensed sporting clubs, and licensed gun collectors—totally illegal.” (Richard Harris, “A Reporter At Large: Handguns,” The New Yorker, July 26, 1976.) See also Molly Ball, How the Gun Control Movement Got Smart, Atlantic, February 7, 2013: Gun control supporters’ “major policy goals were to make handguns illegal and enroll all U.S. gun owners in a federal database.”
[35] New Right Watch, since renamed Violence Policy Center, Assault Weapons and Accessories in America, Conclusion. The group was formed and is led by a former communications director of the National Coalition to Ban Handguns, renamed Coalition to Stop Gun Violence in 1989.
[37] ATF, Report and Recommendation of the ATF Working Group on the Importability of Certain Semiautomatic Rifles, July 6, 1989.
[38] 18 USC 925(d)(3). The standard is questionable, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in District of Columbia v. Heller (see note 1) that the Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms for defensive purposes.
[39] Department of the Treasury Study on the Sporting Suitability of Modified Semiautomatic Assault Rifles, April 1998.
[40] NRA-ILA, House Democrats Ask Obama to Expand Rifle Ban, January 29, 2016.
[41] California’s ban prohibited new sales, but allowed people to keep “assault weapons” already owned, if they registered them within a year-long amnesty. When the amnesty expired, only about two percent of the 300,000 “assault weapons” estimated to be in California had been registered. (Seth Mydans, “California Gun Control Law Runs Into Rebellion,” New York Times, Dec. 24, 1990; Sandy Harrison, “Few guns registered under new law: deadline nears on assault rifles,” Los Angeles Daily News, Dec. 26, 1990; Carl Ingram, “Senate Favors More Time for Assault Guns Firearms,” Los Angeles Times, Feb. 26, 1991.) The amnesty was extended, but few additional registrations ensued. New Jersey’s registration amnesty period was largely ignored as well. (Wayne King, “New Jersey Law to Limit Guns Is Being Ignored,” New York Times, Oct. 26, 1991.)
[42] Hawaii, 1992; Connecticut, 1993, expanded in 2013; Maryland, “assault pistols in 1994, expanded to “assault weapons” in 2013; Massachusetts, 1998; New York, 2000, expanded in 2013. Several of these states and Colorado limit magazine capacity.
[43] Ann Devroy, “President Rebukes Rifle Association; Group’s Opposition to Virginia, New Jersey Gun Controls Criticized,” Washington Post, March 2, 1993, p. A9.
[44] FBI Supplementary Homicide Reports.
[45] Brady Campaign, “Assault Weapons in America: Military Guns in Civilian Hands” (no date) and Assault Weapons: Mass Produced Mayhem, Oct. 2008, p. 20.
[46] Note 6, FBI UCR Data Tool.
[47] NRA-ILA S. 150 Fact Sheet.
[48] Law Center Against Violence (now Legal Community Against Gun Violence), Banning Assault Weapons: A Legal Primer for State and Local Action, April 2004, p. 49. “Million Mom March” founder Donna Dees-Thomases and Carolynne Jarvis propose a pump-action ban in “Why wait to tackle gun violence: Germany’s timely action should serve as example for America,” Detroit Free Press, Aug. 8, 2002.
[49] AR-15s are by far the most commonly used rifle for defensive firearm training conducted by Alias Training and Security, Costa Ludus, CSAT, Defense Training Int’l, EAG Tactical, Gunsite, Insights, Vickers Tactical, Viking Tactics, Thunder Ranch, and many other schools. AR-15s are the dominant rifles in Three-Gun, U.S. Carbine Association, DMR, NRA Service Rifle, NRA America’s Rifle Challenge, Civilian Marksmanship Program Service Rifle, and similar competitions centered on defensive firearm skills.
[50] While originally designed to use .223 Remington, a small caliber similar to the .222 Remington varmint-hunting cartridge, new AR-15 models have been designed to use other calibers, such as .308 Winchester, 6.5mm Grendel, 6.8 SPC and .300 Blackout. With modern projectiles, all such calibers are suitable for hunting deer and similar game.
[51] As examples, standard magazines designed for the ubiquitous Glock 17 9mm pistol hold 17 rounds, and standard magazines for comparable Beretta and SIG pistols hold between 15-20 rounds, while standard magazines for the AR-15 and comparable rifles hold 20 or 30 rounds.
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57 kg / 125 pounds
1 Jan 1994 Hisar, India
Number of medals
0 Olympic medals
Pooja DHANDA biography
Daughter of a tractor driver from Haryana, Pooja Dhanda’s competitive spirit has seen her grow into one of the most promising Indian women wrestlers of her generation.
Along the way, she has even found a fan in Olympic gold medallist Helen Maroulis – someone she herself idolizes.
Born in the Budana village in the Hisar district, a young Pooja Dhanda began going on long runs in the countryside with her father, a marathon running enthusiast.
That helped instill the passion for sports in her and it wasn’t long before she chose wrestling as her first love.
However, the urge to compete at national and international events from a young age prompted Pooja Dhanda to take up judo in parallel.
A natural athlete, Pooja Dhanda excelled as a judoka, winning several national and three international medals.
Even as she had been picked for the Asian Judo Championships, an insightful meeting with wrestler Kripa Shankar Bishnoi convinced her to change tracks and take up wrestling in 2009 full-time.
Bishnoi believed Pooja Dhanda’s body structure and talents suited wrestling more than judo and the former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist was spot-on with his assessment.
Aided by her earlier training and background in judo, another combat sport focused on upper body strength, Pooja Dhanda realised her potential in wrestling with immediate success.
A year later, she was a silver medallist in the 60kg category at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore.
After honing her craft in the junior circuit for a few years, Pooja Dhanda entered the senior circuit with purpose, becoming the national champion, bagging gold at the Commonwealth Championships in 2013 and winning a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Championships.
It was during this period that Dhanda also made the shortlist to play the role of Babita Phogat – whom she beat to secure her first national championship - in the Bollywood blockbuster Dangal. But a severe tear to her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) forced her to pull out.
The career-threatening injury also brought about a challenging phase in the young wrestler’s career and kept her on the sidelines for large parts of the next two years, eventually resulting in her missing out on the Rio Games in 2016.
Pooja Dhanda decided to go under the knife but unfortunately, her first surgery was unsuccessful. She couldn’t straighten her leg even after rehabilitation and her decision to return to the mat despite the discomfort only further aggravated her condition and was addressed only after another surgery late in 2016.
Pooja Dhanda had a bumpy start when she returned to the mat with a quick exit from the 2017 World Championships, but she was on a mission to script a comeback story.
“It was alright being an actor (in the Dangal casting trials). But I prefer writing my own story,” she said.
She marked her return to success becoming the national champion again in 2017 but it was at the Pro Wrestling League a year later that she truly made a lasting mark.
Representing the Punjab Royals, Pooja Dhanda defeated reigning World and Olympic champion Helen Maroulis of the USA twice within a span of two weeks to lead her team to the title.
“After the final match, Helen told me 'I am your fan now'. I was over the moon. I have always admired Helen for her wrestling and beating her twice was a dream come true,” Pooja Dhanda recalled.
In the same tournament, Dhanda registered another memorable victory over Rio 2016 bronze medallist and 2017 World Championships silver medallist Marwa Amri. She then went on to clinch the silver medal in the 57kg category at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Her next challenge was the 2018 World Wrestling Championships and her 57kg category featured some of the best grapplers from around the world in China’s Rong Ningning, Bulgaria’s Bilyana Dudova, Hungary’s Emese Barka and others.
The Haryana wrestler rose to the occasion and clinched bronze, to become only the fourth Indian woman wrestler to win a World Championship medal after Alka Tomar (2006), Geeta Phogat (2012) and Babita Phogat (2012).
In 2019, Pooja Dhanda was honoured with the Arjuna Award for her accomplishments on the wrestling mat.
Aspiring to make her maiden Games appearance at Tokyo Olympics, Pooja Dhanda has already made a medal for India her ‘ultimate aim’.
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