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Ribbon - Suffragette Medal -Hunger Strike- , Awarded to Myra Eleanor Sadd Brown, Great Britain, 1909 - Obverse
Photographer: Jennifer McNair
https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1208261
Medium (730 x 1500, 147.6KB)
Item NU 36216 Medal - Suffragette Medal (Hunger Strike), Awarded to Myra Eleanor Sadd Brown, Great Britain, 1912
Suffragette Medal awarded to Myra Eleanor Sadd Brown, following her being force fed in Holloway Prison in March 1912. The colours of the ribbon from which the bar and medal hang represent dignity (purple), purity (white) and hope (green). These were adopted as the official WSPU colours in May 1908.
Myra Sadd Brown [nee Myra Sadd] was a women's rights activist and internationalist. She was active in the women's suffrage movement in London and became a member of the militant Women's Social and Political Union, being imprisoned and arrested in 1912. While in Holloway Prison she went on hunger strike and was force fed.
The Suffragette Medal was commissioned in 1909 by the Women's Social and Political Union, and fewer than 100 are thought to have been awarded.
Small round silver medal (22 mm. diameter) suspended by a ring from a green, white and purple ribbon which si supported by a lower bar enamelled in horizontal stripes of purple, white and green, and an upper silver bar which is inscribed FOR VALOUR. The obverse of the medal is inscribed HUNGER STRIKE.
The reverse is inscribed MYRA SADD BROWN within a laurel wreath. The back of the lower bar is inscribed FED BY FORCE 4/3/12 and the back of the upper bar is impressed TOYE. 57 THEOBALDS RD. LONDON.
The Suffragette Medal was commissioned in 1909 by the Women's Social and Political Union, and fewer than 100 are thought to have been awarded. These are a potent symbol of the efforts women in Britain were prepared to go to in order to obtain the vote, and are a valuable addition to the museum's collection of suffragette items. Only two other suffragette medals are known to be held in Australian institutions (National Library of Australia and Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House).
Numismatics & Philately, Public Life & Institutions
Myra Eleanor Sadd Brown, England, Great Britain, 1912
Awarded to Myra Sadd Brown following her being force fed in Holloway Prison, Mar 1912.
Women's Social & Political Union, England, Great Britain, 1912
Toye And Company, 67 Theobalds Road, London, England, United Kingdom, 1912
Medals, Decorations - civil
6 mm (Length), 39 mm (Width), 80 mm (Height)
Measurement From Conservation.
Round with loop, bar and ribbon
Suffragette Movement, Women's Suffrage
Museums Victoria Collections https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1208261
item NU 44574 Badge - Women's Suffrage, Great Britain, circa 1905
Badge with the slogan 'Women's Suffrage', it was issued and used in Great Britain, circa 1905. Militant activism for Women's suffrage began in Great Britain 1905 when Christabel ...
item NU 44575 Badge - Women's Freedom League, Great Britain, 1909
Politics & Society, Public Life & Institutions
Alternative Name(s): Button Women's Freedom League badge, Great Britain, 1909. The badge quotes from the English Bill of Rights 1689, referring to the subject's right to petition the ...
item HT 17185 Muffineer - Suffragette, Saunders & Shepherd, Silver, 1908
Public Life & Institutions
Alternative Name(s): Spice Shaker, Sugar Shaker Sterling silver, suffragette muffineer modelled as a woman wearing early 20th century dress, manufactured by Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders and James ...
article Myra Eleanor Sadd Brown, Women's Rights Activist & Internationalist (1872-1938) Early Life Myra Sadd Brown (nee Myra Sadd) was a women's rights activist and internationalist. She was born on the 3rd of October 1872 in Maldon, Essex into a family who were noted for their innovative business ideas. She was ...
article The Militant Suffrage Movement in Great Britain The front placard of the muffineer reads 'we can make things hot for you'. This refers to the militant tactics of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) which advertised female suffrage via public agitation and spectacle. ...
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COVID-19 is not the Flu.
April 11, 2020 0 comments
A huge misconception about the SARS-Cov-2 Coronavirus is that it’s similar to seasonal fluenza. Well, both are respiratory infections (as are colds) but that’s where the similarities stop. And the more we learn about this new virus, the stranger it appears.
The Flu’s R0 number is 1.3 whereas COVID-19 is 2-2.5, meaning it’s about twice as contagious;
The incubation period for the flu is four days whereas COVID-19 is 14 days; meaning it can spread far and wide before it’s detected.
The average flu hospitalization rate is 2% whereas COVID-19 is 19%; meaning that even for the young and healthy, it’s more likely to be costly and leave lasting disability.
The flu’s case fatality rate is 0.1% whereas COVID-19 is 1-3.4%;
Currently, there is no COVID-19 vaccine whereas there is are effective vaccines for most flu virus strains;
There is, however, one way that SARS-Cov-2 is like the flu — an infected person is most infectious before they develop symptoms. This has been known about flu for decades, and why it hasn’t influenced public health advice much during the pandemic is hard to fathom.
With social distancing now starting to pay dividends even in the US, many are starting to advocate for a return to normal, but they DO NOT understand the reality. This pandemic may slow, but will not end due to warm weather or social distancing along. If we simply go back to normal, we will certainly create a “second wave” and again overwhelm our health care system. So what about over countries that have weathered the first wave without a national lockdown? There are only a few, and they all had acted on the lessons of the SARS and MERS scares of recent years.
South Korea, for example, had 9,000 SARS-CoV-2 tests ready on the day the first indigenous case was reported, and quickly scaled up to delivering over 20,000 tests per day. They didn’t just test those who felt ill and requested it, but the second level contacts of those found to be infected. Then they published the locations of known cases–and the known movements of known carriers on a smart phone app so they citizens could avoid the infection without the need to stay home. They issue surgical masks to the general public (because the science of the last two decades has made clear that that works) and filled the airwaves and social media with training on how to use them and other measures effectively.
The results have been dramatic. After an initial spike, and despite crushing population density, South Korea has turned the COVID-19 growth curve on it’s head and started going back to normal.
We CAN do the same, but only the way they did–only be the use of science and common sense, and the advice of smart people.
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Does what I do matter?
Curtis Whipple Disc Jockey, Master of Ceremonies and Piano Player Curtis Whipple, LET ME TELL SOMETHING, Master of Ceremonies, Piano Player, Professional Disc Jockey, Uncategorized Curtis Whipple, Disc Jockey, Master of Ceremonies, Piano Player 2
The topic of the value of background music has been addressed by me in this forum before and I witnessed a prime example of its power at a recent wedding. There was an outdoor wedding ceremony on the second Saturday in January and that should not sound abnormal for people from Arizona but we experienced record-breaking cold temperatures that week. Nights were in the 20s and days were barely reaching into the 50s. Trees froze, pipes burst, one car skidded through a patch of ice on the street near a prominent auto dealership in downtown Phoenix and totalled a Camaro and a Corvette on the lot. They don’t really sell “Winter” coats in Arizona. The cold wasn’t much by Toronto or Minneapolis standards, but it’s something we are not acclimated to or prepared for around here. One young bridesmaid stood at attention and was shivering so severely in her tiny spring dress that I though she might collapse- at least the goose pimples on her arms and legs might have poked somebody’s eye out. I hope it didn’t ruin any pictures, but I gave her my jacket for the 15 minutes of the ceremony because I was standing nearby on sound duty. I walked up behind her and took it back just as the minister was introducing the new Mr. and Mrs. I was cold too, but at least I had long sleeves and long pants… I was glad to get the jacket back too.
I’m telling this story because of an interesting observation. Normally, this golf club would have the ceremony on the lawn, as this one was, and then retire to the patio for cocktails while the family portraits were taken and then the guests are invited inside for dinner and dancing later. Because of the biting cold, the guests were invited inside right away to have cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. I have a small sound system for ceremonies that can be moved to a patio or foyer in the time it takes for guests to make the short walk but since I was switching to my big sound system already inside, I just wanted to put away a couple of microphone stands to have them out of the way of the professional photography. In the 3 or 4 minutes it took me to get inside to start some music on my big system, the entire crowd had made it inside. I came in shortly behind them with a microphone stand in one hand and a couple of cables in my other hand and noticed that they were all whispering like they were in a church. I chided them about it and then loudly and laughingly said, “Let me get some music on quickly so you guys will feel comfortable talking.” They laughed tepidly with me but remained silent until I got behind my workstation and cued a song. It didn’t take but 15 seconds for them to begin talking with their normal voices. It wasn’t even one minute before there was laughter and people gesturing largely with their hands and touching peoples arms or shoulders as they talked. Nobody ever wants their voice to rise above the din. The music masks each voice and people feel comfortable talking.
Please forgive a bit of an off-colored story here- not profane but PG-13 perhaps. When I was married many, many years ago. We were at a family celebration dinner at a favorite Riverside California Chinese restaurant after a graduation or birthday or something. There was lots of shouting and laughter and good times. We weren’t the only ones, it was the attitude of the restaurant and its other patrons as well. The restaurant served a drink called a Double Scorpion that is served in a giant half shell and made to be shared with two long straws. My sister-in-law was sharing that with a man she was dating at the time and the bartender hadn’t really worked it over with the blender as he or she should have and there were chunks of ice that jammed up the straw. My sister-in-law drew attention to that fact very loudly at a moment when the noise level in the restaurant happened to drop off. She shouted, “I keep sucking on it, but it won’t come!” That further silenced the crowd and then it turned to uncomfortable laughter and then genuine laughter- at least at our table. An outburst like that in many other social settings would have been terribly embarrassing for all involved but proper background music would have saved the day.
I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions but it’s kind of a natural time to consider your lives when the people of the world mark the passing of years together. Does what I do really matter? Am I contributing something to society? Am I just paying the bills? Am I doing this because it’s the only thing I know?
I’m so grateful that I’m in a position to say no to customers once in a while- to turn away a difficult customer or someone that is otherwise willing to open their wallet to me but who I don’t wish to work for. I have confidence that I will be working on any given weekend somewhere- but maybe not for THIS customer. Even if I do miss a weekend, it’s not a financial crisis. I can usually weed out the “bridezillas” in the consultation process. I don’t get them often because I think I’ve surrounded myself with conscientious event planners and venue operators that refer me and for whom such people don’t become their customers either. Every once in a while, a bridezilla gets past me but not often. (I say bridezillas, but there are other types of difficult customers in corporate events and any other social occasion and these same thoughts apply.) When one slips through, and this sounds cocky I suppose, but I command enough respect that they don’t act up or press any buttons when I’m working.
Generally, I live life on the importance theory. If the wedding or other event is not important enough to them- such that they will not act poorly during it- it can’t be MORE important to me. That philosophy is tempered however by the fact that my next couple of customers are in that room and I have to act well from a marketing standpoint, contractual standpoint, from an ethical and moral standpoint and, well, that’s what decent people do, they act well in spite of other people not acting well.
I had a bride a couple of years ago that I thought was a real sweetheart. She had been widowed some years before and this was her 2nd marriage and I was really looking forward to her wedding. In the 2 or 3 times that we met to work on details, I started having some doubts. She wasn’t belligerent or anything, but I started to think she may have had a drinking problem or was even using drugs or something. She was really uneven and loopy and even did a couple of embarrassing things that made me uncomfortable. It was way too late to send her packing at this point so I pressed on. In the days leading up to the event, while working on final details, and I mean the little behind-the-scenes details, I learned about several tragedies that had happened in her family and in the extended family in addition to the tragedy that had taken her 1st husband. This was a family that had suffered a lot in the last 3 years. There were accidents, a suicide, disease, loss of employment and there was the blame and guilt and other feelings that go with such things. This family NEEDED a happy occasion and this wedding was it. (She was taking some prescribed drugs under the care of a doctor and they were having a hard time finding the right dosage at the time.)
So how do I help them celebrate this wedding without disrespecting all of the hurt? I remember when Saturday Night Live went back on the air a few weeks after the 9/11 Terrorist attacks. They began the show by honoring those who lost their lives and the brave fire fighters and policemen and then producer Lorne Michaels asked Mayor Rudy Giuliani, “Can we be funny?” Mayor Giuliani said with a straight face, “Why start now?” and the audience cheered wildly. There’s a technique that I learned from an actress that I knew in LA many years ago. She said you don’t ‘act’ drinking a glass of water, you just drink the glass of water. You don’t ‘act’ walking across a room, you just walk across the room. You don’t ‘act’ speaking to your friend, you just speak. You speak the moment. That concept of speaking the moment has really served me well. The concept came up similarly in a Master of Ceremonies seminar I participated in once.
I simply spoke the moment. I allowed a few tears, acknowledged it, but kept it from becoming a memorial service as opposed to a wedding celebration. I helped them know that it was OK. That celebrating and dancing and laughing and feasting and hugging each other and singing along to every word and really getting into it didn’t somehow disrespect the hurt or the losses. Funny thing is that I didn’t really ‘speak’ it. I showed them. I led the way. Each of my announcements and each gesture and every song choice was very calculated and deliberate. I knew my craft and I knew it well. It WAS in every way, the happy occasion that they needed. I hope that it gave them a year or two of fuel towards the healing going forward from that day.
Could a hobbyist or other beginner DJ have done it? Maybe. I look back at where I was 25 or 30 years ago, playing at drunken backyard parties and weddings at the crummy decrepit no-name fraternity hall or wherever and I say no! I didn’t have the expertise to do it. There would have been ended up being lots of tears and there might have been some little accusations and arguments in the lobby and everybody would have left shortly after dinner- frustrated and sad- from a wedding that should have been a happy occasion!
When I play piano at a restaurant or bistro or something, the opening notes of any given song may be met with absolute jubilation. People can be instantly moved to tears by a few notes of a loved song. They are tears of joy, of course. It’s a song that has deep meaning to them. The lyrics of that song got them through a tough time in their life and they celebrate where they are now relative to where they were then. A restaurant experience isn’t the same structured occasion that a wedding or corporate event is, but they came there to feel better about something. It may be on an entirely subconscious level but when they leave they feel better and I contend that it was the music. There are spiritual, mathematical, ethereal components of music that help us rearrange the hurt somehow. It files the hurt further back in our minds somewhere and we either pull some more pleasant memories to the forefront or move the hurt to the back and replace it with the memories of this night instead. Theres a song by Lawrence Gowan about letting go of the past and making way for the good: “Every time I lent a hand, the angels sang some Dixieland. With every hug and every kiss, another hurt dropped off the list.”
Why would a retailer spend $50,000 on a big grand opening celebration with music being the headline feature? Well, because it will add to sales not just at the time but it creates good-will among potential full-time customers going forward. They’ll get every penny of that back in increased sales over a period of time. Why have a DJ at a weeknight retail promotion for several hundred dollars? It creates a bit of excitement, it draws a crowd and then nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. People see others having fun and they can’t allow those people to have MORE FUN THAN I AM HAVING… I GOTTA GET OVER THERE AND BE PART OF THAT CROWD! I played at a retail promotion last year where the sales goal was $127,000 dollars in cosmetics in a day. Store management was monitoring the cash registers at hourly intervals throughout the day and they came to me to tell me that there was an absolute and measureable difference in sales within 15 minutes of DJ music and energetic announcements. Customers didn’t walk by the counters, they danced by the counters and opened their wallets at the cash registers. In a 12 hour sales day, half of the sales were generated while I was playing music in the last 3 hours. Was it worth my professional fee of $800 for 3 hours on a weeknight? Absolutely!
I’m no fan of politicians but after the 9/11 Terrorist attacks, several members of Congress stood on the steps of the Capitol and spontaneously sang “God Bless America” Why music and not some other expression? Was music was perhaps even more universally acceptable than prayer in that situation?
There’s a world-class museum in Scottsdale AZ called the Musical Instrument Museum and I’ve spent about 5 afternoons there in the year that they’ve been open and I still don’t feel like I’ve seen it all. There are historic musical instruments from all over the world and from every ethnicity and nationality. One thread that I’ve been able to discern in my visits is that even in the face of complete oppression or poverty, the people find some way to make music. They’ll use tin cans, sticks, dried vegetables, animal bones, animal skins or whatever they can find. The most interesting instruments and musical styles that I’ve seen there have come from or been born in poverty or because of some tyrant dictator telling a people that they can’t have music. It finds a way!
There’s a story about a farmer who was getting up in years and knew he would soon be “gathered up to his people” as it says in the Old Testament. He wished to bequeath is property to one of his three sons. He proposed that whichever of his sons could fill the barn with any commodity of their choosing could have their father’s life work as an inheritance. The oldest son set about buying up all of the firewood in the region and filling the barn. After a week or so, he exhausted his resources and there was frankly no more wood to be found in the region and the barn was only about 2/3 full. He had to pull the wood out and give the middle son a chance. The middle son set about buying up all of the bales of hay in the county and the region. After about a week, he had exhausted his resources and there was no more hay to be found and the barn was only 3/4 full. He had to pull out all of the hay and make way for the youngest son to have a crack at it. The youngest son felt that after the noble attempts of his two older brothers that ended in failure, that there was no way he would be able to do anything that would succeed where his brothers hadn’t. He went in to the barn and closed the door and sat down in the middle of that big space and lit a candle and he cried. The light filled the barn! And the farmer gave the youngest son all of the inheritance.
There are a couple of brilliant bakers in this town that make beautiful and delicious wedding cakes, but they dont’ “fill” the room. I’ve seen genius event designers bring incredibly colorful and interesting event decor that doesn’t “fill” a room. I’ve seen guests eat a celebration feast prepared and served by the best chefs in the West- and those plates didnt’ “fill” the room. Music always fills the room. All of the elements come together to make a lovely event and it’s the music that ties it all together. Those cold wedding guests, whispering like they were in an elevator, didn’t start celebrating that wedding until music allowed or instructed them to do so.
If you don’t push back the sofa in your living room and dance once in a while, you are missing out on one of the great joys of life. So… does what I do matter? Abso-floggin’-lutely!
The difference between a good and a great DJ The Beauty and Value of Fear
Curtis Whipple, LET ME TELL SOMETHING, Master of Ceremonies, Piano Player, Press, Professional Disc Jockey
Multifaceted Multifaceted Music Man
Curtis Whipple, LET ME TELL SOMETHING, Master of Ceremonies, Piano Player, Professional Disc Jockey, Uncategorized
A Place Between Short & Long Hair
Observations from the road
When I was a single mom, living with Nicole in the home my parents had built for us, I spent many moments in our sparsely furnished living room dancing to Stevie Nicks, Alanis Morriette, and well any music that I owned that fit the mood of the moment. Nicole grew an appreciation for music at a young age and was entertained at the same time. To this day, you can still find me dancing. Differtent music perhaps, different house, different time in my life but still music fills my darkest moments or my joyful ones and dancing takes my heart to a better place still. You will find me singing, or I should say I bellow even now I am singing Missing You because I literally listened to it all day. God has blessed you. You make a difference
Good read, Curtis.
© Curtis Whipple 2021
Design by MK Marketing
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Ames: UMass hockey’s ability to win close games an encouraging sign
Minutemen swept Providence even when not playing their best
(Caroline O’Connor/UMass Athletics)
By Ryan Ames, Assistant Sports Editor
Nine games have been played and eight wins have been secured. Sitting in first place in the Hockey East Association standings and freshly minted as the fourth-ranked team in the country, the Massachusetts hockey team is in a good spot, to say the least.
After years and years of occupying the bottom of seemingly any standings, UMass (8-1-0, 5-0-0 HEA) has flipped the script. The Minutemen are one of the most dangerous teams in the country because of a lethal power play, a suffocating penalty kill and goaltending that has been remarkable in key moments of games.
However, what has caught my eye specifically through this current winning stretch has been UMass’ ability to pull out wins despite not playing its best hockey.
Against Providence, the Minutemen were largely outplayed in the second and third periods of each game but managed to secure victories anyway. Now, some people may look at this in a negative light and claim UMass was lucky to skate away with two wins over the Friars. That might be true, but the way I see it, the Minutemen are winning games, against quality teams, with a brand of hockey that isn’t their best.
Strong teams find a way to win even if they don’t necessarily deserve to and so far, UMass has done just that.
The Minutemen have done this with a relatively young squad, which to me shows the maturity within the locker room is ahead of its time. Coach Greg Carvel has also mentioned that he doesn’t consider this to be a young team, largely because of the important roles so many underclassmen are being given.
Cale Makar would be at the top of the list of players who are assuming a lot of responsibility. Makar’s the most gifted player UMass has and for the most part, he’s done what has been expected of him. This past weekend was the first set of games where No. 16 didn’t find the scoresheet, which speaks even more to the magnitude of the two victories.
Moving forward, improving its 5-on-5 puck-possession throughout the course of a 60-minute affair will be a focus for the Minutemen. The Friars had a plethora of opportunities in the UMass defensive end and if not for some late-game heroics from Matt Murray in net, there’s a good chance the Minutemen would have multiple losses to their name.
Murray’s play has perhaps been the biggest storyline during UMass’ historic start and his play has mirrored that of his teammates as well. He’s bolted out to a 6-0-0 record by staying calm, cool and collected when the opposition looked primed to score, and the Minutemen skaters in front of him have admitted to feeding off it.
The fact that over 50 percent of their wins have come on the road can’t be overlooked either. Last season, UMass had a few upset wins over ranked teams such as Northeastern and Providence but then the next night at the opponent’s barn, it suffered big-time losses. Those losses took some of the air out of the impressive wins the night before by making it appear more like a fluke than a sign of a solid team.
This season, the Minutemen have finished what they’ve started.
First, they beat Merrimack at Mullins and then went to North Andover and left with a hard-fought win. Then, they did the same thing versus Providence this past weekend, not to mention a high-profile win over Ohio State plus a victory at New Hampshire that lifted a decade-long curse at the Whittemore Center.
Say what you want about the start UMass hockey has had to this point, but this Minutemen bunch is a good team that has gotten to this point with a level of play they are not completely satisfied with.
Imagine what they can accomplish when they reach that level.
Makes you think.
Ryan Ames can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @_RyanAmes.
Greg Carvel
Matt Murray
minutemen hockey
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Having the last laugh: How late-night comedy is moving online during coronavirus
Rhea Swain
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically changed the course of modern-day entertainment, especially in the realm of late-night television. Fortunately, late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, James Corden and Jimmy Fallon already have a large virtual following on their YouTube channels and have transformed their homes into studios.
In the absence of live audiences, the dynamic and delivery of each comic's jokes has changed but remains enjoyable. Hosts continue to deliver great monologues with insightful political commentary and are actively conducting interviews with health experts, government officials and celebrities who are carrying out various kinds of COVID-19 relief initiatives. Here are four men on New York City-based late-night television embracing, or attempting to embrace, working from home:
With more than 7.3 million subscribers on YouTube, Comedy Central's Emmy Award-winning "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" has now become "The Daily Social Distancing Show with Trevor Noah." South African comedian Noah and his diverse team of correspondents, including Roy Wood Jr., Ronny Chieng and Dulcé Sloan, have managed to put together an online show that's both informative and entertaining.
Noah is particularly good at being an interviewer who asks questions that are to-the-point and listens to his interviewees. Notable names Noah has interviewed include New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.), New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.), Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.), Bill Gates and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Apart from its intelligent satire and important updates and monologues summarizing coronavirus-related news around America and the world, Noah's show also has various videos on YouTube that talk about much-needed good news. Additionally, the content is organized into YouTube playlists so that viewers can watch each episode's segments with ease.
Colbert's "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on CBS has transitioned to "A Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and has created some fine content for his viewers to consume online. Like many people who are working from home, Colbert does not sugarcoat the struggles of our vastly different daily lives in 2020. Colbert occasionally checks in with his charming pianist from the show, Jon Batiste, and reminisces on life in the studio.
Apart from his cutting commentary on domestic affairs and the government's response to the coronavirus crisis, Colbert has also interviewed people like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Lady Gaga, Matthew McConaughey, Steve Martin and other late-night hosts like Conan O'Brien and Noah. It makes sense that his YouTube channel has garnered more than 7.4 million subscribers. Colbert is an exceptional conversationalist and his new home environment lets his natural interviewing abilities really shine.
A fun segment on the show is "Tooning Out the News," which adds childlike cartoons to real news segments such as CNN's Anderson Cooper's viral interview with the mayor of Las Vegas from last week. Colbert's show is also conveniently organized into playlists on YouTube.
HBO's Peabody and Emmy Award-winning "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" has more than 7.9 million subscribers on YouTube. Oliver's carefully constructed and factual monologues cover controversial, and sometimes even obscure, social and political subjects. Each monologue is approximately 20 minutes and dives deep into the causes and effects of its central theme.
So far, the blunt English man has done five episodes on the coronavirus pandemic, shot against a clinical wall that the host described in his "Coronavirus III" episode as "a blank white void full of sad facts."
Oliver often starts his episode with something silly before dissecting his central theme of the episode. For instance, the latest episode, "Coronavirus V," began with Oliver's reaction to Dame Judi Dench dancing with her grandson on TikTok.
Oliver is one of the few hosts on late-night television that can openly swear, which adds a sense of honesty and real entertainment value to his show. Oliver is a man of action and often suggests Twitter hashtags, creates new websites and enlists the help of celebrities on his show to get his message across to a wider audience.
"Late Night with Seth Meyers" on NBC has more than 3.6 million subscribers on YouTube and currently has its host reporting from his attic. The "Saturday Night Live" alumnus and star of the Netflix comedy special, "Seth Meyers: Lobby Baby," is best known for his show's monologue segment, "A Closer Look."
In his time on the show during quarantine, Meyers has had conversations with one of his most frequent guests, Chef Martha Stewart, SNL colleagues like Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney and Amy Poehler and American political figures like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).
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Dan Goldwasser
A Symphony of Hope: The Haiti Project
Dan March 17, 2011 Websites
Just launched the website for A Symphony of Hope: The Haiti Project. The brainchild of composer Christopher Lennertz, the idea was to take 25 film composers and create a symphonic work based on a traditional Haitian melody. Proceeds from sales of the resulting album will be sent to the Hands Together charity to benefit Haitian earthquake victims. I built the site with a WordPress framework, and heavily modified a pre-existing template. The biggest challenge on the site was to connect …
Andrew GrossBrian TylerBruce BroughtonChristophe BeckChristopher LennertzChristopher YoungDave GrusinDavid KitayDeborah LurieDon DavisEd ShearmurElia CmiralGeorge S. ClintonJeff BealJohn DebneyJohn SwihartLisbeth ScottMarvin HamlischMichael WandmacherNathan BarrRandy EdelmanTheodore ShapiroTimothy Michael WynnTyler Bates
Dan March 3, 2009 Movie Reviews
In the interest of full disclosure: I never read Watchmen, the ground-breaking graphic novel from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Released back in 1986, the 12-part series revealed a darker, grittier alternate universe, in which superheroes existed, and helped us win the Vietnam War, but now we’re closer to nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Five-term president Richard Nixon has outlawed masked vigilantes, and now most of the former “Watchmen” group have retired – but when The Comedian (a former …
Tyler BatesZack Snyder
300 (IMAX)
Tonight I went to the all-media press screening for 300, which was shown in IMAX. I’m not gonna discuss the film, since that was already done here. Instead, I’ll talk about the quality of the presentation. I’ve never seen a regular movie on IMAX before – just some 3D IMAX movies that were CGI based (The Polar Express, The Ant Bully) – so I was curious to see how well it held up blown up. In that respect, 300 isn’t …
Dan February 8, 2007 Movie Reviews
Tonight I went to a special music industry screening for 300. based on Frank Miller’s graphic novelization of the Battle of Thermopylae. Since the original graphic novel is not very long, it made sense that director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) expanded on it a bit, making the film a very solid 2 hours. King Leonidas of Sparta (Gerard Butler) leads a small group of Spartan warriors fighting against the exceptionally large Persian army led by Xerxes. The graphic …
Dan March 16, 2004 Movie Reviews
Ok, I’ll admit it – I never saw the original Dawn of the Dead, but I did see the original Night of the Living Dead. So, I pretty much knew what to expect. But the level to which it was implemented, well, it’s a modern horror film. Not one of those slow, lumbering 70’s horror flicks. The pre-title sequence was excellent – so much so, that the audience (all press folks, mind you) cheered and applauded when the titles slammed …
Maxwell Karmazyn
Riverdale: Season 1
Michael Giacchino (Phase 1)
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About CNI
Articles by CNI authors
Costs to the US
U.S. Aid
Attack on the USS Liberty
Israeli Spying
The Role of Lobbies
Israel Lobby: A List
Israel Lobby in Detail
History of US-Israel Relations
Promoting Islamophobia
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Cost of Israel to the US
Our uniquely massive support for Israel has cost trillions of dollars and multitudes of lives. It has diminished our moral standing in the world, lessened our domestic freedoms, and exposed us to unnecessary and growing peril.
The majority of Americans – as well as our diplomatic and military experts – oppose this unique relationship. Yet, the lobby for Israel continues to foment policies that are disastrous for our nation and tragic for the region.
If we are to have Middle East policies that serve the national interest, that represent the highest values of our founders and our citizens, and that work to sustain a nation of honor, decency, security, and prosperity, then it is essential that all Americans become active and informed. Below are the facts:
American taxpayers give Israel over $10 million per day
(See detailed analysis based on Congressional Research Service reports.)
This to a nation of about 7.5 million people – smaller than New Jersey. Israel has received more American money than any other nation on earth. It is more than we give to all the starving countries of Africa put together.
From 1950-53 Israel’s financial influx from the U.S. was one billion dollars; Israel at that time had 1.6 million inhabitants.
In the past 40 years, American taxpayers have given Israel approximately $200,000 per Israeli family of five.
This costs us even more:
US aid to Israel is given in a lump sum at the beginning of the fiscal year
Since the US is operating at a deficit, this means that we borrow the money, give it to Israel, and then pay interest on it long after it is gone.
Israel, on the other hand, makes interest from it. Congress has mandated that Israel’s aid be immediately deposited to an interest bearing account with the Federal Reserve Bank.
Additional financial costs: $3 trillion
* About $1.5 billion to Egypt and $843 million to Jordan is dispensed annually under arrangements made to induce these countries’ friendly relations with Israel.
* Billions of dollars have been lost to U.S. manufacturers because of the Arab boycott engendered by Israeli actions.
* Enormous and continuing costs to U.S. consumers of petroleum, which surged to such heights that it set off a world-wide recession during the Arab oil boycott imposed in reaction to U.S. support of Israel in the 1973 war.
There are a multitude of such costs.
A report by an economist commissioned by the Army War College in 2002 to analyze the situation in full found that the total cost to Americans over Israel’s 60+ years has been $3 trillion.
Americans have a higher unemployment rate than Israel and 10 million families are reportedly sliding into foreclosure; yet Americans continue to give tax money to Israel.
Costs of the Iraq war: hundreds of thousands of lives & over $3 trillion
The costs of the the Iraq war, which was promoted by Israel partisans, are almost incalculable and are still growing.
The war added trillions of dollars to the federal debt, and this doesn’t include future health care and disability payments for veterans.
Economists report that the global financial crisis was due, at least in part, to the Iraq war.
The same parties are pushing for a similar attack on Iran.
The Lobby for Israel overrules US experts
U.S. policies in the Middle East rarely reflect U.S. interests and values.
Instead, over the objections of a multitude of State Department and Pentagon analysts, they are largely driven by a variety of factors:
1. Special-interest lobbying. Fortune Magazine rates one of the many lobby organizations working on behalf of Israel, AIPAC, as the second most powerful lobbying Washington. Many analysts consider the pro-Israel interest group the most powerful lobby in our nation. It consistently drives U.S. policies, to the detriment of Americans.
By the late 1960s Senator William Fulbright found that U.S. aid to Israel was being secretly funneled back to lobbyists in the U.S., who would use it to lobby for still more U.S. money to Israel.
2. Israel partisans in the U.S. government and media: The efforts of a growing number of individuals with close ties to Israel (some are neoconservatives, others are neoliberals) who often hold key positions in U.S. administrations, the State Department, Pentagon, and media.
The US Ambassador to Israel stated that all US Middle East policies are predicated on their effect on Israel. This is a highly inappropriate practice and one that is replicated in no other region. US policies should be based on American interests and priorities, not those of a foreign nation.
3. Campaigns by pro-Israel funders to engender Islamophobia: to create fear and hatred of Muslims, a highly diverse population of 1.5 billion people whose faith is one of the three Abrahamic religions and who worship the same God as Christians and Jews.
4. Israeli-centric news reporting by the U.S. media consistently misportrays the current situation and the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
5. Hollywood movies and television shows, which often play a significant role in shaping attitudes and beliefs. These shows, frequently produced by individuals with ties to Israel, depict Arabs and Muslims almost always negatively, Jews and Israelis almost never negatively, and Christians both positively and negatively.
(Interestingly, the oil and weapons industries are not responsible for our relationship with Israel. In fact, at times these industries have lobbied against U.S. support for Israel, which undermines their ability to do business in the region.)
Israel promotes its own interests, which is the right of any nation
However, this is done at the expense of Americans who fund it.
There is considerable evidence that Israel is not the close ally many Americans believe it to be:
–The GAO has reported that Israel conducts the most intense spying operation against the U.S. of any of our presumed allies. Israel features prominently in the annual FBI report called “Foreign Economic Collection and Industrial Espionage.”
–Intelligence experts consider Jonathan Pollard the most damaging spy in US history. For years Israel denied any connection to Pollard; now it actively lobbies for his release. (CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, who used to work for the Israel Lobby, wrote a book about Pollard that “senior Israeli Defense Department officials are understandably pleased with.”)
–Israeli forces have killed and injured numerous Americans. Rarely, if ever, have there been significant consequences.
–Israel has stolen U.S. technology, and passed it on to other nations, some of them U.S. adversaries.
The Israeli attack on the USS Liberty
In 1967 Israeli forces attacked a U.S. Navy ship, the USS Liberty, killing 34 Americans and injuring 174.
An independent commission in 2003 by extraordinarily high-ranking U.S. military officers and officials found that Israel had committed an act of war against the United States, the US President had recalled rescue aircraft, and that the President had ordered a cover-up on the incident.
These statements, recorded in the Congressional Record, were not reported by U.S. news media.
Israeli ethnic expansionism has caused regional misery, instability, and continual conflict
Israeli aggression (Israel initiated all of its wars except one) and its violations of international law, human rights conventions, and UN resolutions, have created enormous hostility against it throughout the world. The US, as Israel’s number one funder, is increasingly imperiled by hostility created by Israeli actions.
See our section on Israel-Palestine.
Nuclear weapons pose danger both to the region itself and far beyond
Israel has refused to sign the nuclear proliferation treaty and the British American Security Information Council has found that in Israel “nuclear weapons are being assigned roles that go well beyond deterrence.”
While US intelligence agencies have so far found no indication that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, Israel’s possession of these weapons, combined with its history of aggression, create a compelling motivation for other nations in the region to acquire them for deterrence.
Israel frequently uses American weapons in violation of US laws, killing and maiming large numbers of civilians, women, and children.
Since this is funded by American tax payers, and shielded by the U.S. government, it is causing dangerous hostility toward the U.S. abroad.
Damage to civil liberties and the American way of life
This dangerous and unnecessary peril (diplomats note that before Israel the US had no enemies in the region) has caused Americans to tolerate dangerous infringements on our liberty and violations of our Constitution.
This is causing deep damage to our character as a nation.
Deeply intrusive and potentially carcinogenic airport scanners (promoted by former Homeland Security czar Michael Chertoff, who makes money off them), offensive “pat-downs” of our women and children, abrogations of our nation’s most fundamental legal principles are just a few of the direct and indirect results of our Israel policies.
A secure, prosperous, and honorable America
We would be far safer and our nation far healthier by heeding the wisdom of George Washington, the father of our nation:
“…nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave.”
These policies create tragedy and destruction abroad and at home. It is time to change them.
Please join our email list to become informed about ongoing developments and of actions you can take.
This site is a work in progress. Please check back often for more embedded links, additional information, and other improvements..
Laying Out The Facts: 1990 Speech by Representative Gus Savage
Obama confidant’s spine-chilling proposal
Defeat the Israel Lobby
We Told You So: Give up the Empire
American media distortion on Palestine
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Mitt Romney on Principles & Values
Former Republican Governor (MA)
Sub-sections under Principles & Values:
Salt Lake Olympic Committee
Other issues under Principles & Values
Opportunity is what lets hope become reality
We strengthen our people & our economy when we preserve and promote opportunity. Opportunity is what lets hope become reality. Opportunity expands when there’s excellence and choice in education, when taxes are lowered, when every citizen has affordable, portable health insurance, and when constitutional freedoms are preserved. Opportunity arises when children are raised in homes and schools free from pornography, promiscuity, and drugs, blessed with family values and the presence of a mom and a dad. Source: Speech at 2008 Republican National Convention Sep 4, 2008
Liberals replace opportunity with dependency on government
America cannot long lead the nations if we fail the family at home. Liberals would replace opportunity with dependency on government largesse. They grow government and raise taxes to put more people on Medicaid, to take work requirements out of welfare, and to grow the ranks of those who pay no taxes at all. Dependency is death to initiative, risk-taking, and opportunity. It’s time to stop the spread of government dependency and fight it like the poison it is. It’s time for big ideas, not Big Brother. Source: Speech at 2008 Republican National Convention Sep 4, 2008
Withdrawing from race to help McCain beat Democrats
I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror. If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.
This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters--many of you right here in this room--have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming President. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country. Source: Speeches to 2008 Conservative Political Action Conference Feb 7, 2008
Favor justices like Roberts, Alito, Scalia, and Thomas
Q: Was Sandra Day O’Connor the right choice?
A: I would have favored justices like Roberts and Alito, Scalia and Thomas. I like justices that follow the Constitution, do not make law from the bench. I would have much rather had a justice of that nature. Source: 2008 Republican debate at Reagan Library in Simi Valley Jan 30, 2008
Bush took on some tough issues and stood for strength
Bush took on some tough issues. He put forward a plan to reform Social Security. He was hit by something which completely took his agenda, and that was the Iraq conflict and the attack of 9/11, and Afghanistan. He did show that when someone attacks America, there will be consequences. He kept us safe these last 6 years. I’m pleased that Bush has stood for strength. We did not deal with entitlements. He tried. He did fight for better schools. No Child Left Behind takes the ball forward, not backward Source: 2008 Republican debate at Reagan Library in Simi Valley Jan 30, 2008
People look to governors, not senators, for a leader
Q: Is McCain a better leader in terms of the economy?
A: No. He’s a fine man and a man I respect, and I particularly respect his service in the military and his integrity and courage for our nation. I do believe that as people over the centuries have considered who ought to lead our country, they don’t look to senators. They look to governors. And they look to governors because they have the experience of being executive leaders. They’re actually leading something. They’re making something happening. They’re running something. They’re leading an organization. Senators and congressmen are fine people, but they’re legislators. They sit in committees. They’re committee chairs. They call that leadership. In my view, the key leadership of my life was 25 years in the private sector, helping build business, turn a business around, start a business successfully, then going off to the Olympics, helping turn the Olympics around. You don’t do that as a manager; you do that as a leader. Source: 2008 Republican debate at Reagan Library in Simi Valley Jan 30, 2008
I’m proud of my experience as a leader
We shouldn’t demean the people starting up small or middle-sized businesses, or people who run volunteer organizations. They’re leaders. You can’t go out & hire managers to run these things. These are people who are leading our economy. They help lift ou country. In order to have somebody fix our economy and strengthen it, we have to have a strong economy--you’ve got to have somebody who’s actually done some work in the private economy, who understands how it works. I went on to become a governor. As a governor, you’re also a leader. You’re the commander-in-chief of your National Guard. You’re in charge of the state police, and, in my case, of tens of thousands of employees. You work with the legislature to get the job done. I’m proud of my experience as a leader, and I will use that leadership skill, which has honed my sense of judgment, temperament, wisdom, decision making capacity, & ability to deliberate on tough issues, to make sure that we have the right kind of leadership in the White House. Source: 2008 Republican debate at Reagan Library in Simi Valley Jan 30, 2008
Abraham Lincoln was not a military expert
Q: What makes you more qualified than McCain to run the military as commander-in-chief?
A: I’m sure that are those who’d say, to be the commander-in-chief you have to serve in the military. I don’t believe that you have to have served in the military t be a great commander-in-chief or to be a great foreign policy expert. You’re going to see in our foreign policy and in the military, we’re going to face challenges not like the challenges of old. You’re going to have to have people of unusual capacity in bringing in the perspectives of the entire world and thinking about how you move your pieces and how you make changes that can strengthen the US’s position. My objective is to keep the US the strongest nation on earth, economically, militarily, and from the spirit of our people. I can do that by virtue of a lifetime of experience leading, making decisions. Some of our great leaders -- look at Abraham Lincoln, was not a military expert, but turned out to be one of the best in the history of this country. Source: 2008 Republican debate at Reagan Library in Simi Valley Jan 30, 2008
Reagan would endorse my candidacy
Q: Would Reagan endorse you? And if so, why?
A: Absolutely. Reagan would say we’re going to win in Iraq, and I’m not going to walk out of Iraq until we win in Iraq. Reagan would say lower taxes, lower spending. Reagan is pro-life. He would want to have an amendment to protect marriage. Reagan would say that Washington is broken. Like Reagan, I’d go to Washington as an outsider--not owing favors, not lobbyists on every elbow. I would be able to be the independent outsider that Reagan was, and he brought change to Washington. Reagan would say let’s drill in ANWR. Reagan would say no way we are going to have amnesty again. Reagan saw it, it didn’t work. Let’s not do it again. Reagan would say no to a 50-cent-per-gallon charge on Americans for oil that the rest of the world doesn’t have to pay. Reagan would have said absolutely no way to McCain-Feingold. I would be with Reagan. This party has a choice, what the heart and soul of this party is going to be, and it’s going to be in the house that Reagan built Source: 2008 Republican debate at Reagan Library in Simi Valley Jan 30, 2008
Washington is broken & can’t deal with many problems
Primarily I saw that you had a President of the United States who is not running for re-election. His political career is over, and he has decided that he has a number of things he wants to say to the American people. He said them honestly and forthrightly. I was disappointed that in many cases the Democrats wouldn’t stand and acknowledge the importance of some of the issues he raised. But I saw a President who recognizes that Washington has been unable to deal with many of the problems we face. And whether that’s the ongoing threat from al Qaeda or whether it’s the need to reform Social Security or the need to finally secure our borders and have an immigration policy that works. This was a President saying, ‘You know what? Washington ought to get the job done.’ Washington is broken, and I think that’s one more reason for us to see a change in direction in our nation’s capital.“ Source: Response to 2008 State of the Union address Jan 28, 2008
Don’t think religion figuring into this race
When the Constitution and the founders said no religious test shall ever be required for qualification for office or public trust in the US that the founders meant just that. And I don’t believe for a minute that Republicans, or Americans for that matter, are going to impose a religious test when the founders said it’s as un-American as anything you can think of.
I don’t think you’re going to see religion figuring into this race after people have had a chance to get to know all the candidates. Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida Jan 24, 2008
Freedom requires religion in society, not in individuals
Q: You said in your speech on faith, “Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom.” Can you have freedom without organized religion?
A: Well, I was paraphrasing and underlining a quote from John Adams, who said that our constitutional form of government in this nation would require morality and freedom to be able to survive. We believe, as a nation, that God gave the individual certain inalienable rights. That’s not a constitutional guarantee, that’s not a policy guarantee, it’s a guarantee from our creator.
Q: But when you say freedom requires religion, can you be a moral person and be an atheist?
A: Oh, of course.
Q: And participate in freedom?
A: Of course yes.
Q: So freedom doesn’t require religion?
A: Our constitutional form of government and this American experiment requires morality, which in turn required religion. Yet, of course, on an individual basis, you have many individuals of great morality that don’t have any particular faith. Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series Dec 16, 2007
Ok to appoint atheists or agnostics--no litmus test of faith
Q: If you determined that the most qualified person for the Supreme Court or for attorney general or secretary of education happened to be an atheist or an agnostic, would that prevent you from appointing them?
A: Of course not. You look at individuals based upon their skills and their ability, their values, their intelligence. And there are many who are agnostic or atheist or who have very different beliefs about the nature of the divine than I do, and, and you evaluate them based on their skills. But I can tell you that I myself am a person of faith and respect the sense of the common bond of humanity that comes from that fundamental belief.
Q: But there’d be no litmus test?
A: No, no. There’s no litmus test of that nature. Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series Dec 16, 2007
Draw upon the strengths of the conservative principles
We’re not going to get the White House nor strengthen the US unless we can pull together the coalition of conservatives & conservative thought that has made us successful as a party. That’s social, economic, and foreign policy and defense conservatives. Those three together allowed Reagan to get elected and our party to have strength over the last several decades. I’m going to continue to draw, as many of the states try and do, upon those strengths by virtue of those conservative principles. Source: 2007 Des Moines Register Republican Debate Dec 12, 2007
Acting like Hillary won’t keep Hillary out of White House
Q: [to Romney]: Sen. Thompson says that you run to the left of Teddy Kennedy in 1994, that you were proudly pro-choice, as recently as 2005, and that his philosophy doesn’t depend on geography. Who is more conservative: you or Fred Thompson?
ROMNEY: This is a critical time for our nation and for our party. We’re going to have to bring together the same coalition that Ronald Reagan put together; conservatives fiscally, conservatives from a military standpoint and conservatives socially. Because we’re not going to keep Hillary Clinton out of the White House by acting like Hillary Clinton. Now, I’m proud of my record. Not just of the words, but of the record of the governor of Massachusetts.
THOMPSON: I was conservative as soon as I put down Conscience of a Conservative when I was in the college. In 8 years in the US Senate, I fought for tax cuts, a balanced budget, and welfare reform, all of which we achieved. All that time, I compiled a 100 percent pro-life voting record. Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida Oct 21, 2007
Absent from Values Voter Presidential Debate
Q: You are running as a pro-life and pro-marriage candidate, but you have a history of being strongly pro-abortion-on-demand and pro-homosexual. My question is, why should voters trust you, after you spent so much of your career aggressively promoting anti-life & anti-family positions? I understand a change of heart, but a change of position on life, marriage, gun control, pornography, and immigration all preceding your run for president?
GOV. ROMNEY: [absent from podium]
MODERATOR: Next question. Source: 2007 GOP Values Voter Presidential Debate Sep 17, 2007
Reid(D) vs. Hatch(R) show that LDS doesn’t control opinions
The anxiety about [the Mormonism] issue echoes from 1904, when LDS apostle Reed Smoot became a US senator. Senators asked the church president about church control of politics; the response was that the church would not dictate Smoot’s votes in the Senate.
A century later the answer is the same. An official statement on the church Web site states: “Elected officials who are Latter-day Saints make their own decisions and may not necessarily be in agreement with a publicly stated Church position. While the Church may communicate its views to them, as it may to any other elected official, it recognizes that these officials still must make their own choices based on their best judgment.“
Romney himself has addressed the issue many times and has supported causes as a politician that he would not support in his personal view. How can you have Harry Reid on the one side and Orrin Hatch on the other without recognizing that the church doesn’t direct political views? Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 95-96 Aug 31, 2007
Father George Romney born & raised until age 5 in Mexico
George Romney was born on July 8, 1907, in Colonia Juarez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The Romneys, along with thousands of other Mormons, immigrated to Mexico in the 1880s when the federal government cracked down on polygamy. The family fled back to the US in 1912
George Romney went on his church mission to Great Britain. When he returned to America in 1928, he moved to Washington DC and took night classes at GWU, and then worked as a lobbyist for Alcoa.
In 1940, he joined the Automobile Manufacturers Association in Detroit. He became general manager of the association in 1942. In 1954 George Romney was named president of American Motors, the first Romney-led turnaround took place.
After prayer and a 24-hour fast, he resigned from American Motors and ran for governor of Michigan in 1962. In 1964 Romney stood up to the Republican Party, demanding it take a stronger stand on civil rights. He famously walked out on Barry Goldwater’s acceptance speech at the GOP convention. Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 1-4 Aug 31, 2007
Valedictorian at Brigham Young University
Mitt transferred to Brigham Young University for school. The Romneys’ first child arrived on their first wedding anniversary. Ann took care of their firstborn, Taggart, and Mitt graduated with a degree in English near the top of his class. He gave the valedictory address for the College of Arts and Sciences.
George Romney suggested that his son study law, but Mitt wanted to go to business school. In a compromise in the great political tradition, he attended Harvard, intent on earning a Juris Doctor and MBA simultaneously. Mitt Romney doesn’t recommend it. Harvard doesn’t give you a break on tuition, he ruefully acknowledges. He graduated in four years with both degrees and headed off on a brilliant career. Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p.12 Aug 31, 2007
Wife Ann in remission from Multiple Sclerosis
Despite the luster of her public persona, Ann Romney’s life isn’t perfect. One challenge Mrs. Romney has talked openly about is her battle with multiple sclerosis. The 1998 diagnosis devastated her. She said, “I was energetic; I could handle anything. And then all of a sudden it was all taken away and I could do nothing.”
She claims she would have preferred a diagnosis of a terminal disease because she was so ill. The left side of her body was numb and her balance was off-kilter. Worst of all, fatigue overwhelmed her.
Ann Romney faced the disease in a proactive way. She turned to a variety of methods to rebuild her strength and get her life back. They included acupuncture and reflexology, yoga & Pilates, deep breathing exercises & steroids. These treatments all helped, but she credits her recovery largely to getting back on a horse.
Today the disease is in remission and Mrs. Romney is healthy. She pays close attention to her energy level and diet. She continues to ride horses. Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 83-84 Aug 31, 2007
Stresses commonality of Mormonism to mainstream Christianity
When the first rumors stirred about Mitt Romney and the presidency, his friend and fellow politician Ted Kennedy dismissed religion as a factor in the election. “That died with my brother,” he said. Well Ted Kennedy is wrong.
Mitt Romney is Mormon. The media are quick to point that out, practically leading each story with “Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney...” Pollsters probe our psyches for attitudes toward the possibility of a Mormon president.
Are we allowed to wonder about someone’s faith? Do we really care, or is this simply a media-driven issue?
Gov. Romney takes it in stride. “I think my religion is not as well-known as the other candidates’, and people are curious.” He doesn’t hide his religion. He calls himself a man of faith and speaks often of how his faith shapes his life. When asked about the specifics of Mormon doctrine, he defers to the LDS Church. He gives a top-line view of his beliefs, stressing the commonalities of Mormonism to mainstream Christianity. Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 91-92 Aug 31, 2007
Apologized for phrase “tar baby”, but not meant racially
Let’s look at one of Mitt Romney’s memorable gaffes: “The best thing politically would be to stay as far away from that tar baby as I can.”
Governor Romney was speaking of his decision to take over the trouble-plagued Big Dig project in Boston. He later apologized, saying he didn’t intend his remarks as a racial epithet, but used the phrase merely to describe a sticky situation.
The governor wound up mired in goo just like B’rer Rabbit in The Tale of Uncle Remus, where the phrase originated. It’s probably not a good idea to quote Uncle Remus in the new millennium. Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 16 Aug 31, 2007
Evangelicals know Mormons are fiscal & social conservatives
[One church leader said], “Evangelicals know that they’re not electing a theologian in chief. If they agree with Romney on social issues, his Mormonism won’t be a hindrance, especially if he’s the only viable social conservative in the mix.”
Do his core values line up with those of Americans of faith? He’s pro-life, a defender of traditional marriage, and believes America’s greatness rests on a three-legged foundation of strength: strong families, a strong economy, and a strong military. Mormons are fiscally and socially conservative. In the 2004 election, 95 percent of Mormon voters cast their ballots for George Bush.
Still, attacks on Romney’s faith continue. One by one the campaigns of other presidential candidates have committed “accidental” attacks on Romney’s religion. Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 93 Aug 31, 2007
Americans want person of faith as president, whatever brand
One by one the other presidential campaigns have committed “accidental” attacks on Romney’s religion. The presidential candidates were all quick to apologize for the actions of their campaign workers. In each case the candidates expressed regret and disappointment as they disavowed any attacks on religion. All stressed that they disavowed any attacks on religion. All stressed that they wanted to run a clean campaign that would not tolerate bigotry.
Gov. Romney accepted the apologies, saying, “Clearly, any derogatory comments about anyone’s faith--those comments are troubling. The fact they keep on coming up is even more troubling.”
It’s not all negative, however. At an early campaign stop a man in the audience challenged Romney directly, telling him that he would surely go to hell. The crowd groaned, then booed the man. Romney responded with what has become his signature comment on religion. “I believe Americans want a person of faith to lead the country. It doesn’t matter what brand.” Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 93-95 Aug 31, 2007
Mormons for president included Udall (1976) & Hatch (2000)
Mormons have integrated into the jumble of Americana, messy though that mixing sometimes is. The political arena is one area of American life in which Mormons have always participated. Romney is not the first Mormon to run for the presidency, though he arguably the first serious candidate. Joseph Smith [the founder of Mormonism] cast his hat into the presidential race in 1844, shortly before he was murdered. Other more recent presidential hopefuls have included Democrat Morris Udall, who was defeated in his 1976 quest, and Republican Senator Orrin Hatch in 2000. And, of course, Romney’s own father ran for president.
Mormons have served in other capacities in the national scene. Ronald Reagan’s administration included many Mormons, including his chief strategist, Secretary of Education, and Treasurer. Today 15 Mormons serve in Congress.
Given the political prominence of Mormons, the flurry about Romney’s religion is curious. Yet it is a symptom of the times in which we live. Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 97-98 Aug 31, 2007
1984: As Mormon bishop, led recovery after church fire
Mitt Romney was the bishop of the Belmont Ward. (A ward is a congregation of the LDS Church members; the bishop is the lay minister of the ward.) The building was almost completed by the summer of 1984--everything but the interior finish work.
Then the unthinkable happened. The beautiful new church went up in flames, a target of arson. Arsonists had set several other Mormon meetinghouses ablaze during that year, but none were as badly damaged as the Belmont Chapel.
Turning to other sects in the area, Romney told them an attack on any church was an attack on all churches and asked for their support. Seven churches offered to share their buildings with the Mormons. Churches held fundraisers to help with reconstruction. Belmont offered its town hall.
Romney accepted every offer. Romney said, “Some people in Belmont thought of Latter-day Saints as bizarre, and we were not part of the church community. The fire changed that for good.” Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p.106-7 Aug 31, 2007
1983: Carried dog in kennel on car roof, against MA law
Q: Back in 1983, you took your Irish setter, Seamus, on a 12-hour road trip tied to the roof of your car.
A: No, no, no, not quite like that.
Q: Inside a kennel.
A: Yes, yes.
Q: What were you thinking?
A: This is a completely airtight kennel and mounted on the top of our car. He climbed up there regularly, enjoyed himself. It was where he was comfortable. And we had five kids inside the car. My guess is he liked it a lot better in his kennel than he would have liked it inside.
Q: Well, Massachusetts law prohibits carrying an animal on top of a car, even in a kennel, as cruel and inhuman. Do you really think you did nothing wrong?
A: I didn’t know that there was any problem with that in terms of Massachusetts law. Love my dog. We’ve had a lot of dogs over the years. Love them. Seamus, as his name is, climbed up there all by himself, enjoyed his ride, and whether you’re in the back of a pickup truck or in the rooftop carrier, it was a good ride. He was a good friend of the family. Source: Fox News Sunday: 2007 “Choosing the President” interviews Aug 12, 2007
Misspoke that sons’ campaign service comparable to military
Q: You caused a bit of a stir this week when someone asked you whether or not your sons had served in the Army, and you answered that they had not, explaining that “one of the ways that my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I’d be a great president.” Can you understand why that answer has upset some people?
A: Oh, I misspoke there. I didn’t mean in any way to compare service in the country with my boys in any way. Service in this country is an extraordinary sacrifice being made by individuals and their families. I’ve been calling for a surge of support, as you know, by the American citizens. There’s no comparison. I’m very pleased and proud of my boys and the help they’re doing for their dad, but it’s not service to the country. It’s service for me. And there’s just no comparison there. Source: Fox News Sunday: 2007 “Choosing the President” interviews Aug 12, 2007
Strong families, a strong economy and a strong military
Q: What will you restore to the Oval Office?
A: I’ve thought a lot about this question. And I take my inspiration from my dad, from Ronald Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt, the Declaration of Independence. My view is that America is going to be strengthened by virtue of the presidency, if I’m able to have that opportunity. I would strengthen America’s military, make sure that we could be safe here at home. I want to strengthen our economy, keep our taxes down, become free of oil from foreign places, strengthen our economy so we have great jobs and a great future for our people. And finally, I want to strengthen the American family. In my view, strong families, a strong economy and a strong military--that combination of features is what makes this party so strong and accounts for our great success in the elections over the prior several decades and also is so critical to our future as a nation--a strong economy, a strong military, and strong families. And I’ll fight for those things. Source: 2007 GOP Iowa Straw Poll debate Aug 5, 2007
Doesn’t dislike anything about America
Q: What do you dislike most about America?
A: Gosh. I love America. I’m afraid I’m going to be at a loss for words because America for me is not just our rolling mountains and hills and streams and great cities. It’s the American people. And the American people are the greatest people in the world. What makes America the greatest nation in the world is the heart of the American people: hardworking, innovative, risk-taking, God- loving, family-oriented American people. It’s that optimism we thank Ronald Reagan for. Thank you, Mrs. Reagan, for opening up this place in his memory for us. It is that optimism about this great people that makes this the greatest nation on earth. Source: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC May 3, 2007
Address issues so America can remain a superpower
Ten Issues America Must Address to Remain The Economic and Military Superpower
Defeating the Jihadists
Competing with Asia
Stopping Runaway Spending
Getting Immigration Right
Achieving Energy Independence
Affirming America’s Culture and Values
Simplifying the Tax System
Extending Health Insurance to All Americans
Raising the Bar on Education
Source: PAC website, www.TheCommonwealthPac.com, “Meet Mitt” Dec 1, 2006
#8 on Human Events’ list of Top Ten RINOs
Romney ranks #8 on the list Top 10 RINOs, ranked by the editors of Human Events (a conservative publication).
Has said, “I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country.” Supports civil unions and stringent gun laws. After visiting Houston, he criticized the city’s aesthetics, saying, “This is what happens when you don’t have zoning.”
What’s a RINO? Wikipedia.com explains:
RINO stands for Republican In Name Only, a disparaging term for a member of the Republican Party who is thought to be too fiscally or socially moderate or even liberal. It has replaced the older term Rockefeller Republican. The term is used by conservatives to delegitimize moderate Republican office holders. Those labeled RINOs counter that the conservatives who call them RINOs are too far right and too politically naive. They point out that they can and do win in moderate and liberal areas and without their votes the Republicans would lose control of Congress.
Source: HumanEventsOnline.com, end-of-year issue Dec 27, 2005
Success in DC: Tell truth, find right fit, never give up
Officials working on the Olympic Games became so intertwined with our staff, & our purposes became so united, that it was hard sometimes to remember who worked for SLOC and who worked for the government. [My principles for] being successful in Washington
Tell the Truth--the Whole Truth
The perception in Washington was that the folks from Utah didn’t tell the truth--partly because of the bid scandal & partly because of the state’s request for billions in “Olympic projects,” some located 100s of miles away. Truth became the most convincing argument.
Find the Right Fit
The federal government is not like a large corporation with centralized decision-making. It is more like hundreds of independent entities, each pursuing their own agendas. Getting help from Washington depended on matching our need with a specific agency’s mission.
Never, Never, Never Give Up
If you work at it long enough, there is always another way to get the help you need in Washington.
Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p.237-240 Aug 25, 2004
Has “over-developed community service gene”
Within two weeks, I would make a complete about-face. I would leave friends and family behind and move to Utah. I would walk away from my leadership at Bain Capital at the height of its profitability and take a position without compensation.
I later joked with the press that it was due to an overdeveloped community service gene. And that was not far from the truth. Ann’s arguments had resonance, but they had resonance because she knows my core beliefs and life aspirations. She knows that somewhere deep inside, I hoped to commit myself to things greater than making a living or building a fortune. It was the spirit of service in one form or another--a family poltergeist that has haunted my ancestors for generations. It was the legacy of my heritage. Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p. 7 Aug 25, 2004
Pronounced dead at age 20 from car accident in Paris
The principle of triage is not lost on me. I was involved in a car accident when I was 20, serving a volunteer assignment in France. I was at the wheel on my way from Bordeaux. I came over the top of a hill to find a Mercedes coming directly at me, passing a truck. I later learned the driver had been drinking. We did not see each other until we were about 30 feet apart.
Tragically, there was a fatality; one of my passengers was pronounced dead at the scene. I was also pronounced dead. One of the gendarmes found me unconscious and wrote, “il est mort” on my passport.
My parents and Ann, my then-girlfriend, learned I had expired. They did not believe it. My father called Sargent Shriver, who was then the US ambassador at the American embassy in Paris. Shriver assured them I was very much alive.
At the hospital where we were taken, the doctor’s triage led him to focus on another colleague. Broken ribs, facial lacerations, & bleeding were more threatening then my broken arm & swollen forehead. Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p. 39-40 Aug 25, 2004
Experience to lead to prosperity after fiscal mismanagement
Over the past few months, I have been humbled by the encouragement and support I have received from the people of Massachusetts. I have decided to run for Governor because in this time of fiscal mismanagement, I have the experience and proven track record to lead the Commonwealth back to prosperity. Our resources and talent are immense; with your help we can achieve greatness. Source: Campaign web site, Romney2002.org Mar 20, 2002
Dad inspired him to public service
My dad is someone who I’ve subconsciously patterned my life after. He was someone who had a very strong sense of public service, which is something that, as I’ve gotten a little older, seems to have sprung up in me as well. Source: Quoted in Harvard Law Bulletin, Spring/02 Mar 1, 2002
Aspiring to greatness is its own reward
With 15 years of venture capital under my belt, I’m a convert to the power of persistence, ambition, hard work, and foresight. But I’m also convinced that when it comes to making money or earning fame, more than a fair amount of serendipity is at play. There is, however, a brighter way. If you give yourself for great things, you will not be subject to serendipity. Giving your life for great things generates as much satisfaction in the effort as it does in the achievement. Source: Commencement Speech, Westminster College, UT Jun 2, 2001
Values family, faith, education, sport, & healing
Giving yourself to great things is the only sure path for successful living. I have spoken of some of those choices. To them I might add family and children, faith, scholarship, exploration, healing, teaching, athletics, and creation. Source: Commencement Speech, Westminster College, UT Jun 2, 2001
Mitt Romney on Mormonism
Endorsed by Bob Jones, despite calling Mormonism a “cult”
Q: One of your supporters, Dr. Bob Jones III [of Bob Jones University], an evangelical leader, said your faith was a “cult,” & an “erroneous religion.” How can you accept the support of someone who would trash your faith?
A: You know, religions are in competitive battle. They’re competing for souls and adherents. And the good news is that Bob Jones may not agree with my faith--and obviously he does not--but he does believe that I’m the right person to be president, and that’s because he believes that person of faith should lead the nation. He backs me as a president, not as a pastor. So I’m delighted to have his support and some say when all this is over, we’ll probably talk about religion, too.
Q: Jones went on to say: “I’d be very concerned if he tried to make it appear that Mormonism is a Christian denomination of some sort. It isn’t.” He’s saying you’re not a Christian.
A: Well, people have differing views about faith. But the great thing is that our values are the same. Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series Dec 16, 2007
Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom
Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.
Given our grand tradition of religious tolerance and liberty, some wonder whether there are any questions regarding an aspiring candidate’s religion that are appropriate. I believe there are. Source: Speech “Faith In America” at Bush Presidential Library Dec 6, 2007
I believe Jesus is savior of mankind & Son of God
There is one fundamental question about which I often am asked. What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. My church’s beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree. Source: Speech “Faith In America” at Bush Presidential Library Dec 6, 2007
Ignoring religion in policy is at odds with our founders
Today, I wish to address a topic which I believe is fundamental to America’s greatness: our religious liberty. I will also offer perspectives on how my own faith would inform my Presidency, if I were elected.
There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation’s founders, for they, when our nation faced its greatest peril, sought the blessings of the Creator. And further, they discovered the essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom. In John Adams’ words: ‘We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people.’ Source: Speech “Faith In America” at Bush Presidential Library Dec 6, 2007
No church authorities will exert influence on my decisions
Almost 50 years ago another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for President, not a Catholic running for President. Like him, I am an American running for President. I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.
Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.
As Governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution--and of course, I would not do so as President. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law. Source: Speech “Faith In America” at Bush Presidential Library Dec 6, 2007
Will serve no one religion, but will not distance himself
If I am fortunate to become your President, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A President must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.
There are some for whom these commitments are not enough. They would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers--I will be true to them and to my beliefs.
Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience. Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world. Source: Speech “Faith In America” at Bush Presidential Library Dec 6, 2007
We share a common creed despite differences in theology
There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church’s distinctive doctrines. [But] no candidate should become the spokesman for his faith; the President needs the prayers of the people of all faiths.
In every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims.
It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions. And where the affairs of our nation are concerned, it’s usually a sound rule to focus on the latter--on the great moral principles that urge us all on a common course. Source: Speech “Faith In America” at Bush Presidential Library Dec 6, 2007
Bible is the word of God; I don’t disagree with Bible
Q: Do you believe every word of this book [The Holy Bible]?
A: I believe the Bible is the word of God, absolutely. I might interpret the word differently than you interpret the word, but I read the Bible and I believe the Bible is the word of God. I don’t disagree with the Bible. I try to live by it. Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida Nov 28, 2007
Mormons believe in God, the Bible, & Jesus Christ as savior
Q: There was a recent poll here in N.H. 10% said they wouldn’t vote for you because you’re a Mormon. What would you like to say to the voters out there tonight about your faith, about yourself and about God?
A: Well, Pres. Kennedy some time ago said he was not a Catholic running for president; he was an American running for president. And I’m a proud member of my faith. I think it’s a fair question for people to ask, “What do you believe?” And I think, as you want to understand what I believe, you could recognize that the values that I have are the same values you’ll find in faiths across this country. I believe in God, believe in the Bible, believe Jesus Christ is my savior. I believe that God created man in his image. I believe that the freedoms of man derive from inalienable rights that were given to us by God. And I also believe that there are some pundits out there that are hoping that I’ll distance myself from my church so that that’ll help me politically, and that’s not going to happen. Source: 2007 GOP debate at Saint Anselm College Jun 3, 2007
Roman Catholic bishops can do whatever the heck they want
Q: What do you say to Roman Catholic bishops who would deny Communion to elected officials who support abortion rights?
A: I don’t say anything to Roman Catholic bishops. They can do whatever the heck they want. Roman Catholic bishops are in a private institution, a religion. And they can do whatever they want in a religion.
Q: Do you see that as interference in public life?
A: Well, I can’t imagine a government telling a church who can have Communion in their church. We have a separation of church and state. It’s served us well in this country. This is a nation, after all, that wants a leader that’s a person of faith, but we don’t choose our leader based on which church they go to. This is a nation which also unites over faith and over the right of people to worship as they choose. The people we’re fighting, they’re the ones who divide over faith and decide matters of this nature in the public forum. This is a place where we celebrate different religions and different faiths. Source: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC May 3, 2007
Every person of any faith has deeply-held values
Q: You criticized Gov. Romney for saying his faith wouldn’t get in the way of his governing.
HUCKABEE: I never criticized Gov. Romney for that. When a person says, “My faith doesn’t affect my decision-making,” that the person is saying their faith is not significant to impact their decision process. I tell people up front, “My faith does affect my decision process.”
Q: But you answered a question on Feb. 11 about Romney in this way: “I’m troubled by a person who tells me their faith doesn’t influence their decisions.“
HUCKABEE: A person’s faith shouldn’t qualify or disqualify for public office. But we ought to be honest and open about it.
Q: Gov. Romney, do you accept that he wasn’t talking about you?
ROMNEY: Everyone who’s a person of faith has values that are deeply held. That’s what makes America such a powerful land: that comes from being a people of faith, but not people of a particular church or a particular synagogue. Rather, the great values we share are American values. Source: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC May 3, 2007
Romney is the 5th Mormon to run for President
Mitt Romney’s presidential bid is not the first time a Mormon has sought the presidency--it is the fifth such try. And it really isn’t Mitt Romney’s first presidential campaign. It’s his third.
The founding prophet of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, declared his candidacy for the presidency in 1844. Mitt Romney’s father, Michigan governor George Romney, ran a full-scale campaign for the presidency in 1967-68. Three years earlier, George Romney was nominated at the 1964 convention as a “favorite son“ candidate, with his teenage son Mitt on the convention floor supporting him. Arizona Democratic Congressman Mo Udall, a Mormon, made a run in 1976. Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, another Mormon, threw his hat into the ring against the Bush machine in 2000.
In only one of these races did the Mormon candidate come close to the nomination--George Romney’s 1968 run. Romney was actually the GOP frontrunner for most of 1967, and with that status, his faith became a topic for a delicate sort of scrutiny. Source: A Mormon in the White House, by Hugh Hewitt, p. 21-23 Mar 12, 2007
George Romney never questioned on Mormonism during 1968 race
Everyone who follows Romney is probably sentenced to read scores of comparison pieces between ‘68 and ‘08, but the premise is absurd, even as the comparisons between the 1992 and 2000 presidential campaigns of Bush 41 and Bush 43 are absurd--and those were only 8 years apart.
There are a couple of lessons in George Romney’s campaign, but none unique to it: Gaffes can kill campaigns. Allies can switch sides. Difficult wars make for difficult interviews. What George Romney’s campaign didn’t have to deal with, though, was religious bigotry. The elder Romney just didn’t last long enough to see anyone try to raise a “Mormon objection” to his qualifications.
One veteran of the George Romney effort sent Mitt Romney an analysis of why George’s campaign floundered--an assessment that included 20 reasons why he lost. “One of them was not because he was a Mormon or people didn’t understand the Mormon Church or whatever,” Romney underscored. Source: A Mormon in the White House, by Hugh Hewitt, p. 42-43 Mar 12, 2007
Constitution is explicit: no religious test for presidency
Romney should ask his fellow candidates for clear statements regarding the dishonorability of voting against a candidate on the basis of religious belief. This is the “Article VI” argument, and it is a powerful one. The third clause of Article VI of the Constitution bars a “religious test” for public office. This is an obscure portion of the Constitution, but one which will receive a lot of attention over the next year and a half as Romney’s Mormon faith receives scrutiny.
.no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification in any Office or public Trust under the United States.
“I think it is clear that the way the field of candidates for president is shaping up, Romney is going to be the candidate whose values most closely approximate those of evangelical Christians,” said one pundit. He goes on to say that he sees bigotry in the anti-Mormon assault on Romney. Source: A Mormon in the White House?, by Hugh Hewitt, p.235&246 Mar 12, 2007
Faces questions on Mormonism like Kennedy did on Catholicism
Romney has made the decision to step down at the end of this year and is preparing to seek the presidency. His preparations are serious - both in fundraising and in organizing support in early primary states. This is a onetime business consultant who likes to have his ducks in a row.
But he knows the real challenges lie ahead for him, just as they do for his health plan. One special test involves the public reaction to his Mormon faith. He thinks it won’t ultimately be a barrier but says, “At some point, I know, I will have to face all the questions about its tenets, just as John Kennedy did in West Virginia and in the meeting with the Greater Houston Ministerial Association,” when his Catholicism was an issue. “But I think tolerance will prevail again.” Source: 2008 speculation: Eleanor Clift, Newsweek, “Gore Redux” Apr 28, 2006
Mitt Romney on Past Elections
Changing views: I’ve learned from experience & made mistakes
Q: McCain says about you, “I have not changed my position on every major issue every couple of years.” The Union Leader newspaper says, “Granite Staters want a candidate who will tell them the truth. Mitt Romney has not.” The impression seems to be that you’re a phony.
A: That theme is not going to stand the test of time because you can see what I did as governor. And my positions as president are identical to those as governor. They all flow from them. I found a way to work with Democrats in my legislature. I’m proud of my record, and I’m running on my record, and my views are consistent with that record. Everybody over time is going to make an experienced judgment based on what they think is right, and no candidate has been the same throughout the entire process. And if they have, I’ll show you a candidate that ought to be pushed aside, because you know what? You should learn from experience. If you want somebody who’s never learned from experience, who’s never made a mistake, I’m not your guy Source: 2008 Fox News interview: “Choosing the President” series Jan 6, 2008
Proud of his accomplishments in fighting the Liberal Lion
Q: [to Romney]: Sen. McCain suggests that you’re conning people--he has used that phrase--with your conversions on a number of issues.
ROMNEY: When I ran against Ted Kennedy in 1994, that was a big uphill climb. But let me tell you, I was fighting for issues like making sure that we would have the death penalty in our state, fighting to keep our taxes down. I was fighting against the Liberal Lion in perhaps the toughest state in America. And I’m pretty proud of what I was able to accomplish in that race, but nothing compares to the pride I have with the work that I was able to do as a governor.
McCAIN: Gov. Romney, you’ve been spending the last year trying to fool people about your record. I don’t want you to start fooling them about mine. I stand on my record as a conservative, and I don’t think you can fool the American people. They may not agree with me on a couple of issues, but they’ll know I’m telling the truth, and my steadfast positions on these issues for more than 20 years. Source: 2007 GOP primary debate in Orlando, Florida Oct 21, 2007
1967: Father was presidency frontrunner until “brainwashed”
Brainwashed. It sounds anachronistic today. But in 1967, America was deeply enmeshed in the Cold War. Communists were a menacing, dark force poised to take over the world. On Aug. 31, 1967, this seemed like a throw-away comment:
LOU GORDON: (on Vietnam): “Isn’t your position a bit inconsistent with what it was?”
GEORGE ROMNEY: “Well, you know when I came back from Vietnam I just had the greatest brainwashing that anybody can get. Not only by the generals, but also by the diplomatic corps. I no longer believe it was necessary for us to get involved in South Vietnam to stop Communist aggression.“
The comment took on a life of its own, spawning headlines like: ”Romney Asserts He Underwent ‘Brainwashing’ on Vietnam Trip.“ The public uproar was loud and quick. Romney had impugned the integrity of honorable men! He can’t recognize truth when he sees it! Romney is too gullible to be president!
Lesson #1 for son in politics: Watch what you say. Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 5-7 Aug 31, 2007
Bush & Cheney have made mistakes, but have kept us safe
Q: What authority would you delegate to the office of vice president?
A: You let the president decide what the responsibilities of the V.P. would be in his administration.
Q: What would you decide?
A: Depends on the person, depends on the needs, depends on their capabilities. But I like a person that gives wide viewpoints on a wide array of issues. It’s been very popular lately to be critical of the president and the V.P. I know they make mistakes. But they have kept us safe these last 6 years. Source: 2007 GOP Iowa Straw Poll debate Aug 5, 2007
AdWatch: Stood up for conservatism in most liberal state
[Romney TV ad that began running in June]:
ANNOUNCER: In the most liberal state in the country one Republican stood up and cut spending instead of raising taxes; he enforced immigration laws, stood up for traditional marriage and the sanctity of human life.
ROMNEY: This isn’t the time for us to shrink from conservative principles. It’s a time for us to stand in strength. Strong military, strong economy, strong families.
ANNOUNCER: In the toughest place, Mitt Romney’s done the toughest things Source: FactCheck.org: AdWatch of 2007 campaign ad, “Tested, Proven” Jun 28, 2007
FactCheck: VT would disagree that MA is most liberal state
In his new TV ad, Romney calls Massachusetts “the most liberal state” in the US, and “the toughest place” for a Republican governor. That may be his judgment, but surely there are a few other nominees for the “most liberal” award.
True, Massachusetts has Democratic Sens. Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, and in 2004 it became the first state in the nation to legalize gay marriage. In the 1972 presidential election, it was the only state (plus DC) won by Democratic nominee George McGovern.
But consider Vermont, the home of Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described “independent democratic socialist,” and of Howard Dean, former governor. Social activist ice cream czars Ben & Jerry also are based there.
Then there’s Rhode Island, which cast a greater share of its votes--61%--for Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore in 2000 than any other state. And some might well grant the distinction to New Jersey, which has a higher personal income tax than Massachusetts, as well as two Democratic senators. Source: FactCheck.org: AdWatch of 2007 campaign ad, “Tested, Proven” Jun 28, 2007
Not seeking re-election as governor; speaking around US
Popular Republican Governor Mitt Romney has announced that he will not seek an additional term, citing the need to finish the objectives he has set for himself and to allow others to serve. Romney has fueled the speculation that he plans on seeking the GOP presidential nomination by recently appearing in key political states, including a recent speech before Republican Governors in a convention in California.
“My decision comes down to this: In this four-year term, we can accomplish what I set out to do,“ he said. ”A year from now, it will be time for me to pass that privilege to someone else. I will not be a candidate for re-election.“
Often describing himself as a ”red speck in a blue state,“ Romney has successfully navigated liberal waters as a traditional conservative. He has positioned himself as a reasonable and prudent politician who is open to discussions with all political persuasions, even where he is morally opposed to certain liberal causes. Source: 2008 speculation in Beehive Standard Weekly (NV) Apr 12, 2006
Respects Kerry’s Vietnam record, but not his Senate record
I’m proud to be from Massachusetts, where John Kerry will be the junior senator until 2008. You see, I don’t believe Senator Kerry is the leader our country needs. Let me say I respect his four months under enemy fire in Vietnam; we should honor that service as we do the service of all our fighting men and women.
No, it’s John Kerry’s record in his nearly 40 years since Vietnam that’s the question. Study that record; if you want someone who voted for tax hikes 98 times, then yes, send him. If you want cuts in intelligence funding, then yes, send him. If you think that during the great national policy debate of the 1980s Ronald Reagan was wrong and Ted Kennedy was right, then by all means send in John Kerry. Source: 2004 Republican Convention Speech Sep 1, 2004
Kerry’s leadership is 57 varieties; Bush is unwavering
Senator Kerry now tells us he has a clear position on the war on terror. He voted NO on Desert Storm in 1991 and YES on Desert Shield today. Then he voted NO on troop funding, just after he had voted YES. He’s campaigned against the war all year, but says he’d vote YES today. I don’t want Presidential leadership that comes in 57 varieties! I want a strong President who stands his ground.
I want George W. Bush! We need unwavering leadership. America is under attack from almost every direction. We have been attacked by murderous, crazed terrorists, even in this great city. Our employers and jobs are threatened by low cost, highly skilled labor from abroad. American values are under attack from within. Source: 2004 Republican Convention Speech Sep 1, 2004
Ran against Kennedy in 1993 to offer a different vision
In 1993, something almost irrational happened. I began thinking about making a run against Sen. Ted Kennedy. My wife and I believed that there needed to be a different course offered to the people of Massachusetts. It seemed clear to us the policies of the liberal Democrats of the 1950s and 1960s, though well intentioned, were wrong. We felt that someone needed to stand up, to offer a different vision from the one Kennedy and his colleagues had been pitching for decades. I wondered if that someone ought not to be me. I began to think “If not me, who?”
We recognized that there was no way I was going to beat him. After I won the primary, and was ahead in the polls, Kennedy launched a particularly effective attack campaign, portraying me as a money-grubbing businessman. He beat me soundly.
We wanted to raise new ideas for government, and help rebuild a disappearing second party. But after it was over, we did not feel like we had accomplished what we set out to do. Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p. 13-15 Aug 25, 2004
Ran for MA governor to help people
The campaign for governor was a good deal like a [business turnaround or the Olympic] turnaround.
First rule, the vision: know why you’re running. Very simply, I was running to help people. Massachusetts had been burdened too long by waste, abuse, inefficiency, and patronage. Government needed to be more about public service and less about self-service.
Second rule: assemble the right people for the team.
Third rule: carry out a strategic audit. With only 13% Republicans in Massachusetts, & major paper with a decidedly liberal bias, our strategy would sell my vision straight to the electorate, unvarnished.
Fourth rule: communicate the vision and challenge the team to stretch. Before the campaign was over, I had taken positions on scores of issues. I believed they were all consistent with our vision: helping people.
And so, on Jan. 2, 2003, I was inaugurated governor of Massachusetts. The cycle began again: another turnaround, in worse shape than I had imagined. Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p.381-382 Aug 25, 2004
Drafted to run for MA governor; incumbent was unelectable
[In 2002], I began to get calls from Massachusetts. Jim Rappaport, former GOP party head, had decided to run for lieutenant governor. The governor, Jane Swift, had selected a running mate not to Jim’s liking and he was going to try & beat him. He also wanted me to come back to run for governor.
A state rep endorsed me for governor. The attention stemmed from the weakness of the incumbent. She had taken over for the governor when he became Ambassador to Canada. A poll showed such poor ratings that the pollster said she was unelectable. If I did not run, he concluded, the GOP would lose the office and probably disappear as a viable party in Massachusetts: the legislature had dropped to 15% Republican. Democracy needs two parties; If not, me, who?
Mitt Romney on Salt Lake Olympic Committee
2002: Offered Olympic job as “turnaround king”
1998 news reports began to reveal that members of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee had bribed officials on the International Olympic Committee. The bribes ran the gamut: from skiing trips & real estate to scholarships & even plastic surgery. Top officials of SLOC resigned immediately and the fallout filtered down to other members of the committee. The scandal devastated not only Utah but the entire country.
Enter Mitt Romney. Hailed as a white knight, turnaround king, and Games saver, Romney was offered the job as president of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee a little over a month after the former president stepped down. At first Romney didn’t want to take the job. He had no experience with sports management, was happily living in Massachusetts, and business was booming at Bain Capital. His deep belief in service--and some serious nudging from his wife Ann--convinced him to take the job. Relying on his lifelong credo of public service (“If not me, who?”), he headed to Utah. Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 24-5 Aug 31, 2007
Salvaged Olympic games from financial and scandal disaster
The Games’ financial books were a disaster. The marketing had crashed. The scandal revelations kept coming. The costs kept accumulating. If he had not pulled it off, Romney could have walked away unblemished saying, “I tried, but no one but God can resurrect the dead.” But he did pull it off. His accomplishment grew even more significant because the Salt Lake City games were held against the backdrop of 9/11. The Games also proceeded under the very real fear of another terrorist attack, and with unprecedented security because of the still deeply felt vulnerability that lingered in the country.
The significance of Romney’s Olympic stewardship for Romney’s presidential bid is much more in the stories he tells of the Games than in the awful numbers he and his colleagues confronted and reversed. Romney has got a box of business stories, but they cannot compare with the planning for the torch relay, or the tale of tempting the Today Show with a promise of a Romney run on the skeleton sled. Source: A Mormon in the White House?, by Hugh Hewitt, p. 68-69 Mar 12, 2007
Olympic slogan “Light the Fire Within”:it’s more than sports
When I was still just considering the CEO position at the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, my sons came up with the slogan “It’s all about sport.” I felt that the scandal had brought too much attention to the administrators. The Olympics is about athletic competition.
[But as I spoke with Olympic champions], it began to impress on me that the Olympics are really about something greater than sport, but seen through sport and the Olympians themselves. The Olympics are a showcase of some of the great qualities of the human spirit: determination, persistence, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, faith, passion, teamwork, loyalty, honor, character. The Olympics celebrate the human spirit by revealing the athlete’s unrelenting drive to push the limits of human capacity.
The phrase we eventually gave as the vision of our Games was “Light the Fire Within.” Those words, that vision would affect everything we did at the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p.xiii-xiv Aug 25, 2004
SLOC’s guiding principles: teamwork, pride, integrity, fun
[Focusing on Olympic organizational culture], we formed Guiding Principles that would form the backbone of the culture, to be printed & placed on every SLOC desk.
SLOC’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Involve stakeholders
Think horizontally, not vertically
Consider other viewpoints; find win-win solutions
Emphasize team success
Passion and Pride
Seek Gold Medal performances in your job
Relish small achievements
Realize your impact
Be honest and direct
Accept feedback, avoid defensiveness
Seek prompt resolution to issues
Listen more; talk a little less
Be loyal to those not present
Do what you say you’ll do
No hidden agendas
Fun and Celebration
Take your work seriously, not yourself
Encourage laughter
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Look for opportunities to include others
Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p. 86-87 Aug 25, 2004
Did not consider political value of Olympics
My appointment was not the culmination of a career in sports administration. I was not being promoted from within. I had no aspirations for further appointments with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). And despite suspicions to the contrary, I had no plans to parlay the experience into political advantage.
I gave very little thought at all to what I would do afterwards. Many people cannot believe that. They think that I had calculated the political benefits. I saw no political connection at all. The idea of going to Utah as a way of helping me run in Massachusetts was nuts. If I wanted to run, I would have stayed in Massachusetts. And I had no appetite for staying in Utah for a political career. There were plenty of people who had lived there all their lives, who were prepared and qualified. I was going to Utah to run the Olympics. Ann and I felt it was the right thing to do. We felt it brought greater meaning to what we had already done. I wanted to serve the community, not run for office. Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p. 19-20 Aug 25, 2004
Worked for Olympics with no salary and no expense account
I announced that I would not seek a severance package at the end of my term, as the prior Olympic CEO Tom Welch had required for himself. I would also work without compensation until the Games were over and proven financially successful. It is a luxury to be able to work for an extended period without salary. But my personal finances were such that I could afford it, and I wanted to make it clear that I was at the Games to serve, not to make a bundle. I also zeroed out over $1.5 million that had been budgeted to the CEO for outside consulting and support services.
When you take a job to perform a service, not to earn a paycheck or win a jackpot, you do not really care a lot about how people think of you. You have the absolute luxury to do exactly what you think is right. Ann kept reminding me that this was about serving. It was a great relief and it freed my anxious mind to really do what I thought was right. Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p. 55-56 Aug 25, 2004
$100M in SLOC donations criticized as special deals for rich
To reach a $100 million goal, we would do something that had never been done before: we put together a donor program to raise big bucks. The donor program was high-octane money for us because we did not have to share any of the proceeds with the USOC or IOC.
We designed a donor package of benefits. Our bronze level cost $100,000 and entitled the donor to 4 tickets each to even of several prime events over the 17 days of the Games. Silver was $500,000 and brought 8 ticket packages & other benefits. A cool million included 12 ticketing packages.
Because no good deed goes uncriticized, the donor program attracted its fair share of naysayers. Rich people were going to get special deals. Yes, and we would get an even more special deal because these rich people would be helping us pay for Games that were in financial crisis.
Dollar by dollar, million by million, we climbed toward the $100 million dollar goal. We enlisted 105 donors. We secured the $100 million. Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p. 89-91 Aug 25, 2004
$99M in deferred payments from State of Utah paid for SLOC
Over 10 years, $59 million of sales tax revenues that otherwise would have gone to cities and towns went to build sport venues that were promised if Salt Lake were successful in winning the Games. When the Games were awarded, a contract was signed making SLOC responsible for paying $1 million back to cities and towns upon the completion of the venues and the other $58 million a month before the Games were to begin, plus an additional $40 endowment for future operating expenses.
But, there was nothing to do but approach Utah to ask for forbearance. I knew it would not be easy. The whole point of the state payment schedule was to guarantee that Utah taxpayers would get their money out first. But if we did not keep the bank line of credit, we would not have Games and if we did not have Games, the cities and towns would get zero. Give the forbearance and the cities and towns had a shot at the whole $99 million. The legislature eventually approved the deferral. Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p.142-143 Aug 25, 2004
World Trade Center flag shown at Olympic opening ceremony
As the Olympic torch made its way across the country, we realized that we would have to do something in the opening ceremony to recognize the wellspring of patriotism the torch generated. The idea for bringing the tattered World Trade Center flag into th stadium came from the USOC.
During the parade of nations, the host country’s delegation is always last. The last 8 American athletes in line would carry the 9/11 flag. The Olympic Charter stipulated that displays of nationalistic sentiment were not permitted. Hitler’s efforts to use the Games in the 1930s to celebrate Aryan superiority had sent aftershocks that were still felt.
The IOC had decided that the WTC flag could not take a place in the ceremonies. I was sympathetic to the policy but I felt it was wrong.
We finally agree about 1 AM the next morning. The flag would be brought into the stadium just before the anthem was played and held in front of the symphony and choir. A second American flag would be raised during the anthem. Source: Turnaround, by Mitt Romney, p.349-352 Aug 25, 2004
Ran Olympics in spirit of volunteerism
Three years ago, with the 2002 Winter Olympics mired in controversy and facing serious financial crisis, Mitt was asked to become President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. Although the challenge seemed daunting, he was compelled to assume the task by both the urgings of his wife, Ann, and by the memory of his father, George Romney, who had been a successful businessman, four-term Michigan Governor and tireless advocate of volunteerism.
In his three years in Salt Lake, Mitt erased a $360 million operating deficit, organized 23,000 volunteers, galvanized community spirit, oversaw an unprecedented security mobilization to ensure public safety and led one of the most successful Olympics in our country’s history. Source: Campaign web site, Romney2002.org Mar 20, 2002
Click here for definitions & background information on Principles & Values.
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Nominees:
GOP: Sen.John McCain
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Democrat: Sen.Barack Obama
Dem.V.P.: Sen.Joe Biden
Third Parties:
Constitution: Chuck Baldwin
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Constitution: Amb.Alan Keyes
Liberation: Gloria La Riva
Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney
Socialist: Brian Moore
Independent: Ralph Nader Abortion
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The Cozy Mystery List Blog
Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV
The Detection Club
Part dinner club, part semi-guild for detective fiction writers, the Detection Club was formed in 1930 Britain by a distinguished group of authors including such Cozy luminaries as Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, E.C. Bentley, and G.K. Chesterton, all of whom eventually served a tenure as president. The Detection Club was originally mostly English and Irish authors, though this was more due to the limitations of geography at the time than an inclination toward British born authors – Hungarian born immigrant to Britain Emma Orczy was among the founding members. Still, the Detection Club has always been a largely British group – John Dickson Carr was the first and only American added to the club in 1936, and he resided in the UK at the time. Always an invitation-only club, the Detection Club today includes some of the modern leaders of mystery fiction, including Colin Dexter and current president, Simon Brett.
Most sources indicate that the main reason the club originally formed was to provide a group of friends in the field; individuals who enjoyed spending time with one another with an excuse to meet regularly for dinner parties in London. However, they also took their careers very seriously, and in an attempt to avoid what they saw as a cheapening of the detective fiction field of literature, all members pledged an oath to uphold certain “fair play” rules. Of course, most of the Detection Club members rarely upheld these “rules” all the time – Agatha Christie in particular was famous for either bending the rules so far they were unrecognizable, or even occasionally breaking them outright.
In modern times many of these initial rules have been relaxed or discarded as sentiment toward them changed among detective fiction authors. (As a side note, I’ll be reviewing these rules and some of their modern applicability in two other upcoming articles.)
Most potential applicants were only considered if they had written at least two successfully published pieces of detective fiction, though a few rare exceptions were made for those who had written significantly in other fields – for example, A. A. Milne, author of the widely popular Winnie the Pooh series of children’s novels, was accepted into the club despite only writing one mystery book, The Red House Mystery. (The Kindle copy is FREE so if you want it, be sure to click on the link!) Likewise, as different styles of novels have risen and fallen over the decades, working in the field that would have been considered “detective fiction” has also fallen by the wayside, with many members having a much stronger background in thriller or supernatural mysteries than strictly detective works.
Overall, the Detection Club has been a mainstay of the for many years, and is still occasionally active, with an anthology of modern short works including pieces by P. D. James, Colin Dexter, and Reginald Hill published for the 75th anniversary of the Detection Club in 2005. The club also periodically re-releases out of print publications of their older anthologies, so if you happen to see a novel with something like “By Members of the Detection Club” on the cover, don’t hesitate to pick it up – it’s sure to include some great reads!
Knox’s Commandments – The 10 Rules of Golden Age Detective Fiction, Part 1
20 Comments - Click Here to Read the Comments or to Add Another
Very interesting. Thank you!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marion, I would have absolutely loved being able to eavesdrop at these club meetings!
Tessa~ says
what a delightful piece of new-to-me information!
Tessa, I had heard about years ago, but my husband reminded me about it last month. A book he was reading mentioned the Detection Club. What fun they must have had!
Nancye says
Love your blogs. I am an avid reader, many genres over the years, but my favorites are mysteries. The cozy is first choice these days due time constraints, so your blogs are a fantastic help when looking for new books. Thanks
Nancye, I’m so glad you found us over here! I can certainly understand Cozy Mysteries being first on your list of genres to read during your limited reading time. Great choice!
This information is new to me. What an interesting club that must be. I love English mysteries.
Joyce, it think it would be great to be a member!
Danna, that’s a really interesting article as the others have said. I knew about the Detection Club because there is a book of short stories in my local library by the original members, and I remember reading the 2005 anthology, but I didn’t know they were still going as a social group. I’m looking forward to yr. upcomming articles on the “rules.”
Anne, thanks for the information about The Detection Club Collection. With authors like Robert Barnard, Colin Dexter, Reginald Hill, P.D. James, and Margaret Yorke, I’m guessing this is a wonderful mystery anthology.
P.S. – I’ve just read a novel by Agatha Christie written under the name of Mary Westmacott and it’s really good indeed. It’s called “The Rose and the Yew,” not a mystery but a story of 3 people caught in a love triangle. It’s not a “Womens’ Mag.” type of thing but more about the nature of life itself and how we all live the same day, just at different paces It was written at the end of WW2 but some of the themes are just as relevent today. An answer to those who say “oh she could write a good plot but not much else.”
Anne, oh my gosh, I never heard that quote about Agatha Christie’s writing! Hmmm… a good plot and nothing else? If only all mystery authors could do what she did!
Thanks Danna. I had not heard of The Detection Club and would love to find some of those anthologies. I will be searching our local used book stores for them. I really appreciate all the interesting information you put in your blog and find it very helpful. Looking forward to the next one.
Lois, thank you for the kind words! Here’s the information on the anthology that I found:
The Detection Club Collection.
(I doubt it will be difficult to find…)
Neat, I didn’t know this fun fact either. I have often wondered if some of those mystery writers were friends or if they were supportive of each other’s works. In today’s cozy mystery world you so often see authors beating the drum for their fellow cozy writers (which I think is very nice to see) and I wonder if the author’s in Christie’s age had similar relationships. Looking forward to more posts on the Detection Club!
Angela, I doubt it was as easy as it is these days, with the internet, for authors’ to promote other authors’work. Of course, if they had this club and met regularly, they no doubt became friends…
I love the Detection Club round robins. However, Harper Collins Canada is making marketing error.
They have reissued Six Against the Yard, As a Policeman and The Anatomy of Murder in trade paperbacks yet not The Floating Admiral or More Anatomy of Murder.
I hope that they soon do this and also put them all available for Harper Collins America so we can buy them at our favorite mystery bookstores.
Patrick, yes, sometimes it does seem that big publishers make strange decisions regarding their rerelease schedules… it certainly would be more convenient for us if they just tried to keep as many books in print as possible.
Patrick McIntosh says
Danna,
Hopefully, with the success of The Sinking Admiral & The Detection Collection Harper’s Canada will convince the American division that they’re a large enough fan base that loves all things Agatha Christie to reprint these classics.
Patrick, I hope you’re right. I’d certainly like to see more of these old classics enter print again as often as possible.
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Creative Home Design
Spacious 19th-Century Home With Modern Appeal in Ireland
Mamat Khan
This elegant 1817 home in Dublin has everything you might imagine a Georgian townhouse to have: beautiful period features, generous windows and tons of traditional character.
However, the large conservatory addition to the back of the two-storey house gives it the same dimension as new, adding more light and a modern, glamorous touch. “When we started, the house was empty shells,” said the director of domiciled and chief designer Roisin Lafferty of Kingston Lafferty Design. “We want to avoid creating standard period properties that could be built many years ago. Very repentant to blend the old with the new. ”
houzz.se
Who stayed here: Designer Roisin Lafferty from Kingston Lafferty Design and his boyfriend; She designed the house for her parents, who owns the house but currently resides elsewhere
Location: Ranelagh Area Dublin
Size: Three bedroom, three bathrooms
The house is in a fantastic location in Ranelagh, one of Dublin’s most historic squares. “The village centre, with its beautiful boutiques and cafés, is just a three minute walk away,” says Lafferty.
However, the house was in a terrible state when she and her team were taken for renovation from top to bottom for her boyfriend’s parents, who had a home as a second residence. It takes a lot of TLC.
“Before we started working, the house was in a badly damaged condition, full of moist and mushrooms, with dangerous and outdated plumbing and equipment,” Lafferty recalls. “It has been a rented property for over 15 years and, when we started working, it had been uninhabited for a year. Construction is also in terrible condition, so structural safety becomes a big problem. ”
onekindesign.com
Lafferty described the project as a real work of love. “Basically, the whole place needs to be destroyed, then repaired, replaced, unearthed, completely reconfigured and rebuilt,” he said. “We are working on all construction drawings, electrical plans, and all interior design. It was a fantastic experience. ”
The essence of home renovation is the addition of the conservatory in the back, along with an upgraded garden that leads from it. This style complements the original architecture, featuring traditional stripes that don’t look overly contemporary or out of place.
Lafferty explains the thought behind the expansion: “Although his home is large-scale, there are only a few relatively small rooms.”
Moreover, it is made of wooden frame, located where the basement cannot be used. “Because of the original height limitation [6 1/2 feet], it’s not the place that many people want to spend,” says Lafferty.. “By digging around the basement to increase head height and adding a full-width conservatory extension, we can provide a spacious living-dining room. ”
The basement has no natural light, so creating a bright space flowing into the garden is the goal. “We want a lot of glass and very landscape garden by way of a level for mouthpiece as much as natural light as possible,” Lafferty say S. “Overall, the entertainment room has more than doubled. It really has to be the center of the house. ”
Architizer.com
There is a strong blue theme at home. “My boyfriend’s parents are big fans of blue color. We’ve used a lot of different tones to add depth, variation, and richness, “says Lafferty. Here on the doorstep, intricate collage tiles from Seville, Spain, create a striking focal point, along with a blue tapestry and a designer chair. From the vivid tiles, Lafferty says the idea is to determine the arch that leads from the kitchen to the additions. The same tiles are used on the kitchen backsplash. There is a real sense of grandeur in this high ceiling space, filled with light. “I’ve always been interested in playing high and scale and pairing contrasting styles to form something interesting and original,” says Lafferty.
IMAGE.ie
Lafferty’s favourite corner of the house features a fat pumpkin chair by Pierre Paulin. “Sit here is the most comfortable place and allow the view to the garden as well as the living and dining room,” he said. “Because the spiral staircase is nearby, it feels like you can see and hear around the house. It’s also the place with the most natural light and the most color. ”
The conservatory can sometimes be too hot and indifferent in the summer or too cold in the depths of winter, but not this one. “Underfloor heating works very well in the space to ensure an even temperature,” says Lafferty. “Because the garden faces north, there is no direct sunlight on the extension, so it’s not too hot, too. ”
Pinterest.ie
Bright paintings add to the feel of a gallery that arty to the dining room next to it. “E Asels are a wonderful way to showcase artwork without damaging the wall,” says Lafferty.
However, the real star here is the Iron spiral staircase, which is bought from the rescue company. “That’s what people are most aware of when they enter,” says Lafferty. “The gasoline blue color makes it stand out, and looks very striking when viewed from the garden. We design additional platforms and handrails to match the steps. ”
Kingston Lafferty Design
The light is Marcel Wanders ‘ Skygarden pendant. “We need to be creative enough with lights all over the house,” says Lafferty. “Contemporary lighting fixtures combined with antique chandeliers ensure no room is the same.”
The living room radiates lavish warmth and charm without effort. Elements such as gramophone, gold-framed mirrors, and patterned curtains add a comfortable and historical feel. “This is the most traditional room in the house,” says Lafferty. “We want to retain its original functionality. We took many antique furniture items and asked them to be upgraded. There are also many navy and gold-we want to coat different patterns and textures to give a rich feeling. ”
What makes this House really sung is a lot of beautiful and unique design details that add personality as well as a sense of inheritance – this is not too maximal, but also not minimalist.
Every corner has been designed and considered lovingly, as this Golden side table is filled with obsolete antique books and glass candle spots. “My girlfriends mother certainly had an eclectic taste, as well as a real interest in antiques, so she was full of ideas,” says Lafferty.
Like the rest of the house, the kitchen runs in between history and modern.
The wall mounted plate display adds a unique charm. “We used a plate to bring out the kitchen nuance in the kitchen. Many have history and antiques; We mix this old plate with a contemporary design to add an eclectic feel, “says Lafferty.
Grundig.com
Only if all kitchen cabinets look to the wall of this stylish modern kitchen storage. “We’re bold in blue,” says Lafferty. “I especially like how each cabinet has a different depth to disguise the tilt of the wall behind it.”
The master bedroom has a boutique hotel feel, with flower paper walls and a luxurious plated headboard. “We wanted to create a spacious, subtle, yet luxurious bedroom,” said Lafferty.
The walk-in closet room features a mixture of rods, drawers and shelves to keep clothes tidy. The panelled gapura may look like it is always there, but it is added to hide clothes from view in the sleep zone.
Creative tiles are one of Lafferty’s favorite things at home. He fans generally use interesting tiles to add color, pattern, and impact. “You can buy a cost-effective tile and put it in an unusual way, such as a parquet effect, or create your own border pattern, for a more expensive look,” he says.
“There’s a lot to do with the bathroom by playing with mirrors and tiles to add personality-they also don’t need a big space.”
What is beautiful about this House is the traditional and vintage way without feeling fusty or formal. In this room, a pile of pillows, shiny wallpapers and a bunch of mirrors help create a vintage feel.
Again, Blue is a calming background. “It is important to us that the bedroom is a quiet sanctuary to escape,” Lafferty said. “Blue Soft gray walls create a calming environment.”
The office space has a formal “club ” feel, partly thanks to the brown bark of the Chesterfield couch and the library style shelves. “We want to create the nuance of a man’s smoking space,” Lafferty explained. “This room is about drama. We use two of the Marcel Wanders Skygarden’s pendants to define space and design the mint green panels and bookshelves to add texture and depth. “While there are traditional elements, we have paired them with contemporary furniture and lighting. Taksidermi-butterflies, birds-also used to add color and further interest. ”
The basement bathroom has a luxurious vintage feel.
The last part of this House puzzle is the beautiful garden. “Garden Landscaping is a big part of our work,” says Lafferty. “Previously, it was overgrown and on the ground floor, with a cold and dark basement.” The garden is an extension of the house. We want to create a feeling of open space, and include a lot of lighting so that it can be enjoyed throughout the year and at night as well. ”
The park is terraced to create an interest and sense of space. “You can have different experiences on each of the three levels,” says Lafferty.
“All the walls in the park retain concrete walls,” he said. “The park is [8 feet] lower than the garden on both sides, so a lot of structural work is needed. Due to north facing, the sunlight is limited. We want to maximize the amount of natural light that enters the house, and by designing a garden of more than three levels, we have channeled as much light as possible during the day. ”
The walls are made of Ecocem cement, which has a beautiful white finishing touch.
The lion’s head fountain is found in a rescue company; Garden furniture from metal continue the blue theme of a lively house.
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Men's going for refuge week
3 Dec to 10 Dec 2021
Amoghavira
Nayaka - Nayaka came to Dhanakosa in 1996 after learning to meditate with the Newcastle Buddhist Centre. Drawn by the mountains, he quickly felt at home here and became increasingly involved in the running of the centre. He became part of the management team in 1999, was ordained into the Western Buddhist Order in 2001 and became centre director in 2006. He has a background in earth and life sciences, has a long standing interest in natural history and a love of the wilderness.
Nayaka lives at Dhanakosa with Dharmavasini and their 2 children.
Amoghavira first encountered Buddhism in 1979 while struggling through a mathematics degree at Glasgow University. Ordained into the Western Buddhist Order in 1982 he then started working at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre.
He worked for 2 years at the Sydney Buddhist Centre in Australia from 1988, and on his way back to Britain in 1990, spent 3 months in Kathmandu helping run meditation and Buddhism course there. Falling in love with Nepal, he’s been a regular visitor there ever since.
In 1996, he moved to Dhanakosa to help with retreat leading here, which he’s been doing ever since. He loves being in the mountains and this has led to a passion for landscape photography and he now lives in the village of Callander, about 15 miles from Dhanakosa.
Scottish Sangha
open to people practicing within the Triratna Buddhist community in Scotland
For men training for ordination into the Triratna Buddhist Order.
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A Closer Look at Several Inuyasha Characters
October 3, 2020 September 30, 2020 by Joao C.
1 Inuyasha
2 Kagome Higurashi
3 Shippo
4 Miroku
Inuyasha is a popular manga/anime series that many enjoy for its diverse selection of characters, supernatural adventures, and the romantic story underlying it. It’s a classic that gave birth to a handful of movies, a novel, and video games.
Inuyasha follows the journeys of high school student Kagome Higurashi and the half-demon Inuyasha as they hunted for the Shikon Jewel shards,. Inuyasha has introduced us to many unforgettable characters, both good and bad.
The series has brought us highs and lows in its close to 200-episode run. Inuyasha has several fascinating and diverse characters who unite for a common purpose. Have a closer look at some Inuyasha characters next.
The titular main protagonist of the series is Inuyasha. He has the look of a fifteen-year-old boy who is always barefoot, born to a dog-demon father and a human mother.
He had a challenging and isolated upbringing as a half-demon because demons and humans hated him for his hybrid bloodline.
Bound to a tree by Priestess Kikyo, Inuyasha was unscathed and unharmed under her spell for 50 years, before Kagome released him to beat Mistress Centipede.
He wears a red garment called the Robe of the Fire-Rat. He’s got dog ears, claws, superhuman power, and other demonic skills. Inuyasha also wields a mighty demon sword called Tetsusaiga.
Kagome Higurashi
She establishes a close friendship with Inuyasha over the course of the series. She is a courageous, kindhearted girl who believes in never turning her back on anyone in danger.
Kagome Higurashi starts to fall in love with Inuyasha during their mission to collect the Shikon shards and beat Naraku. She sees herself vying for his affections with the resurrected Kikyo.
While physically frail, as the series progresses, she becomes more and more competent in archery and ultimately learns to control her incredibly powerful supernatural abilities.
Kagome is a fifteen-year-old junior high school student at the start of the story, born in contemporary Japan in 1982. She is the reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo, who died (and later resurrects), and so resembles the priestess’s appearance.
Shippo is a young orphaned kitsune who tried to rob Inuyasha and Kagome of the Shikon Jewel, trying to become tougher and avenge his father’s death.
While his attempt fails, after hearing his story, Inuyasha and Kagome aid him, he becomes their friend. Typically, Shippo tends to be a young child with some fox-like characteristics: his feet, ears, legs, and tail.
He can shape-shift, but his other manifestations are fleeting and sometimes useless (such as a large flying balloon), generally given away by his lingering foxtail.
He can also generate illusory duplicates of himself and create weak Foxfire magic and toy-based tricks like his giant spinning top attack.
Miroku was a monk who joined the adventures of Inuyasha and others. The Kazaana, or “the wind tunnel,” was handed down to him because Naraku cursed his grandfather.
He had to make frequent use of the power not to be consumed by the tunnel, compromising his life in the process. While recognizing that he would be poisoned for sucking in Naraku’s miasma, he proceeded to do so by fighting against him.
He was one of the toughest people in the series and, besides, might have dragged Sesshomaru into the tunnel back in the series’ 18th episode, were it not for the fast reflexes of the latter.
Image source: Zerochan
Inuyasha is one of the greatest anime series out there. It brought its audience to a fantasy world in feudal Japan. It offers a thrilling journey full of demons and plenty of characters who are well prepared to meet challenges.
Categories Anime, TV Series Tags nw Post navigation
Watch 91 Days For a More Serious Take On Anime
Europeans Share The “American Problems” That They Don’t Understand
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Sensual / Sexual / Social
The Photography of George Platt Lynes
Explore the artistic legacy of renowned, American photographer George Platt Lynes through this exhibition of photographs from the collection of the Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. Lynes’ visionary work catapulted him to notoriety as a New York-based commercial fashion and ballet photographer, but resulted in his drift from the spotlight when it was revealed that he photographed male nudes as well. Lynes also turned his lens on his social circle—the artistic and literary minds of the mid-20th century—who accepted him as a gay man during a period of harsh anti-LGBT laws in America. Learn about Lynes’ groundbreaking work with lighting and darkroom manipulation and his personal passion, the male nude, considered taboo and illegal in the 1930s and ‘40s.
Organized by the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields and the Kinsey Institute, Indiana University.
September 30–February 24, 2019
Indianapolis Museum of Art Galleries
Included with admission
Support for this exhibition is provided by the David C. & Sarajean Ruttenberg Arts Foundation and the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. Framing support is provided by The Great Frame Up. Studio photography equipment is provided by Roberts Camera.
Image Credit: George Platt Lynes (American, 1907–1955), Name Withheld (detail), 1930, gelatin silver print, 6-1/4 × 4-1/2 in. From the Collections of the Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. © Estate of George Platt Lynes.
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Town of Salemfor Windows
User Rating10
Town of Salem keeps you on the edge of your chair. It’s not because of fast-paced action or massive explosions; this game has neither. It’s because of the incredible social tension that the game elicits.
A loose recreation of the Salem Witch Trials
This title is an incredible exercise in social trust- or in manipulating your enemies.
Town of Salem is a great experience from beginning to end. While the game doesn’t move quickly, it manages to create incredible social tension based around the “he said, she said” of the infamous Salem Witch Trials.
In this case, you’re hunting for the mafia. They’ve infiltrated your sleepy little town; every morning, all of the town members must meet and discuss the previous nights’ events. Everyone has a role they have to play; those with Town roles need to eliminate the mafia and the dangerous neutral role threats. Everyone else has to defeat the Town roles.
Since everyone has specific jobs and duties that they can carry out every night, you can contribute to your town’s salvation or its destruction. Each role is assigned at random at the beginning of the game. The way each role is set up, even those with direct contact with one another (like over Discord) don’t want to share what their assigned role is. This game recreates genuine social distrust, even among close friends.
How do you know that player is really who they say they are? Maybe they’re the Jester and their objective is to be hanged by the town; maybe they’re serious, but you can’t trust anyone. This game puts the real Salem into perspective. When you’re told there’s a threat, you don’t know who to trust.
This game is multiplayer only, so if online settings make you nervous, this won’t be for you. The graphics are flat and the ranking system is confusing. All that aside, there’s not much bad to say about this game. It’s designed well and everyone’s roles are given just enough conflicting objectives to make each player’s motives suspicious.
Town of Salem is available on Windows XP or later as well as Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
No. It’s impossible to recommend a game with a similar scope to Town of Salem. It stands alone in its achievement, namely to sow incredible distrust between every player.
This title offers a perfect balance between engagement and fear. You’re not just afraid of being caught as the mafia; you’re afraid of being wrongly convicted while playing a Town role. This fear is central to the game, and the developers nailed it.
Yes. Even if you’re not an avid gamer, you’ll have a great experience playing Town of Salem.
BlankMediaGames, LLC.
Top Role Playing
Collect and dress up
Affordable action-packed online game
Setting the bar
MC Command Center
A Sims 4 mod
Slay monsters and save the world
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Things have been really busy as Charley and I work towards polishing off the last items and projects we have at work and making sure things get transitioned and finalized in a way that we consider responsible. In the meantime, some of the people who know about our upcoming world travels have been asking us what kinds of reservations and bookings we’ve made so far. The answer is: plenty and very few!
We want to be able to be casual about our travels and take things as they come. We want to keep the “draft” in Draft Itinerary. That means we’d like to be able to wake up and hop a bus to a nearby town, or maybe if the mood strikes us, take a nice train ride through the countryside for a few hours. Because of this, we’ve booked very little local travel so far; we have a couple of short flights around the British Isles booked, plus a flight from London to mainland Europe at Biarritz, France.
We have, however, booked a large portion of our inter-continental flights. Even though we want to be casual within the various regions we’re traveling, we know there will be times we have to move from continent to continent. For two major reasons, most of the flights we’re using for those purposes are already booked:
The loyalty program where I have the most in my account is the American Airlines AAdvantage program. It was the first airline loyalty program of its kind in the 90’s, and it remains one of the most rewarding ones, in terms of being able to flexibly redeem points for free flights. However, their system is changing for the worse on March 22, 2016. It’s still going to be one of the nicest programs out there, but the number of miles required to get free flights is going to increase drastically in some cases. It’s better to reserve these future flights now, before March 22, to lock in the lower prices!
Availability is limited. One thing that always frustrates people about frequent flier programs is that sometimes when you enter the dates you want to travel, airlines will say there are no “award seats” available. Even though we, as consumers, tend to think of flights as having only 2 or 3 classes of tickets (like “economy” and “business” classes), in reality there are usually over a dozen. There are classes like “full fare economy” and “discount economy” and “economy award” tickets. Airlines guard their secrets for how they disperse these tickets, but one thing’s for sure: finding “award” tickets on the exact dates you want can take a lot of work! If I saw “award” tickets in business class or first class on the exact dates I wanted, I grabbed them!
Here’s a look at the three major long-haul flights I’ve booked for us so far:
Mid-May: Boston to Dublin, Aer Lingus business class. The only one of these long haul flights not to be booked with American Airlines AAdvantage currency, I used British Airways currency (called “Avios”) instead. I have access to a lot of Avios because Charley and I are both avid users of the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card, and Chase allows their “Ultimate Rewards” points to transfer to lots of airline and hotel partners, including British Airways. British Airways organizes the Avios cost of their free flights based on the distance between the origin and destination, and the distance from Boston to Dublin just happens to squeeze in a pretty nice bracket so that tickets cost a lot less than they would cost from/to other destinations. British Airways and Aer Lingus are airline partners, so I called the British Airways Avios desk to redeem 75,000 points and we’re on our way.Aer Lingus has also been in the process of refurbishing their cabins to offer a nicer ride for those lucky enough to be up front in business class, so I’m looking forward to what they have to show us!
Early October: Abu Dhabi to Tokyo, Etihad first class. This flight was an outright steal for the number of miles we needed. American Airlines international award flights are priced by the regions of the world in which the origin and destination fall, and the price of a first class ticket from anywhere in the Middle East to anywhere in Japan is only 45,000 miles per ticket. That means we’ll get to spend over 10 hours in first class luxury for only 90,000 miles for the two of us. Middle Eastern airlines are famous for their attentive service for business and first class passengers, and I can’t wait to be spoiled. The plane that Etihad will be using on this flight includes a first class cabin with enclosed “suites” for each first class passenger, with a door that fully closes for privacy and serenity on the plane. Just check out this video that someone took of the same plane being used on a different route:
Late December: Delhi to Melbourne (via Abu Dhabi), Etihad first class. After seeing as much of Asia as we can, going from east to west, it’s time to hit up Australia! Yet again, this flight was an outright steal for what we paid for it. Award flights from the Middle East to Australia in first class require only 60,000 miles per ticket under the American Airlines AAdvantage program. These tickets usually retail for prices nearing $10,000! Even better, because Abu Dhabi and Delhi are in the same region on the award chart, taking two flights to go from Delhi to Abu Dhabi and then from Abu Dhabi to Melbourne cost the same number of miles as a single flight from Abu Dhabi to Melbourne. After all, we’re still leaving from the same region! We’re going to have our hands full seeing Asia, so knowing that we only have to get ourselves from Tokyo to Delhi will give us more time to relax along the way, instead of having to get ourselves all the way back to Abu Dhabi.What’s more incredible is that this flight is on the crown jewel of Etihad’s fleet, the Airbus 380. Etihad has been promoting these new planes like crazy, in addition to promising the absolute highest level of luxury in the skies. (I hope they don’t mind a couple of leisure travelers like us who might not even be groomed or bathed when they show up for their flight!) If it’s even possible, their promotional video for this flight is even more tempting than the last one:
There’s still one “long haul” flight left that we haven’t booked yet. At some point, we’re going to have to get ourselves from the south Pacific (whether that’s Australia or New Zealand or Fiji is anyone’s guess) to South America. Qantas Airlines has a very nice flight from Sydney, Australia to Santiago, Chile that we’d love to take, but Qantas is also notoriously stingy for not releasing “award” tickets on their flights. The cash price of those tickets (even in economy class) run around $2,000, so I’m really hoping we can find one. Just like all of American Airlines’s other free award flights, the price in miles for getting free seats on that route is going to go up March 22, so fingers crossed I find some award availability soon. (Then again, in a pinch, I could find an award seat for a day that we don’t intend to travel and then try to change the date later. As long as the origin and destination remain the same, American Airlines doesn’t charge a change fee on free award tickets.)
The Family Tour, Part 1: Pittsburgh
#eastwedswest
Iguaçu Falls
Rio de Janeiro: Carnaval!
Free First Class Flight: Delhi (to Abu Dhabi) to Melbourne
Free First Class Flight: Muscat to Tokyo!
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Should ‘What The Health’ Be On Netflix?
By Kayla Cobb Twitter @kaylcobb Oct 3, 2017 at 11:00am
Photos: NETFLIX
What the Health
There’s no shortage of controversial documentaries on streaming. From Making a Murderer, which sparked a huge argument over Steven Avery’s innocence, to Blackfish, which continues to hurt SeaWorld to this day, we’ve learned time and time again that documentaries have the power to spark real world change. However, one documentary on Netflix has been gaining a large amount of attention and outrage, but not in a positive way.
Ever since What the Health was added to Netflix, it’s made headlines. Constructed as an investigation into a vast healthcare conspiracy, the documentary is directed by Kip Anderson and Keegan Kuhn, the same team behind the well-loved documentary Cowspiracy. The documentary argues that people shouldn’t eat meat or meat products and argues for a vegan lifestyle. What the Health was originally funded through an Indiegogo campaign in March of 2016 where in raised more than $235,000. It was released globally on Vimeo in March of 2017, but it didn’t really start making an internet impact until it was added to Netflix in August. So what’s the main complaint against this documentary? According to multiple doctors, nutritionists, and journalists, many of the arguments in What the Health are incredibly misleading.
That’s a huge accusation to levy against a documentary. After all, being factual is one of the main if only appeals of the art form. People watch documentaries to learn about something they may not have known before, whether the subject be the origins of the universe or a celebrity’s life. Almost immediately after What the Health was added to Netflix, the corrections started. The UK publication The Times interviewed a handful of doctors about What the Health’s claim that eating a daily egg is the same as smoking five cigarettes a day. Both Vox and TIME broke down the reality around each of What the Health’s misleading claims, from stating that milk causes cancer to saying that sugar isn’t linked to poor health. Gizmodo’s Ryan F. Mandelbaum said that the documentary “made [him] want to die” in his critique. The list goes on.
There are thousands of documentaries out there that cherry pick facts and are based on questionable scientific studies. However, the impact and controversy of What the Health has been greater than most, especially on social media. It also calls into question an issue we haven’t faced before — how responsible are streaming services for the content they host?
This isn’t to say that What the Health is an entirely incorrect documentary. General points, like the way it pressures viewers to eat less meat, are largely agreed upon by doctors and nutritionists. It’s only the documentary’s more extreme arguments and specially selected facts that have come under fire. Likewise, it’s important to note that the documentary was not made by Netflix. It’s merely part of the streaming service’s vast library. Though being added to the streaming service increased its notoriety, Netflix is not taking a pro or anti veganism stance by hosting the film.
Also, What the Health isn’t the only questionable documentary on Netflix nor is Netflix the only streaming service that hosts questionable documentaries. Netflix has a whole subsection of obscure alien documentaries you probably shouldn’t take at face value such as Unacknowledged, and Hulu is home to a countless number of late night cable documentaries and TLC pseudo docuseries. And those are the streaming services that know and control what’s on their platforms, which doesn’t include the wild west that is YouTube or the chaos of Prime Video’s uploading option. Instead of questioning Netflix, What the Health’s place on the platform should challenge us to question how we view documentaries.
Photo: Netflix, Vimeo
There was a time when we as a whole were more skeptical of the documentaries we saw on TV. Though we may have watched a Lizzie Borden special during Halloween, most people didn’t take every detail of those documentaries as fact. However, the age of streaming has changed that. Netflix has transformed itself into such a pristine hub of great documentaries, both through its library titles and through its stellar originals, I think we’ve largely become lazy. I know I have. Now instead of researching a documentary after watching it to verify its authenticity, I typically take whatever I watch at face value. When you’re talking about real life stories — so many of which have to deal with important elements like crime or health — that’s dangerous.
There’s a reason why it makes sense for What the Health to be on Netflix. As mentioned before, the doc comes from the creators of Cowspiracy, which is a documentary that’s praised in certain communities. It was produced in part by a celebrity — Joaquin Phoenix. It’s based on a topic that people are interested in. Even without knowing Netflix’s magic algorithm, What the Health looks like a slam dunk, especially for a site that prides itself on having a wide array of diverse content for all viewers. Is it weird that a niche pro-veganism film has made such a big impact? A bit, but that’s life in the age of streaming. Is it irresponsible for Netflix to stream this documentary? Not at all. Netflix’s job is to entertain us, not hold our hands. And it’s our job to do the research to ensure the documentaries we’re watching are constructions of fact, not cherry-picked propaganda. In its own roundabout way, What the Health has offered a return to that ever-necessary skepticism.
Stream What the Health on Netflix
Inauguration Live Stream: Where to Watch Joe Biden Be Sworn Into Office
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You are here: Home › Counter-poaching technologies and research › Media › High-tech control centre established as force multiplier for counter rhino poaching
High-tech control centre established as force multiplier for counter rhino poaching
“2015 is the year in which the war on rhino poaching will be won or lost.” This is according to Major General (retired) Johan Jooste, Commanding Officer for Special Projects for the South African National Parks (SANParks). The CSIR has taken up the challenge to ensure that the best possible scientific and technological tools contribute to the protection of these natural resources. The latest intervention is the establishment of a mission-area control centre near Skukuza in the Kruger National Park.
Jooste describes the situation as “an onslaught on our natural resources”. “We are in trouble,” he commented; “It is unabated and it is relentless and 2015 is a critical year.”
During 2014, some months have seen up to 50 poachings recorded in the Kruger National Park alone and the annual number of rhinos poached was 1 215 countrywide. In January 2015 more rhinos have been poached than any previous month.
CSIR and SANParks team up
A technical CSIR team oversees the use of a customised CSIR-developed system where information is analysed, collated and disseminated for operational use.
In 2013, the CSIR entered into an agreement with SANParks to render specialist technology support over five years in several tactical, operational and strategic programmes. The CSIR supported SANParks in writing and developing a proposal for the Howard G. Buffet foundation, securing a donation of R255 million to invest in improved counter poaching capabilities. These capabilities include airborne systems for mission support, surveillance systems to ensure maximum levels of awareness; canine training aids and systems, as well as ranger equipment and training to ensure that personnel are optimally equipped to help counter poaching.
A substantial part of the CSIR’s contribution lies in expertise in day and night surveillance, systems integration, communication and data collection and analysis, defence technology and tactics for specialised reaction force deployment. It also includes systems that detect human movement, border crossing and the origin of gunshots.
An important outcome of the CSIR and SANParks partnership is the establishment of a mission-area control centre in the Kruger National Park, situated in the so-called intensive protection zone where rhino poaching levels are the highest. The facility operates as the nerve centre, where surveillance reports, data about poaching events and border crossings and other information is collated and displayed. Otch Otto, Mission Area Manager, Special Projects in the Kruger National Park says, “The difference between us and them (rhino poachers) is our intellectual capacity, our information technology capability and communication. They can also track and walk and shoot. We are on par. Except for this centre.”
Various Arms of Services and departments have representation in the centre where a number of communications and information technology tools as well as maps are at hand.
CSIR executive board members attending the opening of the operational centre in the Kruger National Park
Dr Sibusiso Sibisi, CSIR CEO, accompanied by members of the CSIR Executive, travelled to the Kruger National Park late last year as the first visitors to the centre. During the event, Sibisi confirmed the CSIR’s ongoing support to counter-poaching efforts as a key focus area.
At the mission-area control centre, data (voice, visuals, radio reports, etc.) are analysed to detect trends and consistencies. According to Cobus Venter, a senior systems engineer at the CSIR, the aim is to move to a pro-active stance to start pre-empting poaching attempts. “There is a lot of modelling we can do with the data and statistics to predict when poaching can occur,” he explains. “The system is a means of collating data from different sources so that one has a complete picture and enough data on which to base decisions and develop the plans – to ultimately outwit syndicates.”
A technical team oversees the use of a customised CSIR-developed system that is used to log surveillance content from sensors, and reports or information from rangers, Park officials and tourists – who are encouraged to be vigilant about suspicious behaviour. Chris Serfontein, CSIR Technology for Special Operations Manager says, “The short term focus is to assist SANParks in designing and implementing an integrated risk management system where all poaching related information is analysed, collated and disseminated for operational use. The effective tactical application of ranger capabilities is critically reliant on accurate, actionable intelligence.”
The centre forms part of an arsenal of countering activities that include upgraded ranger posts, packs of trackers, training of a small group of specialised reaction forces, electronic fencing and aerial surveillance.
Rangers are a special focus of many of the projects, aimed at improving mobility, clothing and protection, equipment and weapons. Research is also undertaken on the mental agility of rangers that are exposed to the stress and cruelty of environmental crime.
The CSIR’s longer-term focus is to build capabilities in environmental asset security management and support the safeguarding of endangered species. The organisation’s role lies in assisting agencies mandated to operate in this field with the evaluation or adaption of technologies, integrating systems or devising solutions or inventions to do the job optimally. Furthermore, research is also done on a whole-of-society approach, to align the effected stakeholders, neighbouring communities, law enforcement agencies and the industry.
Why specifically the rhino?
Rhino horn – and specifically poached rhino horn – is viewed as a status symbol. The powdered substance is believed to have medical health benefits. Increasingly other parts of the animal are also removed, including ears, bones, eyes, genitalia and shards of skin for cultural belief and natural medicinal purposes.
Rhinos are easy targets as they have poor eyesight and are not aggressive by nature. Rhino calves are often killed or maimed, because they do not run from an attack. They would repeatedly storm poachers in an effort to protect the maternal adult – with dire consequences. Other animals are also under threat. Poachers often shoot hippos, mistaking them for rhinos in poor light.
Working towards a real solution
CSIR research looks at various options to improve mobility, clothing and protection, equipment and weapons, as well as assist with training of specialised reaction forces.
Multiple solutions have been proposed from around the world on how to deal with the problem, ranging from shock tactics, scare tactics and flooding the market to legalising the trade and poisoning the horns. However, almost all solutions offered are met with many more obstacles. Serfontein says, “There simply are not enough rhinos in the world to satisfy the demand; rhino horn is the one commodity for which the demand will grow if the value decreases, as more consumers will be able to afford it.”
In line with the CSIR’s collaborative mode of working, several partners contribute systems, information or support to the project. These include the Department of Environmental Affairs, the Department of Safety and Security, provincial and regional parks, private reserves, Southern African Development Communities, industry partner SeeCrypt, as well as non-governmental organisations such as the Howard G. Buffet Foundation, World Wildlife Foundation, the Peace Parks Foundation and StopRhinoPoaching.com.
For more information, please contact dpss@csir.co.za
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Scotland County, NC
0.516% 1-year decline
US Senator
Richard Burr
8.79% 1-year growth
Median Property Value
Housing & Living
In 2018, Scotland County, NC had a population of 35.3k people with a median age of 39.4 and a median household income of $35,617. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Scotland County, NC declined from 35,445 to 35,262, a -0.516% decrease and its median household income grew from $32,739 to $35,617, a 8.79% increase.
The 5 largest ethnic groups in Scotland County, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (43.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (38.9%), American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) (11.3%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.4%), and Other (Hispanic) (1.85%). NaNk% of the people in Scotland County, NC speak a non-English language, and 98.6% are U.S. citizens.
The largest universities in Scotland County, NC are St. Andrews University (145 degrees awarded in 2017).
The median property value in Scotland County, NC is $84,500, and the homeownership rate is 61.3%. Most people in Scotland County, NC commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 21.6 minutes. The average car ownership in Scotland County, NC is 2 cars per household.
Scotland County, NC borders Hoke County, NC, Moore County, NC, Richmond County, NC, Robeson County, NC, and Marlboro County, SC.
United StatesNorth CarolinaLaurinburg, NC
Daily New Cases by Date
Showing data at the state level for North Carolina. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.
Daily New CasesConfirmed CasesConfirmed Cases per CapitaDeathsDeaths per CapitaTestsHospitalizations
This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in North Carolina, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.
View Full Dashboard
Impact on Employment
Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.
This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.
The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.
Community Mobility
This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of North Carolina across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.
In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Scotland County, NC went to Hillary Rodham Clinton with 52.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (44.9%), followed by Other (2.53%). The most partisan county was Graham County, NC with 78.8% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.
Richard Burr and Thom Tillis are the senators currently representing the state of North Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.
North Carolina is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.
Presidential Popular Vote Over Time
Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.
Hillary Rodham Clinton (52.5%)
Donald J. Trump (44.9%)
In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in North Carolina went to Hillary Rodham Clinton with 52.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (44.9%), followed by Other (2.53%).
The following chart shows the popular vote results in North Carolina for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.
Presidential Popular Vote by County
Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of North Carolina.
Popular Vote for Scotland County, NC
52.5% for the Democratic Party
Most Partisan Counties in North Carolina
Graham County, NC
78.8% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Yadkin County, NC
Durham County, NC
77.7% for Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democratic Party)
In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in North Carolina was Graham County, NC with 78.8% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.
The following map shows the counties in North Carolina colored by their party leaning.
US Senators from North Carolina
Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.
Senator from North Carolina3
Assumed office on January 3, 2005
Richard Burr and Thom Tillis are the senators currently representing North Carolina.
In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.
The following chart shows elected senators in North Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.
US Representatives from North Carolina
North Carolina is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house.
Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for North Carolina have changed over time starting in 2008.
Scotland County, NC is home to a population of 35.3k people, from which 98.6% are citizens. As of 2018, 2.29% of Scotland County, NC residents were born outside of the country (806 people).
In 2018, there were 1.12 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (15.4k people) in Scotland County, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 13.7k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 4k American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.
The 3 largest ethnic groups in Scotland County, NC
15.4k ± 7
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
13.7k ± 153
American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic)
4k ± 170
Hispanic Population
1.03k people
2.92% of the people in Scotland County, NC are hispanic (1.03k people).
The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Scotland County, NC as a share of the total population.
Foreign-Born Population
2018 Foreign-Born Population
As of 2018, 2.29% of Scotland County, NC residents (806 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Scotland County, NC was 2.15%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.
The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Scotland County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.
Age by Nativity
Median Native-Born Age
± 0.4
Median Foreign-Born Age
In 2018, the median age of all people in Scotland County, NC was 39.4. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 39, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 40. But people in Scotland County, NC are getting getting older. In 2017, the average age of all Scotland County, NC residents was 39.
The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.
Most Common Origin
242,756 ± 11,950 people
60,392 ± 6,015 people
In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 242,756 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 60,392 and Honduras with 34,513.
2018 Citizenship
As of 2018, 98.6% of Scotland County, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Scotland County, NC was 98.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.
The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Scotland County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.
Most Common Service Period
794 ± 125
Gulf War (1990s)
Gulf War (2001-)
Scotland County, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.81 times greater than any other conflict.
Median household income in Scotland County, NC is $35,617. In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Scotland County, NC was Census Tract 101.01 with a value of $54,071, followed by Census Tract 104 and Census Tract 106, with respective values of $43,721 and $42,510.
Males in North Carolina have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $44,729. The income inequality in North Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.473, which is lower than than the national average.
The economy of Scotland County, NC employs 12.1k people. The largest industries in Scotland County, NC are Manufacturing (2,655 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,006 people), and Educational Services (1,430 people), and the highest paying industries are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($55,917), Utilities ($51,875), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($41,042).
± $2,203
± 8.29%
Households in Scotland County, NC have a median annual income of $35,617, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $32,739 in 2017, which represents a 8.79% annual growth.
The following chart shows how the median household income in Scotland County, NC compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.
Wage by Gender in Common Jobs
Average Male Salary in North Carolina
Average Female Salary in North Carolina
± $812
In 2017, full-time male employees in North Carolina made 1.34 times more than female employees.
This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in North Carolina by number of full-time employees.
Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs
Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in North Carolina
$59,267 ± $4,472
$49,962 ± $811
In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of North Carolina workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.19 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in North Carolina.
This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in North Carolina by number of full-time employees.
Wage Distribution
The closest comparable wage GINI for Scotland County, NC is from North Carolina.
2017 Wage GINI in North Carolina
In 2017, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.473 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.39% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.
This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.
Income by Location
Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.
TotalWhiteBlackNative AmericanAsianTwo Or MoreWhite Non-HispanicHispanic
Highest Median Household Income (Total)
Census Tract 101.01
Census Tract 104
In 2018, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Scotland County, NC was Census Tract 101.01 with a value of $54,071, followed by Census Tract 104 and Census Tract 106, with respective values of $43,721 and $42,510.
The following map shows all of the tracts in Scotland County, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).
Poverty by Age and Gender
Females 25 - 34
Largest Demographic Living in Poverty
27.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Scotland County, NC (9.03k out of 32.6k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Males 6 - 11.
The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.
Poverty by Race and Ethnicity
Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty
5,304 ± 318
The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Scotland County, NC is Black, followed by White and Native American.
Employment by Occupations
± 592
From 2017 to 2018, employment in Scotland County, NC grew at a rate of 3.61%, from 11.7k employees to 12.1k employees.
The most common job groups, by number of people living in Scotland County, NC, are Production Occupations (1,711 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,322 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,094 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Scotland County, NC.
The most common jobs held by residents of Scotland County, NC, by number of employees, are Production Occupations (1,711 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,322 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,094 people).
Most Specialized
Compared to other counties, Scotland County, NC has an unusually high number of residents working as Production Occupations (2.47 times higher than expected), Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors (2.31 times), and Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Occupations (1.83 times).
Highest Paid
The highest paid jobs held by residents of Scotland County, NC, by median earnings, are Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($61,250), Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($54,146), and Computer, Engineering, & Science Occupations ($52,143).
Employment by Industries
The most common employment sectors for those who live in Scotland County, NC, are Manufacturing (2,655 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,006 people), and Educational Services (1,430 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Scotland County, NC, though some of these residents may live in Scotland County, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.
The most common industries in Scotland County, NC, by number of employees, are Manufacturing (2,655 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,006 people), and Educational Services (1,430 people).
Compared to other counties, Scotland County, NC has an unusually high number of Manufacturing (2.18 times higher than expected), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (2.07 times), and Educational Services (1.28 times) industries.
Highest Paying
The highest paying industries in Scotland County, NC, by median earnings, are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($55,917), Utilities ($51,875), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($41,042).
Domestic Production & Consumption
Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from North Carolina to other states, or from other states to North Carolina.
Domestic Production in DollarsDomestic Production in TonnageDomestic Consumption in DollarsDomestic Consumption in Tonnage
Top Domestic Production in Dollars
Mixed freight
$50.4B
In 2015, the top outbound North Carolina product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $50.4B, followed by Pharmaceuticals ($35.3B) and Machinery ($34.5B).
The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound North Carolina products.
Domestic Trade Growth
Showing data for North Carolina.
$407B
2015 Value in North Carolina
Projected 2045 Value in North Carolina
55.4% growth
In 2015, total outbound North Carolina trade was $407B. This is expected to increase 55.4% to $632B by 2045.
The following chart shows how the domestic outbound North Carolina trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.
Interstate Trade
Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from North Carolina to other states, or from other states to North Carolina.
Most Common Trade Partners
In 2015, the top outbound North Carolina domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was South Carolina with $25.6B, followed by Georgia with $25.4B and Virginia and $25.2B.
The following map shows the amount of trade that North Carolina shares with each state (excluding itself).
In 2017, universities in Scotland County, NC awarded 145 degrees. The student population of Scotland County, NC is skewed towards men, with 362 male students and 303 female students.
Most students graduating from Universities in Scotland County, NC are White (93 and 74.4%), followed by Black or African American (23 and 18.4%), Asian (4 and 3.2%), and Hispanic or Latino (2 and 1.6%).
The largest universities in Scotland County, NC by number of degrees awarded are St. Andrews University (145 and 100%).
The most popular majors in Scotland County, NC are General Business Administration & Management (36 and 24.8%), Other Business Administration, Management, & Operations (18 and 12.4%), and General Biological Sciences (16 and 11%).
The median tuition costs in Scotland County, NC are $25,874 for private four year colleges, and $N/A and $N/A respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.
Bachelors DegreeMasters Degree
In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Scotland County, NC was General Psychology with 14 degree-majorss awarded.
This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Scotland County, NC according to their major.
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
Median In-State Public
Median Private
In 2017, the Scotland County, NC institution with the largest number of graduating students was St. Andrews University with 145 degrees awarded.
Student Gender for Common Institutions
Degrees Awarded to Women
In 2017, 66 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Scotland County, NC, which is 0.835 times less than the 79 female students who received degrees in the same year.
This chart displays the gender disparity between the institutions in Scotland County, NC by degrees awarded.
In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Scotland County, NC were to White students. These 93 degrees mean that there were 4.04 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 23 degrees awarded.
The median property value in Scotland County, NC was $84,500 in 2018, which is 0.368 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $85,200 to $84,500, a 0.822% decrease. The homeownership rate in Scotland County, NC is 61.3%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Scotland County, NC have an average commute time of 21.6 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Scotland County, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.
2018 Median
In 2018, the median property value in Scotland County, NC declined from to $84,500 from the previous year's value of $85,200.
The following charts display, first, the property values in Scotland County, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Scotland County, NC the largest share of households have a property value in the N/A range.
Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
Number of Households
In 2018, the median household income of the 13.1k households in Scotland County, NC grew to $35,617 from the previous year's value of $32,739.
The following chart displays the households in Scotland County, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.
Average Range
This chart shows the households in Scotland County, NC distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Scotland County, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.
2018 Homeownership
In 2018, 61.3% of the housing units in Scotland County, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 62%.
This percentage of owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Scotland County, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.
Average Travel Time
Using averages, employees in Scotland County, NC have a shorter commute time (21.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 2.43% of the workforce in Scotland County, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.
The chart below shows how the median household income in Scotland County, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.
Commuter Transportation
Most Common Method of Travel
Carpooled
Worked At Home
In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Scotland County, NC was Drove Alone (87.6%), followed by those who Carpooled (7.97%) and those who Worked At Home (1.89%).
The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.
Car Ownership
Average Number
The following chart displays the households in Scotland County, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Scotland County, NC have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.
88.4% of the population of Scotland County, NC has health coverage, with 34.1% on employee plans, 27.1% on Medicaid, 14.2% on Medicare, 10.8% on non-group plans, and 2.27% on military or VA plans.
Per capita personal health care spending in North Carolina was $7,264 in 2014. This is a 3.37% increase from the previous year ($7,027).
Primary care physicians in Scotland County, NC see 1544 patients per year on average, which represents a 4.18% increase from the previous year (1482 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 3916 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 608 patients per year.
Comparing across all counties in the state, Edgecombe County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (16.2%). Additionally, Hertford County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (40.5%)
Patient to Clinician Ratios
Patient to Primary Care Physician RatioPatient to Dentist RatioPatient to Mental Health Provider RatioOther Primary Care Providers
1,544 to 1
Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Scotland County, NC
Primary care physicians in Scotland County, NC see an average of 1,544 patients per year. This represents a 4.18% increase from the previous year (1,482 patients).
The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Scotland County, NC in comparison to its neighboring geographies.
Behavioral Health Conditions
Data only available at the state level.
Adults With Major Depressive EpisodeAdults With Serious Mental IllnessOpioid Overdose Death RateSubstance Use Disorder Among Adolescents and Adults (Age 12+)Drug Overdose Death RateExcessive Drinking
State with the Highest Prevalence
8.26% of the population affected
In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).
The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.
Social Needs
Estimated Number of Chronically Homeless IndividualsPercent of Residents with Access To Exercise OpportunitiesPrevalence of Food Insecurity
Most prevalent states
35,798 individuals
5,087 individuals
In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).
The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.
Access and Quality
Data only available at state level.
Adults Who Haven't Seen a Doctor in the Past 12 Months Due to CostMental Health Service Use Among Adults With Mental Illness30-Day Hospital Readmission Rate Among Medicare PatientsAdult Hospice Patients Who Received Care Consistent With Their End-Of-Life Wishes
19.2% of adults
In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).
The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.
Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in North Carolina
Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care
Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care
Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care
Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in North Carolina (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 3.37%, from $7,027 to $7,264.
The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.
Military or VA
Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Scotland County, NC declined by 8.78% from 12.7% to 11.6%.
The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Scotland County, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.
Data available at the county level.
DiabetesAdult ObesityHIV DiagnosesSexually Transmitted InfectionsAdult SmokingAlcohol-Impaired Driving DeathsMotor Vehicle Crash DeathsHomicidesViolent Crimes
Most at risk counties
Edgecombe County
16.2% prevalence
Robeson County
Hertford County
16% prevalence
Edgecombe County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in North Carolina, at 16.2%.
The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in North Carolina by county over multiple years.
Robeson County, NC
Hoke County, NC
Richmond County, NC
Marlboro County, SC
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Delegation of the European Union to Morocco
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Lettre d’information de l’Union européenne au Maroc
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Current language: sr
EEAS > Maroko > Morocco and the EU
Morocco and the EU
EU relations with Country
The historic partnership between the European Union (EU) and the Kingdom of Morocco, underpinned by a number of political and economic agreements, has given Morocco a new momentum for its modernisation and democratic transition process.
Political Relations
Economic Relations
With the signing of an association agreement in 1996, coming into force in 2000, the cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the EU has expanded to include politics and security. This Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement aims to provide an appropriate framework for political dialogue between the EU and its partners in the Mediterranean Basin. The principle behind this is to work for the development of this region in a climate of peace, security and stability, in accordance with democratic principles and fundamental rights.
This Euro-Mediterranean partnership has three main components:
politics and security
economics and financial affairs
social and human affairs.
Cooperation between the EU and Morocco was further strengthened by the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) launched by the EU in 2003, based on mutual responsibility and shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Within this framework, an action plan has been implemented in all areas of cooperation. The ENP has given more permanence and structure to the dialogue between the EU and Morocco. Technical committees of experts from the European institutions and the Moroccan authorities meet regularly, focusing on subjects such as stronger political dialogue, justice and security, and human rights.
The Consolidation of Bilateral Relations
Morocco has benefited from an advanced status with the EU since 2008. Its objectives are:
to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in the areas of politics and security;
to progressively integrate Morocco into the EU internal market through legislative and regulatory convergence;
to extend the partnership to include new participants.
The European Parliament has played a stronger role in the partnership with Morocco since the Lisbon Treaty. This has stimulated parliamentary exchange, in particular with the EU-Morocco Joint Parliamentary Committee. The European Economic and Social Committee has also signed a partnership agreement with the Moroccan Economic and Social Council. There has been an increased exchange with, and support for, Moroccan civil society.
Economic relations between Morocco and the EU are of long standing. One of the main commercial agreements, made in 1976 and brought in force in 1978, includes economic and financial aid in addition to commerce. It is under this agreement that industrial products from Morocco enter the EU at zero duty.
Euro-Mediterranean Trade and Agreements
Agreements between the EU and its Mediterranean partners, which came into force in 2000 and cover the trade of goods, have been supplemented by other agreements concerning agricultural products, services and investment, accreditation and the acceptance of industrial products, as well as the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs).
In addition to its political and human dimensions, the advanced status granted to Morocco in 2008 includes a broad economic, financial and social section. Within this framework, the EU and Morocco have confirmed their desire to establish a common economic area characterised by the strong integration of the Moroccan economy within the EU economy.
Trade-Related Assistance
In 2009, the EU committed to a four-year budgetary support programme devoting €60 million to the promotion of investments and exports in Morocco.
The ‘Making a Success of Advanced Status II’ programme - with a sum of €87 million - launched in 2013, aimed to support the efforts for a progressive integration of the Moroccan economy into the European single market.
Trade of Goods
The EU is Morocco’s leading trade partner. In 2012, the EU imported goods from Morocco worth just over €9 billion and exported almost €7 billion worth to Morocco. The total share of Moroccan exports to the EU is 56 %, and its share in imports is 47.3 %.
Morocco’s trade with the EU is growing fast: between 2005 and 2012, the volume of trade between the EU and Morocco increased by over 24 %, reaching a value of €26 billion in 2012.
Following the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership (Barcelona 1995), the association agreement between the EU and Morocco came into force in 2000. It defines the framework for trade relations and other forms of bilateral cooperation.
Free-trade agreement for industrial products
The association agreement, under Title II on the ‘free movement of goods’, establishes a free-trade zone, which will take effect after a 12-year period of transition. The free trade zone between Morocco and the EU came into effect on 1 March 2012. The DG Trade website contains all the information on the EU-Morocco Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.
The ‘Customs and Excise Administration’ website provides further information on the abolishment of customs duties and taxes having equivalent effect on imports in Morocco.
Morocco-EU agreement on agricultural and fishery products: towards greater liberalisation measures
The ‘Agreement between the EU and Morocco concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures on agricultural products, processed agricultural products, fish and fishery products’, which came into force on 1 October 2012, aims for complete liberalisation, with the exception of products considered by the two parties to be of a sensitive nature, which remain subject to special conditions.
As stipulated in the agricultural agreement, negotiations for an agreement on the protection of geographical indications are under way.
This agreement constitutes an important step forward in terms of enhancing production and improving quality in Morocco. It goes without saying that the implementation of this agreement and the quality label drive will have positive effects on trade.
Negotiations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA)
The document on advanced status indicates that: ‘The DCFTA will be achieved through a series of measures forming an indivisible and coherent whole in such sectors as: access to public markets, facilitation of access to the market for industrial products (harmonisation of Moroccan standards legislation), the free movement of capital and payments, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, industrial and intellectual property rights, competition policy, consumer protection, customs and trade facilitation, trade and sustainable development, rapid alert or consultation mechanism.’
In addition to the simple concept of trade liberalisation and abolishing customs duties with respect to goods, the DCFTA favours closer economic integration by reducing non-tariff barriers, liberalising the trade in services, ensuring the protection of investments and standardising regulations in several commercial and economic areas.
Morocco is the first partner in the Mediterranean region with whom the EU has initiated such negotiations.
Protocol on dispute settlement: establishment of arbitration procedures
The Agreement between the EU and the Kingdom of Morocco establishing a Dispute Settlement Mechanism, which came into force on 1 November 2012, aims to prevent and resolve any commercial disputes between countries (EU-Morocco), relating to the interpretation and application of the commercial provisions of the association agreement, with a view to a mutually acceptable solution.
Plan d’action dans le cadre de la politique européenne de voisinage pour la mise en œuvre du statut avancé (2013-2017)
Statut avancé du Maroc avec l’UE: Feuille de route de la réunion du Conseil d’association entre l’UE et le Maroc (2007)
Urednički odeljci:
Programme régional de Développement et de Protection en Afrique du Nord (RDPP) - Réponse à la pandémie Covid19
The EU stands with Syrians: Europe cannot and will not look away
Council Conclusions
Međunarodni dan borbe protiv homofobije, transfobije i bifobije (IDAHOT) EU postaje duga, „Prekidanje tišine“
Šumanov dan 2020 – moj lični pogled na evropsku ideju
Друго сличан садржај
Programme régional de Développement et de Protection en Afrique du Nord (RDPP)- Réponse à la pandémie Covid19 Le programme « Protection et Résilience- Maroc », financé par l’Union européenne et mis en œuvre par l’OIM, appuie les initiatives de plusieurs associations, qui ont multiplié leurs efforts pendant la pandémie pour apporter une réponse rapide et inclusive aux populations migrantes et marocaines
EU Annual Reports on Human Rights and DemocracyEU Annual Reports on Human Rights and Democracy
Delegation-morocco@eeas.europa.eu
Brzi pristup mreži
A-Ž indeks A-Ž indeks
Pravno obaveštenje
Transparentnost i zaštita podataka
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100% natural organic cotton or organic linen latex pillows.
Custom latex cutting
Organic linen collection
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Home > Legal notices - Escot natural latex pillows
1. Presentation of the site.
Under Article 6 of Law No. 2004-575 of 21 June 2004 on confidence in the digital economy, it is clear to users of the site https://ets-escot.fr identity of the various stakeholders as part of its implementation and monitoring:
Owner: Mr Escot Cyril - Artisan - 13 Rue des Arches, 42600 Montbrison, 0631234747, registered with the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of Marseille 8.
SIRET number: 452.378.292 00026
Ape code: 1392Z
Registration number to the CNIL: 2055710
Website creator: Mr Escot Cyril
Publication Manager: Mr Escot Cyril - contact@ets-escot.com
The publication manager is a natural person.
Host: OVH - 2 rue Kellermann - 59100 Roubaix
Credits: the legal notices were generated and offered by Subdelirium Communication Agency Angoulême
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The use of the https://ets-escot.fr site implies full acceptance of the general conditions of use described below. These conditions of use may be modified or supplemented at any time, users of the https://ets-escot.fr site are therefore invited to consult them on a regular basis.
This site is normally accessible to users at all times. An interruption due to technical maintenance may however be decided by Mr Escot, who will then endeavor to communicate to users before the dates and times of the intervention.
The https://ets-escot.fr site is updated regularly by Mr Escot. In the same way, the legal notices can be modified at any time: they nevertheless impose themselves on the user who is invited to refer to them as often as possible in order to take note of them.
The purpose of the https://ets-escot.fr website is to provide information concerning all the activities of the company.
Mr Escot strives to provide the website https://ets-escot.fr with information as precise as possible. However, it can not be held responsible for omissions, inaccuracies and deficiencies in the update, whether by him or by third party partners who provide him with this information..
All the information indicated on the https://ets-escot.fr site is given for information only, and is subject to change. Furthermore, the information on the https://ets-escot.fr site is not exhaustive. They are given subject to modifications having been made since they were put online.
The site uses JavaScript technology.
The website cannot be held responsible for material damage linked to the use of the site. In addition, the user of the site agrees to access the site using recent equipment, not containing any virus and with an up-to-date latest generation browser.
Mr Escot is the owner of the intellectual property rights or holds the rights of use on all the elements accessible on the site, in particular the texts, images, graphics, logo, icons, sounds, software
Any reproduction, representation, modification, publication, adaptation of all or part of the elements of the site, whatever the means or process used, is prohibited without the prior written permission of Mr Escot.
Any unauthorized use of the site or any of the elements it contains will be considered as constituting an infringement and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of articles L.335-2 and following of the Intellectual Property Code.
6. Liability limitation.
Mr Escot cannot be held responsible for direct and indirect damage caused to the user's equipment, when accessing the site https://ets-escot.fr, and resulting either from the use of material that does not respond not to the specifications indicated in point 4, either the appearance of a bug or an incompatibility.
Mr Escot can also not be held responsible for indirect damage (such as for example a loss of market or loss of a chance) consecutive to the use of the site https://ets-escot.fr
Interactive spaces (possibility to ask questions in the contact space) are available to users. Mr Escot reserves the right to delete, without prior notice, any content posted in this space which would violate the law applicable in France, in particular the provisions relating to data protection. Where appropriate, Mr Escot also reserves the right to challenge the user's civil and / or criminal liability, in particular in the event of a racist, abusive, defamatory, or pornographic message, whatever the medium used ( text, photography…).
7. Personal data management.
In France, personal data is notably protected by law n ° 78-87 of January 6, 1978, law n ° 2004-801 of August 6, 2004, article L. 226-13 of the Penal Code and the European Directive of October 24, 1995.
On the occasion of the use of the site https://ets-escot.fr, can be collected: the URL of the links through which the user has accessed the site https://ets-escot.fr , the user's service provider, the user's Internet Protocol (IP) address..
In any event, Mr Escot only collects personal information relating to the user for the need of certain services offered by the site https://ets-escot.fr. The user provides this information with full knowledge of the facts, in particular when he enters it himself. It is then clear to the site user https://ets-escot.fr the obligation or not to provide this information.
In accordance with the provisions of articles 38 and following of law 78-17 of January 6, 1978 relating to data processing, files and freedoms, any user has a right of access, rectification and opposition to personal data concerning him, by making his written and signed request, accompanied by a copy of the identity document with signature of the holder of the document, specifying the address to which the response must be sent.
No personal information of the user of the https://ets-escot.fr site is published without the user's knowledge, exchanged, transferred, assigned or sold on any medium to third parties. Only the assumption of the redemption of Mr Escot and his rights would allow the transmission of said information to the possible purchaser who would in turn be held under the same obligation to store and modify data with respect to the user of the site https://ets-escot.fr.
The databases are protected by the provisions of the law of July 1, 1998 transposing Directive 96/9 of March 11, 1996 on the legal protection of databases.
8. Hypertext links and cookies.
The https://ets-escot.fr site contains a certain number of hypertext links to other sites, set up with the authorization of Mr Escot. However, Mr Escot does not have the possibility to check the content of the sites thus visited, and will therefore assume no responsibility for this fact.
Navigation on the https://ets-escot.fr site may cause the installation of cookie (s) on the user's computer. A cookie is a small file, which does not allow the identification of the user, but which records information relating to the navigation of a computer on a site. The data thus obtained are intended to facilitate subsequent navigation on the site, and are also intended to allow various measures of attendance.
Refusal to install a cookie may make it impossible to access certain services. The user can however configure his computer as follows, to refuse the installation of cookies:
In Internet Explorer: tool tab (cog-shaped pictogram at the top right) / internet options. Click on Confidentiality and choose Block all cookies. Validate on Ok.
In Firefox: at the top of the browser window, click the Firefox button, then go to the Options tab. Click on the Privacy tab. Configure the Conservation rules on: use the personalized parameters for history. Finally uncheck it to deactivate cookies.
In Safari: Click on the menu pictogram (symbolized by a cog) at the top right of the browser. Select Settings. Click on Show advanced settings. In the "Confidentiality" section, click on Content settings. In the "Cookies" section, you can block cookies.
In Chrome: Click at the top right of the browser on the menu pictogram (symbolized by three horizontal lines). Select Settings. Click on Show advanced settings. In the "Confidentiality" section, click on preferences. In the "Confidentiality" tab, you can block cookies.
9. Applicable law and attribution of jurisdiction.
Any dispute in connection with the use of the site https://ets-escot.fr is subject to French law. Exclusive jurisdiction is given to the competent courts of St Etienne.
10. The main laws concerned.
Law n ° 78-17 of January 6, 1978, notably modified by law n ° 2004-801 of August 6, 2004 relating to data processing, files and freedoms.
Law n ° 2004-575 of June 21, 2004 for confidence in the digital economy.
11. Lexicon.
User: Internet user connecting, using the aforementioned site.
Personal information: "information which allows, in any form whatsoever, directly or indirectly, the identification of the natural persons to whom they apply" (article 4 of law n ° 78-17 of January 6, 1978).
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Self-Help Groups in Development: A Review of Evidence from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
Donors and governments are increasingly seeking to implement development projects through self-help groups (SHGs) in the belief that such institutional arrangements will enhance development outcomes, encourage sustainability, and foster capacity in local civil society – all at lower cost to coffers. But little is known about the effectiveness of such institutional arrangements or the potential harm that might be caused by using SHGs as ‘vehicles’ for the delivery of development aid. This report synthesizes available evidence on the effectiveness of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in promoting health, finance, agriculture, and empowerment objectives in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings are intended to inform strategic decisions about how to best use scarce resources to leverage existing SHG interventions in various geographies and to better understand how local institutions such as SHGs can serve as platforms to enhance investments.
Anderson, C. L., Gugerty, M. K., Biscaye, P., True, Z., Clark, C., & Harris, K. P. (2014). Self-Help Groups in Development: A Review of Evidence from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. EPAR Technical Report #283. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington. Retrieved <Day Month Year> from https://epar.evans.uw.edu/sites/default/files/epar_283_shg_evidence_review_brief_10.23.20.pdf
Full Report, Presentation Slides, Results Coding, Published Paper
Local Spillovers and Broader Impacts of Health Interventions
This report draws on past and present peer-reviewed articles and published reports by institutions including the World Health Organization (WHO), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and others to provide a scoping summary of the household-level spillovers and broader impacts of a select group of health initiatives. Rather than focusing on estimates of the direct health impacts of investments (e.g., reductions in mortality from vaccine delivery), we focus on estimates of the less-often reported spillover effects of specific health investments on household welfare or the broader economy. The brief is designed to give a concise overview of major theories linking health improvements to broader social and economic outcomes, followed by more in-depth summaries of available local- and country-level estimates of broader impacts, defined as project spillovers offering local, regional and national social and economic benefits not typically reported in project evaluations.
Social Sector Applications of Returnable Capital by Development Finance Institutions
This report summarizes current trends in the application of Development Finance Institution (DFI)-based returnable capital finance in developing countries, with an emphasis on “pro-poor” development initiatives. We begin by reviewing the financial instruments used by DFIs. We then review the major DFI providers of returnable-capital based finance, drawing on past and present peer-reviewed articles and published reports exploring trends in the uses of different returnable capital instruments over time. Finally, we conclude by further examining recent efforts to use returnable capital to finance development initiatives explicitly targeting the poor.
Profile of Tanzanian Farming Households in Five Sub-Regions
This research project examines the traits of Tanzanian farmers living in five different farming system-based sub-regions: the Northern Highlands, Sukumaland, Central Maize, Coastal Cassava, and Zanzibar. We conducted quantitative analysis on data from the Tanzania National Panel Survey (TNPS). We complimented this analysis with qualitative data from fieldwork conducted in the summer of 2011 and September 2013 to present a quantitatively and qualitatively informed profile of the “typical” agricultural household’s land use patterns, demographic dynamics, and key issues or production constraints in each sub-region.
EPAR Research Brief #285
Current Status and Growth Trajectory of International Climate Finance
This brief draws on recent reports by the OECD, the World Bank, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and others to provide an overview of climate finance in developing countries. The brief is divided into three sections: (i) sources of global climate finance; (ii) country-level flows of climate finance; and (iii) applications of climate finance in developing countries. The brief is designed to give a concise overview of financial flows directed at climate change mitigation and adaptation globally and in developing countries, with an introduction to climate finance accounting such that climate financial flow volumes can be compared to aid volumes in other sectors. Total global climate finance flows were approximately USD $364 billion in 2011 (Buchner et al., 2012) and $359 billion in 2012. However the vast majority of these flows - 76%, or $275 billion - was finance generated and spent within a country’s own borders (domestic finance) (Buchner et al., 2013). The “Fast-Start Finance” period from 2010-2012 saw $35 billion in new aid mobilized for climate finance in developing countries. Developed countries have recently committed to mobilize an additional $100 billion per year by 2020.
Social Costs of Alcohol in Sub-Saharan Africa
The commercial alcohol industry in Africa may provide opportunities to increase market access and incomes for smallholder farmers by increasing access to agriculture-alcohol value chains. Despite the benefits of increased market opportunities, the high costs to human health and social welfare from increased alcohol use and alcoholism could contribute to a net loss for society. To better understand the tradeoffs between increased market access for smallholders and societal costs associated with harmful alcohol consumption, this paper provides an inventory of the societal costs of alcohol in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We examine direct costs associated with addressing harmful effects of alcohol and treating alcohol-related illnesses, as well as indirect costs associated with the goods and services that are not delivered as a consequence of drinking and its impact on personal productivity. We identified resources using Google Scholar and the University of Washington libraries, and utilized the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the World Health Organization’s Global Information System on Alcohol and Health (GISAH) database. We also utilized FAOSTAT to retrieve raw data on national-level alcohol production and export statistics. We find that hazardous alcohol use contributes to early mortality and morbidity, loss of productivity, property damage, and other social costs and harms for drinkers and those around them. Drinking also affects vulnerable segments of the population disproportionately. Policymakers, local authorities, and donor agencies can use the information presented in this paper to plan and prepare for the higher consumption levels and subsequent social costs that may follow through agricultural development and economic growth in the region.
Agriculture & the Environment: Cassava Systems
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a widely-grown staple food in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In this brief we examine the environmental constraints to, and impacts of, smallholder cassava production systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia (SA), noting where the analysis applies to only one of these regions. We highlight crop-environment interactions at three stages of the cassava value chain: pre-production (e.g., land clearing), production (e.g., soil, water, and input use), and post-production (e.g., crop storage). At each stage we emphasize environmental constraints on production (poor soil quality, water scarcity, crop pests, etc.) and also environmental impacts of crop production (e.g., soil erosion, water depletion and pesticide contamination). We then highlight good practices for overcoming environmental constraints and minimizing environmental impacts in smallholder cassava production systems. Evidence on environmental issues in smallholder cassava production is relatively thin, and unevenly distributed across regions. The literature on cassava in South Asian smallholder systems is limited, reflecting a crop of secondary importance (though it is widely found elsewhere in Asia such as South East Asia), in comparison to cassava in much of SSA. The majority of the research summarized in this brief is from SSA. The last row of Table 1 summarizes good practices currently identified in the literature. However, the appropriate strategy in a given situation will vary widely based on contextual factors, such as local environmental conditions, market access, cultural preferences, production practices and the policy environment.
Agriculture & the Environment: Overview
This overview introduces a series of EPAR briefs in the Agriculture-Environment Series that examine crop-environment interactions for a range of crops in smallholder food production systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia (SA). The briefs cover the following important food crops in those regions; rice (#208), maize (#218), sorghum/millets (#213), sweet potato/yam (#225), and cassava (#228).
Drawing on the academic literature and the field expertise of crop scientists, these briefs highlight crop-environment interactions at three stages of the crop value chain: pre-production (e.g., land clearing and tilling), production (such as water, nutrient and other input use), and post-production (e.g., waste disposal and crop storage). At each stage we emphasize environmental constraints on crop yields (including poor soils, water scarcity, crop pests) and impacts of crop production on the environment (such as soil erosion, water depletion and pest resistance). We then highlight best practices from the literature and from expert experience for minimizing negative environmental impacts in smallholder crop production systems.
This overview (along with the accompanying detailed crop briefs) seeks to provide a framework for stimulating across-crop discussions and informed debates on the full range of crop-environment interactions in agricultural development initiatives.
A paper based on this research series was published in Food Security in August 2015.
Full Report, Presentation Slides, Published Paper
Marketable Surplus Background
The purpose of this analysis is to provide a measure of marketable surplus of maize in Tanzania. We proxy marketable surplus with national-level estimates of total maize sold, presumably the surplus for maize producing and consuming households. We also provide national level estimates of total maize produced and estimate “average prices” for Tanzania which allows this quantity to be expressed as an estimate of the value of marketable surplus. The analysis uses the Tanzanian National Panel Survey (TNPS) LSMS – ISA which is a nationally representative panel survey, for the years 2008/2009 and 2010/2011. A spreadsheet provides our estimates for different subsets of the sample and using different approaches to data cleaning and weighting. The total number of households for Tanzania was estimated with linear extrapolation based on the Tanzanian National Bureau of Statistics for the years 2002 and 2012. The weighted proportions of maize-producing and maize-selling households were multiplied to the national estimate of total households. This estimate of total Tanzanian maize-selling and maize-producing households was then multiplied by the average amount sold and by the average amount produced respectively to obtain national level estimates of total maize sold and total maize produced in 2009 and 2011.
Full Brief, Results Coding
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UN Secretary-General appoints Nikhil Seth for UNITAR - Europa Newswire
Jun 10, 2015 United Nations and Nikhil Seth, Department, DESA, Director, Division, Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, Executive Director, Navid Hanif, Office for ECOSOC, President, Sally Fegan-Wyles, Sustainable Development, UN, UNITAR, united nations, United Nations Institute for Training and Research Comments are off
Photo by Luiz Rampelotto/EuropaNewswire
New York, 8 June 2015
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon announced today the appointment of Nikhil Seth of India as Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). He will succeed Sally Fegan-Wyles of Ireland, to whom the Secretary-General expressed his utmost gratitude for her dedication and commitment to the United Nations.
Mr. Seth brings to the position over 35 years of service as an international and national civil servant and a wealth of experience in leading, supporting and managing complex portfolios and inter-governmental processes, including United Nations summits and conferences in the economic, social and environmental fields. Mr. Seth is currently the Director of the Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). He also served as the Head of the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and has supported the follow-up processes including the work on the post 2015 development agenda and the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States.
During his career with the United Nations which began in 1993, Mr. Seth held positions as Director of the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination (2006-2011), Secretary of ECOSOC and Second Committee of the General Assembly (2004-2006), Chief of the Policy Coordination Branch in the Division for ECOSOC Support and Coordination (2001- 2003) as well as Special Assistant and Chief of Office to the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (1993-2001).
Prior to joining the United Nations, Mr. Seth served, since 1980, in the Indian diplomatic service, notably as a delegate in the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York (1990–1993) and earlier diplomatic assignments in Geneva and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Married with two children, Mr. Seth holds a Master degree in Economics from Delhi University where he also worked as a Lecturer in Economics at St. Stephen’s College.
Source: UN and EuropaNewswire
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Savannah River Site 70th Anniversary Exhibition | Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta
December 3, 2020 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
An event every week that begins at 10:00 am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, repeating until January 3, 2021
An event every month that begins at 1:00 pm on day First of the month, repeating until January 3, 2021
« Perspectives: Five Women and Their Work | Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta Exhibition
2020 Holiday Tours of the Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson »
Exhibition Dates: November 6, 2020 – January 3, 2021
Gallery Hours: Monday- Friday 10 AM – 4 PM
Open first Sunday of each month from 1pm-3pm.
The Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta (AHCNA) is proud to host an extraordinary exhibit showcasing past and present scenes from SRS as part of its 70th year celebration. The impact of SRS on our community over the last 70 years can’t be overstated.
Prior to President Truman’s announcement of the site’s selection as part of a national defense complex, Aiken was best known as an agricultural community and a favorite retreat of wealthy 19th century equestrians. While they had stately homes known as the Winter Colony, their cultural impact was somewhat limited to their inner circle. With the advent of SRS, Aiken and North Augusta soon saw significant changes brought by these atomic age homesteaders from all over the United States. With families in tow, these engineers, scientists, construction workers and administrative staff brought diversity to our area and showed a keen interest in being engaged in our community. Site personnel brought with them a desire to recreate the very best of the arts and education they knew in their former communities. They sought ways to bring the arts to us through active volunteerism and their personal funds. All of the companies that have operated at SRS over the last 70 years have been very generous to the arts.
We hope you join us during this unique gallery exhibit, which showcases the accomplishments of the hundreds of thousands of men and women whose collective knowledge and intellectual capital have benefited not only Aiken but our nation.
As leaders in our community, they have demonstrated their commitment to not only protect the public health and environment but to meet the artistic needs of the people in North Augusta and the surrounding area. We at the AHCNA are very grateful for our major corporate donors from the SRS. We wish to thank them for sponsoring this exhibit and their ongoing support.
Today, SRS continues to have vital missions that are key to our national security. Some of these missions are included in our photographic exhibition. As a special treat, this exhibit also includes beautiful photographs taken by SRS employees to include nature photographs and scenes from the surrounding area. Since its beginning, SRS has been keenly aware of its environmental responsibilities. These photographs clearly capture the beauty of the Site’s 310 square miles.
Please join us on November 19th from 5 to 8 PM for a reception for the SRS 70th Anniversary Exhibition. The reception is free and open to the public.
https://www.artsandheritagecenter.com/event/savannah-river-site-70th-anniversary-exhibition/
Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta
North Augusta, SC 29841 United States + Google Map
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PM commits public finances to fix BPL
LocalAugust 20, 2019August 20, 2019 at 3:54 am Theo Sealy
Minnis says generation shortfall is an emergency matter
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis confirmed yesterday that government is prepared to do whatever is necessary to provide Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) with the financing it needs to immediately address the country’s current state of intermittent power supply.
“Whatever BPL needs, BPL will get because the problems we face today must and will be corrected,” said Minnis, while addressing the media.
Minnis indicated that Cabinet is prepared to redirect funding or access national emergency funding to ensure BPL is in a position to remedy what the power crisis Bahamians have been facing.
“What we are experiencing today is an emergency as far as I am concerned, and yes government has a budget, but this is an emergency and government will have to use all of its resources and talent and move monies around,” the prime minister said.
“This must be fixed and will be fixed.”
His comments to the media Monday was the first public address on the BPL generation shortfall.
In a press statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on Sunday, Minnis acknowledged that many families have been experiencing crisis due to the persistent and prolonged power shortages in recent months.
“Energy professionals do not feel as though we have reached an energy crisis as yet, but there is a crisis when you look at and listen to the cry and pain of the individuals who are affected — mothers who are caring for infants and have electricity off; that is stressful and is a crisis for them,” the prime minister said.
“Diabetics, who are keeping their medication in the fridge and their [power is] off for a certain amount of time; that is a crisis for them.
“Therefore, from that aspect, when you look at the human elements, yes, they are experiencing a crisis and those are situations that we must remedy as quickly as possible.”
Minnis toured BPL’s Blue Hills Power Plant and Clifton Pier Power Station on Sunday.
He said he was satisfied BPL was implementing plans to address the power situation.
“We’re looking at more than 20 years of neglect and we are now correcting those problems, and we are going to correct them once and for all,” Minnis noted.
“I’ve gotten a better appreciation of the environment, the technology and what they have to work with, and where they are taking us to. I am very happy.”
Pointing to the new engines being installed as a part of the new 132-megawatt Wartsila power plant, Minnis said the difference is “night and day”.
Frustrated BPL consumers continue to take to social media.
BPL’s Facebook page is inundated queries about the solutions to shore up power supplies.
Yesterday, Minnis indicated that BPL has been working alongside an international firm to restore several unavailable units, the result of which would see its generation shortfall corrected.
“I think in the short-term solution they have brought in teams from the U.S. and other teams who are assisting with repairing the generators; gutting some generators,” he said.
“I think that will resolve the problems in the short-term.”
Family Islands
Foreshadowing BPL’s long-term plans to increase power stability in New Providence, Minnis said government plans to eventually remove Family Islands off of BPL’s power grid, and have those islands rely more on renewable energy sources.
“Solar may not necessarily be as aggressive here in New Providence as you would like to see, but it’s aggressive in the Family Islands,” the prime minister said.
“Currently, we are subsidizing the Family Islands and once you can reduce that subsidy then obviously the power or cost for electricity in New Providence will decrease.”
BPL has confirmed that two downed generators at its Blue Hill power plan are responsible for the generation shortfall.
The power company said one of the two downed units will be restored by the end of this month.
The second unit is expected to be back online early in September.
Meanwhile, load shedding is expected to persist until demand drops-off in the fall.
About Theo Sealy
View all posts by Theo Sealy →
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Almira Skripchenko – Discovering China part two
9/18/2005 – Jinan is south of Beijing, a city with a population of over five million, which recently staged a chess tournament with twelve ladies from different parts of the world. "Beautiful and famous chessplayers welcome!" was the motto. Almira Skripchenko, who was one of the players, sent us a big report with her own personal impressions.
A week ago I started a report series on my recent trip to China. In part one I told you how it came about, and described my first impressions of the country, in and around Beijing. Well, after a few days in the capital we proceeded to Jinan, just south of Beijing. The city, with a population of about five and a half million, is also called Jì'nán or Chi-nan, and is the capital of the Shandong province.
The Chinese Chess Association had invited twelve ladies from different parts of the world to play in the tournament: China, USA, France, Russia, Hungary, Armenia, Slovakia, Turkey, Iran and Malaysia. Ali Nihat Yazici reported on the event (see links at the bottom of the page); I will once again give you my personal impressions of the visit.
The view of Jinan city center, the first thing you see when you arrive in the city.
This was the view from my window in Jinan. It reminded me a little of Soviet times.
Near our hotel there was a typical Chinese market with different kind of vases. Sizes varied from little ones, from which I tried to extract the magical genie, but in vain, to ones where you yourself could hide inside.
Immediatelly after our arrival a press conference that took place, with me, Irina Krush from the US, Veronika Schneider from Hungary and Veronika Machalova from Slovakia. We were met by many journalists and the funniest slogan I have ever seen in chess tournament: "Beautiful and famous chessplayers welcome!"
Here the participants of the women’s event visit one of the main sponsors, the biggest Shandong newspaper "Qilu Evening", which naturally reported every day on the tournament.
Irina Krush and me in the restaurant, studying our travel guide, trying to learn a bit of Chinese and waiting for our tournament to begin. Little did we know that each day before playing our games we had to visit sponsors, give promotional simuls and interviews, and only then to play chess! Sometimes we didn’t even know at what time the round would begin.
So the first day started at nine o’clock (!) with a simultaneous display for the best kids of Shandong province, including many national champions.
Veronikas : Machalova and Shneider concentrating on their games.
The next generation of Chinese GM’s
These kids are dead certain on their way to GM titles
Here I was faced with the National under seven champion, who was playing theory, and had learnt a variation that forced a draw. It was nine o’clock in the morning, and so I was happy to repeat moves for a draw.
It was a theoretical draw, but the trainer came and started to shout at the kid: “You didn’t come here to make a draw, you have to play on.” My opponent went into deep thought and was obviously a bit confused. The trainer came with a chess clock and we had to finish our game in a blitz mode.
You can see the attitude: they do not allow them to make a draw against a grandmaster, they have to play. I managed to win after a long rook endgame struggle, but my little adversary got a lot of applause.
After the game he was interviewed by TV and treated like a movie star
Later that day we visited another sight of the tournament sponsors: a school of international languages. In the picture you see Xie Jun, Irina Krush, Zhu Chen and me inside the school, with the sponsor explaining to Xie Jun the importance of his project: to offer the opportunity to kids to study foreign languages with teachers coming from different countries.
We started the next day by visiting the other sponsor on the list:a big company which produces and sells cars. You can see all the famous Chinese chess players lined up here with us: Ye Jiangchuan who acts now as a president of Chinese Chess Association, Zhu Chen and further on Xu Yuxua. Chinese players take all these formal visits very seriously and show a lot of respect to people who sponsor chess.
This is me with Vera Nebolsina, posing in front of one of the sponsor’s cars. Vera is a young girl from Novosibirsk, fifteen years old, incredibly intelligent and nice. She was the only girl from our group who stayed on with me for the Chinese league.
I thought I looked great in this sports car, don’t you think? It suited me perfectly. But unfortunatelly it was not the first prize of the tournament.
Later on we went for lunch with the sponsors and tried many dishes. We were very fascinated by this one dish, especially Vera Nebolsina, who is a vegetarian.
Normally I love chicken, but I could not bring myself to try the above dish.
This is one of the most important people in the Shandong newspaper ”Qilu Evening”, Liang Hongwen. He is the vice president of the newspaper group, and the sponsor of my team.
After lunch Zhu Chen and I went to a radio talkshow – for one hour in Chinese. They invited us to many media events like these.
This was the host of the radio talk show, one of the most important in Shandong. He was getting questions from listeners, and also on the Internet. Some were directed at me and Zhu Chen had to act as an interpreter.
Zhu Chen, the last women’s world champion before Stefanova, is really very popular in China, and a lot of people were waiting to ask her questions.
This is us at the end of the show. We get along very well, she is also a special friend.
After the radio show we went to get some coffee, and our manager took this picture, which appeared in a number of newspapers. Liu Wei is a photography fanatic and took hundreds and hundreds of pictures. I like this one, because it is very natural and show the way the two of us are together.
After the talk show we went to the “Central Park” of Jinan, where we did a shooting for several newspapers, which wanted to show their readers what chessplayers look like outside the chessboard. Okay, they had to take one picture like this of such a beautiful park.
This park in Jinan is built around a spring (Jinan is called the city of springs). It was so incredibly beautiful – the water coming up in the middle, the light, the white blossoms falling.
This is Zhu Chen posing in front of the spring.
This is Liu Wei, the manager of my team, who set up the tournament and did all the work. Xie Jun told me that this man has done more for chess than anyone in China. Actually he is a professional football journalist and he visited more than 80 countries in the world. But then he decided that such chess events could be very popular, and he was right. Now he is planning to do this annually.
A giant poster in the park
This is a very important picture which I must include. It is a statue of Li Qingzhao a Chinese writer and poet of the Song Dynasty (11-12th century) and one of the leading woman poets in the Chinese language. It was extremely unusual at the time to find a women poet.
This is me and Zhu Chen at the Yellow River near Jinan. We went there right after our shooting and Liu Wei had a little surprise in store for us: horseback riding!
I was on a horse for the first time in my life. It was not so difficult, until this Chinese rider started shouting something like “tso, tso!”, which probably meant “go, go”, and the horses started galloping. But it was very nice, once we got used to it.
Me and Zhu Chen riding in the park.
After our ride, which was watched by many curious spectators, who were probably taking bets on how long it would take before I will finally fell from the saddle, a large group of people recognised Zhu Chen and yelled: “That is Zhu Chen!” and wanted her autograph.
We managed to survive this day, even played some chess and were very happy to attend the closing ceremony! This is Anna Zatonskih, me and Irina Krush, who were playing in the event, dressed in our normal clothes.
And here Anna and I are wearing the Chinese dresses that they had made for each of us.
Hou Yifan, the eleven-year-old discovery of this tournament, with the owner of the Torch Group. This little kid has a very bright future ahead of her. She already has many scalps under her belt: mine included! Actually we played for the same team "Shangdong Haoshang team” in the National team Championship which started the next day, and I was seriously doubting that I should play on the first board!
The Beijing Team, which has more women than men players! Ye Jiangchuan and Xie Jun in the middle of the picture.
The photographers went crazy.
In the Chinese league I had to play against Xie Jun. We made a fighting draw, but our team beat Beijing 4:1. Eleven-year-old Hou Yifan, the girl sitting next to me on the left, beat her opponent, who is rated above 2400. Our opponents decided to put a girl, Zhao Xue, who is 2470, on one of the men’s board, because they did not have a stronger male. Zhao is one of the most talented players of her generation and scored something like 11/12 at the last Olympiad.
This picture represents something you would never see outside China: two world champions, Xie Jun and Zhu Chen, playing against each other.
Phis is Peng Zhaoqin, who left China ten years ago and now lives in Holland, where she has just won the Dutch women's championship. She came to Jinan to play in China for the first time since she left!
Finally after many days of chess battles I had a chance to visit the city on my own. This is the Park of the Thousand Buddhas in Jinan. It is gigantic, and everywhere you find Buddhas in different postures and moods. The one at the entrance of the park is the biggest.
This was the entrance to a very long and dark cave which contains representations of all the Buddhas you can find all across China. I asked my interpreter Anna, a Chinese girl who spoke Russian, to take this picture, because you never know whether we will get out of this cave. Like in Indiana Jones.
These are a few of the ten thousand Buddhas you see in the very, very long cave.
This is Anna doing a Chinese ritual, where she has to rock this vessel which contains water, and depending on how many waves she gets it is an interpretation of her life. Anna got four, which means she will become very rich.
Anna really helped us a lot, because the language barrier is very severe. She spoke very good Russian because she had studied it for four years. But it was the first time she spoke to Russians and to chess players.
And finally a bit of shopping. The names of brands in China was one of the funniest things I found. This one is a company selling Italian jewellery, and it is anticipating the heart attacks of the husbands who are buying jewellery for their wives.
Almira Skripchenko: Discovering China – part one
World Ladies Tournament in Jinan
Our man in Jinan
Confucius say: Ni hao and Xie Xie!
A fond farewell to Jinan
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Personal experience: how the scammers tried to persuade to give away a Sberbank card
4 June 2020, 17:31Society
Attackers posing as Sberbank employees impudently demanded that a bank client give them a card.
Blogger Anton Chuladis shared with his readers extremely important information about how scammers posing as Sberbank employees work:
“The scammers wanted to trick me, but I was not such a sucker to join the ranks of their victims. They called on my phone - a certain girl said that they were bothering me from Sberbank. And probably, one could believe it: the girl's voice sounded against the background of office noise: someone was talking, the impression that the room was full of people and everyone was busy with some kind of unknown to me, but certainly important business. Well, what does she want from me?
The girl asked if I had used my credit card in the last half hour. And having heard a negative answer, she reported that the attackers had just tried to withdraw five thousand rubles from my Sberbank card. I told the girl that at the moment there was no money in my account at all, but the girl confirmed that there was such an attempt and asked if the last name of Mironov was telling me - they allegedly determined that the person with that last name was encroaching on my bank account. I replied that I knew only one Mironov: this is a State Duma deputy. And although I do not have a high opinion of politicians, that Mironov is unlikely to trade on other people's bank cards.
The girl from the bank said that nonetheless, for security reasons, I need to change the card. That tomorrow a courier from the bank will come to my house and bring a new card for me. That I have already received SMS with the code number, which I will have to inform the courier and give him my card in return for a new one. SMS really has already arrived.
I thanked the girl for her concern and said that it’s better to go to the nearest branch of Sberbank tomorrow and deal with the situation there. But my telephone interlocutor began to convince me not to do this, because information about me supposedly leaked to scammers from this department. I asked then why I should believe that right now I’m not talking to scammers. The girl explained that my doubts about this should be dispelled by the number that was determined on my phone, from which I received SMS - 900, and this is the number of Sberbank.
SMS really came to me from the number 900. But it still seemed strange to me to give my card to some obscure courier - and I told the girl that I was still going to the bank. On that, communication ceased. The next day I came to Sberbank and retold this story there. A bank employee (already, of course, real) confirmed my suspicions. She said that they really were scammers, and it’s very good that I didn’t give them information about my card - by the way, they didn’t ask me about this. And that Sberbank does not send its couriers to customers' homes - this is simply excluded. Clear. I just forgot to ask Sberbank how the attackers found out my phone number, name and patronymic, and indeed, that I am the owner of a Sberbank card. They probably also knew that at the beginning of each month they transfer money to this card.
It seems that the moles are working in Sberbank. Phone of scammers: +7 495 105 75 11. Be careful”.
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JinkoSolar Signs Long-term Purchase Agreement with Tongwei for nearly 100,000 Metric Tons of Polycrystalline Silicon
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
SHANGRAO, China, Nov. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced that the Company and its subsidiary Sichuan Jinko have signed a long-term purchase agreement with second tier subsidiaries of Tongwei Co., Ltd. ("Tongwei"), namely Sichuan Yongxiang Polysilicon Co., Ltd., Sichuan Yongxiang New Energy Co., Ltd., Inner Mongolia Tongwei High-purity Crystalline Silicon Company, and Yunnan Tongwei High-purity Crystalline Silicon Company. The raw materials procurement will ensure a stable supply of polycrystalline silicon ("Poly-Si") in line with JinkoSolar's strategic and operational plans.
Under the agreement, JinkoSolar has locked in nearly 100,000 metric tons of polycrystalline silicon and both parties can negotiate additional purchases. The price for any additional order will be negotiated and determined based on market conditions at that time.
Mr. Kangping Chen, Chief Executive Officer of JinkoSolar, commented, "Building strategic partnerships with suppliers of key raw materials is essential for our business and to raise our competitive edge in the solar industry. We are very pleased to begin this partnership with an industrial leader like Tongwei, a strategic cooperation that will contribute to the stability of JinkoSolar's long-term business. This is the first long-term contract with Tongwei for the steady supply of poly-Si, a win-win scenario that will no doubt bring on other advantages for both parties and further promote the development of renewable energy. We look forward to more opportunities with Tongwei, and to explore other ways we can work together to create value for the global PV industry."
Mr. Duan Yong, Director of Tongwei Co., Ltd., Chairman and General Manager of Yongxiang Co., Ltd., commented, "JinkoSolar is one of Tongwei's most trusted customers and we are very pleased to reach a strategic cooperation with a leading PV module manufacturer like JinkoSolar. The signing of this contract is conducive to the stable sales of Tongwei's high-purity polysilicon products and is in line with our future business strategy. It is also conducive to bringing into play the leading advantages of two major industry players in the PV industry, and to jointly promote the development of the global PV market."
About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes it solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial, and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, and other countries and regions. JinkoSolar has built a vertically integrated solar product value chain, with an integrated annual capacity of 20 GW for silicon wafers, 11 GW for solar cells, and 25 GW for solar modules, as of June 30, 2020.
JinkoSolar has 7 production facilities globally, and 14 overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Australia, and global sales teams in China, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Poland, and Argentina.
To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends, "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Ms. Ripple Zhang
Email: pr@jinkosolar.com
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jinkosolar-signs-long-term-purchase-agreement-with-tongwei-for-nearly-100-000-metric-tons-of-polycrystalline-silicon-301167850.html
Source: JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
NYSE:JKS
http://www.jinkosolar.com
Keywords: Alternative Energies Computer/Electronics Electrical Utilities Electronic Components Environmental Products & Services Green Technology Oil/Energy Utilities
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JinkoSolar Announces At-The-Market Offering of ADSs
JinkoSolar Announces Changes to Senior Management
JinkoSolar Announces Update to 2020 Annual General Meeting Agenda
JinkoSolar is Listed in Weekly Toyo Keizai's "Top 100 New Enterprises in China"
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January 24, 2020 Updated 17:35 GMT
Homepage : News : Saudi sheikh leads prayers on visit to Auschwitz Holocaust memorial
Saudi sheikh leads prayers on visit to Auschwitz Holocaust memorial
Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa leads a prayer at the former Nazi-German concentration camp Auschwitz [LightRocket/Getty]
Date of publication: 24 January, 2020
Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Saudi-based Muslim World League, led prayers inside the former Nazi-German concentration camp ahead of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Auschwitz, Holocaust, Islam, Sheikh, Saudi Arabia, prayer, muslim
A senior Saudi religious leader and close ally of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman led a congregation in prayer when he visited the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland on Thursday in a landmark tour.
Mohammed Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Mecca-based Muslim World League (MWL), visited the Nazi concentration camp alongside a delegation of American Jewish Committee (AJC) officials and Islamic leaders from at least 24 other countries, Israeli media reported.
On the visit, Al-Issa led the group of Muslim scholars for the midday prayer, which they prayed shortened as they were travelling, Al-Arabiya reported.
The event will mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the armed forces of the Soviet Union.
The CEO of AJC, David Harris, said the trip would be "the most senior delegation of Muslim religious leaders to visit Auschwitz ever", according to a statement.
The group toured the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw as well as visiting a synagogue and mosque in the capital city, before sharing an interfaith Shabbat meal on Friday, AJC said.
While Arab and Muslim leaders and clerics have toured the death camp in the past, Al-Issa is thought to be the most senior religious leader to visit the camp, according to Auschwitz Memorial's press office.
The Muslim World League and the American Jewish Committee signed a memorandum last year in which they agreed to take part in the Auschwitz visit together.
Al-Issa visited the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC in 2018, where he urged "all Muslims to learn the history of the Holocaust, to visit memorials and museums of this horrific event and to teach its lesson to their children".
More than one million Jews were systematically murdered at the Auschwitz death camp in less than four years by the Nazi regime.
Most were starved, worked to death, gassed or killed in medical experiments.
Al-Issa, a former justice minister, is seen as the public face of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's version of moderate Islam, and has been a key figure in promoting an image of tolerance in the ultra-conservative kingdom.
Read more: Saudi-Israeli relations: The emergence of a new alliance
Al-Issa has sought to strengthen ties with Evangelist and Jewish communities in the US, in a stark break from Saudi tradition, and has called for a Muslim-Christian-Jewish interfaith delegation to travel to Jerusalem.
Israel only has diplomatic relations with two Arab states, neighbouring Egypt and Jordan.
But various Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Oman, have upscaled their normalisation with Israel in recent months.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay connected
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The Runaway Runway Van
15 Aug 14 4 Comments
I often talk about how an accident is caused by many small things that have gone wrong as opposed to one big mistake. This incident which was reported by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada last month is a perfect example of this.
The 11th of March in 2013 was a rainy night at Toronto International Airport in Ontario. Sunwing Airlines, a Canadian aviation company based in Etobicoke, offer scheduled and chartered airline services out of Toronto and routinely do their maintenance and grooming during the evenings, while the aircraft are parked at gates at the east side of Terminal One.
That evening, an engineer and a technician went to fix C-FTLK, a Boeing 737-800. The technician drove them there in a Sunwing maintenance van: a 2007 Chevrolet Express Cargo 2500 with a 4.8 L engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The van was painted white with a large Sunwing logo on both sides. On the roof was a large aluminum platform with a ladder running down the left side. On the front left corner of the platform as an orange beacon light.
The engineer completed his work at 23:00. The groomers were still onboard cleaning up the cabin and flight deck.
The technician drove the engineer back to the company facility and then returned to the 737 to finish off. He parked the van left of the nose of the aircraft waited for the groomers to finish.
It was about half an hour later when the groomers finished and exited the aircraft using the left-hand main door.
The last of the groomers tried to close the aircraft door behind him but struggled with the weight of the door in the rain. The technician pulled forward and got out of the van, signalling to the groomer to leave the door, that he would take care of it. The groomers left.
The technician checked the ground power unit on the right side of the aircraft before boarding the Boeing 737 through the left-hand main door and checking the the cockpit.
When he came out, he realised that his van was gone.
Up in the airport control tower, it was a quiet night. Night operations are not very busy at Toronto International and multiple ATC roles during the day are regularly combined at night.
That night, there were three air traffic controllers. One was working as the tower controller, one was working combined north and south ground and the third was there for post-handover monitoring.
Meanwhile, the little-van-that-could made its break for freedom. The technician had left it idling and in drive. Once he disappeared into the cockpit of the aircraft, the van began to move.
It rolled forward, grazing the outer cowling of the Boeing 737’s left engine. Undeterred, it rolled under the wing and continued forward, heading straight for runway 24R, the active runway.
The van’s speed varied between one and five miles per hour as it drove across the apron and into the manoeuvering area.
Ground controllers at Toronto watch the traffic from the window and have a radar display for the Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE). The surface detection equipment is a safety system which monitors the manoeuvering area of the airport in order to help controllers detect potential runway conflicts. It provides detailed coverage of movement on runways and taxiways.
However, it doesn’t cover the aprons or the gate area, in order to reduce the clutter on the display. The first seven hundred feet of the little van’s epic journey were not monitored by the surface detection equipment. It reached intersection DV.
The ground controller saw the movement on his display, a slow-moving target just past the gate area. He thought it might be a false target. He spent two minutes on other duties before checking his display again.
The van continued.
The tower controller was standing and moving around as he kept watched over both the departure and arrival runways.
The ground controller looked back at the display and saw that his slow-moving target was now coming up to the threshold of Runway 24R. He showed the tower controller the blip on the display. Neither could think what the display might mean as they scanned their electronic flight progress strips and looked outside. They had no idea what the blip might be.
The third controller scanned the area with binoculars but the van was over a mile from the tower and in shadows near the brightly lit Terminal 1. The controller never saw the van; there seemed to be nothing there.
Air Canada flight 178 was an Embraer EMB190 registration C-FLWH. It was inbound to Toronto from Edmonton International with five crew and sixty-seven passengers on board. They’d been cleared for an instrument approach to Runway 24R. It was a quiet night and Air Canada 178 was number two, after Air Canada flight 1126 which was seven nautical miles ahead of them.
Air Canada flight 1126 landed without incident.
The crew could see the airfield clearly and saw the preceding aircraft vacate the runway from five nautical miles out. The approach was stable and the crew continued.
The tower controller had an unknown something entering the active runway and Air Canada flight 178 on late finals. He still didn’t know what it was out there but he urgently needed to abort the incoming landing. Because he was asking an aircraft less than 4,000 feet from the runway threshold to pull up and go around, the controller spoke quickly and as a result, his words were elided. “Air Canada” became “ercana” in his rush. In addition, the aircraft’s Extended Ground Proximity Warning System sounded at the exact same moment.
Time (UTC)
Source of message
Cockpit audio
Aircraft position
03:39:04 EGPWS–automated “Minimums” Descent below the decision height 250 feet radar altitude (796 feet asl), 4,500 feet from the threshold
03:39:07 Pilot monitoring “Runway in sight” The runway is in sight visually approx. 230 feet radar altitude
03:39:08 Pilot flying “Landing” Continuing the landing approx. 220 feet radar altitude
03:39:12 EGPWS–automated “Two hundred” Radio altimeter callout for descent below 200 feet 200 feet radar altitude, 2,550 feet from the threshold
03:39:12 ATC “ɛrkænə 178, pull up and go around, sir” Instruction to Air Canada 178 to go-around 200 feet radar altitude, 2,550 feet from the threshold
The controller waited a few seconds and when he didn’t get a response, he called again.
03:39:19 ATC “178, pull up and go around” Second instruction to Air Canada 178 to go around 125 feet radar altitude, 1,100 feet from the threshold
03:39:23 EGPWS–automated “Fifty” Radio altimeter callout for descent below 50 feet 50 feet radar altitude, approximately overhead the displaced threshold
The controller did not get any response to his calls. He could clearly see the radar blip blocking the runway and the Air Canada flight heading right for it.
During a normal approach, such as the one flown by Air Canada 178, the EGPWS makes several standard automated aural call outs, which are broadcast simultaneously over the cockpit speakers and the pilots’ headsets. During post-incident simulation, it was noted by TSB investigators that the callouts were significantly louder than the radio or intercom audio, which is delivered solely to the pilots’ headsets. The volume of the intercom and radio is adjustable by the flight crew, whereas the EGPWS audio is not.
The flight crew had clear sight of the runway and were seconds away from landing. That, combined with the dodgy acoustics, led them to believe that although they clearly heard the words “go around”, the instruction must be meant for another aircraft. They continued.
The controllers stared at the runway. They must have been holding their breath.
Air Canada flight 178 cruised directly over the top of the van and touched down. The separation between the van and the aircraft was less than thirty-five feet.
As Air Canada 178 cruised down the runway, the tower controller called them a third time and asked if they’d seen anything on the runway. This time the crew responded. They hadn’t seen a thing.
The van trundled across the runway and continued straight across taxiway D7.
The controllers reported the incident and the airport authority sent staff out to search the area.
The van drove into the grass. It got stuck when it struck a taxiway reflector sign and stopped, once again out of sight of the radar display, where it waited patiently for someone to rescue it.
Fourteen minutes later, airport staff discovered the missing white van. The engine was running and the headlights, taillights and beacon were all on. The automatic transmission was set to drive.
The Air Canada flight continued on to Ottawa. Air Canada Operations, by now aware of the near-miss, instructed the crew to disconnect the power to the digital voice-data recorders upon their arrival. These DVDRs record two hours of the conversation in the cockpit (as opposed to on the radio) and then over-write the data.
At Ottawa, the flight crew was met by company maintenance staff who said that they would disconnect the DVDRs. However, they didn’t get around to doing so until an hour later, and the cockpit voice data from the landing at Toronto was overwritten.
The investigators discovered that the beacon on top of the van, which was designed to use a 37.5 watt bulb, actually only had a 7 watt bulb installed.
Although visibility was good, a seven watt bulb was not enough to draw attention to the vehicle. The flight crew expected an uneventful landing and could not see any obstacles on the runway. Although the cockpit voice data was lost, the crew stated that they discussed the transmission to go around and agreed that it couldn’t be meant for them. As the report put it, the communication was insufficient to challenge the flight crew’s mental model of the situation.
From the incident report:
Following the occurrence, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) issued directives to the Toronto Pearson aviation community reiterating the prohibition against leaving vehicles idling and unsecured on the airside. The GTAA also published and disseminated information on the luminosity requirements for vehicle roof beacons and did spot checks to inspect beacons and require inoperative or inadequate beacons to be repaired or replaced. Sunwing Airlines reported to Transport Canada that it has inspected all of its airside vehicles and ensured that their roof beacons meet specified luminosity standards.
The van was returned to service with a new beacon bulb installed.
So, another happy ending… but more by luck than good management on this occasion!
Category: Accident Reports,
Rudy Jakma says:
Fear of landing ?
That crew should have, but all is well that ends well !
Interesting chain of events, and thankfully, they got away with it this time.
Kathy Williams says:
Sylvia, I love how you refer to the van as a person, i.e. “Meanwhile, the little-van-that-could made its break for freedom. The technician had left it idling and in drive. Once he disappeared into the cockpit of the aircraft, the van began to move.” and “The van drove into the grass. It got stuck when it struck a taxiway reflector sign and stopped, once again out of sight of the radar display, where it waited patiently for someone to rescue it.” Funny and imaginative.
Now I’m blushing! But I did feel like it was making a break for it. :)
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Feminist Activism
What can you do to advance equality?
Tag Archives: Second-wave feminism
Day 7- Waves of the Women’s Movement in the US
By feministactivist
First Wave: The first major organized women’s resistance to sexism and patriarchy in the US sprung out of the abolitionist movement. White women who opposed the institution of slavery soon realized that they were also suffering inequalities under the racist, sexist, classist system of government in the United States. The defining moment of the First Wave was passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920 that gave women the right to vote. The victory of the 19th Amendment came after decades of hard work and struggle, including educating the public with writings by and about (upper-class) women’s status, marches, protests, fasting, and intentional arrest and imprisonment. Unfortunately, the women (and men) who had been working so hard for women’s suffrage in this time could not sustain the momentum of social change, and thus, the next “wave” of the women’s movement would not come for another 40 years.
Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Sarah Grimké, Angelina Grimké, Carrie Chapman Catt, Alice Paul, Victoria Woodhull, Sojourner Truth, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Ida B. Wells, Margaret Sanger, and Lucy Burns, among thousands of other women whom history has forgotten, forever changed the way Americans viewed women’s participation in politics and the “public” sphere.
Second Wave: The Women’s Liberation Movement, or Second Wave of Feminism, came about in a tumultuous time for American history. Women in the US had been on a roller coaster of freedoms and limitations since the First Wave had crashed: the Roaring ’20s brought, for the first time, women’s votes into play, and the advent of jazz culture and the flapper allowed women unprecedented freedoms in appearance and behavior; the Great Depression of the 1930s following the Stock Market Crash was a poignant example of how the feminization of poverty works;WWII in the 1940s brought white women into the workforce like never before; the baby booming 1950s saw that women returned to the domestic sphere to try to achieve the June Cleaver ideal that society demanded; and the 1960s kicked off the Second Wave with the oral contraceptive pill made available in 1961 and Betty Friedan’s surprising (albeit racist) critique of women’s roles in 1963 with The Feminine Mystique.
During the 1960s and 1970s organizations were formed that changed the way women viewed themselves and each other but the major victories of the Second Wave came in the form of legislation designed to give women more equal opportunities on par with men, and gave women (at least on paper) autonomy over their own bodies. JFK’s Commission on the Status of Women, the Equal Pay Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Griswold v. Connecticut, Eisenstadt v. Baird, Title IX, the passage of WIC in 1972, Roe v. Wade, the 1974 Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the 1974 election of Elaine Noble in Massachusetts as the first openly gay person to serve on a state legislature; Taylor v. Louisiana, Nebraska passing in 1976 the first law against marital rape, and the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act are just some of the important legal battles won for women’s equality during the Second Wave.
Important individual or non-legal milestones include 50,000 women participating in Women Strike for Peace in 1961, “Sex and Caste” written by Casey Hayden and Mary King in 1965, the National Organization for Women forming in 1966, the 1968 protest of the Miss America Pageant (which incorrectly coined the phrase “bra-burners”), The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) forming in 1968, Our Bodies, Ourselves published in 1970, the August 26 1970 Women’s Strike for Equality, Gloria Steinem‘s 1972 founding of Ms. magazine and the National Women’s Political Caucus and the opening of the first battered women’s shelter. Sadly the consumerism of the 1980s lead many to believe that feminism was “dead” and no longer necessary. This, combined with the loss of hope after the failure of the US to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, caused the Second Wave to slowly trickled away.
Third Wave: The relatively few women who were still fighting the good fight in the 1980s became the backbone of the Third Wave. Recognizing that the views presented previously were overwhelmingly homogenous and exclusionary, women of color feminism, womanism and other more inclusive and worldly views of in/equality came to the forefront. Women of color who felt marginalized during the Second Wave began to demand their voices be heard and their opinions valued: Gloria Anzaldua, bell hooks, Audre Lord, Beverly Smith, Barbara Smith, and Cherríe Moraga, to name very few.
The Third Wave is an ongoing process which I am proud to be a part of. The discussion of feminisms can be contentious but for me the simple definition is one who believes in the equality of all people, while recognizing that until and unless (all) women are equal to men, justice cannot be achieved. It is also necessary, however, to fight against racism, ableism, classism, homophobia, ageism, environmental degradation, militarization, and animal abuse. I fully believe in the power of strategic nonviolent action (SNVA) to bring about social justice and equality.
What You can do to Advance Equality:
1) VOTE! Women did not work their asses off for decades so you could forget to make your voice heard on election day.
2) Educate yourself–about the women who made the freedoms you enjoy possible, about your national/ethnic ancestors and their ancient views of women, about the laws that affect your rights as an individual, about strategic nonviolent action, and about anything and everything else!
3) Educate those around you: Tell anyone who will listen what matters to you, what needs to change, and how they can help.
4) Get together: There is power in numbers and “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”- Margaret Mead
5) USE STRATEGIC NONVIOLENT ACTION!
Tomorrow’s entry for International Women’s Day(!) will kick off a week of discussion of women’s use of SNVA around the world while focusing on the women of the recent Arab revolutions.
You: The women of Bahrain take to the streets in protest (france24.com)
A Month of Awesome Women: Sojourner Truth (blogher.com)
Leave a comment | tags: Activism, Feminist movement, First-wave feminism, Second-wave feminism, Third-wave feminism, Women's History Month, Women's rights | posted in General Information
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For the First Time, Jacob Blake Speaks After Shooting Incident
In his first public comments since the shooting, Jacob Blake delivered a message from his hospital bed to his supporters how everything can change in just an instant. His attorney, Benjamin Crump, posted to twitter the 57-second video of Blake from Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee last Saturday.
Mr. Blake, a father of six children, was shot seven times by Rusten Sheskey, a white Kenosha police officer, last August 23 in the US state of Wisconsin. The 29-year old Blake, a black American, was shot while being arrested as he tried to get into the car where his three children, ages three, five, and eight, were seated. The officers responded and tried arresting him after a woman called 911, saying, “Her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on-premises.” The woman, however, has not been identified, and there was still no confirmation that Blake was the subject of the complaint.
“I just want to say, man, to all the young cats out there, and even the older ones older than me, it’s a lot more life to live out here, man. Your life and not only just your life, your legs, something that you need to move around and move forward in life, can be taken from you like this, man.”
According to his family, the shooting had left Blake paralyzed from the waist down, and may never walk again. But Blake still hopes to turn this tragedy into something constructive.
“I’ve got staples in my back, staples in my damn stomach. You do not want to have to deal with this s—, man. Every 24 hours, it’s pain, it’s nothing but pain. It hurts to breathe; it hurts to sleep; it hurts to move from side to side. It hurts to eat… Please, I’m telling you, change y’all lives out there. We can stick together, make some money, make everything easier for our people out here, man, ’cause it’s so much time that has been wasted”
The investigation for the shooting is still ongoing, and charges have yet to be filed in connection with the incident. Investigators have not given any explanation of why the officers arrested Blake and why Sheskey had to fire many times.
Crump said Blake helped damp down a domestic incident when the police officers pulled out their weapons and tasered him. Jacob Blake’s family is calling for the firing of officers and charging Sheskey with attempted murder.
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Commissioner: David Hanrahan
“Somebody always has to pay the price for pollution – unfortunately it is usually not the people who are profiting.”
David Hanrahan, Senior Advisor, Pure Earth. David has more than thirty years experience on international projects and policy, particularly on urban, industrial and water related challenges in developing countries. He has a rare mix of professional engineering training; qualifications in natural resources economics; practical experience in more than twenty developing countries; and the ability to use this learning to achieve practical outcomes to complex problems. He is a Chartered Engineer in the UK, with an MSc in policy analysis from MIT later complemented by an MSc in natural resources economics in London. He has worked internationally as a technical consultant, been a manager in the Environmental Department in the World Bank, and has more recently been a senior advisor to Pure Earth.
Why did you decide to join the Global Commission on Pollution + Health?
I have supported the need for a comprehensive global view since the idea was first suggested.
What impact will the work of the Commission have?
The Commission can give credibility and weight to problems which are often dismissed as purely local concerns but which add up to a real global threat.
How can we overcome obstacles to progress in the fight against pollution? What changes do you hope to see in your lifetime?
Pollution can be managed. More than anything, it needs a commitment to take action.
The Commission on Pollution and Health is an initiative of The Lancet, the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, with coordination from the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Bank. Commissioners include many of the world’s leading researchers and practitioners in the fields of pollution management, environmental health and sustainable development.
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Gene Linzey
Reflections on Life
How Do You Celebrate Christmas?
Do you know that the first hint in the Bible of what we call Christmas is in Genesis 3:15? A lot happened between Genesis 3:15 and Matthew 1:18, but we won’t go into all that today.
My questions are: How do you celebrate Christmas? Do you go over the river and through the woods to visit grandma? Do you read the Scriptures that talk about Jesus’ birth? Do you take a trip? Invite people to your house? Do you watch movies or football games? What’s your favorite Christmas meal?
I looked up historic Christmas celebrations. For about 300 years after Jesus’ resurrection, there were no observances of His birth – therefore, no festivities. The first one recorded was in Rome, on December 25, 336 A.D., but didn’t become a primary Christian observance until the 800s. Decorating trees started in Germany, but had nothing to do with Christmas.
In the fourth century, church officials decided to observe Jesus’ birth as a holiday; and for non-biblical reasons, Pope Julius chose December 25. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 A.D., and to England by the end of the sixth century. By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders thought that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but in doing so, they gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. Therefore, on Christmas, many people attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere.
Hmmmm … It seems like that still happens today.
Noting societal debauchery, prevalent poverty, and abusive child labor in Victorian England in the 1840s, Charles Dickens vowed to do something about it, and writing was what he did best. So, in 1843, he published his novel, A Christmas Carol. Although the book is more a work of sentiment than of Christianity, it captures something of the Christmas spirit.
Dickens wanted to insert joy and gladness into a life filled with drudgery, dreariness and death. While acknowledging the seriousness of life, he portrayed the Spirit of Christmas filled with miracles and laughter. He also reminded society of the importance of blessing others by caring for those around them. Dickens encouraged joy and human-kindness, and inspired a positive change in society.
How do Carol and I celebrate Christmas?
We read about the birth of Jesus in chapters 1-2 in Matthew and Luke. That sets the tone for the celebration. We often visit one of our kids, but this year we’ll visit our daughter’s in-laws, Robert and Phyllis Crawford, near Oklahoma City. And instead of buying gifts for our families who live far away, then pay more for mailing them, we’ll mail the allotted money and let them choose the gifts.
Have you heard of the song, Over the River, and Through the Woods, To Grandmother’s House, We Go? I grew up singing it at Christmas, but it was written as a Thanksgiving Poem by Lydia Maria Child in 1844, and referred to Grandfather’s house. I find it interesting that where Carol and I live, all five of our children and their families have to travel over rivers and through forests to reach us.
My favorite Christmas meal is not turkey. (Shhh…don’t tell Carol.) My favorite is ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, yams with marshmallows, and fruit salad with whipped cream. Two to three hours later, I want pumpkin or apple pie with vanilla ice cream! Oh, yes – and coffee.
I like to watch football. On this coming Christmas day, the Minnesota Vikings will play against the New Orleans Saints. But I won’t watch it. Not on Christmas Day. This is a time to spend with family, which includes church family, and helping others.
We usually watch It’s A Wonderful Life the week before Christmas. It helps us to realize – again – the intrinsic value of each and every life. I hope that every one of you reading this reflection understands that every person is important. If you are hurting emotionally or are happy, if you are sick or healthy, if you feel rejected or accepted, if you are poor or wealthy, please believe me: you are important! Whatever may be your status or position in life, reach out and help others. THAT, my friend, is one way of manifesting the spirit of Christmas…the Spirit of Christ.
I understand that the covid-19 pandemic is putting a crunch on worship services, family gatherings, and celebrations this year, but you can still give to others. Be creative and find a way.
But stop and think about what this celebration is really all about – Jesus Christ. He came as a human baby, but never relinquished His true identity – God.
That is spelled out in John 1:1-4. “In the beginning there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made by him, and nothing was made without him. In him there was life, and that life was the light of all people.”
Then verse 14 says, “The Word became a human and lived among us. We saw his glory—the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father—and he was full of grace and truth.”
May the Lord bless you this Christmas season.
Safest Place in Iraq
My brother, Colonel Paul Linzey, US Army Chaplain (retired) spent a tour of duty in Iraq. Not because he was ordered overseas, but because his men were stationed in harm’s way, and Paul wanted to be with them to minister hope, peace, and life with them. Coming within mere feet of death, himself, Paul clearly identified with his men, and that is beautifully portrayed within the pages of Safest Place in Iraq.
He encountered numerous experiences – many serious, yet many humorous – and he detailed some of them in this book.
I had the privilege of reviewing and endorsing the book, and I highly recommend it. You don’t need a military background to understand and “enter” the story; but if you are military, you will “find yourself” in Iraq, and will immediately be a part of the story as it unfolds in these pages.
As the mournful sirens sound off, the missiles come screaming overhead, and as the bombs explode creating death all around, you’ll walk with Paul as he visits the hurting, the dying, and as he helps the soldiers see past the deadly present and gives them hope for the future.
Go to https://paullinzey.com/books/ and visit Paul’s website. You can order Safest Place in Iraq, and see Paul’s other endeavors.
You can also find the book at https://www.amazon.com/Safest-Place-Iraq-Experiencing-During/dp/1642799173
How’s Your Drag Set?
In the late 1990s, Carol and I were visiting her mother and step-dad in Pagosa Springs, Colorado where they owned a cabin on Pagosa Lake. Charles and I had become life-long friends and we enjoy fishing together. (My mother-in-law has since graduated to heaven, and the cabin was sold.)
“You want to go fishing out on the lake?” Charles asked.
“Sure, I suppose so; but we always catch our limit of Rainbow trout from your dock. Why fish from a boat?”
Charles’ neighbor, Frank, had a trolling boat and took Charles fishing in it somewhat often. The limit from the boat was still the same, but Charles said they catch bigger ones out on the water.
Within the hour, the boat was ready, we had our poles, tackle-boxes, bait, nets, and Coca Cola, and we headed out for an adventure.
Frank told me, “Throw your line out in back of us.” I had a new pole called an “Ugly Stick” with a Shakespeare reel, and the yellow and green Rooster Lure flew about 100 feet. Frank’s next order was, “Now, just hold the pole perpendicular to the direction of your line and wait for the trout to visit you. When he hits, don’t point the pole in the trout’s direction; keep it pointed 90 degrees from him. Just reel him in steadily and let the flexing pole do the work.”
We were trolling slowly, and within three minutes I felt a tremendous yank and my pole doubled over. But just as quickly, it popped back straight.
Frank had fished Pagosa Lake for many years and caught his limit every time. He said, “I know what’s out here, and the way your pole bent over, that was a 20-incher. Reel in your line.” When I found the end of the line, the lure was gone.
“That critter broke your line.” Frank exclaimed. “How’s your drag set?”
I asked, “What’s drag?”
Perplexed, Frank asked, “You’ve fished northern New Mexico for ten years, and you don’t know what drag is?”
“No, but I always catch fish.”
Frank and Charles started laughing. No they weren’t mocking me; they just thought it was funny that a man in his 50s could fish for years and never know what drag was. I began laughing, too, and handed my Ugly Stick with a Shakespeare reel to Frank.
The drag is actually an apparatus made from a pair of friction plates inside the reel. The tension has to be set to release quickly to keep the line from snapping when the big ones yank on it. Then as we reel the critter in and the fish puts up too much of a squabble, the friction is overcome, allowing the reel to rotate backwards just enough to keep the line from breaking.
Frank explained drag, and showed me how to set it. He then set it for the trout we were after and said, “You’ll need to adjust it for stream-fishing back home.”
We proceeded to fish for an hour, and each of us and several friends caught our limit of three Rainbow trout. The two 17-inchers I caught put up a fuss and took a minute or two to bring in. And yes, the drag function worked properly. But an 18-incher put up a fight! Taking almost three minutes to reel it in, I was grateful that Frank set the tension for me. Back at the cabin, Carol cooked the big one like a salmon, and it was GOOD! The left-overs were made into trout-fish sandwiches which tasted much better than tuna-fish.
By the way, the little ones – eight to thirteen inchers – don’t pull hard enough to break the line, and I have never reset the drag.
Reminiscing on that recently reminded me of everyday life. Do you find that the pressures of life are too much, and you feel like snapping? Do you feel like giving up? How’s your emotional drag set?
Don’t trust your own wisdom, for you’ll be disappointed. And don’t give up because help is just a prayer away. So trust in the Lord with your entire life. In everything you do, acknowledge the Lord, and He will guide you (Pro. 3:5-6). You are secure in God’s hands because He will help you set your emotional drag.
Posted on July 13, 2020 June 26, 2020
The Cracked Windshield
As we were driving near the Salton Sea in Southern California, a blinding sandstorm lightly sandblasted our windshield. Afterward, when the sunlight hit the windshield at the right angle, or if a car came toward us at a critical angle at night, it created a visual difficulty. But we could still see well enough to drive safely so we didn’t replace it.
But this is a different story.
In October of 2016, a truck about 300 feet ahead of us lofted a rock that landed on our windshield – right in front of Carol. In addition to startling Carol and eliciting a yelp from her, it created a crater in the windshield with five or six cracks radiating outward.
What could I do? There is no need to stop. No sense in getting aggravated, worried, or upset; and the truck driver didn’t do it intentionally. Change lanes if possible, continue on course and take care of it later. But be assured: if not repaired soon, the cracks will grow and the windshield will become what I call “spider-webbed”.
Here’s some background information.
The dashboard was created to prevent mud and horse excrement from “dashing” the legs of the driver and passengers. Dashboards on buggies were originally vertical or at an angle, but lower on the carriage.
Windscreens (early name for windshields) may also have had their beginnings on horse-drawn carriages or buggies. They were made of glass, were mounted on top of the dashboards, and provided protection for the upper body and face.
Since many early cars were manufactured without tops, the windscreen provided some protection from the wind as well as from stuff being splattered by horses and other vehicles. In the US, the windscreen became a shield from the wind as the vehicles began going faster; so it took on the name of windshield.
In a car, the “shelf” between the driver and the windshield kept the title of dashboard, and the windshield could be laid down on the dashboard on dry and non-windy days. But the glass broke easily, so improvements in glass quality and safety were needed.
A process called “tempering” was utilized to make a safer glass, but it was soon replaced by “safety-glass.” Safety-glass is a laminated glass that is made like a sandwich: two layers of tempered glass with a layer of plastic in between.
Today, the major components of windshields or windscreens are silica, soda ash, dolomite, limestone, and cullet. Often potassium oxide and aluminum oxide are added; but silica (sand) comprises well over 60% of the material.
Also, modern windshields can have more than two layers of tempered glass with layers of plastic (usually polyvinyl butyral or ethylene-vinyl acetate) in between. This allows the windshield to be considerably more flexible and more resilient to blows from rocks or other objects.
Because of the flexibility and lamination, when an object hits the windshield, potential damage is usually confined to the outer glass layer. It may still need to be repaired or replaced, but the lamination prevents the glass from shattering.
Back to the cracked windshield.
I called Safelite AutoGlass Company. They said if the break was smaller than a credit card and has three or fewer radiating cracks, the insurance companies will not provide a replacement. Well, the break with cracks was smaller than a card, but it had five or six radiating cracks that I call spider-legs – and they were growing. So we set up an appointment for the next day; and while we shopped at Sears, the car received a new windshield.
Wow! What a joy it is to see super-clearly as we drive throughout the California country-side – and on interstate highways.
Do you know that our spiritual vision can be damaged by bumps in life? Someone can purposely or inadvertently hurl a spiritual stone at us and crack our mental or spiritual “shield”. Then, without the badly-needed protection, we become vulnerable to other dangers. Our damaged vision robs us of wisdom, and our poor reactions make things worse.
What should we do? Safelite AutoGlass cannot help us here; but Almighty God can. Ephesians 6:16 says, “Above all, take the shield of faith which will protect you from all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
Place your faith in Jesus: in Almighty God. He will give you clear vision and help you make correct decisions in life.
So, enjoy life – both the rough and smooth parts – and stay clear of those who would throw things that could hurt you. But if you do get a crack in your shield, turn to God immediately for help. Jesus promised never to leave us or forsake us.
Posted on May 18, 2020 May 1, 2020
“Okay – we’ve taken Sharon and Jim to the airport. What would you like to do next?” (The year was 2016.)
“What do I want to do next?” Carol responded. “It’s 5:45 in the morning. The only thing to do now is have breakfast.” She was right – as usual.
We wound our way out of Lindberg Field (the San Diego airport) without getting lost. Turning onto the Pacific Coast Highway in the dark, we headed north but missed the entry onto I-8 which would take us east up Mission Valley; but a quick u-turn took care of it. (Don’t worry: our’s was the only car on the street.)
Finally sitting at the booth in Denny’s – with Coffee! – we planned our day.
We attended the early church service where David Jeremiah is pastor. I heartily recommend visiting Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California if you have a chance. His mailing address is listed as San Diego, but the church is on the east side of El Cajon – pronounced El Cahone.
Afterwards, we headed west on I-8, north on highway 67, then west on highway 52 which took us to the town of La Jolla (La Hoya) on the coast. We decided to drive north on beautiful Scenic Highway 101 up to Oceanside.
Friends, pay attention: It’s a beautiful drive, and we enjoyed it. But if you are in a hurry, don’t do that. Highway 101 meanders through all the towns, and you can make more time on I-5 – unless it’s slow-hour. I think most folk call it “rush-hour” but believe me: there is no such thing as rushing down the freeways if they are jammed with cars. I call it slow-hour.
In the town of Carlsbad at 1:15 pm, we began looking for a place to eat and a nice place to stay. (We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary all year long.) Turning onto a side street, we found Ocean Street that looked more like an ally; but we turned north on it hoping to find our way back to 101. The street was separated from the Pacific Ocean by one row of buildings, so Ocean Street is a good name for that road.
Before turning east on Christiansen Way to return to Highway 101, Carol spotted a place called Beach Terrace Inn. “I wonder how much they charge for a night’s stay.” Translated into a man’s language, it actually means, “Find out how much it costs to stay here.” Yes, Ma’am.
THAT was a good idea!
Beach Terrace Inn, the only oceanfront hotel between Oceanside and La Jolla, was built in three stages. The first edifice was built on the beach (on the sand) and was constructed around 1960. The second stage, which includes the current lobby, was built in 1976. And the third stage, which includes breakfast – and coffee – was built in 1988.
Ryan Roark, the assistant manager, greeted me. I know there are many friendly folk up-and-down the coast and throughout the country, but Ryan is one of the best. He personally walked to my car, helped carry in our luggage, and showed us where to eat. Sure, he wants our business, but that is the first time a hotel manager ever helped me with the heavy work. As we walked, Ryan said, “Those who stay here are not guests – they are family. So you are now part of the Beach Terrace Inn Family.” Thank you, Brother Ryan.
Thomas Burke, the Guest Service Ace, stopped for ten minutes and filled us in on a lot of the history of the place. He even brought extra coffee to our room. Thank you, Thomas. These folks really know how to make people feel welcome and important – like family.
In the evening, we walked down the steps to the beach and I swam in the surf. After tiring myself out, Carol and I walked the beach looking for sand dollars.
The Inn’s advertisement (http://beachterraceinn.com/) says, “We believe size matters, so we’ve chosen to be a small hotel with big rooms rather than a big hotel with small rooms. We’ve remained owned by the same family since the 1960’s. We believe in personality and choose to be remarkable rather than flashy.” Carol and I found that to be true.
If you find yourself in Southern California, go to Carlsbad and visit the Beach Terrace Inn on Ocean Street. You’ll be glad you did. Tell them Gene and Carol Linzey sent you.
Now, where’s the coffee?
Ability versus Availability
In mid-June several years ago, Carol and I were returning home after visiting Jeremy (our son) and his family in Perkins, Oklahoma. We were on highway 33 about halfway between Perkins and Tulsa when I suddenly stopped the car and turned around. Carol asked, “What are you doing?”
Pulling onto the shoulder on the north side of the road, I said, “Look.”
Carol incredulously exclaimed, “Oh no, a fire!”
I was already calling 9-1-1. When the operator asked about my specific location, I said, “I am on Oklahoma highway 33, east of the intersection of highway 48; but I don’t know how far.”
The operator said, “No problem: we’ve got you pegged. Stay there; a truck will be on the way.”
When Carol asked how they knew where we were, I said, “GPS on my cell phone.” (That’s another story.)
Fires generate their own weather-patterns and can produce fierce winds. That becomes a major factor in the growth of wild fires, and is why they need to be spotted and put out early. In the past several years, fires had ravaged that portion of the state.
It was after 10:00 pm, dark, and we had nothing with which to douse the fire; so we were merely a landmark, waiting for someone who could extinguish the growing blaze. About six minutes later, a fire-truck pulled up in back of us. The driver said, “Thank you for calling it in, and thank you for waiting for us. You are free to go now.” That was a hint to get out of his way.
Carol and I didn’t have the ability to quench the fire, but we were available to contact those who could do the job.
Ability versus availability.
Another time, in the summer in 1976 in the heat of the day, Carol, the kids, and I were heading south on Arizona highway 89. We were almost to the little town of Congress when we saw a small brushfire beside the road. We surmised that the fire was caused by a foolish person throwing a cigarette out the window. It was hot, and a lot of dried vegetation (fuel for the fire) covered the country-side.
Cell phones were not invented until the mid-1980s, and I didn’t have one until the mid-90s. With no way to call for help, 6-year-old Ron, 4-year-old Jeremy, and I used a cardboard box, dirt, and our 5-gallon container of water to extinguish the small-but-growing blaze. In that situation, we were available and had the ability to complete the task.
What is the common denominator in those two events? Availability.
Without our presence and alertness in each of those situations, both fires might have caused great physical damage and possible bodily harm.
No, I’m not bragging; merely explaining the concept of availability. The idea is: no matter what you know or what you think you know, your knowledge cannot benefit anyone unless you are available to apply it.
“Available” means: Present and ready for use; at hand; accessible.
What about you? Are you available to mankind and to God? Although an unlikely candidate, Abraham Lincoln was available. God, Himself, doesn’t need our skills and abilities, but He does give us the privilege of exercising our gifts and abilities—what He gave us or enabled us to learn—to fulfill our portion of His plan: thus, growing His kingdom and helping mankind. You may be a computer technician, auto mechanic, writer, pastor, secretary, lawyer, politician, policeman, or fireman. Whatever your vocation, God calls each of us to work as though He (God) is our supervisor. He then helps us to be alert to situations, such as the fires, and directs us as to our part in putting them out.
Psalm 147:10-11 says, “His pleasure is not in strong horses, nor his delight in brave soldiers; but he takes pleasure in those who honor him, in those who trust in his constant love” (GNT).
The psalmist tells us that God does not rejoice in our strength and ability, but He finds pleasure in our attitude. Are we available to Him and mankind, or are we stuck on our own desires? It is our attitude that determines whether or not we are available.
I am not inferring that you need to accept every offer that comes your way. You need to pray about all that. But we can take a hint from Jesus’ parable of The Good Samaritan. Are you available to help? Are you available to put out various “fires” (physical, emotional, relational, etc.) that you encounter?
Pray about it. It is great to be part of God’s team.
Dad was a chaplain in the US Navy and we moved around somewhat. So in my four years of high school, I attended four different schools: two in Southern California, the third near Boston, and I graduated in Charleston, South Carolina in 1964.
In April of 2016, the USS Yorktown, CV-5 Survivor’s Reunion was held in Charleston, and I was chaplain for the group. One day, Carol and I drove over to James Island to locate the house my parents rented and the high school I attended. This was the first time I had returned to the Charleston area since May of 1964, but I located both house and school without a hitch. They hadn’t moved.
Memories flooded my mind, and I verbally relived many of them while Carol listened. (I met Carol in Southern California in late August of 1964.) When my parents lived in the Charleston area, we didn’t visit Fort Sumter which is situated in Charleston Bay. Perhaps that was because renovations, beginning in 1961, had not been completed. But now I was looking forward to visiting the fort.
Fort Sumter was named after General Thomas Sumter – a hero in the Revolutionary War. Built primarily by slave labor, construction of the fort was started in 1829 but was still incomplete in 1861 when the War Between the States began.
There are several names for that war, and each name reflects the feelings of various groups through history. A well-accepted name is The War Between the States. Many northern folk called it The War of the Rebellion, while many Southerners called it The War of Northern Aggression. Some Europeans called it The War of Secession, but the common name here in modern America is the American Civil War. But as Colonel Butch Quick said, “There was nothing civil about it!” Well over 625,000 Americans died in that hellish conflict.
Many believe that the war was not primarily about slavery. As an example: South Carolina’s General James Longstreet is quoted as saying, “We should have freed the slaves, THEN fired on Fort Sumter.”
Understanding that South Carolina was thinking about seceding from the brand-new Union as early as 1827, Fort Sumter was not built to keep South Carolina in line; the fort was one of a series of fortresses built along our eastern coastline to protect our major ports from potential European aggression.
Our tour boat backed away from the wharf and sailed around the bow of the USS Yorktown, CV-10, that was docked nearby. The Yorktown (built to replace the USS Yorktown, CV-5 that sunk in the Battle of Midway in June of 1942) was commissioned in 1943 and is huge; but with its flight deck looming 50 feet above our heads, it looked enormous.
A twenty-minute cruise toward the Atlantic Ocean, Fort Sumter looked small with walls currently about 15 feet high. However, seventy thousand tons of New England granite had originally been imported to build the 5-sided Fort Sumter on the harbor sandbar; and the walls in 1861 were 5 feet thick and 50 feet high. It was designed to house 650 men with 135 canons.
South Carolina had officially withdrawn from the fledgling United States of America, and Confederate Brigadier General Beauregard ordered Union Major Robert Anderson to surrender Fort Sumter. When Anderson refused, the Confederate forces began firing on April 12, 1861.
The fort was built to withstand a naval assault using small, ship-mounted guns, but it could not long endure the massive bombardment from the shore-based gun batteries. Even though there were no casualties during the 36-hour bombardment, Major Anderson finally realized that the situation was hopeless.
Therefore, to save the lives of his men, Major Anderson raised a white flag. Deciding not to capture the Union forces, General Beauregard provided a boat and personnel to take the Union soldiers to a Union ship waiting off shore. Note: two years later in the heat of the war, on September 8, 1863, Union naval forces, using larger guns, attempted to regain control, but failed. Again, the fort was severely damaged.
Ninety-eight years later, South Carolina and the US Government agreed to restore Fort Sumter and make it a National Monument with a Visitor Education Center. This was being completed as I graduated from high school just across the harbor on James Island.
Fifty-two years later, I returned with Carol and the USS Yorktown CV-5 Survivor’s group, and finally had the privilege of touring the fort. I was impressed with the history and the restoration. If you have the opportunity, I would encourage you to visit Fort Sumter.
London Bridge – Redeemed History
In April of 2015, Carol and I went to California to speak at the annual USS Yorktown Survivor’s Club Reunion. The keynote speaker, Rear Admiral Mac McClaughlin, spoke at our banquet on the USS Midway in San Diego Harbor.
Spending a night in Kingman, Arizona, Carol said, “In 50 miles we’ll get to Arizona Highway 95. Driving south on 95, it is only about 25 miles to Lake Havasu and the London Bridge, and we haven’t seen the London Bridge for about 40 years. Let’s go see it.”
“Your wish is my command, my love.”
Some travelers say the scenery in that part of the country is desolate, hot, and dry. Well, it may be hot and dry in the summer, but I’m not sure it’s desolate: you should see the numerous animals inhabiting the land. And it is beautiful! Between Kingman and the southern tip of the Lake, we took over 200 pictures.
Does the bridge look any different from 40 years ago? It is the same, but the town has certainly grown around it.
But the bridge! Straight from London, it is redeemed history! When you look at the bridge you are looking at part of London in 1831AD. But you see the Stars and Stripes and the British Jack flying alternately on poles on the bridge because it is also now part of American history.
The first bridge over the Thames (pronounced Tĕmz) was of wood construction probably built by the Romans near the village of Londinium prior to Jesus’ time. Destroyed and rebuild numerous times, Henry II chose Peter of Colechurch to oversee the reconstruction of the bridge, but this time it would be a substantial structure. Finished in 1163, it was the last wooden London Bridge. Lasting for over 600 years, it was considered a “wonder of the world.”
But it, too, eventually had to be replaced. John Rennie and his son oversaw the work, and you might say it was a “rock-solid structure” because this bridge, completed in 1831, was made of stone. The bridge weighed about 130,000 tons. The USS Ronald Reagan, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, has a displacement of over 103,000 tons, so you get an idea of the bridge’s weight.
However, not having a stable foundation, the bridge sank about one-fourth inch annually. Another problem: it wasn’t made to withstand the heavy traffic of modern society. By 1924, the east side had sunk about four inches lower than the west side. The bridge had become a concern to the community, and they considered tearing it down.
But someone had a novel idea: Council member Ivan Luckin suggested selling the bridge. The rest of the London City Council thought he was crazy! However, with no other viable idea forth-coming, they decided to look for a buyer. Surprisingly, Robert P. McCulloch was interested.
McCulloch is the founder of Lake Havasu City, Arizona – a retirement and real estate development project on the east shore of Lake Havasu. He bought the bridge in 1964 for $2,460,000 as a tourist attraction to his city. But it was a chore getting it to Arizona. He couldn’t just pick it up by helicopter and haul it over. In time, they developed a plan.
The stones of the bridge were individually numbered as the bridge was disassembled, and the plan for reassembly was simultaneously drawn up. The stones were shipped through the Panama Canal to California, then hauled by truck to Lake Havasu, Arizona. The Sundt Construction Company laboriously reassembled it, but modified the plan and reassembly procedure to meet current safety code for bridges. Therefore, the bridge is hollow with substantial steel reinforcement, and was fully reassembled in 1971. The weight of the modified bridge is about 30,000 tons.
The lamp posts on the bridge were made from Napoleon Bonaparte’s cannons, and the bridge has been in two American movies (“Day Of The Wolves” and “Bridge Across Time”). And, of course, it is the world’s largest antique.
In 1960, the bridge was considered useless, and was to be destroyed. But in 1964 Robert McCulluch redeemed it and made it a magnificent, important part of his plan in Lake Havasu.
Jesus did the same for you and me. Having sunk in the muck and mire of sin, mankind had become useless to God. But God, in the person of Jesus Christ, died on the cross for us and provided redemption for “whosoever will.” All that’s required of us is to stop living to please ourselves, ask God to forgive us for our sin and selfishness, live for Jesus Christ, honor God with our whole life, and help others.
And we will become an important part of God’s magnificent, eternal plan.
The Salton Sea
As we were driving south along the Colorado River, Carol asked, “Did you know we won’t be far from the Salton Sea?”
“Are you kidding!” I exclaimed. “How far is it?”
“Driving west on I-10, if we turn south on Highway 86, it’s about 20 miles, or so.”
“I am a Californian. I grew up in El Cajon in San Diego County, and I’ve never been to the Salton Sea!” I exclaimed. “One time when I was in seventh grade, dad preached in Brawley near the Sea, and I knew it was over a hundred miles away. Back in the mid-1950s that was a long distance. None of us went with him because we were needed in our home church. But now I want to complete my California childhood and visit the Salton Sea. By the way, how far is the lake from San Diego?”
“If you get there by driving on the freeways through Riverside, it is about 182 miles; and if you go through the mountains through Julian, it is about 138 miles. But if you get there by helicopter, it is only about 70 miles.”
“Let’s go!” So we did – but not by helicopter.
Several thousand years ago (after the flood in Noah’s time) the lake was approximately 105 miles long and 300 feet deep. That lake had long-since dried up, as did the lake in Death Valley. The area is called the Salton Sink which is in a low area of the Salton Trough, and is often referred to as the Colorado Desert due to its proximity to the Colorado River. The lowest spot is 277 feet below sea level.
Throughout the centuries, the area has alternately been a shallow lake and dry desert plain. Heavy rains and snow runoff from the Sierra Nevada Mountains periodically flooded the Salton Sink, and one of the worst storms was in 1862 when the area was again submerged, creating a lake 60 miles long and 30 miles wide. That 1862 storm wreaked havoc in the entire western third of our country.
The present lake was formed in 1905 when engineers with the California Development Company were trying to increase water flow from the Colorado River into the valley for farming. But the powerful river overcame their barriers, gouged deep channels into the land, and poured into the Salton Sink basin for eighteen months. The engineers were finally able to stop the flow in 1907. Interestingly, the Salton Sea sits squarely on a portion of the San Andreas Fault.
We turned south on Highway 86. Carol took many pictures of palm tree groves, animals, low-flying military jets, and cloud formations. Looking south, we could see in the distance what looked like a rain squall forming, so we decided not to spend too much time at the lake.
The lake is currently about thirty-five miles long and fifteen miles wide. The surface is 228 feet below sea level, and the deepest part of the lake is about 49 feet deep. But this varies annually depending on rain and snow melt.
We were surprised at what we found. We saw many sand-covered streets and vacated houses with broken windows. We did see a few sandy residential areas with very small town centers, but the thriving resort and retirement communities I had read about years ago seemed to be non-existent. The lake had been receding in the past several decades but more rapidly during the recent California drought. The badly-receding shoreline was salt-encrusted, and badly deteriorated boats were rotting in the salty sand.
After stopping at four locations, I had seen enough. I wished I had seen the Salton Sea fifty-seven years earlier.
Then we saw what we thought was a rain squall. Wrong! It was full-blown sand-storm! We had a choice: either we could continue south forty miles in the midst of the length of the storm to Brawley, or drive across the storm for twelve miles. Either way, we would drive slowly for we couldn’t see very well more than 75 feet ahead of us. We chose the shorter hazard.
After ten minutes of a sandy blizzard, we were out of it; we could see blue skies, and the beautiful mountains ahead … all through a pitted windshield.
But that sand-storm reminded me of something else. If we patiently “weather the storms of life” without panicking, keeping our faith and trust in God, the Lord will bring us through to the “blue skies” on the other side; and we can see life more clearly.
It Was On Backwards
We lived in the high country of northern New Mexico for many years. At 7,827 feet above sea level, we lived about a half mile higher than Denver. When folks who live near sea level take a trip up there and start chopping wood or do some other vigorous activity, they find out what it means to be out-of-breath. Why is that?
Sea level atmospheric pressure averages around 14.7 pounds per square inch, and water boils at 212 F. But the air pressure at 7,827 feet is around 11.1 psi, and water boils around 198 F. Okay, that’s not a big deal; but when we remember that the oxygen content in the atmosphere averages around 20.9%, a 3.6 psi drop in air pressure effectively reduces the available oxygen by 5%. Therefore, people need to breathe deeper or more often until their bodies acclimate to the altitude.
Conversely, when Carol and I moved to Siloam Springs (altitude of 1,132 feet, air pressure of 14.1 psi, with the boiling point around 210 F), we had a much easier time breathing.
Back to my story.
In New Mexico, we lived in the forest about thirty miles from town. Sometimes we had to remove a tree that had fallen across the road. Many of us carried chain saws in the back of our 4-wheel drive vehicles, so if the tree was too large to move by hand or truck, we would cut the tree to manageable chunks to clear the road.
Tornados, which are common in the flat country, are almost unheard of in the mountains of New Mexico. But one day a small twister touched down and took out about 183 trees that ranged in diameter from twelve inches to three feet (plus tons of saplings and underbrush), and it really cluttered up the road.
Seven or eight of us gathered around the mangled mess and got out our trusty chain saws. I was real proud of my saw. Our kids gave me a Sears-Best with a 20-inch bar, and I could hardly wait to show my friends what I could do with it.
I put gas and oil in it, checked the tension of the chain, put on my safety goggles and hearing protection, and pulled the cord.
RRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! It started up like it knew what it was doing.
I eagerly stepped up to the nearest tree lying across the road and increased the power. RRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! I was excited and ready to throw chips and sawdust all over the road. With the saw revved at full speed, I attacked the tree. But nothing happened.
I was perplexed because my prized saw didn’t cut anything. I tried it again with the same results: nothing. No one was watching, for they were busy clearing their own portion of the road, so I shut the saw down to analyze the problem.
Have you ever felt an agonizing and humiliating embarrassment flood your soul? I did right then. Again, I looked around to see who was watching. Everyone else was busy working, and I was glad.
I had the appropriate tool, gas was in the tank, and the engine ran smoothly. But I had the chain on backwards!
Completely aggravated at myself for my ignorance, I quietly put the saw back in my pickup and did what any hard-working “wanna-be mountain-man” would do: I helped move the logs the other guys were cutting.
How many times have you discovered that a good plan wouldn’t work simply because you did something backwards? Many Christians I know complain about their lack of finances, but they squander their money at the casinos. Other folks make disastrous or poor decisions because they didn’t pray about them or seek counsel. These folks aren’t thinking properly.
But do you realize that God never gets things backwards? His plans are perfectly laid out. When something goes awry, it is us – you and me – who mess up. Proverbs 3:5-6 exhorts us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek God’s will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” Proverbs 4:7(a) says, “Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do.” And wisdom comes from God.
God’s plans are perfect. Listen to Him; trust and obey Him. God is omniscient and He’ll never lead you astray.
When I returned home, I reinstalled the chain. A month later, I did successfully clear the road of a fallen tree. And if I ever get tempted to look down on someone who made a mistake, God reminds me of when I had the chain on backwards.
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Our Place, May 17, 2017
Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mr. Jack Goggin, Mea Maxima Culpa!
A part of another around-the-lake world opened up to the staff of the Geneva Shore Report recently. It surfaced due to the controversy surrounding the coming of the Muck-Suck Marathon Race on May 28th (if that race actually takes place). This ‘new world’ of really neat people remains fairly invisible for most of the year, because almost all of them winter in Florida. Without fail, they are also lake front property owners and members of the Geneva Lake Association.
They appeared because of their reading about the coming lake shore path race (amazingly a good number of them read the GSR all the way down in Florida!). When they received the May 3rd issue titled, “The Idiotic Human Steeplechase,” with the shore path rules sign on the cover and the underlying message “attention, owner of these signs, please be aware the shore path is under assault and requires your immediate assistance,” this new world of around-the-lake owners and GLA members went ballistic and started emailing and calling each other. They quickly decided to attempt to put a stop to the coming event on the delicate shore path.
The shore path around Lake Geneva is actually not truly owned, even though it crosses owned land. It’s a ‘prescriptive easement’ upheld by the courts, but an easement that is almost impossible to establish rules for, or on. The GLA staked its claim to the small two-foot wide strip of territory all around Geneva Lake back in 1935, when it erected signs at over 20 locations around the lake, displaying rules of conduct for walkers, or other users of the path. In addition, the GLA pledged to defend and protect this “prime jewel” as one of the main objectives of its publicized mission statement. The first to call the GSR in response to the race article was a charming man named Don Taylor. He assured the staff of the GSR that the GLA would be on it in setting about stopping the Muck-Suck Race because the GLA cavalry had been alerted and was on its way. There was a problem, however, impeding that support. Most of the property owners the path crosses were thirteen hundred miles away in Florida. The GSR was told to hold the fort while Don got the message out. A short time later, the staff read the “Condemnation Decree” issued by the President of the GLA, Jack Goggin. The letter seemed like a tepid response to a serious problem, or at least, so it seemed. There was no way to know that any other planning or work was underway to stop the race, and court action, with money raised to pay the necessary attorneys, had become the only recourse, or the race would simply go on without material opposition. Worried that neither the home owners nor the GLA would take serious action, the Geneva Shore Report, in its following edition, figuratively threw a brick thru the GLA office window in the form of comments in last week’s paper. The day after the GSR’s next issue was published and distributed, the staff was invited to attend a special legal meeting at which Jack Goggin announced that the Board of Directors of the GLA had agreed to join the lawsuit/injunction to stop the Muck-Suck Race, and pledged $5000 to that end.
The paper had taken a shot at Jack Goggin, and it was wrong. Jack was working all the time behind the scenes to get distant homeowners organized, committed and also to arrange for their participation in the coming injunctive lawsuit to be filed as this week’s issue of the GSR is being published. On Friday of last week, attorney Ross Anderson, of the Husch Blackwell firm, sent a cease and desist letter to the Muck Suck Race promoters and organizers, demanding they cancel the race or face court action. If the promoters do not back off in a flash then the injunction will be filed by weeks end. Sorry Jack Goggin. You are a good guy and you were not portrayed that way. And the GLA is not a “wuss” organization. The GSR takes that back.
Progress at Starbucks New Location
Digging the Starbucks Pit. Not that Starbucks should be compared to being a pit. The company has done a great job of spreading coffee shops across America like a warm blanket. They have become havens to get away and hang out in, with warmth and no hassle. They pay their employees well and consequently get sparkling bright barristas to take care of all of us
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Sinclair fails to fulfill only objective: remain objective
Email: wileo@findlay
At the beginning of this month, it was revealed that Sinclair Broadcast group, an American telecommunications company that owns news stations around the country, mandated a script for their news anchors to read on camera.
Since Sinclair owns these stations, it may be difficult at first to recognize the major error in this protocol; it may even seem reasonable that they control the content produced by their stations.
However, as soon as media groups such as Sinclair begin requiring their outlets to follow such orders, the integrity of both the anchors and news itself goes into question.
For those unaware, the script mandated by Sinclair was that in which warns against fake news, of all things. The second paragraph of the script reads:
“But we’re concerned about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one sided news stories plaguing our country. The sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media.”
What is more concerning than fake news is that Sinclair is ultimately encouraging it by requiring its’ news rooms to read such a statement. One may argue that it is the fault of the producers or anchors at these stations to go forward with this instead of recognizing the error in it.
However, a mandate, according to Merriam Webster, is “an authoritative command; a formal order from a superior court or official to an inferior one.” This means that even if the producers or anchors at these stations did not feel it was ethical to read the script, their jobs are easily at stake if they are to question, or refuse an order.
Though Sinclair claims their branch stations are not producing bias content, who really knows what other agendas they have been pushing. In paragraph six of the script, the widely-known conservative media group that is Sinclair assures viewers they do not lean towards a certain party:
“At (insert news station) it’s our responsibility to pursue and report the truth. We understand Truth is neither politically ‘left nor right.’ Our commitment to factual reporting is the foundation of our credibility, now more than ever.”
Great as it sounds, how can we as a population even believe this, let alone not question what other mandates Sinclair has been sending its’ stations.
As a result, not only has the public lost its’ trust in these local stations, but once again our industry is under fire for being bias.
Unfortunate as it is, after this, hopefully our field can rally around change for our craft to remain what its’ designed to do; act as the fourth estate, the objective check on power.
Filed Under: Opinion Tagged With: Sinclair
Sinclair broadcast mandates script
While fake news is a term that is tossed around in the journalism industry quite frequently, it is making headlines again.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Sinclair Broadcast group, the nation’s largest telecommunications company, sent a mandated script to all of its’ local news stations to record and air.
A video produced by Deadspin, a sports news site, combines clips of various news anchors reading the exact same script. According to the Washington Post, Sinclair owns over 170 stations around the nation, reaching an estimated 72 percent of U.S. households.
Professor of Communications Dr. Diana Montague explains the concern of this situation.
“The concept to me is frightening because for your local news in particular, you don’t think that there’s some big puppet tree guiding your local news,” stated Montague.
Montague brings up the fourth paragraph of the script which states: “Unfortunately, some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control ‘exactly what people think’…This is extremely dangerous to a democracy.”
“For them to have to read a script that, I’m assuming they don’t agree with, I mean that’s an opinion from on high that they’re delivering,” explained Montague. “That to me is just incredibly insidious and if there’s a threat to our democracy, that’s a good example.”
As a journalism and digital media major working towards this career field, University of Findlay Junior Cory Berlekamp says he finds the incident just as alarming.
“To learn that one of the people who owns one of the media stations can control or at least hand down ‘must reads’ to you as a journalist, I wouldn’t say it’s disheartening, but I would say it’s shocking,” said Berlekamp.
As an individual who stands by what he believes, Berlekamp says if in the position of these producers and anchors, he would not read the script.
“I feel like deep down if I were put into that position than I would have to make the decision not to read it,” said Berlekamp.
From a history degree, to pursuing music and going to culinary school, the 29-year-old has changed career paths multiple times and says he would not hesitate changing again if he had to.
“First you voice your opinion and if its not going to get heard or change anything then I’m out,” explained Berlekamp. “If that would come down to me finding a new job or career, then I would have to because I would not be able to read it.”
Montague states that, however, for those chasing stability or trying to support a family, putting their job at risk is not that easy.
“We would like to think that everyone is so ethically focused that they would say, ‘I’m not going to do this I would rather walk,’ but when you’ve got a mortgage payment, a school loan payment, a family; what do you do?”
Both the professor and student do agree that there are measures that can be taken to prevent this incident from reoccurring.
“If you are being coerced to do something like this, to speak something, write something that you don’t agree with, but is being passed off as fact, then there are arms of journalism, ethical arms, legal arms, to contact and let them know,” said Montague.
Berlekamp feels it is ultimately up to journalists to stay true to the fourth estate, the press working as an object source of fact.
“The idea is to, especially as a journalist, be vigilant, if you don’t like it say it, because other people will see it and respect it,” concluded Berlekamp.
To watch the Sinclair Broadcast script in action, visit: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/02/598794433/video-reveals-power-of-sinclair-as-local-news-anchors-recite-script-in-unison.
Filed Under: Features Tagged With: Sinclair
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Category Archives: Individual Freedom
Lockdowns, tracing, testing, vaccinating, and Liberty
Liberty: “the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views; the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.”
These are the days. These are the days when men and women accept draconian measures as if they were trifles.
The nation and the world come grinding to a halt, and it is just another “interruption.”
In 1776, there was a revolution against restraints from a foreign power. Now there is bleating from domestic governors about lockdowns, tracing, testing, vaccinating, and the majority of the populace obeys these tyrants without question. Even with loyalty.
Birthed after blood and sacrifice, national government in the United States was severely hamstrung, in order to prevent abuses of power. But it has become the teat, the Giver and the Taker. The wanton parent.
And now for decades, people have shrugged: “What harm could come from a government giving gifts?”
People say, “What harm could come from schools that don’t teach history? We already have freedom. Who cares how we got it?”
The exalted nature of Liberty has been disposed of in a sea of amnesia.
“Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. It is not for the sake of a good public administration that it is required, but for security in the pursuit of the highest objects of civil society, and of private life.” (Lord Acton, 1877)
“There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.” (John Adams, 1772)
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” (Samuel Adams, 1776)
“The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.” (Edmund Burke, 1784)
Does none of this matter now? Are pacification and passivity the cardinal virtues? If so, I suggest a new Constitution, where we can enshrine these qualities with official language and be done with it.
BILL OF RIGHTS:
ONE: Shout “this is science!” when anyone threatens the power of government.
TWO: Censor dissent for the sake of public safety, according to guidelines laid down by government and corporations. Disrupt the lives of dissenters.
THREE: Give up Liberty when the authorities demand it.
That is all. Done.
We threw off the King of England so we could have YouTube and Facebook.
Exalted Liberty, tossed overboard into a sea of hypnotic assurance.
“Perhaps the enemies of liberty are such only because they judge it by its loud voice. If they knew its charms, the dignity that accompanies it, how much a free man feels like a king, the perpetual inner light that is produced by decorous self-awareness and realization, perhaps there would be no greater friends of freedom than those who are its worst enemies.” (Jose Marti, 1893)
“What light is to the eyes, what love is to the heart, Liberty is to the soul of man. Without it, there come suffocation, degradation and death.” (Robert G Ingersoll, 1887)
If I had a child, I would home school him, and for a year we would do nothing but delve deeply into these and other remembrances of Liberty, re-establishing its exalted nature. For those of you who do have children, that is what I suggest.
An education of mind, body, heart, and soul.
Where Liberty once was.
That creature called socialism is, in effect, the transfer of any remaining Liberty to government, based on the fatuous hope that giving complete power to a tyrannical force will somehow reform that force and transform it into a messiah. And this is the best formulation. A more realistic appraisal would be: socialism is a notorious promoted enslavement, whereby elite men behind a curtain preach Centralized Authority as Kindness and Fairness, in order to raise an army of idealistic ravening wolves who will dispossess the people of everything they own.
Obviously, in order for this operation to succeed, the people must have forgotten that ANY quality of The Individual could occupy an exalted and eternal position—a quality such as Liberty.
Once upon a time, defiant poetry about Liberty from oppression could move armies. The stakes were as high as they have ever been.
From history.com: “…General George Washington’s troops were encamped at McKonkey’s Ferry on the Delaware River opposite Trenton, New Jersey. In August, they had suffered humiliating defeats and lost New York City to British troops. Between September and December, 11,000 American volunteers gave up the fight and returned to their families. General Washington could foresee the destiny of a rebellion without an army if the rest of his men returned home when their service contracts expired on December 31. He knew that without an upswing in morale and a significant victory, the American Revolution would come to a swift and humiliating end.”
“…[Thomas Paine’s] Common Sense was the clarion call that began the revolution. As Washington’s troops retreated from New York through New Jersey, Paine again rose to the challenge of literary warfare. With another pamphlet] American Crisis, he delivered the words that would salvage the revolution.”
“Washington commanded that the freshly printed pamphlet be read aloud to his dispirited men; the rousing prose had its intended effect. Reciting Paine’s impassioned words, the beleaguered troops mustered their remaining hopes for victory and crossed the icy Delaware River to defeat hung-over Hessians on Christmas night and on January 2, the British army’s best general, Earl Cornwallis, at the Battle of Princeton. With victory in New Jersey, Washington won not only two battles, but also the love and thanks of man and woman.”
Paine’s famous words: “THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.”
Paine wrote more: “…I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent.”
“Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils…”
“…in the fourteenth century the whole English army, after ravaging the kingdom of France, was driven back like men petrified with fear; and this brave exploit was performed by a few broken forces collected and headed by a woman, Joan of Arc.”
“…Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it.”
“…Say not that thousands [of soldiers] are gone, turn out your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but ‘show your faith by your works,’ that God may bless you. It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘ Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death….”
The contest is not over. It is never over.
(To read about Jon’s mega-collection, Exit From The Matrix, click here.)
33 Comments Posted in Americanism, Covid, Freedom, Individual Freedom
Utopian fantasies vs. a better world
What happened to the Republic? Democracy happened
“When you come to the subject of who should ‘fix things,’ the government or private individuals, you could throw up your hands and confess that neither choice works, in which case you’re left with a terminal disease, and a fine excuse for doing nothing; or you could refer back to the principles of the Republic, and understand why the Founders put chains on government, and you might a find a clue for navigating out of the maze.” (The Underground, Jon Rappoport)
This piece is for anyone who can understand it—but it’s also for THE ENTREPRENEUR, who in his soul wants to do something large and bright and radical and successful, to turn the tide of human affairs in an enormously good direction and, yes, still make a substantial profit.
And no, “the universe” doesn’t rule out those two motives existing side by side.
The United States was created as a Republic.
That meant severely limited central government.
Because the Founders knew the long experience of Europe: overarching tyrannies; bloated kings emboldened with the doctrine of divine right to rule; theocracies; gigantic theft of land; force, coercion; slavery.
The new 18th century American central government, through enumerated powers and checks and balances, had to be limited and even hamstrung.
On that basis, individual freedom would be maximized.
That was the whole point of a Republic.
The individual would be free to do whatever he wanted to, as long as he didn’t interfere with the life and liberty of others.
INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM—THE HALLMARK OF A REPUBLIC.
However, in order for a Republic to have a chance of success, the population would have to remain small. A Republic is not for an enormous population. The people are too remote from the federal center of power.
And there needed to be a population of moral people, who understood basic rights and wrongs, beyond legislation and law.
As the American population swelled, there should have been many Republics founded on this continent. Unfortunately, that never happened.
Instead, men in and around central government conspired to multiply their own power through a variety of means, thus creating monopolies of great strength, in government and business and money.
And gradually, these men and their descendants came to see they could foist a grand illusion on the people: they could promote the idea that “the people’s wishes were paramount” and should be served at all times.
Thus arrived Democracy.
Rule by “everyone.” Rule by “popular decision.” Rule by “meeting needs,” whatever they might be.
Meeting needs, of course, necessitated a more powerful and extensive government—shattering the severe limits originally imposed in the Constitution.
Marry these democratic elements to a decline in general morality—grab whatever you can at the expense of your neighbor—and the fate of the Republic was sealed.
The Republic was never perfect. Far from it. Perfection wasn’t its goal. But it was a noble effort, and the ideas on which it stood still survive.
Particularly, freedom of the individual.
That freedom is the launching pad for everything the individual can imagine and create, in order to build a greater future.
And the rule barring the individual from interfering with the life and liberty of others is still a basic principle.
Democracy cultivates mobs. It embodies the idea that any group which can gain attention must have its purported needs met.
Just one step to the left of that, we find the socialist/Communist maxim: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
What able individuals produce will be taken from them and given to those of “lesser ability.”
Limited government, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights—these are mere pieces of paper, old pamphlets trampled on in the streets by the mobs shouting their endless demands.
If the ancestors of these groups, at one time, had legitimate objections to the way government was being run (against them), now all that is swept away in a sea of base anger and revenge—which turns out to be the elite plan for the end-game…
If the elites can pull it off:
Chaos. Out of which a new level of order will be imposed—which takes us back to the kind of tyranny that existed before the struggle for individual freedom and limited government was won.
And all the while, these elite planners pose as utopian altruists. Socialists.
And yet…as of 2010, there were 27.9 million small businesses in the US.
Somehow, the heritage of the Republic still lives.
Freedom of the individual.
The core idea on which America was founded.
Liberty of the individual is more than an invented “construct.” It’s a reflection of an inherent truth: the individual is at the heart of what life is all about.
A major point needs to be entered into this mix: ABUNDANCE. Planet-wide abundance of resources, technology, and energy.
As Buckminster Fuller made clear 80 years ago, there is “enough for everyone”—which is to say, every person on Earth can have the essentials of survival. Food, clothing, shelter.
However, Fuller (and others) stalled on the vital question: WHO WILL DELIVER THIS ABUNDANCE TO THE GLOBAL POPULATION, AND HOW?
In the arena of fuzzy thinking, the answer is, of course: “the government” will deliver abundance.
This is fatuous, idiotic, and impossible.
“The government” is controlled by men who, amidst their many crimes, have no intention of sharing the wealth of Earth’s resources and technology. I can’t emphasize this fact enough.
The government is there to promote socialism and technocracy as “better-world” answers right around the corner. THIS IS THE MASK.
Behind the mask is cruel top-down scarcity, upheld and maintained, despite the truth that there really IS enough for everyone.
No, government will not be the provider of abundance.
NOR SHOULD IT BE.
That task falls to…wait for it…private business.
Here is the capper: if private businesses—including major corporations—realized they could sell food, clothing, and shelter to the global population for relative pennies—and make more profits than they’re making now—because of the size of that consumer base—they might reassess their position.
They might…but they won’t. Not without our help.
Boiling down the situation: you have the potential consumer base of some eight billion people; you have the means to sell this base the means of survival—food and clothing and shelter—for pennies; you have the technology needed for the job; you have the bright promise of a better future.
And you have the individuals who, armed with this understanding, could create businesses to bring such a vision to fruition.
Actual capitalism is preserved. Free market is preserved. Profit motive is preserved. Doing good is preserved. And all this WITHOUT GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
No one said this job I’m proposing would be easy. Of course it’s not easy.
But, for example, the next generation of techies—after this generation of air heads who seek to worship at the knee of brain-computer mysticism has faded away—the next generation might be persuaded to revisit the core ideas of the Republic and see how free enterprise, freely undertaken, could work a true revolution and distribute abundance to the planet at the same time.
Imagine a near-future corporate boardroom meeting. The CEO stands up and says:
“OK, people, I’ve brought you here because we’re going to try something new and radical. Face it, we’ve been selling crap to our customers for a long, long time and gouging them in the process. Today, that stops. We’re going to shift over to a different theme. Our board will approve, because we’re going to show them this new effort will expand our bottom line. WE’RE GOING MAKE NUTRITIOUS FOOD PACKS AND SELL THEM FOR RELATIVE PENNIES TO A BILLION PEOPLE. That’s the initial goal. We can do it. On another front, we’re going to sell a billion people good clean food seeds for growing food crops. We’re going to buy acres of land in the so-called Third World and then sell parcels, for farming, to the poor for pennies and take a small share of their profits…
“Now, at first, we’ll have to work through a bunch of foreign governments, because they control their people. This is tricky. But if we give these tinpot leaders enough money, they’ll go along….”
Of course, there will be problems. Serious problems. The CIA, for example, which supports government control and scarcity around the world.
That’s where GOOD AND RIGHTEOUS PUBLIC RELATIONS ENTERS THE SCENE. That visionary CEO and his company will have to publicize the hell out of their radical new plan and expose the problems and barriers and ops the old guard throws up against them.
Wake up the people to what is going on.
“Are you kidding? This will never work.”
That’s what was said in the middle of the Dark Ages, when a few people said THE INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE FREE.
“This will never work.”
But it did.
With enough courage and determination and intelligence and vision and work and imagination, over a very long period of time, it did work.
Up against forces of evil and deception, it did work.
And it can work again.
“But this time it’s different. The situation is worse, much worse.”
No it isn’t.
Here’s a clue. It’s always worse. That’s the way it always looks. But it’s always possible.
The free and independent and creative individual has been lulled into thinking that he has to limit his entrepreneurial vision and goals to a few self-contained enterprises in a small corner of a much larger space.
That’s called brainwashing.
He can think and plan and work in as large an arena as he wants to. If he wakes up.
If he’s a rocket ship with a range of 100 light years, and he’s operating on an old route that travels 50 miles, back and forth, something is seriously amiss.
There is much more to say…
But this is an introduction. This is a sketch of the core. This is about the individual unleashed. This is about sacrificing nothing in the pursuit of individual success while making abundance into fact.
This is about wiping away the delusion that “the government will generate a new and better world.”
If you want a better world, if you want abundance, you can choose government or the individual as the carrier. You can put your eggs in either basket. You can analyze both answers and decide.
You can roll the dice on either choice.
You can put aside the mantra of “nothing works” and look into the psychology of the individual and government and find truths.
An analogy: you’ve got a gigantic oil tanker that’s been heading in the wrong direction. You want to turn it around. Who is going to take the helm and do it?
On one side, you have 50 individuals, 47 of whom are corrupt and consumed with criminal greed. The other three are different. They glimpse the possibility of doing the right thing.
On the other side, you have that amorphous swollen blob called government. It’s not only consumed with greed, it preaches The Good as a deceptive front to cover its crimes. A few individuals who might want to do the right thing are laden with connections which command the continuance of crimes.
9 Comments Posted in Americanism, Freedom, Individual Freedom, Public Relations, Socialism, Technocracy
Live in the collective and forget who you are
We are now told it’s selfish and greedy to promote freedom for the individual. It’s old-fashioned. It’s passe. It’s dangerous. It’s nothing more than a ruse floated by the rich to hold down the poor.
Forget about the fact that the next Einstein or Tesla, growing up in what has become a collectivist society, could be slammed with Ritalin, Prozac, and even heavier drugs—because they’re “abnormal.”
Some day, when America has been forgotten, an anthropologist will write a celebrated history of this country, and it’ll be all about cultural trends and group customs, and no one will even remember there was such an idea as The Individual.
By that time, the population of what was once the United States will live in a theocracy dedicated to Mother Earth, and every day for half an hour, the people will kneel and pray, together, from coast to coast, for mercy from this Mother.
And the people will be happy doing it—such as they understand happiness. They will glorify The Group. They will live under the great dome of the Flying Drones and they will rejoice in their solidarity.
They will willingly submit to all forms of surveillance, because it is in the interest of the Whole, the collective, the mass. After all, who would depart from the rules and sentiments of The Group? Only the outcasts. Only those bitter clingers who still believe they are unique individuals and have desires and power. Who needs them? Who wants them? They’re primitive throwbacks. They’re sick and they need treatment.
Be grateful you’re living in the time of the great transition. If you look, you can see the changes taking place right in front of your own eyes. You can see The Individual fading out as a concept. You can see its replacement—the group and its needs—coming on strong. You can know where we’re heading.
One day, you’ll be able to tell your grandchildren there was once a time when there was a completely different conception of existence, and you’ll be able to regale them with stories of the impossible. Stories of individuals.
Of course, they won’t believe you. They won’t be able to fathom what in the world you’re talking about. But that doesn’t matter. They’ll listen in rapt wonder, just as we now admiringly contemplate tales of strange creatures and mountain gods of the ancient Greeks.
It’ll be fun to look back on our time.
Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter. History is merely an anthropological catalog of trends, a series of customs. We pass from one epoch to another. What was true and important in one time becomes meaningless later.
Just “come together for the great healing.” That’s all you need to think about now. It’ll all work out. And if it doesn’t, you won’t remember the failure anyway.
Coda: What’s that? I can’t hear you. Speak a little louder. Oh…I see. You’re saying we the people are getting ripped off by our leaders and their secret controllers. Yes. Well, sure, that’s true.
And yes…if we all came together perhaps we could throw off these controllers and assert our independence once again. Yes.
But then I ask you this:
After we’ve won the great battle, what do we do next? Do we parade around, from town to town, from city to city, a hundred million of us, a great caravan, extolling our group victory? Is that what we do for the rest of eternity?
Or did we fight and win the great battle for another reason?
Did we perhaps fight and win so we could reestablish the individual as the basis and the object of freedom?
Wasn’t that really the reason we were in this fight?
Or are you already too humble and progressive and submissive and enlightened to think so?
If you’re going to fight and fight to win, it helps to know why you’re in the battle, why you’re really in it.
11 Comments Posted in Americanism, Energy & Imagination, Freedom, Individual Freedom
The revolution of the individual
How long does this revolution last? Think about a nice round figure: the NEXT 10,000 years.
The revolution of the individual progresses from PROMOTER OF REALITY to CREATOR OF REALITY.
Through vast propaganda and “education” campaigns, the individual is urged and trained to favor and promote particular organizations and structures in society. But outside of this venue, there are individuals who are waking up to the fact that their real job and desire is creating new unprecedented realities.
Historically, this latter outlier trend is not the sole result of some external force; rather, it mainly comes from the individual exploring his own internal capability and power. The accompanying history consists of the formation and founding of nations based on some partial version of individual freedom—even though those liberating mandates have been suppressed and squashed in many ways.
Western philosophy reached a crossroad late in the 19th century: the focus shifted from attempts to describe and impose ultimate reality to attempts to understand how the individual perceives and gains basic knowledge—and this latter inquiry quite naturally evolved into: THE INDIVIDUAL INVENTS REALITIES.
That being the case, why should the individual accept the realities he has already been subconsciously shaping, when instead, he can create new preferable realities.
THAT is the “underground revolution” which has been underway for more than 100 years. It is far from smooth. The revolution experiences many stops and starts, many abandonments, many renewals. No one said it would be easy. It is not a collective group effort. How could it be? It takes place in the private reflections and decisions of individuals.
A formidable barrier to the revolution: societies are based on popular acceptance of what the individual does. Or popular rejection. The individual tends to believe he must create something that will gain group favor. Therefore, he scales down his own imagination and opts for “safe ideas” and safe inventions. He pretends he has less power than he actually has.
He subconsciously returns to the shaping of limited realities. In fact, he carves out metaphysical positions that justify and rationalize his “limited power.” This is called “maturity.”
What inner resources does the individual consult and sift through, in order to shift from passivity to active creation? In a nutshell, the answer is: all his experience, his values, and whatever imagination he can bring to the table. There is no set method or pattern. That is the key. He finds paths, and he follows them. He invents new paths, and he probes their outer reaches and implications. The longer he works, the more imagination comes to the foreground.
It seems that humankind has been committed to trying every conceivable unworkable solution possible. In the fullness of time, every individual will give up the ghost and embark on a new search—based on his answer to the question:
WHAT DO I WANT TO CREATE?
Then a new day dawns.
1 Comment Posted in Americanism, Energy & Imagination, Individual Freedom
The lure of a stimulus-response world
Shrinking-freedom is a Spiritual covert op
Most people never even think about the individual spirit. That’s strange, because a person IS an individual spirit.
He’s not a brain or a physical form or a machine.
The individual spirit wants freedom. His energy is directed toward using that freedom to create in an open future.
An open present-and-future equals freedom.
There is internal freedom, and external freedom (open unrestricted space) in the world.
The individual spirit can be trained to expect and even favor less freedom. It happens. Often, the rationale given is: we need more rules to protect everyone. Protection, protection, protection—vastly overcooked.
Major powers behind the scenes will covertly finance and organize conflict, crime, violence, war, and violation of basic freedoms, in order to “prove” that everyone needs to be protected.
When an individual has freedom and feels it, his view of life and the world CHANGES IMMEDIATELY. He looks around, astonished. His muzzle has fallen away. He feels his voice, his body, and he feels open space. He suddenly has tons of energy, and he’s ready to use that energy.
Therefore, “operators” decide they must turn down the flame and pour water on it. “Can’t have lots of free people walking around. It spells trouble.”
Or you’ll get something like this. Sitting with his fellow planners in a secure boardroom, a heavy hitter says, “You know, in XXX Country, there is a remote lake in the mountains. Thirty families have been living there in a community for perhaps a thousand years. They still use the same large dugout canoes. They fish. They embroider and sew. They make colorful pots. They have freedom, and they know what to do with it. We leave them alone. They’re quiet. They have no interest in exporting their way of life. They’re rather quaint. All over the world, there are small groups like this. We don’t care about them. We’re focused on nations and their populations. These are the people we want to control. We want to ‘prove’ they need less freedom in order to be protected. They need more rules and intrusive laws and mandates. And many, many bureaucrats…”
Part of the control covert op involves convincing people they’re stimulus-response organisms and nothing else. SPIRIT doesn’t exist. It’s just a fiction. Instead, fit yourself into a slot where you’re obeying more and more rules—ALL the rules. Spend your life adapting to the rules. THE RULES ARE THE STIMULUS. OBEYING THE RULES IS THE RESPONSE.
As part and parcel of that process, DON’T FIND YOUR VOICE. DON’T CREATE A FREE AND STRONG VOICE. Because, if you do, you become aware of many new things. You become aware of the fact that you have a lot more power than you assumed. You have energy in that voice. You can express all sorts of ideas; you can affect others—through contagion, they begin to tap into their own voices.
On top of that, using your own voice brings you to a better state of health.
You’re inventing your own freedom.
What do you think AI is all about? Stimulus-response. AI is engineered to provide widespread and varied stimuli—in order to extract desired responses. The future would be a locked down world, disguised as “helpful machine companions.”
The lure is: “It’s easy. AI devices will help you navigate an increasing complex society. You’ll be much happier fitting into an AI civilization. You’ll bypass the need to figure out things for yourself. AI will give you simple answers and instructions. You’ll respond by following those instructions…”
How long will it take to put freedom on the back burner? Not very.
But someone who knows he has freedom and feels it—he’s different. He doesn’t care about responding to stimuli. His experience of life tells him his freedom is beyond these lunacies.
He needs to invent his future as he wants it to be.
That process is high, wide, and deep.
2 Comments Posted in Energy & Imagination, Individual Freedom
The era of socialized behavior
As a result of massive propaganda in ads, education, work-training, and other avenues of influence, people are pushed toward explaining their behavior according to certain acceptable clichés.
More and more people are explaining their values, goals, work, and relationships in the following terms:
“My parents were great teachers.” “My coach was like a second father.” “In school, I learned how to get along with others.” Etc., etc.
In general, people are explaining their actions in terms of their past history. “I do what I do now because of prior causes.”
This pattern may seem trivial, but it is profound in its effect. In a slippery fashion, responsibility is laid at the door of others. Not self. Rarely do you hear a person honestly say, I CREATE MY OWN FUTURE. Instead, as in soporific Academy Awards acceptance speeches, there is a long list of people to thank. All this is socialized behavior. Programmed. Taught.
It is a first cousin to: DON’T BE PROUD, BE HUMBLE.
Learned humility is socially approved of. In most cases, it isn’t real. It’s robotic. Most importantly, it is a barrier to realizing one’s own inventive power. It blots out that power and relegates it to a back bench.
DO YOU YOURSELF CREATE ANYTHING?
WELL, IN A CERTAIN SENSE I SUPPOSE I DO, BUT REALLY, IT ALL COMES FROM THE GREAT TEACHERS IN MY PAST. THAT’S WHERE I GREW. I WAS TAUGHT. IF IT WEREN’T FOR THOSE GREAT PEOPLE, I WOULDN’T BE HERE NOW. I’M NOT ACTUALLY CREATING ANYTHING, I’M RESPONDING TO PAST LESSONS.
Baloney. Thick slices of it. Every possible excuse to get out of admitting one’s own power is invoked.
Then we get something like this: THE UNIVERSE GIVES ME PERMISSION TO ACHIEVE WHAT I ACHIEVE. MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE REALLY PROGRAMMED IN MY DNA, FROM THE BEGINNING. I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
I’M AM PROUDLY HUMBLE.
Over time, socialized behavior makes a person passive. In the core of his consciousness, he falls asleep. He goes into a coma. He still walks and talks, but the dynamic quality is gone.
What does all this add up to? It adds up to Collectivism emblazoned in the sky, like a giant billboard:
The individual is not really an individual. He is a Group, composed of “all the people that made him what he is today.”
And that, my friends, is the myth, story, and legend of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Reject the story.
My work as Teacher
Over the course of several decades, it’s occurred to me, with increasing certainty, that I am occupying the role of teacher.
Believe me, this was not something I actively sought or planned. But it was unavoidable, given the fact that I was following my own advice: SHAPE YOUR BEST VISION OF LIFE, AND THEN ACHIEVE IT, MAKE IT REAL IN THE WORLD.
My vision involved the power of imagining and creating new realities, and speaking and writing about this path; in the work, I was reaching out to large numbers of people; and in doing so, I was teaching. So be it.
My most complete accomplishment, by far, has been my three Matrix explorations: THE MATRIX REVEALED, EXIT FROM THE MATRIX, and POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX.
It is crystal clear to me that my job is not the imposing of a particular reality on people. I work to give the individual more power to shape his own best vision and then achieve it. This, of course, includes the reshaping and widening and changing of the original vision as time passes and experience is gained.
I assume, as a fundamental, that every person has more capability and creative power than he knows. He can access it, and he can keep finding new levels of it. The individual WANTS to be more creative and free.
On the other hand, society and civilization always return to structure and organization. They deal in groups, populations, masses of people. They attract those who want to plan the collective future as if it were a board game filled with inanimate pieces. When this overall strategy reaches a peak of oppressive interference, the society declines and collapses.
As a corrective fix, re-establishing freedom and independence of the individual, as a social principle, can certainly help, but the deeper fix involves the individual himself. He finds and asserts his own freedom and independence—and then he discovers/creates a vision of a new life and seeks to make it fact in the world.
THINGS AS THEY ARE around us exert a tremendous amount of convincing conclusion: THIS IS IT, THIS IS THE ONLY REALITY, LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT, ADAPT EVERYTHING YOU DO TO THINGS AS THEY ARE. Families, groups, organizations, companies, governments support this “single-reality” fantasy to the hilt.
However, the individual experiences a nagging and reoccurring thought—WHAT IF THE APPARENT EMPIRE OF THE SINGLE ALL-EMBRACING COLLECTIVE REALITY IS A FANTASY? WHAT IF WITHIN ME I HOLD THE KEYS TO INVENTING UNLIMITED NEW REALITIES?
These points were driven home to me with indelible force during one year of my life —1962—when I was painting on canvas, paper, board, wood, and anything else I could find, day and night. In fact, every article, book, seminar, lecture, and Matrix product I have authored since then has been an effort to flesh out what I learned in 1962 and “catch up to myself.”
I took a detour with a primitive dip into theoretical physics—the collision of the particle theory of matter with the wave theory. Physicists had settled on a way to avoid a blunt series of contradictions. Taking a utilitarian pragmatic approach, they decided to deploy the particle theory when it was useful, and the wave theory when it was useful. I went in another direction—you could discover/invent an unlimited number of basic theories, each of which could explain a wide swath of collective reality…but more than that, you could also come up with theories that would essentially give birth to brand new non-collective realities—phenomena that were considered paranormal and “broke natural law,” but only for the individual who invented and fleshed out a novel theory…
In other words, REALITY ITSELF was an entirely open proposition, instead of a shared consensus.
In this case, there was no single final reality. That was the myth of myths.
Over centuries and millennia, this meta-myth piled up like banks of clouds over mountain ranges; and then, finally, came the cleansing rain, and the opportunity to strike out in an entirely new direction…
1 Comment Posted in Consciousness, Energy & Imagination, Individual Freedom, Jon Rappoport
The first cave painter and freedom from mind control
Note: Consider this an opening to a much larger presentation. I’ve already made forays in past articles; in my work posted at Outside The Reality Machine; and, in much greater detail, I’ve covered the brilliant work of hypnotherapist Jack True in my collection, The Matrix Revealed.
We’ll never know who he was, but the moment he scratched out an animal on the wall of a cave, everything changed.
As yet, there was no formalized religion among his clan. The animal was not a symbol. It was later that the obsession for symbols developed. And of course the obsession continues to this day. Everything is supposed to mean something else.
But when the first cave painter made his first drawing, he was simply expressing a desire to go beyond the physical world. It was not enough to see a tiger in the forest. The painter wanted to move past that.
This fact is still not acknowledged. Millions of people pass through art museums every year and hunt for work that reminds them of objects they already know—and the closer the paintings resemble those objects, the more satisfied they feel.
But the first cave painter was doing something else. He was using a rock wall as a new space. He was seeing the wall as a potential space that went beyond the physical world.
Who knows what happened to him? Perhaps his clan were so awed they appointed him a god on Earth. Perhaps they were so disturbed by his presumption they killed him.
In either case, they were unable and unwilling to acknowledge that “the one and only space and time” was a fraud, a deception.
If you want to understand an underlying principle of “reality as prison,” know we are looking at the selling of one continuum as the only one.
As my long-time readers know, as well as those who have my collection, The Matrix Revealed, I worked closely, in the late 1980s, with a brilliant hypnotherapist named Jack True. I interviewed Jack many times.
During one of our first formal interviews, he had this to say about the space-time continuum, based on his experience with clients:
“Under hypnosis, people will give you extraordinary information if you can ask them the right questions, if you can go past the ordinary sort of material that is usually requested. It turns out that people, below their ordinary state of waking consciousness, perceive different times and spaces.
“They see and can deal with what I call islands of space and time. Separate islands. Each locale has its own continuum, and these continua are not the same. I’m talking about multiple spaces and multiple times.
“Their waking lives, their daily lives are a reduction, a social artifact in which one moving arrow of time and one space are assumed to be all there is.
“If an artist creates a few hundred paintings, each one has its own space and sense of time. This is not trivial observation. I’m not employing a metaphor. The painter is at ease with what he’s doing. It’s not a problem for him. Why would he make only one painting with one space and time and then stop forever? That would be absurd.
“Here is the interesting part for me as a therapist. When I have a patient, under hypnosis, open up his perception of time and space, when I have him branch out, so to speak, and when he becomes familiar with this process, a great deal of his anxiety vanishes.
“This indicates that the habit of his waking life, his absolute dedication to one space and time, operates like putting a lid on a pot of heating water. Pressure builds up under the lid.
“Release that pressure and everything is different. In his waking life, he can function quite well with one space and time—better than he did before—but he has this reservoir of truth: He’s experienced, many times, his own deeper level of perception. And as a result, he becomes more creative in the world…”
Jack and I often discussed how various systems are built to sustain and force “the one and only space-time.” This obsessive and unconscious mind control goes light years beyond the usual types of brainwashing people are familiar with.
Modern physics does little more than dip a toe in the water, when it comes to conceiving other continua. You would find out a great deal more by looking at the work of early 20th-century painters—who were, unsurprisingly, attacked, as they cut up and multiplied space and even time.
Rigid traditionalists, who still long for some grand human unification (under a banner of their own choosing), are too late to the party. The cat is out of the bag. It remains for humans to catch up to what they already perceive below their every-day consciousness: many dimensions.
3 Comments Posted in Individual Freedom, Mind control
The American destiny
The creative force at the dawn of a new future
Whenever a breakthrough occurs for the individual, there is a stepping back, a retrenching, a delay, an attempt to reset the clock and push the breakthrough away. This delay tactic can last a week, a month, or, historically, a hundred years.
We are in the middle of such a delay, after serial revelations that erupted in the latter part of the 19th century.
Individual artists (and a few philosophers) became aware that: imagination gives birth to ideas that in turn shape personal reality.
Therefore, reality is very elastic and changeable.
America—and indeed, the world—stood on the brink of a great internal revolution.
The creative IS the spiritual.
America’s love affair with the idea of individuals reinventing themselves was about more than immigrants “becoming American.” It was about imagination as the core of transforming self and future.
Such a radical realization was too much for many people to absorb, so a backing away occurred. The wave was stilled for a hundred years or so—but now it is beginning to move again.
The attempt to take over America, by Globalist forces, on a behalf of a controlled world order, is really an attempt to quell the individual creative force. That is the secret inside the master plan. And that Globalist effort is in trouble. More and more people are realizing it is a massive fraud based on instituting an imprisoned Collectivist Hive Mind.
Whereas the promise of America was always the intensely creative individual. And what does he do? He takes frozen realities and injects life into them so they move and shed their encrusted energies.
He rejects all formulas that instruct people about how they must live their lives and guard their words and fit in.
On a spiritual level, America was and is about transformation of energy into greater living shapes and forms and flows, through imagination.
It is about building a new and higher “plane of experience,” so to speak.
The fact that this aim has been sidelined and throttled to a significant degree doesn’t change one iota of America’s destiny. It’s still there, and the individual is the core.
He is the shaper.
Yes, you could say “America was made” for many criminal undertakings, but the other side of the coin is the most powerful: America is the house of the individual soul and that soul is creative.
That soul is an artist of reality.
Dawn of a new day.
Utopian fantasies verses a better world
And yet…as of 2010 (the time of the last US census), there were 27.9 million small businesses in the US.
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Bladerunner/Frankenstein Essay
Book: Frankenstein › Essays
Pages: 5 Words: 1093 Views: 0
Assessment Task Question: Texts reflect the changing values and perspectives of their times. How true is this shown to be in the texts you have studied? In your answer make detailed reference to both texts. Composed over a century and a half apart, Mary Shelley’s Romantic/Gothic novel Frankenstein and Ridley Scott’s postmodernist film Bladerunner, both explore different values and perspectives of Transgressing nature’s laws, and playing God, and the role of nature in society.
Composed in the late 20th century, Scott is heavily influenced by the Post modern sensibility, scientific research, mainly cloning, and loss of confidence in the traditional world view. In Shelley’s early 19th Century context, she is heavily influenced by Romantic sensibility, also, early scientific research, political and social revolution, and belief in the power of an individual. Through both narrative and filmic devices, both texts explore how values and perspectives change heavily due to the time they are living in.
First published in 1816, Shelley’s novel explores a protagonist as he attempts to play God, in transgressing nature’s laws by creating “human” life. With modern science thriving in the early 19th century, Shelly was highly influenced by 2 scientists. Mary owned a copy of Humphrey Davy’s celebrated science lecture. In it he stated “it (science) has bestowed on the human scientist that which may almost be called creative; which have enabled him to modify and change the beings surrounding him”. Mary also modelled aspects of her book on Galvanism, created by Galvani; it was a theory to reanimate human corpses through electrical currents.
Shelley utilises the Chinese box structure to recount the hubristic scientist, Victors, early days at the University of Ingolstadt and his encounter with Professor Waldman. IN his opening lecture Waldman espouses the power of the modern scientist declaring, “tey have acquired new and almost unlimited powers. ” Using emotionally heightened language Shelley shows Victor’s reaction to these words, portraying him as the embodiment hubris as he immediately decides that “more, far more, will I achieve… I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers. Shelley draws on her knowledge of Goethe Faust, who Victor was categorized as. Like Faust, Victory blasphemously attempts to usurp Gods powers and tear apart nature’s mysteries in his excessive desire for knowledge and control. Paralleling Shelley’s exploration, but in the context of the late 20th century, Scott’s post modernism film explores similar ideas on transgressing natures laws.
Like Shelley, Scott also uses the context of his time period to shape the meanings in the film of playing God, and usurping nature’s role. The 1980’s saw a huge advancement in modern day science.Geneticists focused on mapping the genetic sequence in the human genome, in the University of California, a gene was transferred from one mouse to another. In 1982, Barney Clark was given the first ever mechanical heart, and the first test tube baby was born just before 1980. This relates to Scott’s depiction of a dystopic world in Los Angeles, 2019, is one which makes a clear moral statement.
In this world science and technology are portrayed as mechanisms of control and exploitation, rather than as a means to improve the times of others.This is conveyed through the films mes-en-scence which includes an abundance of technology and machinery. These images clash with those of urban decay and a population who suffer from a series of genetic diseases. Living in the post modernist era, Scott would have been affected by this time, when texts were typically saturated with irony and allusion.
Such works also tend to subvert traditional models of unity and coherence and instead try to capture the sense of discontinuity and apparent chaos characteristic of the electronic age.Tyrell was the perfect example of this; he shows his wilful blindness in the creation of the Nexus 6 replicates. The immorality of his decisions is symbolised through his thick lensed glasses, this is heightened through the symbolism of the owl which is artificial. Tyrell’s complete disregard for his practices of creating “human” life as a product is reflected through his dialogue when he states about Rachel “she is an experiment, nothing more. ” Shelley explores the idea of having a meaningful relationship with the natural world.Shelley’s novel portrays the natural world as a source of beneficence and morality which can offer solace to those in need. Shelley’s ideas on nature are influenced by Romantic elements, with its focus on nature as a source of morality but with sublime elements having the power to trigger feelings of awe but also spiritual inspiration.
Victor removes himself voluntarily from nature’s moral influence during his time at the University of Ingolstadt when he spends every waking hour on his creation.He acknowledges that, immersed in his own obsessive pursuit, he becomes “insensible to the charms of nature” so that “winter, spring and summer passed away durin my labours…” In breaking his bond with the natural world, he breaks his ties with his family, his morality, and with good health. Shelley employs emotive language to portray Victor’s defilement of mature and its processes as he attempts to usurp its power and create new life.Words such as “horrors”, “tortured”, and “seized by remorse”, evoke his inner pain which results from his wrong doing, but also his ability to control in his manic obsession. Similarly, Scott explores the idea that mankind needs to have a sound relationship with the world of nature. The 1980’s were a time of growing concern for the environment as a result of pollution arising from commercial exploitation, industrialization and urbanization. There issues were linked to threats of irreversible environmental damage.
Bladerunner uses the Film noir style to show the degradation of the environment. Everything within this world is commodified, including plants and animals. The only sign of living nature is the bonsai trees, which is a symbol of nature diminished and controlled. When Tyrell’s creature, Batty, like Frankenstein’s creature confronts his maker it is don within the massive “mountainous” Tyrell building. Whils drawing a clear parallel with Mount Blonc, this world space is alienating for the responder.
Rather than embodying the indefinable beauty of sublime nature which Victor experiences, this “mountain” is definitely artificial. Ironically, it is also one of the primary reasons for the absence of nature. Texts reflect the changing values and perspectives of the times the author was living in.
Bladerunner and Frankenstein both explore the Authors perspective on transgressing nature’s laws, and playing God, also, the role of nature in society.
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Frankenstein Analysis
Thesis Paper of Film Distribution
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Home biography Haley Reinhart
Haley Reinhart Biography
Facts of Haley Reinhart
1990 , September-9
Haley Elizabeth Reinhart
Harry Reinhart
Patti Miller Reinhart
Singer, Voice Artist, Actor
Drew Dolan
Listen Up!, Better, What's That Sound?, Lo-Fi Soul
Quick Timeline of Haley Reinhart
1990 Born in Wheeling, Illinois
2012 Debuted From Album Listen UP!
2014 Worked as Voice Artist
2019 Estimated Net Worth $1.5 Million
Detail Timeline of Haley Reinhart
Born in Wheeling, Illinois
Haley Elizabeth Reinhart was born on 9th September 1990 in Wheeling, Illinois, United States. She was raised in musician family along with her sister Angela Reinhart.
Debuted From Album Listen UP!
Haley Reinhart went for an audition in American Idol tenth season, but was not able to win the title and later in 2014 she debuted from the album Listen Up!.
Worked as Voice Artist
Haley also worked as a voice artist for the television animation series F is for Family which was broadcasted in 2015
Estimated Net Worth $1.5 Million
Haley has an estimated net worth of around $1.5 million. The major part of her income is generated from her career as a singer and voice artist.
American singer, songwriter, and voice actress Haley Reinhart gained fame from American Idol 10th season. She is the first American Idol alumna who performed at Lollapalooza. She is known for her albums Listen Up!, Better, What's That Sound? and Lo-Fi Soul. She will be debuting from Robert Rodriguez's movie We Can Be Heroes.
Born And Raised In Illinois
Haley Elizabeth Reinhart was born on 9th September 1990, in Wheeling, Illinois, United States. She holds American citizenship and belongs to mixed ethnicity.
She is the elder daughter of Harry Reinhart and Patti Miller Reinhart. Both of her parents worked as musicians. She was raised along with her younger sibling-sister Angela Reinhart in her home town. As for the childhood she was interested in music just like her parents.
Reinhart attended Mark Twain Elementary School, then studied at O.W. Holmes Middle School. She graduated from Wheeling High School then went to study Jazz at Harper College from 2009 to 2010.
Started Career As Singer From American Idol
Haley Reinhart performed during her high school days. She auditioned for the American Idol ninth season but was not advance to the Hollywood round. She auditioned for the tenth season and progress in the group round of Hollywood week.
Reinhart was also one of a contestant to tour around the country for American Idols LIVE! Tour 2011. In 2012 she debuted from the album Listen UP!. Her single album Free reached 104 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her song Listen was used for the miniseries Years of Living Dangerously.
Haley Reinhart at the live concert SOURCE: Getty Image
Reinhart released her second album Better in 2016, which was inspired by retro-funk band Sly and the Family Stone. The next year, her another album What's That Sound was released.
Haley worked as a voice actor for animated series F is for Family, which was broadcasted from 2015 to 2019. She is set to debut as an actress in Robert Rodiguez's upcoming movie We Can Be Heroes sharing space with Christian Slater.
Has Net Worth Of $1.5 million
Haley Reinhart's net worth is $1.5 million. The primary source of her income is from her career as a singer and voice artist.
She earned $18,200 from her website haeyreinhart.com. While her album Tini with Argentine Singer Tini earned $130,000 and Better collected $9,750. Her album with Casey Abrams received $35,100 from 27 thousand copies.
From her album Listen Up! was sold 77 thousand copies and gathered $100,100.
Haley Reinhart Legal Issues And Controversy
Haley was arrested for punching a bouncer on 8th July 2017. Her lawyer described that she was a victim of physical assault by a bouncer in Palatine, Illinois. Her video leaked by TMZ showed that she and her friend Alan Chislof was restrained choked and beaten by several bouncers for Lamplighter Inn.
In February 2018, Reinhart found guilty and ordered her to pay a fine $500 fine and $139 court cost. While the battery was sentenced to probation, anger management counseling, and 60 days in the Cook County Sheriff's Work Alternative Progam to serve as a replacement for jail time.
In A Relationship With Drew Dolan
Haley Reinhart is in a relationship with musician Drew Dolan. Drew's Instagram is filled with images of her at various places and events.
Haley Reinhart with her boyfriend Drew Dolan SOURCE: Drew Instagram
Before dating Drew, she was in a relationship with singer Stefano Lango. The couple started dating in 2011 and was in a relationship for a short period of time. She was also linked with American Idol contestant Casey Abrams as both were together in the show. Later, their romance news were just rumors.
# American singer
# American songwriter
# American millionaire celebrity
# American voice actor
# Haley Reinhart
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GlasgowAnni
Kelvinside Aspects – including stories from the stairhead
Archives for posts with tag: Tanya Brown
Violence Against Women 365 International Poster Exhibition back in Scotland for International Women’s Day.
365 in Dumbarton Women’s Aid Refuge
Colm Dempsey’s Violence Against Women 365 International Poster Exhibition, now in its tenth year of touring, visited Dumbarton Women’s Refuge as part of their International Women’s Day 2014 celebrations.
In an interview with GlasgowAnni, Dubliner Colm tells how the Exhibition came about and the impact it has had over the years.
The idea for the exhibition came to Colm after meeting the late Ellen Pence during a visit to the world famous Duluth Domestic Violence Intervention Project in Minnesota http://www.theduluthmodel.org/ and touring the San Diego Family Justice Centre http://www.sandiego.gov/sandiegofamilyjusticecenter/ in 2001. Back at his job as a Garda officer felt that Ireland was ‘centuries behind the U.S. in its approach to domestic violence. It was like going back in time to the eighteenth century’.
‘Ireland was centuries behind the U.S. in its approach to domestic violence.
It was like going back in time to the eighteenth century.’
Colm’s visit the U.S. in the first place was instigated by his feelings of helplessness as a friend and as a police officer when his former (and first) girlfriend disclosed to him about the domestic abuse she was subjected to by her Garda officer husband. Colm describes how his friend had nowhere to turn and how her difficult situation was made much worse by her husband’s position in the force, describing him as ‘a criminal in uniform’, Colm wanted to know ‘how to do my job better’.
‘a criminal in uniform’
The posters Colm brought back from the States formed the germ of an idea that saw the first 365 exhibition open in Dundalk Museum in 2004 with financial support from the Irish Department of Justice and the attendance of two senior Government Ministers. The exhibition was endorsed by Tanya Brown the sister of Nicole Brown who was murdered by O.J. Simpson. Tanya wrote the foreword to the exhibition brochure. This created a media storm and generated a great deal of publicity for 365.
Among the visitors to the exhibition was Jan MacLeod of the Women’s Support Project in Glasgow and an invitation to visit Scotland soon followed.
‘I blame Jan MacLeod for everything’
‘I blame Jan MacLeod for everything’ jokes Colm who has since taken his exhibition all over Scotland returning several times to raise awareness of violence against women in Fife, the Western Isles, Glasgow, Edinburgh and West Dunbartonshire. Colm is impressed by Scotland’s national approach to tackling violence against women and thinks people here ‘get it’.
The exhibition has toured the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, has visited thirteen countries to date including U.S.,Canada, Cyprus, Russia and Taiwan and has the prospect of a visit to Norway and a return to Scotland in 2014. Having seen so many different national approaches to violence against women Colm’s view that Scotland is the most advanced of the UK jurisdictions is encouraging. Ireland, in his view, has a a bit of catching up to do.
The impact on the audiences who have seen 365 has often been profound. The visual impact of the at times very hard-hitting posters campaigning against domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault and child sexual abuse can be disturbing. The many different approaches and designs speak loudly of each country’s priorities and courage in confronting people with such difficult issues. Visiting the exhibition can be demanding for the visitor and comes with a health warning to alert them to what may disturb. Colm recalled the story of one woman from Dumbarton for whom seeing the exhibition was life changing. She told Colm during 365’s second visit to the area that she had been inspired by the exhibition to rethink her life and had since left her abusive partner. Now happy and settled with a new partner, she put it all down to that first eye opening visit to 365.
Exhibiting 365 in the Women’s Refuge in Dumbarton was a gamble for Colm and organisers Moira Swanson, Chair of the Refuge Management Committee and Refuge Worker Janine Jardine. According to Moira, ‘All of those who attended commented on the visual impact of the exhibition’. Hosting it there also raised the profile of the valuable work being done by Dumbarton District Women’s Aid. ‘Members of the public and local politicians who visited said they didn’t realise all the services offered by West Dunbartonshire Council and also the range of services provided by Women’s Aid…the “not just refuge thing! “’, Moira added, highlighting a common underestimation of what Women’s Aid Groups actually do in addition to running refuges.
local politicians who visited said they didn’t realise… the range of services provided by Women’s Aid…the “not just refuge thing!”
Moira Swanson, Chair, Dumbarton District Women’s Aid Management Committee
When he is not touring with his exhibition, Colm is a researcher and Children’s Rights and Child Protection Specialist and Trainer working with organisations across Ireland. His expertise in domestic abuse and violence against women continues to be focussed on improving the lives of children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. Happily relocated to Galway, Colm can be assured that 365 will continue to inspire people to do their jobs better, to get people talking about the unspeakable and to encourage people to speak out and get the help they need to live their lives free forever of abuse.
Dumbarton District Women’s Aid:
CONFIDENTIAL Domestic Abuse Helpline 01389 751036
http://www.ddwa.org.uk/
Visit Violence Againsnt Women 365 International Poster Exhibition on Facebook
Tags Colm Dempsey, domestic abuse, Dumbarton District Women's Aid, Ireland, Jan Macleod, Nicole Simpson, Scotland, Tanya Brown, Violence against Women, Violence Against Women 365 International Poster Exhibition, West Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire Council, Women's Support Project
Categories People, Violence Against Women
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Global Tailings Review
Co-conveners
Expert panellists
Stakeholder advisory group
About Tailings
Consultation Report
Email responses
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FAQs | Contact
The Global Tailings Review is an initiative co-convened by the International Council on Mining and Metals, United Nations Environment Programme and the Principles for Responsible Investment.
Global Tailings Review > News > Members of the Global Tailings Review Expert Panel announced
Members of the Global Tailings Review Expert Panel announced
Dr Bruno Oberle, Chair of the Global Tailings Review has announced the members of the Expert Panel. The role of the Panel is to support Dr Oberle in carrying out research and analysis for the review, and to assist in writing the standard and related recommendations report.
The members of the Panel comprise global experts with knowledge across fields relevant to the Review:
Professor Andrew Hopkins of Australian National University is an internationally-renowned academic in the field of industrial safety and accident analysis. He is involved in various occupational health and safety (OHS) projects for major companies in the resources sector on the causes of major accidents.
Susan Joyce of On Common Ground Consultants is a sociologist with over 25 years of experience in rural development, including 17 years’ experience working directly on social aspects relating to the activities of the mining and, oil and gas sectors.
Professor Deanna Kemp of University of Queensland is a leading international expert on the social and political challenges of the global mining industry. Her particular areas of interest include company-community conflict, displacement and resettlement, and human rights and development challenges.
Dr Angela Kupper of BGC Engineering has 40 years of experience in several countries in the design, construction, rehabilitation, and independent reviews of earth fill dams including tailings dams and water retention dams for power generation and water supply. She has been responsible for numerous dam and waste projects as a designer, engineer-of-record, expert consultant, and reviewer.
Karen Nash of Behre Dolbear is a highly experienced international environmental and social performance practitioner. She has expertise in both strategic and project-based research and consulting in the extractives sector, conservation biology and anthropology, sustainability and environmental education.
Professor Mark Squillace is Director of the Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado Law School. He is the author or co-author of numerous articles and books on natural resources and environmental law.
Professor Dirk Van Zyl of University of British Colombia is Chair of Mining and the Environment at the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering. He has more than 35 years’ experience in research, teaching and consulting in tailings and mine waste rock disposal and heap leach design.
The Expert Panel will now be working with Dr Oberle to conduct the research phase of the Review.
Business as usual not an option for management of tailings dam
Chair shares an update on progress of the Global Tailings Review
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Covid-19 Mask Fundraiser
Real people, real change.
Tireless Advocate for Youth
I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Neal for the past 17 years. I have perceived him as an outstanding person with great visionary insight. He has demonstrated this passion through his exemplary display of craftsmanship in his many endeavors, and with it a sincere desire to extend his gift to others. Pastor Neal,… as I also know him, is a tireless advocate for youth. He has fueled life back into my community project, The Genius Garden, that is aimed at teaching and reinforcing life skills for at risk youth and young adults. Pastor Neal has poured his support into many agencies that service people in need. His desire to share his blessings and the willingness to take immediate action behind his thoughts and intentions, prove him to be a worthy and impressive example to others. This is evidenced by his very noteworthy accomplishments and development of his company: Godfather Motorbike Extraordinaire, as his brand. His company has been a cornerstone of the community and a vehicle for giving back to those who have supported him. As many different opportunities, and the need for quality program design and quality services are desired locally and abroad, GME is very involved in producing positive change in the community and is stretching it’s reach to the global arena. Mr. Neal is a philanthropist and a stellar proprietor whose charity and sincere efforts precede him. I am honored to remain acquainted with such a gentleman and to have been a beneficiary of his positive energy, his strong commitment to his faith, and the overall personal kindness he has demonstrated to myself, and many others. I am confident that Mr. Neal would bring an encouraging and strategically sound action plan to any endeavor he pursues. His many accomplishments as well as life triumphs echo this sentiment. I am in full support of his endeavors that improve our environment and raise the standard of living for all of those he comes in contact with. Read more “Tireless Advocate for Youth”
Donna Avery
Creative Director of The Genius Garden Project
A Role Model That Looks Out for Me
My name is Alvin Fields. Back in 2009, I received an award from Godfather Motorbike Extraordinaire at the Oakland Raiders Headquarters in Alameda, CA. The award was given to outstanding students in different schools and different levels of education.
For me, it was a great honor to be given this award at the headquarters… of my hometown and childhood favorite team. When you’re awarded anything in life, it means someone has acknowledged your efforts in the hard work that you have put into something. That was how I felt when receiving the award.
Mr. Neal has always been a role model looking out for me as I grew from a kid, to a young adult, and now into a man. Always checking in to see how I was doing and making sure I was on a path that had the best intentions for me to do well. Today, many African American males have it rough with many obstacles in the path of doing simple tasks such as trying to live. With many of our fathers and positive male figures either incarcerated or dead, Mr. Neal’s ability to be a pillar of strength in many of our lives gives us a bar to shoot for and goals to achieve. I am currently working for the Port of SF/Oak and am working hard to hone my skill and master my craft. I am a blessed man and I am grateful for people like Mr. Neal who showed support to me as I grew up to become the man I am now. Read more “A Role Model That Looks Out for Me”
Alvin Fields
GME Youth Award Recipient 2009
A Really Good Papa
Hi my name is Amaya. I’m 7 years old and I go to school at Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy that is in Pleasant Hill and today I’m going to be talking about my papa and his name is Jimmy Dean Neal.
What I like about him is that he is really kind and he’s… my papa. What I like about my papa is that you guys live down the street and if I want to visit you guys, I just visit. And I like that he gives me hugs all the time, he loves me very much, he lets me play in his music room, he lets me come in his house, he lets me come in his room. There’s a lot of things I like about him. I like the house and I like the houses he builds and I think he is a really good papa. He gives me a lot of love and I just like him. That’s all. Read more “A Really Good Papa”
Amaya CheAnn Williams
The day I met Jimmy for the first time, my then fiancé and I were looking for a new home in which to begin that exciting new chapter of our lives: our first year of marriage. Not only was the home we chose a dream home architecturally, but there were also myriad custom touches that… Jimmy’s own talented hands made that added so much richness to the living space. One of my favorite sections of this beautiful home was the music room that he had added on, complete with French doors that he built himself. This room was truly a dream come true for me, outfitted with various stringed, wind, and percussion instruments, the pièce de résistance being a baby grand piano. All this and the room had enough space for me to dance around as I sang to my heart’s content. Outside, my happy place for the three years we lived in that house was the back deck which, as a wedding gift to my husband and me, Jimmy beautified with new fencing, greenery, and latticework with a trellis roof. The beauty of our own decorations for our special day was magnified by the stunning backdrop created for us. These two examples are just the tip of the iceberg in showcasing Jimmy’s building talent; his brilliance for creating is astounding, and everything that encounters his Midas touch is transformed into a work of art beyond what we may originally envision. In the many opportunities through which I’ve been privileged to get to know Jimmy, I’ve come to learn how such a man as he who started out with above average challenges early in life, yet with unshakable faith in God’s provision, worked harder than most to achieve both worldly success as well as works to glorify our Maker. In rich times as in lean, Jimmy has always been giving–and abundantly, generously so–to all who cross his path. I learned how dedicated he was to taking care of his mother; in turn, he was and continues to be likewise thoughtful of and helpful to my mother. My husband and I were blessed to reside not just as tenants, but welcomed as family to enjoy everything Jimmy owned in his home. When our grandmother needed more care in her later days, Jimmy provided one of his own apartments to her so that she could have a safe place to be cared for. He has one of the biggest, kindest, most selflessly giving hearts I know, and to this day, it inspires me to witness how he continues to bless everyone, especially those who may need a hand up in our underserved communities. In nearly five years that I have known Jimmy, I don’t believe I’ve heard him complain even once, but every word that he utters brings glory to our Father in Heaven! He carries a certain wisdom gained through victory over life’s battles, and a depth of peace and joy that can only come from surrender to Christ, led by the unfailing, perfect wisdom of the Holy Spirit. I will be forever grateful to have Jimmy in my life; it would not be nearly the same without him. Read more “Forever Grateful”
Julie Williams
The Global Bible Study
Unbelievable Encouragement
I work with foster care and at-risk youth in my company – Mario B Modeling Productions. I met Jim at Foothill Square in Oakland, CA where there was a local community event going on. I approached Pastor Neal with my DVD. On that DVD, was information about my modeling program which highlighted young models looking… for a career opportunity and how my program would give them this type of exposure. He was very interested in what I was doing and in fact, showed more interest and support in my students’ success than anyone else I had been working with to advance my modeling agency. He donated money for transportation, food for events, accessories for the models and whatever we needed to make the program or event a success. Pastor Neal wrapped his arms around our dreams and efforts with unbelievable encouragement. He believed in the program. He believed in the vision.
I have an annual Black History program featuring cultural fashions of the 60’s, and 70’s: called “Rock the Runway”; the fashion show premise was twofold: it provided fun and education through fashion that teaches history lessons of those exciting and turbulent times in the united states. Jimmy once again, supported the program more than anyone else; and he has supported my modeling agency ever since. At a time when I felt alone on my journey, I am so honored that he saw the vision. Pastor Neal’s support pulled me toward the potential of a great modeling agency which my start-up business has become. Because of his inspiration and consistent support, I was allowed the advantage of traveling to Florida, which helped me to expand my agency to 1500 shows in the bay area and to be internationally recognized.
Now, my vision for international exposure all over the world has come true; and through my modeling program, I have introduced confidence and self-love to thousands of young people, enhancing personal development to personal transformation for a brighter future for all who were interested. I thank Pastor Neal for seeing my vision when no one else did and experiencing how his words were put into action. Read more “Unbelievable Encouragement”
Mario B
Mario B Modeling Productions
Hard Work and Dedication
As a young man growing up, I was always very active in sports; so, I was use to getting awards and things of that nature. So, the day I was asked to go to the Raiders camp and receive an award for sportsmanship, I just thought of it as me receiving another award for what… I loved to do. The day I arrived at the training camp and saw all the other kids and the big cameras and lights, and everyone dressed nice, I felt like it was more than just a regular award ceremony with my name typed on a piece of paper. I remember the man who hosted the ceremony giving a long speech, and at my young age, I never payed attention to any speeches; but for some reason, the things he was saying really grabbed my attention as a young athlete. He spoke about all the hard work and dedication and time that went into doing extracurricular activities kids like me and across the world do. I’m not gonna lie, I felt kind of special, and from that point on, every piece of paper labeled as an award with my name on it made me feel more special than it ever did. Read more “Hard Work and Dedication”
Tomar West
Recipient of The GME STUDENT ATHLETE AWARD
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The Names of Things and Dr. Delicious
THE NAMES OF THINGS
By David Helwig
DR. DELICIOUS: MEMOIRS OF A LIFE IN CANLIT
By Robert Lecker
Was it bliss in that dawn to be alive?
Just for the sake of neatness let’s make it an even decade: 1965-1975.
Some beginnings: Coach House Press, 1965; Quarry Press, 1965; Open Letter, 1965; Oberon Press, 1966; the League of Canadian Poets, 1966; House of Anansi Press, 1967; The Malahat Review, 1967; the Canada Council’s block grant program for Canadian publishers, 1972; Véhicule Press, 1972; The Porcupine’s Quill and ECW (the journal, the press came a couple of years later), 1974.
Some books: Beautiful Losers (1966), Civil Elegies and Other Poems (1972), The Studhorse Man (1969), Fifth Business (1970), The Collected Works of Billy the Kid (1970), St. Urbain’s Horseman (1971), Lives of Girls and Women (1971), The Bush Garden (1971), Survival and Surfacing (1972), The Temptations of Big Bear (1973), The Diviners (1974).
“That’s how things were in those years,” David Helwig, someone who was in the thick of it, writes, “an extravagant confidence everywhere. You had an idea, and you did it; new literary projects appeared on all sides.” There was “a growing excitement about Canadian writing all over the country.” It was “an age of poetry” (a.k.a. a time when poetry mattered). What rain brought forth this sudden flowering? National pride? Here’s Helwig again:
There was a growing market for Canadian books then; small press books by Canadian authors were reviewed in the newspapers whether or not they won awards – in fact there were few awards – and apart from McClelland and Stewart, there were no big press campaigns at the beginning of each season. Certainly Jack McClelland’s gift for PR helped along some of his authors, and in many ways helped make all the new Canadian writing fashionable. Canada had reached the stage in its development at which readers wanted to read Canadian books, and they went out and found them. Poetry was in vogue. Nationalism has its limits, of course, as a source of artistic values, but writing is easier if you no longer believe that all the action is somewhere else.
The questioning of national identity and its relationship to a national literature had been “building for years” (Robert Lecker now), “catalysed” by those NCL titles Jack (not David, McClelland) started bringing out in 1955. What drew Lecker, a student in those years, to CanLit was this debate. An academic perspective then (compare and contrast to Helwig):
Although I seldom spoke to my fellow students about this at the time, I think we shared the sense that there was a common purpose in studying Canadian literature, and that in many ways, committing oneself to that kind of study was a kind of conversion experience. On one hand we were becoming involved in the literature precisely at the time when so many books were appearing that were unlike anything seen before – from Kroetsch’s The Studhorse Man to Michael Ondaatje’s The Collected Works of Billy the Kid to bpNichol’s The Martyrology. Like many others, I was drawn to the experimental nature of these writers, but also to the growing debate that surrounded the evaluation of their work. While some critics (notably the “thematic critics”) were promoting an understanding of Canadian literature based on models of national self-recognition, others rejected this national bias in favour of criticism that embraced a growing interest in postmodern thought, and still others tried to find a way of marrying postmodern and national values.
Two recollections of what it was like living back in the day, as part of “the generation that made Canadian literature what it is today” (this from the back of Dr. Delicious).
But was it really so wonderful? Was this Canada’s literary Golden Age?
Another point of view: The Golden Age of CanLit is a myth, and like all myths it is a fiction created for a purpose. It is a construct necessary for academics (a common curriculum to teach, a guide for research), and something very good for publishers. Both Helwig and Lecker advert to the first Canadian canon: McClelland and Stewart’s New Canadian Library. It was, of course, a publicity stunt. Dismal books for the most part, but brilliant marketing. These were the Canadian books you had to read . . . even if they weren’t any good. Then take a look at ECW Press, of which Dr. Delicious provides a very personal history. Lecker, one of the founders of ECW, is fascinated by questions of canonicity. And how could he not be? Publishing such scholarly megaprojects as The Annotated Bibliography of Canada’s Major Authors and the Canadian Writers and Their Works series was nothing if not an act of canon building. And, in this regard at least, was it not successful?
The canon then, as Lecker writes, is “a pedagogical and critical creation, of no interest to the public.” Indeed, one might wonder whether a “popular canon” would be a contradiction in terms. As For Me and My House may be “a very tiresome book,” but is it in any less popular than the poetry of John Newlove? The opposite of the canon is nothing so coherent as an anti-canon, but rather the spawn of the free market, an endless turnover of cookbooks, genre paperbacks, investment guides for Canadian Dummies, and celebrity bios. Lecker is fascinated by ECW’s (and his own) schizophrenia in trying to have it both ways. “Somehow, I had reached the point where I was publishing an annotated bibliography of works by and about Stephen Leacock alongside a biography of Sarah Michelle Gellar called Bite Me!” He leads a double life: a creator, defender, and explicator of the Canadian canon, and a “publishing pimp” marketing books on extreme martial arts and wrestling. It’s obvious from such use of language where his own heart and values lie, and when he finally leaves ECW one can sense his relief at saying good-bye to Mr. Hyde. And yet in rebranding itself as “Entertainment, Culture, Writing,” the new ECW is clearly more in tune with the spirit of the age. That golden generation is gone.
The sense of a passing of an era is also felt in Helwig’s The Names of Things. “Many of my contemporaries in the arts are retired or exhausted or dead,” he calmly notes near the end. Robert Lecker, who wears his heart proudly on his sleeve, might have gone on for pages pulling something like that apart. Helwig lets it go. They have very different attitudes toward the past and how we understand it through recreating it in words. Of course neither book is a history, but a memoir. This isn’t what really happened, but what the authors imagine as happening to a “somebody/nobody” (that, obviously, is Helwig) who exists only in memory. At one point Helwig even confesses that one of his anecdotes might only be of a dream. What we have here then are two self-dramatizing characters consciously and unconsciously intent (if that isn’t a paradox) on concealing as much as they reveal. Perhaps not unreliable narrators, but ones that force us to read between the lines and come to some of our own conclusions.
Lecker, to take one example, is obsessed with the fight against Quebec independence. He is engaged on a very public level as an outspoken critic of the separatist movement, and these political opinions colour and influence his approach to CanLit as well. He is a political writer and a political literary critic, especially when it involves the issue of Canadian nationalism. Helwig may have similar opinions, but he isn’t sharing them. On several occasions he mentions having fierce political arguments with his wife, daughter, and friends, but there is no mention of what they were about or what side he took. The election of the Parti Québécois in 1976 is a major event in Lecker’s narrative, one that “permanently altered the political and literary climate in Quebec and dramatically shifted the centre of literary activity to Toronto.” Here is all Helwig has to say about it: “In November of 1976 Quebec elected the first Parti Québécois government. In the previous years I’d watched with fascination the growth of separatism.” No mention of what he found so fascinating about it, or what his opinion of separatism is.
This isn’t just to point out that Lecker is a political animal and Helwig is someone with other things to talk about. It is to highlight the difference in the two voices: the one hot and vociferous, the other cool and reticent. Early in his book Helwig mentions how, as a child, he “could become prey to powerful hypochondriac fears, anxiety and cold panic occurring suddenly and continuing for weeks, to be kept hidden as much as possible.” Well hidden indeed! The entire memoir is written under the shadow of a recurring heart condition, and yet Helwig presents himself as almost a detached spectator of his body’s breakdown, watching the lines on his heart monitor like a program on TV. If there were any powerful hypochondriac fears, anxiety, or cold panic involved, he’s not letting on. His illness and heart problems become a literary device. It’s beautifully handled – he begins the book in a hospital bed with his own heart being monitored, and ends it with an evocation of the “tiny unborn heart” of his grandchild – but it’s a sort of writing that doesn’t tell you anything more than it has to.
Dr. Lecker certainly never says that he is a hypochondriac. Semi-alert readers, however, may come to their own conclusion from reading passages like the following:
I thought about guys my age, even runners like me, who dropped dead from heart attacks. That wouldn’t be so bad. Or a massive stroke. That would be okay. But there were all these other problems I didn’t have time for – brain cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson’s (my father’s affliction), Crohn’s – a whole list of diseases that I stayed awake imagining, as if by imagining them I could hold them at bay. (Could you really get Parkinson’s if you were actively thinking about it? No, because those diseases always crept up on people when they least expected it, so if you did expect it at any moment, the disease would know that, and would stay away until it had a chance to surprise you. Obviously the trick was to always be thinking about it, and about all the other diseases that could sneak up on you.)
Why was my back so sore? One of the radiators had sprung a leak. There was a message from the dentist’s office, reminding me of my appointment tomorrow. I felt a tingling in my arm, and a burning pain in my chest. No doubt it was a heart attack. Because I knew it was a heart attack, because I got there before it had a chance to strike, it backed off. This strategy can be bothersome, especially when it reaches a peak. But I would rather be driving around town imagining that I am having a stroke than actually having one, wouldn’t you?
This is funny stuff, and the only question is how much of it Lecker intends to be funny. Surely his tongue is in his cheek with the bit about diseases like Parkinson’s sneaking up on you only if you let them. But what about the “No doubt it was a heart attack”? Or, later, this aside: “I was losing weight. Probably cancer.” When he defends himself against George Bowering’s teasing for dragging him off to a hospital in Tahiti after being stung by a bee (“George thought I was being silly, but I’m allergic to their sting”), how alert is he to the joke?
These are the challenges in reading memoir, a genre characterized by a highly artful selection and presentation of “the facts.” With Helwig one often wonders about what he isn’t saying, with Lecker, what he really means. Who is that “beautiful young woman” Helwig makes love to in that unnamed house in Kingston, on that unnamed street? When Lecker describes Paul Davies as being in love with Jack David there is clearly some not-entirely professional jealously involved. But how much?
They are, of course, very different books. Lecker is the critic and businessman, Helwig the prolific primary producer. The Names of Things is put together better, and includes a number of memorable, dramatic anecdotes. Dr. Delicious energetically spins a lot of industry-insider gossip alongside its central (unresolved) psychomachia.
As for the debate that first drew Lecker to CanLit in the Golden Age, it is still active. But today it’s more a debate between that imagined heroic period and our ability to identify a next wave.
It’s an old story in the arts: what was the New has become the Old, the Establishment, a covering cherub (to use Harold Bloom’s anxious symbol) to be overthrown. And while I don’t think they were giants walking the Earth back in the day, those “major writers” do have a giant position that dominates, and continues to dominate, the landscape. Like it or not, there is a canon, and the new writing has to position itself in relation to it, if only to be recognized by lazy critics. I think that’s regrettable. I think the official canon of the Golden Generation was overrated. I also think it’s a shame that so much media oxygen is spent keeping the reputations of writers like Atwood and Ondaatje preserved long after they’ve done work of any interest. And what’s even worse is how we so often look to contemporary writers to be imitators rather than challengers.
Literary debates are always being encouraged, not because of any particular delight in the struggle but because in the end it’s what makes literature stronger. Both of these books remind us of the spirit of battles past. Hopefully there will be many more to come.
Review first published online July 10, 2006.
Author Alex GoodPosted on April 28, 2014 Categories Reviews -- Non-fiction
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Northumberland Astronomical Society
web: www.nastro.org.uk/
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Northumberland Astronomical Society Meeting
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Pursuit leads to fatal crash near Bellefontaine Road
Cardinals special event ‘Fans at Bat’ sells out
Tampa Bay man seen carrying lectern during Capitol riot released on $25k bond
by: Athina Morris and WFLA 8 On Your Side Staff
Posted: Jan 11, 2021 / 01:22 PM CST / Updated: Jan 12, 2021 / 07:07 AM CST
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – The Parrish man who was allegedly photographed carrying away House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern after a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol was released on a $25,000 bond Monday.
Adam Johnson, 36, was arrested Friday night on a federal warrant and was booked into jail in Pinellas County. He faces three felony counts of entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, theft of government property and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
The arrest stems from the deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, in which supporters of President Trump, claiming the election was stolen, breached the building in an unprecedented attack that left five dead, including a police officer.
The conditions of Johnson’s release include a $25,000 bond, a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, surrender of his passport, no firearms or weapons, and restricted travel in Middle District of Florida and D.C. for court matters.
‘I’m not a magician’: Lawyer for riot suspect says photo poses ‘problem’ for client
Johnson’s next court date is Jan. 19.
According to reports, Johnson was one of the dozens of people who caused mayhem in Wednesday’s assault. A photo widely shared on social media allegedly shows him smile and wave as he carries off a lectern bearing the official seal of the Speaker of the House.
Johnson’s lawyers were asked if the photograph poses a challenge to their court battle.
“I don’t know how else to explain that, but yeah that would be a problem,” Johnson’s lawyer Dan Eckhart said. “I’m not a magician […] so yeah we’ve got a photograph of our client who appears to be inside the federal building with government property.”
‘I have guns and ammo’: Virtual trail left behind by Trump supporters killed during Capitol riot
The 36-year-old is said to have traveled from Parrish, an unincorporated community in Manatee County, to Washington, D.C. and had documented the trip on his Facebook profile, which was also used to disparage law enforcement and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Allan Mestel, who knows Johnson, told WFLA he notified the FBI after recognizing him in the photo.
“I felt a little disassociated for a minute. It was almost like, it was surreal. I mean it was surreal. I wasn’t surprised, but I was shocked,” Mestel said. “Couldn’t believe it, the fact that I recognize somebody from our hometown was — I was floored.”
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say an organizer of the Proud Boys far-right extremist group has been arrested for taking part in the siege of the U.S. Capitol earlier this month.
Thirty-seven-year-old Joseph Biggs was arrested Wednesday in central Florida.
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SIUE ROTC cadet’s friends raise money for him after his ‘catastrophic’ injuries from a gunshot
Missouri / 47 seconds ago
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Digital Trade
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Innovation is the product of intentional human endeavor. Countries seeking world-leading innovative enterprises and industries need to implement thoughtful and effective national innovation systems, and supporting policy instruments, to maximize their innovation potential. Reports here review the innovation systems/policies of GTIPA-member nations.
Building SME digital resilience: What have we learned from the MCO?
The unprecedented levels of unemployment and business closures reflect the impact of the movement control order (MCO) to address the Covid-19 pandemic. Even as lockdown restrictions are gradually being lifted, as consumer preferences change, businesses have had to innovate their offerings and the way they do their business.
Institute for Democracy and Economic AffairsFri, 11/06/2020
How is the development of 5G networks progressing around the world?
5G networks are fast becoming the benchmark for mobile technology and a basic pillar for the digital transformation of countries. The possibility of increasing speed, maximizing connectivity and improving the service provided, not only brings the evolution of infrastructure and telecommunications networks. But the possibility of developing an entire ecosystem of 5G platforms, services and content through innovation and entrepreneurship.
TicTacFri, 11/06/2020
The cloud at the service of everyone
Cloud services are not only a technological advance, but they are a great enabler that has the potential to continue to positively impact society.
TicTacThu, 11/05/2020
Understanding the U.S. National Innovation System
The United States has no national, coordinated innovation policy system. In fact, its overall innovation system has been deteriorating. The country’s economic future and national security will depend on rising to the challenge of addressing this problem.
Information Technology and Innovation FoundationMon, 11/02/2020
Google’s Tryst with Antitrust Cases: Lessons for Innovation
Over the last few years, the Big Tech firms have been in the limelight more for the wrong reasons than right. The five American technology giants – Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, Facebook, and Microsoft – have come a full circle from revolutionizing the world to becoming the biggest companies in the history of mankind to emerging as a threat to the very fabric of modern society in recent times. The menace of fake news, the invasion of privacy, the alleged influence in election outcomes, and the problem of addiction to social media have a common root in the meteoric success of the Big Tech firms.
Institute for CompetitivenessFri, 10/30/2020
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS: NEW REGULATORY CHALLENGES
Platforms are a technology that allows customers to connect with service providers services. At the regulatory level, and among other matters of public policy, there has been a global debate on the existence or not of an employment relationship between the service providers and the platform.
Libertad y DesarrolloFri, 10/30/2020
La Fiscalidad en el Sector de las Telecomunicaciones
The telecommunications sector has a large weight in the Spanish economy. This fact is highlighted, among other magnitudes, in its average contribution over the last decade to National GDP and employment, which has been 3.3% and 4.3%, respectively.
DigitalesFri, 10/23/2020
Leveraging AI for equitable growth
The adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from industries that were propelled to use automation due to social distancing norms, economies too are beginning to incorporate AI into their growth strategies. The emerging economies were particularly lagging in this regard, including India, but the Government of India’s (GoI) redirected focus on building AI capabilities suggest that the fourth industrial revolution could finally arrive in India.
Institute for CompetitivenessThu, 10/22/2020
Τhe impact of artificial intelligence on intellectual property rights
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to those systems of computer science that demonstrate intelligent behavior and are concerned with building smart machines. Some recent headlines refer to paintings produced by machines or drugs discovered by computer programs. The number of enterprises implementing AI technologies has grown by 270 percent over the past four years with a profound impact on the world. AI is already having a significant impact on the creation and distribution of goods and services. One sector that has been revolutionized by AI is healthcare, where drug discovery and development has been speeding up.
Property Rights AllianceTue, 10/20/2020
Response to the Department of Defense’s Request for Information on Dynamic Spectrum Sharing for 5G
ITIF recommended that the DoD remove the cloud of potential nationalization of a wholesale 5G network from this process. Then, DoD should focus on the short-term opportunities to clear and reallocate spectrum for 5G purposes to best leverage the capabilities of 5G and advance U.S. competitiveness. Then long-term planning on future spectrum sharing opportunities can receive the focus it is due. Several media reports indicate that this RFI grows out of continued efforts by Rivada and others to establish a national 5G network that would serve the DoD and share wholesale capacity or spectrum usage rights with commercial operators. This is a terrible idea. The contemplation of a government-funded wholesale network or allowing a middleman to control access to critical mid-band spectrum undermines one of the United States’ great strengths: a dynamic, complex, competitive process to uncover the most effective 5G architectures.
Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance
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Abu Dhabi’s investment into renewable energy reaches $2.2bn
Among the emirate’s big investments are the Dhs2.2bn Shams 1 project, and Dhs3.2bn Noor Abu Dhabi
by Neil King
Abu Dhabi’s investment into the clean energy sector has reached Dhs8bn ($2.2bn), according to the chairman on the emirate’s Department of Energy.
Speaking the Emirates News Agency, WAM, Awaidha Murshed Al Marar said that the level of investment reflects positively on the sustainability of the renewable energy sector, with further developments expected in the months ahead.
“The emirate’s investments in the clean energy sector will witness significant growth this year due to a number of new projects in the production of reverse osmosis water and solar electricity production, to be announced in the coming days during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2019,” he said.
The chairman added that Abu Dhabi’s investments in the clean energy sector started in 2006 with Dhs2.2bn ($600,000) Shams 1 – the largest renewable energy project in operation in the Middle East with a capacity of 100 megawatts – with other projects including solar park, Noor Abu Dhabi.
“Abu Dhabi has built the world’s largest independent solar power plant, Noor Abu Dhabi, in Sweihan with a capacity at 1.17GW at the cost of Dhs3.2bn ($871,000),” said Al Marar.
“An Asian consortium consisting of JinkoSolar of China and Marubeni of Japan offered a tariff of 2.42 cents per kWh, making it the lowest ever levelised cost of electricity bid for solar power,” he added.
Earlier this year the Department of Energy announced that it had started operations at the solar plant, with the entire project expected to be operational and connected to the Abu Dhabi electricity network by April.
Read Abu Dhabi starts operations at world’s largest solar plant
In his conversation with WAM, Al Marar said that the department is preparing to launch new projects that will contribute to the sustainability of the emirate’s energy sector, including a solar project with a capacity of 1,500MW in Q1 this year, and a reverse osmosis water project later in the year.
The UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050, launched in 2017, has laid out an ambition to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix from 25 per cent to 50 per cent by 2050, while reducing the carbon footprint of power generation by 70 per cent.
Neil King January 15, 2019
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Middle East Visitors Spent $5.7m During FIFA World Cup In Brazil
Fans from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar made up 70 per cent of total Middle Eastern spend during the global tournament.
by Mary Sophia
Visitors form the Middle East spent over $5.7 million during the FIFA World Cup on their Visa cards, according to the latest report from the payments firm.
These figures represent a 400 per cent rise in spending by visitors during the month compared to the same period in 2013.
Fans from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar accounted for 70 per cent of the spend from the Middle East, the report noted.
The UAE was ranked the 27th top-spending nation in the report as Visa cardholders from the country spent almost $2.5 million during the thirty-two day tournament.
Meanwhile, visitors from Saudi Arabia and Qatar spent around $840,000 and $639,000 respectively during the World Cup.
All three countries also recorded triple-digit increase in international spend compared to the same period in 2013, the report said.
Saudi Arabia recorded the largest increase in international spend at 700 per cent, followed by Qatar (276 per cent) and the UAE (243 per cent).
Visa has been seeing a steady rise in expenditure from Middle Eastern visitors since the start of the tournament.
A previous report by the payments firm revealed that visitors from the region had spent over $500,00 on their visa accounts during the first four days of the World Cup. The amount rose to reach $2.7 million after the first two weeks of the tournament, up 419 per cent from the same period last year.
Globally, Visa cardholders spent around $380 million in Brazil during the World Cup, up 143 per cent from the same period last year.
Visitors spend the most in paying for their lodgings ($55.5 million) while the rest were spent in retail ($47.4 million) and restaurants ($40.5 million), the report said.
Top spenders during the soccer tournament were visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Argentina, Mexico and Germany.
“The global attraction of the FIFA World Cup and the growing confidence and understanding of the convenience and security of electronic payments supported an influx of tourism spending in Brazil,” said Ihab Ayoub, general manager, Middle East and North Africa at Visa.
Mary Sophia July 20, 2014
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A LETTER FROM STEVEN GUNDRY, MD.
Hello, my name is Dr. Steven Gundry – founder of Gundry MD. If you're interested in feeling more vital energy, getting your body into shape, and giving yourself the best possible chance at a long and happy life... I'd like to assure you: You are in the right place.
I founded Gundry MD with one mission: To dramatically improve human health, happiness, and longevity through my unique vision of diet and nutrition.
I believe I've discovered some unconventional truths about human nutrition. The Gundry MD philosophy is a radical departure from the traditional dietary “wisdom” which has failed so many Americans over the past few decades.
My research may offer a breakthrough for those of you who have struggled for years with your energy levels, your body, and your health. If you've tried everything and nothing has worked… I’d like to offer you HOPE.
Dr. Steven Gundry: cardiac surgeon, medical innovator, author, and the mind behind Gundry MD.
Dr. Steven Gundry: cardiac surgeon, medical
innovator, author, and the mind behind Gundry MD.
Dr. Gundry's expertise as a heart surgeon led him to new breakthroughs in full-body health treatment.
Dr. Gundry's expertise as a heart surgeon led him to
new breakthroughs in full-body health treatment.
For over thirty years, I have been one of the world's pre-eminent experts in heart surgery. My experiences took me to new frontiers of medical science. I was a driving force behind major breakthroughs in medical technology and surgical procedures – breakthroughs that revolutionized the way doctors save lives.
But back in 2001, while I was Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Loma Linda University, I was asked to treat a chronically ill, overweight patient. This man was considered a hopeless case, someone who couldn't be helped even by surgery. But "hopeless cases" have been a specialty of mine over the years, and I was willing to take on this man's challenge when no one else would.
I discovered that the patient had actually reversed his heart-threatening symptoms – symptoms he was told were inoperable – with nothing but a combination of natural, dietary nutrients. This led me to pursue further research of my own. The conclusions I made were unmistakable... and they led directly to the foundation of Gundry MD.
The key to strong, sustainable health lives in all of us... in the form of beneficial microbes. These "good bacteria" are in danger of dying out, due to dietary and environmental issues that overload our systems with threatening “bad” microbes. Once you begin taking care of your “good” microbes – or, as I like to call them, “your gut buddies” – you can begin an incredible transformation.
And I know... because it worked for me.
When I first met this “lost cause” patient, I was seriously overweight myself. I had high blood pressure, “bad” cholesterol, all the warning signs for oncoming diabetes and heart disease. I worked out regularly and tried to watch my diet, but I was still struggling with my weight. But by following the principles of my new research – a study I am now calling “Holobiotics” – I lost 70 pounds in just one year.
Dr. Gundry holds patents on several life-saving medical devices. His new research in the field of "Holobiotics" helps patients get healthy without surgery.
Dr. Gundry holds patents on several life-saving
medical devices. His new research in the field of
"Holobiotics" helps patients get healthy without
surgery.
The path to Gundry MD...
This is why, in 2002, I left my former position at California's Loma Linda University Medical Center, and founded The Center for Restorative Medicine. I have spent the last 14 years studying the human microbiome – and developing the principles of Holobiotics that have since changed the lives of countless men and women.
My center – based in Palm Springs, CA – is devoted to teaching patients how to live healthier lives through diet and lifestyle choices. My ultimate vision is to help them avoid the kind of surgeries I performed for over three decades.
And the rest of the medical world is still catching up.
It took me over 30 years of working with the toughest cases to make these new discoveries. I created Gundry MD to share them with you.
You see, while I'm able to serve a few hundred patients a year at my medical centers, I know my reach is limited. In fact, I currently have a 6-month waiting list for those who wish to see me in Palm Springs.
I love seeing patients personally, but I don't want you to have to wait 6 months. I don't want you to wait even one week to take advantage of the discoveries that have been life-changing for many of my patients.
With that said, welcome to Gundry MD! I'm honored to have you here, and it is my pleasure to guide you toward a healthier, fitter, and happier future.
Steven Gundry, MD
Center for Restorative Medicine | Founder, Gundry MD
DR. GUNDRY: THE HISTORY
Yale University cum laude graduate, with special honors in Human Biological and Social Evolution
Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine
Completed residencies in General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Michigan
Served as a clinical associate at the National Institutes of Health
Fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London
Former Professor and Chairman of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA
Served on the Board of Directors, American Society of Artificial Internal Organs
Founding board member and treasurer, International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery
Two successive terms as President of the Board of Directors, American Heart Association, Desert Division
Current medical director, International Heart & Lung Institute, Palm Springs, CA
Founder and current director, the Center for Restorative Medicine, Palm Springs and Santa Barbara, CA
Joined his colleague, Leonard Bailey, to perform more infant and pediatric heart transplants than anyone else in the world.
Pioneered the science of interspecies heart and tissue transplants, and kept a baboon alive with a transplanted pig heart for 28 days – a record for this type of surgery.
One of the first twenty surgeons to test the implantable left ventricular assist device, a type of artificial heart.
Operated in more than 30 countries, including charitable missions to China, India, and Zimbabwe.
As consultant to Computer Motion, was one of the first surgeons to receive FDA approval for robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery.
Consultant to self-improvement guru Tony Robbins, Oscar-winning actor Alan Arkin, and Emmy Award-winning actress Sela Ward.
Dr. Gundry holds patents on numerous surgical and medical devices, including:
The Gundry Retrograde Cardioplegia Cannula, the world's most-widely used device for preventing cell damage during open heart surgery.
The Skoosh Venous Cannula, the world's most widely-used data and fluid transfer tube for minimally-invasive heart surgery.
The Gundry Lateral Tunnel, a “living” tissue that can rebuild parts of the heart in children with severe genetic heart defects.
The pioneer of the Gundry Ministernomy, a now-widespread method for minimally-invasive heart valve repair.
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons; the American College of Cardiology; the American Academy of Pediatrics; and the College of Chest Physicians.
One of only 500 Fellows of the American Surgical Association.
Author of more than 300 chapters, articles, and abstracts in peer-reviewed journals on surgery, immunology, genetics, nutrition, and lipid investigations.
Author of The Plant Paradox, which topped the New York Times Bestseller list for 13 consecutive weeks and sparked a “lectin-free diet” movement all across the world.
Author of the best-selling Three Rivers Press book
Dr. Gundry's Diet Evolution: Turn Off the Genes That Are Killing You and Your Waistline.
Author of the New York Times bestseller, The Plant Paradox Cookbook, which offers plenty of lectin-free recipes to make eating “The Gundry Way” easier — and tastier — than ever.
DR. GUNDRY: THE PHILOSOPHY
If you're curious about Dr. Gundry's supplements and health products, there's one subject which guides his philosophy...
WHAT IS HOLOBIOTICS?
It's the concept that guides Dr. Gundry's “Diet Evolution” system, and all the supplements and products he's designed to support it. It's based on the belief that true health only happens when you're living in a state of cooperation with the trillions of tiny microbes that live everywhere in, on, and around your body.
Think of your body like an apartment complex. You're the landlord, and these trillions of tiny bugs are your tenants. Some of those bugs are “good” tenants: managing your digestion, helping energy move throughout your body, and powering as much as 80 percent of your immune system function, to keep you from getting sick or infected. But your body is also home to “bad” tenants: lectins (plant-based proteins that harm proper cell function); pathogens (bugs that cause illness and infection); and gut yeasts (which harm healthy digestion and help make you overweight).
HOLOBIOTICS: Your body and its "bugs" working together to give you optimum health.
HOLOBIOTICS: Your body and its "bugs" working
together to give you optimum health.
Sugar and other sweeteners endanger your "good" bugs
and keep you from feeling your best.
Sugar and other sweeteners endanger your "good"
bugs and keep you from feeling your best.
Naturally, you don't want these “bad” bugs running the show. But when you feed them unhealthy foods like sugars, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives, this makes them stronger. These foods help them kill off the “good” bugs...and turns your body into the kind of “building” where only bad bugs would want to live.
To restore your body to optimum health and wellness, you need to be sure you're taking care of your “good” bugs. Every product from Gundry MD is designed with this purpose in mind...whether it's a nutritional supplement for keeping the bugs in your gut powerfully effective...a skin treatment to nourish the healthy bacteria that live on the outside of your body...or any of the exciting new products currently in the works in the Gundry MD labs.
That's holobiotics. It's all about taking care of your good bacteria. Because if you take care of them... they'll take care of you.
If you’re not 100% satisfied with your product for any reason, you're covered by our 100% money-back guarantee (does not cover shipping and handling) for 90 days. For refunds, contact our customer support team at (800) 255-4503 and we'll refund your purchase, no questions, no hassle.
†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Use only as directed. Consult your healthcare provider before using supplements or providing supplements to children under the age of 18. The information provided herein is intended for your general knowledge only and is not intended to be, nor is it, medical advice or a substitute for medical advice. If you have or suspect you have, a specific medical condition or disease, please consult your healthcare provider.
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Home Deliveries
Cornish Saffron – a Labour of Love
November 22nd, 2020 by Carolyn Garman
Brian Eyers, and his wife Margaret, moved to the Roseland Peninsula in 2014 and began growing saffron crocuses the following year. It was the start of a wonderful love story, not just of saffron’s fascinating links to Cornwall and of the incredibly dainty crocus itself, but also of the delicate methods required to harvest the spice, its wonderful versatility in the kitchen and, most importantly, how it’s given them the new start they needed…
It’s a typical windswept October morning in Cornwall, and a stone’s throw from the Driftwood Hotel and The Hidden Hut, looking across Gerrans Bay on the Roseland Peninsula is where you’ll find Brian and Margaret Eyers – in their small sheltered field at first light, doubled over, delicately picking tiny lilac crocus flowers. This is the start of the Cornish Saffron harvest – even in the 21st Century achieved lovingly by hand, with not a single machine in sight.
“Cornwall has been my home for as long as I can remember – I was a teenager when my family moved here back in the mid 1970s,” says Brian. “I’ve always loved the land and sea, the wildlife, native plants and horticulture; it’s what I grew up with and I have worked on the land and in horticulture my whole life, researching and growing unusual native and non-native plants.”
Indeed, after a successful 32 years at one of Cornwall’s large horticultural estates, an unexpected redundancy for Brian offered him and Margaret the opportunity to start afresh; a new business venture beginning to bubble in the backs of their minds. “We upped sticks, moved to the Roseland Peninsula, having found a wonderful house with a little bit of land, and I set about doing some research. Of course, one tends to fall back on what you know, and for me that was obvious: Cornwall, unusual plants, and an opportunity for commercial production.”
It wasn’t long before Brian came across saffron and immediately he fell in love with its history: how the Phoenicians came to Cornwall hundreds of years ago from the Mediterranean and Persia, and exchanged the spice and flower bulbs for Cornish-mined tin and copper; how there were once saffron meadows and fields across the county up until about 120 years ago, presumably grown and enjoyed locally until cheaper imports arrived from Iran and Spain.
“Growing saffron is labour intensive, that’s for sure,” says Brian. “No amount of mechanisation will speed up the process of production. The only machines we’ve got are our elbows,” he laughs, “and that’s probably why we were the first in Cornwall to introduce ‘commercial’ production back in 2015.”
“That first year was a total experiment and what we did harvest wasn’t great,” Brian recalls. “We gave some to a couple of friends to try out. Fortunately, they were honest enough to tell us that the saffron didn’t taste of anything! We went back to the drawing board, did some more research and revised our process. It turns out that saffron, like wine, matures and improves with time… a chemical reaction needs to occur within the stigma in order to create the desired flavour, aroma and colour. The entire process of picking, plucking, drying and maturing is incredibly niche and all consuming. Even the timing is essential in terms of when to harvest, down to the time of day, although I’m glad to say that the flowers themselves are pretty hardy,” he explains. “We learnt a lot in that first year – and we’ve kept on experimenting and refining our techniques ever since – to make sure we continue to produce the very best.”
And that they must do – as Cornish Saffron is sought after by some of the best known chefs and producers in the country. Tarquin Leadbetter is a huge fan who took Brian and Margaret’s entire crop for two years running in order to produce the stunning Tarquin’s Cornish Crocus Gin. And until lockdown in March, the Eyers were also supplying many top restaurants in Cornwall and sourcing a number of new local partnerships.
“The food and drink scene in Cornwall is a very exciting place right now,” he says. “We have the best places to eat, the finest produce of anywhere in the UK, people who are keen to work together and an abundance of talent – both producers and chefs. Great chefs attract great chefs and all of them want to be here and thrive on our produce. Of course, this year has been incredibly tough, but we’re resilient and you find new ways to work and survive,’ he notes. “In fact, just before lockdown, we were at a turning point in our own business – deciding whether to stay ticking along nicely, or look to expand. We’ve taken the last eight months to plan our future and we’ve a lot to look forward to. There’s a new product on the horizon – growing fennel pollen for seasoning, alongside a greater range of herbs and spices, and we also keep bees. We’ve definitely enough in the pipeline to keep us out of mischief. But Cornish Saffron will always be my first love; “ he says. “It’s such a versatile little spice which can be used in sweet and savoury recipes, as well as deliciously refreshing drinks. And I’ll always be grateful that it set me on my new business adventure!”
A few of Brian’s favourites
Favourite recipe using Cornish Saffron:
Probably in a fish paella, but I also love it in poached pears and in rich and creamy rice pudding.
Favourite day out:
On the beach with the grandchildren, and once they’ve returned home, a meal at the Driftwood Hotel on the Roseland.
Favourite place in Cornwall:
Creek Stephen, right below our home.
Cornish Saffron is sold at the Great Cornish Food Store and also features in our Keen Cook’s Pantry gift hamper which you can purchase on line here
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store@greatcornishfood.co.uk
Great Cornish Food Store Ltd is a company registered in England, No 9997008. VAT registration number 238095786. Registered office: Chapel View Farm, Coombe Lane, Bissoe, Truro, TR4 8RE, United Kingdom.
Copyright 2020. Great Cornish Food Store Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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The mission of the Association is to:
Be the recognized representative body for its Members to the University
administration, its faculty, staff, and the external communities.
Ensure its Members have access to quality resources and services that support
their academic success.
Advocate for the unique needs and concerns of its Members,
Build a cohesive community among its Members.
The Canadian Federation of Students
Established in 1981, the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) is the largest national student association in Canada. The Federation unites more than 500,000 college, undergraduate, graduate, part-time and international students from coast to coast. The stated goal of the Federation is to represent the collective voice of Canadian students and work at the federal level for high quality, accessible post-secondary education. Students become members of the CFS automatically as a result of paying membership dues to local student unions. Current graduate students are a part of Local 101 - University of Saskatchewan Graduate Student Association.
A large part of the CFS' mandate is to lobby the federal government from its national office in Ottawa. Over the years, CFS representatives have testified to dozens of House of Commons committees, including the Standing Committee on Finance and the Standing Committee on Humans Resources Development and Persons with Disabilities. In addition to the ongoing testimonies and meetings, the CFS holds an annual Lobby Week that brings together dozens of students from across Canada to meet with their local Members of Parliament and Senators.
All major decisions are made at twice-yearly national and provincial general meetings. Each member students’ union has an equal say in setting the policies, direction and priorities of the Federation with the principle of ‘one member, one vote’. Every motion submitted to a general meeting gets debated by all member students’ unions in attendance at plenary.
Motions are referred to the following four (4) sub-committees for more in-depth analysis: Budget Committee, Organizational and Services Development Committee, Policy Review Committee and the Campaigns and Government Relations Forum. Motions are also examined and discussed from a diversity of student perspectives. The Canadian Federation of Students is the only student organization in Canada with the following constituency groups: racialized students, students with disabilities, Francophone students, International students, part-time and mature students, queer and trans students, student artists and women students. The following Caucus groups will review motions that are relevant to them: College and Institute Associations, Large Institute Associations, Small University Associations, National Graduate Caucus and the Circle of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Students. Lastly, member students’ unions gather by province or region to discuss motions from the perspective of students in their geographic area.
A National Executive is elected by member students’ unions at the national general meetings to execute and implement all Federation decisions.
ThinkGrad
ThinkGrad is a think tank for graduate student issues - it is a group comprised of graduate student representatives who are focused on spearheading research to strategically address pressing problems affecting higher education in Canada.
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Wait times at polls in 2016 election improved in several key states, new survey results show
Charles Stewart III, the Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science, found that in a number of states where voters experienced some of the longest waiting times in the 2012 presidential election — including South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland — there was notable improvement in 2016. Credit: Photo: Jose-Luis Olivares/MIT While many voters reported long lines at polling locations around the country during the 2012 presidential election, this year the overall amount of time people had to wait to vote improved significantly, according to a new survey examining voter experience during the 2016 presidential election. Charles Stewart III, the Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science at MIT, today presented the preliminary findings of the Survey on the Performance of American Elections (SPAE), during a conference hosted by the Pew Charitable Trusts on the evolution of voting administration since the 2012 election. Stewart found that in a number of states where voters experienced some of the longest waiting times in the 2012 presidential election—including South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland—there was notable improvement in 2016. In Florida, Stewart found ”tremendous improvement in terms of how long people reported that they waited to vote.”
The findings show that ”all the effort over the last four years that was invested in dealing with problems President Obama identified with lines, those efforts appear to have paid off,” Stewart says.
However, Stewart cautions that while the overall picture shows a trend in the right direction, voter experiences still vary between states, and some states still have a ways to go before wait times are within acceptable limits. For instance, in about half the states over 10 percent of voters waited more than 30 minutes to vote in 2016, which exceeds the benchmark established by the bipartisan Presidential Commission on Election Administration. Other states, such as North Carolina, saw significant improvement on Election Day that was not matched in early voting.
”The value of the SPAE is that it shines a spotlight on the specific places in America where further improvement is needed, while also identifying jurisdictions that may have a lesson to teach others,” Stewart explains.
The SPAE was conducted as part of the Pew Charitable Trusts Elections Performance Index, which is aimed at providing a comprehensive assessment of election administration across the nation. The index comprises data compiled on election administration policy and performance during the 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014 elections, and will soon include information from the 2016 election.
For the 2016 SPAE, Stewart analyzed data gathered by YouGov, an Internet polling operation, starting the day after Election Day. Survey participants, who hailed from every state in the nation, were posed questions about critical factors impacting whether Americans are able to vote successfully. In particular, voters were asked if they experienced difficulties with finding their polling location, checking in or registering, sending in mail and absentee ballots, or operating voting machines.
The nationwide survey was created in the wake of the 2000 election, which left Americans unsure of the outcome of the presidential race and uncovered issues with several critical voting factors, including how ballots are marked and the accuracy of voter registration lists. Stewart developed the survey in an effort to better understand ”the voters’ perspective on how they perceive the act of voting. It is important to figure out whether certain problems are widespread and common, or focused in particular states,” he says.
The first survey was conducted in 2008, and it was repeated during the 2012, 2014, and 2016 elections to get an accurate look at the ”general satisfaction with each of the critical links in the voting chain,” Stewart explains.
Stewart’s analysis shows the number of people voting ahead of Election Day, either through mail or absentee ballots or early voting opportunities, has continued to increase since the 2012 election, with almost half of the electorate voting beforehand. While an increasing number of Americans are voting prior to Election Day, according to Stewart, researchers have a less complete understanding of best practices for early voting administration.
For example, while people waited for a shorter time overall to vote on Election Day in 2016, the survey’s findings show people who vote early wait longer than those who vote on Election Day. Research could be conducted into the best hours and locations for early voting locations, and ways to make mail and absentee ballots more secure and less error prone, Stewart notes.
Furthermore, the results show that the overall discrepancy in voting experience between black and white Americans continues. On a national level the disparity between waiting times for black and white voters improved among Election Day voters during the 2016 election, but the gap between waiting times for black and white Americans voting early has not improved significantly since the 2012 election, according to the survey.
In an effort to examine which constituents took advantage of early voting opportunities, survey participants were asked how early voting fit into their daily activities. Stewart found that many people who participated in early voting did not have work or school obligations on the day they voted, and that many early voters identified themselves as retired, stay-at-home parents, or unemployed.
These findings point to an issue with how early voting is implemented in many jurisdictions, Stewart explains. ”If you are trying to design early voting in a way that’s convenient for people, then these findings tell you that election administrators will want to take into account the different schedules of early voters compared to Election Day voters,” he says.
Voter confidence
The survey also examined voter confidence following the 2016 presidential election among the different political parties. While Democrats became less confident that their vote was counted as cast, Republicans became more confident. While this finding is historically in line with how voters from the winning and losing political parties tend to feel about the integrity of the election results, Stewart believes that President-elect Donald Trump’s attack on the legitimacy of the election may, ironically enough, have reduced the drop in Democrats’ confidence in the integrity of the election outcome.
Additionally, Stewart notes that a majority of voters tended to be more confident about the integrity of their individual vote and the votes counted in their locality than they were about election reporting on the state and national levels.
Going forward, Stewart is interested in seeing more state and local election officials conduct postelection surveys evaluating the voter experience. Stewart explains that replicating his nationwide survey at a local level could provide ”opportunities for states and localities to build off of our model and conduct their own surveys. These surveys provide a benchmark at the state level and nationally against which you can judge your jurisdictions’s performance and find out what voters think about their experience and how you can improve.”
Explore further:Does early voting affect political campaigns and election outcomes?
Provided by:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Home This Week in Haiti News & Analysis Fierce Protests Erupt After Presidential Guard Mortally Wounds Student Protestor
Fierce Protests Erupt After Presidential Guard Mortally Wounds Student Protestor
Kim Ives -
Student activist Gregory “Greg” Saint-Hilaire was shot three times in the back by National Palace policemen on Oct. 2, but no arrests of the killer(s) have been made.
One or more policemen with Haiti’s Presidential Guard shot in the back college student Grégory Saint Hilaire, 29, according to witnesses on the afternoon of Fri., Oct. 2, 2020. He died in a Port-au-Prince hospital several hours later.
The killing ignited ferocious protests during five days last week, in which a courthouse and several state and private vehicles were burned.
Saint Hilaire and other former students of Port-au-Prince’s teachers college (École Normale Supérieure or ENS) had been protesting in recent weeks because Haiti’s Education Ministry had promised jobs and internships to graduating students but had not delivered. Saint Hilaire had graduated from ENS in 2018 and was in his second year at Haiti’s state law school (Faculté de Droit et Sciences Économiques).
On the day of the shooting at the ENS (located on Rue Monseigneur Guilloux, not far from the National Palace), former students had met with university officials and demonstrated to demand the promised jobs. Agents of the Unit for the General Security of the National Palace (USGPN) intervened and fired tear-gas and live rounds to disperse the demonstrators. The students briefly took refuge in the ENS but then tried to leave the school grounds.
“While we were exiting, they shot Gregory in the back,” said Jean Ronald Olicier, who witnessed Saint Hilaire’s shooting. Photo: Matiado Vilmé/VOA
“Another group of agents were waiting for us at the gate,” Saint Hilaire’s friend Jean Ronald Olicier told the Voice of America (VOA). “While we were exiting, they shot Gregory in the back. After the bullet hit his spine, they kept shooting and firing tear gas, preventing us from taking him to the hospital.”
Saint Hilaire, shot in the back with three bullets, lay bleeding on the ground for over three hours. Fellow students eventually carried him on a table to the nearby State General Hospital. No doctor was available there, however. A radio journalist volunteered to drive Saint Hilaire across town to the Bernard Mevs hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.
The killing set off an eruption of anger against the government of President Jovenel Moïse, whose resignation has already been demanded by dozens of regular, massive street demonstrations over the past 26 months, despite a hiatus since the Covid-19 pandemic.
During last week’s demonstrations, a courthouse and vehicles were burned, while at least one person was killed and several wounded by police gunfire.
“We’re not protesting because we believe we will get justice,” Oldenson Saint Pierre, a medical student at the State University, told VOA Creole. “We’re out here because we know this government only responds to violence. They only understand burning tires, damage to cars, so if that is what they understand, we are ready to use those means to make sure our message is heard.”
Students were outraged not only by the government’s false promises as Haiti’s economy and educational system continue to spiral downwards, but by the killing on university grounds which are supposed to be a sanctuary from police violence.
“This is the first time in our history that a student has been executed on the premises of a faculty while claiming his right to work and life,” wrote Sonet Saint-Louis, a former ENS graduate and current professor of constitutional law at the Faculty of Law and Economic Sciences. “We have just violated a sacred place of knowledge.”
Gregory “Greg” Saint Hilaire had grown up in one of the capital’s poorest and most violence-plagued slums, God’s Village (Village de Dieu). But he had excelled in school and been the president of ENS’s Student Council.
Gregory Saint Hilaire had excelled in school and been the president of ENS’s Student Council.
“In one of the protest signs, which went viral on social media, one reads ‘Down with guns! Long live education!’” wrote Andalasse Mertilus, also a former ENS Student Council president, in an open letter published last week in Haiti Liberté. “You specified that you prefer education instead of the option chosen by the current government; but it is precisely the option you rejected that was used against your dreams. I ask FORGIVENESS for your assassins.”
Set back on his heels once again, Jovenel Moïse took to Twitter and Facebook to call for calm. “The death of student Gregory Saint-Hilaire sparks indignation in all of us,” he tweeted on Oct. 4. “I reaffirm my faith in the right of every citizen to life. My sympathies and regrets to the family. An investigation is under way to shed light on this death which is one too many.”
But Moïse continued with a veiled threat in a video posted on his Facebook page: “Let’s take advantage of this opportunity to embrace calmness because I have to tell you – [repeating] the same actions will produce the same results.”
Meanwhile on Oct. 10, the State University’s Rectorate put out a note saying that on Oct. 5 and 6, it had been “the object of new attacks by a dozen individuals on motorcycles, including students clearly identified as having been expelled from the UEH [State University] and others claiming the status of students.”
The note called for “vigilance to avoid confusing delinquency and militancy, but also to prevent impostors from blurring the lines… The death of Grégory Saint-Hilaire should not be used as a screen for the settling of personal scores and carrying out acts of vandalism which have so far remained unpunished.”
Such posturing has not assuaged nor intimidated either Saint Hilaire’s comrades or his family. Already many students and lawyers were mobilized to demand answers and justice for the Aug. 28 murder of law professor and head of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association Monferrier Dorval at his home in Pèlerin 5. That high profile killing has taken months to make little headway, with seven men accused in the crime. Many expect the government and police to slow-walk their response to Saint-Hilaire’s killing.
“I have not heard from any law enforcement officials,” Greg’s grieving father told the VOA. “They have treated my son like a John Doe… This was a planned attack. We want reparations, justice.”
Gregory Saint Hilaire
Unit for the General Security of the National Palace (USGPN)
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by Health Jade Team 10.4K views
What is fundoplication surgery
Fundoplication surgery
DOR fundoplication
Toupet fundoplication
Nissen fundoplication surgery
Nissen fundoplication complications
Nissen fundoplication recovery
Nissen fundoplication diet
In a fundoplication is a surgery used to control problematic gastro-esophageal reflux or vomiting where the gastric fundus (upper part) of the stomach is wrapped around the lower end of the esophagus and stitched in place to reinforce the lower esophageal sphincter. The reinforced and tightened lower esophageal sphincter now provides a better “seal” and relieves the symptoms associated with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and achalasia. Fundoplication surgical procedure addresses the acid reflux–backflow of strong and irritating stomach acid into the lower esophagus–caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Constant exposure to the strong acids can damages the cells of your lower esophagus, where it joins the upper part of the stomach. In some cases, patients suffering from achalasia (a swallowing disorder) may need to undergo a fundoplication to reinforce the lower esophageal sphincter’s ability to close.
Fundoplication comes in a variety of forms such as Nissen, Dor, Toupet and Belsey. These surgical approaches differ in how much–and where–the lower esophagus is wrapped by the stomach. For example, in a Dor fundoplication, the top of the stomach is partially wrapped around the front of the esophagus’ lower end; while in a Toupet fundoplication, the top of the stomach is partially wrapped around the back of the lower esophagus. In Nissen fundoplication, the surgeon wraps the top of the stomach around the lower esophagus. This reinforces the lower esophageal sphincter, making it less likely that acid will back up in the esophagus (see Figure 4). Over the last decade and a half, the number of patients referred for antireflux surgery has increased eight fold. Approximately 70,000 operations are performed annually in the United States.
Gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition which develops when stomach contents regurgitate into the esophagus causing troublesome symptoms such as heartburn (burning sensation at the lower end of the breastbone) or regurgitation (perception of flow of stomach content into the throat or mouth) 1). Long‐term complications of GERD include reflux oesophagitis (injury to lining of esophagus), bleeding from the esophagus, narrowing of the esophagus, change in the nature of the lining of the esophagus which can sometimes give rise to esophageal cancer 2). Other researchers have hypothesized that there is a direct link between symptomatic GERD and esophageal cancer based on their observation of increased esophageal cancer irrespective of the presence of Barrett’s esophagus 3). While there has been significant controversy over the definition of GERD, the international consensus definition of GERD includes asymptomatic patients with complications, does not stipulate the method of diagnosis, and includes reflux which may be weakly acidic or gaseous 4).
There is global variation in the prevalence of GERD. The prevalence is higher in Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East, with a prevalence ranging between 9% and 33% of adults compared to a prevalence ranging between 3% and 8% in East Asia 5). The incidence of GERD is available from the UK and the USA and is about five cases of GERD per 1000 person-years 6). The risk factors for GERD include genetic factors such as a family history of reflux disease in immediate relatives; demographic factors such as pregnancy, older age and obesity; behavioral factors such as cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, drug treatments such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oral steroids; and co-morbidities such as abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gallstone disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chest pain, and angina. Coffee consumption, oral contraceptive consumption, and hormonal replacement therapy are associated with lower prevalence of GERD 7). It should be noted that these are associations and no causal association can be shown for many of these factors. Apart from lifestyle changes (such as cessation of smoking) and diet changes (avoiding food that causes heartburn), the major forms of treatment for GERD are medical and surgical. The medical treatment is usually aimed at decreasing acidity in the stomach. Currently a group of drugs which suppress acid secretion, called proton pump inhibitors, are considered the best in decreasing acid secretion.
Gastric contents are prevented from entering into the esophagus by the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). However, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes transiently resulting in the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, even in normal individuals 8). However, increased reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus and prolonged exposure of the lower esophagus to gastric contents are believed to contribute to the symptoms and complications of GERD 9). Hiatus hernia lowers the competence and pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, reduces the length of the gastro-esophageal junction, and alters the opening characteristics of the gastro-oesophageal junction. This results in an increase in the exposure of the esophagus to acid 10). Hiatus hernia is associated with severe GERD symptoms and complications 11).
The main surgical treatment is fundoplication which involves wrapping around the lower part of the food pipe with stomach. This can be performed by traditional open surgery, keyhole surgery or surgery that is performed without making any cut from within the stomach with the help of an endoscope (in this context, a flexible tube introduced through the mouth to give a view of the food pipe and stomach). There are various modifications to original complete fundoplication suggested by Nissen, mainly with regards to the amount and area of the gastric fundus which is plicated and where the wrap is fixed 12). Fundoplication can be performed by open or laparoscopic surgery 13). Currently laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the most common surgical procedure for the management of GERD offering promising long-term outcomes 14) and has been recommended as a choice of surgical therapy by the European Study Group for Antireflux Surgery and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons 15). Nevertheless, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication can induce functional disorders, such as dysphagia, gas-bloating and an inability to belch. Compared to laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, several surgeons have stated that laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication has a lower prevalence of postoperative complications while obtaining a similar control of reflux 16), but, several studies have failed to show a significant difference between them 17). Also, whether preoperative esophageal motility should be considered when surgeons select a procedure has not been elucidated. Hence, the controversy regarding the optimal surgical method continues.
This report 18) demonstrated that the operating time of laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication was longer than that of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, which might be due to the fact that the gastric fundus and both sides of the esophagus should be secured, respectively. Prevalence of perioperative complications between the two groups was not significantly different. But it is notable that Strate et al. 19) and Booth et al. 20) reported a perforation in the fundal wrap and an episode of perioperative bleeding after laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication. And Guérin et al. 21) also observed in-hospital bleeding. This phenomenon may be because the esophagus does not have a serosal layer and gastric fundus and both sides of the esophagus wall need to be sutured together, which may increase the risk of perforation and bleeding.
Recently endoscopic endoluminal fundoplication, which involves fundoplication without any incision, has been proposed 22).
The short‐term gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD)‐specific quality of life was better in the laparoscopic fundoplication group than in the medical treatment group 23). Research has shown that fundoplication surgery is more effective than medication, at least within the first year after surgery, fundoplication is better at relieving symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux, and can improve quality of life 24). However, it was not clear how much this improvement benefited the patient. Furthermore there is not enough good research to say whether these advantages of fundoplication surgery are sustained in the long term.
The proportion of people with serious adverse events, short‐term dysphagia, and medium‐term dysphagia was higher in the laparoscopic fundoplication group than in the medical treatment group. The proportion of people with heartburn at short term, medium term, and long term, and those with acid regurgitation at short term and medium term was less in the laparoscopic fundoplication group than in the medical treatment group 25). The severity of difficulty in swallowing, heartburn, or acid regurgitation was not reported. There is considerable uncertainty in the balance of benefits versus harms of laparoscopic fundoplication compared to long‐term medical treatment with proton pump inhibitors. Due to the poor quality of the trials, future high‐quality studies are needed in this field 26).
Fundoplication key points
Fundoplication surgery works as well as only taking medicine to keep you from getting acid reflux and heartburn. However, you may still need medicine after fundoplication surgery to control your symptoms.
People who have had fundoplication surgery usually take less medication than before, but they cannot always stop taking it altogether. One study showed the following 27):
Without fundoplication surgery: 87 out of 100 people who didn’t have surgery were still taking medication after one year.
With fundoplication surgery: 36 out of 100 people who had surgery were still taking proton pump inhibitors after one year.
There are different ways to do fundoplication surgery (for example, with a laporascope or through a large cut in your belly), but they all work about the same.
Figure 1. Stomach
Figure 2. Parts of the stomach
Figure 3. Gastroesophageal junction
Figure 4. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Figure 5. Fundoplication
Figure 6. Nissen fundoplication
The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 28). In order to inhibit lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, fundoplication is considered to be an essential and important part of antireflux surgery. Fundoplication can be done in two ways, depending on whether a section of the stomach is wrapped all the way around the food pipe, or only part of the way around it. A complete fundoplication, where the stomach is wrapped all the way around the food pipe, is called Nissen fundoplication. In what is known as Toupet fundoplication, the stomach is only partially wrapped around the food pipe. This surgical technique is the method of choice if, for example, there is a problem with the movements of the food pipe (called a motility disorder).
Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, a total wrap that surrounds the esophagus 360°, is the most commonly used, gold standard technique worldwide for antireflux surgery 29). However, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is associated with a high incidence of postoperative dysphagia and gas-bloat syndrome 30). Laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication, a 270° partial wrap, was introduced to counteract these side effects.
Many surgeons advocate that the incidence of regurgitation and heartburn are similar in both laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication, while postoperative dysphagia may have a higher incidence following laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication 31). Besides fundoplication type, other variables such as the length of the wrap and impaired esophageal peristalsis may also be associated with postoperative dysphagia 32). The original laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication procedure, which purports a 6-cm wrap length, is associated with a higher dysphagia rate 33). Two studies on the length of the Nissen fundoplication showed that a loose wrap of 1–2 cm was sufficient to suppress reflux and reduce the incidence of postoperative bloating and dysphagia 34), 35). An early study showed that laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication was more effective when esophageal motility was abnormal (less than 50% peristaltic waveforms) 36). However, a previous study reported a similar incidence of dysphagia between laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication 1 year postoperatively 37). Whether laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication has a benefit on abnormal esophageal peristalsis remains controversial.
Several meta-analyses have been performed comparing outcomes between laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication until 2011 38), 39). However, a comprehensive study collecting randomized clinical trials has not been conducted to date. In recent years, several studies with large sample sizes and recent follow-up data have been published comparing long-term efficacy and adverse events of both total and partial fundoplication 40), 41). The results of this 2010 meta-analysis 42) suggested that laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication might be the current procedure of choice to treat GERD.
Achalasia is a rare neurodegenerative disease of the esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter that has generally been accepted as an autoimmune esophageal motility disorder resulting from the loss of inhibitory nerve endings in the myenteric plexus of the esophagus 43). Pathophysiologically esophageal achalasia is characterized by poor relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and aperistalsis of the esophageal body, achalasia presents mainly relevant symptoms are dysphagia, regurgitation, heartburn, and chest pain 44). The commonly used treatment of achalasia involves medicine therapy, endoscopic pneumatic dilation, and surgical myotomy with the aim of eliminating the high lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure.
Current treatment of achalasia is directed at palliation of symptoms. Therapies include pharmacological therapy, endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin, endoscopic dilation, and surgery. Until the late 1980s, endoscopic dilation was the first line of therapy. The advent of safe and effective minimally invasive surgical techniques in the early 1990s paved the way for the introduction of laparoscopic myotomy.
Laparoscopic Heller myotomy has gained world-wide popularity and is increasingly regarded as the standard treatment for achalasia by surgeons and gastroenterologists. However, laparoscopic Heller myotomy alone has been shown to increase gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 45); hence, it is now common practice to include an antireflux procedure. A 360° (Nissen) fundoplication has been used. However, this patient population experienced a high rate of dysphagia. These patients have some degree of esophageal body dysmotility, and a 360° wrap can make esophageal emptying more difficult 46). Thus, although Nissen fundoplication is effective at controlling postoperative acid reflux, it is less favorable because of a high dysphagia recurrence rate 47).
A partial fundoplication has the benefits of less dissection, decreased operative time, and improvement in dysphagia symptoms, while showing improvement in reflux rates comparable with 360° fundoplication 48). Both Dor and Toupet fundoplications provide antireflux benefits with less risk for recurrent dysphagia in postmyotomy patients 49). Dor fundoplication which is a 180° anterior fundoplication, with the advantage of a simple procedure and covering of the mucosa, is being accepted as the first-line type of fundoplication for achalasia in most regions. Dor partial anterior fundoplication allows preservation of the posterior gastroesophageal junction as well as the potential advantage of protection of the exposed mucosa at the myotomy site. However, laparoscopic Heller myotomy alone or laparoscopic Heller myotomy plus other types of fundoplication (e.g., posterior 270° Toupet and total 360° Nissen fundoplication) have also been reported to have different benefits compared with laparoscopic Heller myotomy plus Dor fundoplication. Thus, there is no consensus on whether Dor fundoplication is the optimum procedure after laparoscopic Heller myotomy for the prevention of gastroesophageal reflux 50).
Toupet fundoplication is first described in 1963. Toupet fundoplication is described as a 270-degree posterior fundoplication, with crural closure and fixation of the wrap to the closure 51). The efficacy of Toupet fundoplication has been demonstrated and a partial wrap is believed to produce less postoperative side effects than the complete wrap. However, some studies have indicated that recurrence rate of reflux symptoms may be higher after Toupet fundoplication 52). Laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication is performed with five ports under general anesthesia. After dissecting the gastro-hepatic ligament with a harmonic scalpel, a window was created behind the lower esophagus. Then, the diaphragmatic crura were carefully dissected, and approximately 5 cm of the distal esophagus was mobilized, while the mediastinal structures, including the pleura, pericardium, vagus nerves, and aorta, were identified and preserved. In all cases, the gastric fundus was dissected by dividing the short gastric vessels. The diaphragmatic crura were sewed behind the esophagus with 1-2 non-absorbable sutures, and a posterior 270° and 2-cm-long fundoplication was constructed with 5-6 interrupted non-absorbable sutures.
Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication is a minimally invasive surgery that has been very successful and replaces classical open operations for the treatment of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). The Nissen fundoplication is performed under general anesthesia with 5 small (puncture hole) incisions placed on the abdomen. The stomach is wrapped around the lower esophagus, which then prevents the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and respiratory tract.
Patients typically spend one night in the hospital and go home the next day. After surgery, patients will no longer need “heartburn” medications, with a greater than 90% success rate in relieving symptoms of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Every surgical procedure carries certain risks. The complications related to fundoplication include injury to nearby structures such as the liver, spleen, or esophagus; dysphagia (troublesome difficulty in swallowing) (5%); wrap migration (1%); recurrent regurgitation (1%); recurrent heartburn (1% to 10%); and chest complications (3%) 53). Overall, 1% to 14% of patients undergoing fundoplication develop complications 54).
Quite a lot of people have symptoms such as flatulence (“passing wind” or “farting”) and regurgitation after having anti-reflux surgery. But these symptoms could also be caused by the disease itself, and not by the surgery. Surgery causes swallowing problems in some people, or makes existing swallowing problems worse. Up to 23 out of 100 people in the studies had symptoms like these after fundoplication surgery.
Possible serious complications of surgery include severe bleeding, organ injury and infections. Up to 2 out of 100 people have severe bleeding, and the digestive tract is injured in about 1 out of 100 people.
Fundoplication side effects
Fundoplication surgery can cause you to feel bloated and make it hard to swallow. These side effects may last for 30 days or longer, and some side effects may require a second surgery to fix.
Serious side effects, such as infection and heart attack, may be more common with surgery than with medicine. These side effects are rare.
You will need to be in hospital for about 5 days for the operation. You may need to be nursed in the intensive care unit after the operation for 1-2 days.
The major risks of the operation are bleeding, infection, leakage from oesophagus or stomach and chest infection.
There is not a lot of good research about post Nissen fundoplication diet and whether making changes in daily life helps relieve heartburn and acid reflux. But it can be worth changing certain habits. For instance, the symptoms might get better if you stop smoking or drink less alcohol.
If certain foods appear to make your gastroesophageal reflux symptoms worse, avoiding those foods could help. The problems are often caused by specific things, such as coffee, chocolate, very fatty or spicy foods, citrus fruits or fizzy drinks. It might take time and patience to find out which types of food you don’t tolerate well. Sometimes people also find that food hardly has any effect on their symptoms.
People who are overweight are often advised to lose weight because the extra pounds can put a strain on the digestive system and push against the food pipe and stomach. This could affect the function of the sphincter muscle at the lower end of the food pipe. Meals that have a lot of fat or calories in them, or large meals, can cause gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms too. But thin people who have low-fat diets can also have gastroesophageal reflux and heartburn. So there is no guarantee that your symptoms will get better if you lose weight or change your diet.
Many people wake up several times a night because of pain and burning in their food pipe. Some then decide to stop eating late in the evening, or only lie down at least three hours after a meal. Others sleep with their upper body raised. Lying on your left side can also help because then the entrance to your stomach is higher than your stomach itself.
If your symptoms do not improve despite making changes to your lifestyle, medication is a further treatment option. Various medications are available, some of which can relieve the symptoms very effectively – but the effect only lasts for as long as you take it.
Which medications can help?
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce the production of acidic stomach juices by inhibiting a certain enzyme. They can relieve typical symptoms like heartburn.
There are many names and brands of PPIs. Most work equally as well. Side effects may vary from drug to drug.
Omeprazole (Prilosec), also available over-the-counter (without a prescription)
Esomeprazole (Nexium), also available over-the-counter (without a prescription)
Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
Rabeprazole (AcipHex)
Pantoprazole (Protonix)
Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)
Zegerid (omeprazole with sodium bicarbonate), also available over-the-counter (without a prescription)
Studies have tested just how effective these medications are. It was found that:
25 out of 100 people who took a dummy drug (placebo) hardly had heartburn any more after two to eight weeks.
70 out of 100 people who took a proton pump inhibitors (PPI) hardly had heartburn any more after two to eight weeks.
In other words, the medications led to a noticeable improvement in symptoms in 45 out of 100 people.
Research has shown that proton pump inhibitors usually relieve the symptoms or reduce food pipe inflammations better than H2-receptor antagonists do. But proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) sometimes don’t reduce the production of stomach acid enough at night. If this happens, people may have reflux symptoms at night despite taking medication. In the US and other countries, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are available over the counter at low doses and in small pack sizes. A prescription is needed for higher doses.
H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs)
H2-receptor antagonists (e.g., ranitidine, cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine) prevent large amounts of stomach juices from being made, by blocking the action of the hormone histamine in the stomach. Studies have shown that these drugs can relieve the symptoms of reflux:
41 out of 100 people who took a dummy drug (placebo) hardly had heartburn any more after two to six weeks.
55 out of 100 people who took an H2-receptor antagonist hardly had heartburn any more after two to six weeks.
In other words, the medication relieved heartburn in 14 out of 100 people.
Antacids used to be a commonly used treatment option in Germany. These drugs are meant to bind to stomach acid, thereby neutralizing acidic stomach juices in the food pipe and stomach. But no good-quality studies have shown that antacids help in people who have GERD. Antacids might be an option if someone only has mild heartburn or cannot tolerate the medications mentioned above. In Germany, they are available in pharmacies without a prescription.
Prokinetics
Prokinetics are meant to speed up the emptying of your stomach and help stop stomach contents from flowing back into the food pipe. However, it is not clear whether they help in people who have GERD. There has not been enough good-quality research in this area. For this reason, prokinetics are only rarely used in the treatment of GERD in the US.
Side effects does the medication
Overall, about 2 out of 100 people who take proton pump inhibitors have side effects like diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, pain in the upper stomach area, difficulty swallowing or headaches. Sometimes these side effects can be avoided by switching to a different proton pump inhibitors (PPI) or changing the dose.
The long-term use of Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can increase the risk of bone fractures, particularly if they are taken at high doses for more than a year. There is some debate as to whether these drugs might also make people more likely to develop a severe inflammation of the bowel or pneumonia.
Fewer than 1 out of 100 people who take H2-receptor antagonists have side effects such as nausea or headaches.
References [ + ]
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34. ↵ DeMeester TR, Bonavina L, Albertucci M. (1986) Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Evaluation of primary repair in 100 consecutive patients. Annals of surgery 204: 9–20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1251217/pdf/annsurg00089-0015.pdf
35. ↵ del Pino Porres FJ, Sancho Fornos S, Benages Martinez A, Mora F. (2000) Manometric comprobation of esophagogastric junction competence after Nissen fundoplication and its relation to the length of fundic wrap. World journal of surgery 24: 870–873. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10833257
36. ↵ Worrell SG, Greene CL, DeMeester TR. (2014) The state of surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease after five decades. Journal of the American College of Surgeons 219: 819–830. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2014.05.018 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25241236
37. ↵ Chrysos E, Tsiaoussis J, Zoras OJ, Athanasakis E, Mantides A, Katsamouris A, et al. (2003) Laparoscopic surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease patients with impaired esophageal peristalsis: total or partial fundoplication? Journal of the American College of Surgeons 197: 8–15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12831918
38. ↵ Shan CX, Zhang W, Zheng XM, Jiang DZ, Liu S, Qiu M. (2010) Evidence-based appraisal in laparoscopic Nissen and Toupet fundoplications for gastroesophageal reflux disease. World journal of gastroenterology: WJG, 16: 3063–3071. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2890948/
39. ↵ Tan G, Yang Z, Wang Z. (2011) Meta-analysis of laparoscopic total (Nissen) versus posterior (Toupet) fundoplication for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease based on randomized clinical trials. ANZ journal of surgery 81: 246–252. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2010.05481.x https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21418467
40. ↵ Koch OO, Kaindlstorfer A, Antoniou SA, Luketina RR, Emmanuel K, Pointner R. (2013) Comparison of results from a randomized trial 1 year after laparoscopic Nissen and Toupet fundoplications[J]. Surgical endoscopy 27: 2383–2390. doi: 10.1007/s00464-013-2803-0 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23361260
41. ↵ Qin M, Ding G, Yang H. (2013) A clinical comparison of laparoscopic nissen and toupet fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques 23: 601–604. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23614820
42. ↵ Shan C-X, Zhang W, Zheng X-M, Jiang D-Z, Liu S, Qiu M. Evidence-based appraisal in laparoscopic Nissen and Toupet fundoplications for gastroesophageal reflux disease. World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG. 2010;16(24):3063-3071. doi:10.3748/wjg.v16.i24.3063. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2890948/
43. ↵ Zaninotto G, Rizzetto C. Endoscopic and surgical management of achalasia. Eur Surg. 2008;40:146–153.
44, 50. ↵ Wei M-T, He Y-Z, Deng X-B, et al. Is Dor fundoplication optimum after laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia? A meta-analysis. World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG. 2013;19(43):7804-7812. doi:10.3748/wjg.v19.i43.7804. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3837282/
45, 47. ↵ Richards WO, Torquati A, Holzman MD, et al. Heller myotomy versus Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication for achalasia: a prospective randomized double-blind clinical trial. Ann Surg. 2004;240(3):405–415 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1356431/
46. ↵ Topart P, Deschamps C, Taillefer R, Duranceau A. Long-term effect of total fundoplication on the myotomized esophagus. Ann Thorac Surg. 1992;54(6):1046–1051 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1449285
48. ↵ Rebecchi F, Giaccone C, Farinella E, Campaci R, Morino M. Randomized controlled trial of laparoscopic Heller myotomy plus Dor fundoplication versus Nissen fundoplication for achalasia: long term results. Ann Surg. 2008;248(6):1023–1030
49. ↵ Williams VA, Peters JH. Achalasia of the esophagus: a surgical disease. J Am Coll Surg 2009;208(1):151–162
51. ↵ Wykypiel H, Bonatti H, Hinder RA, Glaser K, Wetscher GJ. The laparoscopic fundoplications: Nissen and partialposterior (Toupet) fundoplication. Eur Surg. 2006;38:244–9.
52. ↵ Cuschieri A, Hunter J, Wolfe B, Swanstrom LL, Hutson W. Multicentre evaluation of laparoscopic antireflux surgery. Preliminary report. Surg Endosc. 1993;7:505–10.
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Communiqué of the Holy See Press Office: Apostolic Letter in Effect September 1, 2013
by BZ ⒾAM Riger / Wednesday, 21 August 2013 / Published in Absolute Data, Eternal Essence Embodied
TEXT OF PRESENTATION BY
H.E. MSGR. DOMINIQUE MAMBERTI,
SECRETARY FOR RELATIONS WITH STATES,
OF THE MOTU PROPRIO OF POPE FRANCIS
ON CRIMINAL LAW MATTERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS
[Introduction: communique of the Holy See Press Office]
1. Today His Holiness Pope Francis has issued a Motu proprio on criminal law matters.
On this same date, the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State has adopted the following laws:
– Law No. VIII containing Supplementary Norms on Criminal Law Matters;
– Law No. IX containing Amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code;
– Law No. X containing General Provisions on Administrative Sanctions.
2. The Motu proprio makes the criminal laws adopted by the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State applicable also within the Holy See.
3. The criminal laws adopted today are a continuation of the efforts to update Vatican City State’s legal system, building upon the measures adopted since 2010 during the pontificate of Benedict XVI.
4. These laws, however, have a broader scope, since they incorporate into the Vatican legal system the provisions of numerous international conventions including: the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, on the conduct of war and war crimes; the 1965 Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination; the 1984 Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the 1989 Convention on the rights of the child and its optional protocols of 2000.
5. Of particular note in this context is the introduction of the crime of torture and a broader definition of the category of crimes against minors (including: the sale of children, child prostitution, the recruitment of children, sexual violence and sexual acts with children, and the production and possession of child pornography).
6. A section of the legislation introduces a list of crimes against humanity, in particular, the crimes of genocide and apartheid, following broadly the definitions adopted in the 1998 Statute of the International Criminal Court. The section of the Criminal Code regarding offences committed in the exercise of public administration has also been revised in light of the 2003 United Nations Convention against corruption. With regard to penalties, that of life imprisonment has been abolished and it has been replaced with a maximum penalty of 30 to 35 years of imprisonment.
7. In line with the most recent developments at the international level, the new legislation also introduces a system of penalties for juridical persons who profit from the criminal activities of their constituent bodies or personnel, establishing their direct liability and providing as penalties a set of interdictions and pecuniary sanctions.
8. In the area of criminal procedure, the general principles of presumption of innocence and due process within a reasonable time have been recognized explicitly, while the power of the judicial authorities to adopt precautionary measures has been increased by bringing up to date the provisions for confiscation and the freezing of assets.
9. Also of importance is the modernization of the rather dated norms governing international judicial cooperation, with the adoption of measures in line with the standards of the most recent international conventions.
10. The law on administrative sanctions is of a general nature so as to serve as a common framework that provides for the possibility of sanctions in different areas intended to promote respect for the norms, to render them effective and to protect the public interests.
11. As a whole, these normative efforts form part of broader process aimed at modernizing further the Vatican legal system with a view to enhancing its consistency and effectiveness.
Presentation of the motu proprio by the Secretary for Relations with States Abp. Dominique Mamberti
Public Release made July 11, 2013, by The Holy See Press Office
The laws approved by the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State bring about a broad-ranging normative change, necessary for the function that this State, entirely sui generis, is called upon to carry out for the benefit of the Apostolic See. The original and foundational aim of the Vatican, which consists of guaranteeing the freedom of the exercise of the Petrine ministry, indeed requires an institutional structure that, the limited dimensions of the territory notwithstanding, assumes a complexity in some respects similar to that of contemporary States.
Established by the Lateran Pacts of 1929, the State adopted the judicial, civil and penal structures of the Kingdom of Italy in their entirety, in the conviction that this would be sufficient to regulate the legal relationships within a State whose reason for existence lies in the support of the spiritual mission of Peter’s Successor. The original penal system – constituted by the Italian Penal Code on 30 June 1889 and the Italian Penal Code of 27 February 1913, in force from 7 June 1929 – has seen only marginal modifications and even the new law on sources of law (No. 71 of 1 October 2008) confirms the criminal legislation of 1929, while awaiting an overall redefinition of the discipline.
The most recently approved laws, while not constituting a radical reform of the penal system, revise some aspects and complete it in other areas, satisfying a number of requirements. On the one hand, these laws take up and develop the theme of the evolution of the Vatican judicial structure, continuing the action undertaken by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 to prevent and combat money-laundering and the financing of terrorism. In this regard, the provisions contained in the 2000 United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime, the 1988 United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, and the 1999 International Convention for the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism, are to be implemented, along with other conventions defining and specifying terrorist activity.
The new laws also introduce other forms of crime indicated in various international conventions already ratified by the Holy See in international contexts and which will now be implemented in domestic law. Among these conventions, the following are worthy of mention: the 1984 Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the 1989 International Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 2000 Optional Protocols, the 1949 Geneva Conventions on War Crimes, etc. A separate section is dedicated to crimes against humanity, including genocide and other crimes defined by international common law, along the lines of the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. From a substantial point of view, finally, further items of note are the revision of crimes against the public administration, in line with the provisions included in the 2003 United Nations Convention Against Corruption, as well as the abolition of the life sentence, to be substituted by a maximum custodial sentence of 30 to 35 years.
While many of the specific criminal offences included in these laws are undeniably new, it would however be incorrect to assume that the forms of conduct thereby sanctioned were previously licit. These were indeed punished, but as broader, more generic forms of criminal activity. The introduction of the new regulations is useful to define the specific cases with greater certainty and precision and to thus satisfy the international parameters, calibrating the sanctions to the specific gravity of the case.
Some of the new categories of criminal activity introduced (for instance, crimes against the security of air or maritime navigation or against the security of airports or fixed platforms) may appear excessive considering the geographic characteristics of Vatican City State. However, such regulations have on the one hand the function of ensuring respect for international anti-terrorism parameters, and on the other, they are necessary to ensure compatibility with the condition of so-called “dual criminality”, to enable the extradition of persons charged or convicted of crimes committed abroad should they seek refuge in Vatican City State.
Special emphasis is given to the discipline of “civil responsibility of juridical persons derived from a criminal violation” (arts. 46-51 of the law containing complementary regulations on criminal matters), introducing sanctions for juridical persons involved in criminal activities as defined by the current international legal framework. To this end an attempt has been made to reconcile the traditionally cautious approach observable also in the canonical order, according to which “societas puniri non potest” with the need, ever more evident in the international context, to establish adequate and deterrent penalties also against juridical persons who profit from crime. The solution adopted was therefore that of establishing administrative responsibility of juridical persons, obviously when it is possible to demonstrate that a crime was committed in the interests of or to the advantage of that same juridical person.
Significant modifications are introduced also in terms of procedure. These include: updates in the discipline of requisition, strengthened by measures regarding the preventative freezing of assets; an explicit statement of the principles of fair trial within a reasonable time limit and with the presumption of innocence; the reformulation of regulations regarding international judicial cooperation with the adoption of the measures established by the most recent international conventions.
From a technical and regulatory point of view, the plurality of sources available to experts was organised by means of their combination in a harmonious and coherent body of legislation which, in the frameworks of the Church’s magisterium and the juridical-canonical tradition, the principal source of Vatican law (Art. 1, Para. 1, Law No. 71 on the sources of law, 1 October 2008) takes into account simultaneously the norms established by international conventions and the Italian juridical tradition, reference to which has always been made by the Vatican legal order.
In order to better order a legislative work with such broad-ranging content, it has been drafted as two distinct laws. One brings together all the legislation consisting of modifications to the penal code and the code of criminal procedure; the other will instead consist of legislation of a nature which does not permit a homogeneous section within the code structure and is therefore gathered in form of a latere or complementary penal code.
Finally, the penal reform hitherto presented is completed with the adoption by the Holy Father Francis of a specific Motu proprio, also bearing yesterday’s date, which extends the reach of the legislation contained in these criminal laws to the members, officials and employees of the various bodies of the Roman Curia, connected Institutions, bodies subordinate to the Holy See and canonical juridical persons, as well as pontifical legates and diplomatic staff of the Holy See. This extension has the aim of making the crimes included in these laws indictable by the judicial organs of Vatican City State even when committed outside the borders of the state.
Among the laws adopted yesterday by the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State there is also the law consisting of general legislation on the subject of administrative sanctions. This law had already been proposed in Art. 7, Paragraph 4 of Law 71 on the sources of law of 1 October 2008, and establishes the general principles and regulation of the application of administrative sanctions.
For some time there has long been an awareness of the expedience of an intermediate tertium genus between penal and civil offences, also in relation to the growing relevance of administrative offences. As a discipline of principle, the provisions of such a law would be used whenever another law establishes the imposition of administrative penalties for a breach of law, no doubt to specify the procedure for their application to the competent authority and the order of other minor effects.
One of the cornerstones of the system introduced by this law is constituted by the so-called rule of law, as a result of which administrative sanctions may be imposed only in cases defined by law. The procedure for implementation is divided into a phase of investigation and challenge of the infringement by the competent offices, and a second phase of imposition of the sanction, which will fall within the competences of the President of the Governorate. Finally, there will be the right to appeal heard by a single judge except in more cases of more severe penalties, for which the jurisdiction of the Court is established.
To conclude this brief presentation, it may be observed that the laws indicated above are notable not only for their undeniable substantial and systematic relevance, but also because they represent a further significant step on the part of the Vatican legislator towards the refinement of its legal code, necessary to assume and promote the constructive and useful proposals of the international Community with a view to more intense international cooperation and a more effective pursuit of the common good.
19 Comments to “ Communiqué of the Holy See Press Office: Apostolic Letter in Effect September 1, 2013”
henry says :Reply
Ultimus Triritus Probatum Romanus is three sets of official and sacred writs issued throughout the year 2011,
signifying the collapse and termination of the master trusts established by presumption by the Vatican, also known
as the Roman Cult and their leadership through the Khazarian/Magyar leadership of Venice. Ultimus Triritus
Probatum Romanus stands for “The final three times writs of probate against Rome” and is the formal title given to
the collection of these writs issued.
On Augst 15th 2011, upon the anniversary of the formation of the Jesuit Order, official notice through a Writ of
Probate was issued to the three Popes, being the White Pope of the Vatican, the Black Pope of the Jesuits and the Grey
Pope of the Venetian Franciscans that the Trust Aeterni Regis had fulfilled its purpose and was terminated, with all
property vested to One Heaven for the benefit of all men and women, living and deceased.
sonya says :Reply
Hi Henri
Dp you know if the Trust Aeterni Regis is the same as the Cestui Que Vie trust?
Malcolm says :Reply
Can anyone state exactly what this says in layman’s terms and who does this apply to in regards to nation states or countries? Does this apply to judicial jurisdiction around the world or only within the Vatican?
Nick Kosonic says :Reply
Malcolm< In my limited understanding but which resonates in my Heart, it applies to the whole kit and kabooble because the Pope is said to have been the "owner of the World and everything upon it. PS. very simply put, (check yourself) All 'National Governments" and "countries" everywhere are "corporations" listed on the stock exchange, they control "us" by virtue of our Birth Certificate which was turned into a "corporate fiction". All corporations exist as under Roman Curia. the Vatican!!Back to Zero Point!!!!
vanessa says :Reply
why do we as humans use such complicated unnecessary language to get a simple points across? Basically it says no more cruel treatment of humans, (in any form) be that man woman or child. No more ‘safety zones’ for all the ones on the planet who thought they could rape children and steal from the people, and that ‘supposedly’ no more funny business with our value. it’s a nice essay, but let’s see if this is just another big ‘announcement’ that really does zilch in the big scheme of things.Much like the last year.
Martin seers says :Reply
Then its up to us all to make sure that we be and live the change we want and take action get the I-UV flyers out there and start to see the change it all over the world now.
Its time to let go of fears of yesterday that time has gone we now are living under universal law and need to stop looking out of the door its time to step through the door in to the brave new world being created by the people for the people to real peace love and freedom.
The more science looks in to the placebo effect the more proof they fine that it works, put this in to the bigger picture, if people stopped thinking that things won’t work then they probably won’t so if everyone sees it working then it probable will.?
Look up the monkey effect.
Peace Love and freedom 🙂
The papal bull Aeterni regis [English: “Eternal king’s”] was issued on 21 June 1481 by Pope Sixtus IV. It confirmed the substance of the Treaty of Alcáçovas, reiterating that treaty’s confirmation of Castile in its possession of the Canary Islands and its granting to Portugal all further territorial acquisitions made by Christian powers in Africa and eastward to the Indies.
This bull confirmed the earlier bulls Romanus Pontifex, issued by Nicholas V in 1455, and Inter caetera, issued in 1456 by Callixtus III.[1] It was the legal basis of Don Christopher Columbus’s authority as viceregal agent of the Spanish crown in the Americas.
A Cestui Que VieTrust, also known later as a “Fide Commissary Trust” and later again as a “Foreign Situs trust” and also known as a form of “Secret Trust”is a fictional concept being a Temporary Testamentary Trust, first created during the reign of Henry VIII of England through the Cestui Que Vie Act of 1540 and updated by Charles II through the Cestui Que Vie Act of 1666 wherein an Estate may be effected for the Benefit of one or more Persons presumed lost or abandoned at “sea” and therefore assumed/presumed “dead” after seven (7) years. Additional presumptions by which such a Trust may be formed were added in later statutes to include bankrupts, minors, incompetents, mortgages and private companies.
Thanks for that info, Henri. I wonder if you would mind explaining what the Trust Aeterni Regis is? It would help my understanding of your first post. Thanks.
Sorry, Henri, I hadn’t seen the previous post in which you explained the Aeterni Regis – so thank you so much for that too. 🙂
luis tejeiro says :Reply
El amor empieza por uno mismo…Y el moviniento se demuestra andando. El mundo está cambiando, Es hora de dar y darse. Solo así permaneceremos en el centro del uracan sin ser arrasados. Hay algo ilógico en no dar la cara: En la asociación hay lider; El Cristiano debe cumplir la doctrina de Cristo y ser ejemplar (predicar con el ejemplo).Quien conspira contra su prójimo haciendo actos criminales, expoliando o sobornando, hace cómplices que tambíen son culpables de su corrupción. La conciencia es lo único que tenemos. Por favor, que sea lo mas transparente y limpia con la Creación, Y así mismo, con todos nuestros hermanos. Que Dios nos libre de juzgar y hacer leyes que jamás cumplimos.
Kaspar says :Reply
Totalmente de acuerdo Luís.
Es la hora de tomar el toro por lo cuernos y demostrar que los cristianos pueden ser los lídires del cambio.
TG says :Reply
These guys go way back and have been at the core of the slavery system we are now living within. I do not trust a word of it, Smoke and mirrors… again. I can only believe there is a much more devious plan in hand for us who swallow it hook line and sinker. Throwing a few minions under the bus finally… to preserve their dominant position sounds more feasible, given the long history of oppression that has been waged upon the people of the world. I trust them no more than I trust the indonesian dragon society.
kona says :Reply
Give us back everything, that includes the billions of lives you destroyed and took. OMG I KNOW what you catholic priests have done, I have seen enough in visions to know that I want you to leave Life because you are not worthy of it. I am sickened by not only catholic agendas, but the new cristian religion peons propagating that false word of God called bible, and the fanatical automitons trying to sell me the same lies that destroyed so many of their own ancestors, its like the movie Soylent Green, accept cristians raise there children and feed them to the church, while they watch the church eat themselves and then try to sell me, as diner, for the church, to me. OMG I have wanted to stop you, even help you, then you try and sell me again your soylent church. This darkness must leave life. As you can see, I am still a bit upset. I will eventually forgive myself, as for the church, get out of the way, before we all see you and hold you accountable for it ALLLL, GRRRRR, Ahhhhh. We are coming!
Adam Weishaupt says :Reply
“The Motu proprio makes the criminal laws adopted by the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State applicable also within the Holy See” – see of Rome viewed as the central government of the Roman Catholic Church
Does this apply to us, it looks like ti applies to the people that form the central government of the roman catholic church and to the government of the Vatican City State – Doesn’t this make each of of people that are part of both personally liable ?
Doesn’t it therefore only apply to organisations within the jurisdiction of the Vatican City State and the Cental Government of the Roman Catholic Church.
As we are not a catholic nation (church of england) does any of this actually mean anything at all ?
Looks like this only applies to the Holy See
In our times, the common good is increasingly threatened by transnational organized crime, the improper use of the markets and of the economy, as well as by terrorism.
It is therefore necessary for the international community to adopt adequate legal instruments to prevent and counter criminal activities, by promoting international judicial cooperation on criminal matters.
In ratifying numerous international conventions in these areas, and acting also on behalf of Vatican City State, the Holy See has constantly maintained that such agreements are effective means to prevent criminal activities that threaten human dignity, the common good and peace.
With a view to renewing the Apostolic See’s commitment to cooperate to these ends, by means of this Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio,
Maria says :Reply
Muchas veces cuesta dar con articulos biedn expuestos, por lo que aprovecho para felicitarte.Siguan as
walter says :Reply
how can i enforc this vatican city state law no. viii of july 11,2013 on these de-facto’s actors under article 46
Michael says :Reply
To all whom may read these words: May Our Heavenly Father Bestow Great Wisdom and Blessings Upon You
Leave a Reply to Adam Weishaupt Cancel reply
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Posted inHKFP Reports, Hong Kong, Politics & Protest
Porn star befriended by CY’s Facebook account doesn’t know who he is
by Kris Cheng 21:26, 30 December 2015 19:15, 31 March 2020
Yukino Shinohara, the Japanese porn star who was one of the “new friends” allegedly added to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s Facebook account by hackers, told HKFP she did not know anything about the “friendship.”
According to an Apple Daily report on Wednesday, Shinohara was one of a few accounts that had been added as “friends” of the Chief Executive’s on Facebook.
Shinohara confirmed that it was her account that had been involved in the alleged hacking, but when she checked her profile again, she said that Leung was no longer listed as her “friend.”
Japanese porn star Yukino Shinohara. Photo: Yukino Shinohara.
After being informed that the Hong Kong government had issued a statement on the incident, she told HKFP, “Oh really, it has become a big deal.”
“I totally have no idea [who Leung is],” she added.
Yukino Shinohara’s tweet about the incident. Photo: HKFP.
The statement issued by the Chief Executive Office said that Leung’s account was suspected to have been hacked on December 24.
“Some information and settings were modified by others, some posts were deleted by others, some ‘new friends’ were added by others, and the Chief Executive’s Facebook profile picture was modified by others,” the statement read.
However, netizens found that some of young ladies claiming to be from Taiwan had been added as “friends” as early as November 23, Stand News reported.
The Chief Executive’s Office has asked for police assistance and hackers are suspected to be behind the newly added “friends.”
Leung opened a Facebook account with limited access in October. No one is able to see his list of “friends,” and only “friends” can comment on the posts.
Tagged: CY Leung, Facebook, Police, Technology
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Oxford-Astrazeneca trial data show vaccine is at least 70 percent effective and easy to store as well
Drugmaker AstraZeneca said Monday that late-stage trials showed its COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective, buoying the prospects of a relatively cheap, easy-to-store product that may become the vaccine of choice for the developing world.
The results are based on an interim analysis of trials in the U.K. and Brazil of a vaccine developed by Oxford University and manufactured by AstraZeneca. No hospitalizations or severe cases of COVID-19 were reported in those receiving the vaccine.
AstraZeneca is the third major drug company to report late-stage data for a potential COVID-19 vaccine as the world waits for scientific breakthroughs that will end a pandemic that has pummeled the world economy and led to 1.4 million deaths. But unlike the others, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doesn't have to be stored at freezer temperatures, making it potentially easier to distribute, especially in developing countries.
"I think these are really exciting results," Dr. Andrew Pollard, chief investigator for the trial, said at a news conference. "Because the vaccine can be stored at fridge temperatures, it can be distributed around the world using the normal immunization distribution system. And so our goal ¦ to make sure that we have a vaccine that was accessible everywhere, I think we've actually managed to do that."
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in one of the dosing regimens tested; it was less effective in another. Earlier this month, rival drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna reported preliminary results from late-stage trials showing their vaccines were almost 95 percent effective.
While the AstraZeneca vaccine can be stored at 2 degrees to 8 degrees Celsius, the Pfizer and Moderna products must be stored at freezer temperatures. In Pfizer's case, it must be kept at the ultra-cold temperature of around minus-70 degrees Celsius (minus-94 Fahrenheit).
The AstraZeneca vaccine is also cheaper.
AstraZeneca, which has pledged it won't make a profit on the vaccine during the pandemic, has reached agreements with governments and international health organizations that put its cost at about $2.50 a dose. Pfizer's vaccine costs about $20, while Moderna's is $15 to $25, based on agreements the companies have struck to supply their vaccines to the U.S. government.
All three vaccines must be approved by regulators before they can be widely distributed.
Oxford researchers and AstraZeneca stressed they weren't competing with other projects and said multiple vaccines would be needed to reach enough of the world's population to end the pandemic.
"We need to be able to make a lot of vaccine for the world quickly, and it's best if we can do it with different technologies so that if one technology runs into a roadblock, then we've got alternatives, we've got diversity,³ professor Sarah Gilbert, a leader of the Oxford team, told The Associated Press. "Diversity is going to be good here, but also in terms of manufacturing, we don't want to run out of raw materials."
AstraZeneca said it will immediately apply for early approval of the vaccine where possible, and it will seek an emergency use listing from the World Health Organization, so it can make the vaccine available in low-income countries.
The AstraZeneca trial looked at two different dosing regimens. A half-dose of the vaccine followed by a full dose at least one month later was 90 percent effective. Another approach, giving patients two full doses one month apart, was 62 percent effective.
That means that, overall, when both ways of dosing are considered, the vaccine showed an efficacy rate of 70 percent.
Gilbert said researchers aren't sure why giving a half-dose followed by a larger dose was more effective, and they plan to investigate further. But the answer is probably related to providing exactly the right amount of vaccine to get the best response, she said.
"It's the Goldilocks amount that you want, I think, not too little and not too much. Too much could give you a poor quality response as well ...,³ she said. "I'm glad that we looked at more than one dose because it turns out to be really important."
The vaccine uses a weakened version of a common cold virus that is combined with genetic material for the characteristic spike protein of the virus that causes COVID-19. After vaccination, the spike protein primes the immune system to attack the virus if it later infects the body.
Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, said the finding that a smaller initial dose is more effective than a larger one is good news because it may reduce costs and mean more people can be vaccinated with a given supply of the vaccine.
"The report that an initial half-dose is better than a full dose seems counterintuitive for those of us thinking of vaccines as normal drugs: With drugs, we expect that higher doses have bigger effects, and more side-effects," he said. "But the immune system does not work like that."
Full Coverage: Coronavirus pandemic The results reported Monday come from trials in the U.K. and Brazil that involved 23,000 people. Of those, 11,636 people received the vaccine " while the rest got a placebo.
Overall, there were 131 cases of COVID-19. Details on how many people in the various groups became ill weren't released Monday, but researchers said they will be published in the next 24 hours.
Late-stage trials of the vaccine are also underway in the U.S., Japan, Russia, South Africa, Kenya and Latin America, with further trials planned for other European and Asian countries.
Researchers said they expect to add the half dose-full dose regimen to the U.S. trial in a "matter of weeks." Before doing so they must discuss the changes with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The AstraZeneca trials were paused earlier this year after a participant in the U.K. study reported a rare neurological illness. While the trials were quickly restarted in most countries after investigators determined the condition wasn't related to the vaccine, the FDA delayed the U.S. study for more than a month before it was allowed to resume.
AstraZeneca has been ramping up manufacturing capacity, so it can supply hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccine starting in January, Chief Executive Pascal Soriot said earlier this month.
Soriot said Monday that the Oxford vaccine's simpler supply chain and AstraZeneca's commitment to provide it on a nonprofit basis during the pandemic mean it will be affordable and available to people around the world.
"This vaccine's efficacy and safety confirm that it will be highly effective against COVID-19 and will have an immediate impact on this public health emergency," Soriot said.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he felt "a great sense of relief" at the news from AstraZeneca.
Britain has ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine, and the government says several million doses can be produced before the end of the year if it is approved by regulators.
Just months ago, "the idea that by November we would have three vaccines, all of which have got high effectiveness ¦ I would have given my eye teeth for," Hancock said.
From the beginning of their collaboration with AstraZeneca, Oxford scientists have demanded that the vaccine be made available equitably to everyone in the world so rich countries can't corner the market as has happened during previous pandemics.
Leaders of the world's most powerful nations on Sunday agreed to work together to ensure "affordable and equitable access" to COVID-19 drugs, tests and vaccines.
"If we don't have the vaccine available in many, many countries, and we just protect a small number of them, then we can't go back to normal because the virus is going to keep coming back and causing problems again," Gilbert said. "No one is safe until we're all safe."
Also See: Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will be available at cost price across world, says pharma head Olivier Nataf
Oxford vaccine candidate found safe in elderly, offered immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in all age groups
ICMR, Serum Institute complete enrollment of phase 3 clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine COVISHIELD
Read more on Health by Firstpost.
China Silent on Why Xi Jinping, Top Leaders Are Yet to Take Covid-19 Vaccine Jabs
China has launched massive vaccine diplomacy even as it approved only one of its four vaccines, Sinopharm for emergency use.
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3 sporting trailblazers light up Stockholm Olympics in 1912
JIm Thorpe won gold medals in the multi-event pentathlon and decathlon
Steve Douglas
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Hannes Kolehmainen was the first of the “Flying Finns.” Duke Kahanamoku was the father of modern surfing. Jim Thorpe was the modest, uncomplicated Native American who might be the greatest athlete ever.
All three were sporting trailblazers in their own right, and all three gained world-wide attention because of their gold-medal performances at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm.
The fifth Summer Games — and the last for eight years because of World War I — was marked by controversy, tragedy and the first use of technology.
It was the most global Olympics so far, too, with athletes from five continents taking part after Japan became the first Asian country to compete.
There was no denying the stand-out performers.
Kolehmainen won three gold medals in athletics: in the 5,000 meters, where he broke the world record by nearly 25 seconds; the 10,000 meters; and the soon-to-be-defunct 12,000-meter cross-country event. He also won a silver medal in the cross-country team event.
The success of “Smiling Hannes” ushered in an era of Finnish dominance in long-distance track, through runners like Paavo Nurmi and Ville Ritola, and then into the 1970s with Lasse Viren.
Thorpe won gold medals in the multi-event pentathlon and decathlon, and placed fourth in the high jump and seventh in the long jump. It underlined the all-around ability of an American of Native and Irish ancestry from Oklahoma who later played professional football and baseball and was named The Associated Press’ Athlete of the Half Century in a 1950 poll.
However, Thorpe had his medals stripped because it was discovered he had played baseball for a resort team in 1909 and '10, an infringement of the strict rules of amateurism on which the Olympic Games were run.
(Related: Returning an Olympic win to Jim Thorpe)
The IOC restored his medals in 1982, 29 years after Thorpe’s death, following a campaign by his family and supporters.
Jim Thorpe, Sac and Fox, in Carlisle Indian School track uniform, running at Stockholm in Olympic track practice. (Photo courtesy of Cumberland County Historical Society)
Kahanamoku, born in Hawaii, is most famous for popularizing surfing but he also competed at four Olympics in swimming, the first coming in Stockholm where he won gold in the 100 freestyle and silver in the 4x200 relay.
Another American star of 1912 was sprinter Ralph Craig, who won gold in the 100 and 200 on the track.
Other notable events at the games:
MARATHON DEATH
Francisco Lazzaro, a 21-year-old Portuguese runner, collapsed after 19 miles of the men’s marathon because of heat exhaustion and heart trouble and died the following day. He was the first competitor to die during an Olympics.
Electronic timing was used for the first time at a games that has since been described by the Olympic movement as a “model of efficiency.” Organizers introduced the first us of automatic timing devices for track events, a photo finish and public address system.
ENDURANCE EVENTS
There were some remarkable feats of endurance, not least on the wrestling mat. Martin Klein of Russia and Alfred Asikainen of Finland competed for 11 hours, 40 minutes in their middleweight bout for the silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling. Judges also stopped the light heavyweight final because the bout reached nine hours, with the two wrestlers awarded silver medals. The course for the cycling race at the games was 199 miles (320 kilometers), which is the longest race of any kind in Olympic history.
PATTON'S PART
A famous name came in fifth in the first-ever modern pentathlon at an Olympics: Lieutenant George S. Patton. He later became a charismatic general in World War II, leading an armored drive across France and into Nazi Germany after the invasion of Normandy. He died following an automobile accident in 1945.
BOXING BAN
Boxing has been contested at every Olympics since 1904 — except in the 1912 edition. That was because the sport was banned at the time under Swedish law.
Updated: A historic Inauguration Day called for much celebration in Indian Country
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Stevenage crash: 17 injured after accident at car meet as two vehicles collide and plough into crowd
The ‘horrific’ incident happened during an event for modified car enthusiasts
By Alina Polianskaya
Updated October 8, 2020 12:07 pm
Screengrab of video showing two cars collide as bystanders watch from the sides of the road (Adam Freed/Facebook)
Seventeen people have been injured in a car crash in Stevenage, some seriously, after vehicles collided with bystanders watching an event that had been designed to raise money for bereaved families.
The “horrific” collision, which involved two cars, took place in Monkwood Way, at around 9.45pm on Thursday night at a meet up for car enthusiasts.
Video footage shared on social media showed cars racing in both directions down the road, as groups of people stood watching from the pavements and the central reservation.
A car is seen pulling out from a side road as another speeds up behind it, hitting it from behind.
‘Serious injuries’
Police near the scene of a crash involving two cars on Monkswood Way in Stevenage. Fourteen people have been injured, some seriously, in the collision that happened at about 9.45pm on Thursday. (Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Hertfordshire Police, who were on the scene, have said up to 17 people have been injured, some seriously, but no fatalities had been reported.
‘This is why I suffered horrific injuries in a car crash despite hitting a wall at just 37 mph and wearing a seat belt’
At least 12 people were taken to hospital, according to The East of England Ambulance Service, who also attended, along with the air ambulance and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Reports suggest the incident took place following a car meet, and a group called Cruise-Herts which is associated with modified cars, posted on social media on Thursday it was holding a charity event supporting bereaved parents.
One of the event’s organisers, Rix Sidhu, has said it was supposed to be a “safe space” for car enthusiasts to get together to and there has never been an incident before in its 17 years history.
“We are devastated,” he told Press Association. “We were raising money for charity, as we often do, and there was no speed element to it.
“We held the meet in a car park with a speed bump at the entrance. But unfortunately some people went a bit rogue.”
Warned not to race
Tyre marks near the scene of a crash involving two cars on Monkswood Way in Stevenage (Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Despite some critics calling those involved “boy racers”, Mr Sidhu said the event’s organisers warned people not to race on social media beforehand and tried to stop people from going out on to the road so as to not risk hurting themselves or others.
Jaw-dropping dash cam video shows car flipped onto its roof in 100mph road rage crash
He added: “Unfortunately, in this age of social media and Snapchat, people want to get footage and post things to their friends, which seems to drive some people to the main road.”
He now fears “we are all going to be tarred with the same brush” and “people will say we are boy racers” though they just “like cars”.
One car was driving at “at least 60 or 70mph” when it smashed into the back of the other, according to Mr Sidhu, who witnessed the incident, adding that the cars were a Nissan and a Toyota.
“The cars collided and then went into the crowd at speed,” he said.
‘Horrific’
Police near the scene of a crash involving two cars on Monkswood Way in Stevenage (Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Describing the incident as “horrific”, he said he was “thankful that nobody died”.
“There was one woman who couldn’t walk, we had to get four of us to carry her to safety,” he added.
A mother and daughter were rescued from a car crash with help from Snapchat
He said they won’t be running the events anymore.
Hertfordshire Police said in a statement: “Two cars were involved in the collision which occurred at around 9.45pm on 18 July.
“There were a number of people in the area at the time and 17 people were treated for injuries, some of which were serious.”
There have been no arrests so far but police say investigations are ongoing.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has video footage had been asked to get in touch Hertfordshire Police.
Additional reporting by PA
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Book Review: Empire of Silence
by Ryan November 11, 2018 November 12, 2018 on
Empire of Silence (2018) – by Christopher Ruocchio
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy – Space Opera
612 Pages (including appendices)
Publisher page (with links to various sellers)
Back in my high school days, which was more decades ago than I’d care to admit, I was a regular at the tiny Waldenbooks at my hometown mall. I worked a couple doors down at a soon-to-be defunct department store, and so spent a portion of my new-found riches on books, particularly in the science fiction section (which consisted of one shelf). It was there I discovered Dune, Hyperion, Robinson’s Mars Trilogy, Asimov’s space and robot stories, among others. But that was the last time I spent a considerable amount of my reading attention on that genre, so take what follows with that in mind.
Spoiler-Free Review (may add a spoilertastic addendum in the future)
Empire of Silence (the first in a multi-volume series) takes place in a far future in which humanity has expanded into a considerable portion of the Milky Way. There are several polities in inhabited space, the largest of which is the Sollan Empire. This Empire and its war with an alien species is the backdrop for the events of the book.
The narrator begins his tale with a rather unendearing statement: it was he that destroyed a star, and with it billions of lives. In his advanced age, he is known as both a hero and a villain, and as he assumes the reader knows the basic history of the major events he was involved in, he is content to tell us the story of his life instead, beginning with his formative years. So while this book fits very comfortably into the space opera subgenre, it does not flit between characters and places willy-nilly. The only places you visit in Empire of Silence are the places that the narrator visits, which may seem like it narrows the scope too much, but I appreciated that by the end of the volume.
The narrator, Hadrian Marlowe, is born a noble (or palatine, to use the book’s parlance), a potential heir to a prefecture within a planetary duchy (there are a quarter-billion inhabited planets in the Empire). But while on the surface this minor fiefdom wouldn’t seem to be that important in terms of the Empire itself, this prefecture controls a rich source of uranium, the fuel that drives interplanetary vessels, and as the Empire is in the midst of a bloody war with the Cielcin, the only other advanced species in the galaxy, the control over the prefecture and therefore the uranium is an important goal for the various palatine houses of the Empire.
Empire of Silence delves into this complex political environment in its first section (almost a prologue), and during it you’ll be tempted to thumb your way to the appendices often, trying to wrap your mind around the all the players, the positions, and the relationships among the palatine of House Marlowe. There is a lot of world building throughout the book, especially in the first section, but it never ceased to be boring, as it was embedded in the story and characters, almost never force-fed to the reader via long info-dumps of dialogue within the story. For those who want to fully and quickly grasp the world the book takes place in, the appendices will serve that purpose, but you can also get that sense of the world gradually by ignoring the appendices and just reading the book itself. After finishing the book I read through the appendices in detail, and found that very little of what I gleaned through context differed from canon.
But at its heart Empire of Silence is a character-driven story, dealing with Hadrian’s conflicts with the world around him and, more importantly, within himself. Although this tale is set in the far future, with all the biological and technological changes that come with it, the dilemmas Hadrian faces are very familiar ones. The yearning for freedom in a strict hierarchical society, the question of whether duty should override ones personal moral code, and if one’s honor should override the optimal political strategy are questions that people have asked throughout history. Even the world itself, while on the surface completely alien, contains many echoes from past and present civilizations, be they names, concepts, or even government types.
This being book one in a series, many plot-related things are not explained. That goes with the territory, though I would have liked to have had one “section transition” (euphemism to avoid spoilers) be a bit less jarring. Thankfully, the second book in the series, along with a stand-alone novella, will be released soon, so perhaps some details will be forthcoming there. As for the other unknowns, be they related to the mystery hinted at towards the end of the book, or the other details of the world of the series, I’m more than happy to let those be slowly revealed as the series progresses.
If you couldn’t tell by now, I enjoyed this book. There were some spots that dragged a bit, and as mentioned above, some of the transitions were more abrupt than they needed to be. But I adored the world-building, and can’t wait to dive into future stories.
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Offseason Journal: Tradespace preparation
Offseason Journal: Gonzalez and prospects dealt for Luplow, Moroff
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Saying ‘there’s no time’ is no excuse- Defence Secretary
It is our duty to lend a helping hand to individuals who have artistic talents and open avenues for them to reach global platforms, Defence Secretary, Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said.
“It’s no excuse to say there is no time”, he noted, while adding that time restrictions aren’t an issue to produce a sound artwork/writing.
The role of an artist/author is to foster a better society through research-based, visionary and resourceful artistic creativity, Gunaratne, who himself is an author, told a ceremony to felicitate contemporary novelists/authors at the Colombo District Secretariat auditorium on Tuesday.
“Fine artworks and pieces of writing would always transform a distraught readership mind-set into a peaceful setup”, he emphasized, while illustrating the value of remarkable creations.
Sound creations, irrespective of commercial gains, would always speak to the heart, he outlined at the event, where he was the chief guest.
Describing former legendary Sri Lankan authors as “role models”, the war veteran said “their renowned names are still within our living memories”.
Referring to the Kotte era, the golden age of literature, which saw the emergence of notable and renowned artworks and poems, Gunaratne, who also serves as Secretary of the State Ministry of National Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management, underlined that “we should encourage the younger generation to pursue extracurricular activities and recognize their innate talents envisioning a better future”.
The Defence Secretary expressed his gratitude to Colombo district Government Agent, Pradeep Yasarathne and his staff for organizing an event of this magnitude to felicitate contemporary authors, who have remained largely unnoticed in the past.
The venerable Maha Sanga, Adviser to the Public Administration Ministry, Mahinda Madihahewa, Secretary to the Western Province Ministry of Education, Sports & Youth Affairs, Cultural & Arts and Information Technology, Sirisoma Lokuwithana, regional and state officials, invitees, artists, authors and students were also present.
Do not miss the golden opportunity to become a qualified Laboratory Technician
Fate of Rs 25 billion CEB consumer deposit fund in doubt – Activist
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The Economics of “Opt-Out” Versus “Opt-In” Privacy Rules
Alan McQuinn October 6, 2017
In the United States, federal laws use different mechanisms to protect an individual’s privacy. Some of these laws, especially those that focus on highly sensitive data, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), require individuals to opt in before companies can collect, use, and share their personal information. Others, such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), operate on an opt-out basis, where companies make available information about how they collect, use, and share personal information and allow individuals to opt out if they desire. Which is better: opt in or opt out? Many scholars have studied this question, and the overwhelming evidence shows that in most cases opt out rules for data collection and sharing are better for innovation and productivity while still protecting privacy.
Economic Theory and Privacy Rights
Some scholars, such as Lacker (2002), have argued that the decision whether to opt-out or opt-in can be best characterized by an economic theory developed by Nobel Prize winning economist Ronald Coase (1960). Coase says that in a competitive market with well-defined property rights and no transaction costs, parties confronted with an externality will negotiate an efficient outcome. In the case of privacy, Coase’s Theorem suggests that control over data will go to the party that values it the most, regardless of who initially has the “right” to the data (i.e., whether the individual must opt in or opt out).
This means that if the law requires individuals to opt in before a company can collect or use data, then a company may provide incentives to users to opt in to sharing their data. Naturally, the company will not offer to pay more than what the data is worth to it. Individuals who value their data more than the company will not accept this offer, but individuals who value their data less than the company would. Alternatively, if the law requires individuals to have the ability to opt out, then a company may provide incentives for users to not opt out to sharing their data. Again, only users who value their data less than the company would accept this offer. And because of the positive externalities of sharing data, even these market-based solutions will often lead to sub-optimal societal welfare as individuals with under share or companies will pay too much.
However, while Coase’s theorem may be true in theory, in the real world, these conditions do not exist, and therefore the decision to create opt-in or opt-out rules matters for several reasons.
Data Markets Have Information Asymmetry
Coase’s theorem works best if all parties have equal knowledge about the transaction to negotiate an efficient outcome. However, there is often information asymmetry between businesses and consumers. Some consumers may not understand a company’s privacy practices. They may incorrectly believe a company’s privacy policy provides more protections than it does and therefore decide to permit their data to be shared even if this goes against their preferences. Or they may incorrectly believe the policy and practices provide fewer protections than it does, and therefore decide to restrict their data from being shared. Certainly, many consumers do not routinely read or understand privacy notices. Jensen, et. al. (2005) showed that users seldom consulted a website’s privacy policy and often had inaccurate perceptions about their own knowledge of how online technologies may affect their privacy. In addition, many people likely choose to be rationally ignorant about their privacy choices (intentionally not reading or ignoring the privacy policy) because the benefits of reading a privacy notice are too small when compared to the time needed to understand it.
This information asymmetry might suggest that policymakers should favor opt-in requirements because it minimizes the chance that data will be used against the individual’s wishes. However, recent studies suggest that consumer behavior is not influenced by whether they read privacy notices. Ben-Shahar and Chilton (2016) analyzed how participants would behave based on the privacy policy of a dating app, where one policy explained that the app would collect highly sensitive information, such as sexual history, and sell that information to third-party advertisers. The authors found that consumers’ willingness to share this information was the same, regardless of what the privacy policy said and whether the participants had read it. Even when people understood the privacy policy and the information was highly sensitive, they still chose to share it. In part this may be because they believe that they would receive some benefit from sharing which would outweigh the risk from that sharing.
Privacy Decisions Have Transaction Costs
Coase’s theorem requires transaction costs to be near zero for parties to negotiate an efficient outcome. However, the transaction costs of privacy decisions can be significant, especially when consumers must opt in for companies to be able to use the data. Obtaining affirmative consent imposes significant costs on businesses. Bloom et al. (2010) attempted to calculate the cost for hospitals if the Texas government adopted opt-in policies for tracking immunization health records for children in the state. The study found that obtaining consent for each child born in the state would cost roughly $1.4 million or roughly $2 per child per year. Conversely, switching to an opt-out system would reduce this annual cost to $110,000 or $0.29 per child, which could redirect limited healthcare funding to critical areas, such as vaccine purchasing. Similarly, in 1997, the telecommunications provider Qwest, formerly called U.S. West, conducted a study to obtain affirmative consent to use information about customers’ calling patterns to advertise new services to them. The company used both direct mail and telemarketing to solicit this consent. While the telemarketing was more successful at soliciting consent than direct mail, Qwest still reported that it required an average of 4.8 telephone calls per household to obtain consent. The company determined that an opt-in policy was not a viable business strategy because it was too costly and inefficient. If companies are forced to live with opt-in rules, the higher costs involved would ultimately be passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices, or would result in fewer free services.
Even small transaction costs would be significant given the per-user value of many types of data. For example, when companies pay for advertising user profiles, i.e. information about a user’s likes and preferences for targeted advertisements, they buy them in bulk, which ends up being worth about $0.005 per user. Because of these thin margins, most companies who monetize their products with online advertising could not reasonably pay customers even small amounts for using their data. Instead, these companies would likely be better off in a fee-for-service business model, and more customers would end up paying for online services.
The Positive Externalities From Data Are Often Public Goods
Many uses of data generate positive externalities, and these benefits grow as more parties share the data. For example, health researchers can use data to track diseases, research cures, and accelerate innovation in health care, and the opportunities for these benefits increase as the data becomes available to more parties. However, many of these benefits are public goods, such as reduced traffic congestion or more efficient energy production, and the benefits are not fully captured by any particular party. This creates a free rider collective action problem where individuals benefit from this data sharing even if they were to opt-out individually.
The Negative Effects of Opt-In Rules
If Coase’s economic theory does not adequately fit the opt-out versus opt-in discussion, then we must turn to additional academic studies to determine which option is better. Research suggests there are several negative consequences for implementing opt-in rules and regulations for data privacy.
First, opt-in rules restrict market innovation. Goldfarb and Tucker (2010) found that privacy regulations can negatively impact the efficacy of online advertising, limiting the primary funding mechanism for today’s Internet. Specifically, Goldfarb and Tucker analyzed the impact of the European Union’s Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive (2002/58/EC), which various European countries implemented to limit how advertisers can collect and use information about consumers for targeted advertising. The authors found that after the opt-in policy went into effect, the result was an average reduction in the effectiveness of the online ads by approximately 65 percent. The authors note that if advertisers reduced their spending on online advertising in line with this reduction in effectiveness, “revenue for online display advertising could fall by more than half from $8 billion to $2.8 billion.” Therefore, opt-in policies would reduce the available funding for online companies, reducing their capacity to innovate and lowering functionality for their consumers. This is one important reason for the relatively fewer number of Internet startups in Europe as they have a harder time funding their businesses through ads than do Internet startups in the United States.
Second, requiring users to opt in to data collection would impose other burdens on consumers, such as unwanted calls or emails. There are many situations where companies only want data about a select group of individuals. Unless they can identify this group in advance, opt in requirements force companies to try to obtain permission to collect data from everyone in a population, even though they only really want data from a subset of these individuals. To illustrate this point, Staten and Cate (2003) provide an interesting case study of MBNA Corporation (acquired by Bank of America in 2006). To advertise its products, MBNA directly contacted potential customers. MBNA reduced these large lists of prospects to a manageable size by using personal information to identify eligible prospects. In this study, MBNA wanted to reduce its list from 800 million to 400 million contacts. If affirmative consent were required, then the bank would need to reach out to all 800 million people to get permission to offer 400 million people the offer. Half of these people would get a needless solicitation that they would not have been eligible to receive. This inefficiency would ultimately be passed along to MBNA’s customers, increasing prices.
Third, opt-in requirements frame consumer choices in ways that lead to less-than-optimal data sharing. Contrary to the early economic models that assume people always act rationally, Tversky and Kahneman (1986) found that how choices are framed influences how choices are made. People often make choices based on a host of non-rational reasons, such as the tendency to avoid loses rather than attempt to acquire gains, and their choices often depend on how a question is framed. Research from Fischhoff (1991) and Slovic (1995) also suggests that consumers do not recall a previously calculated preference when making their decision, but rather generate their response upon hearing the question. In the context of privacy for online health surveys, Johnson, Bellman and Lohse (2000) studied how framing of opt-out and out-in questions affects how people respond. In the study, opt-out questions asked whether customers wanted not to be notified, while the out-in questions asked for consumers to affirmatively agree to share information. For example, researchers framed the opt-in question as an affirmative: “Notify me about more health surveys,” and the opt-out question as a negative: “Do NOT notify me about more health surveys.” The study found that twice as many people signed up to share their information when the default option used an opt-out framing (96 percent) than an opt-in framing (48 percent).
In addition, Acquisti et al (2013) surveyed respondents about whether they would exchange future purchase data for gift cards. Researchers found that when the question was framed as an explicit choice to share future data for an additional $2, a majority of respondents (52 percent) would reject the offer. However, when the question was framed as an implicit choice to pay $2 in order to avoid future data collection—by switching from a $12 to a $10 gift card—only 10 percent of subjects accepted. Furthermore, Cranor and McDonald (2010) showed that a slight deviation on a question—whether a group would receive a discount of $1 to have their data collected for behavioral advertisements or pay $1 for privacy-protective services—could yield vastly different results. Despite the fact that both options would yield the same result, when asked about paying the dollar, only 11 percent of respondents chose the privacy-protective option, while 69 percent would not accept the discount in exchange for their data.
People Say They Want More Privacy, But Few Act on It
So why do some public opinion surveys find support for stronger privacy laws? While people say that privacy is an important factor in their decision-making, in practice this is often not the case. Preibusch et al. (2013) did a study of participants buying DVDs from two online stores, with one asking users to complete a privacy-invasive questionnaire. The study found that when the prices were the same, neither store won out over the other. But when offered a discount in exchange for completing the questionnaire, the vast majority of participants chose to buy from the cheaper, privacy-invasive firm. Similarly, Happ et al. (2016) showed that over a third of respondents would readily give up their personal passwords for work or school accounts for a bar of chocolate, despite the risks of doing so. Further, Strahilevitz and Kugler (2016) found that, despite most participants’ unease with an email provider using automated content analysis—where a computer algorithm, not a person, analyzes email content to serve up more targeted advertisements—65 percent of them were unwilling to pay any amount for an alternative. In short, consumers care about prices when they make privacy-related decisions. The reason why public opinion polls show such support for strong privacy laws is because these surveys rarely confront consumers with the price consequences of their choices. Clearly, consumers are much more willing to say they want more online privacy when questions are framed as letting them have their cake and eat it too.
Opt-in regulations are also suboptimal because only a relatively small group of highly-motivated individuals are extremely concerned about and therefore motivated by their privacy. Kumaraguru and Cranor (2005) surveyed 14 privacy studies that were originally conducted by privacy-researcher Alan Westin, finding that only a small fraction of individuals, a group Westin referred to as “privacy fundamentalists,” place such a high premium on their privacy that they are unwilling to share their information under almost any condition. The vast majority of respondents across all studies either wanted to exchange their information for something of value or were unconcerned about organizations collecting their information. Indeed, these findings mirror other research, such as industry estimates from the American Banker (2001), that around 5 percent of people choose to opt out of sharing financial information under GLBA requirements. This suggests opt-out rules are much more efficient than opt-in rules because most users are willing to share their information in exchange for some value.
The final challenge to opt-in policies are that they put the benefit of the individual ahead of that of the community. As noted earlier, while opt-in rules would default to more individuals receiving privacy benefits than they would otherwise choose, society would bear the cost as all consumers lose out on the positive externalities that come from sharing information. Public goods (such as public health and transportation) and commercial goods (such as e-commerce applications) would be worse off because they would have less data to generate value for consumers. Conversely, opt-out rules would allow those individuals who value their own welfare much more than communal welfare—such as privacy fundamentalists—to make that choice, while still enabling most individuals who value both self and society to easily share information of their choice.
Some people mistakenly believe that most privacy debates pit the interests of businesses or government versus those of consumers, where businesses gain when consumers lose. However, this is simply wrong. Many types of organizations, from businesses to non-profits to government agencies, collect, use, and share personal data, and both the organization and the individual benefit from these exchanges. Organizations benefit by using data for purposes such as improving products and services, conducting medical research, delivering targeted online ads, mapping traffic congestion, improving education, etc. And individuals obtain benefits, such as discounts at the grocery store, access to free or low-cost online apps and services, and improvements in medical knowledge among their health care providers. The fact that someone with a device and a broadband connection can now easily make a video conference call to someone else around the world at no cost because of online advertising is a testament to the benefits that a robust data ecosystem brings.
In reality, privacy debates are better characterized as consumer versus consumer. Different individuals will value their privacy differently depending on their personal preferences. When policymakers enact strict laws and regulations on privacy, especially opt-in rules, the relatively small share of privacy-sensitive individuals gain at the expense of the rest of society by making it more difficult for organizations to collect and use data efficiently.
In short, opt-in laws are less efficient and costlier than opt-out ones. Given the abundance of research on this topic, when lawmakers and regulators create privacy laws and regulations, they should favor opt-out rules because they benefit consumers, businesses, and the overall economy while protecting consumer choice.
Opt-In Requirements: The Hidden Red Tape of Privacy Laws
How an “Opt-In” Privacy Regime Would Undermine the Internet Ecosystem
The Privacy Panic Cycle: A Guide to Public Fears About New Technologies
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Herd Behaviour
I’ve read an interesting article, written in 1989, about ‘herd
behaviour’. You are probably aware of the piece anyway, but just in case I thought I’d mention it. Here’s a section that looks like it relates to current controveries, even though it largely predates it:
Suppose you have some curve between the extreme of this opinion and the extreme of that opinion. You have some indefinite, statistically quite insignificant distribution of opinions. Now in that situation, suppose that the refereeing procedure has to decide where to put money in research, which papers to publish, and so on. What would happen? Well, people would say, “We can’t really tell, but surely we shouldn’t take anybody who is out here. Slightly more people believe in this position than in any other, so we will select our speakers at the next conference from this position on the opinion curve, and we will judge to whom to give research funds,” because the referees themselves will of course be included in great numbers in some such curve. We will select some region there to supply the funds.
And so, a year later what will have happened? You will have combed out some of the people who were out there, and you will have put more people into this region. Each round of decision making has the consequence of essentially taking the initial curve and multiplying it by itself.
Now we understand the mathematical consequence of taking a shallow curve and multiplying it by itself a large number of times. What happens? In the mathematical limit it becomes a delta function at the value of the initial peak. What does that mean? If you go for long enough, you will have created the appearance of unanimity.
The full article is here:
http://www.amasci.com/freenrg/newidea1.html
Stephen Dawson
Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Philosophy
rog says
Billionaire investment guru Warren Buffett’s mate Charlie (Munger) gave a speech at Harvard Law School called ” PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN MISJUDGMENT” and he listed 24 points regarding patterned irrationality and No.4 is;
” a superpower in error-causing psychological tendency: bias from consistency and commitment tendency, including the tendency to avoid or promptly resolve cognitive dissonance. Includes the self-confirmation tendency of all conclusions, particularly expressed conclusions, and with a special persistence for conclusions that are hard-won.
Well what I’m saying here is that the human mind is a lot like the human egg, and the human egg has a shut-off device. When one sperm gets in, it shuts down so the next one can’t get in. The human mind has a big tendency of the same sort. And here again, it doesn’t just catch ordinary mortals; it catches the deans of physics. According to Max Planck, the really innovative, important new physics was never really accepted by the old guard. Instead a new guard came along that was less brain-blocked by its previous conclusions. And if Max Planck’s crowd had this consistency and commitment tendency that kept their old inclusions intact in spite of disconfirming evidence, you can imagine what the crowd that you and I are part of behaves like.
And of course, if you make a public disclosure of your conclusion, you’re pounding it into your own head. Many of these students that are screaming at us, you know, they aren’t convincing us, but they’re forming mental change for themselves, because what they’re shouting out [is] what they’re pounding in. And I think educational institutions that create a climate where too much of that goes on are…in a fundamental sense, they’re irresponsible institutions. It’s very important to not put your brain in chains too young by what you shout out.
And all these things like painful qualifying and initiation rituals pound in your commitments and your ideas. The Chinese brainwashing system, which was for war prisoners, was way better than anybody else’s. They maneuvered people into making tiny little commitments and declarations, and then they’d slowly build. That worked way better than torture.
Sheesh! Enough with the psychobabble!
Rog, what you are saying/quoting could just as readily be used to argue that the protesters are the ‘new guard’ who are struggling in vain to change the minds of old stubborn men. Time will change the guard.
Surely you don’t mean to discourage students from expressing an opinion publicly on, say, a weblog?
What a load of trash. You seem to be of the ‘children should be seen but not heard’ generation Rog.
Its good for people to have an opinion, express it, and have it shouted down.
Although in saying that, I am not trying to endorse all forms of public disclosure of an opinion.
I dont follow your reasoning Steve, I thought Charlie was agreeing with your reference to herd behaviour.
I am interested in what he has to say as he has experience of market forces and has been successful in the application of his thinking.
I didnt know you were all students, should I make allowances?
This is Charlies’ preamble to his lecture; he mentions Cialdini who is also very interesting.
Go easy on Charlie, give him some leeway, he is only 80 years young.
“Although I am very interested in the subject of human misjudgment — and lord knows I’ve created a good bit of it — I don’t think I’ve created my full statistical share, and I think that one of the reasons was I tried to do something about this terrible ignorance I left the Harvard Law School with.
When I saw this patterned irrationality, which was so extreme, and I had no theory or anything to deal with it, but I could see that it was extreme, and I could see that it was patterned, I just started to create my own system of psychology, partly by casual reading, but largely from personal experience, and I used that pattern to help me get through life. Fairly late in life I stumbled into this book, “Influence”, by a psychologist named Bob Cialdini, who became a super-tenured hotshot on a 2,000-person faculty at a very young age. And he wrote this book, which has now sold 300-odd thousand copies, which is remarkable for somebody. Well, it’s an academic book aimed at a popular audience that filled in a lot of holes in my crude system. In those holes it filled in, I thought I had a system that was a good-working tool, and I’d like to share that one with you.
And I came here because behavioral economics. How could economics not be behavioral? If it isn’t behavioral, what the hell is it? And I think it’s fairly clear that all reality has to respect all other reality. If you come to inconsistencies, they have to be resolved, and so if there’s anything valid in psychology, economics has to recognize it, and vice versa. So I think the people that are working on this fringe between economics and psychology are absolutely right to be there, and I think there’s been plenty wrong over the years. Well let me romp through as much of this list as I have time to get through
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Publications: 2015 -2016
V. Sebastian, S. Basak and K.F. Jensen, “Continuous synthesis of palladium nanorods in oxidative segmented flow.” 62 (2) 373-380 (2016). DOI 10.1002/aic.15029.
A. Kollmannsperger, A. Sharei, A. Raulf, M. Heilemann, R. Langer, K.F. Jensen, R. Wieneke, and R. Tampe, “Live-cell protein labeling with nanometer precision by cell squeezing,” Nature Comm 7, 10372 (2016). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10372
L. Xie, Q. Zhao, K.F. Jensen, H. Kulik, “Direct Observation of Early-Stage Quantum Dot Growth Mechanisms with High-Temperature Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics” J. Phys. Chem. C, 120, 2472-2483 (2016). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b12091
V. Sebastian, C.D. Smith, and K.F. Jensen, “Shape-controlled continuous synthesis of metal nanostructures,“ Nanoscale, 8, 7534 – 7543 (2016). (2016), DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08531d.
J.S. Moore, C.D. Smith, and K.F. Jensen, “Kinetic Analysis and Automated Screening of Aminocarbonylation of Aryl Halides in Flow,” React Chem Eng, 1, 272-279 (2016). DOI: 10.1039/c6re00007j
A. Adamo, R.L. Beingessner, M. Behnam, J. Chen, T.F. Jamison, K.F. Jensen, J.-C. M. Monbaliu, A.S. Myerson, E.M. Revalor, D.R. Snead, T. Stelzer, N. Weeranoppanant, S.Y. Wong, P. Zhang (authors alphabetical order), “On-demand continuous-flow production of pharmaceuticals in a compact, reconfigurable system,” Science, 352 (6281) 61-66 (2016). DOI:10.1126/science.aaf1337
A.E. Fernandes, O. Riant, A.M. Jonas and K.F. Jensen, “One “Click” to controlled bifunctional supported catalysts for the Cu/TEMPO-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of alcohols,” RSC Advances, 6, 36602 – 36605 (2016). DOI: 10.1039/c6ra05026c
J.-C. M. Monbaliu, T. Stelzer, E. Revalor, N. Weeranoppanant, K.F. Jensen, and A.S. Myerson, “Compact and integrated approach for advanced end-to-end production, purification, and aqueous formulation of lidocaine hydrochloride,” Org. Process Res. Dev. (2016). DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.6b00165
M. Abolhasani and K.F. Jensen, “Oscillatory multiphase flow strategy for chemistry and biology,“ Lab Chip, 16, 2775–2784 (2016). DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00728g
T.A. Shatova, S. Lathwal, M.R. Engle, H.D. Sikes, and K.F. Jensen, “Portable, constriction–expansion blood plasma separation and polymerization-based malaria detection,” Anal. Chem., 88 (15), pp 7627–7632 (2016). DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b01355
A.E. Fernandes, O. Riant, K.F. Jensen, A.M. Jonas, “Molecular engineering of trifunctional supported catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols,“ Angew. Chemie. Int. Ed. (2016). DOI: 10.1002/anie.201603673
B.J. Reizman and K.F. Jensen, “Feedback in flow for accelerated reaction development,” Acc. Chem. Res. 49, 1786−1796 (2016). DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00261
M. Peer, N. Weeranoppanant, A. Adamo, Y. Zhang, and K.F. Jensen, “Biphasic catalytic hydrogen peroxide oxidation of alcohols in flow: scale-up and extraction,” Org. Process Res. Dev. 20 (9), 1677–1685 (2016). DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.6b00234
V. Sebastian and K.F. Jensen, “Nanoengineering a library of metallic nanostructures using a single microfluidic reactor,” Nanoscale, 8, 1528 8–15295 (2016). DOI: 10.1039/c6nr04104c
Y. Mo and K.F. Jensen, “A miniature CSTR cascade for continuous flow of reactions containing solids,” React Chem Eng, 1, 501-507(2016). DOI: 10.1039/c6re00132g
B.J. Reizman, Y.-M. Wang, S.L. Buchwald, and K.F. Jensen, “Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling optimization enabled by automated feedback,” React Chem Eng, 1, 658-666 (2016). DOI: 10.1039/c6re00153j
L. Xie, Y. Shen, D. Franke, V, Sebastián, M.G. Bawendi, and K. F. Jensen, “Characterization of indium phosphide quantum dot growth intermediates using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 138 (41), 13469–13472 (2016). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b06468
M.T. Saung, A. Sharei, V.A. Adalsteinsson, N. Cho, T. Kamath, C. Ruiz, J. Kirkpatrick, N. Patel, M. Mino-Kenudson, S.P. Thayer, R.S. Langer, K.F. Jensen, A. S. Liss, and J.C. Love, “A size-selective intracellular delivery platform,” Small, 12 (42) 5873–5881 (2016). DOI: 10.1002/smll.201601155
M.P. Stewart, A. Sharei, X. Ding, G. Sahay, R.S. Langer, and K.F. Jensen, “In vitro and ex vivo strategies for intracellular delivery,” Nature 538, 183–192 (2016). DOI:10.1038/nature19764
L. Yang, M.J. Nieves-Remacha, K.F. Jensen, “Simulations and analysis of multiphase transport and reaction in segmented flow microreactors,” Chem. Eng. Sci. 169, 106–116 (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2016.12.003
M.J. Nieves Remacha and K.F Jensen, “Mass Transfer Characteristics of Ozonolysis in Microreactors and Advanced-Flow Reactors,” J. Flow Chemistry, ASAP (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/1846.2015.00010
L. Xie, D.K. Harris, M.G. Bawendi, and K. F. Jensen, ”The effect of trace water on the growth of indium phosphide quantum dots,” Chem. Mater., 27 (14) 5058-5063 (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b01626
M.J. Nieves Remacha, A.A. Kulkarni, and K. F. Jensen, ”OpenFOAM computational fluid dynamic simulations of single phase flows in an Advanced-Flow Reactor,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 54 (30) 7543-7553 (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5b00232
M. Abolhasani, C.W. Coley, L. Xie, O. Chen, M.G. Bawendi, and K.F. Jensen, ”Oscillatory Microprocessor for Growth and in-situ Characterization of Semiconductor Nanocrystals,” Chem. Mater., 27 (17) 6131–6138 (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b02821
D. Franke, D.K. Harris, L. Xie, K.F. Jensen, M.G. Bawendi, “The unexpected influence of precursor conversion rate for III-V quantum dots,” Angew. Chemie. Int. Ed., 54: 14299–14303 (2015) DOI:10.1002/anie.201505972
M. Abolhasani, C.W. Coley and K.F. Jensen, “Multi-Phase oscillatory flow strategy for in-situ measurement and screening of partition coefficients,” Anal. Chem., 87 (21) 11130–11136 (2015).
I.R. Baxendale, R.D. Braatz, B.K Hodnett, K.F. Jensen, M.D Johnson, P. Sharratt, J.-P. Sherlock, A.J. Florence, “Achieving continuous manufacturing: Technologies and approaches for synthesis, workup, and isolation of drug substance,” J. Pharm. Sci., 104 (3) 781-791 (2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jps.24252
S.G. Newman, K. Lee, J. Cai, L. Yang, W.H. Green, and K.F. Jensen, “Continuous thermal oxidation of alkenes with nitrous oxide in a packed bed reactor,” Ind. Eng. Chem. 54 (16), 4166–4173 (2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ie504129e
E.J. O’Neal, C.H. Lee, J. Brathwaite, and K.F. Jensen, “Continuous nanofiltration and recycle of an asymmetric ketone hydrogenation catalyst,” ACS Catal. 5, 2615−2622 (2015). http//dx.doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.5b00149
M. Abolhasani, N.C. Bruno and K.F. Jensen, “Oscillatory three-phase flow reactor for studies of bi-phasic catalytic reactions,” Chem. Commun., 51, 8916-8919 (2015). http//dx.doi.org/10.1039/C5CC02051D
A. Sharei, R. Trifonova, S. Jhunjhunwala, G.C. Hartoularos, A. Eyerman, A. Lytton-Jean, M. Angin, S. Sharma, R. Poceviciute, S. Mao, M. Heimann, S. Liu, T. Talkar, O.F Khan, M. Addo, U.H. von Andrian, D.G. Anderson, R.S. Langer, J. Lieberman, K.F. Jensen, “Ex vivo cytosolic delivery of functional macromolecules to immune cells,” PLoS ONE 10(4): e0118803. (2015). http//dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118803
L. Yang, Y. Shi, M. Abolhasani and K.F. Jensen, “Characterization and modeling of multiphase flow in structured microreactors: a post microreactor case study,” Lab Chip, 15, 3232-3241 (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C5LC00431D
G.L. Szeto, D.V. Egeren, H. Work, A. Sharei, B. Alejandro, C. Park, K. Frew, M. Brefo, S. Mao, M. Heimann, R..S. Langer, K.F. Jensen, and D.J. Irvine, “Microfluidic squeezing for intracellular antigen loading in polyclonal B-cells as cellular vaccines,” Scientific Reports, 5:10276 (2015). http//dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep10276
M.J. Nieves Remacha, L. Yang, and K.F Jensen, “OpenFOAM computational fluid dynamic simulations of two-phase flow and mass transfer in an Advanced-Flow Reactor,” Ind.Eng.Chem.Res. ASAP 2015. http//dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5b00480
B.J. Reizman and K.F. Jensen, “Simultaneous solvent screening and reaction optimization in microliter slugs,” Chem. Commun., 51, 13290-13293 (2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C5CC03651H
L. Xie†, D.K. Harris, M.G. Bawendi, and K. F. Jensen, ”The effect of trace water on the growth of indium phosphide quantum dots,” Chem. Mater., ASAP (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b01626
M.J. Nieves Remacha, A.A. Kulkarni, and K. F. Jensen, ”OpenFOAM computational fluid dynamic simulations of single phase flows in an Advanced-Flow Reactor,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., ASAP (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5b00232
M. Abolhasani, C.W. Coley, L. Xie, O. Chen, M.G. Bawendi, and K.F. Jensen, ”Oscillatory Microprocessor for Growth and in-situ Characterization of Semiconductor Nanocrystals,” Chem. Mater., ASAP (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b02821
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Reaching out to help Jews in need, in NEPA, in Israel, everywhere in the world
Jewish Federations of North America
Volunteer in Israel on a Kibbutz
Super Sunday 2021 Campaign
2021 UJA Campaign Opening Event
Thank you from JFS
Jewish Holy Days
Israel/International E-Updates
UJA Campaign
Corporate Matching-Gift Program
Donating With Stock
Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania Endowment Fund
Designated Fund
Donor-Advised Philanthropic Funds
Annual Campaign Endowments/P.A.C.E. and L.O J.E.
Local Jewish Resources
NEPA Jewish Film Loan Library
2013 Yom HaAtzmaut Program
Home/Uncategorized/2013 Yom HaAtzmaut Program
JCC Teen Trip Participant to Speak at Federation
Yom HaAtzmaut Event
GUEST SPEAKERS: Brad Smertz, Jean & Jacob Blom
Brad Smertz is the son of Alan and Michele Smertz of Clarks Summit, PA. He is a junior at Abington Heights High School and is employed by the Glen Oak Country Club.
Brad’s hobbies include: B’nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), National Honors Society (NHS), as well as volunteering in the community. He enjoys high school and travel baseball, exercising, traveling abroad and enjoys time with friends and family.
Brad went to Israel as part of the Scranton JCC’s teen trip this past December. When asked why he wanted to participate, Brad told us,” I wanted to go to Israel to gain firsthand experience and assimilate with the Jewish nucleus of the world. At the same time, I looked forward to enjoying and appreciating the beautiful weather, geography and history of our homeland. Of course, I couldn’t wait to spend time with the wonderful supervisors who were coming as well as my good friends.”
And now, that Brad has returned, he shared with us some of his impressions of his trip.” I got so much from my trip to Israel. I feel that I acquired leadership and social skills. Dealing with the physically handicapped and less fortunate citizens of Israel spurred an appreciation for what I have as well as a definitive initiative in giving back to the Jewish community. The extraordinary landscape and history was second to none. The historical buildings and landmarks sparked a curiosity and passion for my Jewish origins. I hope that the trip was not a once in a life time opportunity, as I would definitely love to take a trip back to Israel in the near future. “
Please join the Jewish Federation of NEPA on Tuesday April 16, 2013- Yom HaAtzmaut/Israel’s Independence Day- at 7:00 PM at the JCC when Brad Smertz will give us a chance to hear about his trip to Israel.
Jean Blom lives in Hallstead, PA and has been a lover and supporter of Israel and the Jewish people for many years. She works as a Housekeeper at the Inn in Montrose and is a wife and a mother of two children, Jacey and Jacob. Last year, she came upon a link that was posted on a Facebook site that supports Israel. It told about going to Israel as a volunteer with the Sar-El program through Volunteers for Israel. People from all over the world are partnered with one of the Israeli Defense Force Military bases to do non-combat, hands on, civilian support duties. Jean and her son, Jacob, had the opportunity to go this past October for two weeks. The experience enhanced her love for Israel and has encouraged her to want to share this with others.
Jacob Blom is currently a junior in the Montrose Area School District and an enlisted soldier with the U.S. National Guard. During his time of researching which field of service he wanted to join, he became familiar with the Israeli Defense Forces through Facebook. Needless to say, he found them to be not only admirable but highly respected throughout the world. As part of his graduating requirements from High School, each student needed to do a senior project. Jake chose to volunteer alongside his mother, Jean, not only fulfill this requirement but to show support for the IDF too. This experience has been a highlight for him not only as a soldier, but a friend to Israel.
By admin| 2018-01-10T16:17:57+00:00 February 6th, 2013|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on 2013 Yom HaAtzmaut Program
Stranger on a Train
King David-era fort found in Golan, may be 1st evidence of Bible’s ‘Geshurites’
EITC Advocacy in Harrisburg
Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: 2018 Update on United States Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Century Synagogues
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A Statement from Dedham Town Manager Leon Goodwin and Veterans Service Officer Joe Hamilton
DEDHAM -- Town Manager Leon Goodwin and Dedham Veterans Service Officer Joseph Hamilton would like to provide the following statement regarding the status of the Dedham Veterans Memorial.
October 2, 2020 Benjamin Paulin Client News, City/Town News
October 2, 2020 by Benjamin Paulin
DEDHAM — Town Manager Leon Goodwin and Dedham Veterans Service Officer Joseph Hamilton would like to provide the following statement regarding the status of the Dedham Veterans Memorial:
“We would like to address some recent concerns about the Dedham Veterans Memorial and remind residents of the plan that was put in when construction began on the new Dedham Town Hall in 2015.
“The process of abating and demolishing the old town hall, located at 26 Bryant St., recently began to prepare the site for future development. Because the Veterans Memorial was located on the front lawn of the old town hall, the monument was carefully moved to the Brookdale Cemetery last Friday where it will be temporarily stored until it is ready to be moved back to an appropriate location near Dedham Square.
“The Dedham Department of Public Works worked closely with Dedham Veterans Services to ensure that the utmost care was taken in moving the monument to its temporary location, where it will not be at risk of being damaged while the demolition of the old town hall takes place.
“If additional funding is approved at Fall Town Meeting next month, the Town will move forward with its plans to build a new joint public safety building (police and fire) where the old town hall was located.
“A beautiful green space will be created between the new town hall and public safety building and once the work is complete the Veterans Memorial will be moved to a prominent spot in the middle of the green space. This move to its new permanent home will also include a thoughtful rededication ceremony of the monument. Local veterans and town officials will be on hand for the ceremony.
“It should be made clear that this was the plan that was established and agreed upon several years ago, with input from local veterans, and the plan has not changed in that time.
“We want to thank everyone in advance for their patience while the work is being done and we look forward to a time when the memorial is placed in its new home where it can be viewed and visited by veterans, residents and visitors of the Town.
“If anyone has further questions about Dedham Veterans Memorial, they can call Veterans Service Officer Joe Hamilton at 781-751-9267.”
City/Town News, Client News
Dedham, Town of Dedham
Town of Dedham
Leon Goodwin
26 Bryant St.
Dedham Veterans Services
Joseph Hamilton,
Veterans Service Officer
Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
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home » JIS News » Labour
Effective Social Interventions can Transform Communities – Sweeney
Written by: Kadian Brown
Photo: Mark Bell
Deputy Chairman, Zones of Special Operations Social Intervention Committee and Managing Director, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney.
New Parish Office of Labour and Security Ministry to be built in St. Ann’s Bay
National Registry for Seniors
Labour Minister Commends Household Workers
Deputy Chairman, Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs) Social Intervention Committee, Omar Sweeney, says effective implementation of community-redevelopment, citizen-security and public-safety initiatives can significantly transform vulnerable and volatile communities.
As it relates to youth programmes and training initiatives, Mr. Sweeney informed that “we identified a strong youthful population there, especially within the age range of 15 to 24 years, and a number of youth within the community need to be attached to programmes, whether secondary school, vocational, tertiary, internships and jobs”.
Mr. Sweeney said the objective of the interventions is to effect change and provide relief to residents. He said the services being delivered will empower people to solve their own problems and, ultimately, uplift their community.
Speaking in a recent JIS ‘Issues and Answers’ interview, Mr. Sweeney pointed out that communities have already been benefiting from social-intervention activities and engagements being undertaken by various government agencies as a means of effecting positive changes.
He said that through the work of the committee, the agencies that are operating in these volatile areas every day “will now have a coordinated approach in providing the intervention that is needed, whether through work on the physical environment, skills and educational development or social services”.
Mr. Sweeney told JIS News that the social-intervention activities being implemented in Mount Salem in St. James, where the first ZOSO is in effect, are expected to serve as the blueprint for similar activities in other areas.
He noted that three major areas of focus were identified for Mount Salem. These are enhancement of the physical environment, youth engagement programmes and civil registration.
In terms of the physical environment, he outlined that initiatives are focused on sanitation, solid-waste removal, utility regularisation, bushing, improving road conditions and street lighting for public safety.
He said that “once we put them in the programme and they have matriculated out of the programme, we say to these entities and employers that we are the reference; I know where this person lives… I know where they come from… I know what they have been trained in”.
Mr. Sweeney added that with this approach, the youth will develop trust and confidence in the system, knowing that their address will not be an inhibitor after they have invested their time and effort in a training programme.
In addition, he noted, they would have seen others in the community getting sustainable jobs and engagements after they have gone through these State-provided programmes.
In terms of civil registration, some of these services were delivered at a two-day community fair, where a number of entities were on hand to process important documents for residents, who also benefited from free medical and dental checks.
The entities included the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), HEART Trust/NTA, National Youth Service (NYS), Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), and the Ministry of National Security and its agencies.
“So, it was about processing birth certificates, passports, voter’s identification, driver’s licence to ensure that persons have proper identification. If we know who you are, if we know your demographics, your personal situation, then we can better serve you and mobilise the type of agencies, or direct you to them,” the Deputy Chairman reasoned.
“When you leave a community such as Mount Salem, you want to return and see the community almost empty in the daytime because those people are at jobs, there is good infrastructure, there is social cohesion within the community and there are no zinc-fence structures, but (instead) lines of visibility where you can interact from your home to the street,” Mr. Sweeney noted.
The Social Intervention Committee is charged with developing a sustainable development plan, which will include addressing issues related to health, the environment, social improvement, infrastructural development, education and economic development.
This is in keeping with the clear, hold-and-build strategy aimed at containing crime while safeguarding the rights of citizens and promoting sustainable community development.
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Political Risk, Credit & Finance
Pacific Carriers fined $12m for pollution offences
By admin On December 4, 2020 December 5, 2020 In Insurance Marine News
Singapore based Pacific Carriers Limited (PCL) has been fined $12m by the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina after pleading guilty to violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, obstruction of justice, and for a failure to notify the US Coast Guard of a hazardous condition on general cargo ship Pac Antares (IMO 9262962). In addition to the fine, and as is normal in cases such as this, the company was placed on probation for a period of four years, and ordered by US District Court Judge Louise Flanagan to implement a comprehensive Environmental Compliance Plan as a special condition of probation.
PCL pleaded guilty to a total of eight offences across three judicial districts – the Eastern District of North Carolina, the Southern District of Texas, and the Eastern District of Louisiana.
PCL admitted that crew members onboard the 27,659 dwt bulk carrier Pac Antares knowingly failed to record in the vessel’s oil record book the overboard discharge of oily bilge water and oil waste, without the use of required pollution-prevention equipment, from approximately April 2019 until the vessel arrived in Morehead City, North Carolina, on September 29th 2019. PCL also admitted that the crew discharged oily garbage and plastic overboard and falsified the garbage record book.
PCL also admitted that a large space along the keel of the vessel, known as the duct keel, was being used to store oily waste which constituted a hazardous condition under the Ports and Waterways Safety Act and it should have been immediately reported to the US Coast Guard Sector North Carolina.
The Chief Engineer, Wenguang Ye, pleaded guilty to falsifying the oil record book, and was fined $5,500 and banned from entering the US for one year. He cooperated in the investigation.
In 2019 a crewmember had walked off the ship and informed a Customs and Border Protection officer that he had information about illegal discharges that had taken place on the vessel. The US Coast Guard was sent that information and conducted an inspection and examination. Examiners discovered and seized evidence that oily waste and garbage had been discharged from the vessel via a configuration of drums, flexible hoses and flanges to bypass the vessel’s oily water separator.
Examiners also discovered that oily waste had been discharged through a laundry sink which subsequently discharged directly overboard or through the vessel’s sewage system. Examiners discovered the sewage system was contaminated with oil. Crewmembers also admitted that bags filled with oily rags were thrown over the side of the ship. These discharges were knowingly not recorded in the Pac Antares’s oil record book and garbage record book when they were presented to the US Coast Guard during the vessel’s inspection. The examiners also found over 60,000 gallons of oily water being stored in the “duct keel”, which took several days and a third-party contractor to clean out.
2003-built, Singapore-flagged, 20,471 gt Pac Antares is owned by Antares Maritime Pte Ltd care of PACC Ship Managers Pte Ltd of Singapore. It is entered with North of England on behalf of Antares Maritime Pte Ltd.
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legislation / trademark
The EU trademark reform has reached the final steps
21 July 2015 7 August 2015 IPlens3 Comments
The reform of the European trademark system may become a reality before the end of 2015.
In addition to the Commission Regulation no. 2869/1995 on the fees payable to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, the reform package presented by the Commission on March 2013 focuses, as known, the Trademarks Directive 2008/95/EC and the Community Trademark Regulation 2009/207/EC.
The Commission’s “Proposals” are based on the “Study on the Overall Functioning of the European Trade Mark System” (available here), realized by the Max-Planck Institut of Munich upon request of the same Commission and published on February 2011. The Proposals aim at modernizing and harmonizing the community and national trademark’s systems (by simplifying the registration procedure and intervening on the substantive law) as well as at strengthening the enforcement of counterfeiting.
On June 10th 2015, the Council’s Permanent Representatives Committee has approved the final compromise texts of the trademark reform package, and on June 16th 2015 the compromise agreement has been voted by the Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee.
The final text of the Regulation can be found here, while the final text of the Directive is here.
The approved texts are actually not yet absolutely “final” as they still need to go through the legal-linguistic revision before the final endorsement by the Council and by the European Parliament. So, unless there are further delays, while most of the provisions of the Regulation will come into effect in early 2016, the Member States will have three years to transpose the Directive into national law.
The new features introduced by the reform range from formal ones, such as the adoption of the names “european trademark” instead of “community trademark” and “European Intellectual Property Office” instead of “Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market” and the reducing of registration fees, to substantive ones, such as the rejection of the requirement of the graphic representability, the extension of the absolute grounds of refusal or invalidity of the registration provided for signs constituted by a shape to signs constituted by “another characteristic”, the addition to the provision concerning the rights conferred by the registered trademark of the specification that the owner of the trademark may also prohibit the use of the sign in comparative advertising if made in a way which is contrary to the Directive 2006/114/EC and the introduction of provisions on the goods in transit in the EU.
Even if the reform presents some positives, it is not exempt from criticism.
Inter alia, by reducing registration fees of community trademarks it maintains the community and the national trademarks systems in competition.
Also, by extending the provisions on the shape trademarks to sign constituted by other characteristics, the revision makes non-traditional trademarks harder to register. This kind of trademarks will indeed not be registrable if they exclusively consist of a characteristic (such as, for example, a sound or a smell) which can be considered imposed by the nature of the product, or necessary to obtain a technical result or giving substantial value to the product.
But the most discussed and criticized provision is the one providing that the trademark owner is entitled to prevent third parties from bringing fake goods, in the course of trade, into the Member State where the trademark is registered. First of all, because the text has udergone many changes and, secondly, because its last version provides that the entitlement of the owner shall lapse if during the proceedings to determine whether the registered trade mark has been infringed, evidence is provided by the declarant or the holder of the goods that the proprietor of the registered trade mark is not entitled to prohibit the placing of the goods on the market in the country of final destination. This clearly gives trademark owners great power to prevent fake goods transiting through the Community as it will be very difficult for the holder to prove a negative.
In the end, the reform doesn’t take advantage of the occasion to codify consolidated principles affirmed by the EU Court of Justice such as those expressed in the General Motors case (C-375/97), in which the famous trademarks have been defined as registered trademarks known by a significant part of the consumers of the products or services which said marks cover in a substantial part of the EU territory. The provisions on famous trademarks contained in the current Directive and Regulation do not express such a definition of reputation and this lacuna could have been filled by the reform as the principles expressed in the said case are unanimously shared.
Sara Caselli
* due to a technical error, “steps” was erroneously reported as “jokes” in the title. We apologize.
legislation, trademark
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3 thoughts on “The EU trademark reform has reached the final steps”
» The EU trademark reform has reached the final steps says:
16 September 2015 at 9:29
[…] di Sara Caselli (via Iplens.org) […]
The EU trademark reform package has been definitively approved says:
[…] main amendments introduced by the reform (for our previous comment on the reform see here) can be summarized as […]
The recent Italian trademark reforms: between Europe and homeland nostalgia says:
[…] Trademark Directive 2015/2436/EU (previous comments on this blog about this Directive here and here) adopting Legislative Decree No. 15 of February 20, 2019 (text here; some comments here and […]
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Grzegorz Kantecki graduated from the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw (the Institute of Corporate Law), where he was awarded a master's degree in 2005. He completed (inter alia) a postgraduate study in the field of the Company Law at the University of Warsaw, a postgraduate management study at Warsaw School of Economics and graduated from the Centre for the Study of English and European Law at the University of Cambridge. Since 2010 he has been licensed to practise a profession of a attorney-at-law. He is also empowered to act as a restructuring counsellor since 2019.
He gained his professional experience in leading Polish and international law firms. He specialises in ongoing legal service of large business entities, in particular in the scope of preparation, negotiation of and issuance of opinions on trade agreements and settlement of business disputes. He has extensive experience in representing Clients before common and administrative courts and in negotiating amicable settlements. He acts as a representative of subsidiary prosecutors in cases related to violation of industrial property rights. He regularly runs trainings in the scope of plant protection products, trade agreements and the Labour Law. He is an author of the commentary to the Plant Protection Products Act of 8 March 2013.
He speaks English fluently.
Selected information on professional experience:
introduction of a strategic investor (an international investment fund) to a company operating in the field of IT;
auditing tender procedures at an order of the Ministry of Regional Development;
auditing licence agreements and trade agreements of one of the largest publishing houses in Poland;
preparation of a set of agreements regarding the organisation of events and advertisement for an international pharmaceutical holding;
preparation of agreements regarding distribution of art collections into the Asian market;
a wide range of debt recovery activities for multi-million claims;
legal service of a film production;
legal advisory at the time of conclusion of a lease agreement for 2,000 sqm of office space;
legal service at the time of sale of more than 10 ha of real property for scientific purposes;
representation in the case related to remedy of damage of considerable value caused by a proxy;
preparation and conducting of a take-over of a large entity from the chemical sector;
preparation of a bankruptcy petition filed by the creditor;
preparation of an agreement regarding provision of global accounting services to the Client's subsidiaries;
issuance of an opinion on a loan and insurance agreement of a large company;
preparation of a joint venture;
preparation of complete documentation related to processing personal data;
advisory at the time of change of a car fleet;
issuance of opinions on and negotiation of a considerable IT implementation agreement;
preparation of a legal opinion and presentation related to the institution of overtime in the Labour Law;
representation of the aggrieved party in the case related to marketing of counterfeit plant protection products of the value of several million PLN.
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HomeSportsLocal & State SportsUniversity of Iowa Cuts Program Coached by Former Forest City Prep, Sougstad
University of Iowa Cuts Program Coached by Former Forest City Prep, Sougstad
August 21, 2020 Zarren Egesdal Local & State Sports, Sports 0
The University of Iowa has announced this afternoon that they will discontinue four varsity athletic programs, including men’s and women’s swimming and diving. The announcement is in response to the approximately 100 million dollars the universities athletic department projects they will lose due to COVID-19 and fall sports postponed.
“We are writing today with some extremely difficult news. In consultation with the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, we have made the decision to discontinue four of our varsity sports programs at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year”, said University President Bruce Harreld and Director of Athletics Gary Barta.
This announcement hits hard for former Forest City prep, Emma Sougstad. Sougstad, a 2013 FCHS grad, is a former star athlete for the University of Iowa swimming program. She is also getting set for her second season as an assistant coach for her beloved Hawkeyes.
Their statement continued by saying, “We are heartbroken for our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. We also understand how disappointing this is for our letterwinners, alumni, donors, and community members who have helped build these programs”.
As a Hawkeye, Sougstad was a three-time NCAA qualifier and a two-time All-American in 2016 and 2017. She earned first-team All-America honors in 2017 after placing sixth in the nation in the 100 breast with a school-record time of 58.78 — the fifth-fastest time in Big Ten history. The time propelled her to compete in the 2016 Olympic Trials.
Sougstad still holds individual school records in seven events — 100 breast (58.76), 200 breast (2:10.47), and 200 IM (1:57.55) and as part of the 200-free (1:30.96), 400-free (3:18.83), 200-medley (1:38.99), and 400 medley (3:36.71) relays. She also has the second-best time in school history in the 50 free (22.63) and 100 fly (53.30).
Sougstad and the Hawkeyes will complete this academic year before the doors are shut. That is if the Big Ten allows for a swimming and diving season.
In a Facebook post, Sougstad said, “Once a family, always a family. I couldn’t be more thankful for the people and experiences Iowa Swimming and Diving brought into my life and shaped me into who I am today. The opportunity to compete and coach for the Hawkeyes was a true joy and my heart goes out to our athletes, coworkers, alumni, and teammates today”.
In her first year as a coach, Sougstad coached four NCAA qualifiers, but the NCAA Championships were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. All four of those swimmers joined Sougstad as All-Americans. She also helped the Hawkeyes broke 12 program records in 2019-20, and 11 earned Big Ten Conference weekly recognition.
Emma started coaching following her senior season at Iowa. She was an assistant coach for the University of Miami (Ohio) for the 2017-2018 season. She then spent two seasons as the communications director for the College Swimming Coaches Association of America or (CSCAA).
Marc Long is Sougstad’s head coach, entering his 17th year at the helm. He has coached 161 school records have fallen, and 409 Hawkeyes have qualified for the NCAA Championships.
The University announced that men’s tennis and men’s gymnastics would also be cut due to budget shortfalls.
“The University of Iowa has faced many challenges in its history. We are confident these changes, while difficult, create a path forward for Iowa Athletics to remain self-sufficient and allow our remaining programs the opportunity for sustained excellence and fiscal stability”, the two administrators concluded by saying.
Pearlie K. Followwill
Robert Burdette Witham
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Boeing 767 cargo jetliner with 3 aboard crashes near Houston
Posted: Feb 23, 2019 / 01:30 PM MST / Updated: Feb 23, 2019 / 02:24 PM MST
A Boeing 767. Photo courtesy: Boeing
ANAHUAC, Texas — Authorities say a Boeing 767 cargo jetliner heading to Houston with three people aboard has crashed into a bay just east of the city.
Lynn Lunsford with the Federal Aviation Administration says the twin-engine plane crashed Saturday into Trinity Bay.
Lunsford did not know the status of the people aboard and the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office could not immediately be reached for comment.
The office said in a Facebook post the plane has been located at the north end of the bay. No other details were immediately available.
Lunsford says Atlas Air Flight 3591 had departed Miami earlier and an FAA alert was issued after officials lost radar and radio contact with the craft when it was about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Americans will be glued to their televisions at 9 p.m. Mountain Time Wednesday as the fate of one of the highest lottery jackpots in U.S. history rides on the outcomes of six Powerball numbers.
Watch: 1 injured in Aurora office building fire
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Quick Answer: What Is The Best Age For Masters?
Is 27 too old for Masters?
Is 25 too old to do a masters?
Is graduating at 24 bad?
Are masters degrees worth it?
Should I go for masters or job?
Is it OK to graduate at 25?
Can I do ms after 10 years of experience?
Is 25 too late for college?
Is 22 too old for college?
Can I do ms after 5 years gap?
Is it too late to get a master’s degree?
Is Master’s Degree hard?
Do masters make you more employable?
70 – 27 – 6 = 37 years to enjoy your new life with your Masters degree.
So no, 27 is definitely not too old..
Like others have said, you definitely aren’t too old. I’m finishing my MSc at the moment and was 21 when I started it, but was the youngest on my course by a few years, you seem to get a much bigger age range on postgraduate courses.
In many ways, 24 is the ideal age at which to graduate. Not only are most students more mature, at that age; they’re also starting to look more mature, and will thus be taken a lot more seriously on the job market. … For the types of jobs you need an advanced degree for, that’s actually a good age, too.
A master’s degree is a financial investment—and it could be a big one. … According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average median weekly earnings for a person with a master’s degree is $1,434, compared to $1,198 for people with a bachelor’s degree and $730 for people with a high school diploma.
The good news: Generally, getting a Masters is worth the money! While you may find it difficult to finance your studies, over time, the financial benefits will outweigh the initial costs. You will earn a higher salary and be much more flexible in your career.
No. Completing a degree at 25, or even later, is increasingly common in the US. After all, people who’ve taken time after high school to work or serve in the military might not even start college till their 20’s. … So someone who started college right after high school could easily be 25 at college graduation.
You do NOT need to worry that you are too old. You are not old to go back to school. There are quite a few students in the same age group. In fact, when I did my MS and MBA, I have personally noticed the same.
Originally Answered: Is 25 too old to start college? It’s never too old to start college! … My first degree had been rushed; like most kids I did the “normal” thing and started college right after high school but didn’t know what I wanted to major in. (I was only an 18-year-old kid, after all!)
You are never too old to start college. In fact, at 22 you will be in great company. Non-traditional students are typically more focused on their schoolwork and tend to do better on assessments when compared to their 18-21-year old classmates.
But there’s no age limit to apply for masters degrees in USA and other countries. As long as you can demonstrate your purpose and seriousness in your MS statement of purpose. For 26-year-old, it is never of question of whether you are too old for a masters degree abroad.
I am afraid to say but yes it will affect your chances of pursuing masters. Most of the applicants would be just out of college(no gap) or people with relevant work experience say 2 -5 years and in some cases it shoots up to 10–12 years as well. In that case you will lose out of the race.
You are never too old to earn a master’s degree. … Master’s program typically take only one or two years and especially with academic programs, students are mostly concerned with the academic content. Culture and fit matter more with professional programs – like business, law, or medical.
In general, master’s degree programs are more difficult than undergraduate programs as they build on previously learned concepts and skills. Moreover, when you’re going for your bachelor’s degree, you spend your time reviewing what other people have discovered.
Some students do study a Masters purely for the love of their subject. … The good news is that research suggests further study does have a career benefit. Graduates with a Masters degree appear to be more employable. Many also go on to earn more over their lifetime.
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Can I DoorDash at 16? I’ve always been interested
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What happens when you win a settlement? After the judge
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What is a tender pricing document? The tender pricing
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How many types of phonetics are there? three typesPhonetics
Quick Answer: What Did Fury Whisper To Thor?
What does fury whisper to Thor? It wasn’
Quick Answer: Where Does IIT Rank In The World?
Did Mukesh Ambani cleared IIT JEE? Mukesh Ambani CEO
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Kenya Meat Commission procures all its raw materials for its processes with due consideration of high quality standards at all times. Strict procedures in livestock procurement/sourcing are adhered to. Stringent Veterinary inspections of the animals in the field, ante-mortem inspections at the point of receipt, post mortem inspections during the slaughter process and also at dispatch of the products are adhered to. This ensures that quality is taken care of from sourcing through processing to distribution of all the Commissions’ products.
Kenya Meat Commission is certified for ISO 22000:2005 Food Safety Management System. This was a strategic decision to give the Commission a competitive edge in the global meat industry and to guarantee the Commissions’ customers of food safety. The implementation process ensured that adequate measures are taken and maintained at all levels of the food chain to achieve food safety. The scope of the Food Safety Management System was designed to cover the livestock procurement process, products processing and distribution of meat and meat products. The Commission which is an export abattoir aims to achieve satisfactory and consistent safe products of the right quality which is compatible with the customer needs and market expectations.
Continuous improvement programs have been put in place to ensure maintenance of the ISO certification status. The results of the surveillance audits together with those of internal audits have demonstrated that the Commission has continued to maintain high levels of food safety, product quality and hygiene. The Commission has fully a fledged in house laboratory for monitoring compliance of production processes and finished products.
In-process inspections are carried out at various stages of production and more emphasis is placed at the Critical Control Points where hazards are likely to be introduced into the food chain. All incoming materials for use in the processing areas are thoroughly inspected to ensure compliance to specifications before release to the production process.
Slaughtered beef carcasses are chilled for a period of minimum 48 hours during which temperature and humidity are monitored closely. The process is meant to relax the muscles and consequently achieve aged or cured beef which is tender and has a more superior taste. This is a key attribute that distinguishes the Commission’s meat from others. With Kenya Meat Commission, your food safety requirements are guaranteed.
Kenya Meat Commission has competent technical personnel and continuously upgrades skills of all personnel through in house trainings to maintain the high quality standards. The Commission believes in protection of public health, high customer satisfaction and compliance with regulatory legislation. Kenya Meat Commission works closely with the regulatory authorities to ensure that the products retain market leadership both locally and internationally.
KMC FOOD SAFETY POLICY
Kenya Meat Commission shall be a preferred world class meat and meat products processor.
Kenya Meat commission shall maintain this customer preference by ensuring that customers’ requirements and satisfaction are met throughout the food chain. To enhance this, the animals shall be procured, processed and distributed in compliance with the highest food safety standards, requirements and applicable laws. The company shall establish, implement and maintain a Food Safety Management System based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points program (HACCP) and designed to meet the requirements of ISO22000:2005 standard. It shall ensure that its products conform with both statutory and regulatory requirements and with mutually agreed food safety requirements of customers. The company shall employ high standards of ethical trading and Food Safety Management Systems backed by a motivated and competent human resource.
Kenya Meat Commission shall continually review its procurement systems, meat processing and distribution systems at defined intervals to ensure that it achieves planned results and comply with Food Safety Standards requirements. Additionally, the company shall establish, implement and maintain Prerequisite Programs to assist in controlling introduction of Food Safety hazards to its products.
Kenya Meat Commission shall establish, implement and maintain effective communication systems with its staff, suppliers, contractors, customers, statutory and regulatory authorities and other organizations to ensure that sufficient information on issues concerning food safety throughout the food chain are addressed.
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Kenya Meat Commision © 2015. All rights reserved.
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Coral Leisure Killarney
Coral Leisure PRIVACY POLICY Coral Leisure (the “Company”) is committed to protecting the privacy of its users. This Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) is designed to help you understand what information we gather, how we use it, what we do to protect it, and to assist you in making informed decisions when using our Service. Unless otherwise indicated below, this Privacy Policy applies to any website that references this Privacy Policy, any Company website, as well as any data the Company may collect across partnered and unaffiliated sites. For purposes of this Agreement, “Service” refers to the Company’s service which can be accessed via our website at http://www.coralleisure.ie or through our mobile application. The terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the Company. “You” refers to you, as a user of Service.
We at Coral Leisure are committed to maintaining the trust and confidence of our members, customers and visitors to our web site. In particular, we want you to know that Coral Leisure is not in the business of selling, renting or trading email lists with other companies and businesses for marketing purposes.
In this Privacy Policy, we’ve provided lots of detailed information on when and why we collect your personal information, how we use it, the limited conditions under which we may disclose it to others and how we keep it secure.
I. CONSENT By accessing our Service, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and you consent to our collection, storage, use and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. In addition, by using our Service, or services across partnered and unaffiliated sites, you are accepting the policies and practices described in this Privacy Policy. Each time you visit our website, or use the Service, and any time you voluntarily provide us with information, you agree that you are consenting to our collection, use and disclosure of the information that you provide, and you are consenting to receive emails or otherwise be contacted, as described in this Privacy Policy. Whether or not you register or create any kind of account with us, this Privacy Policy applies to all users of the website and the Service.
II. INFORMATION WE COLLECT We may collect both “Non-Personal Information” and “Personal Information” about you. “Non-Personal Information” includes information that cannot be used to personally identify you, such as anonymous usage data, general demographic information we may collect, referring/exit pages and URLs, platform types, preferences you submit and preferences that are generated based on the data you submit and number of clicks. “Personal Information” includes information that can be used to personally identify you, such as your name, address and email address. In addition, we may also track information provided to us by your browser or by our mobile application when you view or use the Service, such as the website you came from (known as the “referring URL”), the type of browser you use, the device from which you connected to the Service, the time and date of access, and other information that does not personally identify you. We use this information for, among other things, the operation of the Service, to maintain the quality of the Service, to provide general statistics regarding use of the Service and for other business purposes. We track this information using cookies, or small text files which include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to a user’s browser from our servers and are stored on the user’s computer hard drive. Sending a cookie to a user’s browser enables us to collect Non-Personal Information about that user and keep a record of the user’s preferences when utilizing our services, both on an individual and aggregate basis. The Company may use both persistent and session cookies; persistent cookies remain on your computer after you close your session and until you delete them, while session cookies expire when you close your browser. Persistent cookies can be removed by following your Internet browser help file directions. If you choose to disable cookies, some areas of the Service may not work properly.
III. HOW WE USE AND SHARE INFORMATION Personal Information: In general, we do not sell, trade, rent or otherwise share your Personal Information with third parties without your consent. We may share your Personal Information with vendors and other third-party providers who are performing services for the Company. In general, the vendors and third-party providers used by us will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to allow them to perform the services they provide for the Company. For example, when you provide us with personal information to complete a transaction, verify your credit card, place an order, arrange for a delivery, or return a purchase, you consent to our collecting and using such personal information for that specific purpose, including by transmitting such information to our vendors (and their service providers) performing these services for the Company. However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment processors, have their own privacy policies in respect of the information that we are required to provide to them in order to use their services. For these third-party service providers, we recommend that you read their privacy policies so that you can understand the manner in which your Personal Information will be handled by such providers. In addition, we may disclose your Personal Information if required to do so by law or if you violate our Terms of Use. Non-Personal Information: In general, we use Non-Personal Information to help us improve the Service and customize the user experience. We also aggregate Non-Personal Information in order to track trends and analyze use patterns of the Service. This Privacy Policy does not limit in any way our use or disclosure of Non-Personal Information and we reserve the right to use and disclose such Non-Personal Information to our partners, advertisers and other third parties at our sole discretion.
Google & Weebly analytics – When someone visits www.coralleisure.ie we use a third party service, Google Analytics as well as our website provider, Weebly, to collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behavior patterns. We do this to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. This information is only processed in a way which does not identify anyone. We do not make, and do not allow Google or Weebly to make, any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting our website.
Jotform Coral Leisure uses an online platform called Jotform to gather information from our customers, including health screening and registration for lessons, classes and courses. Coral Leisure will store information collected for Covid 19 screening and tracing purposes for a period of one month where after it will be deleted unless the information is required by the HSE for contact tracing purposes
All information gathered through Jotform is stored on their servers and can only be accessed by the registered, authorised, Coral Leisure user via a password protected account. No information is stored in our email system. All other information gathered through Jotform shall be kept only for the required amount of under current GDPR regulation.
Jotform Inc safeguards respondents email addresses. To make it easier for you to invite people to complete your forms via email, you may upload lists of email addresses, in which case JotForm Inc. acts as a mere custodian of that data. JotForm Inc. doesn’t sell or make available these email addresses
Jotform Inc does not sell your data to third parties JotForm Inc. doesn’t sell or share your form responses with third party advertisers or marketers
Jotform data is stored on servers in the US. More information is available if you are located in Europe.
For more detailed information on Jotform’s privacy policy please see the link below
https://www.jotform.com/privacy/
IV. HOW WE PROTECT INFORMATION We implement reasonable precautions and follow industry best practices in order to protect your Personal Information and ensure that such Personal Information is not accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed. However, these measures do not guarantee that your information will not be accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed by breach of such precautions. By using our Service, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to assume these risks.
V. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING THE USE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION You have the right at any time to prevent us from contacting you for marketing purposes. When we send a promotional communication to a user via Weebly, the user can opt out of further promotional communications by following the unsubscribe instructions provided in each promotional e-mail. Please note that notwithstanding the promotional preferences you indicate by either unsubscribing or opting out in the Settings section of the Site, we may continue to send you administrative emails including, for example, periodic updates to our Privacy Policy.
VI. WEEBLY Our Service is hosted by Weebly, Inc. (“Weebly”). Weebly provides us with the online e-commerce platform that allows us to provide the Service to you. Your information, including Personal Information, may be stored through Weebly’s servers. By using the Service, you consent to Weebly’s collection, disclosure, storage, and use of your Personal Information in accordance with Weebly’s privacy policy available at https://www.weebly.com/privacy.
VII. LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES As part of the Service, we may provide links to or compatibility with other websites or applications. However, we are not responsible for the privacy practices employed by those websites or the information or content they contain. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by us through the Service. Therefore, this Privacy Policy does not apply to your use of a third-party website accessed by selecting a link via our Service. To the extent that you access or use the Service through or on another website or application, then the privacy policy of that other website or application will apply to your access or use of that site or application. We encourage our users to read the privacy statements of other websites before proceeding to use them.
VIII. AGE OF CONSENT By using the Service, you represent that you are at least 18 years of age.
IX. CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY The Company reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use at any time. If we decide to change this Privacy Policy, we will post these changes on this page so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it. Any such modifications become effective upon your continued access to and/or use of the Service five (5) days after we first post the changes on the website or otherwise provide you with notice of such modifications. It is your sole responsibility to check this website from time to time to view any such changes to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to any changes, if and when such changes may be made to this Privacy Policy, you must cease access to this website. If you have provided your email address to us, you give us permission to email you for the purpose of notification as described in this Privacy Policy.
X. MERGER OR ACQUISITION In the event we (or Weebly) undergo a business transaction such as a merger, acquisition by another company, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your Personal Information may be among the assets transferred. You acknowledge and consent that such transfers may occur and are permitted by this Privacy Policy, and that any acquirer of our (or Weebly’s) assets may continue to process your Personal Information as set forth in this Privacy Policy. If our information practices change at any time in the future, we will post the policy changes here so that you may opt out of the new information practices. We suggest that you check this Privacy Policy periodically if you are concerned about how your information is used.
XI. EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS & OPTING OUT We will send you Service-related announcements on occasions when it is necessary to do so. For instance, if our Service is temporarily suspended for maintenance, or a new enhancement is released, which will affect the way you use our Service, we might send you an email. Generally, you may not opt-out of these communications, which are not promotional in nature. Based upon the Personal Information that you provide us, we may communicate with you in response to your inquiries to provide the services you request and to manage your account. We will communicate with you by email or telephone, in accordance with your wishes. We may also use your Personal Information to send you updates and other promotional communications. If you no longer wish to receive those email updates, you may opt-out of receiving them by following the instructions included in each update or communication.
Mailing Lists- When you fill out our membership forms or register online for our newsletter, as part of that registration process, we collect personal information. We use that information for a couple of reasons: to tell you about stuff you’ve asked us to tell you about; to contact you if we need to obtain or provide additional information; to check our records are right and to check every now and then that you’re happy and satisfied. We don't rent or trade email lists with other organisations and businesses.
We use a third-party provider, MailChimp, to deliver our newsletter. We gather statistics around email opening and clicks using industry standard technologies to help us monitor and improve our e-newsletter. For more information, please see MailChimp’s privacy notice. You can unsubscribe to general mailings at any time of the day or night by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of our emails or by emailing our data protection champion Brian Hogan
XII. CONTACT US & WITHDRAWING CONSENT If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or the practices of this Site, or wish to withdraw your consent for the continued collection, use or disclosure of your Personal Information, please contact us by sending an email to helena.hammond@killarneyleisure.com Last Updated: This Privacy Policy was last updated on Tuesday 25 August 2020
Location at a Glance
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Address: Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre,
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ABC’s Rick Klein with the latest on Syria, Trump foreign policy
UncategorizedBy ktrs April 21, 2017 Leave a comment
Numbers: What South Florida residents are worried about, James Bond franchise up for grabs
Prince fan? Author Alan Light discusses new book on the rock legend
Will first 100 days end in a government shutdown?
Revenue agency gives records after Missouri auditor subpoena
UncategorizedBy News April 21, 2017 Leave a comment
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri’s Department of Revenue has provided records following a subpoena by the state auditor. The agency released the documents Thursday, the day after Auditor Nicole Galloway issued a subpoena. Republican Gov. Eric Greitens’ spokesman Parker Briden called the action by the Democratic auditor a “political stunt.” Galloway had said she…
8th suspect in Saks Fifth Ave smash and grab charged
( KTRS ) The last person in a gang that robbed a Saks Fifth Avenue store in St. Louis has been charged. 22 yr old Dejuan Wingard of Chicago pleaded guilty yesterday in St. Louis to a charge of interstate transportation of stolen property. The smash and grab took place last November in Frontenac. At…
Man found breathing lightly after being shot in head
( KTRS ) Police are investigating after a man was shot in the head early Thursday morning in north St. Louis. The victim was found unconscious and lightly breathing around 8:30am yesterday, in an apartment in the 4600 block of Cottage. The man was taken to hospital but his current condition is unknown at this…
Illinois unemployment rate drops to 4.9 percent in March
CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois officials say the state’s unemployment rate fell .5 percentage points to 4.9 percent in March. The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported Thursday that the jobless level is now below 5 percent for the first time in a decade. But Illinois’ unemployment rate is still higher than the national unemployment rate…
Suspect Charged After Inmates Treated for Suspected Opioid Overdoses
BELLEVILLE, IL (KTRS) Three inmates of the Madison County jail in Belleville, IL, are being treated for a drug overdose … from an inmate who authorities say smuggled in opioids inside a body cavity. Madison County sheriff’s deputies say three female inmates were being held Wednesday in a temporary holding cell when they noticed the three…
Gunman Kills 2 Laclede Gas Workers Before Killing Himself
ST. LOUIS (KTRS) In the north city neighborhood of Hamilton Heights, three people, including two Laclede gas workers, are dead, the result of a shooting in the 5900 hundred block of Minerva just before noon Thursday. St. Louis police say a gunman opened fire on two Laclede gas workers, killing both of them, before fatally…
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Dean Kevin Washburn Confirmed to Lead Indian Affairs
The U.S. Senate has confirmed the nomination of Dean Kevin Washburn to serve as assistant secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of Interior, the highest position in the federal government that focuses primarily on Indian Affairs.
Professor Fort Speaks on Water Issues at August Events
Professor Denise Fort’s expertise in water law was in demand in August at two events.
Professor Fritz Speaks at Teaching of History Conference
Professor Chris Fritz was invited to participate in the 17th Annual Teaching of History Conference at the University of North Texas in mid-September.
Professor Baum Presents Lead Talk at Animal Law CLE
Professor Marsha Baum was the lead speaker at the first Animal Law CLE sponsored by the newly formed Animal Law Section of the State Bar of New Mexico.
Aliza Organick Brings Inspired Teaching to Clinical Program
Aliza Organick (`96) was immersed in her clinical rotation at the University of New Mexico School of Law when she found her calling.
Professor Suzuki Co-Authors HIV & AIDS Benchbook Chapter
Professor Carol Suzuki has co-authored a chapter in the HIV & AIDS Benchbook, second edition, published by the American Bar Association.
Open House to Celebrate Remodeled Clinic
The clinical law faculty at the University of New Mexico School of Law will host an Oct. 5 open house to celebrate the grand opening of its newly refurbished state-of-the-art clinical classroom.
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Nominations now open for the Halsbury's Awards
LexisNexis UK and Halsbury’s (publisher of Halsbury’s Laws of England & Wales) has announced that the Halsbury’s Awards 2011 are open for nominations.
Established in 2007 by the BIALL Awards & Bursaries Committee in conjunction with LexisNexis, the Halsbury’s Awards recognise, celebrate and reward the dedicated performance and outstanding service given by legal information services, law libraries and those teams managing legal collections and resources. This year the categories are:
• Best Legal Information Service (Non-Commercial Sector) – for non-fee charging operations in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, including the academic sector, government libraries and special libraries/information services.
• Best Legal Information Service (Commercial Sector) – for law firms and other legal information services that operation commercial, fee-charging services in Wales, Scotland, Ireland and all areas of England outside the M25.
• Best Legal Information Service (Commercial Sector) – London Only – for law firms and other legal information services that operate commercial, fee-charging services in the greater London area (within the M25).
Nominations can be made by:
• The service providers themselves
• Other legal information professionals who knowand use the service
• Any legal professionals with experience of the service.
• In the commercial sector, where an organisation has more than one information service, nominations for the same firm can be made in different categories (i.e. a London office can be nominated for the London Legal Information Services (commercial) while an office in, for example, Manchester can also be nominated for the Regional Award).
The Award Committee, who adjudicates on the nominations, is composed of senior BIALL officers, the Chair of ABC and representatives from LexisNexis. The Halsbury's Awards are presented annually and the winners receive a trophy and a prize courtesy of LexisNexis. The awards will be presented as part of the BIALL Annual Conference, which this year will take place in Newcastle on 16th June. Nominations will close on the 20th May. Nominate here www.lexislegalintelligence.co.uk/intelligence/biall
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Preparing for an Alternative future: How Proclaim Case Management Software is helping Nesbit Law Group
An Eclipse Legal Systems Case Study www.eclipselegal.co.uk
The full extent to which Alternative Business Structures (ABS) will impact upon the legal services market is as yet unknown. At a time of great uncertainty, one firm is planning confidently for the future – safe in the knowledge that it has the right software systems in place. Nesbit Law Group is an 80-strong, vibrant firm of solicitors dealing with personal injury claims, primarily road traffic accidents (RTA). The firm uses Eclipse’s Proclaim Case Management Software system, allowing fee-earners to turn around cases far quicker than the industry average.
Managing partner Alan Nesbit has experience in both claimant and defendant insurance. Having started the firm in 2003 he now spends his time concentrating on managing and driving the practice forward. Here he explains how he is looking to the future and furthering his firm’s long-standing relationship with Eclipse.
How long have you been using Proclaim?
Since day one! In my previous firm I was part of a panel tasked with analysing the different Case Management systems available and selecting the most suitable. The universal choice was Eclipse’s Proclaim, so when it came to setting up my own practice it was the obvious option. It remains an easy to use, powerful and extremely flexible system. The real beauty is how it can be developed as the business evolves.
How has the firm developed during that time?
We’ve grown from a two-person set-up operating out of one office, to the nine location, 80-staff business of today. Our core focus remains personal injury, but commercial litigation and professional negligence work are also areas of interest. What makes Eclipse stand out from the crowd is the company’s ability to tailor software in line with individual requirements. We speak regularly with Eclipse’s developers who easily incorporate new features to improve efficiency. We’ve changed dramatically and our software has kept up. The result is a system that feels like it has been designed uniquely for our purposes rather than a vanilla, off-the-shelf package.
What are the main benefits of Proclaim?
Due to the competitive nature and fluid status of the personal injury sector, the main benefit is how Proclaim allows us to minimise costs. The system is so straightforward and efficient to use that fee-earners can easily complete a great deal of the work that is traditionally carried out by support staff. It is clear that Proclaim has been developed by people who know what fee-earners want – the result is that across our nine offices we only employ two secretaries!
The second key attribute is that by using Terminal Services I can effectively have a live link into any of the offices, allowing me to maintain a supervisory role across all the branches wherever I am in the world. Combined with the Proclaim Accounts package which allows us to see the ledger on each individual file, it is possible to feel in control of everything that is happening within the organisation.
“When it came to setting up my own practice, Proclaim was the obvious choice. It remains an easy to use, powerful and extremely flexible system. The real beauty is how it can be developed as the business evolves.”
Why is it vital to have the right Case Management systems in place?
Nobody knows the full long-term impact of the Legal Services Act, but I am confident that once a business has formulated its plan for the future, using Proclaim will provide every opportunity for success. It is a vital tool that allows us to achieve our aims and goals and we would find it extremely difficult to compete if we didn’t have it in place.
In all areas, but particularly personal injury, there are relentless pressures driving down the costs that we can receive – including those from Jackson, the fixed costs received through the RTA Portal and the proposed ban on referral fees. Utilising the technology at our fingertips to speed up processes and eliminate the need for support staff is more vital now than ever.
Would you recommend Proclaim to others?
I regularly recommend Proclaim to firms of all shapes and sizes. I was young when I started out and people often ask my advice when starting up themselves – my advice to them is always the same: first things first, get yourself Proclaim.
• A PDF copy of this case study can also be downloaded here Nesbit Law Group Case Study
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Posted on December 7, 2012 December 7, 2012 by jstfly21
A Drone Strike On Democracy By James Joyner
DeM Banter: Interesting piece…pulling on some earlier DeMarco Banter…that there is no catalyst as of yet to make this an issue… but as China develops their systems for possible use… and subsequently deploys said assets–perhaps dialog will begin…maybe….
The public has a right to know far more about these attacks
As a theoretical matter, remotely piloted vehicles are simply a tool of warfare, morally indistinguishable from manned aircraft. The more efficiently the U.S. can target and kill its enemies, the better. And drones are cheaper to operate, carry far less risk for American military personnel and make it easier to collect intelligence than their manned counterparts.
In reality, though, the U.S. uses drones differently than it uses traditional weapons. Because they’re small and cheap, they’re in constant operation in parts of Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia — and thus much more likely to be used to deliver lethal strikes. We’ve gone from a policy of firing only on high-value targets, such as senior terrorist leaders, to one of engaging groups of young men who present the mere “signature” of militant groups.
Not only has this increased the percentage of noncombatants killed but, according to at least one major study, it has bred fear and resentment among the civilian populations in those societies — potentially creating more terrorists.
Most problematic, though, is the fact that drone policy is so shrouded in secrecy that it’s essentially impossible to accurately assess the costs and benefits. Because it’s run covertly by the intelligence and special-operations communities, only a handful of people are privy to the details of the drone war — and almost all of them are prohibited from sharing what they know.
What we do know is from the combination of dogged reporting and selective (and quite probably self-serving) leaks. Back in May, the New York Times described the painstaking process President Obama and his national security team allegedly use to decide who goes on its kill list. We were told that the President personally ensured that each strike would “align . . . with American values.”
More recently, The Times reported that, in the weeks leading up to the election, the administration began “pushing to make the rules formal and resolve internal uncertainty and disagreement about exactly when lethal action is justified.”
Apparently, it occurred to the White House that it might be a good idea to have some structure in place in case a President Romney were to take office and inherit the drone program. As one official put it, “There was concern that the levers might no longer be in our hands.”
Of course, Obama easily won reelection; consequently, the enthusiasm within the Obama administration for defining and reining in presidential power is likely to wane. And given the acrimony on Capitol Hill, it’s hard to imagine that the President is eager to have congressional Republicans weigh in on something as sensitive as a kill list. Then again, this seems to be one issue where there’s very little daylight between the two parties. Even the two separate fall 2011 drone strikes that killed Anwar al-Awlaki and his 16-year-old son, both American citizens, in Yemen raised few official eyebrows.
And because it’s all so incredibly classified, there’s not even an opportunity for informed public debate over the use of drones.
Perhaps the news that China has joined the ranks of the drone-possessing community, having unveiled an operational vehicle that looks suspiciously like the American Reaper but reportedly at a fraction of the per-unit cost, will finally force a major debate, much as Russia’s acquisition of nuclear weapons did in the last century.
It’s one thing for an American President to have the ability to control flying killing machines in disparate corners of the globe.
It’s quite another to put that power in the hands of an authoritarian regime in Beijing — much less those of any number of despots around the world who might be lining up as customers.
Joyner is the managing editor of the Atlantic Council and writes at outsidethebeltway.com.
4 Replies to “A Drone Strike On Democracy By James Joyner”
Drones and other “at length” tools have been used in warfare for a very long time. “Recent” history showed drone use in Vietnam, the Arab-Israeli conflicts, Gulf wars etc. Across the spectrum of technology that is available, there really isn’t much difference between MQ-1 and Tomahawk save the particulars of the aerodynamic performance, the choice of payload, and the command and control systems used. Both systems can go “somewhere” and do something all by themselves. One system is better suited to a more persistent presence, and the other for a shorter mission profile.
The issue today is not about drones themselves so much as it is the willingness to send drones into places where we do not have declared wars, and traditionally haven’t gone, in order to kill people. In the past, other more personal methods may have been used to more or less effect to accomplish the same objective(s). Now with an array of drones deployed all over the world, it seems that some grey line on “enough” has been crossed and that we are now playing God as opposed to just doing surgery on a cancer here and there. Since the technology employed is very much at arms length, there is temptation to do more with it than would have been done if other means were attempted on the same targets.
Don’t get me wrong, I like technology and would much rather replace that technology when it gets “caught” than to try and replace the human that would have been there but for the technology. There are some ethical questions that need to be ironed out though. There needs to be balance and proportionality as well as a consideration of collateral damage. It is important to consider the level of conflict such as whether or not there is a declared war in the employment area as part of the decision process before the pickle button is pressed. That leads me to wonder if the difficulty of reaching some targets by other means, or the host’s relative inability to strike back, implies that there should be a higher bar to the use of drones, in other words, the target better be really really worth it.
It is interesting that the author focuses on China as the entity that may stoke the conversation on when and where it is OK to use drones from a nation-state perspective. (Lets leave non-state actors like narco-terrorists etc out of the dialogue for now.) I can think of at least two other examples that may get there first. Can you?
jstfly21 says:
Ben: Overall…. I agree with you, but we can not fail to recognize what these RPAs enable a nation to do… that a tomahawk can not do. Enter a nations sovereign airspace and surveil without permission… an act of war really… now couple that with actual attacks and yeah…that’s a bit different. I know we had similar issues with the U2 and even with satellites initially. A tomahawk is more potential energy whereas the RPA is more kinetic. US Navy off the coast (messaging) vs a robot over your head.
Yes I can see 2 potential entries into the RPA World… in fact, no doubt they are already in it. What do we do when they act as we are acting? UCAS? So we send in our “fighter” drones to shoot down their attack drones? Now, “they” counter with “fighter” drones…That will be interesting… and what of the issue of sovereign airspace?
Thanks for the thoughts Ben…
The unpermitted violation of sovereign airspace by a war machine is very provocative, any attack is an act of war in the usual sense. In a sense the use of drones, regardless of the platform used, to deliver an attack is currently an economical idea only because those upon whom that is inflicted are not able to return the favor. You ask about drone fighters to protect sovereign airspace…. A far more effective response would be to send a drone to the source country and return the favor. How would citizens in NYC feel if a drone showed up and blew up the new World Trade Center?
Jus’ sayin…,
Amen brother….that’s what I’m talkin’ about…
Previous PostPrevious The Iron Dome Military Revolution By Michael Oren
Next PostNext Time To Terminate The War On Terror By Fareed Zakaria
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Posted on January 20, 2013 by jstfly21
How The Vietnam War Will Shape Obama’s Second Term by Fouad Ajami
DeM Banter: interesting thoughts, we are indeed shaped by our experiences…wonder how that will play here.
Pg. B3
Foreign policy scholar Fouad Ajami says Hagel and Kerry will lead a U.S. retrenchment
The men who fought in Vietnam, a war that symbolizes America’s overreach and failures abroad, haven’t ascended to the presidency in the way that the World War II generation did. But now, under President Obama, Vietnam veterans Chuck Hagel and John Kerry could get a chance to pull America back from its foreign entanglements.
Obama’s nominations of these men, and the world’s disenchantment with this president, signal that in his second term, the United States will have a less zealous mission in the world. The mantra isn’t quite George McGovern’s “come home, America,” but we are not far from that Vietnam-era weariness of distant lands and causes. And who better than a president with a foreign pedigree and two combat veterans from the Vietnam War at the helm of the Pentagon and the State Department to give this retrenchment a sense of legitimacy?
All three men would disavow the charge that they are “declinists” who believe that American power is past its zenith, but there is an unmistakable pessimism at the heart of their worldview: We are flat broke, with pressing priorities at home. Foreign engagements begin well and end in futility. We don’t know enough about the inner workings of these distant places to help more than harm. And besides, our embrace can suffocate those whose causes we might take up.
Syria burns, but we should hold steady and aloof, Obama’s approach has made clear, because we have no way of divining the motivations of the rebellion — or the kind of society the rebels would build if and when the Assad regime falls. The law of unintended consequences haunts our deeds; we know well that American blood and treasure can be wasted at the altar of ideology.
The United States isn’t that exceptional to begin with, this triumvirate believes. Hagel and Kerry have forthrightly said so on many occasions, while Obama has had to be more circumspect. In his first campaign for the presidency, he drew a distinction between good wars of necessity and bad wars of choice. But there is no mistaking the worldview of the politician who rose, unexpectedly, amid economic distress, to the height of political power.
The French have a fitting expression for the Obama phenomenon that broke out abroad, like a fever, in 2008: trompe l’oeil, a trick of the eye. Weary of the assertive nationalism of George W. Bush, Europeans and the Arab world welcomed Obama as a break with the “war on terror” and the American sense of embattled certitude. But the crowds in Paris and Berlin, not to mention Karachi and Cairo, mistook the animating passion of the candidate they had fallen for; they thought of him as a cosmopolitan man at home in the world. While he had lived in Jakarta as a boy, and had a Kenyan father and an Indonesian stepfather, he cut his teeth as a politician in the most American of cities: Chicago.
To the extent that the ideology of such a nimble man can be divined, the mission of his presidency has been the redistributive state at home. His legacy, as he sees it, will be his signature legislation, Obamacare. Yes, Osama bin Laden was killed on his watch, but the rescue of General Motors seems closer to his heart.
Two years or so into his presidency, the world caught on: Underneath the exotic name and the speeches referring to American follies abroad was a president who holds the foreign world at bay. The spell of his stirring speech in Cairo, in June 2009, has been broken. Instead of being taken in by Obama’s magic, Muslims are burning him in effigy in Karachi. His approval rating among Pakistanis is as bleak as that of Bush.
Obama can live with the foreign world’s disenchantment with him. He has a domestic agenda to focus on, and he has two combat veterans from the Vietnam War to scale back American commitments abroad.
“How many of us really know and understand Iraq, its country, history, people and role in the Arab world?” Hagel said on the Senate floor in 2002, in the debate that preceded and authorized the Iraq war. “The American people must be told of the long-term commitment, risk and cost of this undertaking. We should not be seduced by the expectations of dancing in the streets.”
The Nebraskan was speaking of Iraq, but the war in Vietnam has haunted and defined him. He cast a vote authorizing the use of force for the new war, but it didn’t take long before the former infantryman with two Purple Hearts gave voice to his disillusionment. As is well known, Hagel served alongside his younger brother, Tom, in Vietnam; both were wounded.
“We are each a product of our experiences, and my time in combat very much shaped my opinions about war,” Hagel said in an interview with Vietnam Magazine last fall. “The night Tom and I were medevaced out of that village in April 1968, I told myself: If I ever get out of this and I’m ever in a position to influence policy, I will do everything I can to avoid needless, senseless war. I never forgot that vow I made to myself, and I tried to live by it during my time in the Senate.”
By Hagel’s moral code, his vote on Iraq was clearly a lapse in judgment. The passion with which he would speak about the war two or three years later, and his attack on the troop surge as a monumental error, felt like the penance of a man who believed he should have known better than to ever have supported the invasion.
If Hagel for years remained convinced that the Vietnam War was a noble cause badly executed, Kerry’s path after his service as a Navy lieutenant was markedly different — as different, perhaps, as Nebraska and Massachusetts. His 1971 appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has trailed Kerry ever since. He spoke of American soldiers who had “raped, cut off ears, cut off heads . . . randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan.”
It had been idle to launch that war, for there was “nothing in South Vietnam, nothing which could happen that realistically threatens the United States of America.” The United States had gone there with lofty notions of freedom, but the South Vietnamese “only wanted to work in rice paddies without helicopters strafing them and bombs with napalm burning their villages and tearing their country apart.”
There would be no taking back these words. In the eyes of Kerry’s detractors, combat, three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star would not fully acquit him. Emotionally tighter and more inhibited than Hagel, Kerry has put Vietnam at a good remove from his public persona. He has become a troubleshooter, traveling to foreign places but mostly to the chancelleries, to meet leaders and heads of state. Discretion is his code, since the attacks on him by Vietnam veterans during his presidential bid in 2004 rendered him a more cautious man. From his perch in the Senate, he has avoided controversies and redefined himself as an experienced mediator.
Kerry promises to be no more powerful at State than Hillary Rodham Clinton has been. This president, in the mold of Bush, is the “decider” on the crucial issues of our engagements abroad. Kerry won’t challenge or resist the White House’s primacy.
The world needn’t worry about the assertiveness of U.S. power under Obama, Kerry and Hagel. It is people in distress — who might recall a different era when American armor and boots on the ground spelled the difference between rescue and calamity — who must come to terms with the near-certainty that the cavalry will not turn up.
Fouad Ajami, a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, is the author of “The Syrian Rebellion” and “The Dream Palace of the Arabs: A Generation’s Odyssey.”
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The LKI
Prospector Youth
Global Economy International Affairs Regionalism Defence and Security Development China India US Sri Lanka Prospector Youth
LKI Blog International Affairs Prospector Youth Why is it Important to Get Youth Involved in Foreign Affairs and How?
The Prospector International Affairs Prospector Youth Why is it Important to Get Youth Involved in Foreign Affairs and How?
Why is it Important to Get Youth Involved in Foreign Affairs and How?
April 2, 2019 Reading Time: 6 minutes
Reading Time: 6 min read
Image Credits: UN Women/Flickr
Shihan Maharoof*
Youth constitute 16% of the world’s population, and these numbers are projected to increase to 17% by 2030.1 In addition, young people today are connected to each other like never before, and are a core demographic in the using and building of disruptive new technologies, global social and clean energy networks. However, youth have very little voice in development programmes, peace negotiations, and most international and domestic political decision-making, despite their growing demographic and economic significance. It is, therefore, imperative that youth are given the opportunity to engage with international institutions and initiatives and contribute their ideas to resolve global issues. It’s evident that if youth step up to mobilise their nation’s potential to move forward in the right direction, they can create a significant impact on the nation’s transformation in the international arena.
Youth aged 15 to 29 constitute 22% of Sri Lanka’s total population,2 and it is high time Sri Lankan youth are allowed to share their opinions and ideas on policymaking and foreign diplomacy, as the former and current generations of leaders—with very few exceptions—have proven themselves incapable of ‘walking the talk.’ The trauma of a civil war that spanned almost three decades has left its scars on society. Youth from war-affected regions are left disillusioned by the lack of inclusion in most international and domestic development programs that make decisions on their behalf. A closer examination of the recent surge of ethnic conflicts notes that youth were involved in instigating some of these events.
The scope for youth in international engagement is vast, diverse, and untapped. Sri Lanka should consider its past and the looming issues of youth-led extremism and violence as an opportunity to take a more proactive role in countering youth issues by setting up a platform that enables youth engagement in diplomacy and international affairs. It is necessary to facilitate the younger generations with appropriate skills required to excel in the field of international relations. Investing in these young agents of change definitely offers the potential of a tremendous multiplier effect.
Sri Lankan youth-led organisations played a pivotal role in Tsunami Assistance and Relief Processes during several natural disasters. Therefore, providing younger generations the opportunity to pioneer and implement diplomatic and economic initiatives should be a long-term vision, as the future development and longevity of a nation is ultimately in the hands of youth. They would possess more responsibility for the decisions and initiatives they present as it directly reflects on their own future.
The Role of Education
A key policy measure required in facilitating youth engagement is educational reform. However, the progress on this front has not been promising, particularly in the developing world. In Sri Lanka, the secondary school curriculum does not adequately cover international politics and diplomacy, leaving youth – notably those from rural areas – unaware of the significance of foreign relations and the international community in determining Sri Lanka’s prosperity and political stability. Such issues are further compounded by the lack of facilities to accommodate all students that qualify for tertiary education, leading to only 9% of all eligible students being admitted to universities.3
The lack of English language skills is another key factor that discourages youth involvement in foreign affairs. Only 10% of secondary students master spoken English,4 while only 1% of students exhibit the required competency in written English.5 These skills are furthermore restricted to Colombo and other urban areas, while excluding the rural youth due to lack of awareness, exposure, proper guidance and mentoring. Therefore, much needs to be done on this front before Sri Lankan youth are adequately prepared as a whole to engage proactively and confidently with issues of foreign policy. One such area that requires attention would be the “International Youth Relations” division of the Youth Parliament, at present the youth parliament does not cover international relations and diplomatic ties in a deeper sense. Expanding the “International Youth Relations” division’s activities beyond mere “Youth Exchange Programmes” would make their contribution towards the nation’s development more productive and efficient.
The Role of Media
Media, both social and mainstream, has the potential to inspire, given its considerable influence on society, and plays a critical role in keeping youth informed on global issues in an effective manner. However, the question remains – has the role of media been more active in manipulating youth rather than moulding them in the right manner? As social media is often used for propaganda and mainstream media is influenced by political motives, it is much easier to instigate than inspire.
Youth radicalization and exploitation does not stop at borders. Social media and other modern means of communication have enabled terrorist groups and individuals to promote their extremist ideologies6 amongst youth across the globe with ease. Now more than ever, the media has a high level of responsibility to maintain the integrity of information disseminated to keep youth informed about the necessity of their engagement in effective diplomacy, while ensuring that they are not influenced by exposure to extremist ideologies.
The United Nations Youth Strategy
The United Nations Youth Strategy7 is the first attempt at a framework to guide the international community with regard to youth involvement, and reaffirms the UN’s message that young people are “an essential asset worth investing in.” The strategy incorporates the role of youth into the global sustainability agenda via three key pillars: peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development. At its core, the strategy aims to provide a blueprint for joint initiatives and implementation of effective practices before it is too late. It also outlines the unique position of the UN to challenge and support states to ensure protection and support for young people, and provides a platform through which their “needs can be addressed, their voice can be amplified, and their engagement can be advanced.”
States could further realise the goals articulated in the UN Youth Strategy by creating networks to educate and involve youth in activities related to global trade, diplomacy, sustainability and peace-building. One such area that requires attention would be the “International Youth Relations” division of the Youth Parliament,8 at present the youth parliament does not cover International Relations and Diplomatic ties in a deeper sense. Expanding the “International Youth Relations” division’s activities beyond mere Youth Exchange Programmes9 would make their contribution towards the nation’s development more productive and efficient. Indonesia, for example, Indonesia has established Indonesian Youth Diplomacy (IYD),10 a youth-run, youth-led programme that raises awareness and builds capacity among Indonesians. Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, platforms like the Sri Lanka Model United Nations (SLMUN) provide youth an opportunity to learn the art of diplomacy and conflict resolution. SLMUN is additionally committed to expanding its role through the Vision 202011 programme.
It is crucial that successful initiatives receive both financial and political support. Furthermore, much remains to be done in areas such as educational reforms. However, these are post facto initiatives that address existing issues. The more challenging goal will be enacting long-term policy reforms that empower youth and provide them with skill sets to confidently navigate the world of international politics, before negative consequences of lack of youth engagement in diplomacy manifest around the world.
1Indonesian Youth Diplomacy. (2019). Meet the Diplomats — Indonesian Youth Diplomacy. [online] Available at: http://www.indonesianyouthdiplomacy.org/meet-the-diplomats/
[Accessed 6 Mar. 2019].
2Global Development Index Report. (2016). [pdf] The Commonwealth, p.46.
Available at: http://cmydiprod.uksouth.cloudapp.azure.com/sites/default/files/2016-10/2016%20Global%20Youth%20Development%20Index%20and%20Report.pdf#page=46
3Liyanage, K. (2014). Education System of Sri Lanka: Strengths and Weaknesses. [ebook]
Available at: http://www.ide.go.jp/library/Japanese/Publish/Download/Report/2013/pdf/C02_ch7.pdf
Available at: http://www.ide.go.jp/library/Japanese/Publish/Download/Report/2013/pdf/C02_ch7.pdf [Accessed 6 Mar. 2019].
5Awan, I. (2017). Cyber-Extremism: Isis and the Power of Social Media. Society, 54(2), pp.138-149. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12115-017-0114-0
6Ibid
7Youth 2030 – Working with and for Young People. (2019). [ebook] United Nations Youth Strategy. Available at: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18-00080_UN-Youth-Strategy_Web.pdf [Accessed 6 Mar. 2019].
8National Youth Services Council. (2019). Sri Lankan Youth Parliament. [online] Available at: http://www.nysc.lk/aboutParliament_e.php [Accessed 6 Mar. 2019].
9National Youth Services Council. (2019). International Youth Relations Division. [online] Available at: http://www.nysc.lk/foriRelation_e.php [Accessed 6 Mar. 2019].
10Indonesian Youth Diplomacy. (2019). Meet the Diplomats — Indonesian Youth Diplomacy. [online] Available at: http://www.indonesianyouthdiplomacy.org/meet-the-diplomats/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2019].
11National Youth Model United Nations. (2019). Vision 2020 – National Youth Model United Nations. [online] Available at: http://www.nymunsl.org/vision-2020/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2019].
*Shihan Maharoof is a Research Assistant at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI). The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and not the institutional views of LKI, nor do they necessarily reflect the position of any other institution or individual with which the author is affiliated. This article was originally published in the Daily Mirror.
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Cost to Comply with SPL FTZ (FTZ entries, bonded transports and receipt for AG Pipe Spools Only)
DATE OF AGREEMENT: November 7, 2018
DATE OF CHANGE ORDER: February 10, 2020
In accordance with Section 6.1 of the Agreement (Change Orders Requested by Owner), the Parties agree this Change Order reflects Contractor’s costs to comply with Owner’s Foreign-Trade-Zone No. 291 in Cameron, Louisiana (the “FTZ”) for the import of pipe spools from Turkey.
The Parties executed Change Order CO-00004 (Foreign Trade Zone), which defines responsibilities of Owner and Contractor with respect to FTZ compliance.
This Change Order is specific to Contractor’s costs incurred while Owner established the Project as FTZ and costs associated with changes in transportation and handling necessary to comply with FTZ requirements. This Change Order includes cost of actions taken by Contractor to avoid the application of tariffs, which otherwise would have occurred, while Owner was in the process of establishing its FTZ. Contractor’s costs include:
FTZ entries for pipe spools;
Bonded transports of pipe spools;
Receipt and storage for initial shipments of above-ground pipe spools (81 Containers) for Subproject 6(a) at Dixie Cullen FTZ Warehouse;
The detailed cost breakdown for this Change Order is detailed in Exhibit A of this Change Order.
Schedule C-1 (Milestone Payment Schedule) of Attachment C of the Agreement will be amended by including the milestone(s) listed in Exhibit B of this Change Order.
This Change Order excludes (i) costs to comply with Owner’s Foreign-Trade-Zone No. 291 other than those for the import of pipe spools from Turkey and (ii) Subproject 6(b), LNG Berth 3.
Adjustment to Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(a)
The original Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(a) was.................................................................
Net change for Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(a) by previously authorized Change Orders (#00001-#00012)........................................................................................................................................
(19,084,262
The Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(a) prior to this Change Order was...................................
The Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(a) will be increased by this Change Order in the amount of....................................................................................................................................................
The Provisional Sum Applicable to Subproject 6(a) will be unchanged by this Change Order in the amount of....................................................................................................................................................
The new Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(a) including this Change Order will be...................
Adjustment to Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(b)
The original Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(b) was................................................................
Net change for Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(b) by previously authorized Change Orders (#00001-#00012)........................................................................................................................................
The Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(b) prior to this Change Order was..................................
The Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(b) will be unchanged by this Change Order...................
The Provisional Sum Applicable to Subproject 6(b) will be unchanged by this Change Order................
The new Contract Price Applicable to Subproject 6(b) including this Change Order will be...................
The original Contract Price was (add lines 1 and 7).................................................................................
The Contract Price prior to this Change Order was (add lines 3 and 9)....................................................
The Contract Price will be increased by this Change Order in the amount of (add lines 4 and 10).........
The new Contract Price including this Change Order will be (add lines 14 and 15)................................
Adjustment to dates in Project Schedule for Subproject 6(a)
Adjustment to other Changed Criteria for Subproject 6(a): (insert N/A if no changes or impact; attach additional documentation if necessary): N/A
Adjustment to Payment Schedule for Subproject 6(a): Yes, see Exhibit B
Adjustment to Minimum Acceptance Criteria for Subproject 6(a): N/A
Adjustment to Performance Guarantees for Subproject 6(a): N/A
Adjustment to Design Basis for Subproject 6(a): N/A
Other adjustments to liability or obligation of Contractor or Owner under the Agreement for Subproject 6(a): N/A
Adjustment to dates in Project Schedule for Subproject 6(b)
Adjustment to other Changed Criteria for Subproject 6(b): (insert N/A if no changes or impact; attach additional documentation if necessary) N/A
Adjustment to Payment Schedule for Subproject 6(b): N/A
Adjustment to Design Basis for Subproject 6(b): N/A
Other adjustments to liability or obligation of Contractor or Owner under the Agreement for Subproject 6(b): N/A
[A] This Change Order shall constitute a full and final settlement and accord and satisfaction of all effects of the change reflected in this Change Order upon the Changed Criteria and shall be deemed to compensate Contractor fully for such change. Initials:
/s/ MDR Contractor /s/ DC Owner
[B] This Change Order shall not constitute a full and final settlement and accord and satisfaction of all effects of the change reflected in this Change Order upon the Changed Criteria and shall not be deemed to compensate Contractor fully for such change. Initials: ____ Contractor ____ Owner
/s/ Maurissa D. Rogers
Maurissa D. Rogers
Sr VP E&C
Permanent Access Road to Third Berth
In accordance with Section 6.1 of the Agreement (Change Orders Requested by Owner), the Parties agree this change order reflects Contractor’s cost to install a permanent access road to the Third Berth (Subproject 6(b)) as requested by Owner on November 11, 2019 via Letter No. SPL4-BE-C19-044.
This additional access way will allow access to the Third Berth construction area without moving the existing guard shack or adding an additional guard shack off of Lighthouse Road. Refer to the attached drawing depicting the new Third Berth access road as provided in Exhibit C of this Change Order.
Adjustment to Payment Schedule for Subproject 6(a): N/A
Adjustment to Payment Schedule for Subproject 6(b): Yes, see Exhibit B
Modifications to Schedule Bonus Language
The Parties agree to amend Article 13.2A of the Agreement to replace the reference to “NTP” to “LNTP No. 1” to calculate the “Schedule Bonus Date for SP6(a)”.
Now therefore, Section 13.2A of the Agreement is deleted and replaced with the following:
Schedule Bonus.
A.If Substantial Completion of Subproject 6(a) occurs before the date falling one thousand six hundred twelve (1,612) Days after issuance of LNTP No. 1 for Subproject 6(a) (“Schedule Bonus Date for SP6(a)”), Owner shall pay Contractor a bonus in the amount of Fifty Cents (U.S.$0.50) per MMBtu of the LNG that is both (i) produced by Subproject 6(a) between the period of first production of LNG from Subproject 6(a) and the Schedule Bonus Date for SP6(a) and (ii) loaded onto an LNG Tanker for export prior to the Schedule Bonus Date for SP6(a) (“Schedule Bonus for SP6(a)”).
The Contract Price is not adjusted by this Change Order.
LNG Berth 3 LNTP No 3
DATE OF CHANGE ORDER: January 31, 2020
In accordance with Article 5.1.A.4 (“Other Limited Notices to Proceed”) and Article 5.2.B (“NTP for Subproject 6(b)”), the Parties agree to amend the Agreement by way of adding a new Limited Notice to Proceed No. 3 for Subproject 6(b) in the form attached hereto as Schedule H-8 (“LNTP No. 3”), authorizing Contractor to commence performance of the Work as described in Schedule H-8.
Work performed under LNTP No. 3 shall be performed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement and Contractor shall be paid for such specified Work pursuant to the terms and conditions of LNTP No. 3 and the Agreement, with all such payments credited against the Contract Price if NTP for Subproject 6(b) is issued. The Portion of the Contract Price payable for Work under LNTP No. 3 shall be made in accordance with the Payment Schedule set forth in Schedule H-8 (as may be amended by Change Order) and the applicable provisions of Article 7.
This Change Order excludes any potential cost and schedule impacts pursuant to the instructions in Article 5.2.C.2 (“Subproject 6(b)”).
Construction Doc Fender Guards and LP Fuel Gas Overpressure Interlock
DATE OF CHANGE ORDER: March 18, 2020
In accordance with Section 6.1 of the Agreement (Change Orders Requested by Owner), the Parties agree this change order reflects Contractor’s cost to install a total of eight (8) pneumatic fender guards and ancillary material at the SPL Construction Dock as requested by Owner via Letter No. SPL4-BE-C20-003.
In accordance with Section 6.1 of the Agreement (Change Orders Requested by Owner), the Parties agree this change order reflects Contractor’s cost to add an interlock control system to close 46XV-22047 on high pressure to the LP Fuel Gas Knock Out Drum 46V-2202 as requested by Owner via Letter No. SPL4-BE-C20-002.
The detailed cost breakdown for this Change Order is detailed in Exhibits A1 and A2 of this Change Order.
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Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Review
Martina B. Sintzel1,
Mark Rametta2 &
Anthony T. Reder3
Neurology and Therapy volume 7, pages59–85(2018)Cite this article
Numerous observational studies have suggested that there is a correlation between the level of serum vitamin D and MS risk and disease activity. To explore this hypothesis, a literature search of large, prospective, observation studies, epidemiological studies, and studies using new approaches such as Mendelian randomization was conducted. Available data and ongoing research included in this review suggest that the level of serum vitamin D affects the risk of developing MS and also modifies disease activity in MS patients. Newer Mendelian randomization analyses suggest there is a causal relationship between low vitamin D level and the risk of MS. Post-hoc evaluations from two phase 3 studies, BENEFIT and BEYOND, support the findings of observational trials. Study limitations identified in this review recognize the need for larger controlled clinical trials to establish vitamin D supplementation as the standard of care for MS patients. Though there is increasing evidence indicating that lower vitamin D levels are associated with increased risk of MS and with greater clinical and brain MRI activity in established MS, the impact of vitamin D supplementation on MS activity remains inadequately investigated.
Knowledge of the widespread effects of vitamin D on skeletal and non-skeletal functions, including immune functions, has developed considerably over the past 3 decades. Higher levels of vitamin D are associated with reduced risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS), and with reduced clinical activity in established MS, including decreased risk of relapse and reduction in disease activity on brain MRI [1, 2]. Vitamin D supplementation may diminish the risk of MS in the general population, as well as in children of mothers supplemented before and during pregnancy [3]. In the information that follows, we will summarize the available data on vitamin D, with a focus on vitamin D’s effects on the risk of onset of MS and on the disease course of MS.
Sources, Metabolism, and Biological Functions of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a lipid-soluble vitamin, but acts like a hormone. Unlike a vitamin, which is an essential organic compound that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be ingested, vitamin D can be synthesized [4]. The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH]2VD), also known as calcitriol (Fig. 1) [5] has chemical similarities to typical hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol [6]. The main sources of vitamin D are sunlight, diet, and supplementation (Fig. 2) [7]. UVB in the 290–315-nm range photolyses 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin to form pre-vitamin D3, which then isomerizes to vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol [8]. Foods rich in vitamin D include fatty fish (e.g., salmon, mackerel), cod liver oil, egg yolk, and shiitake mushrooms. The plant form of vitamin D is called vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol [9]. Cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol are also available from fortified foods (e.g., milk, cereal, some orange juice, and cheeses) and vitamin supplements.
Chemical structures of the physiologically inactive vitamin D2 (a) and vitamin D3 (b); the main circulating vitamin D3 intermediate, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) (c); and the bioactive vitamin D3 metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH]2VD) (d), or calcitriol if derived from vitamin D3 [5]
Reprinted from [7], with permission from Elsevier
Sources and metabolism of vitamin D: The main sources of vitamin D are sunlight, diet, and supplementation. The primary forms of vitamin D are biologically inactive and need for their activation two hydroxylation steps in the liver and kidney. The hormonally active final product is 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2VDO]. 1,25(OH)2VD has a half-life of several hours, while the intermediate vitamin D form 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] has a relatively long half-life (20–60 days), and thus more accurately exemplifies the overall vitamin D stores in the body [7].
Relative to sun exposure, diet is a poor source of vitamin D, providing only 40–400 IU per food serving, whereas whole-body UVB exposure for 20 min for a light-skinned person during the summer months will produce upwards of 10,000 IU of vitamin D [7, 10]. However, UVB exposure and vitamin D production through the skin may be reduced with increased skin pigmentation, age, use of sunscreen, and environmental factors such as winter season, high latitude, pollution, cloud cover, and ozone levels [7]. For instance, sun exposure during most of the winter at latitudes above ~ 33° North (e.g., Atlanta, GA, USA; Casablanca, Morocco) and below ~ 33 degrees South (e.g., Santiago, Chile; New South Wales, Australia; Southern Cape of Africa) provides minimal, if any, vitamin D production [11].
Both forms of vitamin D, cholecalciferol, and ergocalciferol are biologically inactive and undergo an enzymatic transformation in the liver to 25(OH)D (calcidiol). Stimulated by parathyroid hormone, 25(OH)D goes through a second hydroxylation in the kidney or other tissues to 1,25(OH)2VD (also known as calcitriol if derived from vitamin D3), which is the active metabolite (Figs. 1 and 2) [5, 7]. 1,25(OH)2VD has a half-life of several hours, while 25(OH)D has a relatively long half-life (20–60 days), and thus more accurately exemplifies the overall vitamin D stores in the body. This supports the standard practice of measuring 25(OH)D in serum, and represents an integrated measure of vitamin D derived from both UVB exposure and diet. As a side note, most assays that evaluate 25(OH)D do not discriminate between the original forms of vitamin D (vitamin D3 or D2). However, the latter is usually a minor component because natural sources of ergocalciferol are scarce, and ergocalciferol is more rapidly catabolized than cholecalciferol [7].
The active metabolite 1,25(OH)2VD is released into the bloodstream and transported in the blood. It binds to the vitamin D binding protein in blood and on the surface of target tissues. 1,25(OH)2VD mediates its biological effects by binding to intracellular vitamin D receptor (VDR), which then recruits cofactors to form a transcriptional complex that binds to vitamin D response elements [12]. This association regulates the expression of at least 500 genes that drive a variety of physical functions [7]. The VDR is found in almost all human tissues, not just those participating in the classic actions of vitamin D, such as bone, gut, and kidney. The non-classic actions of VDR can be allocated to three main categories: regulation of hormone secretion, regulation of immune function, and regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation [12].
Vitamin D deficiency has been classically attributed to bone health. In the early 1900s, rickets, a consequence of vitamin D deficiency, was very common among children in industrialized cities, and observations were made that sunlight exposure or cod liver oil may help to prevent this condition [10]. Other musculoskeletal consequences of vitamin D deficiency include secondary hyperparathyroidism, increased bone turnover, bone loss, and risk of low-trauma fractures. Today, we understand that VDR is widely distributed throughout the human body and involved in many biological functions. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with numerous diseases including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, infectious diseases, mental disorders, and autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes mellitus, Crohn’s disease, and MS [10, 13]. These diseases are all linked to vitamin D levels that are sufficient to prevent rickets, but are still suboptimal. Curiously, as rickets is no longer a problem, one might assume that the vitamin D deficiency problem is also no longer an issue. However, now that we know that autoimmunity may be related to low vitamin D levels, and that the incidence of autoimmune diseases has increased, we must consider if there is a higher vitamin D threshold related to autoimmunity, or if the environment changed since the Industrial Revolution.
Roles of Vitamin D in Immunity
Since multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered an autoimmune disease, it is of interest to review briefly the potential effects of vitamin D related to immune function. The active form of vitamin D plays an essential role in lymphocyte activation and proliferation, T-helper cell differentiation, tissue-specific lymphocyte homing, the production of specific antibody isotypes, and regulation of the immune response [14]. Targeted immune cell types include macrophages, dendritic cells, and T and B cells. Mora and colleagues (Fig. 3) [14] summarized the roles and effects of vitamin D on these immune cell types [14]:
Reprinted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: [14]
Potential mechanisms of vitamin D immunomodulation: systemic 1,25(OH)2VD3 affects several immune-cell types, including macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), T and B cells. Macrophages and DCs constantly express vitamin D receptor (VDR), whereas VDR expression in T cells is only upregulated following activation.
Macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) constitutively express VDRs, whereas VDR expression in T cells is upregulated only after activation.
In macrophages and monocytes, 1,25(OH)2VD positively impacts its own effects by increasing the expression of VDR and the cytochrome P450 protein, CYP27B1.
Certain Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated signals also can increase the expression of VDRs.
The active form of vitamin D induces monocyte proliferation and the expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and cathelicidin (an antimicrobial peptide) by macrophages, contributing to innate immune responses to some bacteria.
1,25(OH)2VD decreases DC maturation, inhibiting upregulation of the expression of MHC class II, CD40, CD80, and CD86. In addition, it decreases IL-12 production by DCs while inducing the production of IL-10.
In T cells, 1,25(OH)2VD reduces the production of IL-2, IL-17, and interferon-γ (IFNγ) and attenuates the cytotoxic activity and proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
The active metabolite of vitamin D might also promote the development of forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3)+ regulatory T (T Reg) cells and IL-10-producing T regulatory type 1 (TR1) cells.
1,25(OH)2VD blocks B cell proliferation, plasma cell differentiation, and immunoglobulin production.
Notable in the context of this review, many of the mechanisms of vitamin D on immune processes have similarities to mechanisms described for interferon-beta [15].
Definition of Vitamin D Deficiency and Targeted Levels of Vitamin D
The clinical definition of vitamin D deficiency and what constitutes optimal levels has been the subject of debate. Two organizations, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Endocrine Society, have released separate recommendations regarding vitamin D requirements [4, 11, 16]. Blood levels of 25(OH)D as suggested by the IOM and the Endocrine Society and the recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) by both organizations are provided in Table 1 [4, 11, 16].
Table 1 Definition of vitamin D status [as measured by blood levels of 25(OH)D] and daily vitamin D intake recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Endocrine Society [4, 11, 13, 16]
The foundational basis for the recommendations by these two organizations are fundamentally different. The IOM guidelines based their recommendation on a population model and focused on bone health (calcium absorption, bone mineral density, and osteomalacia/rickets) aiming to prevent vitamin D deficiency in 97.5% of the general population. Based on the model applied, no evidence was found that a serum 25(OH)D concentration > 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L) had beneficial effects at a population level. Therefore, the IOM concluded that the daily requirements for vitamin D were adequate to reach the “sufficient” 25(OH)D level of 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L), and that these levels were generally attained by most of the population [4, 16].
Alternatively, the Endocrine Society concluded that a level of 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L) was not sufficient. The Endocrine Society based their recommendations on a medical model taking into consideration available evidence on skeletal and extraskeletal effects of vitamin D, in addition to the few negative studies. Moreover, they took into consideration the low toxicity potential of vitamin D supplementation. In their view, serum 25(OH)D levels of ≥ 30 ng/mL (≥ 75 nmol/L) are “sufficient” for children and adults, levels of 40–60 ng/mL (100–150 nmol/L) are “ideal” (considering assay variability), and levels of up to 100 ng/mL (250 nmol/L) could be considered “safe” [11, 13].
The Endocrine Society advocates for screening and corrective action for individuals at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Such individuals include African American and Hispanic children and adults; pregnant and lactating women; older adults with a history of falls or nontraumatic fractures; obese children and adults (BMI > 30 kg/m2); and patients with musculoskeletal diseases, chronic kidney disease, hepatic failure, malabsorption syndromes, and some lymphomas [11]. Furthermore, the group recommends supplementation at suggested daily intake and tolerable-upper-limit levels, depending on age and clinical circumstances (Table 1) [4, 11, 13, 16].
Supplemental Vitamin D
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin D and the tolerable-upper-limit levels vary with age and under certain circumstances such as those involving pregnancy, obesity, or comorbidities. A daily dose of 600–800 IU should satisfy the requirements for optimal bone health [16], but a higher intake (1000–2000 IU) is needed to achieve and maintain 25(OH)D levels > 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) [11]. Vitamin D supplements can be administered daily, weekly, monthly, or every 4 months to reach an adequate serum 25(OH)D concentration. For cases of extreme vitamin D deficiency, a bolus application of vitamin D has been proposed, but a steady-state serum 25(OH)D concentration is more likely to be maintained by more frequent, lower doses of vitamin D [13]. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is widely preferred over vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), as it has proven to be the more potent form of vitamin D in all primate species, including humans [17]. Vitamin D supplementation at doses of 1500–2000 IU/day for adults as suggested by the Endocrine Society appears to be well tolerated, with relatively minor concerns about toxicity for most patients [11]. Caution should be exercised in patients with impairment of renal function, cardiovascular diseases, chronic granuloma-forming disorders (sarcoidosis or tuberculosis), or chronic fungal infections. Some patients with lymphoma have activated macrophages that produce 1,25(OH)2VD in an unregulated fashion.
Vitamin D Safety Risks and Vitamin D Intoxication
1,25(OH)2VD stimulates intestinal calcium absorption [18]. Without vitamin D, only 10–15% of dietary calcium and about 60% of phosphorus are absorbed. Vitamin D sufficiency enhances absorption of calcium by 30–40% and phosphorus by 80% [11, 19, 20]. Vitamin D intoxication is characterized by hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, and hyperphosphatemia and in the long term, can lead to soft tissue and vascular calcification and nephrolithiasis [13]. After review of available literature, the Endocrine Practice Guidelines Committee concluded that vitamin D toxicity is a rare event caused by inadvertent or intentional ingestion of excessively high amounts of vitamin D [11]. Concerns were expressed for people with 25(OH)D levels of 150 ng/mL (375 nmol/L) or higher, when daily doses of vitamin D exceed 10,000 IU or when high intake of vitamin D is combined with high intake of calcium. A dose-ranging study reported that 10,000 IU/day of vitamin D3 for 5 months in healthy men did not alter their serum calcium or their urinary calcium excretion, which is the most sensitive indicator for potential vitamin D intoxication [21]. However, there is a paucity of evidence supporting the use of higher levels of vitamin D over a prolonged time [11].
Safety findings in three studies conducted in patients with MS using doses of vitamin D above 10,000 IU/day are noteworthy. One open-label trial of vitamin D in patients with MS evaluated the safety of a dose-escalation protocol from 4000 to 40,000 IU/day (mean of 14,000 IU/day). Concomitantly, patients received 1200 mg of calcium per day vs. a control group (allowed up to 4000 IU/day of vitamin D and supplemental calcium if desired) over 1 year [22]. All calcium-related measures within and between groups were normal. Despite a mean peak 25(OH)D level of 165 ng/mL (413 nmol/L), no significant adverse events occurred. The safety results were in line with a previously conducted, smaller study in 12 patients with MS also using doses of up to 40,000 IU [23]. In the third study, 15 patients with relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) were supplemented with 20,000 IU/day of vitamin D3 for 12 weeks [24]. The median vitamin D level increased from 50 nmol/L (range: 31–175 nmol/L) at week 0–380 nmol/L (range: 151–535 nmol/L) at week 12 (P < 0.001). All patients completed the observation period without side effects, hypercalcemia, or hypercalciuria [24].
There are cases in the literature in which exceptionally high doses (considerably above the daily upper limit of 10,000 IU) led to vitamin D toxicity:
Bell and coworkers described a 67-year-old woman with vitamin D intoxication. Because of a compounding error by the pharmacy, the woman had taken 600,000 IU (rather than the intended 600 IU) of cholecalciferol daily for more than 3 years, leading to reversible hypercalcemia and partially reversible renal impairment [25].
Fragoso and colleagues reported considerable vitamin D toxicity in 21 MS patients who were exposed to levels ranging from 8000 IU/day to extremely high, supra-physiological doses of 150,000 IU/day (average 87,000 IU) [26].
In order to assess the correlation between vitamin D and MS, a literature search of large, prospective, observational studies, epidemiological studies, and studies using new approaches such as Mendelian randomization was conducted.
Compliance and Ethics Guidelines
This article is based on previously conducted studies, and as such, does not involve any new studies of human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
Vitamin D Levels and MS Susceptibility
Since vitamin D was proposed as an important factor in MS development in the 1970s, numerous experimental and epidemiologic studies have been conducted to answer key questions such as Does vitamin D prevent MS? How does vitamin D impact MS activity? and Can vitamin D supplementation favorably alter the course of MS? Observational study data does suggest that adequate vitamin D levels may reduce the risk of MS and affect the course of the disease. However, study limitations restrict the extent to which inverse associations can be attributed to vitamin D, and additional studies are needed to further understand the nature of this association [2].
Epidemiologic Study Data
Epidemiologic studies substantiate that the prevalence of MS is greater at higher latitudes and tends to peak in areas with the lowest exposure to ultraviolet light [27,28,29,30,31,32]. Additionally, to some degree, diets rich in vitamin D-containing oily fish may offset this risk [27, 28]. In “historical” cohorts, the risk of MS decreased among people who migrate from higher to lower latitudes [33]. However, this latitudinal finding has appeared to decline in recent decades and may be linked to an increased trend towards avoiding sun exposure or staying indoors for longer portions of the day, even in warmer climates [7, 34].
An Australian case–control study examined whether leisure sun exposure, combined with 25(OH)D status impacts the risk of a first demyelinating event and whether this was related to a latitude gradient [35]. Independently, higher levels of sun exposure (past, recent, and cumulative), higher actinic skin damage and higher 25(OH)D levels were associated with significantly reduced risks of a demyelinating event. The investigators calculated that the differences in leisure sun exposure, serum 25(OH)D level, and skin type would additively account for a 32.4% increase in the incidence of first demyelinating events from the low to high latitude regions in Australia [35]. The independent association of sun exposure and MS risk suggests that UV light itself may influence MS risk. Partially supporting this is research that showed that experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) could be prevented in mice through whole-body irradiation with UV light [36]. However, this research did not discriminate between vitamin D-related and nonrelated effects of UV light. The research did note that in the Northern Hemisphere, significantly more people with MS are born in May (9.1%), when there is less sunlight during pregnancy than in November (8.5%), when there is an increased amount of sunlight [37]. Some argue that this is an artifact of more births during certain months [38] though others disagree [39].
Dietary Intake of Vitamin D and MS Risk
Using data from two large cohorts of the Nurses’ Health Study involving more than 187,000 women (including 300 who developed MS during the study), Munger and colleagues evaluated the association between calculated vitamin D intake from diet or supplements and the risk of developing MS [40]. Women who had a higher intake of dietary vitamin D (approximately 700 IU/day) had a 33% lower incidence of MS compared with those with lower intake. In addition, women who used vitamin D supplements (≥ 400 IU/day) had a 41% reduced risk of developing MS compared to non-users. Having higher levels of 25(OH)D (irrespective of dietary vitamin D intake) also seems to predict a lower risk of MS onset. Using a longitudinal study design, Munger and colleagues evaluated serum vitamin D levels derived from blood samples of seven million US military personnel. Those with 25(OH)D levels greater than 100 nmol/L (40 ng/mL) had a 62% lower chance of subsequently developing MS [1].
Vitamin D Levels During Pregnancy and MS Risk in Offspring
The Finnish Maternity Cohort is a comprehensive registry, established in 1983, that includes more than 800,000 women and more than 1.5 million serum samples. This cohort also served as a basis for examining the association of vitamin D levels during pregnancy and MS risk [3]. One hundred ninety-three patients with a diagnosis of MS, whose mothers were captured in the registry and had an available serum sample from the pregnancy with the affected child, were matched with 326 controls. Vitamin D levels were low in both groups, but lower in the mothers of MS patients than in controls [34.6 nmol/L (13.9 ng/mL) vs. 37.5 nmol/L (15.0 ng/mL); P = 0.006]. Moreover, MS risk was 90% higher in the offspring of vitamin D-deficient mothers [25(OH)D < 30 nmol/L (12.0 ng/mL)] compared with offspring of mothers who were not vitamin D deficient [relative risk, 1.90; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20–3.01; P = 0.006] [3]. These data suggest that insufficient vitamin D levels during pregnancy may increase the risk of MS [3].
The association between neonatal 25(OH)D status and risk of MS was examined in a large population-based case–control study using data from the nationwide Danish MS Registry and the Danish Newborn Screening Biobank (DNSB) [41]. Data from 521 patients with MS and 972 controls were investigated. The analysis by quintiles revealed individuals with the highest risk of MS were in the lowest quintile group of 25(OH)D (< 20.7 nmol/L), and individuals the lowest risk were in the highest quintile group (≥ 48.9 nmol/L); with an odds ratio for highest vs. lowest group of 0.53 (95% CI 0.36–0.78). Children born with 25(OH)D levels < 30 nmol/L seemed to be at an especially high risk of developing MS. The additional benefits of higher levels of 25(OH)D were less pronounced [41].
Studies Utilizing Mendelian Randomization to Measure MS Risk
Data on vitamin D and risk of MS have been largely based on observational studies that measure an inverse association. However, MS is identified as the primary cause of low 25(OH)D) and thus cannot be excluded with these methods. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses use genetic associations to test the effects of biomarkers, such as 25(OH)D, on the risk of disease, because inherited alleles are not affected by most confounding variables or disease status [42, 43]. Thus, the possibility of confounding or reverse causation can largely be excluded. Three recent publications made use of this epidemiological approach. Mokry and colleagues applied genome-wide data on genetic variants that predicted blood 25(OH)D levels from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study to participants in the International MS Genetics Consortium study [42]. They found that a genetically determined decrease in blood 25(OH)D level predicted increased MS susceptibility. An increase of 25(OH)D levels by 50% decreased the odds of getting MS by approximately 50% [42, 44]. Similar findings were seen from MR analyses using data from two populations, a US administrative claim database and two population-based case–control studies from Sweden [45]. The third publication, from the Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers, again investigated the US and Swedish datasets [43]. Genetic risk scores were used to estimate the causal association between low 25(OH)D levels and pediatric-onset MS. This data also supports independent and causal effects of decreased 25(OH)D levels on susceptibility to pediatric-onset MS [43].
Studies Contradicting the Association of Vitamin D Levels with MS Risk
Ueda and colleagues investigated the link between vitamin D status at birth and risk of adult-onset MS in a population-based, multicenter, case–control study in Sweden [46]. The authors analyzed stored neonatal dried blood samples of 459 MS subjects and 663 controls (matched on sex, age, and residential area). There was no association between neonatal serum 25(OH)D quintiles and risk of MS as adults. When the findings were adjusted for confounding factors in early life (e.g., month of birth, latitude of birth, and breastfeeding), in adult life (e.g., sun exposure, intake of vitamin D-rich dairy products, fatty fish consumption, smoking, and body mass index at 20 years of age), ancestry, MS heredity, and socioeconomic group, results were not considerably affected [46]. Whether the study provided conclusive results was the subject of debate for two primary reasons: (1) blood samples at birth were not well preserved and may have been affected by substantial degradation of 25(OH)D; and (2) the range of 25(OH)D levels at birth was narrow and mostly low (mean = 29.7 nmol/L, median = 25.6, interquartile range = 17.0–38.4 nmol/L) [47].
Optic neuritis (ON) is a common first symptom of MS. Pihl-Jensen and coworkers conducted a cross-sectional study to assess whether 25(OH)D levels can predict later development of MS in acute ON by evaluating the differences in mean serum 25(OH)D levels between subjects with ON (n = 164) and those with MS (n = 948) [48]. Deseasonalized serum 25(OH)D levels of the ON onset group were used for statistical analyses. The majority (56.1%) of the patients had 25(OH)D levels below 50 nmol/L (mean 47.64 ± 21.48 nmol/L). There were no significant differences in 25(OH)D levels between ON subjects who developed MS and those who did not develop MS during the median follow-up time of 741 days (P = 0.279), indicating no statistically significant effect on the hazard of MS development. However, significant associations were found between 25(OH)D levels and elevated IgG index levels or CSF pleocytosis, both markers of inflammatory activity or risk of MS. The interpretation of the latter finding was difficult due to the risk of reverse causation. Although the role of using 25(OH)D levels as a predictor for the development of MS after acute ON could not be demonstrated, the study data do suggest that there may be a link between development of MS after acute ON. They also provide a rationale for additional research for a possible role of vitamin D in the early stages of MS [48].
Levels of Dietary Vitamin D Intake and Risk of MS–Implications for Public Health
Whether a daily dose of vitamin D or a gestational dose of vitamin D per day “keeps the MS doctor away” is not yet proven [49]. Additionally, it is not known what level of serum 25(OH)D would prevent MS in a large majority of individuals. Most studies in this review reported 25(OH)D levels below 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) in a significant proportion of their investigated populations, which is below the healthy minimum level. Indicating that establishing a target in the general population general population, pregnant women, and their offspring to achieve the minimum levels of 25(OH)D may be considered an important goal for health (i.e., 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL), according to IOM [4, 15] or 75 nmol/L (30 ng/mL), according to the Endocrine Society) [11, 13].
Effects of Vitamin D Status and MS Disease Activity
Understanding how existing vitamin D levels and vitamin D exposure affect clinical relapses and MS lesion activity is critically important to this review. As such, the findings from larger studies investigating these effects are summarized below.
Impact of Vitamin D Levels on Disease Activity in RRMS: Observational Studies
In a prospective longitudinal study from the Netherlands, 25(OH)D was measured every 8 weeks for a mean of 1.7 years in 73 patients with RRMS [50]. Fifty-eight patients experienced a total of 139 exacerbations during the study period. Relapse risk was significantly reduced in those with medium [50–100 nmol/L (20–40 ng/mL)] and high [> 100 nmol/L (> 40 ng/mL)] serum vitamin D levels (vs. < 50 mol/L or 20 ng/mL) compared to those with low levels [50]. For each doubling of serum vitamin D concentration from baseline of 10, 20, 30, MS relapse risk decreased by 27%. Although this suggests a beneficial effect of vitamin D on MS, it must be noted that there is also a possibility that conditions associated with MS relapse had an effect on serum vitamin D levels [50].
Incident rate ratios (RR) for relapse in relation to serum vitamin D levels were measured in a retrospective study of 110 patients with pediatric-onset MS [51]. After adjusting for several factors (age, gender, race, ethnicity, disease duration, and treatment), the authors found that every 10 ng/mL (25 nmol/L) increase in 25(OH)D level was associated with a 34% decrease in relapse risk. Similar findings were seen in a prospective cohort study from Tasmania, Australia, in a group of 145 adults with RRMS, in which 25(OH)D levels were measured twice a year for a period of 3 years [52]. For each 10 nmol/L increase in serum vitamin D level, there was an associated 12% lower risk of MS relapse. Adjustment for potential confounders, such as timing of the blood testing, did not affect the results. Most of the participants in this study (82%) were receiving immunomodulatory therapy. The authors concluded that raising 25(OH)D levels by 50 nmol/L could decrease the hazard of a relapse by up to 50% (Fig. 4) [52].
Reprinted with permission from Wiley Company [52]
Association of vitamin D and relapse risk in MS. The graph shows risk of relapse according to 25(OH)D levels, adjusted for age and month of serum measurement. Size of points is proportional to the inverse of the variance (larger bubbles represent greater precision).
The EPIC natural history study was a 5-year cohort study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco which sought to determine the associations between serum or plasma vitamin D levels and MRI activity in a group of 469 white, mostly non-Hispanic patients with MS or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) [53]. Sixty-four percent received disease-modifying therapy within the previous 12 months. Vitamin D levels increased significantly during the study, especially for those patients using supplements. Only 9% of patients were taking vitamin D supplements at baseline, but 43% were taking them by year 5. Patients who reported using vitamin D supplements had an 8.7 ng/mL (21.75 nmo/L) higher vitamin D level, on average, compared with those who did not. Additionally, lower vitamin D levels were strongly associated with development of new T2 lesions and with contrast-enhancing lesions on brain MRI. Each additional 10 ng/mL (25 nmol/L) increment of 25(OH)D was associated with a 15% lower risk of new T2 lesions and a 32% lower risk of enhancing lesions (Fig. 5) [53]. Higher vitamin D levels were associated with a lower (but not statistically significantly) risk of MS relapses. Findings from this study also showed strong “within-person” effects of vitamin D levels in individual patients with MS. The authors concluded that “individuals with CIS/RRMS with higher vitamin D levels are at much lower risk of the subsequent development of new lesions and of gadolinium (Gd+)-enhancing lesions on brain MRI, even after accounting for potential confounding factors” [53].
Magnetic resonance imaging outcomes associated with quintiles of vitamin D in the EPIC study. EPIC is a 5-year longitudinal MS cohort study at the University of California at San Francisco, USA. Participants (N = 469) had clinical evaluations, brain MRI, and blood draws annually. MRI outcomes were associated with quintiles of vitamin D. In multivariate analyses, each 10 ng/mL (25 nmol/L) higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was associated with a 15% lower risk of a new T2 lesion (incidence rate ratio [IRR],0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76–0.95; P = 0.004) and a 32% lower risk of a gadolinium-enhancing lesion (IRR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.53–0.87; P + 0.002).
More recently, Mowry and colleagues examined the association of vitamin D levels with brain volume measures and new lesions in patients with CIS (N = 65) [54]. The scientific rationale for these data are based on the concept that brain volume is thought to reflect neurodegeneration better than classical MRI parameters such as T2 lesion load and Gd+-enhancing lesions [54]. Each 25-nmol/L increase in 25(OH)D level was associated with 7.8-mL higher gray matter volume (P = 0.025). Higher levels of 25(OH)D also were associated with the composite endpoint of ≥ 3 new brain T2 lesions or ≥ 1 relapse within 1 year (P = 0.096). Despite the limitations of the small sample size, these findings suggest that higher vitamin D levels in CIS may slow neurodegeneration [54].
Lower vitamin D levels also correlate with other surrogates of MS disease activity, including lower odds of remaining relapse free in MS [55], greater disability and disease severity in MS [53, 55,56,57], conversion from CIS to clinically definite MS (CDMS) [58], and poorer nonverbal long-term memory performance [59]. These data were largely generated by observational studies that restrict the extent to which inverse associations can be attributed specifically to vitamin D. Properly designed and conducted clinical trials are needed to further define the nature of this association.
Impact of Vitamin D Levels on Disease Activity Based on Post-Hoc Analyses from BENEFIT and BEYOND
To our knowledge, no large randomized, double-blind, controlled, prospectively phase 3 trials have been conducted to study the impact of vitamin D levels on MS activity as a primary endpoint. However, in two phase 3 studies, the BENEFIT study [60], and the BEYOND study [61] post hoc analyses were conducted to investigate this potential link.
The BENEFIT (Betaseron® in Newly Emerging Multiple Sclerosis for Initial Treatment) study was a randomized trial originally designed to evaluate the impact of early versus delayed IFNB-1b treatment in patients with CIS [62,63,64]. Patients with a first event suggestive of MS and a minimum of two clinically silent lesions on MRI were randomly assigned to receive interferon beta-1b (IFNB-1b) 250 μg (n = 292; early treatment) or placebo (n = 176; delayed treatment) subcutaneously every other day for 2 years or until diagnosis of CDMS, in which case they could switch to IFNB-1b therapy. All patients were then eligible to enter a prospective follow-up phase with open-label IFNB-1b for up to 5 years after randomization. Patients and study personnel remained unaware of initial treatment allocation throughout the study up to year 5. During the observation period, regular study visits were scheduled to collect clinical and MRI data, with visits at baseline and months 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 60 [64]. A post hoc analyses aimed to determine whether vitamin D status [serum 25(OH)D levels] would predict disease activity and prognosis up to 5 years after the first attack in early-disease CIS patients [60]. Serum samples were collected at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months and levels of 25(OH)D were measured (by ELISA). Of the 468 patients included in BENEFIT, 465 patients had at least one 25(OH)D measurement, 417 had two or more, 396 had three or more, and 303 had all four measurements. 25(OH)D levels were seasonally adjusted to obtain an estimate of long-term 25(OH)D status. To minimize the possibility that lower 25(OH)D levels were a consequence, rather than the cause, of MS severity, the cumulative average 25(OH)D levels at 12 months were related to the outcomes between 12 and 60 months or between 24 and 60 months (thereby allowing inserting a 1-year lag between 25[OH]D measurements and the assessment of MS activity or progression) [60]. Three sets of analyses were performed: (1) continuous 50-nmol/L (20-ng/mL) increments to determine the overall linear trend; (2) quintiles to explore the dose response; and (3) categorical analysis using ≥ 50 nmol/L versus < 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) [60].
Findings indicated that patient characteristics affected vitamin D levels. Those with higher (seasonally adjusted) 25(OH)D levels tended to be younger and to have a lower body mass index (BMI), a lower number of T2 lesions, and a higher brain volume at the CIS stage, but otherwise were similar to patients with lower levels of 25(OH)D [60].
Over the 5-year follow-up period, 81.3% (377 patients) converted to MS according to the McDonald 2001 criteria that include MRI lesions [65] and 46.6% (216 patients) converted to CDMS based on exacerbations or progression alone. The hazard of conversion decreased with increasing serum 25(OH)D and mean serum 25(OH)D levels at 12 months predicted subsequent conversions to McDonald MS (P = 0.02) and CDMS (P = 0.05) [60].
An increasing serum 25(OH)D level was associated with a decreasing rate of new active lesions on MRI; this effect was particularly strong in patients with both 6- and 12-month serum 25(OH)D measurements. A 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) increment in average serum 25(OH)D levels within the first 12 months predicted a 57% lower rate of new active lesions (RR, 95% CI: 0.43 (0.26–0.70), P < 0.001) and a 57% lower relapse rate (RR (95% CI): 0.43 (0.20–0.92, P = 0.03). In evaluating the potential progression of MS on MRI, higher levels of serum 25(OH)D were associated with less T2 lesion volume accumulation over time. For a 50 nmol/L increase in serum 25(OH)D, the relative decrease in T2 lesion volume was 20% per year (P < 0.001). Restricting results to patients with both 6-month and 12-month serum 25(OH)D measures, tended to strengthen results [60].
The dichotomous analysis of serum 25(OH)D levels (< 50 vs. ≥ 50 nmol/L) is shown in Fig. 6 [60]. For instance, the percentage loss of brain volume over time was lower in patients with 25(OH)D levels ≥ 50 nmol/L at the 12-month time point compared with those with serum 25(OH)D levels < 50 nmol/L (P = 0.005). Although a 50 nmol/L increase in 25(OH)D levels did not reach significance for a reduction in the average expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score (P = 0.11), patients with serum 25(OH)D levels ≥ 50 nmol/L had a significantly lower annualized change in EDSS score compared with those patients with serum 25(OH)D levels < 50 nmol/L (P = 0.004) while on IFN-b-1b. Across all analyses, associations were generally stronger for MRI than for clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, “the latter were still remarkable considering the overall low rate of relapses (0.2 per year) and small EDSS score change (median change, 0.0) in BENEFIT” [60].
Reproduced with permission from [60]. Copyright©2014 American Medical Association. All rights reserved
Multiple sclerosis outcomes according to dichotomous serum 25(OH)D levels. Analyses are based on patients with averaged 6- and 12-month measurements of 25(OH)D. Group comparisons are adjusted for age, sex, treatment, time of follow-up, and T2 lesion score at baseline. The graphs show the probability of conversion to CDMS after 12 months (a); the cumulative number of new active lesions on brain MRI (b); the percentage change in T2 lesion volume from year 1 to year 5 on brain MRI (c); and the percentage change in brain volume from year 1 to year 5 (d). The error bars indicate the standard error of the mean (SEM).
Strengths of the BENEFIT study included (1) its longitudinal design, (2) the exclusive recruitment of patients at the CIS stage, (3) the use of repeated serum 25(OH)D measurements, (4) the large number of patients, (5) standardized treatment (e.g., early vs. late IFNB-1b), and (6) rigorous clinical and MRI assessment of all patients during a 5-year period. Limitations of the study included (1) the fact that most patients were eventually treated with IFNB-1b and some crossed over during the 2 years of the study, and (2) while a clear dose response was observed for the most sensitive MRI outcomes, the effects did not reach a plateau level, and, therefore, serum 25(OH)D levels greater than the median 69 nmol/L could have had a greater effect. According to the authors, a low 25(OH)D level early in the disease course is a strong risk factor for long-term MS activity and progression in patients with early MS who were treated with IFNB-1b [60].
The BENEFIT cohort had an early treatment group and a delayed treatment group. The associations of 25(OH)D levels and MS activity were more pronounced for patients in the early treatment group than for those in the delayed treatment group (Table 2 [60] and Fig. 7 [66]), although a test for interaction between 25(OH)D levels and treatment assignment was significant only for the time to CDMS (P = 0.04) [62]. These results suggest that early treatment with IFNB-1b may have an additive effect along with 25(OH)D to reduce disease severity and progression in both clinical and imaging outcomes.
Table 2 Comparison of clinical and MRI outcomes in patients with plasma 25(OH)D levels < 50 nmol/L versus ≥ 50 nmol/L in all patients and those with early or delayed start of interferon beta-1b.
Reproduced with permission from [66]
Data from the Vitamin D analysis of the BENEFIT trial. Comparison of probability of conversion to CDMS in patients with plasma 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L versus ≥ 50 nmol/L in all patients and those with early or delayed start of interferon beta-1b.
To explore the mechanistic rationale for the potential additive effects of 25(OH)D levels and early IFNB-1b treatment, Munger and colleagues conducted a global gene expression analysis in which expression profiles were measured at various time points among participants in the BENEFIT clinical trial [67]. The relationship between genes or gene sets expressed in association with 25(OH)D and those associated with MS activity was examined. The numbers of Gd+-enhancing lesions served as a marker of disease activity. A 50 nmol/L increase in serum 25(OH) levels reduced the Gd+ lesion count by 55%. Adjusting for gender, age, treatment, and treatment − 25(OH)D interaction did not alter the significance of the findings. Gene expression in whole blood was studied in 295 individuals, evaluating approximately 19,000 genes. Reduced Gd+ lesion count was significantly associated with increased expression of 25(OH)D-related genes, an effect that was independent of IFNB-1b treatment. This effect was also noticed when looking at single genes that were associated with regulation of 25(OH)D levels. The authors hypothesized that there was an additive effect of 25(OH)D and IFNB-1bin reducing Gd+ lesion counts [67].
The second data set from randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trials in MS was derived from the BEYOND (Betaseron® Efficacy Yielding Outcomes of a New Dose) study [61]. Compared with the BENEFIT study, the BEYOND study included patients with established MS (vs. patients with CIS) and was shorter in duration (2 vs. 5 years). It also included considerably more patients (1482 vs. 465) and was conducted in different geographical regions (North America, Western and Eastern Europe, Southern Hemisphere vs. Europe and Canada).
BEYOND was a large, phase 3, prospective, multicenter, blinded, randomized clinical trial. Patients were monitored for at least 2 years. Clinical visits were scheduled every 3 months, and an MRI was performed at baseline and annually thereafter. A post hoc analysis assessed 25(OH)D levels and the subsequent MS disease course and disease progression as characterized by MRI and clinical endpoints [58]. Eligible patients for the vitamin D analyses included 1482 participants randomized to receive 250, or 500 μg of IFNB-1b with at least two measurements of 25(OH)D obtained 6 months apart. Serum 25(OH)D measurements were performed at baseline, 6, and 12 months.
In longitudinal analyses, 25(OH)D was inversely correlated with the cumulative number of active lesions between baseline and the last MRI (average follow-up time, 2 years). A 50-nmol/L higher level of serum 25(OH)D was associated with a 31% lower rate of new lesions [relative rate (RR), 0.69; 95% CI, 0.55–0.86; P = 0.001]. This inverse association was also strong and significant in analyses restricted to patients with 25(OH)D levels > 50 nmol/L (RR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.46–0.84; P = 0.002) and was consistent in each of the four geographic regions (Fig. 8) [61]. The lowest rate of new lesions was observed among patients with 25(OH)D levels > 100 nmol/L (RR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37–0.78; P = 0.002). No significant associations were found between 25(OH)D levels and change in brain volume, relapse rates, or EDSS scores [61]. Strengths of this study include the large number of participants, the regionally diverse population with varying baseline characteristics, and the repeated measurements of 25(OH)D, which helped characterize patients’ long-term vitamin D status. The relatively short follow-up is the most important limitation of this study. This limited follow-up may explain the lack of association between serum 25(OH)D levels and measures of brain atrophy or clinical endpoints, both of which were modified by 25(OH)D in the longer BENEFIT study [60, 61]. Regarding targeted vitamin D levels, the authors stated: “Our observation of the lowest level of MS activity among patients with serum 25(OH)D levels above 100.0 nmol/L [40 ng/mL] is consistent with the results of a previous investigation in the US [50], and suggests that the 25(OH)D levels in most patients with MS who are not receiving supplemental vitamin D may be suboptimal” [53].
The relative rate of cumulative new active lesions (NALs) vs. average of baseline, 6-month, and 12-month 25[OH]D levels stratified by geographic region. The solid lines and shaded regions represent the relative rate ratios of cumulative NALs for changes in 25(OH)D relative to the median level and the corresponding 95% CIs, respectively. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, randomization status, baseline EDSS score, and disease duration. Models assume a linear association between the logarithm of the rate of cumulative NALs and serum 25(OH)D. Analyses using cubic splines revealed no significant deviation from linearity. (To convert 25[OH]D values to ng/mL, divide by 2.496).
Effects of Disease-Modifying Therapies on Vitamin D Levels in MS Patients
MS disease activity may be additively affected by vitamin D and IFNB-1b [60]. This hypothesis is supported by investigations from the same researchers suggesting that processes regulated and triggered by 25(OH)D may be additively enhanced by IFNB-1b [67], and independently by observations from Stewart and colleagues from the Menzies Research Institute in Tasmania [68]. In an observational cohort study, conducted in 178 patients with MS, vitamin D levels were measured every 6 months over an average of 2.2 years. Patients who took an interferon had significantly higher 25(OH)D levels than those who did not (P < 0.001). Each 10-nmol/L increase in serum vitamin D was associated with a 10% lower relapse rate. Interestingly, interferon treatment was protective only against relapse among persons with higher vitamin D levels. Among those with insufficient vitamin D, there was an increased risk of relapse despite interferon treatment. The investigators hypothesized that treatment with IFNB may increase serum vitamin D levels through enhanced responsiveness to sun exposure and recommended that persons being treated with IFNB should have vitamin D status monitored and maintained in the sufficiency range [68]. Also, noteworthy from these data, this group did not find similar associations for glatiramer acetate (GA) therapy and vitamin D.
The notion of complementary or even synergistic effects of IFNB and vitamin D is further supported by observations from Rotstein and coworkers based on the CLIMB (Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of MS at Brigham and Women’s Hospital) cohort [69]. The CLIMB cohort is a prospective cohort study that began enrolling patients in 2000. The objective of the study was to determine whether 25(OH)D levels predicted new disease activity in MS patients treated with IFN-β (n = 96) or GA (n = 151). Separately, due to different selection criteria, a similar analysis was conducted for patients treated with fingolimod (FTY, n = 77). Serum 25(OH)D concentration was adjusted for season, and patients were divided into subgroups by 25(OH)D tertile. The primary study endpoint was ‘time to first inflammatory event’, defined as a combination of either first relapse or first Gd+ lesion, using a Cox model adjusted for age, sex, and disease duration. The results demonstrated higher 25(OH)D levels associated with a longer time to the combined first event in the IFNB subgroup [hazard ratio (HR)IFNB = 0.58; P IFNB = 0.012], but not in GA-treated participants (HRGA = 0.89; P GA = 0.50). For Gd+ lesions alone, there was a significant association observed in GA and IFNB subgroups, although the effect was more pronounced with IFNB (HRGA = 0.57; P GA = 0.039 vs. HRIFNB = 0.41; P IFNB = 0.022). No significant associations were found for relapses. There were some sampling difficulties in this cohort and, therefore, the results need to be interpreted with certain caution. For FTY, due to the mandated first-dose observation, samples were available for all patients. Higher 25(OH)D was associated with a longer time to the first event (HRFTY = 0.48; P FTY = 0.016) and with relapses (HRFTY = 0.50; P FTY = 0.046), but not with Gd+ lesions [69]. The large, prospective cohort and the prolonged follow-up times were strengths of this study, as well as the availability of two 25(OH)D measurements for the majority of patients. However, more regular 25(OH)D measurements would have been ideal and offered greater insights into study conclusions [69].
Studies Contradicting the Association of Vitamin D Levels with Disease Activity
Contradictory to the aforementioned information are findings reported by researchers from Norway [70]. In this small prospective cohort study, 88 patients with RRMS were followed with regular MRI and 25(OH)D measurements during 6 months before and up to 18 months after initiation of IFNB. During the pre–IFNB treatment phase, higher levels of 25(OH)D were associated with reduced MRI activity; each 10-nmol/L increase in 25(OH)D was associated with 12.7% (P = 0.037) lower odds for new T1 Gd + lesions, 11.7% (P = 0.044) lower odds for new T2 lesions, and 14.1% (P = 0.024) lower odds for combined unique activity. However, there was no association between 25(OH)D and disease activity after initiation of IFNB. With clinical measures, neither the occurrence of relapses nor EDSS progression was associated with 25(OH)D levels during both study phases. Strengths of the study were the prospective design and the frequent MRI and 25(OH)D assessments during the observation period. Limitations were the relatively short time on IFNB and the small number of participants, as well as the minimal 4 nmol/L increase in serum vitamin D levels following vitamin D supplementation. In the discussion of the study results, the authors expressed their surprise about the lack of an association between 25(OH)D levels and MRI after initiation of IFNB, “as there is no evidence suggesting that the immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D are counteracted by IFNB or vice versa. A reasonable explanation is that IFNB reduced radiologic disease activity, leaving relatively little left to be reduced” by vitamin D [70].
The Role of Supplemental Vitamin D in MS
When reviewing available data discussing the effects of vitamin D and MS, of key interest is whether vitamin D supplementation can favorably alter the course of MS. Unfortunately, current evidence does not offer consensus to answer this question. Studies with vitamin D alone or with vitamin D as an add-on to a disease-modifying therapy are conflicting [22, 71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81]. Although these studies are generally small, largely uncontrolled, and used highly variable doses of vitamin D, it can be noted that there are initial promising data arguing for vitamin D supplementation in patients with MS [22, 75,76,77,78,79,80,81]. Furthermore, recent investigations with immunological response markers suggest that vitamin D supplementation in patients with MS exhibits in vivo pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects in MS [82], and lacking evidence of a treatment effect does not necessarily demonstrate proof of no effect.
Studies Supporting the Benefit of Supplemental Vitamin D
Researchers from Finland conducted a 1-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with vitamin D3 as an add-on treatment to IFNB-1b in patients with MS. Thirty-four patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (vitamin D, 20,000 IU/week vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), and IFNB-1b) and 32 to the control group (placebo and IFNB-1b) [75]. The primary outcome measure was an MRI T2 burden of disease (BOD), which tended to increase more in the placebo group (median change of 287 mm3) than in the vitamin D group (median change of 83 mm3); however, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.105) (Fig. 9) [75]. Results for other MRI outcomes were mixed. The number of T1 Gd+ lesions decreased in both groups (P = 0.002), but the change was significantly higher in the vitamin D group (P = 0.04). New/enlarging T2 lesions at the 12-month point trended higher in the placebo group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.286). The percentage of patients with MRI activity (12-month time point) trended lower in the vitamin D group, but these differences also did not reach significance (P = 0.322). While there was no significant difference in annual relapse rate demonstrated between groups, there was a tendency toward reduced disability accumulation as measured by EDSS (P = 0.071) and toward improved timed tandem walk (P = 0.076). There were no significant differences in adverse events between the groups. The authors concluded that larger randomized, controlled trials with more than 1 year of follow-up are warranted to confirm the promising MRI results and to fully address clinical outcomes [75].
Reproduced from [75], with permission from BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
Change in MRI T2 burden of disease (BOD) from baseline to month 12 in the vitamin D-treated and placebo-treated patients. Data are mean ± standard error of 34 patients in the vitamin D group and 32 patients in the placebo group at baseline and 32 in the vitamin D group and 30 in the placebo group at 12 months. The P value for the difference between vitamin D and placebo is 0.105 (trend).
A study by Burton and colleagues introduced earlier in this manuscript in the context of the safety profile of higher doses of vitamin D supplementation also offers insight into the role of vitamin D supplementation and the disease course of MS [22]. In this open-label, controlled trial, patients were randomized to a vitamin D treatment group (n = 25, escalation protocol 4000–40,000 IU/day, mean 14,000 IU/day) or to a control group (n = 24, received vitamin D3 4000 IU/day if desired). Despite the high doses of vitamin D, no significant adverse events occurred during the 52-week study period. The annualized relapse rate during the trial year was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (0.26 vs. 0.45; P = 0.09), and more patients in the treatment group remained relapse free. Additionally, the treated patients reported a persistent reduction in T-cell proliferation compared with controls, and treatment group patients appeared to have fewer relapse events and a persistent reduction in T-cell proliferation compared to controls. Study limitations included the use of supplementation or other agents in the control group, the small sample-size, and thus the limited power [22].
The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center prospectively gathered data in a cohort of 170 natalizumab-treated patients during winter 2009–2010 (baseline) with follow-up during the subsequent winter [78]. Patients with insufficient serum 25(OH)D levels (selected cut-off 50 nmol/L) at baseline were advised to take Vitamin D supplements according to Danish recommendations: 2000 IU for patients with levels between 25 and 50 nmol/L, 3000 IU for those with levels between 25 and 12.5 nmol/L and 4000 IU for those with levels below 12.5 nmol/L. 134 patients were included in the clinical data set. Of the 134 patients, 43 had taken vitamin D supplements due to vitamin D insufficiency (mean 25(OH)D levels: 34 nmol/L). Their levels increased significantly by 32.6 nmol/L (95% CI: 24.4–40.8 nmol/L, P < 0.0001) from baseline to follow-up. Moreover, a significant inverse relationship with the annualized relapse rate (ARR) was found: for each nmol/l increase in 25(OH)D, a 0.014 (95% CI − 0.026 to − 0.003) decrease in ARR was observed (P = 0.02). Overall, the data suggest that correcting vitamin D insufficiency by the means of vitamin D supplements in patients with MS may be beneficial [78].
Darwish and colleagues looked into the cognitive effects of vitamin D supplementation of patients with MS on IFNB [79]. At baseline, patients were stratified into a vitamin D-deficient group (25(OH)D levels < 25 ng/mL or 62.5 nmol/L, N = 39) and a vitamin D-sufficient group (25(OH)D levels > 35 ng/mL or 87.5 nmol/L). “Deficient” patients received 10,000 IU vitamin D3 daily for 3 months and reported a significant increase of 25(OH)D levels to 49.0 ± 14.6 ng/mL (122.5 ± 36.5 nmol/L). Additionally, after 3 months these “deficient” patients scored better on the Brief Visuospatial Memory test delayed recall (BVMT-DR, P = 0.02) and the montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA, P = 0.006), but not on the symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) and Stroop. The authors concluded that the lack of significant change on the SDMR and Stroop testing was due to the short disease duration and the propensity for study participants to perform within normal ranges for these tests.
Alternatively, “sufficient” patients continued their usual treatment that may have included vitamin D3 supplementation at various dosages. These patients reported 25(OH)D levels at 64.2 ± 18.7 ng/mL (160.5 ± 46.8 nmol/L) at study end. Sufficient 25(OH)D levels predicted better cognitive performance on the BVMT-DR at baseline and 3 months after adjusting for all measured confounding variables. Study limitations included a small study population (N = 88), short study duration (3 months), and a quarter of the patients not returning to the month 3 visit. The authors also described not allowing true control for other sources of vitamin D as other possible confounders, such as sun exposure and dietary vitamin D [79].
Only available in abstract format are the results of two studies which evaluated the benefits and risks associated with high-dose vitamin D supplementation in patients treated with IFNB-1a. Although both failed to demonstrate an effect on clinical parameters, their MRI results demonstrated positive results.
SOLAR is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, phase 2 study. Two hundred and twenty-nine patients with a 25(OH)D serum level below 150 nmol/L were randomly assigned to cholecalciferol at a dose of 14,000 IU per day or placebo [80]. All patients received subcutaneous IFNB-1a. After recruitment delays, the study design was adjusted and the percentage of patients with “disease activity free” status (defined as no relapses, no EDSS progression, and no new Gd+ or T2 MRI lesions) at week 48 were introduced as a new primary endpoint. This endpoint was not met (37.2% for cholecalciferol group vs. 35.3% for placebo group, P = 0.912). Likewise, no differences between groups for other clinical parameters such as ARR or EDSS were found. However, results regarding the MRI parameters were promising with a significant 32% reduction in the number of new, combined, unique active lesions in the cholecalciferol group (P = 0.005). Furthermore, there was a trend toward more cholecalciferol recipients being free from new T1 hypointense lesions, which became significant in those aged 18–30 years. The short duration of the trial (48 weeks) and the relatively small sample size (229 patients) may have led to the lack of significance of the clinical outcomes. For comparisons, most randomized trials of new MS drugs recruited over 800 patients to be able to demonstrate a significant effect vs. placebo. Despite the large sizes, some were not able to show a significant effect on disability progression (e.g. CONFIRM study [83] TRANSFORMS [84]). Additionally, these data are not placebo-controlled, but rather an active comparator. Also, the power analysis is not designed to assess a minor effect and would require > 10,000 patients.
Likewise, the second study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study [81]. One hundred and twenty-nine patients (N = 129) were randomly assigned to receive 100,000 IU of cholecalciferol twice monthly (equivalent to a daily dose of 7143 IU) in addition to IFNB-1a over a 24-month period. Again, significant effects in favor of vitamin D supplementation were found for selected MRI parameters such as new or enlarged weighted T1 and T2 lesion, but no effect was found for clinical parameters [81].
A preliminary study from Iran conducted by Etemadifar and colleagues assessed the safety and efficacy of high-dose vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy in women with MS [76]. Fifteen pregnant women with confirmed MS and with serum 25(OH)D levels < 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) were randomly allocated to received 50,000 IU/week (daily dose of 7143 IU) vitamin D3 or routine care from 12 to 16 weeks of gestation until delivery. 25(OH)D levels increased significantly and no significant adverse events occurred. The women in the vitamin D group had significantly fewer relapses during pregnancy (0 vs. 5; P < 0.05), a tendency for fewer relapses up to 6 months after pregnancy (0 vs. 4; statistically nonsignificant), and a more stable EDSS than those without supplementation. The authors advocated for adding high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy to the routine care of women with MS. Study limitations included a small sample size, and conclusions are limited by the loss to follow-up of 37 out of 52 of the original baseline cohort [76].
The role of vitamin D supplementation in patients with MS was also evaluated by Jelinek and colleagues, with the authors taking a very different epidemiological approach [77]. This was an internet survey among 2301 patients with MS who self-reported data on geographical location, intentional sun exposure for health, supplementation with vitamin D, and other lifestyle variables, as well as self-reported doctor-diagnosed relapse rates and disability (Patient Determined Disease Steps). Survey participants were asked to respond to a health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used for comparisons, including multiple linear regression modeling. Nearly two thirds of respondents (64.6%) lived in the Northern Hemisphere, mostly in developed countries. Most (82.3%) were female, with a median age of 45 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 38–53 years) and a median time since diagnosis of 6 years (IQR: 3–12 years), with the majority (61.6%) having RRMS. More than 80% of the patients indicated that they took vitamin D supplements, mostly between 2000 and 5000 IU daily (Table 3) [77], and 67% reported intentional sun exposure to raise vitamin D levels.
Table 3 Self-reported average daily dose of supplemental vitamin D in an Internet survey among 2301 patients with MS.
Unadjusted regression modeling incorporating deliberate sun exposure, latitude, and vitamin D supplementation showed strong associations between sun exposure and HRQoL. However, the effect disappeared when controlling for age, disability, physical activity, and fish consumption. In contrast, the associations between supplementation of vitamin D and HRQoL were maintained when adjusting for these variables, with a dose–response effect. The beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation on HRQoL was considered to be of “clinically significant magnitude” [77]. Lower annualized relapse rates were significantly associated with taking vitamin D supplementation vs. not taking supplements. The dose taken seemed to be of less importance. No effect on disability was found for either supplementation or deliberate sun exposure, but an increase of latitude by 1° (farther from the equator) predicted increased odds of moderate or high disability [77].
The large data set may compensate for some of the limitations of this study design. Vitamin D supplementation (along with all other measures) was self-reported and not validated with blood tests. No validated tool exists for quantifying variables like deliberate sun exposure; in this study, the question required simply a yes/no answer [78]. Furthermore, there might be a selection bias in terms of the patients included, as respondents to such Internet surveys are patients who are typically very “engaged” with their situation and disease.
Studies Contradicting the Benefit of Supplemental Vitamin D
A study by Stein and colleagues is widely discussed among those not supporting vitamin D supplementation [72]. In this 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, patients were allocated to either high or low dose of vitamin D2. The high-dose regimen was 6000 IU twice daily, the low-dose regimen 1000 IU daily. Twenty-three patients were included (11 in the treatment arm, 12 in the control group). There were no significant differences between the groups on the two primary endpoints—cumulative number of new Gd+ lesions and change in the total volume of T2 lesions—nor were there differences on clinical outcome measures, such as number of relapses and effect on EDSS [72]. Neurology, in which the manuscript was published, ranked the study as providing class I evidence, but this rating is arguable. Although the study was double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized, the sample size was very small (N = 23). Moreover, there were withdrawals (two in the low-dose group, one in the high-dose group), and one patient from the low-dose group was partially excluded from MRI analyses due to brain surgery. Although the authors stated that the two groups were well matched, one patient (in the high-dose group) had 38 Gd+ lesions at baseline, while all other patients had between two and five Gd+ lesions at baseline. The low-dose group was, on average, 10.5 years older than the high-dose group; importantly, the number of exacerbations in MS declines over time, biasing the data in favor of the low-dose group. In addition, this study compared low-dose and high-dose vitamin D administration and did not utilize a concurrent control group of subjects that did not receive any supplemental vitamin D. Finally, even though vitamin D2 seems to be a less potent form of vitamin D than vitamin D3 in all primate species [17], the 1000-IU/day regimen for the low-dose group is above what the IOM recommends in terms of daily intake [4] and both groups may have benefited from vitamin D supplementation.
In a 96-week, randomized, controlled trial designed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with 20,000 IU/week of vitamin D (averaged to approximately 2800 IU/day) on bone mineral density in 35 MS patients, Kampman and colleagues found that consumption of vitamin D did not result in beneficial effects on the measured MS-related outcomes, which included annualized relapse rates. However, the study was not powered to address clinical outcomes [73]. The authors suggested that the low annualized relapse rate seen at baseline could have contributed to the absence of significant effects in this study. Study limitations included a small sample size (N = 68), which may be inadequate for assessing effects on clinical outcomes [73].
Furthermore, two studies from Iran did not find a beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation on clinical or MRI outcome measures in patients with RRMS. Shaygannejad and colleagues studied 50 patients in a 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 clinical trial [74]. The 25 patients in the treatment group received 4000 IU/day of vitamin D for the first 2 weeks and were thereafter escalated to 8000 IU/day in addition to their disease-modifying agent. The control group (n = 25) was treated with placebo combined with disease-modifying therapy. In a separate study, Mosayebi and colleagues evaluated the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation at a dose of 300,000 IU/month vs. placebo in a randomized, prospective study with 62 patients [71]. Over the 6-month observation period, no differences between groups on either EDSS or Gd+ lesion count were observed, but immune-inhibitory transforming growth factor beta and interleukin 10 were significantly higher in the vitamin D-supplemented group compared with placebo [71].
Several of the studies above were included in a meta-analysis conducted by James and colleagues evaluating the effect of vitamin D-related intervention trials on MS relapses [85]. The five studies [22, 72,73,74,75] included 129 patients with high-dose vitamin D supplementations and 125 controls. Administered doses of vitamin D supplementations, study designs, patient populations, outcome parameters, and observation period were considerably variable among the assessed studies. Given these differences, the numerous limitations of each of these studies and the mixed reported study results, it is not surprising that the meta-analysis did not find a significant association between vitamin D treatment and the relative risk of relapse in MS [85]. In the view of the authors, “further larger and more prolonged studies…are merited” to better understand the role of vitamin D supplementation in MS [85].
Ongoing Studies Evaluating the Role of Supplemental Vitamin D in MS
A search of recently initiated and ongoing clinical studies evaluating the role of supplemental vitamin D in MS revealed the following:
The Efficacy of Vitamin D Supplementation in Multiple Sclerosis (EVIDIMS) study (NCT01440062) [86, 87] is a German multicenter, stratified, randomized, controlled, double-blind, clinical phase 2 study. Eighty patients with CIS or MS whose disease courses were stable while taking IFNB-1b were randomized to receive either high-dose (on average, 10,200 IU/day) or low-dose (on average 200 IU/day) vitamin D3 for 18 months as a supplement. The primary outcome measure is the number of new T2 lesions. Secondary endpoints include additional MRI and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters, clinical parameters, as well as cognition, fatigue, depression, and quality of life. Safety and tolerability of high-dose vitamin D supplementation are additional outcome measures. This study is ongoing, and results are expected in 2018 or 2019.
The Vitamin D to Ameliorate Multiple Sclerosis (VIDAMS) study (NCT01490502) [88, 90] is a randomized, controlled, phase 3 study that aims to include 172 patients in the US. After a run-in phase of 1 month on GA, patients will be assigned to low-dose (600 IU/day) vs. high-dose (5000 IU/day) vitamin D3 as an add-on therapy to GA. This academic study is currently recruiting patients and will terminate in 2018 [86, 88]. Clinical and MRI parameters will also be evaluated.
Evidence available to date suggests that the level of serum vitamin D affects the risk of developing MS and also modifies disease activity in MS patients. Until several years ago, evidence that higher levels of vitamin D are associated with favorable effects on MS risk and a reduction in MS activity was supported largely by observational studies. Limitations of these studies restricted confidence in a specific effect of vitamin D in MS. Newer data with Mendelian randomization analyses suggest there is a causal relationship between low vitamin D level and the risk of MS. Furthermore, post hoc evaluations from the phase 3 BENEFIT and BEYOND studies substantiate findings of observational trials. Across all trials, associations between 25(OH) levels and MS and its activity are generally stronger for MRI than for clinical outcomes, which may be due to the higher sensitivity of MRI compared to typical clinical parameters. Low or even insufficient 25(OH)D levels were common in many earlier cohorts. Patients in more recent studies have higher baseline vitamin D levels, potentially changing the immunopathology of MS and altering responses to some therapeutic drugs.
In aggregate, studies suggest that vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial for patients with MS and others. However, the study limitations identified in this review recognize the need for larger controlled clinical trials to establish vitamin D supplementation as the standard of care for MS patients. Though there is increasing evidence indicating that lower vitamin D levels are associated with increased risk of MS and greater clinical and brain MRI activity in established MS, the impact of vitamin D supplementation on MS activity remains inadequately investigated. There is no consensus on “sufficient” vitamin D levels. In the view of IOM, 25(OH)D levels greater than 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) are sufficient. The Endocrine Society argues for 75 nmol/L (30 ng/mL) or higher, based on a medical model which takes into account skeletal and non-skeletal health. Numerous studies suggest that serum 25(OH)D levels of approximately 100 nmol/L (40 ng/mL) are the lower limit for controlling MRI and clinical activity in patients with MS. More research is needed to establish the recommended levels of vitamin D supplementation necessary to reduce the risk for MS and MS clinical activity.
In conclusion, based on the data reviewed, identification and correction of vitamin D insufficiency with supplementation at recommended doses is a sensible clinical action/course/target/objective and one that provides a favorable risk–benefit profile for vitamin D for most patients with MS.
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Funding for medical writing assistance, as well as any applicable article processing fees and Open Access fee was provided by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.
All named authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship for this manuscript, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given final approval for the version to be published.
Writing Assistance
Editorial assistance in the preparation of this manuscript was provided by Staci Brandt, PA-C, MBA, MS and Maria Bavishi, MS from Global Prairie Marketing, LLC.
Martina B Sintzel, PhD has received consultancy fees from Bayer and Fresenius. Mark Rametta, D.O is employed by Bayer. Anthony T. Reder, MD has received unrestricted grant and clinical trials support from Bayer, Biogen, Novartis, Serono, and Teva.
Compliance with Ethics Guidelines
This article is based on previously conducted studies, and as such, and does not involve any new studies of human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
Medical Communication Services, Erlenbach, Zurich, Switzerland
Martina B. Sintzel
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Whippany, NJ, USA
Mark Rametta
Department of Neurology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Anthony T. Reder
Correspondence to Anthony T. Reder.
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Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits use, duplication, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
Sintzel, M.B., Rametta, M. & Reder, A.T. Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Review. Neurol Ther 7, 59–85 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-017-0086-4
Issue Date: June 2018
Mendelian randomization
Optic neuritis
Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)
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Music | July 11, 2015
10 Shocking Things Done In The Name Of Black Metal
Patrick W. Dunne
Most genres of metal music have never exactly sought radio-friendliness. Sure, iconic bands like Metallica and Pantera may be firmly established in the public consciousness, but many metal bands play music aimed at alienating all but the most dedicated of listeners. Black metal is one of the most esoteric forms, with Gaahl from Gorgoroth insisting that the genre “was never intended to reach a mainstream audience.”
The term “black metal” was first coined in 1982, when Venom released their second album, Black Metal. The genre itself didn’t really take off until a few years later, when it was pioneered by bands like Mayhem, Burzum, and Bathory. Today, black metal is known for its morbid subject matter, shrieked vocals, DIY-production value, and use of black-and-white “corpse paint.” The over-the-top darkness of the genre lends itself to parody but has also resulted in a number of violent and controversial incidents.
10Church Burnings
Black metal has a very long history of being anti-Christian, and nothing symbolizes that more than the numerous arsons or attempted arsons of churches in Norway. Some prominent metal musicians have openly advocated the practice, including Gaahl of Gorgoroth and the infamous Varg Vikernes.
A lot of the anti-Christian sentiment from black metal musicians comes from nostalgia for Norway’s pagan past. Vikernes has said that he supports church burnings because Christians wrongfully invaded pagan lands centuries ago. Musicians from bands like Hades Almighty and Enslaved have also connected church burnings to the history of conflict between pagans and Christians.
Nonetheless, Christian black metal (sometimes referred to as “unblack metal” or “white metal”) is a growing genre, with bands like A Hill to Die Upon, Antestor, and Crimson Moonlight gaining a following despite facing a significant amount of backlash. For example, the members of Antestor reportedly received death threats from prominent metal musicians like Mayhem’s Euronymous, and it took several years for Encyclopaedia Metallum, the largest archive of metal bands on the Internet, to label such bands as black metal without using scare quotes. Christian black metal bands remain controversial but have found a dedicated niche audience.
9Using Animal Blood As A Prop
GORGOROTH – Black Mass Krakow (FULL SHOW)
If there are two things black metal bands love, it’s putting on a killer show and offending the religious. Gorgoroth managed to do both during a memorable performance in Krakow, Poland. The show featured several naked models mock-crucified on stage, severed animal heads, and gallons of pig blood. In the resulting uproar, the band was threatened with criminal charges for blasphemy and animal cruelty but ultimately avoided prosecution. The live footage of the concert was eventually released under the title Black Mass Krakow 2004.
Another black metal band called Watain has also used actual animal blood during one of their live shows. Specifically, the lead vocalist poured a goat skull full of pig blood into the crowd, causing a mixture of cheering and disgust and prompting the Daily Mail to describe the band as “devil worshipers.” Surprisingly, the Mail wasn’t just making it up, since the band members have claimed to be theistic Satanists.
8The Bassist Murdered For Tarnishing Satanism
Surrender Of Divinity – Consecration of the Heathen Messiah.
Samong Traisattha was the bassist and vocalist for Thai metal band Surrender of Divinity when he was murdered in early 2014. A Facebook user going by the name “Maleficent Meditation” took credit for the killing, posting pictures of Traisattha’s body along with a long rant about Satanism.
In the borderline unintelligible post, the crazed fan said that he was planning to commit suicide but wanted to take those who “tarnish Satanism” down with him. “In my view, I have more respect for devoted Buddhists, Christians and Muslims than those who call themselves Satanists without knowing anything about it,” he wrote. “If I did not kill him, I’m sure he would be murdered by someone else later.”
Traisattha’s wife, Jaruvan Surapol, confirmed that the fan had come to their house to have a drink. Surapol had left the room to put the couple’s children to bed, returning to find her husband stabbed over 30 times.
7Using Mental Patients To Record An Album
Stalaggh – Projekt Misanthropia (Full)
Some bands will go to any lengths to make sure that their work is as disturbing as possible. In one case, Stalaggh, now known as Gulaggh, decided that getting the screams of actual mental patients was a must for their album Projekt Misanthropia. That was easier than it sounds, since one of the members actually worked at a mental institution and was able to get the express permission of every patient used for the album. The band then gathered the patients in an abandoned chapel and asked them to scream for several hours.
Asked about the resulting controversy, the band said they were delighted. “We appreciate the fact that people consider us controversial, this makes them interested in listening to our projekts and this way we can penetrate their weak minds with pain and fear. We do not label our own projekts. The more people debate our projekts, the more our message and Audio-Terrror spreads, so we welcome it.”
It’s worth noting that the band don’t consider the album to be black metal, preferring to call it “Nihilistik Misanthropik Audio-Terrror.”
6Varg Vikernes And Anders Breivik
Photo via Wikipedia
It’s impossible to talk about the darker side of black metal without mentioning Varg Vikernes (pictured above). The former Mayhem guitarist is often dubbed a neo-Nazi, although he rejects that label in favor of the self-invented term “Odalism.” Nonetheless, he holds some proudly racist views and has been charged with hate speech against Muslims and Jews.
He was also reportedly been one of the 530 “neo-Nazi sympathizers” who received a copy of Anders Breivik’s manifesto. The notorious terrorist who killed 77 people in Norway, Breivik was a fan of numerous European far-right figures, including Vikernes. For his part, Vikernes apparently wrote a letter to Breivik after the attack, condemning him for killing Norwegians, while mostly seeming upset that he wasn’t anti-Semitic enough. His letter reads:
To Breivik I can only say I hope you do kill yourself. You have killed more Norwegians than the entire Muslim population in Norway has done the last 40 years, and you claim to be a Norwegian nationalist and patriot fighting (alongside your Jewish masters) against Islam, to protect us against their crimes!? I am sorry to say so, but you have made a big mistake. Islam has been imported to Europe by Jews, so that guys like you would run to the Jews and fight for them like you did when you murdered future mothers of Norwegian children. Death to you and to all other ‘European’ Zionists out there as well! You are the main problem for Europe, because guys like you allow the Jews to run Europe into the ditch.
There is a very small group of black metal musicians who identify with neo-Nazism, making music that is often referred to as “National Socialist black metal.” They have been heavily criticized by a number of prominent figures in the mainstream black metal scene.
5The Murder Of Sandro Beyer
Speaking of National Socialist Black Metal, the story of Hendrik Mobus is one of the most infamous stories about the genre. Mobus, the founder of the black metal band Absurd, had several conflicts with the law as a teenager. But his most infamous crime came in 1993, when he and two of his bandmates murdered a younger kid named Sandro Beyer, apparently mostly because he was considered a nuisance. The band members lured Beyer to a cabin that Mobus’s father owned, tied him to a chair, and strangled him to death with an electrical cord. Mobus was just 17 at the time.
After being released from juvenile detention, he continued his involvement in National Socialist metal and denied feeling any remorse for the murder. In an interview with metal fanzine Mourning The Ancient, he expressed reverence for Hitler and other far-right figures:
I’m very much motivated and awe-inspired by the life and death of Adolf Hitler, who undoubtedly served the cause of the Aryan race in a manner I couldn’t even dream of emulating. I’m furthermore impressed by my contemporaries William Pierce, Varg Vikernes, and David Myatt; all of whom labor tremendously for the same cause that I do, and with whom I share the grand imperative of advancing evolution until the Aryan can reach out and colonize the stars.
While in prison, Mobus was in contact with Vikernes and recorded several albums. Mobus was later re-incarcerated for violating the terms of his release by giving a Hitler salute during a concert. He is currently free and has his own record label.
4Murders Of Gay Men
Emperor – Inno A Satana Live Wacken 2014 HD
With far-right figures like Vikernes lurking around, it should be no surprise that homophobia isn’t unknown in the European metal scene. While many bands are supportive of gay rights, there have been at least two cases of prominent metal musicians murdering gay men.
The first instance occurred in 1992, when Bard Guldvik “Faust” Eithun of Emperor fame murdered a gay man named Magne Andreassen in Lillehammer, Norway. Faust stabbed Andreassen 37 times, supposedly in response to Andreassen making a pass at him. He was sentenced to 14 years for the killing, which he later described in an interview: “My adrenalin was working full time and the rage was something I have never felt before, nor later. I have said in earlier interviews that the act in itself was like standing outside myself, looking at one guy stabbing another.”
In 1997, Dissection front man Jon Nodtveidt was similarly charged as being an accessory to the murder of a gay man named Josef ben Meddour. Nodtveidt later expressed regret for the killing, which was labeled a hate crime by the police.
Nodtveidt ended up serving seven years in prison, where he composed music for Dissection’s third album, which was released in 2006. Unfortunately, that album would be their last as the group disbanded following Nodtveidt’s strangely ritualistic suicide.
On a more positive note, the metal community is generally quite welcoming to gays and lesbians. There are some opponents of same-sex marriage, such as Dave Mustaine from Megadeth, but many more metal musicians support gay rights. In fact, there are quite a few prominent gay metal artists, including Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Otep Shamaya from Otep, and Gaahl from Gorgoroth.
3Gaahl Tortured A Man
Gorgoroth – Sign of an Open Eye (w / Lyrics ) 1080HD
Speaking of Gaahl, Gorgoroth’s infamous front man was convicted of torturing a 41-year-old man in 2002. The unnamed victim was attending an after-party at Gaahl’s home when he got into an argument with the singer. In his own account, the man then tried to leave the party but was obstructed and knocked unconscious by a blow to the back of the head. In Gaahl’s version of events, the man attacked him first, prompting him to strike back in self-defense.
Following the initial attack, the victim claimed that he was held hostage for several hours of escalating violence. Gaahl supposedly told him that he was going to sacrifice him and drink his blood and even started collecting his dripping blood in a cup. In his defense, Gaahl said that he had only used the cup to stop the blood making a mess all over his house.
Meanwhile, Gaahl’s mother took the stand to testify that her son would never commit cannibalism, since he was a vegetarian, “very fussy about food,” and “eats absolutely no innards.” The defense might have helped a little, since the jury decided that Gaahl had threatened to drink the victim’s blood, but probably didn’t actually intend to do it. The singer was sentenced to a year and two months in jail.
When asked about the incident, Gaahl defended his actions: “Everything deals with respect. The way I think of it is that you have to punish, or teach anyone that crosses your borders so that they won’t do it again.”
2Mayhem Uses Their Vocalist’s Corpse As An Album Cover
Mayhem – Dawn of the Black Hearts [HQ – FULL – Remastered]
One of the most famous and disturbing black metal stories involves the band Mayhem, who helped pioneer the genre and begin the trend of wearing corpse paint. Mayhem’s front man, Per “Dead” Ohlin, apparently believed he had already died (hence the name) and would bury his clothes in a cemetery before wearing them. He was also known to cut himself with razor blades and broken glass and inhale the scent of a dead bird he carried around with him. In 1991, he committed suicide by slashing his wrists and shooting himself with a shotgun. His suicide note simply read, “Excuse all the blood. Let the party begin.”
As if that wasn’t grim enough, the band decided to use a photograph of Dead’s corpse on the cover of their album Dawn Of The Black Hearts. The image of the young man lying on the floor with his brains blown out has become one of the most infamous metal images of all time, frequently ranked alongside such disturbing album covers as Cattle Decapitation’s Humanure, Cannibal Corpse’s Butchered At Birth, and Slayer’s Christ Illusion.
In an interview with Loudwire, Marduk guitarist Morgan Steinmeyer Hakansson revealed that he owns two pieces of Dead’s skull and even parts of his brain. He said that about five people who were close to the band had received similar mementos but declined to reveal their names.
1The Murder Of Euronymous
Mayhem’s Necrobutcher: I Planned to Kill Euronymous Myself
But Dead’s suicide isn’t even the most disturbing story involving Mayhem. No list of black metal crimes would be complete without the most famously dark tale in the genre’s history: the murder of guitarist Oystein “Euronymous” Aarseth by his former bandmate, Varg Vikernes.
According to Vikernes, the feud between the two started in 1991 when Euronymous borrowed from Vikernes to support his record label and never paid him back. A second major rift occurred after Vikernes did an interview with a journalist in order to promote Euronymous’s record store. Vikernes ended up being arrested over his claims in the interview, but Euronymous closed his shop rather than taking advantage of the attention.
Vikernes further claimed that Euronymous was planning to kidnap and kill him, prompting a confrontation in which Vikernes stabbed him 23 times in self-defense. Of course, this is all Vikernes’ version of events and is probably not an accurate reflection of the feud. In particular, the self-defense aspect of the story is usually disbelieved, not least by the jury, who sentenced Vikernes to 21 years in prison for murder and stockpiling explosives.
Patrick W. Dunne studied Business and Psychology in school and does enjoy a dose of good metal on the way to work. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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« Troubles at LSP continue: three troopers suspended in N.O. area following Lee Zurik investigation into LACE program
Is State Police Commission re-opening its investigation of those State Troopers’ Association campaign contributions? »
Welsh Alderman, victim of SLAPP lawsuit, SLAPPS back; wins dismissal, court costs, attorney fees of up to $16,000
Welsh Alderman Jacob Colby Perry is the second defendant in recent weeks to prevail against the so-called SLAPP lawsuits and in so doing, may teach the plaintiffs a little economic lesson.
SLAPP is an acronym for strategic lawsuits against public participation or in a more familiar vernacular, they could simply be called frivolous or harassment lawsuits. There intent is precisely what the acronym means: to prevent critics from participating in public discourse by filing costly lawsuits against critics.
On Tuesday, 31st Judicial District Court Judge Steve Gunnell dismissed all four defamation lawsuits against Perry and in finding the litigation to be without merit, he assessed the four plaintiffs with court costs and Perry’s attorney fees.
An affidavit filed with the court by Perry claims those attorney fees to be $16,000, or $4,000 per plaintiff which would make the idea of a SLAPP suit seem somewhat counterproductive in that it cost the plaintiffs pretty tidy sums of money and they still didn’t shut him up.
Judge Gunnell held off making a decision as to whether or not the suit should be dismissed with or without prejudice until he conducts further research on the matter. With prejudice would mean the plaintiffs would be unable to resurrect the lawsuit while a dismissal without prejudice would leave the plaintiffs open to pursue the suit at a later date.
“The legislature finds and declares that there has been a disturbing increase in lawsuits brought to chill the valid exercise of the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and petition for redress of grievances,” Perry said in his Memorandum of Support for the Special Motion to Strike pursuant to the state’s anti-SLAPP legislation. “The legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to encourage continued participation in matters of public significance, and that this participation should not be chilled through abuse of the judicial process. To this end, it is the intention of the legislature that the Article enacted pursuant to this Ace shall be construed broadly,” his memorandum said.
LouisianaVoice recently prevailed in another SLAPP suit for defamation and was also awarded attorney fees, though substantially less than Perry’s award.
Perry has openly questioned the need of a town of 3,200 residents for 18 police cars, a budget of $593,000 for patrol, $295,000 for police communications and a projected police department expenditure for the entire year of nearly $1.1 million, or nearly $114,000 in excess of the department’s budget. That amount includes a $76,120 salary for Police Chief Marcus Crochet, an amount that represents a 37.5 percent increase in his base pay. And that doesn’t count the $6,000 in annual supplemental pay from the state.
Despite the fiscal drain on the city budget, Crochet created a separate account called “Welsh Police Department Equipment & Maintenance and has diverted more than $178,000 from traffic fines into that account instead into the city’s general fund—all with the acquiescence of the mayor, one of four plaintiffs who sued Perry for DEFAMATION.
Mayor Carolyn Louviere, her daughter, Nancy Cormier; her son, William Johnson, and Crochet all filed separate defamation suits and all four used the same attorney, Ronald C. Richard of Lake Charles, to do so.
Not only that, but Perry was on the receiving end of several other negative actions:
A recall petition was started against him while he was in Japan on military orders, serving his annual two-week training;
Postcards were mailed to Welsh residents that depicted Perry and Andrea King, also a member of the Board of Aldermen, as “terrorists” (See story HERE) and that Perry violated campaign finance laws by failing to report income from a strip club in Texas of which he was said to be part owner and which allegedly was under federal investigation for prostitution, money laundering and drug trafficking (See story HERE);
He was removed from the town of Welsh’s Facebook page (most likely the least offensive of the reprisals.
Each of the nuisance suits say essentially the same thing: that Perry besmirched the reputations of her honor the mayor, both of her children, and the bastion of law enforcement and fiscal prudence, Chief Crochet.
And Mayor Louviere, who inexplicably wants to build a new city hall when the town is flat broke, is currently under investigation by the Louisiana Board of Ethics, according to the Lake Charles American Press AMERICAN PRESS. She also wants to shut down a bar that just happens to be adjacent to a business owned by her son.
And her son, William Joseph Johnson, who Perry says used his mother’s office in an attempt to shut the bar down, has a story all his own.
Johnson, back in 2011, was sentenced in federal court to serve as the guest of the federal prison system for charges related to a $77,000 fraud he perpetrated against a hotel chain in Natchitoches between October 2006 and January 2007. And that wasn’t his first time to run afoul of the law.
At the time of his sentencing for the Louisiana theft, he was still wanted on several felony charges in Spokane County, Washington, after being accused of being hired as financial controller for the Davenport Hotel of Spokane under a stolen identity, giving him access to the hotel’s financial operations and then stealing from the hotel.
The only thing preventing Spokane authorities from extraditing him to Washington, Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Shane Smith said, was that “we just don’t have the funds to bring him back.” The Spokane Review, quoting court documents, said, “Police believe Johnson is a longtime con artist who has swindled expensive hotels across the country.” (Click HERE for that story.)
“William Joseph Johnson, Jr. remains on federal probation,” Perry said. “He has yet to pay back all of the restitution that he owes.
In his lawsuit against Perry, Johnson says he “has a long-standing positive reputation in his community and parish” and that he (Johnson) suffered “harm to reputation (and) mental anguish.”
In a written statement following the ruling, Perry said:
“I am very pleased with the outcome of this matter,” Perry said. “I look forward to returning to the job that the People of Welsh elected me to perform. I also applaud my experienced legal team for their outstanding work.
“The rights of citizens to engage in the decision-making of government and provide input are unique to our country. These unique values make our country great. And, more Americans
should participate in government today.
“SLAPPs infringe on the rights granted to the citizens of the United States of America. Litigation should not be used to censor, silence, and intimidate those who are only exercising their rights as an American.
I am proud to be a citizen of a state, the State of Louisiana which is one of 28 states in the United States, that has implemented Anti-SLAPP laws to protect the Constitutional rights of its citizens from frivolous lawsuits filed by lawyers overzealous for clients and publicity.”
There was no immediate word on whether or not Richard would appeal the decision on behalf of his clients.
Posted in Corruption, Ethics, Finances, Lawsuits, Legislature, Legislators, Public Records, Transparency | 3 Comments
on November 10, 2017 at 4:23 pm | Reply Bob Mhoon
Bravo Jacob!!! You sometimes have to fight to win; and you did exactly that. As for final decision on with or without prejudice I think there is a 99.9999% chance that it will be With Prejudice. Meanwhile, put pressure on the clueless to pay immediately or return to court.
For reference: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/collect-court-judgment-wage-garnishment-30146.html
Good news for the “little guy” for a change.
on November 13, 2017 at 10:06 am | Reply Regina Brown
Wow! All this influence by an attorney who was eager to support his own political career, then ends up caught in a scandal of his own.
Ron has ran for city judge, Congress, and city council for Lake Charles. He has lost “bigley” each time. In my opinion, he isn’t a very good attorney. Now from what I see, he shouldn’t be in politics either. I don’t want to vote for a politician that doesn’t support 1st Amendment and Constitutional rights.
I commend the work of Mr. Perry’s lawyers, Glen Vamvoras and Michael Schwartzberg. 2 kickass lawyers right there!
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Precipitation total (Sat) Lebanon
Central California Swiss HD
Model charts Swiss HD 1x1
State California Nevada
County Please select Alameda Alpine Amador Calaveras Colusa Contra Costa Death Valley El Dorado Fresno Imperial Inyo Kern Kings Lake Los Angeles Madera Marin Mariposa Mendocino Merced Mono Monterey Napa Nevada Orange Placer Riverside Sacramento San Benito San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco San Joaquin San Luis Obispo San Mateo Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Cruz Solano Sonoma Stanislaus Sutter Tulare Tuolumne Ventura Yolo Yuba
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Significant Weather Clouds and significant weather Visibility (m) Mean Sea Level Pressure (hPa) Mean Sea Level Pressure (in Hg) Pressure change 3h (hPa)
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Max. reflectivity (dBZ) Base reflectivity (dBZ) Supercell Composite Parameter Storm relative helicity 0-2 mi (m²/s²) Updraft helicity (m²/s²) and reflectivity Max. vertical velocity (Column, m/s) Low-Level Shear 0-0.6 mi (kn) Deep Layer Shear 0-4 mi (kn) Lapse rate 0-0.6 mi (K/km) Mixed-Layer CAPE (J/kg) Surface based CAPE (J/kg) Mixed-Layer CIN (J/kg) Surface based CIN (J/kg) Energy Helicity Index (EHI) Significant Tornado Parameter Lightning rate, hourly Entire Atmosphere Precipitable Water (mm) Total column condensed water (kg/m²) Fire Weather Index
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Wind speed and streamlines, 700hPa (kph) Relative Vorticity, 700hPa (10^-5/s)
Most recent forecast ---------------------------------- 07/22/2020, 18z 07/22/2020, 06z 07/21/2020, 18z ---------------------------------- More model runs: please use calendar tool
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Central California Swiss Super HD (3 days) from 07/22/2020/18z
Update times: ca. 4:30am
This product displays output from the Swiss regional model for Central California. Regional models produce forecasts for a specific region, in this case for Central California. One advantage to regional models is that they can run at a much higher resolution than global models enabling them to see features such as mountains, valleys, and small bodies of water that would be too small for a lower resolution model to see. Due to the higher resolution of regional models, they can only be calculated for certain areas and often don’t go as far out in time as global models. In this case, the Swiss HD model runs three days out into the future.
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A Dream Fulfilled
I thought after 28 years together and two previous occasions where Michael and I stood before a group of our friends, publicly declaring our love and commitment to each other, that the third time would be old hat.
Everything was under control. Tuxes – check. Catering – check. Music – check. Programs printed – check. Even word 3 hours before the ceremony that one of our soloists was in the emergency room with possible appendicitis, didn’t freak me out. I was mister cool, I was mister calm, and I was mister in control.
As the guests arrived, the wedding party gathered in another part of the church to wait. We sat, Michael and me, with my brother Scott, the Mormon bishop, and his wife Ruth, Rev. Bertram Johnson, associate pastor of Madrona Grace Presbyterian, and some of our closest friends. We laughed and joked and made each other feel at home. We stood in a circle and prayed. I was mister cool, I was mister calm and I was mister in control.
Then it was time. As we gathered at the back of a packed sanctuary, I was humbled to see so many people gathered to celebrate our love. Even as we walked down the aisle, to the sounds of Cole Porter’s “Do I Love You”, I was mister cool, I was mister calm and I was mister in control.
As we took our places, and listened to Pastor Bertram’s beautiful welcome, I was still mister cool, still mister calm and still mister in control.
Then, without warning, as the organist launched into the introduction of the opening hymn, “Love Divine, All Love Excelling”, I lost it. Totally and completely lost it. There was absolutely nothing graceful or pretty about it. It was as if someone had turned on the tear and snot spigot, not just a trickle, but full blast. The weight of the emotions I felt at that moment was almost too much to bear. All I could do was lean into the shoulder of my beautiful husband and weep.
I get that crying at a wedding is normal. Who doesn’t cry at weddings, right? But for me, the tears were more than just an expression of joy for the moment. My tears were, at once, tears of sadness for all of the years that my dream, and the dreams of so many of our brothers and sisters, of a church wedding had been deferred as well as tears of joy that, in our case, the dream was finally, FINALLY, being realized.
You see I had always wanted my to be married in the church, but more importantly, my Presbyterian Church.
Twice, over the years, I had approached pastors of my congregation, arguably one of the most liberal congregations in our Presbytery, and asked them if they would be willing to offer the church’s blessing to our legal marriage. Both times these pastors, who would so eloquently preach from the pulpit against the sins of racism, sexism and homophobia, said no. Oh they hemmed and hawed and danced around it, they both were very quick to affirm their love of Michael, and me, but in the end the answer was no. They practically tied themselves in knots trying to explain why they couldn’t, or why the time wasn’t right, or why the congregation wasn’t ready. They tried so desperately to square their private rejection with their public position. What a joke.
I was devastated. Not once, but twice, I was again relegated to second-class citizenship in the church I had loved and faithfully served for decades. Honestly? I almost left. But my love for the congregation, my admiration for the work they were doing, the friendships that Michael and I had built up over the years; all of these things compelled me to stay.
Still, after the “no’s”, it was very painful playing the organ for other peoples weddings and it was very painful to hear these pastors preach social justice, when I knew they couldn’t bring themselves to include me and those like me.
To me, the reasons for no sounded like a bunch of hypocritical BS. Looking back, I realize now that no really meant, “I’m afraid.” I realized that both of these otherwise fine pastors were afraid of losing their ordinations, they were afraid of losing their jobs and they were afraid that Presbytery would swoop in and close the church. All of which, granted, were real possibilities until this past summer.
I was at General Assembly this past June, when they passed the Authoritative Interpretation to the Book of Order, allowing Teaching Elders freedom of conscience to preform or not preform same gender marriages in jurisdictions where it is legal. Unlike previous GA’s, the debate was civil and polite. The hateful speech we had been subjected to in past Assemblies was absent; the accusations of pedophilia, polygamy and bestiality (yes, bestiality) were missing, thank God. Still, when the vote was called, we didn’t know which way the commissioners would land. When the Stated Clerk announced that the AI had passed with more than 70% of the vote, you could have heard a pin drop.
Much has been written about that vote and the subsequent vote to approve Amendment 14-F, which will, if approved, expand Presbyterians definition of marriage and allow Teaching Elders to offer the church’s blessing on all marriages, opposite gender and same gender, regardless of location.
For me, and the hundreds of other LGBTQ and allied folk sitting in that hall, those votes were a holy and sacred moment. It was the moment that the church; our church, the church we loved and served, often in spite of itself; began to publicly acknowledge that Love is Love.
So on a beautiful October Saturday afternoon, 11 years to the day since I had legally married my husband, Michael and I stood before God, family of origin and family of choice, to bear witness to the power of love. It was, truly, a dream fulfilled.
October 14, 2014 at 1:09 pm Marriage Equality Share via:
One Comment, RSS
Carol Burns
God bless you both! And, yes, it is about time!!!
October 15, 2014 at 7:59 am Reply
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info@mebons.ca
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The Mi’kmaw Economic Benefits Office (MEBO) is a not-for-profit organization established in 2007 and located in Membertou, Nova Scotia. MEBO’s founding mandate was to advocate for meaningful participation in the $400 million Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project. MEBO has taken the success and experience gained from the Tar Ponds project and applied it to find new opportunities for businesses in various sectors, while providing people with training for skilled, well-paying jobs. MEBO serves communities across Nova Scotia and leads collaborative and inclusive engagement with industry in the region. This model of economic development is often referred to as the “Unama’ki Model” and is recognized for its success across Canada.
MEBO has developed a strategic, results-driven approach to engagement, always focusing on the importance of diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. Since 2008, MEBO has delivered a very successful series of training programs for Mi’kmaq communities, and has worked with community members wishing to receive trades training with apprenticeship placements. This has resulted in the creation of hundreds of jobs for local Indigenous people.
MEBO brings a solution to the table for industry and the workforce. They have a proven process to help successfully engage workers, thereby building diversity and inclusion in the skilled workforce. The organization is also committed to providing business support and assistance for entrepreneurs who want to start a business or expand an existing business. This support includes idea generation, business planning, sourcing financing, assisting with funding applications, and providing aftercare and follow-up services.
MEBO works closely with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency (NSAA) with respect to the trades, particularly training and placement of apprentices. MEBO also works with Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey (MK) and other education partners with a focus on the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector and, in particular, the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Program.
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Ripken Baseball Names David Bounds as General Manager of The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (August 2015) — Ripken Baseball has named David Bounds the General Manager for The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge youth baseball complex. With nearly a decade of experience as an employee for Ripken Baseball, Bounds has contributed to the brand’s growth at both The Ripken Experience Aberdeen and Myrtle Beach locations.
David Bounds
“I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to combine my love of baseball and my business acumen towards making a positive impact at Ripken Baseball, as well as with thousands of youth baseball players, coaches and families we serve,” said Bounds. “I look forward to bringing the Ripken Way to the Pigeon Forge community.”
As the General Manager of The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge, Bounds will be responsible for providing oversight and leadership for the $22.5 million facility, as well as supervising the complex’s tournaments, camps, specialty programs, staffing and operations. Bounds started his career with Ripken Baseball as a tournament official and camp instructor at The Ripken Experience Myrtle Beach, followed by a four-year tenure at The Ripken Experience Aberdeen Powered by Under Armour complex in Maryland where he served in a variety of roles within its Operations Department, including Director of Youth Programming. In 2014, Bounds made the move back to his home state of South Carolina to take on the role of Assistant General Manager at The Ripken Experience Myrtle Beach. Bounds is a graduate of Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business and was a four-year collegiate baseball player.
“David has been an integral part of the continued growth and success of our youth baseball operations,” said Glenn Valis, Vice President of Quality Control & Managed Relationships for Ripken Baseball. “His managerial and leadership qualities exemplify what our team was looking for in a General Manager. We believe in his ability to help take the Pigeon Forge complex to the next level as a premier youth sports destination.”
The City of Pigeon Forge signed a 10-year contract with Ripken Baseball to market and manage the complex, which will host world-class youth baseball tournaments nine months of the year, and offer year-round branded programming, including events. The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge looks out onto the Great Smoky Mountains and features six lighted, synthetic turf fields, as well as a two-level clubhouse with more than 14,000 square feet, a 2,749-square-foot concession/restroom building with an adjacent pavilion. Each field borrows its design from well-known professional ballparks, including Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore, Maryland), Isotopes Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico), and Engel Stadium (Chattanooga, Tennessee). After breaking ground on the complex in 2014, Opening Day at The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge is planned for Spring 2016. Weeklong tournaments are currently on sale at www.ripkenbaseball.com.
About Ripken Baseball
The mission of Ripken Baseball is to inspire athletes through remarkable experiences. Ripken Baseball currently owns and operates multiple Minor League Baseball teams and plays host to numerous youth tournaments, camps and clinics at The Ripken Experience Aberdeen powered by Under Armour baseball complex in Maryland, The Ripken Experience Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, and The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge in Tennessee, which is set to open in Spring 2016.
← Pigeon Forge Parade Salutes America’s Military Veterans → Pigeon Forge Turns Wilderness Wildlife Week into Springtime Event
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Smoky Mountain Opry™ Theater Gives $100,000 to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
Pigeon Forge, Tenn. (April 21, 2017) — The Smoky Mountain Opry™ Theater gave $100,000 to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital this week. Jim Hedrick, co-owner of the Smoky Mountain Opry™ Theater and senior vice president of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group said, “Our own little employee family has been greatly helped by the amazing medical care they have received from East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and thousands and thousands of children have been helped by the services of this hospital as well. We are able to donate to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital with one hundred percent of the proceeds from our Christmas Candle Program, whereby, LED candles are purchased by guests who attend “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry™.” We are really touched and blessed to be able to give to this worthy organization. It is our honor and our pleasure to donate $100,000 to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.”
“I am stunned,” said Keith Goodwin, chief executive officer of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. “We are so blessed, so thankful and so thrilled.” The hospital plans to use the gift to fund their programs and provide assistance to families who are not able to afford services.
Also present for the check presentation were Michael Headla, general manager of The Smoky Mountain Opry™ Theater; East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (ETCH) vice-presidents: Bruce Anderson, former legal services, Hella Ewing, patient care, Cathy Shuck, legal services, Carlton Long, institutional advancement, and presenting the big check is Jim Hedrick, sr. vice president of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment and Keith Goodwin, chief executive officer, ETCH. Surrounded by the Smoky Mountain Opry’s cast, Pigeon Forge Mayor David Wear was on stage along with several Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group’s employees including Morris Turner, IT specialist, Danny Davaney, entertainer at The Comedy Barn® Theater and three of his children and Judy Caudill, general manager of The Comedy Barn® Theater, whose families have a life-time connection with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
“Our company is pleased and honored to be helping East Tennessee Children’s Hospital,” said David Fee, president and chief executive officer of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment. “It is our way of giving back. We wish all children good health. This donation is made possible because of the tremendous support of generous guests who gave to our Christmas Candle Program because they want to help others.”
The Smoky Mountain Opry’s™ Christmas Candle Program is used to support local charitable causes. At intermission before the live nativity scene during the “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry™” show, guests purchase LED souvenir candles “to hold high in honor of Christ.” The candles are held in honor of the spirit of giving at Christmas. One hundred percent of the proceeds from these candles go to the Smoky Mountain Opry™ Christmas Candle Fund. The Candle Fund has now given over $500,00 to local charities.
The “Smoky Mountain Opry™,” renowned as the must-see variety show in Pigeon Forge, recently reopened for the season with “Feel the Music,” an all-new original show with many new cast members and what Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group says is “their biggest and best show in Pigeon Forge to date.” The show has earned the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence five years in a row for having a five-star average rating on their site, making the “Smoky Mountain Opry™” show one of the top-performing 10 percent of businesses worldwide on Trip Advisor. The new show features a musical journey through some of music’s greatest hits with country, Broadway, the silver screen, classic rock, gospel and patriotic numbers.
In the Dec. 2014 edition of Southern Living magazine, the “Smoky Mountain Opry™” was named the “Don’t Miss Variety Show” in Pigeon Forge.
The show runs at 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday with occasional Sunday evening shows. It also runs at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays. For more information, visit http://www.smokymtnopry.com/ or call The Smoky Mountain Opry Theater box office at (865) 428-SHOW (7469) or 1-800-768-1170.
The Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, one of the largest show production companies in the Southeast, owns and produces nine shows in the Smoky Mountain area including: The “Smoky Mountain Opry™,” “The Comedy Barn®,” the “Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud™,” “Magic Beyond Belief™” starring Darren Romeo and the “Smith Morning Variety Show” featuring Charlie Bob Smith and friends. In November and December, the company presents “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry™,” The “Hatfield and McCoy Christmas Disaster Dinner Feud™” and “The Comedy Barn® Christmas Show.” In addition, the company produces a summer seasonal “Amazing Animals®” show at The Comedy Barn® Theater.
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s vision is Leading the Way to Healthy Children. Children’s Hospital is a private, independent, not-for-profit pediatric medical center that has served the East Tennessee region for more than 75 years and is certified by the state of Tennessee as a
Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center.
Director of Public Relations and Merchandising
Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group
119 Music Road,
(865) 414-6887 (cell), (865) 774-8877
Tags Entertainment, fee hedrick, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge, shows, Smoky Mountain Opry, Smoky Mountains
← More Than 200 Free Seminars, Outdoor Excursions Highlight Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge May 9-13 → The Ugly Truth of Wildlife Poaching: Alcatraz East Temporary Exhibit Opening Soon
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Marshall torches Rice to begin C-USA title defense
Kieran Intemann, Sports Editor|March 13, 2019
FRISCO, Texas – Marshall opened on a 9-0 run and never looked back Wednesday night, laying an 82-65 shellacking on the Rice Owls in an opening round matchup at the Conference USA Championship.
“I thought we shot the ball really well,” Thundering Herd head coach Dan D’Antoni said. “It’s kind of hard to guard when (our team) shoots like that.”
Jon Elmore led the Thundering Herd (18-13, 11-7 C-USA) with a game-high 32 points, six rebounds and six assists, flirting with a triple-double in the early stages of the game. Marshall also had a balanced secondary scoring attack, as four other players scored at least eight points for the Herd. Taevion Kinsey had 12, Rondale Watson had 11 and frontcourt duo Jannson Williams and Darius George had nine and eight, respectively.
Marshall had a double-digit lead for the final 31:18 of the contest and led wire-to-wire, building its lead to as many as 32 late in the second half in a game where the final score did not indicate the disparity in talent between the two teams.
“The energy was great tonight,” Elmore, the conference’s all-time leader in points and assists, said. “We had that little break (before Bonus Play) and then really seemed to take it to another gear. These past six games are what we had planned on doing the whole year.”
Rice used a mini run late in the first half to cut the Herd’s lead to 15 before a late Elmore 3-pointer extended its lead to 41-23 heading into halftime. Elmore then scored eight of the second half’s first 10 points to put the game out of reach. The Herd led by at least 20 for the last 19:40 of the game.
Marshall had an 80-49 lead before Rice scored 16 of the last 18 points after the Thundering Herd emptied its bench to make the final much closer than the game actually was.
“There’s no time for us to celebrate,” Kinsey, playing in his first Conference USA Tournament game, said. “It was a good win but we’re already getting focused for the next game.
Robert Martin led Rice (13-19, 8-10 C-USA) with 16 points. The Owls also got 14 points apiece from Jack Williams and Trey Murphy III. Chris Mullins, who entered the game second on the team in scoring, had just two points and Rice’s third-leading scorer this season, Ako Adams, went scoreless.
“Defensively, we turned them over quite a bit and forced them to the end of shot clocks several times,” D’Antoni said.
Marshall continues its title defense Thursday night against third-seeded Southern Miss, who beat the Herd by 50 earlier in the season.
“(Head coach) Doc (Sadler) has done a great job for Southern Miss,” D’Antoni said. “It’s going to be a great game. They’re a tough team, they’re little, they’re quick, they go every which way and you have to have energy to say in front of them.
Tipoff between the Thundering Herd and Golden Eagles is slated for 10 p.m. EDT (9 p.m. CDT) inside Court B at Ford Center at The Star.
No. 6 Marshall survives against No. 11 UTEP in first round of C-USA Tournament
Herd women’s basketball defeats Golden Eagles in OT in first round of C-USA Tournament
Marshall ends losing skid with win over ODU
Late surge sends Southern Miss past Marshall, ends Herd’s title defense
FRISCO, Texas – There will be a new conference champion crowned by Conference USA over the weekend. A late push by third-seeded Souther...
Thundering Herd’s tourney run ends in first-round heartbreak
Herd men’s basketball defeats Red Wolves in home opener, 70-56
After not playing a basketball game for 260 days, the Marshall University men’s basketball team took the court at the Cam Henderson Center and defea...
Men’s basketball prepares for season opener
The Marshall University men’s basketball team is one week away from its 2020-21 season opener against Coppin State Wednesday, Nov. 25. Two days late...
Marshall men’s basketball seeks opportunities through practices
Herd men’s basketball continues to practice for 2020-21 season
Marshall men’s basketball back in action
The Marshall University men’s basketball team officially began practicing Tuesday in the Cam Henderson Center. This is the first time the team wi...
Rice volleyball wins C-USA Championship
CHAMPS AT LAST
One game away: Herd earns rematch with WKU for NCAA berth
Won, not done: One down, two to go for Herd men’s hoops
Clock strikes midnight on Herd’s magical season as MTSU repeats as C-USA champs
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McCarrison Society
Health Through Nutrition, A Birthright
New Web But Still In Infancy
McCarrison Journal – Nutrition and Health
Current Situation of Charity – Committee
Health and Nutrition – The McCarrison Journal
Benfits of Membership
Donations Sponsors and Bequests
McCarrison Mini-Conference
Thank-You Page
test new
National Health and Nutrition
McCarrison’s Rats– Health impact
Antibiotics (resistance to)
Omega 3 and 6
Dairy and Wheat
Alexander Walker in 1981
Institutional Intertia to New Ideas – Good and Bad
Dr Walter Yellowlees
Healthy Soils, Healthy People
The importance of the mineral content of soil Albrecht
Burkitt
McCarrison
ABSTRACT PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION, “STUDIES IN DEFICIENCY DISEASES” Sir Robert McCarrison
Food – A primer for use in schools. 1928. Robert McCarrison
Letters and Correspondence Sir Robert McCarrison
Autoclaved Foods (Sir Robert McCarrison)
Crop fertilisation manure or industrial and conditons; effect of animal growth
Disease prevalence in UK early 1900s
Diet general health and physique (Sir Robert McCarrison)
Iodine, thyroid gland and diet (Sir Robert McCarrison)
Whole wheat and grains compared to refined flours (McCarrison)
Vitamin A deficiency (Sir Robert McCarrison)
Vitamin B (Sir Robert McCarrison)
Vitamin C (Sir Robert McCarrison)
Vitamin D (Sir Robert McCarrison)
Vitamin deficiencies generally (Sir Robert McCarrison)
Elmer McCollum
Dr Hugh Sinclair DM DSc FRP
Mellanby
Trowell
Dr Hugh Carey Trowell OBE MD FRCP (1904 -1989)
Yellowlees
Walter Yellowlees: History of the McCarrison Society
Death of Dr Yellowlees
Agroecology
Lost Wisdom Land degredation
Land degeneration and regeneration
What the Soil Does For Us
Darwin and Howard – Importance of worms
Sir Albert Howard on Artificial Manures
Lost wisdom, McCarrison, Howard, thoughts on Manure, a contemporaneous account by Rodale
Soil Mineralisation
Mineral content decline in a basket of foods: soils, plant breeding, NPK et Alia.
Land degeneration and Agriculture (Related Videos)
Lost wisdom – Fascinating observations of sages of their time
Global Warming or a New Ice Age: Documentary Film (Of interest re soil mineralisation)
Mineral deficiencies – Submission to a Food Forum
Healthy Soils, Healthy People: The Legacy of William Albrecht by J Ikerd
Libraries; Wonderful Free 3rd Party Libraries
McCarrison Library (Free to All)
Nutrition and National Health The Cantor Lectures. Sir Robert McCarrison C.I.E., M.A., M.D., D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.C.P. Major-General I.M.S. (Ret’d.)
The Saccharine Disease T. L. CLEAVE, M.R.C.P. (Lond.)
Nutrition and Physical Degradation Weston A Price, MS., D.D.S., F.A.G.D.
McCarrison Booklets
Surgeon Captain T L Cleave FRCP
McCarrison Member Web Sites
Web Sites – Truly Informative Resources
McCarrison English News Letters
McCarrison English News Letters 2004
McCarrison Scottish News Letters
McCarrison Scottish News Letters 2013
JoAnne Manson Medscape Video
Letters Sent
Semmelweis and hand washing
Nutrition Generally
Papers and links of interest
Long term aims of the McCarrison Society
Aspirational Projects
Project 1 Measure Vitamin D in Non-Westernised Groups
Project 2. Measure DHA and other lipids in plasma of Non-Westernised Groups
Project 3. Sir Albert Howard; Compost; Human waste; Value to plants – Initial Study Viability
Professor Emeritus of Agricultural & Applied Economics
University of Missouri Columbia
College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
John Ikerd is a passionate campaigner on the importance of health soils to human health. He is an author, regularly speaks at meetings, and videos of his speeches can be found in Utube.
Dr. Mercola Interviews John Ikerd (Full Interview)
He is an agricultural economist with a childhood set in a rural agricultural setting and a significant career background in industrial farming. His subsequent experiences lead him to question the wisdom and sustainability of the current industrialised model of agricultural production.
He presents thought provoking viewpoints on the consequences of the current model of industrialisation of foods, as well as wider effects in particularly as to sustainability of ever growing consumption in the context of the planet as a biosphere.
He has a high regard for William Albrecht and wrote the article below. We gratefully thank him for permission to use it.
Healthy Soils, Healthy People; The Legacy of William Albrecht[i]
John Ikerd[ii]
William Albrecht was not only a distinguished scientist and brilliant scholar; he was also a true visionary and committed humanitarian. He believed that animals, including humans, provide biochemical photographs of the soils in which their foods are grown. With effective and affordable commercial fertilizers after World War II, the health and natural productivity of the soil no longer seemed to matter. Albrecht risked his academic reputation by warning of the public health risks posed by this so-called modern, industrial agriculture. History provides compelling evidence that he was right. A half-century later, America is facing an epidemic of diet related illnesses, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and various forms of cancer. If current trends continue, the cost of health care, which is already nearly twice the cost of food, will claim more than one-third of the U.S. economy by 2040. Recent scientific studies have linked a decline in the nutritional value of foods with the industrialization of agriculture. The result is foods rich in calories but poor in essential nutrients. As Albrecht had warned, the declining health of our people may well be a biochemical photograph of the declining health of our soils. Regardless, today’s agricultural scientists should embrace the vision and courage of William Albrecht to venture beyond their narrow academic fields of study, to rethink the science involved, and perhaps redefine their disciplines. The health of our nation may be impossible to restore without first restoring the health of our soils.
William Albrecht was still Chairman of the Soils Department and a familiar name in the College of Agriculture when I first arrived on the MU campus in the fall of 1957. I recall a friend who was a bit offended because Albrecht seemed to be questioning the intelligence of people, like him, who been raised on food from the “worn out” soils of South Georgia. We students weren’t aware of the larger controversy surrounding Albrecht’s work linking the health of soils to the health of people. While President of the Soil Science Society in 1938, he had written in the Yearbook of Agriculture ”A declining soil fertility, due to a lack of organic material, major elements, and trace minerals, is responsible for poor crops and in turn for pathological conditions in animals fed deficient foods from such soils, and mankind is no exception.”[1] My soils instructor, Prof. E. R. Graham, stuck pretty close to the physics, chemistry, and biology of soils. I don’t recall him ever mentioning Albrecht’s work linking soil health and human health. Perhaps he didn’t want to endure the professional criticism Albrecht received for venturing beyond the narrow bounds of his disciple. The University of Missouri had plant and animal scientists to worry about the health of plants and animals and an entire medical school to deal with the health of people. Professor Albrecht was admonished to restrict his observations to the health of soils.
Perhaps his most controversial, most important, study was a review of World War II era dental records of 70,000 U.S. sailors. He linked the health of sailors’ teeth to the health of soils in their native regions of the U.S. In those days, people mostly ate foods grown on local farms or at least grown in their respective regions of the country. He concluded, “If all other body irregularities as well as those of the teeth were so viewed, it is highly probable that many of our diseases would be interpreted as degenerative troubles originating in nutritional deficiencies going back to insufficient fertility of the soil.”[2] With the end of World War II, Albrecht called for a major national initiative to restore the health and fertility of America’s “worn out” soils.
Instead, the nation’s agricultural priorities shifted to producing more and cheaper food. Albrecht anticipated that reliance on commercial fertilizers to increase production would degrade both soil health and human health. He was particularly concerned with an overemphasis on nitrogen, prosperous, and potash (N, P, & K), would lead to depletion of trace minerals, such as manganese, copper, boron, zinc, iodine, and chlorine, and degrade basic soil health. He wrote “N P K formulas, as legislated and enforced by State Departments of Agriculture mean malnutrition, attack by insects, bacteria and fungi, weed takeover, crop loss in dry weather, and general loss of mental acuity in the population, leading to degenerative metabolic disease and early death.”[3]
Albrecht ventured into economics in the late 1950s, at about the same time as I discovered Agricultural Economics as an undergraduate at MU. He wrote, “The costs of growing healthy livestock and healthy people do not fit themselves readily into our economics where costs and earnings must always be matched in monetary values (dollars). We are slow to realize that good health is not a purchasable commodity. Health of plants, of livestock and of humans via proper nutrition… will not submit to solution by monetary manipulations.”[4] He became increasingly concerned and outspoken about the potential negative impacts of profit driven farming practices on the health of the land. “We are slow to study the importance of soil fertility to the quality of food, for this is not yet to our economic advantage in the marketplace.”[5]
As an emeritus professor, Albrecht became even more outspoken in his conclusion regarding the linkage between soil health and human health. In 1966, he pointed out that the health of the soil affects the nutrient balance between proteins and carbohydrates in both feed and food crops.[6] Furthermore, he concluded only healthy organic soils with the proper balance of both macronutrients and micronutrients could produce the complete proteins necessary for good human health. [7] He distinguished between the “grow foods” grown on healthy soils and “go foods,” which were filled with carbohydrates for energy but lacking in the complete proteins needs for growth and health. “Go foods” make humans fat; it takes “grow” foods to keep humans healthy. I doubt Albrecht would be at all surprised by the epidemic of obesity and other diet related health problems confronting Americans today.
These few references provide but a brief glimpse of Albrecht’s work linking soil health and human health and barely hint at the enormous body of less controversial work that brought William Albrecht to the pinnacle of his profession as a soil scientist. My intent here is not to defend Albrecht conclusions as proof, but instead as compelling challenges to soil scientists, agricultural scientists, and scientists in general. My intent is to defend what I will refer to as the “Albrecht hypothesis:” human health is inseparable from soil health. This is not a proven fact but a critical proposition that has yet to be properly tested. Albrecht didn’t claim to have the final answers regarding soil health and human health. He suggested it would take at least a half-century to unravel the mysteries he had begun to explore.
Unfortunately, few scientists since have had the courage to venture outside of their academic disciplines to explore the impacts of their work on society and humanity. Many consider themselves to be soil scientists, plant scientists, animal scientists, medical scientists, or economists – period. Albrecht knew he needed a basic understanding of all these fields if his work as a soils scientist was to fulfill his public responsibility to society and humanity. He reportedly was dismissed by the academic community because he refused to restrict his work to soil science and eventually was forced into retirement.[8] Today, American society may well be suffering the ecological, social, and economic consequences of the failure to explore Albrecht’s hypothesis linking soil health and human health.
I identify with William Albrecht, both personally and professionally. I had to break free of the narrow bounds of agricultural economics when I began to explore the larger and more important questions of agricultural sustainability. I was a respected agricultural economist at the time: Head of the Department of Extension Agricultural Economics and President of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association. I felt the sting of academic rejection and marginalization whenever I raised questions related to crop science, animal science, soils science, ecology, sociology, or philosophy. I never claimed to be an expert in any academic area other than my own. Like Albrecht, however, I knew I needed to understand enough about rest of agriculture, society, and humanity to understand how and why a dysfunctional agricultural economy was degrading the sustainability of agriculture and threatening the future of humanity. My work in sustainable agriculture led me to the work of William Albrecht.
In the late 1980s, I discovered that Albrecht’s stature among those in the sustainable agriculture movement was higher than his academic status at the peak of his career. He was and still is considered to be among the best, and possibly the last, of a small group of soil scientists who have contributed anything of real value in restoring sustainability to agriculture. For many sustainable farmers, The Albrecht Papers, compiled and published by Charles Walters of Acres USA, is the Bible on all matters related to soil, which included about everything related to agricultural sustainability.[9] A few other soil scientists have since taken on task of exploring soil health and sustainable productivity. However, Albrecht’s work still represents a voice of authority on all matters related to soils. The public value of his work has been validated in the restored health of many soils, crops, farms, and farm families.
The legitimacy of the Albrecht hypothesis linking soil health and human health has also been validated by more than a half-century of American history. A French contemporary of Albrecht, Andre Voisin, paraphrases the Albrecht hypothesis as: “Animals and men are biochemical photographs of the soil.” [10] If we Americans are biochemical photographs of the soil, we are the picture of a nation whose food is grown from increasingly unhealthy soils.
The declining physical health of Americans is perhaps most obvious in the growing epidemic of obesity. Obesity is not simply a matter of personal inconvenience or embarrassment; it is closely linked to a number of diet related diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and a variety of cancers. Recent statistics classify two-thirds of adults and nearly one-third of American children and teens as obese or overweight. Since 1980, the number of obese adults has doubled.[11] Since 1970, the number of obese adolescents ages 12-19 has tripled and the number of obese children ages 6-11 has quadrupled.[12] According to a 2010 report of the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, F As In Fat; How Obesity Threatens America’s Future, the tendency toward obesity has continued unabated in spite of a host of programs mounted by government and nonprofit organizations to combat it, the latest being President Obama’s White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity.[13]
In terms of economic costs, obesity related illnesses are projected to claim about one-in-five dollars spent for health care in America by 2020 – erasing virtually all of the gains made in improving public health over the past several decades.[14] Health care in America now consumes more than 17% of the total GDP or economic output, nearly twice as much as in 1980.[15] If current trends continue, health care will claim more than one-third of all economic output by 2040. With an aging population, growing public demand for public healthcare is almost certain to add to an already ballooning federal budget deficit.
A 2005 New York Times piece drew widespread public attention to the problem of obesity by quoting the authors of an article in the New England Journal of Medicine: ”Obesity is such that this generation of children could be the first basically in the history of the United States to live less healthful and shorter lives than their parents.”[16] Other scientists countered that better health care might offset the trend, but admitted that such care would be very costly. Many of today’s children are likely to be very sick for most of their lives, even if they don’t die younger.
The tendency is to blame obesity on people, specifically on the psyche or physiology of people who eat too many calories. They are accused of choosing unhealthy lifestyles and unhealthy foods, as a result, eating more calories and burning fewer calories than is consistent with good health. The conventional wisdom seems to be that nothing is basically wrong with the food system; the problem is the unwillingness or inability of people to make good choices. If the conventional wisdom were true, the problem of obesity could be solved by educating and/or training. People could be encouraged to get more physical exercise and to make the right food choices. Decades of government programs, private and public research, and the emergence of an entire diet & health food industry has failed to make significant progress in reducing obesity.
Albrecht believed that all animals, including humans, have an inherent capacity to select the foods they need to for healthy diets. He observed wildlife and cattle in farm pastures, since he was discouraged from experimenting with farm animals. Respected animal nutritionists of his times had observed that when farm animals were offered a wide variety of foodstuffs most would naturally select healthy balanced diets.[17] However, when livestock were offered a single feed containing nutrients in fixed quantities, they tended to consume more than they needed of some nutrients in an apparent attempt to meet their minimum requirements of others.
If we humans have this same basic tendency as other animals, as Albrecht suggested, whenever our food choices are limited, we may well consume more of some nutrients than we need in an attempt to get enough of others to meet our basic nutritional requirements. In other words, the lack of a few essential nutrients in our diets might leave us feeling hungry even though we have consumed far more calories than is consistent with good health. The sedentary lifestyles of many Americans obviously contribute to the growing epidemic of obesity. However, excessive eating and the resulting excessive weight also contribute to sedentary lifestyles. Many Americans may overeat because their food leaves them undernourished.
In spite of the lack of past success, most public health programs today tend to focus on getting people to change their diets – specifically to eat more fruits and vegetables. More than 40% of Americans reportedly eat no fruits and vegetables on any given day. However, USDA data related to long run consumption patterns indicate that per capita consumptions of fruits and vegetables have been basically flat, with intermittent blips, over past 30 to 40 years, the period of increasing obesity. [18] Declines in consumption of fresh produce have been offset by increases in consumption of processed fruits and vegetables. Interestingly, home gardens accounted for about 25% of all vegetables eaten in the early 1900s but accounted for less than 3% of total vegetable consumption in the late 1900s. This might logically suggest the soil on which vegetables are grown is more important than the quantity consumed.
Some scientific studies have begun to confirm Albrecht’s economic hypothesis that an agriculture driven by economic values would deplete the nutritional value of the nation’s foods. A particularly revealing study was published in the Journal of American College of Nutrition in 2004. It compared nutrient levels in 43 garden crops in 1999 with levels documented in historic benchmark nutrient studies conducted by USDA in 1950. Declines in median concentrations of six important nutrients: protein –6%, calcium –16%, phosphorus –9%, iron –15%, riboflavin –38%, and vitamin C –2% were observed – even when measured on a dry weight basis.[19] Other studies have since found similar results showing diminished nutrient density of foods over time.
Organic farming also provides a convenient contrast to conventional agricultural practices. A review by The Organic Center of 97 published studies comparing organic and conventionally grown food indicated that “on average” organic foods are more nutritious than conventional foods.[20] Conventional foods often contained more macro nutrients – potassium, phosphorus, and total protein – but organic foods were consistently and significantly higher in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, polyphenols, and total antioxidants, which are frequently lacking in American diets. Farms can be certified as organic after refraining from use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides for only three years. It may take decades of organic farming to fully restore the chemical and biological health of “worn out” soils.
The blame for obesity also is often placed on the prevalence of highly processed foods and fast foods. Obviously, food processing and distribution deserve a share of the blame. The large corporations are not concerned about diet or health, unless it affects their profits. During the past 30 years, high-fructose corn syrup has replaced cane and beet sugar as the sweetener of choice because it has been cheaper. The growing popularity of carbonated beverages has meant increased consumption of high-fructose corn syrup.[21] Soybean oil, particularly partially-hydrogenated vegetable oil, has replaced lard and butter as the fat of choice, at least partially because it has been cheaper. Vegetable oils have found a growth market in the deep fryers of the fast food industry. In fact a significant portion of increased calorie consumption has resulted from increased spending for food eaten away form home. In recent years, about half of all food purchases are for foods eaten outside the home, about half of which are fast foods.
Best-selling books, such as Fast Food Nation[22] and Omnivore’s Dilemma,[23] document the negative consequences of fast foods and processed foods. Fast food franchises that have thrived economically by selling large portions of foods, high in sweets, fats, and salt, are coming under increased public scrutiny by public health officials. Low income consumers also are lured to the isles of supermarkets filled with low-priced, high-calorie food choices. Food industry marketers know that humans have a natural taste preference, probably a genetic predisposition, for foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt. Preferences essential for the survival and health of our primitive ancestors now make us vulnerable to economic exploitation. It’s easier to market high calorie foods, particularly when those foods are cheaper. There is little doubt that processed foods and fast foods are contributing to the problem of obesity.
However, highly processed foods, fast foods, and sedentary lifestyles obviously aren’t the only significant factors contributing to obesity. Numerous studies have shown significant reductions in nutrient density of crops at the farm level with increasing use of modern yield-enhancing technologies – fertilizers, pesticides, high plant density, and irrigation.[24] This so called “dilution effect” apparently is well known among plant scientists, although rarely mentioned in relation to diet and health outside of organic circles.[25] The Albrecht hypothesis linking soil health directly to human health remains largely unexplored.
Perhaps most challenging to the conventional wisdom of obesity, an international group of scientists recently studied obesity and overweight trends, over a period of five decades, in 8 species of animals that live in close proximity to humans. The study included laboratory animals, but also cats, dogs, and feral rodents. All but one of the 24 populations studied became more obese.[26] The researchers speculated on various possible causes, but one academic reviewer concluded, “We clearly now have evidence that things outside this realm [diet and exercise] can shift the body weight distributions of an entire population.”[27] The other species, particularly the wild species, don’t eat highly processed foods or fast foods and don’t spend their days in front of the TV or playing video games. However, they all eat foods grown on the same soils as the soils that feed their human neighbors – corroborating the Albrecht hypothesis.
The declining nutritional value of America’s food should come as no surprise to anyone who understands that today’s industrial food systems, including industrial agriculture, is driven by the economic motives of productivity and profits rather than public interests. Profits are derived primarily from factors of quantity: acres farmed, head produced, yields per acre, rates of gain, and economies of scale. Quality factors typically have far less effect on profits and are most often associated with cosmetic appearance rather than nutrition or health. The primary sources of those cheap calories found in supermarkets and fast food franchises today are plants and animals from farms that rely on modern yield-enhancing technologies rather than inherent soil fertility. As Albrecht feared, we may well be suffering the consequences of an agriculture driven by dollar values, not nutritional values.
A growing body of scientific evidence indicates the most likely source of America’s growing diet/health crisis is the industrialization of our food system, including the industrialization of American agriculture. Our 50-year experiment with industrial agriculture has failed. I believe this conclusion will be readily apparent to anyone willing to seriously examine American diet and health statistics over the past century. It’s obvious the current epidemic of obesity has multiple causes. I believe it is just as obvious that one of those causes is the industrialization of agriculture. Admittedly, there is not a scientific consensus concerning causality. However, the diet and health trends of the past century clearly link the epidemic of obesity, and the related problems of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and various forms of cancer, with the trends in the industrialization of American agriculture. Albrecht was right, it has been a mistake to depend on economic incentives to ensure the health of soils, plants, livestock, and humans.
Compelling evidence in support of the Albrecht hypothesis can be found in the previously mentioned USDA report of long-term consumption.[28] During the first half of the twentieth-century, as people became less physically active, they ate fewer calories. Americans were consuming roughly 10% fewer calories per person per day in the late 1950s than in early 1900s. Per capita calorie consumption leveled off during the 1960s, even though physical activity obviously continued to decline. In the early 1970s, the number of total calories in the average American diet began a persistent upward trend, while physical activity obviously continued to decline. Calories from fats increased 22%, calories and carbohydrates increased by 19%, but calories from proteins also increased by 16%. Between 1980 and 2004, total daily calories per capita from all sources, including alcohol, increased by 21%. The logical consequence is the alarming increase in numbers of Americans who are overweight or obese.
During the first half of the last century, Americans were less active and they ate less. During the second half-century, Americans were even less active but they ate more. The human species obviously didn’t evolve that much over 100-years, but the food system most certainly did. The upward trend in per capita calorie consumption corresponds precisely with the industrialization of the American food system, including the industrialization of American agriculture. The increase in consumption was not simply a response to lower food prices, as the percent of income spent for food dropped more from 1939 to 1969 than from 1969 to 1999. The overconsumption of calories and the epidemic of obesity most closely parallels with the industrialization of the food system and the industrialization of agriculture.
Agriculture of the 1950s was still dominated by diversified family farms producing foods primarily for local and regional markets. The soil on many farms were already eroded and “worn out,” but most farms still relied primarily on healthy soils for their productivity. The chemical fertilizers and pesticides, developed from warfare technologies, were just coming on the scene and were seen as the key to farm economic prosperity and national food security. Farming was about to be transformed from a way of life into a bottom-line economic enterprise. Every significant USDA program since the 1950s, including research and education in the Land Grant University system, in one way or another has facilitated the industrialization of agriculture. Government crop subsidies are but the tip of the iceberg of government support for industrial agriculture. By the year 2000, American agriculture was dominated by large specialized corn, soybean, cotton, wheat, and rice farms and large-scale confinement animal feeding operations. Farms had become factories without roofs and fields and feed lots biological assembly lines.
When I returned to graduate school at the University of Missouri in the mid-1960s, after three years in the food industry, the mission of the College of Agriculture was well understood. We were going to make agriculture more productive so more Americans could have access to safe and wholesome food at a reasonable cost. This was America’s “cheap food policy.” We were going to provide food security for all Americans by making good food cheap. With industrial agriculture, health of the soil didn’t matter all that much, and apparently neither did the health of the American people. Since the 1950s, the percentage of their income spent for food dropped by more than half while the cost of American health care has more than doubled. [29]
We have succeeded in making food cheap, but it’s time to admit the cheap food strategy of the past 50-years has failed dismally in providing national food security. A larger percentage of Americans are hungry today than were hungry during the 1960s. The latest USDA statistics, for 2008, places total “food insecurity” at 16% with more than 22% of American children living in food insecure homes. Non-government surveys place total “food hardship” for 2010 at close to 20%.[30] The only time significant progress made in food insecurity over the past 30 years was during the unsustainable economic expansion of the 1990s. We need to face reality; we can’t feed the hungry by making agriculture more economically efficient.
Those who can afford to buy enough food to satisfy their hunger, too often end up buying foods that destroy their physical health. It’s not just the problems of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, and other problems linked with poor nutrition. America’s food/health concerns also include carcinogenic chemical residues, endocrine disrupters, growth hormones, antibiotic resistant bacteria, salmonella, E-Coli 0157:H7, and more recently genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. The health problems associated with these concerns include diminished fertility, various forms of cancers, attention deficit disorder, and a growing variety of food allergies. We don’t know how many of these concerns may also contribute to the epidemic obesity. We do know these concerns are all inevitable consequences of an industrial agriculture.
We have justified the demise of family farms, decay of rural communities, pollution of the rural environment, and degradation of soil health as being necessary to provide food security for the nation. These justifications are no longer valid or acceptable. Too many Americans are still hungry; too many Americans are sick. As Albrecht predicted; an agriculture driven by economics failed to provide for the health of the soil or the health of people. The problems we are facing today are the consequence of too many people, including scientists, pursuing their narrow self-interests without considering the consequence of their actions on the rest of society and the future of humanity. That’s what economics is all about; the pursuit of individual, impersonal self-interests – not the long run interests of society or humanity.
To meet their responsibilities to society and humanity, agricultural scientists must consider the impacts of their discipline on others and impacts of other disciplines on theirs. The problems with the food system are inseparable dimensions of the same problem. They all involve the physics, biology, chemistry, economics, and even the philosophy of agriculture. The first scientists who find the courage of Albrecht to venture beyond their disciplines should not expect to be praised by their colleagues. Don Huber, a plant pathologist who presented the 2010 Albrecht Lecture, has dared to speak out regarding the impacts of the Roundup herbicide not only on the health of plants but also the health soils and animals. He has been rebuked not only by Monsanto but also several of his colleagues. His critics claim adequate research not been done either to confirm or refute his claims. My question to the scientific community is: why not? Why haven’t scientists done this research of such great interest and importance to the public? Huber is widely praised among those who have long questioned the impacts of a host of similar industrial agricultural technologies on the health of soils, plants, animals, and people. He is praised not just for his answers but for having the courage to ask the questions.
Scientists need not sacrifice their disciplinary integrity to address the larger problems of society and humanity. I am a better economist today than I have ever been. I have a deeper understanding of those principles of economics most relevant to my responsibilities to society and humanity. I also have a better understanding of how economics affects and is affected by the whole of agriculture, society, and humanity. I’m confident Albrecht felt the same about his competence as a soil scientist. All scientists, not just soil scientists, must know at least enough about each others’ disciplines to ask the right questions and to reject the wrong answers.
I spent the second half of my 30-year academic career and my time since retirement on a new post-industrial paradigm of philosophy of agriculture. I am trying to help thousands of farmers, and their food customers, all across the nation who are already confronting the larger problems of society and humanity. They are also finding solutions, but with very little help from their governments or their universities. The agricultural institutions are still promoting agricultural industrialization. These farmers may call themselves organic, ecological, biodynamic, holistic, practical, or just traditional family farmers, but they are all balancing the ecological, social, and economic concerns in the pursuit of agricultural sustainability. These farmers understand the health and sustainability of their farms ultimately depends on the health of their soil.
At least six major “sustainable agriculture” conferences in the U.S. draw from 1,500 to 3,000 of these new farmers and their customers annually. The Upper Midwest Organic Growers conference in La Crosse, WI drew more than 3,000 this winter. The combined total of natural, organic, and local foods still makes up less than 10% of America’s food, but it is the fastest growing segment of the food market.[31] Major retail surveys indicate about one-third of Americans are looking for foods fundamentally different from the foods they find in supermarkets and fast food restaurants today, and they are willing to pay premium prices to get what they want.[32] These people are not just niche marketers, hobby farmers, or elitist consumers. Together, they are creating the new American food system. They need, deserve, and have every right to expect the help of scientists in their public universities.
If we are to restore the physical and economic health of our nation, agricultural scientists must embrace the vision and courage of William Albrecht. To meet the challenges confronting today’s society and the future of humanity, scientists must have the vision to rethink their science, perhaps even redefine their disciplines. To ask the right questions and find the right answers, scientists must find the courage to venture beyond their narrow academic fields of study. This challenge is important to all agricultural scientists, but particularly to soil scientists. The health of our nation may be impossible to restore without restoring the health of our soils. Healthy soils and healthy people; this would be greatest legacy of William Albrecht.
[i] Prepared for presentation at The William A. Albrecht Lecture, Memorial Union, University of Missouri, Columbia MO, April 25, 2011.
[ii] John Ikerd is Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO – USA; Author of, Sustainable Capitalism, http://www.kpbooks.com , A Return to Common Sense, http://amazon.com , Small Farms are Real Farms, Acres USA , http://www.acresusa.com , Crisis and Opportunity: Sustainability in American Agriculture, University of Nebraska Press http://nebraskapress.unl.edu; and A Revolution of the Middle and the Pursuit of Happiness, on line at http://sites.google.com/site/revolutionofthemiddle/ .
Email: JEIkerd@centurytel.net; Website: http://web.missouri.edu/~ikerdj/ or http://www.johnikerd.com.
[1] William A. Albrecht, Soils and Men, Yearbook of Agriculture (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture,1938), 347-360.
[2] Albrecht, Annals of Dentistry, “Our Teeth and Our Soil,” Vol. 8, No. 4, December, 1947.
[3] Quoted in T. J. Clark, Soil Depletion, http://www.tjclark.co.nz/jurassic_soil.htm (accessed April, 2011).
[4] Albrecht, Soil Fertility and Animal Health, Chapter XIII, “Impoverished Soils, Poor Animal Health, and Distorted
Economics for Agriculture” (Webster City, IA: Fred Hahne Printing Company, 1958).
[5] Albrecht Balanced Soil Fertility–Better Start of Life, In Let’s Live Magazine, December 1966.
[6] Albrecht, Plant, Animal, and Human Health Vary with Soil Nutrition, Modern Nutrition, Vol. 19, February 1966.
[7] Albrecht, Protein deficiencies… Through soil deficiencies, Let’s Live Magazine, Dec. 1952.
[8] Michael Astera, The Ideal Soil, A Handbook for New Agriculture, Chapter 1, “New Agriculture; What it and what it is not,” http://www.soilminerals.com/TIS_Ch1.htm .
[9] Albrecht, The Albrecht Papers, (Several volumes of Albrecht’s most significant papers), edited by Charles Walters (Austin TX: Acres USA), first published in the 1970s and reprinted to meet continuing demand.
[10] Andre Voisin, Soil, Grass, and Cancer (London; Crosby Lockwood & Son Ltd., 1959), pp 24-27.
[11] National Center for Health Statistics. “Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity and Extreme Obesity among
Adults: United States, Trends 1960-62 through 2005-2006.” NCHS E-Stats, December 2008.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/overweight/overweight_adult.htm .
[12] Ogden CL, Carroll MD, and Flegal KM. “High Body Mass Index for Age among U.S. Children and Adolescents,
2003-2006.” Journal of the American Medical Association, 299(20): 2401-2405, 2008.
[13] Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, F As In Fat; How Obesity Threatens America’s Future, http://www.pbhfoundation.org/pbh_direct_new/jul09_2010/Obesity2010Report.pdf .
[14] Cost Of Treatment For Obesity-Related Medical Problems Growing Dramatically, Rand Corporation, Http://Www.Rand.Org/News/Press.04/03.09.Html .
[15] Center for Medical and Health Services, NHE Fact Sheet, https://www.cms.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/25_NHE_Fact_Sheet.asp .
[16] Pam Belluck, “Children’s Life Expectancy Being Cut Short by Obesity,” New York Times, March 17, 2005.
[17] M.F. Fuller, The Encyclopedia of Farm Animal Nutrition, CABI Publishing, Cambridge, MA., 100.
[18] USDA, Major Trends in U.S. Food Supply – 1909-1999, A Century of Change in America’s Eating Habits, Economic Research Service, http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/foodreview/jan2000/frjan2000b.pdf
[19] Donald Davis, Melvin Epp, and Hugh Riordan, 2004,“Changes in USDA Food Composition Data for 43 Garden Crops, 1950 to 1999” Journal of American College of Nutrition, 23:669-682.
[20] Charles Benbrook, Xin Zhao, Jaime Yáñez, Neal Davies and Preston Andrews, State of Science Review: Nutritional Superiority of Organic Foods, The Organic Center, March 2008. http://www.organic-center.org/reportfiles/5367_Nutrient_Content_SSR_FINAL_V2.pdf
[21] USDA, Major trends in U.S. Food, http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/foodreview/jan2000/frjan2000b.pdf
[22] Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal (New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2001).
[23] Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (New York: Penguin Press, 2006).
[24] WM Jarrell and RB Beverly, 1981, “The Dilution Effect in Plant Nutrient Studies,” Advances in Agronomy, 34:197–224.
[25] Brian Haweil, Still No Free Lunch: Nutrient Levels in U.S. Food Supply Eroded by High Yields, The Organic Center, September 2007, http://www.organic-center.org/reportfiles/Yield_Nutrient_Density_Final.pdf .
[26] Y.C. Klimentidis, et al., “Canaries in the coal mine: a cross-species analysis of the plurality of obesity epidemics,” Proceedings of the Royal Society B, December 19, 2010
[27] Carrie Arnold, “Animals are Getting Fatter Too,” The Scientist- F1000, 2010, http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/57821/
[28] USDA Major Trends in U.S. Food, http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/foodreview/jan2000/frjan2000b.pdf
[29] The 20th Century Transformation of U.S. Agriculture and Farm Policy, USDA, Economic Research Service, www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib3/eib3.htm .
[30] Food Research and Action Center, Food Hardship in America – 2010. http://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/food_hardship_report_mar2011.pdf
[31] Packaged Facts, “Local and Fresh Foods in the U.S.,” May 1, 2007. http://www.packagedfacts.com/Local-Fresh-Foods-1421831/
[32] Allison Wortington, “Sustainability, the Rise of Consumer Responsibility,” The Hartman Report, Hartman Group, Bellevue, WA, Spring, 2009.
McCarrison’s Rats – A Sikh Diet v a 1930s English Diet – health impact – aggression to the point of canabalism.
Falling diabetes rates in WWI and WWII
National Health and Nutrition – Aspirations past and present – “Building an ‘A1’ Nation”.
Dental Decay and Diet – Caries; rate reduction and repair – Knowledge from the 1920 and 30s – Importance ofVitamin D
Iodine Deficiency a serious issue
Lost Wisdom Land degredation W. C. Lowdermilk et Al.
Mental Disorders – Origin and Costs
Over-processing
Michael Holick
About McCarrison Society
The McCarrison Society was founded in 1966 by a group of doctors and dentists who were united in their belief, based on science, that whole fresh food is vital for good health, and that Western food, with its degradation of quality though; depletion of soils, plant breeding generally and industrialisation of livestock production without consideration of nutrient value, excessive processing, imbalances, heavily refined products including of fats and sugars, deficiencies, chemical additives and contaminants, are major causes of Western disease.
Contact McCarrison Society
483 Green Lane, London, United Kingdom N13 4BS
rab5155@gmail.com
© Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved by McCarrison Society.
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Tag Archives: Lucy Atkins
The Other Child (2015), by Lucy Atkins
Your fantasies of domestic and marital perfection rest on the flimsiest of foundations, subject to destruction at any moment by madness, deceit, revenge, and the emergence of hidden pasts. This is the narrative burden of The Other Child, by Lucy Atkins, or at least part of it. I was prompted to read it partly because Lucy chaired the discussion I took part in at the Oxford Literary Festival last year, and made the whole thing effortless and pleasurable when I’d been unconfident and anxious about it; and partly because I’ve been interested lately in reading works in a tradition of popular genres. The novel’s online blurb categorises it as ‘psychological thriller’, which seems as accurate a label as one can hope for, given the difficult of categorising any literary work. It’s a novel about relationships too, so there’s an element of romantic fiction to it as well.
The Other Child concerns Tess, a photographer, and her new husband, an American surgeon called Greg, and their move from England to a new house and a new life in America. Tess has a school-age son, Joe, from a previous relationship, and, as we begin the novel, she is expecting another child. Elements of the plot feel familiar from films: the perfect middle-class couple who move to a comfortable home but find things starting to unravel. At first there’s a faint element of Gothic to it: Tess and Joe move into the new home before Greg, as he is busy with work, and the unfamiliarity of the new home is evoked powerfully. Someone phones mysteriously but never speaks; Tess isn’t sure if someone is letting themself into the house and moving things around, and she doesn’t altogether trust their immediate neighbours. Unheimlich, but it’s not a haunted-house mystery.
Greg is a paediatric heart surgeon who has been offered a dream contract in Boston, Massachusetts. I was concerned at his being given this professional role, which seemed the stuff of Mills and Boon (no-one ever swooned over a brilliant gerontologist, did they? and still less a proctologist), but Atkins avoids the sentimentality that might come with it: above all, the job means that Greg travels often, and comes home exhausted and can use his tiredness to avoid the difficult questions that begin to arise in his relationship with Tess; it also seems to inform his reluctance to have children, and his ambivalence about the child that’s on the way. Greg has a secret in his past, or indeed several secrets, that he’s reluctant to talk about; Tess’s need to reach the truth is what drives the plot. As I don’t want to give too much away, I shall remain reticent about them myself. The secret-in-the-past is a very familiar plot, and the particular form of Greg’s secret has well-known precedents in fiction and film; but Atkins handles it so that his secret comes across as personally his, and not one bestowed upon him by the genre; and, however far-fetched it might seem in real life, it seems entirely plausible in the world of the novel. It’s plausible in part because it’s emotionally powerful: it embodies truths about what we have to do to survive difficult circumstances and events, and truths about self-transformation and what it necessitates doing to your past.
Tess’s pregnancy is at the centre of the novel. It gives the narrative a very strong sense of the relentless movement of time, and a strong sense of the stakes involved in the relationship. And — although biologically I’m really not qualified to make this claim — it’s brilliant at evoking the feeling of carrying a child, its constant movements and readjustments. Atkins at time hints that the unborn child is responding to the increasing emotional turbulence around it, but at other times equally suggests that the child is in its own world and moving according to its own unfathomable logic. Towards the end of the novel, when it has been born, and when Tess needs to drive through the snow to ensure Joe’s safety, there’s a curious moment when the calm temporality of baby feeding intersects with the urgent temporality of the thriller. Atkins manages this without making either seem out of place. Tess’s pregnancy and the new-born baby keep the novel grounded. And although the novel is often filmic, its descriptions of pregnancy would be very hard ever to convey adequately on screen: written narrative can convey bodily feeling so much more immediately. Though the novel plays on our fears about the precariousness of our comfortable lives, there’s also a more optimistic side, and it’s connected to the pregnancy and the new child: there’s an authenticity in intimacy that can survive disasters; the glimpses of love seen in someone deceitful might be worth holding on to.
(NOTE: When I was about half-way through the novel, I came across a 2014 article by Lucy Atkins in the Guardian about the family history that lies behind the novel, and its predecessor The Missing One; it’s a powerful piece of writing in itself (here it is), but I’d suggest leaving it until after you’ve finished The Other Child.)
This entry was posted in Books and tagged fiction, Lucy Atkins, The Other Child on 22/04/2016 by michaelwhitworth.
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Tag Archives: Notes and Queries
Serendipity and literary research
The current official discourse surrounding scholarly research in the humanities is that it’s rationally controlled and highly focused: from the outset you define your research question, your research methods, your research context; and then you set about doing your work. There’s no room for chance or inspiration. I would agree that it’s crucial that we have some idea of what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and why. But the controlled and directed process of official discourse isn’t always the entire story. Sometimes more unexpected elements come in.
Notes and Queries have just published a short note by me, ‘Wordsworth’s 1802 “Preface” to the Lyrical Ballads and 1 Corinthians 15.53.’ It’s unlikely to change the face of Wordsworth scholarship, but here’s the core discovery. In the 1802 version of the Preface, William Wordsworth wonders about science becoming available to poetry:
If the time should ever come when what is now called Science, thus familiarized to men, shall be ready to put on, as it were, a form of flesh and blood, the Poet will lend his divine spirit to aid the transfiguration, and will welcome the Being thus produced, as a dear and genuine inmate of the household of man.
The passage in which this quotation appears became, by the early twentieth-century, a standard point of reference in discussions about the relation of science and poetry, and so although I don’t usually research on or teach Romantic-era writing, it’s long been familiar to me. What I realised is that there’s a faint echo of a passage from the Bible. In spite of the efforts of the Church of England primary school I attended in the 1970s, I’m not deeply familiar with the Bible. So how did I make the connection?
In January 2015, my partner and I decided it would be fun to start reading the same novel simultaneously, so that we could discuss it as we went. We chose Michel Faber’s The Book of Strange New Things. The reading-in-sync project worked out fairly badly, as she’s either a faster reader than me, or she’s better at fitting reading into odd minutes of the day, or both; but I enjoyed Faber’s novel, read mostly on my Kindle or my phone late at night, and it led to my note on Wordsworth. Faber’s novel is science fiction, of a sort, about Peter, a recovering drug addict who has become an evangelical Christian, who travels to a distant planet to spread the word to a race of hooded, not-quite-human things, the Oasans. The title of Faber’s novel is also their name for the Bible. At one point, speaking to the converted Oasans, Peter finds himself discussing what will happen to his body after his death. One of the Oasans insists that Peter’s body will not die, and Peter uses a passage from 1 Corinthians to argue against them:
‘So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption‘, he recited, ‘and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’
This brought to mind the passage from Wordsworth in several respects, and made me wonder whether the ‘put on’ was an echo from Corinthians; and whether the ‘as it were’ was a way of hinting that this was a metaphor, and a metaphor about which Wordsworth wasn’t entirely sure. It’s not just the ‘put on’: there’s the implication of a contrast between body and spirit as well, though Wordsworth’s use reverses some elements.
At this point it was possible to construct something more like the approved research model: I had a question (what is the relation of 1 Corinthians 53-54 to Wordsworth’s Preface?); I had a context (what has been said before about that passage in the 1802 Preface, and what has been said about Wordsworth’s knowledge of the Bible and Corinthians in particular?), and, as I decided early on that I only wanted to write a factual note, I had a method (stick to the facts). But my larger point is that these kinds of textual echo are often discovered accidentally, and sometimes are discovered in out-of-hours reading. It’s possible to improve one’s chances of finding a writer’s sources, above all by producing a list of their known reading and working one’s way through it; I’ve done something like this in annotating Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day and in pursuing Hugh MacDiarmid’s sources. But when you have texts accessible to memory (if not exactly memorised), then serendipity can should not be ruled out; and that means there’s a justification for activities that go beyond rational planning.
Beyond happening across relevant information, there’s another aspect of serendipity that might be beneficial. It struck me, writing the note, that many people with greater familiarity with the Bible must have read the passage in Wordsworth’s Preface and been in a position to note the similarity, and yet never did so. Why not? Possibly it’s because ‘put on’, even in such a relevant context, seemed too slight a similarity; but I wonder if they didn’t have the excitement of the unexpected discovery. Irrational though it is, the excitement provides an impetus to record the discovery.
[My Notes and Queries article is linked here, but I suspect the link will work only if you or your institution have a subscription.]
This entry was posted in Higher Education and tagged Corinthians, Literature and Science, Lyrical Ballads, Michel Faber, Notes and Queries, research, The Book of Strange New Things, Wordsworth on 15/04/2016 by michaelwhitworth.
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Reds Miriam Day 2020-01-15T15:40:08+00:00
A century after women’s football was banned, Lewes FC became the first club on the planet to pay its women players the same as its men. Promoted to the second division as a reward, the women’s team were pitched against some of the biggest clubs in football. With intimate access, real-time drama and a cast of lively characters, Reds follows key players through a dramatic season and documents a moment of transformation for the World Game, its women players, and their unorthodox feminine world.
Reds is a feature length documentary, currently in post-production.
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Shakira Defends Super Bowl Gig: 'Latinos Have Been Through So Much In Trump's America!!'
Tiffany Brockworth
Shakira has spoken out in defense of her upcoming Super Bowl gig, stating that the Latin community has "been through so much" in "Trump's America."
The NFL, over the last two years, has faced much public scrutiny in particular from members of the black community. Members of the Black community have called for boycotts against the NFL over its treatment of Colin Kaepernick, the Black quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers who kneeled during the national anthem to protest racism in America.
After Jay-Z's partnership with the NFL - many continued their criticism of the league. Hip hop artists slammed the league for not asking Florida artists (mostly Black artists) to perform at the Super Bowl, even though it will take place in Miami.
Instead, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez were announced as headliners for the Half-time show.
"Well, you know, I think it's the right thing to do for the Latino community because we've also been through so much in Trump's America, with walls being built and …" she told The Guardian. "It's an opportunity to celebrate our culture, you know?"
She added that "Latinos are our people ... They come seeking an opportunity to build a better life for themselves and for their children, which is what the U.S. has always prided itself on representing: opportunities."
Super BowlShakira
Contact me at tiffany@mediatakeout.com
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A ‘Proud Family’ Revival Is Coming To Disney Plus
While Lizzie McGuire might not be coming back any time soon, another 2001 Disney sitcom is getting a new life at Disney+: The Proud Family. Disney+ announced today that it will be reviving Bruce W. Smith’s animated family comedy under the name The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. Both Smith and original executive producer Ralph Farquhar will be helming the series, along with Calvin Brown Jr. as co-executive producer and story editor. Said Smith and Farquhar in a joint statement: “In our minds, the show never really went away, as we still had tons of stories left to tell. It’s the perfect time to bring back this show, and we can’t wait to take fans, old and new alike, on this journey with us.”
It’s been just over 14 years since we’ve caught up with the Proud family, and it seems as if the show will pick up right where it left off. Centered around its teenage protagonist Penny Proud, Louder and Prouder will bring back many of the show’s original characters, including Penny’s parents Oscar and Trudy, siblings BeBe and CeCe, and grandmother Suga Mama. Many of The Proud Family’s original voice actors, including Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker, and Jo Marie Payton, will be reprising their roles as the madcap members of the titular family.
“The genius of the original Proud Family series was that, under the guise of a family comedy, it provided a brilliant social commentary on our life and times,” said Disney Channels Worldwide president Gary Marsh. “With this new series, Bruce and Ralph will once again challenge everyone to think differently about the world we share.”
All previous episodes of The Proud Family are available to watch on Disney+.
Gallery — The Best Animated Shorts on Disney+ Right Now:
Source: A ‘Proud Family’ Revival Is Coming To Disney Plus
Filed Under: Disney, Disney Plus
Categories: What's New
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Is Turkey gearing up for military move against Syrian Kurds?
NAT 26th November 2020
A fresh Turkish military buildup is underway in the northern Syrian region of Ain Issa, north of Raqqa, around the key M-4 highway, raising the specter of another Turkish thrust to curb the Syrian Kurds.
Military vehicles, heavy weaponry, radars and remote surveillance equipment have been stationed in areas that form the line of contact with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). According to Kurdish sources, the Turkish military and allied rebel groups have set up military posts at the village of Saida, north of Ain Issa, as well as around Tell Tamer and Zirkan. In early November, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Turkish forces had been stationed also at Kaffifa, Ain Rummana, Tina and Al-Rabea, all near the M-4 highway.
Mervan Rojava, the head of the media office of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF, told Al-Monitor that Turkish forces had set up a watchtower with surveillance cameras and snipers at Saida, a deserted village just north of M4. Rojava recalled that the M4 had effectively become a separation line between Turkish forces and the SDF after Turkey seized control of the border stretch from Tell Abyad to Ras al-Ain in Operation Peace Spring in October 2019. “The Turkish military has been setting up military bases and digging trenches along the separation strip at sites just several hundred meters from the highway,” he said.
After Operation Peace Spring, the grain silos in the village of Shergirak near Ain Issa became the largest Turkish base in the vicinity of M4. Another camp area is located near the village of Misherfa, not far from Tell Tamer. Turkey has been reinforcing both bases as well as new sites, according to Syria-based Kurdish journalist Nazim Dastan. Trenches, canals and tunnels are reportedly being dug near Medrut, not far from Tell Abyad, Zirkan and the Hoshan and Khalidiya villages along the M4.
Referring to Saida, which has been a sort of a buffer zone between the two sides, Dastan said, “Turkish officials met with the Russians a while ago, asking to set up a military base at Saida. The response of the Russians was negative. This was followed by an intensive assault, which the SDF repelled. Then they began to dig trenches and tunnels and erect a watchtower. They are now using the site to monitor the M4 and Ain Issa.”
According to Rojava, Turkey has simultaneously stepped up shelling of villages around Ain Issa and Tell Abyad. The vicinity of Shergirak has become a “true nightmare” for locals, he said, adding that civilian convoys were coming under attack on the M4, even though they are supposed to be under Russian protection under Turkish-Russian accords. He said “the road has become synonymous with looting, abductions and intimidation” by rebel militias aligned with Turkey.
Is the Turkish military activity in the area a prelude to a new phase in Operation Peace Spring?
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the prospect of a fresh operation several times in October as the United States was busy with presidential elections. For Ankara, the US partnership with the YPG amounts to support for the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the armed group that has fought Ankara for nearly four decades. Turkey sees the YPG as an extension of the PKK and considers both terrorist groups. “There are still terrorist areas in Syria. Either they are cleansed as we have been promised or we’ll go and do it ourselves,” Erdogan warned Oct. 3. In another warning Oct. 24, he said, “Efforts are underway to establish a terrorist state there. Turkey will never allow the creation of such a state along its borders. We’ll do what it takes to drain the terrorist swamp.” Four days later, he asserted that Turkey had “a legitimate reason to intervene at any moment” if “all terrorists are not removed … as we have been promised.”
Turkey appeared to mull an attempt to make further gains on the ground while President Donald Trump, whose abrupt decisions have often given Erdogan opportunities to act, was preoccupied with the election. Trump’s defeat seems to have somewhat altered Ankara’s calculus. Erdogan’s warnings have ceased since Joe Biden’s victory was assured, but Turkey’s military activity on the ground has accelerated.
The prospect of Turkey taking advantage of the transition hubbub in Washington to expand Operation Peace Spring cannot be ruled out yet, despite signs of adjustment to the new reality in Washington. Ankara’s avowed enmity to the de facto Kurdish self-rule in northern Syria remains unchanged. Since scrapping the settlement process with the Kurds at home in 2015, Erdogan has invested great political capital in this policy, including his alliance with Turkey’s nationalists, which helped him install the executive presidency system in 2018.
Though Erdogan’s narrative about crushing the “terrorist corridor” in Syria might continue as long as he relies on nationalist support, Biden’s impact is widely expected to force moderation in Ankara. The Kurds, in particular, expect an easing of tensions with Turkey. “While we cannot say that the chances of Turkey mounting a new military attack against [Kurdish-held areas] are zero, we can say that they have been significantly reduced,” SDF commander Mazlum Kobane told Al-Monitor earlier this month.
Still, the Kurds remain wary. Asked about the prospect of a fresh Turkish offensive, Rojava said, “They are watching for an opportunity to attack northern Syria, even though they know the political climate after the US elections is not in their favor. US and Russian forces, who are the guarantors of the deals [with Turkey], are keeping up their communication with the SDF, but are not preventing Turkey’s acts of occupation. Turkey might try to pursue its agenda [while] its old ally Trump [remains in office], but I don’t think they’ll have the means and guts to do that because the implications could be disastrous.”
Likewise, Dastan believes Turkey has a large-scale offensive in mind even though the political climate has changed to its detriment. “The offensive might not happen immediately, but they are laying the ground for it. They might make a move as soon as an opportunity emerges,” he said.
Since last year, the Kurds have been anxious that Turkey could try to seize the Kobani area to connect the two border stretches it controls on either side of the area. They now fear that Turkey could try to capture Ain Issa first, which would leave Kobani encircled except for a route to Tishreen to the south. Also, there are long-running concerns that Turkey could acquiesce to Russia’s game plan in Idlib in return for concessions to expand Operation Peace Spring against the Kurds.
Russia’s attitude might complicate Turkey’s calculations. Under the Sochi Accord of October 2019, Turkey and Russia have been conducting joint patrols along the eastern and western boundaries of the Operation Peace Spring area, including the periphery of Kobani. Though the arrangement has not stopped Turkey’s attacks, it allows Russia partial control on the ground. Moreover, some significant changes have occurred on the ground since the signing of the accord. The Russians have taken over the base that US forces evacuated in Ain Issa and the Syrian military is now present both on the M4 and at the Turkish border.
Ultimately, the aim of Turkey’s reinforcements could remain limited to increasing its control over the M4. In a report earlier this month, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency highlighted the role of the M4 as a route of oil supplies from Kurdish-held areas to territories controlled by Damascus. “While under US sanctions, the [Syrian] regime continues to obtain oil from the YPG/PKK terrorist organization, the United States’ partner. The oil trade … has totaled 15,000 trucks over the past month. Tankers carrying oil from YPG/PKK-occupied Rmelan have been spotted in [at least] three locations occupied by the organization, including Tell Tamer, Ain Issa and Raqqa,” the report said. Disrupting the oil flow requires control over the M4 and several junctions on the route.
By: Fehim Tastekin
Source: Al Monitor
syrian kurds
turkey-syrian border
turkish intervention in syria
turkish military
turkish-kurdish relations
European rights court slams convictions based on secret witness testimony
Political cracks in Turkish govt. deepen in nationalist’s favor
Syrian Kurds squeezed between Turkish threat, Russian pressure in Ain Issa
PKK under pressure in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region
NAT 19th September 2020
For Syria’s opposition activists, Turkey ‘best of the bad’
Syrian Kurds say Turkish charity dwarfed by stolen produce
NAT 22nd June 2020
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Defence diversification is key to the future of British manufacturing
Work continues on HMS Anson, an Astute-class nuclear submarine. Arms industry workers have skills that will be crucial to reindustrialising Britain
THE Nuclear Education Trust’s (NET) new report examining experiences of defence diversification around the world and their lessons for Britain is extremely welcome.
Jeremy Corbyn has made it clear that a Labour government led by him would make big changes to Britain’s foreign policy.
He has apologised to the people of Iraq for the Blair government’s participation in the illegal invasion of the country in 2003, an unprovoked act of aggression that has led to over a million deaths and, through facilitating the exponential growth of al-Qaida and its Isis offshoot, played a large part in fuelling current warfare across the Middle East and the escalating refugee crisis.
He has stood firm against the absurdity of “humanitarian bombing” when the David Cameron and Theresa May governments in turn decided to lob more explosives onto the Syrian bonfire and, in last year’s election campaign, drew out the ways in which Britain’s endless participation in US-led conflicts has not just spread death and destruction abroad but brought these horrors to our own streets.
The very creation of the post of shadow minister for peace and disarmament, whose occupier Fabian Hamilton welcomed the NET report today, shows the gulf between Labour’s determination to use government to make the world a better place and the Conservatives’ commitment to a future of exploitation and war without end.
An ethical foreign policy would have consequences for the arms industry.
It would involve dropping the cripplingly expensive, useless and dangerous replacement of our Trident nuclear weapons.
This is not currently Labour Party policy, but Corbyn’s decades of support for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Stop the War Coalition indicate that he would certainly take action to make disarmament a reality if the opportunity arises — which Britain is pledged to do anyway by the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
It would also mean halting sales of lethal weaponry to governments that use them for “internal repression or external aggression” such as Saudi Arabia or Israel. Again, Britain is actually obliged to do this already, but successive Conservative and Labour governments have treated these solemn obligations with contempt.
Britain’s arms industry employs tens of thousands of highly skilled workers and the engineering and design expertise they possess is an asset of immense value to us as a country.
Many of these workers regard talk of defence diversification with suspicion, seeing it as window-dressing on a scheme to tear up their industries and leave them out of work.
They can hardly be blamed. The progressive degradation of British manufacturing from the Thatcher era onwards has seen repeated promises of workers being retrained or re-employed in the industries of the future.
These promises have been broken by those same successive governments whose indifference to human rights abroad is matched by their lack of interest in the welfare of workers at home.
Labour’s current leadership is different, since it is committed to a serious industrial strategy that would see state-directed investment in sectors of strategic importance. The skills of our weapons manufacturers will be invaluable in producing green energy, sustainable urban development, transport infrastructure and much more besides.
It’s vital that workers in the industry itself help shape their role in designing the technologies of the future. Not least because their future is hardly secure under present circumstances. As the NET makes clear, the number employed in the arms industry has shrunk dramatically in recent years and is still shrinking.
Hence the importance of Unite’s proposal that the Ministry of Defence and its suppliers be given a statutory duty to look at diversification options and the 2017 TUC Congress’s call for Labour to set up a defence diversification agency.
The NET report is a mine of information on what has and hasn’t worked elsewhere. It should feed into one of the most important projects of the next Labour government.
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REVIEW: The Longest Yard (2005)
The original “Longest Yard” is one of those fun 70s comedies pitched sharply at the angry young-male audience which is today somewhat obscure because it was made in the 70s, when angry young-male films still sported the “harsh” vocabularly and visual sensibility OF angry young-males, and thus is now unable to be replayed into classichood on TBS. You may, or may not, remember that the film starred Burt Reynolds as an imprisoned former NFL star roped into assembling a team of fellow convicts to play an exhibition game against the prison guards.
Reynolds, viewed as he was at that point in his career as an icon of the old-fashioned alpha-manhood which was visibly dying out in the popular culture of the time, was perfectly cast at the time, and the film (while imperfect) struck a certain cynical chord: The prison as a microcosm of an increasingly socially-regimented (what would come to be called “politically correct”) modern society, guards as the ultimate image of The Authorities, and prisoners (embodied by Reynolds) as the rugged American individualist of old, struggling against both to retain manhood and the last semblance of honor.
The remake has Adam Sandler in the Reynolds role, and moves the story to the present where a “rugged iconoclast” like ex-Quarterback Paul Crewe would be even MORE out of place and, thusly, the story should probably be even MORE cynical, bleak and harsh about it’s comedy. Especially considering how much more… “dark” our collective view of prison is after “OZ.” But, then, you knew that wasn’t going to happen: Despite the decidedly R-rated “sophistication” and sensibilities of the average 13 to 18 year-old audience that Sandler caters to, they’re barred from R-rated movies.
Thus, we here have a film set in a prison, with a cast that is collective supposed to range from 30 to about 80 years-old, featuring “prison bitches,” billy-club beatings, and a football game featuring steroid-juiced guards versus a gaggle of psychos, arsonists and thugs… thats been forcibly nuetered down to only the most broad implications of it’s real story and events. In other words: Here’s another “PG-13” comedy that’s really only in theaters as an infomercial for it’s own “UNCUT AND UNRATED!!!!” DVD double-dip six months from now.
Drummed out of the NFL for alleged point-shaving, Crewe is jailed after taking out his frustrations on the expensive car of the haughty society gal who’d claimed him as a trophy husband. The warden, (James Cromwell,) wants him to get the cons together as a test-team against his semi-pro Guard squad. At first he’s just going with the flow, but wouldn’t you know that Crewe finds identity and redemption in turning his motely crew into athletes. And would you be surprised if I told you that, at the height of this redemption, Crewe is suddenly faced with a choice that not only mirrors his past indiscretions but might even enable him to atone for them? Didn’t think so.
The biggest issue here is that the filmmakers seem convinced that EVERY sports film automatically must be eventually uplifting and heroic… and thats against the nature of the material here, which is only partially-heroic but mostly belongs in the realm of angry cynicism: The whole edgy appeal of the prison movie genre, the graying of societal structures and concepts of “good” and “evil” in an entire community of criminals, is swallowed up in a structure that wants to be (the teen-boy comedy version of) sentimental and life-affirming. It just doesn’t fit: You can’t make “Saving Private Ryan” out of “M*A*S*H*”.
This isn’t to say that it’s not funny, it is, but completely forgettably so: There’s nothing here that sticks, not even when things start to get all “serious” in the last act. Most of the time, the film is underrcut by the “mandates” of being “an Adam Sandler film” instead of “a film with Adam Sandler”: Fat jokes, gay jokes, genital-slapstick and the obligatory Rob Schneider “you can do it!” cameo all show up to distract and derail. Reynolds is also here, now aging gracefully and playing a character who must be pushing 70 but still looking more like an NFL player than Sandler can manage to, another BIG flaw.
Not bad, not even awful… but just not much at all, sadly.
About cloning, movies and cloning movies…
REVIEW: Cinderella Man
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