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Cyber Experts Race to Secure Networks Following Broad Cyber Attack on U.S.
Russian hackers who broke into U.S. government agencies also spied on less high-profile organizations, including groups in Britain, a U.S. internet provider and a county government in Arizona, according to web records and a security source.
More details were revealed on Friday of the cyber espionage campaign that has computer network security teams worldwide scrambling to limit the damage as a senior official in the outgoing administration of U.S. President Donald Trump explicitly acknowledged Russia’s role in the hack for the first time.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on the Mark Levin radio show “I think it’s the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity.”
Networking gear maker Cisco Systems Inc. said a limited number of machines in some of its labs had been found with malicious software on them, without saying if anything had been taken. A person familiar with the company’s ongoing probe said fewer than 50 were compromised.
In Britain, a small number of organizations were compromised and not in the public sector, a security source said.
Shares in cyber security companies FireEye Inc., Palo Alto Networks and Crowdstrike Holdings rose on Friday as investors bet that the spate of disclosures from Microsoft Corp. and others would boost demand for security technology.
Reuters identified Cox Communications Inc. and Pima County, Arizona government as victims of the intrusion by running a publicly available coding script from researchers at Moscow-based private cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. The hack hijacked ubiquitous network management software made by SolarWinds Corp. Kaspersky decrypted online web records left behind by the attackers.
The breaches of U.S. government agencies, first revealed by Reuters on Sunday, hit the Department of Homeland Security, the Treasury Department, State Department and Department of Energy. In some cases the breaches involved monitoring emails but it was unclear what hackers did while infiltrating networks, cybersecurity experts said.
Trump has not said anything publicly about the intrusion. He was being briefed “as needed,” White House spokesman Brian Morgenstern told reporters. National security adviser Robert O’Brien was leading interagency meetings daily, if not more often, he said.
“They’re working very hard on mitigation and making sure that our country is secure. We will not get into too many details because we’re just not going to tell our adversaries what we do to combat these things,” Morgenstern said.
No determinations have been made on how to respond or who was responsible, a senior U.S. official said.
SolarWinds, which disclosed its unwitting role at the center of the global hack on Monday, has said that up to 18,000 users of its Orion software downloaded a compromised update containing malicious code planted by the attackers. The attack was believed to be the work of an “outside nation state,” SolarWinds said in a regulatory disclosure.
People familiar with the matter have said the hackers were believed to be working for the Russian government. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations.
On Friday, U.S. Representative Stephen Lynch, head of the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform panel’s national security subcommittee, said the information provided by the Trump administration was “very disappointing.”
“This hack was so big in scope that even our cybersecurity experts don’t have a real sense yet in terms of the breadth of the intrusion itself,” adding that it would take some time to fully vet all the agencies and targets.
The breach appeared to provide President-elect Joe Biden with an immediate headache when he takes office on Jan. 20. His transition team’s executive director Yohannes Abraham told reporters on Friday there would be “substantial costs” and the incoming administration “will reserve the right to respond at a time and in a manner of our choosing, often in close coordination with our allies and partners.”
Microsoft, one of the thousands of companies to receive the malicious update, said it had notified more than 40 customers whose networks were further infiltrated by the hackers.
Around 30 of those customers were in the United States, Microsoft said, with the remaining victims found in Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Spain, Britain, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Most worked with information technology companies, some think tanks and government organizations.
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Blackpool firm to create eight jobs following new supermarket deal
A food manufacturer is expanding and creating jobs with support from a government grant after winning a new contract from Iceland Stores.
Laila’s Fine Foods is a family run firm that produces and supplies a range of eastern and western ready meals to supermarkets such as Asda, Morrisons, Lidl and various foodservice businesses such as Mecca Bingo and the Spirit Group.
The company, which scored a Red Rose Award, recently won a contract to supply five new frozen food lines to Iceland.
To meet the new demand the business is expanding and has purchased new production machinery. Laila’s Fine Foods was able to access a £58,000 grant through Regenerate Pennine Lancashire which contributed towards the full cost of the project. The grant was supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund and approved by Blackpool Council.
The expansion will lead to the creation of at least 8 new jobs at the company, which currently employs 250 people and has an annual turnover of around £18m.
Laila Remtulla, managing director of Laila’s Fine Foods said: “The new Iceland deal means we can take on more staff, and the expansion will also help us bid for additional contracts for future growth. We were able to use the grant from Regenerate to speed up the project so we could start producing new products faster.” Peter Legg, head of economic development at Blackpool Council, said: “Laila’s Fine Foods has demonstrated rapid growth over the last few years and we fully supported their application for Regenerate’s grant. Opening up their production capacity can only increase the firm’s potential to grow and create even more jobs.”
Barnoldswick jobs saved as Rolls-Royce turns attentions to green technology
Rolls-Royce and Unite have struck an agreement which will see a minimum of 350 workers employed at its Barno...
End of an era for Rossendale Physiotherapy
By Viva PR - Jan 14 2021
After 30 years of providing specialist treatment to patients, Rossendale Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries C...
BCN Group acquires Xicon Cloud
By BCN Group - Jan 13 2021
Managed IT, cloud and digital transformation specialist, BCN Group, strengthens cloud offering with third ac...
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Spokane Chiefs' Ty Smith wins WHL Defenseman of the Year award
Smith claimed the award last year too.
Author: Karthik Venkataraman
Published: 10:19 AM PDT May 20, 2020
Updated: 3:05 PM PDT May 20, 2020
SPOKANE, Wash. — The Western Hockey League announced on Wednesday that Spokane Chiefs defenseman Ty Smith won the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy, which is given to the league's best defenseman
“There were a lot of great defensemen in the league this year," Smith said. "There are a lot of good buddies of mine that I know are talented guys, so it’s pretty special to receive that award.”
Smith also earned the recognition last year. He becomes the first WHL defender to do so since Kris Russell in 2006 and 2007 with the Medicine Hat Tigers.
“That’s definitely something that’s pretty cool," Smith said. "Somebody mentioned today it has only been done three other times for someone to win it back to back. It’s obviously something that has been pretty cool and I’m definitely fortunate to have that happen.”
The New Jersey Devils prospect recorded 59 points in 46 games.
Smith had 16 multi-point games throughout the season. The game that stuck out the most was on Feb. 28 against Seattle, when he scored three goals and tacked on five assists to break his own franchise record for single points in a game by a defenseman.
Since he has won this award, he will be one of three finalists for the Canadian Hockey League's Defenseman of the Year Award. Smith was named the recipient of the CHL Defenseman of the Year Award in 2019.
RELATED: Spokane Chiefs forward Adam Beckman wins WHL Bob Clarke Trophy as top scorer
RELATED: Ty Smith: A season, and career, to remember
RELATED: Untold Stories: Cooper Kupp's late night film sessions at EWU
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Local NewsPoliticalElections Local
Nevada's slow election results lead to memes, tensions as nation waits
Thursday marks the fourth day of ballot counting in Clark County. So, what is taking so long? County officials explain the process.
By: Joe Bartels
Posted at 11:56 PM, Nov 05, 2020
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The nation continues to wait for Nevada's election results and some people have used memes as a way to show their angst and frustration.
This comes as demonstrations outside Clark County Election Center in North Las Vegas continued for a second night.
RELATED: Pro-Trump group gathers at Clark County Election Dept. over ballot counting
Hundreds of mostly President Trump's supporters gathered to wave flags, chat and push for election results.
The rising tensions have the attention of election officials.
"I can tell you my wife and my mother are very concerned for me," said Clark County Registrar of Voters Joe Gloria.
"We have security here, we have law enforcement who are protecting us, I am concerned about the safety of my staff," explained Gloria.
13 Investigates has learned as of Thursday, there are approximately 190,000 ballots left to be counted statewide, according to the Nevada Secretary of State's office.
Of those, approximately 160,000 are from Clark County.
Gloria says the ballots have a variety of items that need to be rectified, such as voter identification requirements, missing signatures, provisional ballots and mail-in ballots which are still arriving by mail.
"Our goal here in Clark County is to not count fast, we want to make sure that we are being accurate," explained Gloria.
"The results in Nevada are obviously going to be very important to the rest of the country and that is our number one goal," added Gloria.
The ballots must go through an intense, multi-step process to ensure the integrity of the system.
Gloria says it could be several more days before the counts are complete.
This waiting has led to several memes that have been posted on a variety of social media including Instagram and Twitter.
RELATED: Hilarious Nevada memes flood social media as voters wait for results
"I think it's a product of this generation, you're seeing more and more young people engaged in the voting process in the political process and they grew up with technology and memes are very common and popular with young groups," said Natalie Pennington, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Thursday, Gloria says there have been no official reports of voter fraud.
More election results are expected to be released around 9 a.m. Friday, with the bulk of mail-in ballots potentially counted by Sunday.
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Supporters Want Lake Powell Pipeline Application Extended Again
KUER 90.1 | By Judy Fahys
Published October 11, 2017 at 12:29 PM MDT
Judy Fahys / KUER
The Lake Powell Pipeline would serve fast-growing southwestern Utah, including St. George (shown here). Critics say the billion-dollar-plus project would cost too much, and it could be avoided with water conservation.
The state agency behind the Lake Powell Pipeline proposal is asking for more time to provide key information to federal regulators.
The Utah Division of Water Resources says its water-use data won’t be ready until early next year. It’s also told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that it needs two more weeks to show how it plans to cover the pipeline's billion-dollar-plus cost.
Critics say the pipeline’s cost has been understated and southeastern Utah’s need for the water is overstated.
The state’s been planning the pipeline for over a decade.
Health, Science & EnvironmentLake Powell Pipeline
Judy Fahys
Judy Fahys has reported in Utah for two decades, covering politics, government and business before taking on environmental issues. She loves covering Utah, where petroleum-pipeline spills, the nation’s radioactive legacy and other types of pollution provide endless fodder for stories. Previously, she worked for the Salt Lake Tribune in Utah, and reported on the nation’s capital for States News Service and the Scripps League newspaper chain. She is a longtime member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors. She also spent an academic year as a research fellow in the Knight Science Journalism program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In her spare time, she enjoys being out in the environment, especially hiking, gardening and watercolor painting.
See stories by Judy Fahys
State Leaders Ask Trump Administration To Fast-Track Controversial Water Pipeline
Utah's Uncertain Water Future
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Lawsuit Alleges School Should Have Stopped Abuse
Sara E. Teller — January 18, 2017
Image Courtesy of WCYB
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The family of abuse victim is convinced school personnel should have instituted a better screening process for its employees.
Bobby Gobble, a janitor at Lebanon Elementary School in Lebanon, Virginia, plead guilty in 2014 to 150 counts of aggravated sexual battery, carnal knowledge and sodomy in connection with the abuse of four boys, two of which were students at the elementary school. He is currently serving 70 years in state prison. Gobble had actually convinced the parents of one of the boys, a third grader, to move the child in with him during the reign of abuse. Most of the acts occurred in the school and in Gobble’s home, where he slept in he same room as the victim who resided with him.
The family of this particular victim is convinced school personnel should have instituted a better screening process for its employees, and they believe the district could have better protected the child, who remains anonymous in court documents. A $10 million federal lawsuit primarily focused on “John Doe” has been filed against the Russell County School Board alleging that school employees were not well positioned to prevent Gobble from abusing children or to spot signs that the victims were being mistreated. Furthermore, the family and the boy’s attorney, Michigan based lawyer Monica Beck, is claiming the school actually turned a blind eye to what was happening, refusing to acknowledge the abuse, claiming the school engaged in purposeful negligence of criminal acts. The suit details multiple instances in which the school allowed Gobble to be with students unsupervised and in isolated areas on the grounds.
Image Courtesy of Lebanon Elementary School
Beck also asserts a teacher had learned Gobble’s marriage failed when his wife became “jealous” of the child, and yet the employee did not see this as a red flag. Instead, the teacher allowed Gobble to continue regularly escorting students to his custodial closet. Another teacher spotted Gobble hiding in the dark with a student behind a pile of boxes, but didn’t report it.
Jim Guynn of Salem, Virginia, is representing the school. He claims there is no evidence the school board or any of the school’s employees had any knowledge of the crimes. He also states that they cannot be held liable because the interactions they observed between Gobble and the boy were legal. Guynn asserts that the boy’s family was unaware of the abuse, and it is, therefore, unreasonable for the school to have had any knowledge of what was happening.
Beck is asserting that Lebanon Elementary violated Title IX by failing to conduct an investigation after allegations were made. Instead, they had relied on an investigation being conducted by the Department of Social Services, and the school’s current principal, Amy Hooker, even denied knowledge of abuse when interviewed by the Department. Yet, she told Gobble at one point the child should not stay after school with him unless he is enrolled in a legitimate after school program, which some may view as passive admittance she believed something inappropriate was happening. The school’s former principal, active at the time of the abuse, also admitted to knowing that Gobble and the boy had an out-of-school relationship, and that Gobble was taking the boy on road trips. He indicates he didn’t question the behavior, because he was unsure of the guardianship status of the child. The case is calling to question fundamental issues regarding what a school should be held liable for in preventing and pursuing claims of sexual assault on school grounds.
A boy was sexually abused in a janitor’s closet. Is the school responsible?
$10M federal lawsuit: “Russell Co. Schools turned ‘blind eye’ to employee sexual misconduct”
About Sara E. Teller
Sara is a credited freelance writer, editor, contributor, and essayist, as well as a novelist and poet with nearly twenty years of experience. A seasoned publishing professional, she's worked for newspapers, magazines and book publishers in content digitization, editorial, acquisitions and intellectual property. Sara has been an invited speaker at a Careers in Publishing & Authorship event at Michigan State University and a Reading and Writing Instructor at Sylvan Learning Center. She has an MBA degree with a concentration in Marketing and is currently pursuing an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, concentrating in Substance Abuse and Addictions. She has maintained a 4.2/4.0 GPA, and is a member of Chi Sigma Iota and a 2020 recipient of the Donald D. Davis scholarship recognizing social responsibility. Sara is also certified in children's book writing, HTML coding and social media marketing. Her fifth book, PTSD: Healing from the Inside Out, was released in September 2019 and is available on Amazon. You can find her others books there, too, including Narcissistic Abuse: A Survival Guide, released in December 2017. For more information and to subscribe to her weekly newsletter, please visit sarateller.com.
Read more articles by Sara E. Teller
The TPP Is Out, But What About a U.S.-Japanese Free Trade Agreement?Tort Reform, Externalities, and Balance
abuseAmy HookerassaultboardBobby GobbleboychildchildrencourtcrimecriminalDepartment of Social ServicesemployeeemployerinvestigationjanitorJim GuynnJohn DoelawsuitLebanonmillionmisconductMonica Beckprincipalschoolsexual abusestudentsuitTitle IXVirginia
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Season Tickets are on Capital One
This season is on Capital One. Leyton Orient fans have the chance to win a pair of 2015-16 season tickets thanks to League Cup sponsors Capital One.
The prize will allow the winner and a friend to attend our home league games at the Matchroom Stadium in the 2015/16 season.
Jason Carr, Head of Sponsorship at Capital One, the Official Credit Card of The Football League, said: “Football fans are the heart and soul of the game and we wanted to give them the opportunity to show their support week in, week out with a pair of season tickets at each of the 72 Football League clubs available.”
To be in with a chance of winning, visit the Capital One UK Facebook page and fill out the form to enter.
The promotion closes on the 12th August. T&Cs apply.
Make sure to keep up to date with other promotions through the Capital One UK Facebook and Twitter accounts.
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INTERVIEW: Embleton - 'It is great to be a part of this Football Club once again'
Having worked for the O’s between 2000 and 2009, Embleton was announced as Assistant Coach on Saturday and revealed his delight at being back in E10.
“It feels like it has been a long time that I have been away, but it is great to be a part of this Football Club once again,” explained Embleton.
“It’s been a relatively long period that I’ve been away, but hopefully the time I have spent elsewhere has helped me develop enough to come back and put all of those experiences to good use.
“Everybody is fully aware of how the takeover came together, and like every supporter I was reading little snippets here and there.
“It was interesting to hear that somebody was potentially coming in to save the Club, and the closer the takeover became likely I started to realise that there could then be an opportunity to maybe return.”
Having most recently worked as first team coach at Swindon Town, the 35-year-old is looking to make the most of his 18-months with the Robins now back with a familiar face in Director of Football Martin Ling.
“Martin took me to Swindon as part of his backroom staff, and it is good to be working with him once again.
“Last year was a very difficult season and period for myself with Swindon suffering relegation from League One, and as a Club they were also experiencing tough times.
“I learnt a huge amount from being in that environment, and I am now very keen to get back into the flow of things and use those skills hopefully in a positive frame this time.
“We are all waiting to see who will be appointed as First Team Coach, but I am very much looking forward to it and working with the players,” he added.
“That is where I enjoy my job most and feel where I am best. When the appointment is made, I will then look to develop an understanding with that person to see how we can come up with the most effective way to work together and meet our target of going out and winning games every week.”
Yesterday (Monday) saw Embleton meet the players for the first time as they reported back for pre-season training, and the 35-year-old revealed he was pleased with the results from the early tests before finishing by expressing his excitement at working with the squad.
“All players returned fit and well other than Sam Dalby who has, what we hope will prove to be a minor injury that will not keep him out of training for too long, and took part in a number of physical tests to gauge their level of fitness and gather the relevant data to show what level they are currently at.
“The yoyo running test results were very positive with a number of outstanding performers that have clearly worked hard during their summer break,” explained Embleton.
“After lunch everyone took part in some additional work with the sports science coaches before we finally got the balls out and the players got to work technically and in some possession related practices.
“The general level of fitness and physical standard of the players is good, so now is the key period for us to work with them in this area in order to ensure that they continue to progress for a long season ahead.
“I have spent a lot of last few days watching the young players here at the Club, and know a hell of a lot about a number of them because of the opportunities they had in the first team last season.
“I have heard lots of different opinions about each individual, but have made the most of the opportunity to sit down and watch the games that they were involved in to understand exactly what type of player they are, what their strengths are and where we can help them develop.
“What we have to remember is that they are still very young and although we want them to be successful, we need to be mindful of the fact that they still need help to develop.
“To have the opportunity to work with experienced professionals that we are bringing in to help them develop and strengthen the dressing room is also something I am really excited about.
“Someone like David Mooney doesn’t need too much talking about in these surroundings but he has enjoyed a very good career, had a brilliant time here previously and hopefully we can hit the ground running this time around.
“On top of that, we have also been able to add experienced players in Joe Widdowson, Charlie Lee and Jake Caprice over the past few days, and they are all individuals that am I looking forward to working with going forward.”
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Photographs by Carol Mac Photography
MANDY WOODS
In recent years, Mandy Woods has been involved in a variety of projects both as a writer of books and as a songwriter.
A passionate animal lover, she worked with C.A.R.I.A.D., the Welsh-based campaign to end the cruel practice of puppy farming, to write 'Cariad at Christmas Time' to discourage people from buying puppies at Christmas. As Wags Lyrical, Mandy also writes songs about her own beloved dogs, and for any animal lovers who care to commission her to write about their furry darlings.
Mandy has visited Nashville a number of times, and co-wrote several songs with Nashville-based singer songwriter Terri Calderon, including 'You Just Need One'. She is a writer with the Merf Music Group, and through them regularly pitches songs to major country artists.
She has worked as a lyricist with singer songwriter, tribute artist and public speaker Shola Kaye, and the pair together came up with the pop song 'Just a Kiss Away'.
As an author, Mandy was commissioned to write the second edition of Wonder Dogs, true stories of canine courage, for Summersdale Publishers, and she has also ghostwritten for LifeBook.
She is always interested in new collaboration projects and can be contacted at woods.mandy@hotmail.co.uk.
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SFI Europe and AbbVie announce €10m investment
Mars UK to introduce new £350 million sustainable logistics operation Spread the loveMars UK has announced a multi-year partnership with logistics leader DHL. The landmark project will see the construction of two state-of-the-art warehousing facilities and the creation of a...
CMA breaks up motor parts merger Spread the loveThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will require TVS Europe Distribution to sell 3G in order to protect competition in the commercial vehicle and trailer parts sector. Following...
CCPC Publishes 2020 Annual Merger and Acquisitions Statistics Spread the loveThe Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in Ireland has published its annual merger report including statistics on the number of mergers and acquisitions notified and decided in...
Automation & Robotics/IOT & Industry 4.0 Online 365 Manufacturing & Supply Chain Webinar – January 21st Spread the loveThe Automation & Robotics/IOT & Industry 4.0 Online Webinar will be held on Thursday, January 21st. The event is the latest in the Online 365 Manufacturing & Supply...
Abergavenny Fine Food Co. sells blended cheese business to focus on growth areas Spread the loveWelsh food manufacturer The Abergavenny Fine Food Co. has sold its blended cheese business to Somerdale International, the British cheese exporter. The move will enable The Abergavenny Fine...
Minister for Jobs Mr Richard Bruton has announced a joint investment of €10 million by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) in a partnership with leading international biopharmaceutical company AbbVie to undertake two new therapeutic research collaborations in Ireland.
The collaborations, which will each investigate disease markers and potential targets against which new drugs could be developed for serious illnesses such as Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis, are between AbbVie and researchers at the SFI APC Microbiome Institute in University College Cork (UCC) and at the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute in Trinity College Dublin.
Announcing the investment, at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin Castle Richard Bruton explained the significance of the joint investment by industry and government, “This clearly demonstrates the importance and value of Government supporting high quality researchers in our academic institutes which enables them to partner with multinational companies to undertake research in Ireland. I wish Jim and his team every success and look forward to working with them in the future.”
“I welcome the establishment of these two new research collaborations by AbbVie. AbbVie is a world-leading biopharmaceutical company and this builds on considerable investments made by AbbVie in Ireland earlier this year.”
Jim Sullivan, Vice President, Pharmaceutical Discovery, AbbVie, said“AbbVie has a long history in Ireland and the country has contributed greatly to our global success. We are impressed with the high quality immunology research ongoing across academia in Ireland. Partnering with the leading researchers in autoimmune disease will foster continued innovation in one of our most important therapeutic areas. We hope to unlock the potential for significant advancements for patients with serious autoimmune disease.”
In Cork, AbbVie will collaborate with researchers at the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre, the APC Microbiome Institute in UCC led by Prof Fergus Shanahan on identifying possible new treatments for patients with Crohn’s disease. The research will be supported by an investment of €7.5 million from SFI together with AbbVie over five years and will support 11 new research positions at the APC.
Prof Fergus Shanahan, Director of the APC Microbiome Institute, said, “This AbbVie and APC venture is a wonderful match, blending industry and academe with complementary technology and expertise.”
The second project will involve collaboration with researchers led by Prof Kingston Mills, at the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute in Trinity, working on biomarkers and drug targets for autoimmune and other immune-mediated diseases. This research will be funded by €2.5million from SFI and AbbVie over the next three years and will support four new research positions.
Prof Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, said, “Inflammation is a vital process in fighting infection, however, if uncontrolled, it can contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis. This collaborative research project with AbbVie, a major biopharmaceutical company, will focus on identifying and building our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that cause inflammation to assist in developing new disease markers and drug targets for the treatment of a range of inflammatory diseases.”
Commenting on the announcement, Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland said, “Autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s are common and debilitating. To develop new treatments we need to better understand the underlying mechanisms which is the focus of these research collaborations. By partnering our leading researchers with those in a major pharmaceutical company like AbbVie we can hopefully accelerate the discovery of new knowledge which will lead to improved treatments and outcomes for patients.”
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The Cloud in Your Organization – Survey Results, Part 1
By Jeff Flanagan | August 7, 2013
When we were planning for the general availability launch of our Markley Cloud Services solution earlier in the year, we wanted to get a handle on what IT managers felt about cloud computing – what they were using, what they were staying away from and everything in between. We never made the results of this survey public – until now.
As we were thinking of what would make a good blog post, we decided to take a look back at this late 2012/early 2013 look at cloud trends – and we saw that there was indeed some good information that could be shared with you all. We thought this would give folks an idea of what the prevailing thoughts were in relation to cloud computing as 2013 began.
In today’s post, we’ll take a look at the first third of these results, focused around what solutions are currently being used by IT managers at the small and medium-sized businesses and larger enterprises that make up our current customer base.
(1) One of the first things we wanted to know was “what is the emphasis of your cloud strategy – now and three years from now?”
The majority of our respondents (38%) were currently using a private cloud strategy, closely followed by 31% who replied that they were using a mix of public, private and hybrid. 17% said they were using a hybrid strategy now, while only 4% of respondents were using just a private cloud strategy. Given that the term hybrid cloud typically refers to a mix of private and public, we can safely say that today a whopping 48% of respondents are using a hybrid strategy.
We also asked what respondents expected to be using three years from now – and it is clear that those that are currently using a hybrid strategy plan to continue along that path, and that the rest of the respondents plan to start implementing hybrid cloud strategies as well. 41% said they’d be using a mix and another 41% said they’d use hybrid, making 82% of respondents predict that the hybrid cloud would be in use (if it already wasn’t) three years from now. Only 10% expected to be using the private cloud exclusively, and 8% said just that they’d be remaining with their current system (whatever that may be).
The conclusion to be drawn is that in the next few years, IT managers are clearly moving away from strategies that rely only on public cloud or only on private cloud models and are embracing the hybrid approach.
(2) Following that up, we asked “what types of cloud computing technologies is your organization using?”
The responses fell into three buckets – “Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS),” “Platform as a Service (PaaS),” and “Software as a Service (SaaS).” We asked them to identify what they were using today, and what they’d be using three years from now.
We found that, while 38% were using SaaS today, some 45% of respondents were using a mix of IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. Only 14% were solely using IaaS, and 3% were using none of the above. Three years from now, all but a handful of respondents will be using a mix of these technologies (83%), with the most popular mix being all three (52% of that group).
The trend shows that IT managers will be looking for a mix of all three types of solutions at their organizations.
(3) The next question we asked was “what type of virtualization technology is your organization using today?”
62% of respondents said that they are using VMware technology today, while 8% were using Hyper-V and only 3% using XenServer.
24% of those given the survey responded that they were using more than one solution right now – with 57% of that group using a combination of VMware and XenServer, 29% using a combination of VMware and Hyper-V and 14% using all three. 3% said they were using none of the above.
VMware is clearly the big winner here.
The main takeaways from this research is that IT managers have become much more comfortable with the cloud in general – and as a result, are starting to move away from closed-off private cloud models to see the cost savings and performance benefits that hybrid cloud models can bring an organization.
Next week we’ll take a look at hosting the cloud and what our surveyed IT managers felt about that.
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Today in Entertainment: Jamie Foxx announces Hurricane Harvey relief telethon; ‘Simpsons’ fires longtime composer Alf Clausen
Here’s what’s new and interesting in entertainment and the arts:
Newly reopened Angels Flight has long been a popular L.A. shooting location
Jamie Foxx announces telethon for Hurricane Harvey relief
Gwyneth Paltrow admits she’s screwed up plenty of relationships
Longtime ‘Simpsons’ composer Alf Clausen exits the show after 27 years
Firefighter who resuscitated Princess Diana remembers her final moments on 20th anniversary of her death
Instead of statues, Trevor Noah and Roy Wood Jr. have another idea for honoring Confederate history
‘True Detective’ season three, starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, is officially confirmed at HBO
By Sarah Rodman
Mahershala Ali accepting his Oscar for “Moonlight.” The actor will star in the third season of the HBO drama “True Detective”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
During the HBO executive session at the summer edition of the Television Critics Assn. press tour, programming president Casey Bloys confirmed reports that “Moonlight” Oscar winner Mahershala Ali would star in a third season of “True Detective.” Although he was mum at the time on when it might happen, he did say that he had read five scripts and thought they were “terrific.”
Thursday night, the premium pay cabler released a statement officially confirming that the series will indeed return for a third installment.
While no episode count or premiere date was included in the release, an enclosed synopsis stated that the next iteration of the show “tells the story of a macabre crime in the heart of the Ozarks, and a mystery that deepens over decades and plays out in three separate time periods.”
Ali will star as Wayne Hays, a state police detective from northwest Arkansas. (Ali follows in the footsteps of season one stars, and continuing executive producers, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, and season two’s Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn. No word yet on whether he’ll have a partner.)
The show will once again be helmed by creator Nic Pizzolatto, who penned all the episodes of the upcoming series, save the fourth, which he co-wrote with David Milch (“Deadwood,” “NYPD Blue”). He will share directing duties with fellow executive producer Jeremy Saulnier (“Blue Ruin.”)
“I’m tremendously thrilled to be working with artists at the level of Mahershala and Jeremy,” said Pizzolatto in a statement. “I hope the material can do justice to their talents, and we’re all very excited to tell this story.”
Bloys noted that “Nic has written truly remarkable scripts. With his ambitious vision and Mahershala Ali and Jeremy Saulnier aboard, we are excited to embark on the next installment of ‘True Detective.’ ”
By Mark Olsen
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone aboard Angels Flight in “La La Land.”
(Lionsgate)
It’s among the more unusual landmarks in Los Angeles, a short, steep railway that gets people up and down a single hill. So it makes sense that Angels Flight has been featured in many movies and television shows over the years.
Angels Flight resumed regular service Thursday after being closed since 2013 (it did operate for one day of shooting on “La La Land”). It remains to be seen if it starts to appear again in movies and television shows. (Not that it ever really stopped.)
Speaking to The Times at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, “La La Land” star Ryan Gosling reflected on the use of historic locations in the movie.
“This was an opportunity to show an L.A. that’s still there.... You’ve got to squint your eyes a little, but there are still places in L.A. that are still part of the golden years of Los Angeles when Hollywood was in its heyday,” Gosling said.
“I lived around the corner for a long time from Angels Flight and Grand Central Market, although I never got to ride Angels Flight because it had been shut down,” Gosling added. “Those places are still there... these gems that are there, and we were able to shoot them one by one.”
Angels Flight reopened on Thursday.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
The small piece of land next to the top of Angels Flight, known as Angels Knoll, was also prominently featured in “(500) Days of Summer.”
The location has appeared in a wide variety of movies over the years, as early as 1916’s “Good Night, Nurse,” 1918’s “Up She Goes” and 1920’s “All Jazzed Up.” It has also had high-profile cameos in “Act of Violence” (1949), “M” (1951), “Kiss Me Deadly” (1955), “The Exiles” (1961), “The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies” (1963) -- all the way up to to 2011’s “The Muppets” and last year’s “La La Land.”
And on television, Angels Flight has been seen on “Perry Mason,” “Dragnet” and the recent series “Bosch.”
READ MORE: Angels Flight: How it works and what it’s been through in its 100-year history
Jamie Foxx announces telethon for Harvey relief
By Libby Hill
(Andrew Krech / News & Record via Associated Press)
A new stream of celebrity support for victims of Hurricane Harvey opened Wednesday, as Jamie Foxx announced that a telethon fundraiser is in the works.
In an Instagram post where the actor revealed his own donation of $25,000 to GlobalGiving, Foxx also shared preliminary plans for the upcoming benefit.
“From a fellow Texan, my heart goes out. My prayers go out,” Foxx, from Terrell east of Dallas, said. “September 12 we have a telethon that we’re doing. We’ll give you more details, so we can raise as much money as we can for everybody down there.”
Scooter Braun, talent manager and mastermind of One Love Manchester, is helming the event along with rapper and Houston native Bun B.
TMZ reported that Foxx, Reese Witherspoon, Blake Shelton, Hilary Duff and Michael Strahan are all involved with the project, with commitments from the four major broadcast networks to air the special for an hour on Sept. 12.
In an interview with TMZ, Bun B said that fellow Houston natives Beyoncé and Jim Parsons are high on his wish list for the telethon. The outlet also reported that Bun B would only want President Trump’s presence if it was via a show of unity with other former presidents.
Solange also announced Wednesday that she will be holding a benefit show at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre on Sept. 28. Featuring the Sun Ra Arkestra, the performance is titled “Orion’s Rise” and all proceeds will go to Hurricane Harvey relief.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s love life? Yeah, she admits she’s screwed up plenty of relationships
Gwyneth Paltrow opened up about Goop and guys on a recent podcast.
(Owen Kolasinski / BFA.com)
Gwyneth Paltrow takes full responsibility for her romantic failings.
She admitted as much in a recent interview with the podcast Girlboss Radio, during which Paltrow went deep on some of her lost loves.
“Oh, my god, I’ve [screwed] up so many relationships, so many,” Paltrow said. “I’m actually a pretty good friend and a good sister and a daughter and a mother, but I am at my potentially most vulnerable … in the romantic slice of the pie. So it’s taken me a lot of work to get to the place where I have a good romantic relationship.”
Paltrow “consciously uncoupled” from ex-husband Chris Martin in 2014 after 10 years of marriage and has been romantically linked to “American Horror Story” creator Brad Falchuk for the past three years.
On Girlboss Radio, Paltrow sent a shout-out to former beau Brad Pitt, whom she dated from 1994 through 1997, and was at one point engaged to.
“I [screwed] that up, Brad,” Paltrow said.
Paltrow also delved into her experiences as founder and CEO of her lifestyle brand Goop, sharing that once she’s in the boardroom with investors, no one cares if she’s a celebrity.
“I go into the room, and for the first 90 seconds, I’m Gwyneth Paltrow,” she said. “And they’re like, ‘Oh, my god, my wife loves you .... And then, about 90 seconds later, I’m just getting grilled like anyone else.”
But she doesn’t get offended; she relishes the challenge.
“It was such a beautiful chapter of my life when I started raising [venture capital financing], because it knocked me down so many pegs. I was like, ‘Oh, I’m, like, no one. I’m nothing. This [stuff] is real.’ I have to know the most granular aspects of my business and be able to defend it. The celebrity just completely drains out of the room. It’s irrelevant,” she said.
Paltrow’s full conversation with Sophia Amoruso can be streamed at Girlboss.
Longtime ‘Simpsons’ composer Alf Clausen fired from the show after 27 years
By Randall Roberts
When the 29th season of “The Simpsons” premieres in the fall, it will, for the first time in decades, be doing so without its longtime musical contributor, Alf Clausen.
Clausen, who composed the Fox animated show’s incidental music, was told that the show was looking for “a different kind of music” moving forward, according to Variety.
Clausen confirmed his firing via Twitter.
Thank you for all of the support...unfortunately, the news is true... https://t.co/jBQH0b40cz
— Alf Clausen (@TheAlfClausen) August 31, 2017
The composer’s orchestral scores supported the family’s foibles since the show’s primitively drawn early days. And although “The Simpsons” theme song was penned by Danny Elfman, the sonic feel of the series has been defined by Clausen’s grandiose, often epic productions.
He’s responsible for scoring Mr. Burns’ breakout “See My Vest” moment and crafted the tunes for the Springfield musical theater company’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” adaptation. Ditto “The Planet of the Apes” musical.
In short, nearly every classic music moment of “The Simpsons” has featured Clausen’s fingerprints.
On Twitter, fans thanked Clausen for his work while expressing outrage at the circumstances surrounding his departure. “Fired over the phone, yet,” wrote one user.
Clausen quickly corrected him with a one-word reply: “Email ...”
On Thursday, producers for “The Simpsons” issued a statement to Variety. It stressed that Clausen will continue to contribute to the series:
“We tremendously value Alf Clausen’s contributions to ‘The Simpsons’ and he will continue to have an ongoing role in the show. We remain committed to the finest in music for ‘The Simpsons,’ absolutely including orchestral.”
The statement concluded: “This is the part where we would make a joke but neither Alf’s work nor the music of ‘The Simpsons’ is treated as anything but seriously by us.”
Update, 1:16 p.m.: This story was updated with a statement from “The Simpsons.”
By Nardine Saad
The firefighter who initially resuscitated Princess Diana after her 1997 Paris car crash was certain she would live through it.
Sgt. Xavier Gourmelon, who led the response team exactly 20 years ago Thursday and administered CPR to the British royal, said in a Sun interview published Tuesday that he was convinced the Princess of Wales would make it when her heart started beating again and her breathing resumed.
Gourmelon was unaware that he was treating the so-called “People’s Princess” when he arrived at the scene of the accident in a Paris tunnel. He resuscitated her and she was conscious and her eyes were open when he pulled her from the wrecked Mercedes she was riding in with Harrods heir Dodi al Fayed and driver Henri Paul.
He said she had a slight injury to her right shoulder but saw no other significant wounds or blood on her.
“I held her hand and told her to be calm and keep still. I said I was there to help and reassured her,” Gourmelon said. “She said, ‘My God, what’s happened?’
“To be honest, I thought she would live. As far as I knew when she was in the ambulance she was alive and I expected her to live,” he added. “But I found out later she had died in hospital. It was very upsetting.”
Diana, famously eulogized as “the most hunted person of the modern age,” suffered cardiac arrest when she was placed on a stretcher. She died at the age of 36.
Prince William, left, and Prince Harry look at tributes left by members of the public outside Kensington Palace in London to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of their mother.
(Kirsty Wigglesworth / AFP/Getty Images)
On Wednesday, her sons Princes William and Harry -- second and fifth in line to the British throne, respectively -- visited a memorial garden dedicated to Diana at Kensington Palace, her former home.
The princes have worked rigorously to uphold Diana’s philanthropic legacy and spoke openly about her life and death in a series of documentaries that aired ahead of Thursday’s 20th anniversary.
In the BBC’s “Diana, 7 Days,” the princes derided the paparazzi; William called their treatment of his mother “utterly appalling” and likened the photographers constantly harassing her to a “pack of dogs.” For Harry, Diana’s final moments were made worse by the lingering photographers.
“She had quite a severe head injury but was still very much alive on the backseat,” Harry said in the documentary. “And those people that caused the accident instead of helping were taking photographs of her dying.”
Diana 20 years later: Still rubbernecking
Princes William, Harry honor Diana’s charity work
Meeting Diana, the Princess of Wales, only made me more fascinated by her
Princes William and Harry defend Queen Elizabeth, shame paparazzi in ‘Diana, 7 Days’ doc
By Chris Barton
With the country still reeling from the harrowing impact of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Wednesday night’s “Daily Show” looked at one of the summer’s ongoing controversies: Confederate monuments.
Occasionally setting aside the show’s usual comedic tone, Trevor Noah enlisted correspondent Roy Wood Jr. to consider whether these statues honor Southern heritage, as their supporters claim, or the nation’s history and lingering problem with racism.
After showing a montage of guests on network news shows who reminded viewers that these statues were erected during the Jim Crow era, decades after the Civil War, Wood equated slavery to another tragedy.
“It’s like if a woman got out of an abusive relationship and then she had to keep pictures of her ex up in her house to remember the time,” a straight-faced Wood explained. “No, I don’t need pictures to remember pain.”
“People say, ‘We want to remember the history of the Civil War,’” Noah added. “There’s an easier way to remember what happened in the Civil War: Just walk around in the South. And if you see free black people, then you know what happened.”
Watch the segment above.
‘Lord of the Flies’ all-girl reboot news gets savaged by skeptics
‘Lord of the Flies’ is getting an all-girl makeover courtesy of Warner Bros. The above image is from the 1963 film adaptation.
(British Film Institute)
The Hollywood recycle, reduce and reuse strategy of content creation has reached a new level of ridiculousness. Deadline reported Wednesday that Warner Bros. is creating an all-girl film adaptation of William Golding’s classic novel “Lord of the Flies.”
Twitter is not amused.
But instead of the typical “childhood-ruining” complaints levied against gender-swapped reboots, such as last year’s “Ghostbusters,” the Internet is angry that recasting the story with women fundamentally misses the entire point of the novel.
An all women remake of Lord of the Flies makes no sense because... the plot of that book wouldn't happen with all women.
— roxane gay (@rgay) August 31, 2017
uhm lord of the flies is about the replication of systemic masculine toxicity
every 9th grader knows this
u can read about it on sparknotes https://t.co/EQFyuSA3MV
— froy (@froynextdoor) August 31, 2017
I mean, "Lord of the Flies" is about toxic masculinity. Hollywood should just have two women write a major film ABOUT TOXIC MASCULINITY.
— Charlotte Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) August 31, 2017
For those with only hazy memories of their 9th-grade literature class, “Lord of the Flies” is a 1954 novel about a group of British boys trapped on an uninhabited island, forced to govern themselves, to disastrous and deadly ends.
There have already been three cinematic adaptations of the book -- in 1963, 1975 and 1990 -- all with male casts.
In most interpretations, the boys’ failure at self-governance is meant to mirror modern society’s own tendency toward toxic masculinity and harmful posturing.
Golding said as much himself about that issue in an introduction for a “Flies” audiobook, where he spoke about how the book wouldn’t work using women.
“I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men. They are far superior and always have been,” Golding said.
Twitter also had plenty to say about the fact that the Warner Bros. project, despite starring all women, will still be directed and written by two men, Scott McGehee and David Siegel.
Live pic of me being confused after reading that the all-female "Lord of the Flies" will be written and directed by two men pic.twitter.com/cYiWXba3IR
— T. J. Raphael (@TJRaphael) August 31, 2017
the eyebrow-raising part of "male-directed/-written all-female LORD OF THE FLIES reboot" is the first half, not the second
— Alison Herman (@aherman2006) August 31, 2017
Also, Internet denizens pointed out, if Hollywood wants to focus on the brutality and cutthroat nature of teenage girls, there are already plenty of examples.
EXCUSE ME but there has already been an all female Lord of the Flies pic.twitter.com/IKtji9WZRW
— Lindsay Hunter (@lindsaydevon) August 31, 2017
The WB is remaking Lord of the Flies with an all female cast. It will take place in a high school and be called 'Mean Girls'
— Jeff Dwoskin - Hashtag Roundup (@bigmacher) August 30, 2017
An all-female Lord of the Flies is in the works? Soooo...they're basically re-making Heathers? pic.twitter.com/BdmIoLN0nB
— Blake "Dude Bro" Northcott 👊💥 (@BlakeNorthcott) August 31, 2017
Still, at least someone is looking at the positive potential of the project. Anyone up for a Themyscira origin story?
A female lord of the flies where everything goes fine and they create a society on a secret island wait this is the start of wonder woman
— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) August 31, 2017
Gloria Gaynor sings to Texas’ Harvey victims: ‘You will survive’
By Christie D’Zurilla
(Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images)
Gloria Gaynor wants people affected by Harvey to know they will survive, and she’s communicating that message through a new version of the song that has defined her career.
Gaynor, whose “I Will Survive” became an anthem over the years, rewrote the 1978 disco hit to reach out to victims in Texas and posted her rendition on social media Wednesday.
“Hi, my neighbors in Texas,” she said in a video shot while she sat at a piano she was about to play. “This is Gloria Gaynor with a song that hopefully will cheer you up just a little bit.”
@SylvesterTurner @rashivats @SallyMacFox26 @TheRitaGarcia @kaitlinmonte @ChrisdyannUribe @MsCoCoDominguez @JMartinFOX26 TX WILL SURVIVE 💪🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/FCNOnDr85o
— Gloria Gaynor (@gloriagaynor) August 30, 2017
Here are the tweaked lyrics, for those who don’t want to hit “play” with the sound on.
First we were afraid
We were petrified
Thinking Texas couldn’t live
With floodwaters this high
We know you spent plenty of time
Preparing for this hurricane
Who could’ve known that it would come
With so much devastating rain
But we will strive
And you’ll survive
With all our love and help and prayers
We will stay strongly by your side
We are your neighbors tried and true
We’ll do all we can for you
You will survive, you will survive
Similarly on Monday night, Coldplay unleashed a new original song written after the band was forced to cancel its Friday show in Houston with Hurricane Harvey bearing down.
“This is a new song, and we’ll never play it again,” frontman Chris Martin told an audience in Miami. “It’s a once-off. It’s called ‘Houston.’ We’re going to sing it in Miami for everybody here, and then we’re going to send it over there to everyone who missed the show.”
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Title 21 - Food and Drugs
CHAPTER I - FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SUBCHAPTER B - FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
PART 177 - INDIRECT FOOD ADDITIVES: POLYMERS
Subpart B - Substances for Use as Basic Components of Single and Repeated Use Food Contact Surfaces
§ 177.1550 Perfluorocarbon resins.
21 CFR § 177.1550 - Perfluorocarbon resins.
Perfluorocarbon resins identified in this section may be safely used as articles or components of articles intended to contact food, subject to the provisions of this section:
(a) Identity. For the purpose of this section, perfluorocarbon resins are those produced by: (1) The homopolymerization and/or copolymerization of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene, and (2) the copolymerization of perfluoropropylvinylether and tetrafluoroethylene (CAS Reg. No. 26655-00-5). The resins shall meet the extractives limitations in paragraph (d) of this section.
(b) Optional components. The perfluorocarbon resins identified in paragraph (a) of this section as well as articles or coating made from these resins may include the following optional components except that the resin identified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section may not be used with the optional component, lithium polysilicate, mentioned in paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
(1) Substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in food or food packaging subject to any limitations cited on their use.
(2) Substances used in accordance with a prior sanction or approval, subject to any limitations cited in the prior sanction or approval.
(3) Substances authorized under applicable regulations in this part and in parts 175 and 178 of this chapter and subject to any limitations prescribed therein.
(4) The following substances, subject to any limitations prescribed:
List of substances
Lithium polysilicate containing not more than 20 weight percent silica, not more than 2.1 percent lithium oxide and having a maximum mole ratio of Si02/Li20 of 8.5 to 1
For use only as a component of repeated-use coatings not exceeding 0.030 millimeter (0.0012 inch) in thickness where the coatings are thermally cured at minimum sintering temperatures of 371 °C (700 °F). Lithium extractives shall not exceed 1.55 milligrams per square decimeter (0.1 milligram per square inch) of coating surface when tested in accordance with paragraph (e)(2) of this section.
Naphthalene sulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate, sodium salt
For use only:
1. As a component of repeated-use coatings, based on the perfluorocarbon resin identified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, not to exceed 0.030 millimeter (0.0012 inch) in thickness, and at a level not to exceed 0.4 weight percent of the coating.
2. As a component of repeated-use coatings, based on the perfluorocarbon resin identified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, not to exceed 0.10 millimeter (0.004 inch) in thickness, and at a level not to exceed 0.4 weight percent of the coating.
(c) Optional processing. Poly- tetrafluoroethylene resins may be irradiated by either a cobalt-60 sealed source, at a maximum dose of gamma radiation not to exceed 7.5 megarads, or an electron beam at energy levels not to exceed 2.5 million electron volts with a maximum dosage of 7.5 megarads, to produce lubricant powders having a particle diameter of not more than 20 microns for use only as components of articles intended for repeated use in contact with food.
(d) Specifications -
(1) Infrared identification. Perfluorocarbon resins can be identified by their characteristic infrared spectra.
(2) Melt-viscosity.
(i) The perfluorocarbon resins identified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall have a melt viscosity of not less than 10 4 poises at 380 °C (716 °F) as determined by ASTM method D1238-82, “Standard Test Method for Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer,” which is incorporated by reference. Copies may be obtained from the American Society for Testing Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, Philadelphia, PA 19428-2959, or may be examined at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. The melt viscosity of the perfluorocarbon resins identified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall not vary more than 50 percent within one-half hour at 380 °C (716 °F).
(ii) Perfluorocarbon resins identified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall have a melt viscosity of not less than 10 4 poises at 372 °C (702 °F) as determined by a more detailed method titled “Determination of Melt Viscosity, Molecular Weight Distribution Index and Viscosity Stability,” which is incorporated by reference. Copies are available from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-200), Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740, or available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
(3) Thermal instability index. The thermal instability index of the tetrafluoroethylene homopolymer shall not exceed 50 as determined by ASTM method D1457-56T, “Test for Thermal Instablility index of Tetrafluoroethylene Homopolymer” (Revised 1956), which is incorporated by reference. Copies are available from University Microfilms International, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106, or available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. The requirements of this paragraph do not apply to polytetrafluoroethylene resin lubricant powders described in paragraph (c) of this section.
(e) Limitations.1 (1) Perfluorocarbon-molded articles having a surface area of 6.45 square decimeters (100 square inches) or more and at least 1.27 millimeters (0.05 inch) thick shall be extracted at reflux temperatures for 2 hours separately with distilled water, 50 percent ethanol, n-heptane, and ethyl acetate.
1 A more detailed procedure of extraction conditions is entitled, “Preparation of Extracts,” which is incorporated by reference. Copies are available from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-200), Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740, or available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
(2) Perfluorocarbon resins identified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section and intended for use as coatings or components of coatings shall meet extractability limits prescribed in paragraph (e)(3) of this section when the resins in the form of coatings described in paragraphs (e)(2) (i) and (ii) of this section are extracted at reflux temperatures for 2 hours separately with distilled water, 8 percent ethanol, and n-heptane:
(i) Perfluorocarbon resin coatings based on resins identified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be applied to both sides of a 0.025-millimeter (0.001 inch) thick aluminum foil to a thickness of 0.025 millimeter (0.001 inch) after thermal curing at 399 °C (750 °F) for 10 minutes. If a primer is used, the total thickness of the primer plus topcoat shall equal 0.025 millimeter (0.001 inch) after heat curing.
(ii) Perfluorocarbon resin coatings based on resins identified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall be applied to both sides of a 0.025-millimeter (0.001 inch) thick aluminum foil to a thickness of 0.10 millimeter (0.004 inch) after thermal curing at 427 °C (800 °F) for 10 minutes. If a primer is used, the total thickness of the primer plus topcoat shall equal 0.10 millimeter (0.004 inch) after heat curing.
(3) The extracted surfaces shall meet the following extractability limits:
(i) Total extractives not to exceed 3.1 milligrams per square decimeter (0.2 milligram per square inch).
(ii) Fluoride extractives calculated as fluorine not to exceed 0.46 milligram per square decimeter (0.03 milligram per square inch).
(f) Conditions of use. Perfluorocarbon resins identified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section are limited to use as coatings or components of coatings for articles intended for repeated food-contact use.
[43 FR 44834, Sept. 29, 1978, as amended at 47 FR 11843, Mar. 19, 1982; 47 FR 14699, Apr. 6, 1982; 49 FR 10109, Mar. 19, 1984; 50 FR 1502, Jan. 11, 1985; 54 FR 24898, June 12, 1989; 61 FR 14481, Apr. 2, 1996]
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Wyoming / Van Tassell / Van Tassell White Collar Crime
Van Tassell White Collar Crime Lawyer, Wyoming
Not enough matches for Van Tassell White Collar Crime lawyer.
Below are all Van Tassell lawyers.
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Dennis C. Meier
Lawsuit & Dispute, Government, Estate Planning, Accident & Injury
William Elliott
Estate, Consumer Rights, Civil & Human Rights
221 South Second Street, Laramie, WY 82070
Nathaniel Scott Hibben
2125 East A Street, Torrington, WY 82240
Mervin Wallace Mecklenburg
2020 E D St, Torrington, WY 82240
Easily find Van Tassell White Collar Crime Lawyers and Van Tassell White Collar Crime Law Firms. For more attorneys, search all Criminal areas including DUI-DWI, Felony, Misdemeanor, RICO Act and Traffic attorneys.
CAPITAL CASE
A prosecution for murder in which the jury is also asked to decide if the defendant is guilty and, if he is, whether he should be put to death. When a prosecuto... (more...)
A prosecution for murder in which the jury is also asked to decide if the defendant is guilty and, if he is, whether he should be put to death. When a prosecutor brings a capital case (also called a death penalty case), she must charge one or more 'special circumstances' that the jury must find to be true in order to sentence the defendant to death. Each state (and the federal government) has its own list of special circumstances, but common ones include multiple murders, use of a bomb or a finding that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.
A lawyer appointed by the court and paid by the county, state, or federal government to represent clients who are charged with violations of criminal law and ar... (more...)
A lawyer appointed by the court and paid by the county, state, or federal government to represent clients who are charged with violations of criminal law and are unable to pay for their own defense.
MCNAGHTEN RULE
The earliest and most common test for criminal insanity, in which a criminal defendant is judged legally insane only if he could not distinguish right from wron... (more...)
The earliest and most common test for criminal insanity, in which a criminal defendant is judged legally insane only if he could not distinguish right from wrong at the time he committed the crime. For example, a delusional psychotic who believed that his assaultive acts were in response to the will of God would not be criminally responsible for his acts.
To put a person in prison or jail or otherwise confine him as punishment for committing a crime.
Intentionally restraining another person without having the legal right to do so. It's not necessary that physical force be used; threats or a show of apparent ... (more...)
Intentionally restraining another person without having the legal right to do so. It's not necessary that physical force be used; threats or a show of apparent authority are sufficient. False imprisonment is a misdemeanor and a tort (a civil wrong). If the perpetrator confines the victim for a substantial period of time (or moves him a significant distance) in order to commit a felony, the false imprisonment may become a kidnapping. People who are arrested and get the charges dropped, or are later acquitted, often think that they can sue the arresting officer for false imprisonment (also known as false arrest). These lawsuits rarely succeed: As long as the officer had probable cause to arrest the person, the officer will not be liable for a false arrest, even if it turns out later that the information the officer relied upon was incorrect.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY (D.A.)
A lawyer who is elected to represent a state government in criminal cases in a designated county or judicial district. A D.A.'s duties typically include reviewi... (more...)
A lawyer who is elected to represent a state government in criminal cases in a designated county or judicial district. A D.A.'s duties typically include reviewing police arrest reports, deciding whether to bring criminal charges against arrested people and prosecuting criminal cases in court. The D.A. may also supervise other attorneys, called Deputy District Attorneys or Assistant District Attorneys. In some states a District Attorney may be called a Prosecuting Attorney, County Attorney or State's Attorney. In the federal system, the equivalent to the D.A. is a United States Attorney. The country has many U.S. Attorneys, each appointed by the President, who supervise regional offices staffed with prosecutors called Assistant United States Attorneys.
The defendant's formal answer to criminal charges. Typically defendants enter one of the following pleas: guilty, not guilty or nolo contendere. A plea is usual... (more...)
The defendant's formal answer to criminal charges. Typically defendants enter one of the following pleas: guilty, not guilty or nolo contendere. A plea is usually entered when charges are formally brought (at arraignment).
CRIMINAL INSANITY
A mental defect or disease that makes it impossible for a person to understand the wrongfulness of his acts or, even if he understands them, to ditinguish right... (more...)
A mental defect or disease that makes it impossible for a person to understand the wrongfulness of his acts or, even if he understands them, to ditinguish right from wrong. Defendants who are criminally insane cannot be convicted of a crime, since criminal conduct involves the conscious intent to do wrong -- a choice that the criminally insane cannot meaningfully make. See also irresistible impulse; McNaghten Rule.
A document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes the police to arrest someone. Warrants are issued when law enforcement personnel present evidence to ... (more...)
A document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes the police to arrest someone. Warrants are issued when law enforcement personnel present evidence to the judge or magistrate that convinces her that it is reasonably likely that a crime has taken place and that the person to be named in the warrant is criminally responsible for that crime.
-DUI-DWI
-Felony
-Misdemeanor
-RICO Act
-Traffic
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David Lorenz Winston
Frosted Oak & Road
$12.00 W1601-1P
12x8 image on 14x11 Paper - 18x12 image on 19x13 Paper - 21x14 image on 23x16 Paper - 24x16 image on 26x18 Paper - 30x20 image on 32x22 Paper - 12x8 image on 16x12 Giclée - 18x12 image on 22x16 Giclée - 21x14 image on 25x18 Giclée - 24x16 image on 28x20 Giclée - 30x20 image on 34x24 Giclée - 12x8 image on 16x12 Unstretched Canvas - 18x12 image on 22x16 Unstretched Canvas - 21x14 image on 25x18 Unstretched Canvas - 24x16 image on 28x20 Unstretched Canvas - 30x20 image on 34x24 Unstretched Canvas -
Image © David Lorenz Winston
David Lorenz Winston studied photography at Pennsylvania State University where he received a B.A. in art in 1965. His work reflects a lifelong love of the natural landscape and of human nature. While many of David's photographs are inspired by his travels to Siberia, Peru, India, Nepal, and Tibet, most of his work is from Pennsylvania and more recently, the Pacific NW where he now resides. Winston's images have been exhibited in numerous one person and group exhibits nationally. He has received many first place and best of show awards. David’s work is published by UNICEF, The National Wildlife Federation, Hallmark, Pomegranate Publications, Palm Press, Borealis Press, and Artists to Watch.
W1601-1P
Frosted Oak & Road David Lorenz Winston
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Let's Celebrate June's Official Birthstone With a Close-Up Look at the Hope Pearl
Let's celebrate June's official birthstone with a close-up look at one of the most extraordinary natural pearls in the world. It stands two inches tall, weighs 450 carats and is the sibling of the world's most famous blue diamond. Introducing the Hope Pearl.
Back in the early part of the 19th century, a London banker named Henry Philip Hope amassed a collection of fabulous gems, including the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond and 150 natural pearls.
Hope's namesake pearl, which was once believed to be the largest natural saltwater baroque pearl in existence, exhibited an irregular pear shape and a unique coloration, grading from dark bronze to white. Experts believe the baroque specimen is a blister pearl, which grows attached to the mollusk's shell.
A natural pearl is extraordinarily rare and valuable because it is created by a mollusk totally by chance, without human intervention. A natural pearl forms when an irritant, such as a grain of sand, slips in between the mollusk’s shell and its mantle tissue. To protect itself from the irritant, the mollusk secretes layer upon layer of nacre, which is the iridescent material that eventually produces a pearl. Cultured pearls, by comparison, are grown under controlled conditions, where a bead is implanted in the body of the mollusk to stimulate the secretion of nacre.
The Hope Pearl is set as a pendant, with the smaller end capped with a crown of red enameled gold set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds.
Both the Hope Diamond (purchased in 1824) and Hope Pearl (purchased between 1800 and 1810) were mentioned prominently in the 1839 publication titled "Catalogue of the Collection of Pearls and Precious Stones Formed by Henry Philip Hope, Esq." Hope, who never married, died that same year and a bitter legal battle ensued among his three nephews, who made claims on the estate. After 10 years, a settlement was reached and the jewels were split up. The pearl ended up in the South Kensington Museum for many years, and was sold at a Christie's auction in 1886 for £9,000 (about £1 million, or $1.29 million, in today's valuation).
The Hope Diamond and Hope Pearl remained apart for the next 156 years. But then, in 2005, the diamond and pearl siblings enjoyed a momentous reunion at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The Hope Diamond was already a resident of the National Gem and Mineral collection at the National Museum of Natural History.
The Hope Pearl was one of 12 extraordinary specimens featured in a six-month special exhibition called "The Allure of Pearls" in the Harry Winston Gallery of the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals. The Hope Pearl was loaned for the presentation by an unnamed collector from England.
Credits: Smithsonian/NMNH Photo Services.
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Download Ebook Free Upstairs At The White House
Upstairs at the White House
Author : J. B. West,Mary Lynn Kotz
Category : Presidents' spouses
In this New York Times bestseller, the White House chief usher for nearly three decades offers a behind-the-scenes look at America’s first families. J. B. West, chief usher of the White House, directed the operations and maintenance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue—and coordinated its daily life—at the request of the president and his family. He directed state functions; planned parties, weddings and funerals, gardens and playgrounds, and extensive renovations; and, with a large staff, supervised every activity in the presidential home. For twenty-eight years, first as assistant to the chief usher, then as chief usher, he witnessed national crises and triumphs, and interacted daily with six consecutive presidents and first ladies, as well as their parents, children and grandchildren, and houseguests—including friends, relatives, and heads of state. J. B. West, whom Jackie Kennedy called “one of the most extraordinary men I have ever met,” provides an absorbing, one-of-a-kind history of life among the first ladies. Alive with anecdotes ranging from Eleanor Roosevelt’s fascinating political strategies to Jackie Kennedy’s tragic loss and the personal struggles of Pat Nixon, Upstairs at the White House is a rich account of a slice of American history that usually remains behind closed doors.
Real Life at the White House
Author : John Whitcomb,Claire Whitcomb
Publisher : Psychology Press
First published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Author : Lisa Jewell
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A GOOD MORNING AMERICA COVER TO COVER BOOK CLUB PICK “Rich, dark, and intricately twisted, this enthralling whodunit mixes family saga with domestic noir to brilliantly chilling effect.” —Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author “A haunting, atmospheric, stay-up-way-too-late read.” —Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author From the New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone comes another page-turning look inside one family’s past as buried secrets threaten to come to light. Be careful who you let in. Soon after her twenty-fifth birthday, Libby Jones returns home from work to find the letter she’s been waiting for her entire life. She rips it open with one driving thought: I am finally going to know who I am. She soon learns not only the identity of her birth parents, but also that she is the sole inheritor of their abandoned mansion on the banks of the Thames in London’s fashionable Chelsea neighborhood, worth millions. Everything in Libby’s life is about to change. But what she can’t possibly know is that others have been waiting for this day as well—and she is on a collision course to meet them. Twenty-five years ago, police were called to 16 Cheyne Walk with reports of a baby crying. When they arrived, they found a healthy ten-month-old happily cooing in her crib in the bedroom. Downstairs in the kitchen lay three dead bodies, all dressed in black, next to a hastily scrawled note. And the four other children reported to live at Cheyne Walk were gone. In The Family Upstairs, the master of “bone-chilling suspense” (People) brings us the can’t-look-away story of three entangled families living in a house with the darkest of secrets.
My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House
Author : Lillian Rogers Parks,Frances Spatz Leighton
Publisher : Ishi Press
Originally published in 1961 by Fleet Pub.
Author : Kate Andersen Brower
An intimate, behind-the-scenes history of the White House service staff, from the Kennedys to the present America’s First Families are unknowable in many ways. No one has insight into their true character like the people who serve their meals and make their beds every day. Full of stories and details by turns dramatic, humorous, and heartwarming, The Residence reveals daily life in the White House as it is really lived through the voices of the maids, butlers, cooks, florists, doormen, engineers, and others who tend to the needs of the President and First Family. These dedicated professionals maintain the six-floor mansion’s 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, three elevators, and eight staircases, and prepare everything from hors d’oeuvres for intimate gatherings to meals served at elaborate state dinners. Over the course of the day, they gather in the lower level’s basement kitchen to share stories, trade secrets, forge lifelong friendships, and sometimes even fall in love. Combining incredible first-person anecdotes from extensive interviews with scores of White House staff members—many speaking for the first time—with archival research, Kate Andersen Brower tells their story. She reveals the intimacy between the First Family and the people who serve them, as well as tension that has shaken the staff over the decades. From the housekeeper and engineer who fell in love while serving President Reagan to Jackie Kennedy’s private moment of grief with a beloved staffer after her husband’s assassination to the tumultuous days surrounding President Nixon’s resignation and President Clinton’s impeachment battle, The Residence is full of surprising and moving details that illuminate day-to-day life at the White House.
My 21 Years in the White House
Author : Alonzo Fields
Publisher : Pickle Partners Publishing
My 21 Years in the White House, first published in 1960, is the fascinating account by Alonzo Fields of his service as head butler under 4 presidents: Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower. Fields (1900-1994) began his employment at the White House in 1931, and kept a journal of his meetings with the presidents and their families; he would also meet important people like Winston Churchill, Princess Elizabeth of England, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller, presidential cabinet members, senators, representatives, and Supreme Court Justices. He would also witness presidential decision-making at critical times in American history -- the attack on Pearl Harbor, the death of Franklin Roosevelt, the desegregation of the military, and the outbreak of hostilities in Korea. As Fields often told his staff, “...remember that we are helping to make history. We have a small part ... but they can't do much here without us. They've got to eat, you know.” Included are sample menus prepared for visiting heads-of-state and foreign dignitaries.
Author : Noel Grove
Category : Presidents
In collaboration with the White House Historical Association, National Geographic presents this authoritative overview of America's first home featuring never-before published stories and photographs. Organized by theme, discover what makes the White House tick--from its beginnings to the modern day, from the architecture, to the staff, to the first families. Learn fascinating details of the real-life Downton Abbey staff who run this grand home. Marvel at the elaborate detail that goes into hosting a state dinner. Meet the beloved pets who've inhabited 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Read about celebrity visitors, the media, and the security so critical in today's world. Sidebars contain tidbits of rare information, and an appendix includes an illustrated time line of all White House First Families as well as a complete index. Photos include intimate and candid glimpses of life inside the White House--some never before seen, others long forgotten, and most never displayed in such large format.
Upstairs at the Roosevelts'
Author : Curtis Roosevelt
Publisher : U of Nebraska Press
Release Date : 2017-07
Curtis Roosevelt knew what it was like to live with a president. His grandfather was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. From the time Curtis, with his sister, Eleanor, and recently divorced mother, Anna Roosevelt Dall, moved into his grandparents’ new home—the White House—Curtis played, learned, slept, ate, and lived in one of the most famous buildings in the world with one of its most famous residents. Curtis Roosevelt offers anecdotes and revelations about the lives of the president and First Lady and the many colorful personalities in this presidential family. From Eleanor’s shocking role in the remarriage of Curtis’s mother to visits from naughty cousins and trips to the “Home Farm,” Upstairs at the Roosevelts’ provides an intimate perspective on the dynamics of one of America’s most famous families and those who visited, were friends, and sometimes even enemies.
Entertaining at the White House with Nancy Reagan
Author : Peter Schifando,Jonathan Joseph
Publisher : Harper Collins
Category : House & Home
Why is entertaining at the White House important to a presidency? How are guest lists and seating charts for state dinners determined? Is it difficult to throw a surprise party for the commander-in-chief? What role do children play during holidays at the White House? Former first lady Nancy Reagan answers these questions and more as she provides a personal look at life as a White House hostess in this stunning, richly illustrated book. Carrying on a tradition that dates back to 1801, Mrs. Reagan embraced this role with a unique energy and joie de vivre rare among her predecessors. During the course of President Reagan's two terms in office, the Reagans hosted fifty-five state dinners and hundreds of other events, both intimate and grand. "It was a vital part of our roles as president and first lady," recalls Mrs. Reagan. "And it was a duty that we enjoyed immensely." From her first private event as a White House hostess (President Reagan's surprise seventieth birthday party, which was mistakenly announced by Tom Brokaw on the Today show that very morning), to the state dinner with Mikhail Gorbachev that marked the unofficial end of the Cold War, to John Travolta's surprise dance with Diana, Princess of Wales, Mrs. Reagan has seen it all.
Grace & Power
Author : Sally Bedell Smith
Publisher : Aurum
Unlike so many other books, Grace and Power rejects gossip and conspiracy theory to tell the story of John and Jackie’s three years in the White House soberly, comprehensively and sensitively, from beginning to sudden end. Sally Bedell Smith’s book on John and Jackie Kennedy was hailed by authoritative reviewers on both sides of the Atlantic as the most distinguished and well-written book on a perennially fascinating subject for years. In the US the hardback was high on the New York Times bestseller list for weeks. It is an immensely poignant chronicle of pivotal historical events seen from the inside out, from within the private home of the President and First Lady. Amidst the superficial opulence of their social circle, we see the Cuban Missile Crisis and the burgeoning American civil rights movement from the perspective of an invalid president often barely well enough to appear in public. Together with his young wife, abandoned by her husband’s relentless womanising, nevertheless changed the politics and style of America. Grace and Power is the classic account of that time.
WHITE HOUSE USHER
Author : Christopher B. Emery
Publisher : Booklocker.com
From January 1986 until March 1994, Chris Emery held one of the most unique positions in the U.S. government-an usher in the White House. His stories recreate intimate White House happenings from an insider's perspective. Emery was the only White House Usher to be terminated in the 20th century. Turn the pages to learn which first lady fired him.
The Woman Upstairs
Author : Claire Messud
Publisher : Vintage
From the New York Times best-selling author of The Emperor’s Children, a masterly new novel: the riveting confession of a woman awakened, transformed and betrayed by a desire for a world beyond her own. Nora Eldridge, an elementary school teacher in Cambridge, Massachusetts, long ago compromised her dream to be a successful artist, mother and lover. She has instead become the “woman upstairs,” a reliable friend and neighbor always on the fringe of others’ achievements. Then into her life arrives the glamorous and cosmopolitan Shahids—her new student Reza Shahid, a child who enchants as if from a fairy tale, and his parents: Skandar, a dashing Lebanese professor who has come to Boston for a fellowship at Harvard, and Sirena, an effortlessly alluring Italian artist. When Reza is attacked by schoolyard bullies, Nora is drawn deep into the complex world of the Shahid family; she finds herself falling in love with them, separately and together. Nora’s happiness explodes her boundaries, and she discovers in herself an unprecedented ferocity—one that puts her beliefs and her sense of self at stake. Told with urgency, intimacy and piercing emotion, this brilliant novel of passion and artistic fulfillment explores the intensity, thrill—and the devastating cost—of embracing an authentic life. This ebook edition includes a Reading Group Guide.
The White House World
Author : Martha Joynt Kumar,Terry O. Sullivan
Publisher : Texas A&M University Press
When George W. Bush and his staff finally got word he had officially won the 2000 presidential election, they had only thirty-seven days left to shift from campaign mode to governing. Fortunately for the Bush team, a group of presidency scholars had gathered and provided them with a wealth of substantive analysis about presidential transitions and White House operations. With information covering six administrations and interviews with seventy-five former senior White House officials as well as with President Gerald Ford, the White House Interview Program proved an important resource for the new occupants of the West Wing. The White House World gathers and digests the same material that was provided to the incoming White House staff. Its individual chapters contain a veritable "how to" manual: information on the dynamics of White House operations; the functions of seven critical White House offices; and the actual transition of President Bush. In a final section, scholars and Bush administration insiders offer brief views of George W. Bush's unique transition into office. In addition to Kumar and Sullivan, scholars contributing to the volume include: Peri E. Arnold, MaryAnne Borrelli, John P. Burke, George C. Edwards III, John Fortier, Karen Hult, Nancy Kassop, John H. Kessel, G. Calvin Mackenzie, Norman Ornstein, Bradley H. Patterson, Jr., James P. Pfiffner, Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, Charles Walcott, Shirley Anne Warshaw, and Stephen J. Wayne. The section on the Bush transition also contains an essay by Clay Johnson, executive director of the Bush-Cheney Transition and now director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. The project was sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trustsand carried out by members of the Presidency Research Group of the American Political Science Association. This is a must-have book for all current and aspiring participants and all serious observers of the American presidency.
A Lady, First
Author : Letitia Baldrige
Publisher : Viking Adult
The first lady of American style and etiquette and former Kennedy White House social secretary chronicles her career in the Kennedy Administration and beyond. 50,000 first printing.
The Threshold Of Democracy
Sustainable Development Strategies
The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace
Hygienic Design of Food Factories
RF and mm-Wave Power Generation in Silicon
Nanostructured Anodic Metal Oxides
Alfreds Self Teaching Adult Piano Course
Everyday Instant Pot
Brilliant Imperfection
Geometry for Enjoyment and Challenge
Two-Dimensional Nanostructures for Biomedical Technology
The Joy of Finite Mathematics
Common Culture
mindset carol dweck
Anti-Abrasive Nanocoatings
Artificial Neural Networks for Renewable Energy Systems and Manufacturing Applications
Generating Electricity in a Carbon-Constrained World
I Am a Church Member
Handbook of Footwear Design and Manufacture
Wired for Love
Transportation Policy and Economic Regulation
Geotechnical Investigations and Improvement of Ground Conditions
Clinical Veterinary Advisor
Epigenetic Mechanisms in the Brain
Smart Bandage Technologies
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Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals Plans Expansion...
Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals Plans Expansion of Omaha Campus
Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals—Omaha Campus is expanding its facility near Village Pointe Shopping Center, near 180th and Burke Streets by building an on-site physicians clinic to meet the growing demand for physician-led outpatient physiatry and therapy services.
“Madonna’s Omaha Campus outpatient physiatry and therapy services are growing faster than anticipated,” said Paul Dongilli Jr., Madonna president and CEO. “Demand for services has outpaced our pre-construction market needs assessment, leading us to open a clinic sooner than anticipated.” Dongilli said a physicians clinic has always been a key component of the Omaha Campus master plan.
This new clinic, which will feature 10 exam rooms and a dedicated physician office space, will add 7,800 square feet to the existing 263,000 square foot facility, providing more room to grow Madonna’s steadfast programs and partnerships.
“The clinic will further enhance our physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) training experience at Madonna, through its partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC),” said Dr. Samuel Bierner, medical director, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital—Omaha Campus and chair of the PM&R department at UNMC.
The PM&R residency program was launched in the summer of 2018, and is the only such program in Nebraska and the first of its kind in a 5-state upper Midwest region. The program offers resident physiatrists the opportunity to participate in the care of pediatric and adult patients recovering from stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury and other complex medical issues.
The new exam and clinic space will provide dedicated space for Madonna and UNMC physicians to meet the growing need for outpatient physiatry and therapy services. More than 2,000 people have been treated through Madonna’s outpatient programs since the Omaha campus opened in October 2016; 910 of those people were served in the past year.
The construction on the on-site physicians clinic is anticipated to begin at the start of 2020 and be completed by September of that year.
To learn more about Madonna's Omaha Campus and take a virtual tour, click here.
dr samuel bierner
madonna rehabilitation hospitals omaha
physicians clinic
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE HELPS HELICOPTER CRASH SURVIVOR REGAIN EVERYDAY SKILLS
Zach Petersen is learning how to live life in a wheelchair after surviving a helicopter crash at a Music Festival in Arkansas in early June. The Fremo...
MOM OF 3 LEARNS ABC’S OF REHABILITATION
Just weeks after delivering her third child, Amber Becker woke up to numbness on her left side. The problem didn't go away, and after an emergency...
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Magus Education
Key Entry Points
3+/Nursery
4+/Reception
7+/Year 3
Our Articles & Interviews
Talking Heads: Richard Tillett of Queen’s College London
Home » Talking Heads » Talking Heads: Richard Tillett of Queen’s College London
Richard Tillett of QCL
A Cambridge graduate, Richard’s teaching career has seen him work in both co-ed and single sex schools. He has been Head of Queen’s College in Marylebone since September 2017 and took up the position of overall Head of Queen’s College Prep School and Queen’s College in September 2020.
What attracted you to the headship at Queen’s College?
That was the first question I got in my interview for the job and I will give you the same answer I gave the Governors: ‘It is the fit.’ It felt like a school where I could both belong and make a difference.
I love the size of the school; it’s small enough that I can know every child and most of the families. It is also big enough that it has huge amounts going on; dozens of music ensembles and sports teams, plays, over 70 clubs … everyone can find opportunities here.
The history of the place was incredibly exciting. I’m a history and politics teacher. The idea of being somewhere that’s such a ground-breaking institution in women’s education was very appealing.
The culture and feel of it too. The pupils who showed me around once I got to actually step inside were delightful; they were much wiser and worldlier than what I was used to, and I thought they would be an incredibly interesting, diverse, well-rounded and articulate group of young people to work with.
You mentioned feeling like you could make a difference. Please tell us more about that and what you have done so far.
There were structural things that I immediately felt could change. They say never to change anything in your first year of stewardship and I completely ignored that! The first thing I did was to introduce a house system which didn’t exist and which I felt was really missing. When you only have about 60 pupils in a year group, it is a great shame not to have much interaction with the other year groups. A house system is a very easy way of achieving that; you can have house competitions with everybody from the school vertically who are in your house. That also helps create vertical friendships.
I also changed the 6th Form programme. We were still doing what to me was a very outdated model of 4 A-levels for the first year and then 3 A-levels in the second year. That first year 4th A-level amounts to an 8th of curriculum time and it was effectively a wasted learning opportunity that didn’t lead to any qualifications, so instead I introduced the Extended Project Qualification and next year we are bringing in a range of alternatives to that, because it is a very demanding qualification which doesn’t always suit all pupils’ learning styles.
The other change I made in my first term was to move sports from Regent’s Park to Paddington Recreation Ground. You can get fresh air in Regent’s Park but you can’t really do proper sports there. You need decent facilities; you need a running track for athletics, you need astro turf for hockey and so on, and Paddington Rec has got that.
What do you think makes Queen’s College stand out?
The sense of community, but also something a little bit more subtle than that. I came from a school which was quite different from Queen’s, in another part of the country. Our academic results’ trajectory and the academic outcome of the school are things that parents in London primarily focus on, understandably and rightly so, and that took me a little while to get my head around.
But I decided quite early on that you can have the best of both worlds; you can have strong academic results without sacrificing this sense of community. And, the kinder you are, the harder you can push in a sense. The more comfortable a pupil feels, the better they will do. We have created this community of kindness, support and, actually, love. We are less narrowly selective than some of our competitors but our results stand comparison with theirs because of how we go about it. I think that makes us unique.
Lockdown is continuing to disrupt exams this year; you have committed, as other schools in the London 11+ Consortium have, to the ISEB. Do you think this is the right format for the future? Will there be a bigger emphasis on raw intelligence in the future?
What I know will only last one year is interviewing on Zoom! I absolutely want to meet these children in the flesh, which we can’t do this year. They and we are both missing out on something very important by not being able to meet in person.
The difference between ISEB and the 11+ Consortium test is minimal; the main difference between them is where they take place, not actually what the pupils are tested on. The two tests are very similar, with a multiple-choice format, testing raw cognitive ability, so the change you refer to has really already taken place.
This year the London 11+ Consortium has split up into 8 of us doing the ISEB test and 6 sticking to the Consortium test, but we fully intend to reunite next year. Given the situation, we as individual heads took our own decision as to whether we felt able to run the test as usual in January in our own schools or not. I felt that given we have over 100 feeder schools, the need for social distancing and bubbles combined with the way our school is laid out would be challenging and I felt doing the ISEB was the best practical thing to do this year; not because it is a better test. In a year’s time when hopefully this will all be over, I expect that we will go back to the old process.
The actual test will always be the most important element of the 11+ process in London, and cognitive ability will always be the key. I can’t ever see it going back to how it was, with a creative writing element for example, because to me it entrenched inequality; it was possible, sadly, to pay for private tutors to tell you how to write prose ‘creatively’ and you come out with a hundred essays that are all very similar and that doesn’t give you a fair judgement of the child. So, I think that a test more based on ability is much better and much fairer; you can actually see where that child is at in terms of their natural ability. And make a better judgement about which school is right for them. It takes away a lot of power from the parents and many are very anxious about it, and I understand why, because we are taking the control away from them. But ultimately it is about the young people and about what is fair for them more than about the parents.
I do think, though, that the interviews will gradually take on a bit more importance. We use them mostly to judge character and personality; if we feel it would be the right fit. At Queen’s we interview everyone who applies without knowing the test results. A good thing about being a fairly small school is that while it takes more time, I do like also to pick up the phone and call the head of the feeder school as much as I can to try to get a rounded picture of the candidate and combine that with how they performed in the test and interview. And it gives plenty of scope for those softer aspects to be picked up on.
You are now in your fourth year. What do you view as your biggest achievement so far?
The main thing that I am proud of is creating a sense of community. We are all in it together, we have a common purpose and know what we are doing. We essentially have the same philosophy and there is a real sense of camaraderie.
Do you think some of the changes from lockdown are here to stay?
We may look at keeping parent teacher evenings online or at least have the option of in-person or online given how challenging it can be to come into school for working parents. We may run some other events remotely, if there is a trip coming up and the parents need a quick briefing for instance. But anything that involves the pupils needs to be in person. This term has clearly shown that young people need to physically be in school. They need the routine, the sense of togetherness, and they need that human contact.
How do you see your role working with the newly appointed headmistress of your junior school Queen’s College Prep School?
Laura has made the most fantastic start and she is absolutely brilliant. I am now the head of the overall organisation, so strictly speaking I am her boss. But I am trying not to interfere at all. I am secondary trained and my whole experience is in secondary. She is the primary expert. I am here as a backup and someone to bounce ideas off.
There are lots of opportunities for both schools to work together, from us providing some specialist teaching like Art History and Classics to things on the pastoral side. The prep school made kindness stones for us, for example, and in turn we will make kindness stones and bring them over to the girls in the prep school. There is also the social aspect: the younger girls really look up to the older ones and we will create opportunities for the older pupils to go over there and perform, take part in assemblies and so on.
We don’t want to put the prep school girls through the 11+ process if they want to come to Queen’s, so if they have met the academic criteria based on data from Year 4 and Year 5, they can come here without having to sit the 11+. Some will still need to sit the 11+ if they haven’t made the academic threshold, but the vast majority will be able to take that automatic offer.
Tell us more about your bursary scheme and why you feel it is so important.
I am absolutely passionate about this topic. I think independent schools have a moral duty to give back to people who are less privileged. But I also think there is a very strong educational argument for a bursary scheme – and the figure I have in my head is 10% of free places – and I am absolutely convinced that if we are to achieve that in three years, which is the target I have set, we are transforming the lives of those 10%, but we are also massively helping the other 90%.
This is because we are introducing them to people from other parts of life that they otherwise maybe would never have met, they never would have worked with or become friends with. You cannot live your life in a bubble. You cannot surround yourself only with people of a certain background and therefore, the more diverse a background all our pupils get exposed to, the better equipped they will be in life. The bursary scheme is a fundamental part of introducing that element of diversity.
We know you are both a big Arsenal fan as well as an accomplished cellist. What can we learn from what happens on the football pitch as well as what takes place when playing the cello in a concert and extrapolate into the classroom?
It is about team work. I played the cello a lot growing up and took part in many string quartets. Unless the four of you in a string quartet are working together, the whole thing falls apart. Likewise, in a football team, you have the captain of the team and you might have the best player in the team, but unless they are playing with the rest of the team, you are not going to win. I might be the captain of the staff, but I am only one part of it and I know perfectly well that there are people much better at lots of aspects of this than I am. Acknowledging that you are part of something bigger, accepting that you are part of a team, allowing everyone in that team to develop their strengths and contribute even if they are better than you at something; those are incredibly important skills. You have to trust your team and create that unity.
What do you think are the biggest challenges as well as positive aspects of being a male Head in an all girls’ senior school?
Actually, I think it can be quite powerful being a male head in an all girls’ school. Men can be feminist too; they can believe in equal rights and want to promote women’s equality. Just the other day I was teaching a ‘Thrive’ lesson on the advertising industry; we discussed how airbrushed the images of women often are, particularly in cosmetics and fashion ads, and how that insidiously stresses the importance of beauty while at the same time presenting an unattainable image of it, which is very damaging to girls growing up. These points, coming from a man, may perhaps even have had more impact than from a woman. In the same way, during our failure week, I talked to them about when I got things wrong in my life, when I didn’t get that job, when I made a stupid mistake. The message that failing and being vulnerable is ok and is part of life is a message that can sometimes be more powerful when coming from men, who stereotypically are always meant to talk themselves up and put a brave face on things.
Alessandra is a co-founder of Magus Education. She is a Bocconi alumna and worked for more than a decade in the City. She writes about all education matters and has a keen interest in educational psychology.
© Copyright 2021 Magus Education (Registered in England & Wales 10312646). All rights reserved.
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STILL SHAGADELIC 20 YEARS ON
RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW
By Brent Davidson
Would anyone question the notion that I was a rambunctious and obsessive 9-year-old? Would it surprise you to hear I convinced my grandfather that 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' was just a “silly spy movie, just like a funny James Bond”? Can you imagine 9-year-old me sitting in the cinema laughing his head off as his grandfather sits next to him horrified?! 20 years later, and this is still a staple story of family get-togethers about when I subjected him to "that stupid, rude movie."
9-year-old me had very little idea just how rude it was.
But back then, everything was “groovy baby!”
Set shortly after the events of the first film, Austin (Mike Myers) is enjoying his honeymoon only to find out that his wife Vanessa is actually a fembot! Not only this, but Dr Evil has returned and he’s developed a time machine to go back to steal Austin's mojo while he's still frozen in 1969 (teehee). Austin, with the help of Felicity Shagwell (Heather Graham), travels back in time to stop Dr Evil in his tracks!
'AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME' TRAILER
It's crazy that this film, with a $33 million budget, made US$312 million at the box office worldwide. I guess it really helps when the same actor plays three of the main characters, with Myers reprising his role also as Dr Evil and also introducing Scottish assassin Fat Bastard. It’s this kind of on-the-nose humour that today would probably send the film straight to Netflix, but in 1999 it was a box office smash.
The film also introduced Madonna’s hit 'Beautiful Stranger', with Austin appearing in the film clip as well, and the song went on to win a Grammy. Interestingly enough, the soundtrack was certified Gold in Australia and Platinum in the United States. With good reason too! There are some great songs on this soundtrack, back in the day when soundtracks meant something! Aside from Madonna, there's 'American Woman' by Lenny Kravitz, 'I’ll never Fall in Love Again' By Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, and who can forget the formidable 'Soul Bossa Nova' by Quincey Jones, the veritable score of the turn of the millennium.
There were some big names in this film too - Rob Lowe, Seth Green, Verne Troyer, Will Ferrell, Jerry Springer and Willie Nelson to name just a few. It really makes you wonder what kind of favours were pulled in, or whether or not people were there for fun. If I were Willie Nelson, I too would except a role just to make another dick joke.
"That looks like a huge…"
"Willie! Willie Nelson is that you?"
Oh, the 90s. What a time to be alive!
The lasting cultural impact of the 'Austin Powers' franchise is a force to be reckoned with.
The lasting cultural impact of the 'Austin Powers' franchise was a force to be reckoned with back when the films were released. “Oh behave!” and “Do I make you horny, baby?” were catchphrases that permeated the social consciousness, even with viewers who had no concept of what these words even meant. Such a cultural phenomenon that my Year 6 leaving school performance was to Quincey Jones’ theme. Yes, you read that correctly, 12-year-olds were dancing and pretending to be somewhat of a sex deviant Austin Powers, go-go dancers and thigh-high boots included.
For me though, I feel like 'Austin Powers' was the beginning of my naughty streak. I have always loved an entendre, and to this day still have a (questionable) ability to create them, living my life with my tongue firmly in cheek. I still find myself thinking things are groovy, and I’d like to think the cultural phenomenon of everyone calling each other "babes" and "bae" is just a language degeneration from the “baby” Austin called everyone in the films. It’s probably best not to think too hard about this though - or to watch it with your somewhat conservative grandparents, for that matter.
RUN TIME: 1h 35m
CAST: Mike Myers
Mindy Sterling
DIRECTOR: Jay Roach
PRODUCERS: John S. Lyons
Eric McLeod
Suzanne Todd
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Man hospitalized after stabbing in Mission…
Man hospitalized after stabbing in Mission District
By Bay City News Service | Mercury News
A man is hospitalized after being stabbed in San Francisco’s Mission District this morning, according to police.
The stabbing was reported at about 3:55 a.m. in the 2000 block of Mission Street, police said.
The victim, a man in his 40s, was transported to San Francisco General Hospital, according to police, who did not know what condition the man was in.
No arrests have been made and no suspect information was immediately available, police said.
Copyright © 2008 by Bay City News, Inc. "… republication, re-transmission or reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Bay City News Service
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Ana upgraded to tropical storm as it nears the…
Ana upgraded to tropical storm as it nears the Carolinas
By Associated Press |
May 9, 2015 at 3:20 a.m.
MIAMI — Early surprise Ana muscled up to a tropical storm early Saturday as it plodded toward the Carolinas, threatening to push dangerous surf and drenching rains up against the Southeast coast as it made its appearance weeks ahead of the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Ana was centered at 11 a.m. EDT about 105 miles (165 kilometers) south of Wilmington, North Carolina, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm had top sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph).
Ana had slowed from its earlier speed, moving northwest at 3 mph (6 kph) on a forecast track expected to bring it “very near” the coasts of South and North Carolina sometime Sunday morning, .
Senior Hurricane Specialist Stacy Stewart said dangerous surf and rip tides appear to be the biggest threat posed by the Atlantic season’s first tropical storm though isolated flooding in some coastal areas is also a concern. Although the season doesn’t formally start until June 1, he told The Associated Press such early surprise storms are not all that unusual every few years or so.
“We had a similar situation occur twice back in 2012 when we had two early season tropical storms, Alberto and Beryl,” Stewart noted of two storms that also emerged in the month of May. “That was very unusual to get two storms before the normal start of the hurricane season; one is not that unusual.”
But Ana marked the earliest subtropical or tropical storm to form in the Atlantic since another storm named Ana emerged in 2003, the Hurricane Center said in an earlier tweet. The Atlantic season officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, a period experts consider the most likely for tropical activity in the ocean basin.
Stewart said Ana emerged from a subtropical system, meaning it initially had characteristics of both a tropical storm — which draws energy from warm ocean waters — and a traditional storm system driven by temperature changes typical of cooler weather before the season start.
Despite Ana’s early appearance, he cautioned, swimmers and surfers should stay out of the water because of rough surf and dangerous rip tides. He added people watching the surf from jetties and piers should be cautious due to waves the storm can kick up.
“The biggest danger is rough surf and rip currents. We just don’t want people out there swimming in the waters. We especially don’t want surfers in the rough surf. If they go under they could get dragged out to sea,” Stewart added.
The center said a tropical storm warning extends from the southern part of the Santee River in South Carolina to Cape Lookout, North Carolina, with 1 to 3 inches of rain expected over a wide area and up to 5 inches in some isolated spots. The hurricane center also said the storm could push water 1 to 2 feet above normal height levels, causing some localized flooding.
A tropical storm watch also was in effect for Edisto Beach, South Carolina, up through the southern tip of the Santee River.
A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in Ana’s case within 12 to 24 hours, according to the center. A tropical storm watch means tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area within 24 hours.
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Kenyan police chief quits after deadly extremist attacks
Dec. 2, 2014 Updated: Aug. 12, 2017 6:44 p.m.
NAIROBI, Kenya >>
Kenya’s police chief David Kimaiyo has resigned following an attack Tuesday by Islamic extremists from Somalia that killed more than 36 people dead.
Kimaiyo said that he resigned for personal reasons. Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta named a former army general, Joseph Nkaisery, to replace him.
Public pressure had been mounting for the resignations of Kimaiyo and Interior minister Joseph Ole Lenku following a previous attack 10 days ago in which 28 non-Muslims were dragged out of a bus and shot dead by Islamic extremists.
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Molina in the Community >
North Texas Food Bank Receives $20,000 Donation from Molina Healthcare to Help Feed Area Residents in Need
DALLAS, April 30, 2020 – Molina Healthcare of Texas (“Molina”) has contributed $20,000 to North Texas Food Bank to help replenish necessary food supplies for area residents experiencing high levels of unemployment or reduced income due to the current pandemic.
“This donation could not have come at a better time,” said Courtney Bagot, Director of Individual and Corporate Giving for the North Texas Food Bank. “Many of the clients we are currently serving have never needed food assistance before this pandemic. This gift will allow us to help food-insecure North Texans, and help all of our neighbors who are struggling to provide for themselves and their families during this uncertain time.”
Earlier this month, Molina contributed $30,000 to various nonprofits throughout the state, and continues to seek opportunities to support local organizations with needed resources or monetary support. “Molina is proud to support the North Texas Food Bank and is committed to ensuring our local communities receive needed help as we endure this challenging time together,” said Anne Rote, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Texas.
Molina previously announced that it has waived all member COVID-19-related testing and treatment costs. It is providing virtual urgent care services through its partnership with Teladoc and offering free home delivery of prescriptions through any CVS Pharmacy. In addition, the Company is providing telehealth services based on Medicaid Agency updates. Molina also made a Coronavirus Chatbot online tool available to help members identify COVID-19 symptoms and immediately connect with support resources.
About North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit hunger-relief organization operating a state-of-the-art volunteer and distribution center in Plano- the Perot Family Campus. Last year, the Food Bank worked hard in partnership with member agencies from our Feeding Network to provide to almost 77 million nutritious meals across a diverse 13-county service area - this means more than 200,000 meals per day for hungry children, seniors, and families. But the need for hunger relief in North Texas is complex and in order to meet the need, the NTFB is working to increase our food distribution efforts. Our goal is to provide access to 92 million nutritious meals annually by 2025. NTFB is a member of Feeding America, a national hunger-relief organization.
About Molina Healthcare of Texas
Since 2006, Molina Healthcare of Texas has been providing government-funded care for low-income individuals. As of December 31, 2019, the company served approximately 341,000 members through Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Health Insurance Exchange programs, with service areas across Texas. For more information, visit molinahealthcare.com.
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Low inflation will create sustained growth - Mutebile
The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga (left) chats with the Central Bank governor, Mr Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, during the Bank of Uganda sensitisation workshop for MPs in Kampala last week. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA
Kampala- The governor of Bank of Uganda, Mr Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, has said the Central Bank’s policy of maintaining low inflation will help the country achieve sustainable economic growth, job creation and structural transformation.
Addressing MPs during a sensitisation workshop on Friday under the theme: “Role of the Bank of Uganda in ensuring macroeconomic stability,” Mr Mutebile said since the 1990s, BoU has agreed with the government to pursue a 5 per cent target or less for annual core inflation.
He said the target has been stated publicly in many official documents such as the current National Development Plan and budget speeches.
“We aim to achieve this target of 5 per cent for core inflation on average over the medium term, rather than in every single month. It is not possible to hold core inflation constant at 5 per cent, month after month, because core inflation is unavoidably subject to shocks, such as those from the exchange rate or food prices, which sometimes push it above 5 per cent and sometimes push it below,” he said.
In its pursuit of controlling core inflation, the Central Bank takes a forward looking approach because monetary policy operates with significant lags.
“A change in the interest rate today will not have its full impact on prices for at least one year ahead. Therefore, in setting the policy interest rate, the BoU makes a forecast of inflation, 12 months ahead,” he said.
Mr Mutebile also said high inflation also deters domestic savings and encourages capital flight.
He said unless private investors can be confident that inflation will be kept under control, it will be difficult to mobilise private investment on the scale necessary to generate sustainable economic growth, job creation and structural transformation.
He said in the long run, inflation always reflects an imbalance between what economists call aggregate demand and aggregate supply in the economy.
“By aggregate demand, we mean overall demand from all sources, for goods and services. If the overall demand for goods and services in the economy exceeds the capacity of the economy to meet this demand through a combination of domestic production or imports, prices must inevitably rise,” he said.
Mr Mutebile added: “Monetary policy affects aggregate demand in the economy, mainly by influencing the level of spending by the private sector, which accounts for about 85 per cent of total spending in the economy. Inflation can be controlled by the judicious implementation of monetary policy.”
The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, said the House started working with the Central Bank in 1966 and pledged that it will continue passing legislations and appropriation of financial resources in various sectors of the economy as planned.
However, she said: “The 10th Parliament has come at a time when interest rates are high and businesses are collapsing, we have time to discuss this further.”
Mr Amos Lugoloobi, the chairperson of the Budget Committee of Parliament, said the primary objectives of monetary policy are to maintain price and financial stability and help achieve full employment.
“At times there may appear to be a conflict between the goals of inflation and economic growth. But we have learned from hard experience that high inflation distorts the private sector’s savings and investment decisions, leading to slower growth,” he said.
Mr Lugoloobi added: “That is why countries have increasingly placed great emphasis on price stability and many of them have made low and stable inflation the primary objective for monetary policy.”
However, Ms Syda Bbumba, the chairperson standing committee in National Economy of parliament, said: “The Bank of Uganda needs to do more in ensuring that the high lending rate reduces.”
moketch@ug.nationmedia.com
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The visitor arriving at Monteviot does not immediately see the Georgian house which faces south towards the river, but is greeted by Schomberg Scott’s new frontage of 1962-3 and Blore’s gabled, dressed sandstone east wing of 1830-2 with, at its north end, the 9th Marquis’s picturesque water tower of 1877.
Schomberg Scott’s work is pink-harled with stone trimmings, tall sash windows and carved heraldry devised by Don Pottinger. The stone plaques over the windows, from east to west, are carved with family ciphers and symbols: AN (for Antonella Newland, Marchioness of Lothian); a stag’s head (one of the Kerr crests); LL and a coronet (entwined Ls for Lord and Lady Lothian); a unicorn’s head (a unicorn is the sinister supporter of the Lothian arms); PK (for Peter Kerr, Marquis of Lothian); the full quartered Lothian arms (Kerr of Lothian and Kerr of Jedburgh) topped with the sun in splendour crest of the family (over the main entrance); and to the right, the Lothian knot.
Over the side entrance in the west wing (added in 1978) is a weathered marriage stone of 1558 (the original of which is near the tennis court) and, on the carved keystone, a linked cipher for Michael and Jane Ancram. The two large stone urns flanking the main entrance are early Eighteenth Century and come from Ancrum House.
The pitched slate roof over the hall is a recent addition which greatly improves the appearance of the house, as well as being of practical benefit.
Sylvia G, Berwick-upon-Tweed — 30th August 2014
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Multi-purpose provincial supervision of health zones
Portada del libro de Multi-purpose provincial supervision of health zones
Título del libro:
in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Case of the Province of Kasai Oriental
apto para el cupón
Idioma del libro:
Notas y citas / Texto breve:
The reform of the health system initiated since 2006 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) requires an increased role for the intermediate level (province) in the supervision and technical monitoring of the peripheral level, which is the peripheral level of the health pyramid and consists of the health zones. Within this framework, a provincial executive team (ECP) has been set up. The content of this supervision has only been addressed to a very limited extent in the standards and directives of the Ministry of Health. The objective of this study was to determine the content and functionality of the supervision of health zones (ZS) by the PCT.
Emmanuel MUKENDI MUKENDI
health, Democratic Republic of Congo, Medicine, supervision
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Poet and author Bao Phi: ‘It felt like the hate was cranked up to 11’
Bao Phi has written at least one new poem in response to the pandemic, “Alternate Reality, or, A Narrow Opening.” You can read it at Unmargin, a collective website for Asian-Americans and their voices.
By Pamela Espeland | columnist
Bao Phi: "My life at the Loft has been helping out where I can and trying to learn very quickly this online stuff that all of us will probably have increasing responsibility for over the next year or so."
Photo by Anna Min
Bao Phi was 3 months old when his family fled Vietnam in 1975. Here’s what he told the audience at a poetry reading in 2017:
The regime that my parents were fleeing from rolled tanks and shot rockets and mortars into Saigon as we fled … All this stuff was happening – bombings, explosions, utter chaos, people dying – and I was a quiet baby in my family’s arms as we tried to escape … [I became] the loudmouth kid in high school who started doing poetry and never stopped.
Phi’s family settled in south Minneapolis in the Phillips neighborhood, where Phi grew up during the American Indian Movement (AIM). “There was no guidebook for a Vietnamese kid being raised in Phillips,” he has said. A self-described “bookish nerd kid,” he found his safe spot at the Franklin Avenue Library.
After graduating from South High School, he attended Macalester College on a full scholarship. He earned his degree in English and got his first taste of Asian-American studies from a Japanese-American chemistry teacher. He worked various jobs before landing a position as receptionist at the Loft Literary Center. Today he’s the program director of events and awards. He is also a single co-parent of 10-year-old daughter Sông, who splits her time between Phi and her mother.
A performance poet since age 16, Phi is a two-time Minnesota Grand Slam champion and a National Poetry Slam finalist. He has been named Best Spoken Word Artist, Best Author, Artist of the Year, Author of the Year and Urban Griots Artist of the Year. His poems and essays have been widely published, and he is the author of four books so far: two poetry collections published by Coffee House Press, “Sông I Sing” (2011) and “Thousand Star Hotel” (2017), and two children’s picture books published by Capstone, “A Different Pond” (2017) and “My Footprints” (2019).
“A Different Pond” won multiple awards, including a Caldecott Honor and a Minnesota Book Award. It was adapted for a play that would have had its world premiere this month at Stages Theatre Company, except COVID.
We spoke by phone on Sunday afternoon. This conversation has been edited and condensed.
MinnPost: How are you and Sông doing during the pandemic?
Bao Phi: My daughter likes distance learning. If anything, I’m a little nervous about getting her to go back [to school]. She has remarked that she misses seeing some of her friends and classmates, but she really likes being at home and learning at her own pace.
She was diagnosed last year as being on the autism spectrum. Sometimes it’s a challenge for them to negotiate some of the social rules and cues. At home, it’s just much easier for her. [At school], she expels a lot of energy fitting in and doing what she needs to so she doesn’t stick out. Which is basically like my childhood!
They say that autism manifests very differently in girls. I also learned it manifests differently in Asian people. It often goes undiagnosed, or the diagnosis is late.
MP: What did your year look like before everything closed down?
BP: I have my job at the Loft as full-time program director. I also do speaking engagements. Everything from going to a grade school to read picture books to little kids, to reading poetry and giving a workshop at a university or in another state. It’s the gig economy, basically. As a single parent, it’s what I have to do.
For some reason, before COVID hit, most of my bread-and-butter gigging happened from January through early March. I was actually grumpy about it, because every other week I was in my car or going to the airport. But I got very lucky this year.
MP: What is your life like now?
BP: When my daughter is with me, my life is very much a routine of three meals a day and making sure she’s up on her offsite learning.
I log into work. I try to get us outside once a day. We live by Powderhorn Park and do socially distanced free time until right before bed, when we watch one episode of “Adventure Time” together. Then we brush up and watch a funny short YouTube video, and then I get her to bed.
Once she falls asleep, if I’m not too tired, I’ll either do some chores or watch TV or read something before I go to bed.
Work has been very busy. As you saw, the Loft’s Wordplay festival had to pivot online. Wordplay is not my primary responsibility, but it’s all hands on deck. My life at the Loft has been helping out where I can and trying to learn very quickly this online stuff that all of us will probably have increasing responsibility for over the next year or so.
I’ve been doing live events for 20 years and can do that with one hand tied behind my back. But setting up and broadcasting a literary reading in a way that looks professional and is consistent with the values and branding of the organization is new territory for all of us.
MP: You once said you wrote a poem a day. Do you still do that?
BP: No, but I actually maintained that for a surprisingly long time. The caveat being that doesn’t mean it was a good poem.
I’ve been working on a novel off and on for the last 10 years. It’s basically an alternate history of the United States, where in the late ’90s there’s a virus that happens that turns people into zombies and southeast Asians get blamed for it. I finally finished it a few months ago. I don’t know if it’s timely now or too soon. This is my first long-form anything. It could be terrible, but at least it’s done.
MP: It seems that poets can respond immediately to anything. Is the pandemic making its way into your work?
BP: That’s why I was drawn to poetry as a teenager. It’s why I became a poet. All of these things were happening – the first Persian Gulf War, police brutality – that required an immediate response. I felt compelled to comment and make sense of things through art. I couldn’t sing, I couldn’t rap, I couldn’t play any instruments. I tried theater – that’s a whole other thing! – but poetry was immediate. You could go to a rally, a coffee shop, or a meeting of friends in a basement with a poem, and no one could stop you.
The shelter-in-place has been very up and down for me. [At first] it was very difficult to write anything because I was so full of anxiety and anger. I don’t have to reiterate the huge number [of acts] of anti-Asian violence.
I want to be very clear here: Anti-Asian violence and discrimination are nothing new. Ever since I had consciousness, I have known that my race has made me an enemy. This is not new to me at all. But the whole heightenedness of it – the fact that it was almost justified at all levels of our civic life, not only super-blatant but also seemingly signed off on as being OK – was really damaging to me. It felt like the hate was cranked up to 11.
This was on top of the stress of working from home, being responsible for my daughter, not knowing if I’m going to have a job, and trying to help my elderly refugee parents, who are poor, negotiate all of this. It’s on top of what everyone else is also worried about. This anvil of anti-Asian racism.
It was just too much. So I didn’t write about it for a long time. Now I’ve written a little, but the writing is relatively new because the feelings are still very raw.
MP: You’re also working on your third children’s book. You’ve said it’s about a duck, but it’s really about deportation?
BP: I knew that if I had an opportunity to write a third children’s book, I would want it to address deportation. The challenge is, how do you tackle a very complicated adult issue in a way small children can absorb? It doesn’t need to be complete. It just needs to get them interested enough to ask questions.
I remembered a duck I saw many years ago in Powderhorn Park, hanging out in a tiny puddle. I thought – what if I write about a duck that comes to Powderhorn and is clearly not from Powderhorn, and all these kids from different races and ethnicities welcome it to the neighborhood in all of these different languages?
I often go to schools where the majority of kids come from ESL families. When I told them the idea, they would get so excited about it. “Oh, maybe there’s going to be a book in English but my language is also represented!” I talked about it, and now I have to do it. Hopefully it’ll be out next spring.
Deportation affects so many communities. There’s a duck, but the people standing up for it are Cambodian, they’re Mexican, they’re Vietnamese, they’re Somali, they’re Arab.
Courtesy of Bao Phi
Bao Phi, right, shown with his daughter, Sông.
MP: What keeps you up at night?
BP: Am I going to be able to provide for my daughter? That encompasses everything. Whether or not I have a job in three months. Whether or not some crazy racist is going to attack me when I go grocery shopping. Whether or not I’m going to get paid the money I need in the gig economy to make ends meet. Am I going to catch COVID? I’m being as careful as I can be, given that I still have to help my parents and my daughter.
MP: Is there a silver lining?
BP: I love spending time with my daughter. Working from home, generally speaking, isn’t so bad.
MP: What’s the first thing you’ll do when you can do whatever you want?
BP: Most likely, I’ll take a very short trip with my daughter. Some type of little fun vacation. Probably up north somewhere, to Duluth or the Grand Marais area.
Or I might just take her to Norske Nook. It’s a Wisconsin-based Scandinavian restaurant [chain]. You go there for the pie. They have all these pies, very much like Lutheran church pies. Cool Whip pies. But they’re spectacular.
MP: Is there anything you would like to add?
BP: I talk a lot about Asian-American stuff, but that doesn’t mean I only care about Asian people. I care about everyone, but I talk about Asian-American stuff very intentionally, because we’re so often erased and ignored. I feel it’s important to push back on that.
On Friday, May 22, Phi will take part in “A Mu Variety Show,” Theater Mu’s first performance since its production of “Peerless” in February. Co-hosted by Mu Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal and playwright-in-residence Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay, it will be a night of music, poetry, comedy and dance. 7 p.m. on Theater Mu’s Facebook page. FMI and RSVP.
Upcoming (virtual) events at the Loft include two Mentor Series readings on May 29 and June 5. FMI. Two more events not yet on the Loft’s website but worth noting for the future:
On June 4 at 7 p.m.: Salmon Rushdie: “Quichotte.” The Loft’s Wordplay will join with other book festivals to present the internationally famous author as he talks about his latest, an epic Don Quixote for the modern age. This will be a CrowdCast event. FMI. Visit the Loft’s website in a week or two.
On June 25 at 2 p.m., Kao Kalia Yang, author of “The Shared Room,” will join John Coy, author of “If We Were Gone,” for a conversation about heartache and big questions. In “The Shared Room,” a family gradually moves forward after the loss of a child. “If We Were Gone” imagines the world without people. FMI. Check back for Zoom meeting information or visit the Loft’s website in a week or two.
Pamela Espeland
Pamela Espeland writes the Artscape column for MinnPost. She also writes for the Star Tribune, NPR and mnartists.org, blogs at bebopified.com, and is an Art Hound for Minnesota Public Radio. She can be reached at pespeland@minnpost.com.
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From Park Square, a virtual play festival; Crooners to offer drive-in concerts after all
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Janis Lane-Ewart: ‘Tell someone that you’re thinking of them, whenever that crosses your brain’
More Artscape articles
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The Celebration of Canada 150 Continues on the Royal Canadian Mint's Latest Collector Coins
Ottawa, Ontario, May 2, 2017 – With only a few months left before the Canada officially turns 150 on July 1st, the Royal Canadian Mint is launching more collector coins celebrating this milestone anniversary in its May 2017 numismatic catalogues. The latest offerings from the Mint's Canada 150 program and other coins featuring iconic depictions of Canada are now available for purchase.
The Mint is issuing a new imposing tribute to Canada 150 with an ultra-high relief 10 oz. fine silver coin recreating the art deco elegance of the 1927 Diamond Jubilee of the Confederation of Canada Medal. Other 1927 treasures are finally seeing the light of day with a fine silver three-coin set featuring circulation coin designs proposed, 90 years ago, but never adopted for the celebration of Canada's Diamond Jubilee. These "forgotten" designs appear on unique renditions of the one-, five- and 25-cent denomination, the latter two being the only coins ever designed by a member of the Group of Seven: artist J.E.H. MacDonald.
A fresh take on the popular Fine Silver "Canada 150: Our Home and Native Land" Proof set returns with the cheerful addition of red enamel to the numerals "150" appearing in the design of the Limited Edition Silver Dollar. In the first release from a new "En Plein Air" series of 2017-dated $20 fine silver coins, the splendour of a bed of Canada 150 tulips projects from a painter's canvas on a design by artist Elizabeth Sim. Her illustration on a 60 mm-wide 1 oz. coin features new texturized and canvas effect colour, bringing to life a cherished symbol of Ottawa in springtime, celebrated annually with the Tulip Festival, now in its 65th year. The 2017 $10 Fine Silver Coin – Celebrating Canada's 150th series also continues with "Peyto Lake" captured in a majestic photo by Alberta's Missy Mandel.
New coins offered this May include:
The 2017 $350 Pure Gold Coin – The Majestic Elk, featuring the artwork of Maurade Barton in 99.999% pure gold;
The 2017 $10 Fine Silver Coin – Birds Among Nature's Colours: Tufted Titmouse, designed by Derek C. Wicks;
The 2017 $25 Fine Silver Coin – Dragon featuring a vividly coloured ultra high relief design of a dragon boat figure head by artist Simon Ng; and
The double crystal-enhanced 2017 $3 Fine Silver Coin Zodiac Series – Gemini (June), designed by Pandora Young.
Mintages, pricing and full background information on each product can be found on the "Shop" tab of www.mint.ca.
All of these products can be ordered directly from the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca. The coins are also available at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as well as through our global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.
About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2008 certified company, the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca
Alex Reeves
Senior Advisor, External Communications
reeves@mint.ca
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Mintfo
News Sourced
7th December 2020 7th December 2020 Mintfo
98-year-old guerrilla fighter recalls WWII experience
Maj. Max Young, a 98-year-old former guerrilla fighter, on Monday vividly recalled his ordeal in World War II, particularly his daring escape, together with his comrades from their Japanese captors on March 20, 1942.
Young, who hails from Cebu, disclosed his WWII experience during an exclusive interview on the eve of the 79th anniversary of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines on Dec. 8, 1941 that started WWII in the Pacific.
At 98, Young could be the only surviving Filipino war veteran who fought during the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War where he was a member of the Philippine Civic Action Group to Vietnam (PHILCAG), not engaged in combat, but civic action work.
Despite his age, Young still remembers all his combat experience, particularly the Korean War where he was a tank commander, who fought almost singlehandedly against highly superior Chinese and North Korean force in the battle of Yultong where he was awarded the Taegeuk Medal, South Korea’s highest military medal for gallantry in combat.
Young still does calisthenics every day doing 1,000 steps, and walks on his own.
Recalling his WWII experience, Young said he was aboard working in a civilian ship, together with 160 soldiers and their families going to Manila from Cebu when we heard “over the radio at 10 in the morning that Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and Clark Air Base in Pampanga were bombed by Japanese warplanes on that fateful day of 8 December 1941”.
“We were sailing near Mindoro Island when we heard the news that shocked all of us. We prayed to God for protection,” he said.
He said the ship captain was undaunted as he sped up the ship going to Manila.
“As we sailed to Manila, two Japanese warships spotted us. We were told to surrender, but our skipper ignored the warning,” he said. “Suddenly, the Japanese opened fire at us with their big guns as we continued to sail.”
Young said the boat’s captain proceeded to Corregidor and anchored the ship on the seashore.
“We jumped to the shallow waters and ran for our lives,” Young said.
After a few days, they were told to proceed to Bataan but “on Dec. 15 we went to Fort Mills in Corregidor Island where there was an enlistment in progress by the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE),” he said.
“I was enlisted immediately. I was elated. At that time, I was 19,” Young said.
With the Philippines under attack, Young said he was ready to die and defend the country against the Japanese invaders.
Later, Young said he and six of his companions decided to surrender to the Japanese on March 1, 1942, or three months after the invasion.
“We were assigned to help in serving meal to our Japanese captors,” he said.
“Then on March 20, 1942, we secretly planned to escape. Fortunately, we were able to escape and thanked God for His help and protection,” he added.
Young’s combat experience is a one-of-a-kind exploit that all Filipinos can be proud of and even worth making into a movie about the great Filipino soldier. PNA.GOV.PH
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Army troops clash with NPA in Masbate
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US carrier strike group conducts exercise with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Mintfo | Mint Information
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Cuomo Touts Georgia Election Official He Once Accused of Voter Suppression
Some of you might remember when CNN's PrimeTime host Chris “Fredo” Cuomo went toe-to-toe last year with Georgia election official Gabriel Sterling regarding the baseless accusations of voter suppression against the black community. In fact, Sterling made Fredo look like such a fool, that the schooling made it into NewsBusters’ top Fredo moments of 2020. Well, Cuomo seemed to have a bit of a change of heart on Monday (the first episode of 2021) and highlighted Sterling refuting claims of election fraud. After continuing his effort to stoke hatred of Republicans with dangerous rhetoric, and repeating debunked claims of insider trading against Georgia Senator David Perdue (R), Fredo declared: “The truth literally sickens these people.” “These people” being Republicans. He added: “And remember this. I'm not telling you something that isn't known, that you don't even know by now. The truth is known. Their own party members confirm it. Takes us to exhibit C.” Cuomo immediately highlighted a soundbite of Sterling at a press conference on Monday going through a list of President Trump’s accusations of election fraud in Georgia and refuting them: STERLING: There is no shredding of ballots going on. That's not real. It's not happening. [Transition] No one is changing parts or pieces out of Dominion voting machines. That’s not real – I don’t know what that means. That’s not a real thing. [Transition] Secretary Raffensperger does not have a brother named Ron Raffensperger. That is also not real. The President tweeted that out as well. “That guy is a Republican, by the way,” Cuomo boasted, failing to remind viewers Sterling was once a guest on the show. Yet, it was only seven months ago that Fredo was trying to paint Sterling as a liar and a villain following the Democratic primary for president. “Here is the tragedy of the travesty that the President has created on this issue: We have real voter suppression concerns. One is playing out now. Proof,” Cuomo proclaimed at the time, playing a video of the long lines. “This is the only type of widespread voter fraud we will ever see.” Cuomo tried to make Sterling answer for supposed racism and voter suppression (click “expand”): All right. Let's talk about exactly that. For some context for people, 2018, 87,000 people prevented from voting, a disproportionate number were people of color, young voters, groups typically favoring Democrats. Georgia has closed five percent of polling places since the Supreme Court invalidated the Voter Rights Act, most of those are in black and brown communities. You get the point. People are concerned that what they saw today is a reflection of what they've seen before, which is disenfranchisement of minorities who tend to vote Democrat. Your take? At one point in his master-class schooling of the roid-raging CNNer, Sterling dropped a blistering “you're just incorrect” as he dismantled Fredo’s false assertions. Addressing the closing of voting places and other signs of poor management, Sterling informed Cuomo that all those decisions were made at the country level and those counties were run by Democrats. “They are made at the county level and the state has zero ability to tell them not do that,” he said. “In those counties where people tend to vote Democrats, are run by Democrats, and they're the ones that set the elections boards, they’re the ones who hire the staff.” Sterling also went on to explain that most of the problems they faced in the Democratic primary were due to the learning curve from the pandemic. And in the end, Fredo buckled. “All I'm saying is Gabe, look, I’m not looking to ascribe animus, I'm just saying it looks bad,” he cowered. Sterling and his facts won the day. The transcript is below, click "expand" to read: CNN’s Cuomo PrimeTime January 4, 2021 9:07:21 p.m. Eastern (…) CHRIS CUOMO: David Purdue, one of the GOP senators in the spotlight in Georgia, right, fighting to keep his job. He was asked about this tape. He says, “it's disgusting.” Not what Trump did. The secretary of state recording and releasing it. Leave it to a moneyed stock jockey to hate the exposure of an inside game. The truth literally sickens these people. And remember this. I'm not telling you something that isn't known, that you don't even know by now. The truth is known. Their own party members confirm it. Takes us to exhibit C. GABRIEL STERLING: There is no shredding of ballots going on. That's not real. It's not happening. [Transition] No one is changing parts or pieces out of Dominion voting machines. That’s not real – I don’t know what that means. That’s not a real thing. [Transition] Secretary Raffensperger does not have a brother named Ron Raffensperger. That is also not real. The President tweeted that out as well. CUOMO: That guy is a Republican, by the way. (…)
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15 Things You Might Not Know About Dexter's Laboratory
While most of us didn’t have a secret laboratory growing up, many of us endured a childhood with an annoying sibling who thought he or she knew better and/or a counterpart whose intelligence made us feel inferior (possibly due to his or her own secret laboratory). Such relatability is one of the reasons why Dexter's Laboratory was loved by viewers of all ages ever since its 1995 debut.
1. IT WAS A FIRST FOR CARTOON NETWORK.
Initially running old Warner Bros., MGM, and Hanna-Barbera cartoons 24 hours a day, the new cable channel started to air original animated shorts in 1995 during the showcase series What a Cartoon! One of those was Dexter’s Laboratory, which won a most popular short series vote, and was subsequently picked up as a series. Not only was the show the first original animated series in Cartoon Network history (the first original, sort of live-action show was Space Ghost Coast to Coast), it was the highest-rated series on the Turner-owned network in both 1996 and 1997.
2. DEXTER WAS VOICED BY TWO DIFFERENT WOMEN.
Accomplished voice actress Christine Cavanaugh provided the perfect voice for both Chuckie Finster on Rugrats and the titular Babe in the 1995 movie. She stopped portraying Dexter during the show's third season, in 2001, when she retired from the voice acting business. She was replaced by Candi Milo. Sadly, Cavanaugh passed away on December 22, 2014.
3. DEE DEE WAS ALSO VOICED BY TWO DIFFERENT WOMEN.
Creator Genndy Tartakovsky recruited his college friend Allison Moore to voice Dee Dee in the first season. When Moore tired of voice acting and left to pursue a career on Broadway, Kat Cressida took over. When the series came back for a third season, Moore actually took the role back. Then Cartoon Network stepped in before the fourth and final year and brought Cressida back, believing the show’s viewers were more used to her voice.
4. DEXTER HAS AN ACCENT BECAUSE ALL WELL-KNOWN SCIENTISTS HAVE ACCENTS.
At least that’s how Tartakovsky once reasoned it to The New York Times. In an interview with The Washington Post, Cavanaugh described the diminutive scientist’s voice partly as “a small Peter Lorre.” Director-storyboard artist-animation director-Tartakovsky roommate at California Institute of the Arts Rob Renzetti may have also prank-called Tartakovsky with a similar voice during their school days.
5. THE IDEA FOR DEXTER BEGAN WITH A DRAWING OF A BALLERINA.
Tartakovsky drew a tall, blonde ballerina one day for a college animation assignment. It led to him thinking up a polar opposite: a short little brother with a love of science. Gradually, Dexter came into being, with Tartakovsky’s computer engineer brother Alex as another inspiration.
6. THE JUSTICE FRIENDS WERE INSPIRED BY THE MARVEL COMICS TARTAKOVSKY READ AS A CHILD.
Tartakovsky left Russia with his parents and emigrated to Chicago at the age of seven. His father left behind a career as a dentist whose clients included the Soviet National hockey team. Watching Warner Bros. cartoons and reading Marvel Comics helped the budding animator learn English.
7. SPONGEBOB AND SCOOBY DOO WERE TWO OF THE JUSTICE FRIENDS.
Tom Kenny, who voiced SpongeBob SquarePants, and Frank Welker, who provides the voice of Scooby-Doo and Scooby's friend Fred, also worked on Dexter's Laboratory. Kenny played Valhallen in the Justice Friends shorts, while Welker played both his roommate, Infraggable Krunk, and Dexter’s Monkey, who starred in the Dial M for Monkey installments.
8. TARTAKOVSKY THOUGHT THE JUSTICE FRIENDS CARTOONS COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.
When asked in 2001 if any project of his—which at that point also included Samurai Jack—didn’t live up to expectations, Tartakovsky replied that Justice Friends "could have been funnier and the characters could have been fleshed out more."
9. DEXTER’S BURRITO PALACE IS BASED ON AN ACTUAL PLACE.
Dexter's beloved Burrito Palace is based on an eatery that Tartakovsky frequented growing up in Chicago.
10. SETH MACFARLANE WAS A WRITER ON THE SHOW.
The future Family Guy creator was a storyboard artist on Dexter’s Laboratory and co-wrote four episodes. Craig McCracken, who would later go on to create The Powerpuff Girls, worked as a director, art director, model designer, and storyboard artist on the show. The Powerpuff Girls (which Tartakovsky produced) also originated as a What a Cartoon! short before blossoming into a full-fledged series.
11. THE ANIMATION STYLE WAS STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY ONE SPECIFIC MERRIE MELODIES CARTOON.
The Dover Boys at Pimento University is a classic Warner Bros. cartoon, and its uniquely stylized animation encouraged Tartakovsky to work in a similar way.
12. DEXTER WAS IN THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE.
Twice! A giant balloon version of Dexter made its way from Central Park to Herald Square in both 1998 and 1999.
13. A SEGMENT WAS BANNED FROM SUBSEQUENT AIRINGS.
The Dial M for Monkey segment titled “Barbeqor” isn't one you'll be seeing again. Shortly after its initial airing it was pulled from the lineup because the Silver Spooner character presented a negative stereotype of gay men. The segment was replaced on all season one DVDs of the show.
14. ANOTHER SEGMENT DIDN’T SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY UNTIL 2013.
“Rude Removal” was initially produced in 1998. It achieved cult status through the years, because Cartoon Network would not air it due to its excessive swearing (it didn’t seem to matter that the 13 words were bleeped.) Finally on January 22, 2013, Adult Swim—Cartoon Network’s primetime block of programming—uploaded “Rude Removal” to its YouTube channel.
15. FANS HAVE SOME INTERESTING THEORIES ABOUT THE SHOW.
Some fans believe that Dee Dee is actually Dexter’s time-traveling daughter, sent back in time by Dexter to prevent him from working on an invention that would destroy the world. Less plausible theories, like that Dexter’s Laboratory is a prequel to The Big Bang Theory, are also out there.
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How Law Firms Are Getting Paid in 2019
MyCase Blog Home » How Law Firms Are Getting Paid in 2019
One of the biggest challenges faced by small law firms in 2019 is getting paid promptly. When clients put off paying a legal bill, or even ignore it completely, law firm finances and cash flow can be affected significantly. Alternatively, when legal bills are paid quickly, law firms run more smoothly and efficiently. That’s why it’s so important for small firms lawyers to make it as easy as possible for clients to pay for legal invoices.
Get paid for what you’re owed, faster.
Find out how McFarling Law Group increased their collectability from 60% to 85% with using MyCase.
That’s where law practice management software with built in time-tracking, legal billing, accounting, and online payment processing features comes in. These tools make it easier than ever for lawyers to enter their billable time, create and send out invoices, and collect credit card payments – all with just the click of a button!
Because legal billing features built into software streamline and simplify the law firm billing process, it’s no surprise that the use of legal billing tools is on the rise. But don’t take my word for it. The results of the latest ABA Legal Technology Survey Report fully support this conclusion.
According to the Report, 81% of the lawyers surveyed reported that time and billing software designed to streamline the time-tracking and invoice-creation process was made available by their firm. Large and mid-sized firms led the way, with 95% of the lawyers from firms of 100 or more attorneys reporting that these tools were available, as did 95% of lawyers from firms with 10-49 lawyers. Next up were firms of 2-9 attorneys at 85% (up from 83% in 2017, 85% in 2016, and 79% in 2015). Solo lawyers came in last at 58% (up from 55% in 2017, 64% in 2016, and 62% in 2015).
Not surprisingly, since larger law firms are the most likely to provide legal billing tools to their lawyers, those lawyers were the most likely to use them. So, 77% of lawyers from firms of 100 or more reported that they personally used the time and billing features that were available to them (up from 64% in 2017, 69% in 2016, and 78% in 2015). Next up were small firm lawyers of 2-9 attorneys at 67% (up from 66% in 2017, 68% in 2016, and 56% in 2015). 66% of lawyers from firms of 10-49 attorneys personally used time and billing software (compared to 68% in 2017, 79% in 2016, and 65% in 2015). And last were solos at 50% (compared to 48% in 2017, 58% in 2016, and 50% in 2015). Overall, 64% of all lawyers surveyed chose to use time and billing tools (compared to 61% in 2017, 67% in 2016, and 60% in 2015).
According to the Report, electronic billing software that facilitates invoice creation and online payments is also on the rise. 72% of all lawyers surveyed reported that their firms now offer electronic billing tools (up from 70% in 2017, 68% in 2016, and 67% in 2015). Lawyers from firms with 100 or more attorneys were the most likely to have these tools available at 88%. Next were lawyers from firms of 10-49 lawyers at 81%, followed by small firm lawyers (2-9 lawyers) at 74%. Solo lawyers came in last at 55%.
The percentage of lawyers who personally use electronic billing software is also increasing, with 38% of all lawyers reporting that they use it (up from 32% in 2017, 36% in 2016, and 32% in 2015). Solo lawyers lead the way at 43%, since they are the most likely to perform legal billing tasks themselves due to lack of support staff. Lawyers from firms of 2-9 lawyers were next at 41%, followed by lawyers from firms of 100 or more attorneys at 35%, and lawyers from firms of 10-49 attorneys at 31%.
So that’s how other lawyers and law firms are making use of legal billing and payment processing tools. Is your law firm using legal practice management software that includes a robust set of legal billing features? If not, why not? The more streamlined your law firm’s billing process is (and the easier it is for clients to pay their legal bills), the more quickly your firm will get paid and reap the benefits of the hard work performed on behalf of your firm’s clients.
In 2019 legal clients expect more from their lawyers. If your firm doesn’t provide them with the type of service they expect, they’ll find another that will. Don’t let that happen. Instead, use the 21st century legal software tools that your clients expect. The end result will be legal bills paid promptly and happy clients. What more could you ask for?
Billing, Legal Technology, Practice Management
Webinar Recap: 10 Ways to Kickoff the New Year: A Checklist for Law Firms
6 Time Management Tips to Get More Billable Hours
Getting Paid Ethically [LEG 058] ⋆ California State Bar Defense Attorney Megan Zavieh
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Fall Fund Drive Rules & Regulations
FACT CHECK: Trump Falsely Claims Widespread Fraud In Latest Election Speech
By Alana Wise • Nov 5, 2020
President Trump speaks in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on Thursday as the presidential election remains tight with Democratic nominee Joe Biden ahead in the electoral count.
Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images
Originally published on November 6, 2020 10:00 am
Updated at 9:16 p.m. ET
President Trump on Thursday evening made his first public remarks since the late-night hours following Election Day, falsely claiming that he would win "easily," save for what he baselessly referred to as fraud by Democrats and the media.
"If you look at the legal votes, I win very easily," Trump told reporters from the White House briefing room.
"They're trying very obviously to commit fraud," he said, speaking particularly harshly about Philadelphia and Detroit.
Votes from the county that includes Philadelphia have helped the Democratic nominee Joe Biden close Trump's lead in the state of Pennsylvania. The Associated Press has called the state of Michigan, and its 16 electoral votes, for Biden.
The president left after speaking for several minutes and did not take reporter questions.
In his remarks, Trump railed against the process of mail-in voting, which saw a significant uptick this election cycle as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. He baselessly claimed that the process of counting mailed-in ballots had been tainted and complained that many of the absentee votes had been cast for Biden. (Read our fact check about mail-in voting security here.)
"I've said very strongly that mail-in ballots are going to end up being a disaster," he said. "It's getting worse and worse every day."
Trump complained repeatedly that Republican observers had not gained sufficient access to vote counting locations, which the campaign has filed lawsuits over in Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania.
However, the suits in Michigan and Nevada were quickly dismissed by state courts. A state court judge in Pennsylvania affirmed on Wednesday that observers have a right to be within 6 feet of the ballot-counting operation, but a federal judge threw out a prospective lawsuit on Thursday in which Trump's campaign sought to halt vote counting in Philadelphia.
Further, Trump on Thursday misleadingly claimed that observers were excluded from the counting site in Detroit; city officials say Republicans were not excluded and that there were Republican observers, but that coronavirus-related capacity constraints did not permit everyone who wanted to be an observer into the room.
Trump said he expects "a lot of litigation" to contest the election's results.
"We can't be disgraced by having something like this happen," he said on Thursday. "There's been a lot of shenanigans, and we can't stand for that in our country."
Noting that only a handful of states remain uncalled in the race, Trump falsely claimed, "The voting apparatus of those states are run in all cases by Democrats." In fact, the secretaries of state in Georgia and Nevada — two of five states where a clear winner has not yet been determined — are Republican. In the case of Georgia's Brad Raffensperger, Trump actually endorsed him for the office in 2018.
Following Trump's speech, a handful of elected Republicans refuted Trump's fraud claims, saying people should respect the democratic process.
Earlier in the day, Democratic nominee Joe Biden made brief remarks reaffirming his belief that he would ultimately be declared the winner of the presidency but urged patience as votes continue to be counted.
"In America, the vote is sacred," he said. "It's how the people of this nation express their will. And it is the will of the voters — no one, not anything else — that chooses the president of the United States of America. So each ballot must be counted."
He added: "Democracy is sometimes messy. It sometimes requires a little patience as well. But that patience has been rewarded now for more than 240 years."
Biden's comments come as local poll workers continue to tally votes and as the nation awaits an answer on who will be in the White House for the next four years.
Biden holds a lead in electoral votes over Trump, but a handful of critical swing states remain to declare their respective winners.
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https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2012/05/new-nist-srm-supports-fight-against-terrorist-bombings
New NIST SRM Supports the Fight Against Terrorist Bombings
Credit: Irvine/NIST
The new NIST reference material for explosive traces contains meticulously measured concentrations of the explosives TATP and PETN. The material can be used to test and validate the ability of machines and methods to detect the explosives' presence.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a new standard reference material (SRM) to aid in the detection of two explosive compounds that are known to be used by terrorists. Researchers designed the new test samples to simulate the size and behavior of residues that remain after handling the explosives PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) and TATP (triacetone triperoxide). Instrument developers, academic researchers and government labs can use the SRM to test, refine and validate their new detector designs.
The new test samples are available from NIST as Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2907, "Trace Terrorist Explosives Simulants."
Fabricating and handling explosives leaves trace residues of the explosives on skin, clothes or other possessions. These residues are invisible to the naked eye and difficult to remove but may be detected by sensitive explosives detectors. Airport security personnel collect residues with handheld swipe wands. The swipes are then heated to vaporize the explosives, and the vapors analyzed in a tabletop detector. Current detectors typically use a technique called ion mobility mass spectrometry that can recognize specific ionized chemicals based on their chemical properties.
Both PETN and TATP are relatively difficult to detect in the field. The compounds were used in failed terrorist attacks by the "shoe bomber" in 2002 and the "underwear bomber" in 2009.
The new NIST reference material contains meticulously measured concentrations of these two explosives that can be used to test and validate the ability of machines and methods to detect the explosives' presence. The SRM is not itself explosive; it is formulated from inert particles coated with a trace amount of the two explosives.
NIST researchers certified the PETN and TATP content of the simulants using liquid chromatography with both ultraviolet absorbance and mass spectrometric detection. Analytical challenges included development of a new ionization-enhancing additive (for PETN) and a custom synthesized stable-isotope internal standard for the liquid chromatography mass spectrometer measurements of TATP. Details of the development of the materials and the analytical methods used were described in a 2011 paper in Analytical Chemistry.*
SRM 2907, Trace Terrorist Explosives Simulants, is the third SRM supporting the detection of trace explosives. Details, including pricing and distribution, are available at https://www-s.nist.gov/srmors/view_detail.cfm?srm=2907. The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate funded the production of the work presented in this material under HSHQDC-10-00297 with NIST.
Standard reference materials are among the most widely distributed and used products from NIST. The agency prepares, analyzes and distributes about 1,300 different materials used throughout the world to check the accuracy of instruments, validate test procedures, and serve as the basis for quality control standards worldwide.
* W. MacCrehan, S. Moore and D. Hancock. Development of SRM 2907 trace terrorist explosives simulants for the detection of semtex and triacetone triperoxide. Anal. Chem., 2011, 83 (23), pp 9054–9059. Oct. 17, 2011 DOI: 10.1021/ac201967m.
Mark Esser
mark.esser@nist.gov
NIST Headquarters
Laboratory Programs
Chemical Sciences Division
Sign up for updates from NIST
Released May 29, 2012, Updated January 8, 2018
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LOST LEADERSHIP
“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing.”
“With slight shades of difference, you have the same…manners, habits and political principles. You have in common cause fought and triumphed together. The independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts; of common danger, sufferings, and successes.”
“(We) must be loyal to the obligations of our free, competitive party system…which denies that truth is a monopoly held by a privileged few…”
Three leaders, three commentaries on the nature of true leadership in a democracy, especially on issues of great public moment. The simple fact is that the truly important questions must earn bipartisan support or they forever lack the moral authority to succeed with the people, who are after all the owners of this democracy.
One such great issue was the long struggle over the creation of Medicare, signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson who, like the current resident of the White House, had the advantage of large majorities in the House and Senate. The question of whether to provide health benefits for the elderly had been debated since the Social Security system was founded in 1935. The idea was rejected by Congress many times. Democrats generally favored a government-operated system; Republicans generally favored alternatives, such as payments to insurance companies to provide low-cost elder health coverage. Yet when Medicare passed Congress in 1965, the Senate vote for it was 70-24, with 13 Republicans in favor, and seven Democrats opposed. In the House, 70 Republicans supported Medicare, and 48 Democrats did not, in the 307-116 vote.
Medicare was bitterly contested, not by political enemies, but largely by senators and representatives who held different ideas of how to best serve the interests of the nation. One of Medicare’s greatest critics was the Senate minority leader, Illinois Republican Everett Dirksen. Johnson later said of Dirksen: “If Senator Dirksen has established his reputation for fulfilling the duties of partisanship, he has also quite avoided the temptations of irresponsibility…He is a great American. He is a great human being. He is one of my dearest friends.”
Can you imagine a president—or any political leader—saying such a thing in today’s much different political environment? Alternatively, can you imagine the Senate’s junior member of 1965 telling one of its senior members that no, he can’t have “another moment” to complete his remarks on health care legislation, as Minnesota Sen. Al Franken did to Connecticut independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman in December? Political deals were as well known in the 1960s as they are today. But can you imagine in the 1960s a Senate that bought votes for contested public policies with exemptions for some states not given to others, allocations of $100 million to individual hospitals, billions for a single senator’s pet projects and hundreds of millions for others?
Did you ever imagine that the leadership of “the world’s greatest deliberative body” would engage in hurried swap meets, often behind closed doors, to slap together a legislative Frankenstein simply because enough votes were bought to make it passable?
It saddens anyone with a sense of history to watch this kind of spectacle. We seem to have irrevocably lost that sense of common cause on behalf of the nation that so animated George Washington. We have lost Gandhi’s sense of how to do the right thing in seeking political victory. We have forgotten that truth is not the province of just one party, or of today’s majority.
Whatever the fate of the great legislation of our time, no matter which party “wins” or “loses”, what we really have lost in these dealings is leadership worthy of our trust. Certainly, this must be the greatest loss of all.
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The Racial Reckoning Inside Planned Parenthood
Harper's Bazaar 11/23/2020 Dani McClain
© AMANDA PICOTTE Reviving Radical’s Radical Truth Forum
When Nia Martin-Robinson was 18, she had sex for the first time. Soon after, worried that she might have a sexually transmitted infection, she went to her local Planned Parenthood clinic in Detroit to get checked out. The clinician who examined her said she was healthy but added, “If you weren’t being promiscuous, you might not have to worry about having an STD,” recalled Martin-Robinson, who is Black. More than two decades later, the memory still stings. She had waited until high school graduation to have sex, just as her mother had asked. Yet here was a judgmental assumption coming from someone she’d sought out for medical help. “You can do all the right things and people’s bias will rear itself, whether that’s at a traffic stop or a room in a health center,” she said.
Today Martin-Robinson is the director of Black leadership and engagement at the national organization, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She’s part of a new wave of Black women and women of color who are moving into leadership positions at a time when the organization as a whole is undergoing an internal reckoning around race, history, and the legacy of its founder, Margaret Sanger.
In June 2020, the network’s largest affiliate, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, parted ways with its president and CEO of three years, Laura McQuade, amid allegations that McQuade was an abusive leader who bullied underlings and denied advancement opportunities to Black staffers. McQuade told The New York Times that the allegations against her were false but declined to refute them. The following month, the New York affiliate announced plans to remove Sanger’s name from its Manhattan health center because of her controversial support of eugenics in the 1920s and ’30s. Eugenics is the belief that human reproduction should be controlled to improve the gene pool and was used to justify such practices as institutionalization and sterilization of disabled people and anyone a government deemed undesirable.
In response to the allegations against McQuade, Planned Parenthood’s acting president and CEO, Alexis McGill Johnson, called on the board of the Greater New York affiliate to “hold themselves accountable to their mission and values by centering their patients, their staff, and their community.” She continued: “Right now our country is in the middle of a racial justice reckoning—one that includes Planned Parenthood. We know we cannot address structural racism or white supremacy in this country without addressing our own.” Soon after, McGill Johnson was named permanent president and CEO after nearly a year as the interim leader. She is the second Black woman to hold the position in the organization’s 104-year history. (Faye Wattleton served as president and CEO from 1978 to 1992.)
© Aaron J Thornton Nia Martin-Robinson at Planned Parenthood’s annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation brunch, Washington, D.C., 2019
Joy D. Calloway, who is also Black, was named McQuade’s successor and interim CEO of the New York affiliate in October. “It is a radically transformed leadership team from when I joined a year ago,” Fiona Kanagasingam, the affiliate’s chief equity and learning officer, told me this fall. “We have a senior leadership team now that is majority people of color. The majority of people of color are Black. That did not happen by chance.”
The New York affiliate is training its staff in equity and anti-racism, and the national network is confronting its own shortcomings around race and power. This fall, news broke that an internal audit commissioned by Planned Parenthood found that dozens of current and former Black employees reported facing racism and discrimination from white colleagues while working for the organization.
For leaders such as Martin-Robinson, Kanagasingam, and McGill Johnson, Planned Parenthood’s mission to provide women with access to essential health care is critical, but it’s not the only thing worth fighting for. It matters how patients are treated once they arrive, and that Black staffers and people of color who work for the organization feel like they are being treated properly and equitably—an issue for which Sanger’s complicated history has become a flashpoint.
This year’s ideological battles over reproductive and racial justice have raged both in the courts and on the streets, but it wasn’t right-wing Internet heckling or propaganda campaigns that forced this sea change within Planned Parenthood. It was the work of those inside the organization who helped colleagues connect the dots between having one’s reproductive worthiness judged by a 20th-century eugenicist and being racially profiled in a 21st-century exam room while one’s feet are in the stirrups. This new generation of leaders is placing contemporary aggressions experienced by staffers and patients of color in the context of the damage done over generations, and is arguing for a rigorous reevaluation of the legacies of both Sanger and Planned Parenthood. For Martin-Robinson, this soul-searching is about “recognizing the multiple ways that white supremacy is in the fabric of what this country is and [in] the institutions that rise out of that.”
In 1916, Sanger, a women’s health advocate, opened the first clinic in the U.S. to offer contraception. Birth control wasn’t just taboo at the time—state and federal Comstock laws, which deemed contraceptives as “obscene,” made it illegal even to distribute information about it. Sanger’s clinic in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood was the predecessor of Planned Parenthood’s New York City affiliate, the first in the national network. Today it is part of the Greater New York affiliate, which has 30 locations serving 65 percent of the state. The larger network consists of 49 affiliates and more than 600 health centers around the U.S.
Sanger has long been celebrated by many as a feminist hero who gave women more control over the size of their families, their bodies, and their lives. But for others, Sanger’s support for eugenics is troubling, linking her to a painful history of medical abuse and reproductive coercion in the U.S.—one that includes the forced breeding of enslaved women in the Antebellum South and the mass sterilization of Puerto Rican women throughout the 20th century.
© Old Paper Studios / Alamy Stock Photo Margaret Sanger’s What Every Girl Should Know, originally published in 1912
Too often, Sanger’s critics say, Black and Latinx communities have suffered because of eugenicist policies and thinking. But to those who view Planned Parenthood’s founder as a trailblazer, the New York affiliate’s decision to remove her name has been baffling: She was a woman who promoted contraception as a way to prevent women from having to seek out the illegal and often dangerous abortions that were available in her day. Sanger’s defenders also worry that the move to dissociate themselves from her work by removing her name from the Manhattan health center signals a caving of sorts by Planned Parenthood to pressure from anti-choice activists, who in recent years have portrayed Sanger as a villainous character in their abortion wars. Staffers at the national and New York offices repeatedly told me that the right wing has “weaponized” Sanger against the organization, holding her up as proof of Planned Parenthood’s disregard for communities of color and its commitment to controlling and limiting Black births.
In 2016, the year Planned Parenthood celebrated its centennial, the organization published a fact sheet intended to clarify Sanger’s relationship to eugenics. Sanger, the document explained, “clearly identified with the broader issues of health and fitness that concerned the early-20th-century eugenics movement, which was enormously popular and well-respected by doctors, physicians, political leaders, and educators during the 1920s and ’30s.” Despite Sanger’s involvement in the movement, efforts to tie her to some kind of white supremacist agenda were wrongheaded, the organization argued at the time. Sanger wanted Black women to have the same access to birth control as white women.
But the focus on the mainstream acceptance of eugenics has long frustrated advocates of reproductive justice, a movement founded in 1994 by Black women that puts the right to not have a child on equal footing with the right to have a child—and under safe and healthy conditions, in communities that will sustain them. As a movement concerned with the experiences of Black women and women of color, reproductive justice leaders have provided an alternative framework for understanding this history. Lynn Roberts, an associate dean at the City University of New York’s Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, told me about Sanger’s defenders, “They’ll often say, ‘That wasn’t unusual for this period.’ Sometimes that comes across as excusing her.”
Sanger’s biographer Ellen Chesler, author of the 1992 book Woman of Valor: Margaret Sanger and the Birth Control Movement in America, has made it her mission not to defend Sanger’s relationship to eugenics but to help explain it. When we spoke in September, Chesler offered: Eugenics was a politically neutral movement; there were conservative and liberal eugenicists. Sanger, a Socialist, was among the latter. While those on the right wanted to limit fertility on the basis of racial and ethnic identity, those on the left believed ability and talent were universal. “Imbeciles,” “morons,” and “the feebleminded”—words Sanger and other eugenicists used frequently—could be of any background. At the invitation of Black leaders including the Reverend Dr. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church, and Mary McLeod Bethune of the National Council of Negro Women, Sanger worked to make contraception available to Black women in the North and South. “In order to build a bigger tent for Planned Parenthood she had to enter the eugenics conversation, which was ubiquitous in the 1920s,” Chesler said.
© AMANDA PICOTTE This past summer, the nation’s leading provider of sexual and reproductive health care publicly confronted its founder’s ties to the eugenics movement. But the move was just the latest result of years-long work being done by activists of color to reshape the organization’s approach to providing care.
NAACP cofounder and sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois, who was an adviser to Sanger, also believed in a democratic meritocracy—a “Talented Tenth” of Black people, who were innately exceptional and should be educated and invested in so they could lead the race, a position that drew criticism even in his day. “Should we call him a racist for that?” Chesler said. “I don’t know. I think that’s nuts.”
Du Bois needn’t be deemed racist, said Roberts of CUNY. But we should reckon with his elitism. Eugenics was wrong, no matter who promoted it. “Having fewer children shouldn’t be the solution,” Roberts said. Instead, she said, people then as now should decide for themselves their family size, and state support shouldn’t be withheld if a family is larger than deemed appropriate by some outside observer. What’s important is that people “have bodily autonomy to make those decisions for themselves,” Roberts said.
© AMANDA PICOTTE A gathering at Reviving Radical’s Radical Love event
Explanations like Chesler’s don’t sit well with those who support the name change, including Martin-Robinson, who are quick to point out that eugenics programs were put in place during the Jim Crow era, with its entrenched racial hierarchies and doctrines about biological differences between the races. “Even if states were saying, ‘We are involuntarily sterilizing people who we consider to be feebleminded,’ there was so much connection with people’s ideas around mental ability and race,” said Martin-Robinson. “I find it difficult to separate eugenics from racism.”
Still, the link between Sanger and eugenics has led to assertions about Planned Parenthood that are false and need to be challenged outright. Sanger was a eugenicist, yes, but Planned Parenthood offers much needed health services in Black communities, Martin-
Robinson said. “Both of those things can be true at the same time.”
In the past decade, anti-choice activists have waged a series of disinformation campaigns that depend on Americans—especially Black Americans—not being able to make that distinction. Maafa 21: Black Genocide in 21st Century America, a 2009 documentary directed by white anti-choice activist Mark Crutcher, stitches together a conspiracy in which Sanger deliberately placed clinics in Black neighborhoods to reduce Black births and was allied with Adolf Hitler. The film has been screened on the campuses of historically Black colleges and universities and in Black churches in an effort to persuade people that a disproportionate number of Black women get abortions not because of institutional barriers that result in unplanned pregnancies but because of a sinister plot on the part of Planned Parenthood. Not long after its initial release, billboards began going up—first in Atlanta and then nationwide—with messages such as “Black children are an endangered species,” and “The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb.” Anti-choice groups such as Georgia Right to Life, the Radiance Foundation, and Life Always were behind the signs, often installed in states where legislation intended to restrict access to abortion had been introduced.
The Planned Parenthood staff members who called for and welcomed the removal of Sanger’s name say they aren’t responding to right-wing pressure. But they don’t pretend to be immune to it either. Staffers shared with me experiences of walking into health centers and being shouted at by white anti-abortion protesters who questioned their commitment to Black lives. “We are the target of a lot of vitriol,” Kanagasingam of the New York affiliate told me of women of color who work at or receive health services from Planned Parenthood. “This consistent use of Sanger by anti-abortion activists under the guise of caring about Black people and Black women is offensive. It is ill-informed. It’s inflammatory. And it continues to infantilize Black women,” Martin-Robinson said. “It feeds into this continuous myth around the necessity to control Black people because they do not have the intellectual means or capacity to take care of or control themselves.”
© MERLE McGEE Nia Martin-Robinson
Martin-Robinson supported the staff of Planned Parenthood in New York as they planned Reviving Radical, an ongoing series of events started in late 2019 and early 2020 designed to help the local affiliate begin to repair its relationship with the communities of color it primarily serves. At each meeting, dozens of people from around New York City—mostly Black and Latina women—gathered at carefully selected locations (a YMCA in Downtown Brooklyn, the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center in Washington Heights, Hostos Community College in the South Bronx) to share stories of being mistreated by health-care providers at Planned Parenthood clinics. The testimony was facilitated by activists, scholars, and clinicians with deep roots in reproductive justice. Top brass at the affiliate, including the chief executive and chief medical officers, were there to listen and learn. Merle McGee, architect of the gatherings and the affiliate’s chief equity and engagement officer, describes the process as one of “truth and reconciliation,” a phrase popularized in post-apartheid South Africa.
Martin-Robinson said listening to others share their stories brought back memories of her own experience as an 18-year-old at that Detroit Planned Parenthood clinic in the late ’90s. When it happened, she had some context for the slight. Martin-Robinson was introduced to the history of white supremacy in reproductive medicine early. “I learned about eugenics, forced sterilization, and the attachment of population restrictions on International Monetary Fund grants from my own mother, who was not a Margaret Sanger fan,” she said. “Despite that, [she] supports my work here because she realizes that folks in our community need access to sexual and reproductive health care.”
Martin-Robinson’s understanding of the prevalence of eugenicist thinking deepened while she was on staff at the Sierra Club, where she was often approached by middle-aged white men who would ask about population control as a way to save the environment. “Clearly I’m a sucker for a 100-year-old organization,” she told me. She turned to the reproductive justice movement, whose adherents were grappling with “what it meant when our bodies were used to further particular agendas,” she said. “They had the language around what it meant for us to be able to have bodily autonomy and control.”
The relationship between the reproductive justice movement, with its inclusion of the right to parent as a central tenet, and the reproductive rights movement, with its traditional focus on a woman’s right to not have a child, is complex.
In August 2014, there was an exchange of open letters between Monica Simpson, executive director of the Atlanta-based reproductive justice collective SisterSong, and Cecile Richards, then president and CEO of Planned Parenthood. In interviews with The New York Times and an op-ed placed in The Huffington Post, the national leadership at the time signaled their move away from the term “pro-choice” in favor of more expansive language about women’s health and economic security. In response, Simpson and dozens of individuals and organizations that signed her letter took Richards to task for what Simpson called “the co-optation and erasure of the tremendously hard work done by Indigenous women and women of color (WOC) for decades.” After all, this broadening of the frame beyond abortion had long been the work of reproductive justice activists, but white women were being credited with the strategic shift in the paper of record.
Planned Parenthood’s more recent commitment to valuing the leadership and expertise of women of color—both staff and patients—is what’s significant, said McGee. She called the removal of Sanger’s name from the Manhattan health center “the shiny ball” that’s drawn attention and provoked debate. But it’s only one part of a larger shift happening in the organization. “We’re now in the deep waters,” McGee told me as she described the Reviving Radical meetings and internal changes at the New York affiliate. “That’s where the radical transformation happens, by looking at who we partner with and how.”
In October, the Senate confirmed the nomination of conservative jurist Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It was a victory for anti-choice activists, confident that overturning Roe v. Wadeis within their reach. Anti-choice state lawmakers continue to pass damaging laws that close clinics and otherwise restrict abortion, and reproductive rights are in peril nationwide. The disinformation campaign against abortion in general and Planned Parenthood in particular continues unabated online.
Some might assume that persistent attacks from those who oppose access to sexual and reproductive health services would make Planned Parenthood staffers close ranks, play it safe, and stay quiet so as not to attract additional controversy. Instead something else entirely is happening at national headquarters and the largest affiliate. The organization is confronting long-simmering debates head-on, distancing itself from Sanger, instituting anti-racism training, and conducting internal audits to hear what’s really on Black employees’ minds. Bold steps are being taken not away from past harms and humiliations but toward them in an effort to acknowledge and root them out. For Martin-Robinson, it’s the memory of her experience at that clinic years ago that drives her commitment to Planned Parenthood. “I work here because of that,” she said, referring to the shame that clinician tried to heap on her as a teenager. “To make sure that Black and brown girls are able to go into our health centers and get the kind of quality, compassionate care that we deserve.”
This article originally appeared in the December 2020/January 2021 issue of Harper's BAZAAR, available on newsstands December 1.
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U.S. to Leave Iraq by Year’s End, Despite Suggestions Otherwise
By Patrick Brennan
About Patrick Brennan
Follow Patrick Brennan on Twitter
Reuters reports today that President Obama has admitted the U.S. will be pulling all of its troops out of Iraq by year’s end. The fact that the United States will not retain any security presence in Iraq, not even a few thousand trainers to develop relationships with and strengthen the Iraqi military, is quite disturbing. The White House has tried to sell it as a fulfillment of Obama’s promise to withdraw troops on schedule, but it actually represents a disappointing end to purportedly promising negotiations about keeping a presence in Iraq.
In August of this year, in an interview with Stars and Stripes, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta claimed that an agreement had been reached with the Iraqi government to keep thousands of troops in Iraq through 2012, to train Iraqi security forces.
This September, when it appeared that only a few thousand troops would remain into 2012, Fox News reported that “senior commanders are said to be livid at the decision. . . . Commanders said they could possibly make that work ‘in extremis,’ in other words, meaning they would be pushing it to make that number work security-wise and manpower-wise.”
Asked whether the plan was indeed to drop levels so dramatically and leave so few troops, press secretary Jay Carney said, “No.”
As recently as Saturday, a Pentagon spokesman, in an interview with the Associated Press, claimed that negotiations to keep more troops into 2012 were still ongoing, and no decision had been reached.
The president concluded today’s briefing with the wan promise that “we will continue discussions on how we might help Iraq train and equip its forces — again, just as we offer training and assistance to countries around the world.”
While this is hardly the most inspiring commitment to a nation which was intended to become our staunch democratic Middle Eastern ally, it should be noted that this is not the Obama administration’s own decision — and probably isn’t for lack of effort, either. The Iraqi parliament refused to continue legal immunity for U.S. troops, beyond the couple hundred or so who would remain as diplomatic security. Without such a concession, the U.S. had little choice but to abide by the existing Status of Forces Agreement ratified under the Bush administration and by the Iraqi government — mandating withdrawal by December 2011. It seems that the Obama administration’s prodigious reputation for negotiation and diplomacy has failed, again, to protect the security interests of America and her allies.
Patrick Brennan — Patrick Brennan is a writer and policy analyst based in Washington, D.C. He was Director of Digital Content for Marco Rubio's presidential campaign, writing op-eds, policy content, and leading the ... @ptbrennan11
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CT Teens Travel to Washington DC to Defend DACA
Published August 15, 2017 • Updated on August 15, 2017 at 7:43 am
Busloads of teens from Connecticut are heading to the White House for a rally to defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, a program created under the Obama administration that the Trump administration threatened to remove.
The program allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country as minors to receive a two-year protection from deportation and makes them eligible for a work permit.
Gabriela Valdiglesias has three siblings who benefited from this program, all of whom were able to go through college because of it.
“With that, they were able to get jobs, and since they’re all out from college, they can help support my dad for paying for their higher education,” Valdiglesias told NBC Connecticut.
DACA was introduced five years ago. Valdiglesias said suspending it would hurt thousands of families like her own.
“If DACA gets taken away, then that means we’ll be having to leave Connecticut, which has been practically our home, because we basically grew up here our whole lives,” Valdiglesias said.
In total, around 100 people from Connecticut are traveling to Washington, DC and will join hundreds of others.
NBCConnecticutWhite HouseTrump administrationObama administration
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Sikorsky to Build New Air Force Combat Helicopter
Connecticut-based aircraft maker Sikorsky says it received a $1.28 billion contract to build a new combat rescue helicopter for the Air Force.
The company says it will develop a new version of the Black Hawk helicopter and deliver four helicopters to the U.S. Air Force by 2020. Sikorsky will also provide crew and maintenance training systems.
The company says the Air Force could expand the contract and order as many as 112 helicopters.
In March, the Air Force said it was moving forward with plans to have Sikorsky build the helicopter, but said Pentagon budget cuts could affect the program.
Sikorsky is a division United Technologies Corp., which is based in Hartford, Connecticut.
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NXST
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(NEXSTAR)- President Donald Trump is on the verge of being impeached for a second time, with the U.S. House of Representatives planning the unprecedented vote Wednesday over his encouragement of supporters who stormed the Capitol.
For more information and to watch the proceedings live, check out the full story from NewsNation.
INVESTIGATORS: MAN ARRESTED AFTER US CAPITOL RIOT VIOLATED BOND– An east Alabama man who investigators say violated his bond in Lee County, Alabama by traveling to Washington to participate in the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol is in federal custody after agents located him at an Auburn home.
23-year-old William Watson of Auburn is believed to be the bearded man in the tan sweatshirt in an image released by Metropolitan Police Department. Watson is wanted in a joint effort by the U.S. Secret Service and FBI as investigators continue locating and arresting individuals in a mob of President Donald Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers worked to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Five people were killed, including a Capitol police officer.
For more information, check out the full story from WRBL.
SCENE OF MURDER LISTS FOR NEARLY $360K: People were lined up to look at a house at the center of a spousal murder case in west St. Louis County. The Rothwell home went on the market this weekend for $359,900 and it’s already under contract.
For more information, check out the full story from Fox 2 Now.
FATHER NEEDS KIDNEY DONOR AS 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER BATTLES BRAIN CANCER: Cholly Gilmer, a husband and father of three, is on the hunt for time.
A birth defect prevented his kidneys from growing with the rest of his body.
His late mother gave him one of her kidney’s in 1991, which was 30 years ago. Most donated kidneys only last 10 to 15 years and now he’s looking for a new one.
For more information, check out the full story from FOX 8.
OSU FAN POSTPONES BRAIN SURGERY TO WATCH SUGAR BOWL: A Columbus native and huge Buckeye fan is looking for help from Buckeye Nation.
Connie Cox is such a big fan, she rescheduled a surgery so she could watch the Sugar Bowl.
For more information, check out the full story from NBC4.
FORMER ‘BEER CAVE’ DISCOVERED IN ST. LOUIS NEIGHBORHOOD: A cave once lost to time has since been rediscovered in the Benton Park neighborhood after more than a century.
Mostly Clear Precip: 9%
Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers teammates understand what this NFC championship game means to the All-Pro quarterback’s legacy.
Rodgers has delivered the kind of season that puts him in contention for a third MVP honor, which would match the total won by Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
Chad Henne came off the bench cold in the heat of a tense playoff game and delivered the game-sealing plays for Kansas City in his most consequential performance in a win since 2013.
Henne became just the latest understudy quarterback to deliver a memorable performance in the postseason when he relieved an injured Patrick Mahomes and closed out a 22-17 win over Cleveland on Sunday that sent the defending champion Chiefs into the AFC championship game.
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Review: Arranged (2007)
On: March 11, 2010 August 15, 2016 By: Mark
Arranged may be a chick flick. It’s hard for me to say for sure because, alas, I am not a chick. Its story is quite simple: two new female teachers in New York City are assigned right out of college to teach in the same public school and they become friends. This hardly sounds like much of a plot for a movie. However, one happens to be an orthodox Muslim and the other an orthodox Jew. Moreover, they must work with each other. Oh, the horrors!
In the hands of a different director, this could be turned into a slapstick comedy, but instead this story is told in a straightforward manner. Nashira (Francis Benhamou) is so orthodox a Muslim that she wears a hijab in public. She has to handle a class of elementary students full of such diversity that the teachers refer to the school as a little U.N. She is quickly forced to interact with Rochel (Zoe Lister Jones), an orthodox Jew. Rochel is a special education teacher and her student participates in some of Nashira’s classes. Both approach each other warily, but a student quickly presses the obvious issue. Don’t Arabs hate Jews and visa versa? Both women have hardly spoken a dozen words to each other and suddenly in front of the class they have to confront their ethnic and religious divide.
Nashira only takes her hijab off at home. Home includes Mom and Dad, who are obsessed with matching her up with a proper Muslim man in an arranged marriage. Rochel doesn’t have to wear a veil, but also has to deal with her own set of orthodox Jewish parents, also obsessed with her getting married, but even more so that Nashira’s parents. Both Nashira and Rochel quickly discover that because they are being pushed into arranged marriages and come from orthodox households that they have plenty in common. Rochel rebels being matched. Nashira is intrigued. Both risk being ostracized if they do not agree to an arranged marriage.
While they wrestle through their first year of teaching, they also have to figure out how to work with each other and handle the large number of arranged suitors coming to their doors. This quickly give both two women something in common. Almost unwillingly, they find they like each other. The same cannot be said of their parents. Rochel’s mother is aghast when she brings Nashira home to work on a joint assignment. Nashira’s parents are equally wary of her new friendship with Rochel.
Rochel quickly begins to resent her yenta and finds herself yearning for the freedom of her older cousin, who had the audacity to break away and live a life free of her Jewish trappings. However, some exposure to her cousin’s life soon makes her realize she is uncomfortable with her level of freedom. Yet none of her arranged suitors suit her in the least; in fact each one seems worse than the last one. Nashira’s experience is much better. Her parents soon introduce her to a man who takes her fancy and she begins making her wedding plans.
It is a story that is perhaps a bit too contrived and predictable, but both actresses are unusually convincing in what would otherwise be stereotypical roles. Moreover, it is nice to see an orthodox Muslim woman and an orthodox Jewish woman break free of their ethnic stereotypes, if only on screen. They discover that their common humanity is a stronger force than their obsessive orthodox upbringings. Yet, both take some comfort in the traditions as well.
In short, Arranged is a simple film destined to tell a simple story that is a bit uncomfortable at times, a tad melodramatic and sometimes lightly funny. By design it never quite soars. It would be unfair to call it a B movie because it is hardly mediocre. Rather it is a heartfelt and well-acted story of an unlikely but enduring friendship.
Does that make it a chick flick? Maybe. Lacking guns, violence, nudity or swear words it may appear to be inoffensive, but to the many of us who grow up in orthodox families can relate easily enough. So it is definitely more than a B movie, but has few of the qualities of an A movie either. I give it a B+ for sure, or a 3.1 on my four point scale. If you have the opportunity to see it, you should but it is not special enough to seek out. While not as much fun as movies that revel in ethnicity like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, many of us will still find the movie touching.
Review: Anchorman
The new movie
Review: Juno (2007)
Juno is (nearly) everyone’s favorite pregnant teenager. Juno (played by Ellen Page) would be interesting…
Review: Transformers (2007)
I was too young for transformers (the toys, that is), but my nephew wasn’t. He…
Review: Mongol (2007)
I am roughly half way through the book Genghis Khan and the Making of the…
Review: The Kite Runner (2007)
Occasionally, such as in the movie W., you get an uncomfortably topical movie. The Kite…
Category: The Arts Tagged Movies
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Earth Fare closing down, including Athens store
Wayne Ford @WayneFo12126079
The Earth Fare supermarket in Athens, along with Earth Fare’s approximately 50 stores across the country, is closing, the company announced Monday.
The store, which touts its array of organic foods, has operated at its South Lumpkin Street location in Five Points since 1999, according to its website.
The company, in a news release, stated the stores in 10 states are closing due to "continued challenges in the retail industry" and its debt. The company also said its employees have been notified.
A company spokesperson said Monday the decision affects about 50 employees at the Athens store.
Earth Fare, based in Asheville, N.C., did not say when the final day of operation was set, but it will begin a liquidation of inventory.
"We encourage shoppers to visit their nearby location now and take advantage of these savings before it is too late. Store fixtures are also available for sale as part of this process," according to the news release.
The company also reported it is in the process of trying to find a buyer for the stores.
According to a 2017 Business North Carolina magazine story, Earth Fare faced competition by Whole Foods Market, which was purchased a few years earlier by Amazon and was expected to provide immense competition to smaller companies like Earth Fare.
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‘I Was Numb': Family Secrets Come to Light as DNA Testing Gains Popularity
Two families with lifelong secrets unearthed because of home DNA test kits are now dealing with the truth. Here's what their stories tell us about the shock that can come from new ancestry technology, and how to deal with it.
By Jim Rosenfield and NBC10 Investigators • Published on November 4, 2019 at 12:47 pm
Eight months ago, Ryan got a call from his father, Gerry. It was a shocking conversation from the first words.
"My dad gave me a call one night, very distraught, crying," Ryan said. "He said, 'I have some news.' At the time I thought there's a death in the family."
His father's news was family-related, but it wasn't a death. What Gerry showed his son proved even more shocking.
"He sent a picture … It was a screen shot of Ancestry.com," Ryan said. "And he said, 'Your brother is not mine.' I said, 'What are you talking about?'"
Then he asked his father, "What about me?"
Gerry and his wife divorced years ago, but only earlier this year did Gerry and both his sons find out that they are not biologically-connected.
Ryan, 29, and his older brother, now 33, spent part of their childhood in New Jersey. They always thought their mother was their mother and their father was their father.
Instead, a home DNA test kit proved that a former New Jersey state trooper fathered both brothers. Ryan's mother confirmed to NBC10 that her sons' father is the New Jersey state trooper, but insists that she had no idea until the DNA tests this year. She declined to be interviewed on camera.
"It’s difficult. It's sad. But in the end, it really changes nothing as far as my relationship with my entire family goes," Ryan said.
Shocking results that took the family by surprise are expected to grow in number as millions more take home DNA tests in the years ahead. The idea that your life could be turned upside down from some spit on a cotton swab isn’t what most people expect when they go looking for their ancestry.
The story of Ryan and his family is both a forewarning for others and an outlook people should consider if all new family history comes out in test results.
"The results change nothing for me," Ryan, who now lives in Miami, told NBC10. "My dad is my dad. I don't have to have a relationship with the other guy."
He added, "I'm grown up now. (I have a) family of my own. It’s easier that way."
20 Million DNA Test Kits and Counting: Surprises Come With the Data
Home DNA testing kits, like those done by Ryan and his brother on Ancestry.com, have grown in popularity the last decade. More than 20 million Americans have taken tests provided by companies like Ancestry.com, a Utah-based company, and 23andMe, of California.
The pace of submitting DNA via consumer tests is rapidly speeding up, according to West Chester University professor Anita Foeman, who has studied the industry since 2006.
More than 100 million people will submit their DNA for testing in just the next few years if the trend continues, Foeman said.
Professor Anita Foeman of West Chester University has been studying home DNA test-taking since 2006.
"It is changing the way that we think about each other, our relationships to one another, and what’s sort of out there and what we can keep secret," she said.
The tests also raise ethical questions about the Big Data aspect of such personal information: What can companies do with your DNA results? Should law enforcement agencies have access to the results?
And of course, there is the upheaval within families when the results from a home DNA kit yield big surprises.
"We see them all the time," Foeman said. "The tests are far better at pinpointing genetic relatives than they are at ancestry. So if someone had some unclear ancestry, I could say, 'Well, you know, the test isn't perfect. But people are finding out, again, that their parents are not their parents, et cetera."
New Cousin Found, New Secret Unearthed
When DNA test results came back for Anna Marie, a 50-year-old Delaware woman, the findings confused her.
For one thing, her results showed no Russian lineage. That contrasted results from a DNA test her brother took that confirmed he was 31% Russian.
"I remember looking at it and I was like, 'Oh, that’s interesting because you have that and I don’t have that,'" the Delaware woman told NBC10. "Eric, my youngest brother was like, I don’t know what that means."
Anna Marie, of Maryland, found out after a home DNA test that her father was not who he thought he was.
Anna Marie’s mother, Anna, professed confusion as well.
"My mom was like, 'I don’t know how any of this works,'" Anna Marie said.
Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that the scientific data confirmed an unmistakable something she long held in her mind — something she couldn’t quite put into words all her life.
"You always feel that something’s not right. Something's missing," Anna Marie said. "I don't know. It's just some part of you that knows there’s something you don’t know."
Nearly 400 miles away, a woman in Virginia came across a similarly unpredictable result from her own DNA test result.
This woman, a nurse named Tina, had a first cousin from Delaware named Anna Marie, according to her findings on Ancestry.com. She reached out to her newfound Delaware relative, but didn’t hear back for several months.
Eventually, though, first cousins emailed each other.
"I said, 'Do you know my uncle?'" Tina, a nurse who lives in Roanoke, remembers initially asking Anna Marie. "She said, 'I've never heard of him.' And I said, 'Well, ask your mother.'"
When Anna Marie got back to her, Tina said, "the cat was out of the bag."
Advice for DNA Test Takers: Talk With Family First
Foeman, the West Chester professor of media and communications who has studied DNA test kits for 13 years, said families should have frank discussions about the past ahead of time.
"Ask them if there is anything you should know," Foeman said. "And I can tell you that I've had people decide not to take the test based on conversations they've had with their families."
Their decision is not always based on a discovery as shocking as finding out about a secret relationship, Foeman said. It could be simply that they were born through in-vitro fertilization, or are adopted.
"Most people are not floored by what they find," she said. "Most people find immediate relatives, or what they thought. And sometimes, it's distant relatives. And then it's that rare person, I'll test two classes of 50, and two people will find something where they’re like, 'Woah!' So it’s not typical, but it happens regularly."
A lot of the shock comes from changing cultural dynamics and lifestyles.
Access to DNA-analysis technology has emerged only a few decades removed from vastly different societal acceptance around scenarios like having children out of wedlock.
"Times have changed, and people have made decisions 10, 15, 20 years ago based on what we knew, and based on the social stigmas and attitudes that we had at that time," Foeman said. "And they didn't expect 20 or 30 years later, that somebody was going to uncover some of this."
Secret Born of 'Summer of Love' Finally Uncovered 50 Years Later
The connection between suddenly first cousins, Anna Marie in Delaware and Tina in Virginia — thanks to Ancestry.com — actually uncovered a family secret 50 years old.
What Anna Marie discovered about herself and her mother dates to what is often called "the Summer of Love," 1969.
Her mother, Anna, was 16. She spent that summer on the beaches of Ocean City, Maryland.
A lifeguard named Cecil became a friend, and then a lover. What happened after the summer would stay hidden for five decades.
Anna became pregnant by the lifeguard, and eventually gave birth to Anna Marie in secret. A few years later, Anna got married, and her husband adopted Anna Marie.
The truth about Cecil and the Summer of Love in Ocean City might have stayed hidden forever if not for the DNA test kit that Anna Marie bought.
After Tina and Anna Marie began talking about their Ancestry.com findings, it was clear to Anna that her daughter deserved to know the truth.
“I took her to lunch... one of the restaurants here by the ocean and I told her,” Anna told NBC10 in an interview in October in Ocean City.
“I was numb,” Anna Marie said of her initial reaction to the truth.
Unlike others who don’t care to meet their newly-discovered biological parent, Anna Marie says she would have liked to meet Cecil.
That fate was not meant to be: Cecil died five years ago.
"I’m very sad because if it had been five years sooner, just five years, he would have gotten to know his child,” Anna Marie said.
Digital editor Brian X. McCrone contributed writing to this series.
DNA testingNew JerseyMiamiMarylandprofessor
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Archaeologists (ar-key-OL-ah-jists) are scientists who study the remains of ancient people and places. Archaeologists believe that people first arrived in what is now North Dakota about 13,500 years ago. These people lived in small groups or bands and traveled about to find game animals such as mammoths and bison. Because they did not have permanent homes or villages, they are called nomads. The meat of mammoths and bison was the main source of food, clothing, and tools for nomads. Nomads also gathered berries, nuts, roots, and leaves from wild plants which they used for food.
Figure 2. A Mandan woman works in a field of corn. (Burleigh County Courthouse)
About 2,400 years ago, people who lived near the Red River and the James River learned that they could encourage wild plants to grow by planting seeds and watching over the plants until it was time to harvest them. These people followed and hunted herds of bison, elk and other animals, but also enjoyed many benefits from wild plants. These plants provided food, but also fibers for weaving mats and baskets. People twisted fibers into rope that had many uses.
Hundreds of years later, many people lived differently in North Dakota. Some groups of people no longer lived in temporary camps. They now built permanent villages where they lived in earth covered lodges. Many of these villages were on the banks of the Missouri, Knife, Heart, and Cannonball Rivers. About 800 years ago, people who lived in these villages learned how to farm from other people who lived far to the south. They still hunted bison and other large game animals, but now depended on garden crops as a major source of food and trade.
These early farmers were American Indians who are now called Mandans. The Mandan Indians were the first people in North Dakota to carry out farming as a business. They raised crops, not only to feed themselves, but also to trade with other tribes.
Another American Indian tribe called the Hidatsas lived along the Knife River and also lived in earth lodges and raised crops. The Sahnish (SAH-nish), also called Arikara (ah-RIK-ah-rah), moved to the Missouri River many years later. They also raised crops in their villages.
About 165 years ago, the Mandan and Hidatsa tribes banded together. Their populations had been significantly reduced by smallpox (a deadly disease). They decided to build a village together along the confluence (joining point) of the Knife and Missouri Rivers. About 15 years later, they were joined by the Arikara. The three tribes lost so many people from smallpox that they felt it was necessary to band together to protect themselves against other tribes that were raiding their villages.
‹ Section 1: Introduction
Section 3: The First Farms ›
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Deadly cost of Sibanye-Stillwater gold miners’ strike
The lengthy strike finally ended with Amcu agreeing to the same wage offer other mining unions accepted in October.
By: Lloyd Gedye
22 January 2019: Members of South Africa's Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union chant slogans during a march to the Minerals Council of South Africa in Johannesburg. (Photograph by Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters)
The five-month strike by gold miners at Sibanye-Stillwater has halted with the announcement that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) had accepted the same wage offer that its three rival unions – the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Solidarity and Uasa – accepted in October.
But families and friends of mine workers remain traumatised by the loss of loved ones killed in the violent acts that were a recurring element of the strike.
The wage agreement Amcu agreed to gives workers a R700 increase for the next two years and an R825 increase in the third year. Amcu members had been holding out for a R1 000 increase in each of the three years.
Amcu’s members have lost five months worth of wages, but this is far from the only cost of the strike.
More than nine people have reportedly died as a result of violence during the strike and New Frame has reason to believe that this number may be higher.
Union officials were extremely reluctant to share the names of those killed with New Frame as their families are traumatised and fear further hostilities.
Many mineworkers and their families have been forced to relocate to new homes because of the ongoing violence. Mineworkers were reportedly beaten, stabbed, shot and hijacked, and many had their homes and cars petrol-bombed during the strike.
A house near Virginia in the Free State that was torched resulted in two sisters, aged eight and 15, being hospitalised with bad burns.
Lerato, 15, survived for 78 days before dying from her burn wounds. She was buried two weeks ago.
Her eight-year-old sister had skin grafts the same week Lerato was buried and is said to be doing well, but still in hospital.
Their father is a rock drill operator at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Beatrix mine near Welkom in the Free State.
‘Third hand’
NUM president Joseph Montisetse told New Frame in the last weeks of the strike that a commission of inquiry was required to investigate the killings that accompanied it. In previous media interviews, he had referred to a “third hand” that was involved in the killings, but told New Frame he did not want to speculate about who was behind it.
“I am not a police officer, I don’t know why my members are being killed,” he said. “But people are planning the killing, killers are being hired.”
“Who is giving the orders?” he asked rhetorically.
Montisetse had recently returned from the funeral in Port St Johns of NUM member Mbhekani Jali, who was killed in an ambush on his way home from the Driefontein mine near Carletonville in Gauteng.
He had also recently heard that Lerato had died in hospital.
“It is very difficult, people dying because of our union,” he said, with frustration evident in his voice. “Husbands have been killed, homes burnt, furniture burnt. It’s a very difficult situation.”
Why Beatrix and Driefontein?
A source familiar with security concerns throughout the five-month strike said that the Driefontein and Beatrix mines were the targets of much of the violence because mineworkers there live further away from the mine shafts, with few access roads between their homes and the mine. This made travelling mineworkers “easy targets”said the source, with roads being barricaded.
At the Beatrix mine, a group of mineworkers was shot at while travelling to work on a bus and in a separate incident while waiting at a bus stop.
In the areas surrounding the Driefontein mine, a number of hijackings and road barricades were reported.
Driefontein is the world’s deepest gold mine in the world’s richest gold mining area.
Sibanye-Stillwater spokesperson James Wellsted said there was massive inter-union violence at Driefontein in the 1980s and it has had a “radical” history since then.
Many mineworkers who choose not to be hostel dwellers and receive a living-out allowance live in nearby Blybank, he said.
Retrenched South Deep mineworkers face eviction
The source said many of these mineworkers are married and live in Blybank with their families, confirming that these houses belong to Sibanye-Stillwater and were built by the company some years ago.
The source said more than 500 mineworkers and their families had to be relocated from Blybank because the situation was so unsafe. These mineworkers belonged to NUM and Amcu, and were accommodated either in houses that Sibanye-Stillwater owns in Carletonville or at an old office building that had been converted into temporary living quarters known as Chefs Service.
NUM Beatrix branch secretary Xolisa Ngquiliso says four NUM members died in the Free State during the strike.
He says that on 21 November, a NUM member was shot and killed at Beatrix while four other mineworkers were reported as being seriously injured. The attack happened in the early hours of the first day of the strike, when a bus carrying mineworkers to work was attacked.
NUM Beatrix branch deputy chair Teboho Mohale is reported to have said that the NUM member who was shot had recently returned from burying his father and was not part of the strike.
In a later incident on 13 February, a bakkie is reported to have pulled up at a bus stop, where the occupants opened fire on 40 mineworkers.
Two NUM members, a man and a woman, were reported to have been shot and killed, and three others injured – two wounded by bullets and the fifth assaulted by the gunmen.
In a third incident, a NUM member from Beatrix was shot and killed in his house in Virginia on 18 March, according to Ngquiliso.
Unexplained deaths
There are many other deaths that remain unexplained.
Free State police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo said that a mineworker found floating in the Bloudrif Dam near Beatrix was suspected of being part of a group of mineworkers that Beatrix security personnel had chased the day before.
Amcu has also claimed that one of its Beatrix workers was killed during the strike. It has been reported that one of its members was stabbed inside the Beatrix hostel on the night of 21 November 2018.
In what appears to be a separate incident, a 53-year-old Amcu member was reportedly stabbed multiple times and shot several times in the back after workers clashed with Beatrix security guards at 4am. The police found 12 used 9mm cartridges near the body.
Another worker was reported to have been shot and taken to a local hospital. Amcu claimed Beatrix security guards and police officials attacked its members, firing rubber bullets at them during an all-night picket.
Driefontein
At the Driefontein mine, there were a number of barricaded hijackings on the road between the mine and Blybank. It was during one of these that Jali died. He is reported to have shot and killed one of his hijackers before being killed himself.
In November, the police reported that a NUM member had been stabbed to death at Driefontein Hostel. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Peter Masooa could not say at the time if the death was related to the ongoing strike or not.
The source said a mineworker was shot just last week while walking to work at Driefontein at 4am along the railway line. The mineworker is in a critical condition in hospital.
Some reports put the number of houses torched in Blybank at more than 50, along with several cars.
Caledon youths who died asking for a better life
Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe called for the police to intervene in Blybank and Police Minister Bheki Cele visited this area of Carletonville a number of times.
The police discovered 11 abandoned petrol bombs at a taxi rank in Blybank on 8 March 2019. It has been suggested to New Frame that they were abandoned there because the police were searching people’s homes, but this cannot be confirmed.
The violence wasn’t limited to Blybank. A shack settlement called Tin City, situated between two of the Driefontein mineshafts, also experienced shootings, stonings, illegal roadblocks and torched homes, according to the source.
The source said intimidation that often involved guns and knives was common in Blybank and the surrounding areas, and there was much speculation as to who was behind it, with accusations flying from all sides.
The police had arrested a number of mineworkers who were carrying unlicensed firearms in the area, according to the source.
New Frame made every attempt to get comment from AMCU and the SAPS, but none was forthcoming.
Labour brokers are sidestepping the law, says Numsa
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Eskom shake-up: ‘Failure is not an option’
11 February 2019 | Story Lauren Hermanus and Catrina Godinho. Photo Shipley43, Flickr. Read time 6 min.
Dialogue with key stakeholders, along with credible and sustainable plans, will help ensure success for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s energy policy reform strategy.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled a new plan for the country’s beleaguered state owned power utility, Eskom. During his State of the Nation Address on 7 February, Ramaphosa announced that Eskom would be unbundled into “three separate entities – generation, transmission and distribution”. These would all be established “under Eskom Holdings”.
This announcement has been a long time coming. It was first proposed and formalised 20 years ago in the country’s 1998 White Paper on Energy Policy. Among other things, the policy sought to break Eskom into distinct smaller entities.
Ramaphosa’s speech was the seventh State of the Nation Address in which a president committed to structural reforms in the electricity sector. Former Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma made similar promises. Given that they never followed through, Ramaphosa’s announcement may sound all too familiar – and hollow – to some.
But we believe the unbundling will have far reaching consequences for South Africa’s energy sector. Ramaphosa offered a comprehensive outline of the plan. His commitment also comes at a time when Eskom is mired in financial, operational and governance crises. This time, it seems, an electricity reform may really be on the horizon.
Unbundling explained
Unbundling is a type of structural reform. In the electricity sector, vertical unbundling refers to the separation of a utility’s generation, transmission, distribution and (sometimes) retail functions. Horizontal unbundling refers to the creation or entry of multiple players into each of these functions. The players may compete against each other to deliver the same service.
South Africa is certainly not the first country to undergo this type of reform. It can learn from examples of similar processes in countries like Kenya and Uganda.
There are a number of benefits associated with unbundling. These include:
more efficiency, resilience and sustainability through a tighter focus and clearer incentives within each functional area;
More competition and diversification of players;
Clarity in costs and functions of unbundled entities, which increases accountability for the purposes of governance and oversight; and,
Low-cost procurement driven by effective planning, competition and transparency.
Eskom currently operates as a vertically integrated monopoly. This means it performs the generation, transmission, distribution and retail functions. Its current structure and governance systems were cemented by apartheid’s internationally isolated security state. This outdated structure, which is characterised by a lack of transparency and accountability, has continued to shape the utility in the years since democracy.
There is a narrow window for municipalities and the private sector to play a role in distribution and retail, and generation, respectively.
But Eskom still generates approximately 95% of the country’s electricity. It exercises tremendous power in controlling access to the national grid. It has used its dominance to oppose national energy policy by, for example, refusing to sign power purchase agreements with independent power producers.
South Africa is lagging behind
This kind of monopolistic structure is unusual by international standards, in both developed and developing countries. And it often comes with operational inefficiencies, bloated costs and poor governance.
Eskom has experienced all of these maladies. This has been demonstrated by its conduct with independent power producers, its role in the controversial nuclear deal, which has now been put on ice, and endemic corruption exposed by the portfolio committee on public enterprises’ inquiry into allegations of state capture at the utility.
These challenges are not unique to South Africa. But the country is behind the curve when it comes to addressing the structural factors and ensuring that its energy sector is well positioned to benefit from technological developments and shifting investment trends.
What Ramaphosa’s announcement means
President Ramaphosa has committed to the full vertical unbundling of Eskom. Generation, transmission and distribution companies will have their own boards and executive structures. This process will take time to implement, probably in the region of five years.
It will require legislative and possibly policy reform. Due to the urgent need for transformation in the sector, the president said immediate attention should be given to the establishment of an independent, state owned transmission grid company.
A good starting point for the unbundling process would be the establishment of an Eskom subsidiary with its own board. This subsidiary would oversee the migration of relevant assets and personnel. The intention would be to combine the transmission, system operation, power planning, procurement and buying functions. This separation is intended to leave the grid company free to contract independent power producers and Eskom generation without the conflict of interest that currently exists. As it stands, Eskom transmission is incentivised to give its own generation plants preference, blocking new technology and new entrants to bolster its own operations.
It’s not only the president’s explicit commitment to a comprehensive reform plan that makes this announcement different from those that came before. The sector is in a fundamentally different situation compared to the early 2000s and early 2010s.
Eskom is in the midst of extreme financial, operational and governance crises which it will not be able to solve alone, especially within the context of the complex global energy transition.
But, to ensure this plan doesn’t go the way of its predecessors, Ramaphosa must ensure meaningful consultation and dialogue with all key stakeholders, as well as credible and sustainable plans to address the needs of all those who may be affected. Without this, the president’s announcement will meet the same fate as previous South African energy policy reform pronouncements. Reform is a complex social and technical process. It is not without risk and costs. This time, however, failure of implementation is not something the country can afford.
Lauren Hermanus and Catrina Godinho, Research associates, University of Cape Town.
This article was published in The Conversation, a collaboration between editors and academics to provide informed news analysis and commentary. Its content is free to read and republish under Creative Commons; media who would like to republish this article should do so directly from its appearance on The Conversation, using the button in the right-hand column of the webpage. UCT academics who would like to write for The Conversation should register with them; you are also welcome to find out more from carolyn.newton@uct.ac.za.
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Oxford Futures Seminar Report
What kind of city do we want Oxford to be in the future?
This is the text-only version of an article which was published in the March 2013 edition of our newsletter ‘Visions’. Click here to see the original version complete with pictures as a pdf file.
What kind of city do we want Oxford to be in the future? Do we want it to grow and change or to resist both? Can we sustain growth in our congested area without compromising the very qualities that make Oxford so special? Seventy people attended our Oxford Futures seminar, held in the Town Hall on 17 January, to open up the debate. Nicholas Falk from URBED reports.
Introducing the theme, our Chairman Peter Thompson stressed the vital importance of thinking about the future, given the need to respond to the challenges – a changing economy, housing shortages, climate change and energy security among them. Crucially we need to work together to solve the issues.
A strong local economy but …
Dave Valler, an economist from Oxford Brookes University, drew conclusions from his work for the City and County on Oxford’s economic position. While the local economy has been growing, it is only at the national average and has been outstripped by Berkshire and Cambridge on factors such as income per head and inward investment. Oxford has great strengths in health and education but it may be vulnerable from so many jobs being in the public sector, and incomes are low in relation to house prices. Hence it is vital to realise the full potential of the ‘knowledge economy’, not least by acknowledging the need to link economic ‘clusters’ by addressing transport issues. The fundamental question ‘should Oxford grow?’ needs to be asked, not avoided.
The City’s strategy
David Edwards, Executive Director at Oxford City Council, explained the City’s strategy for planned economic growth. Oxford is in competition with other cities and has severe problems with its infrastructure. Hence it is important to plan where future jobs and homes will go, and how people are going to travel between them. At present many workers live outside the city, yet many commute to the city edges not the centre, making it a challenge to offer public transport.
He explained why the bid to government under the City Deals involved growing a ‘knowledge
spine’, connecting up a number of sites. He also acknowledged the need to improve the public realm and referred to the new opportunities at Oxford Station, Oxpens and the Westgate development. The new rail link to London via Bicester and the electrification of the current line will bring immense opportunities. While hundreds of new homes are planned for Barton, there are still real problems in making housing affordable for would-be residents.
Nicholas Falk from URBED, one of the promoters of the seminar, used examples from comparable cities to show how growth and infrastructure can be joined together to produce smarter results. He cited Cambridge where the £150 million investment in fast busways was starting to pay off with plans for some 20,000 homes along the route.
Those who had gone from Oxford to learn from new Dutch settlements were impressed by how easy it was to get around on foot or bike, and how cars took second place. Fast growing historic cities like Freiburg, Montpellier and Copenhagen have kept car use down by using carefully planned urban extensions to boost their appeals as places to live and visit, and make modern rapid transit pay for itself. Success depended on agreeing a spatial and investment plan for the wider travel to work area, ensuring new development and infrastructure were joined up, and having an agency or joint ventures that could provide the necessary continuity, and hence confidence that private investors look for.
A strategy for transport
Peter Headicar, transport specialist at Oxford Brookes University and member of our Transport Group, warned that over-reliance on growth in peripheral towns such as Bicester was simply adding to the problems of journeys to work, as many people feel that cars are the only viable option. He showed how a ‘step change’ could be achieved through seven measures: enhancing local rail services; some form of rapid transit; better interchange hubs; shuttle links; integrated travel information and ticketing systems; workplace travel plans; and changes in the funding arrangements, including ‘congestion’ charging in the city.
In Peter’s view, the details were less important than having an agreed strategy for transport, which might take up some of the technological breakthroughs that are being made in Oxford, such as electric bikes.
Peter Thompson addressed the vital need to cut carbon emissions and switch to renewable sources of energy. New development could help Oxford play a role in showing the way forward. He recommended David MacKay’s book Sustainable energy (freely available at www.withouthotair.com), which explains the urgency of adopting a range of actions, including green power, to meet our future energy needs.
Wendy Twist from the Oxford Low Carbon Hub showed how women were taking the lead in different parts of Oxfordshire, responding to visible threats like flooding. Over 60 active groups have undertaken projects such as the largest solar panel arrays on schools and encouraged communities to take advantage of the Green Deal scheme for upgrading poorly insulated homes. Experience in Wallingford suggested annual household savings of £250 and Barton residents have shown interest in the scheme. A grant of £1.2 million will help communities develop schemes to the point where they are ‘investment ready’.
Tapping into community or social enterprises offered a practical way of changing behaviour, and ultimately attitudes. And many of these grassroots projects help in building social capital.
Developing local communities
Van Coulter, Councillor for Barton and a member of Oxford City’s Cabinet, highlighted the contrasts between those living in Barton and in the city as a whole, particularly in educational attainment, income levels and home ownership. With the population there likely to increase by a third, it was vital to engage local people and ensure their voices are heard. Bodies like the Low Carbon Hub had a major role to play in tackling fuel poverty.
Vice President Tony Joyce said that the nation may be looking to Oxford to boost prosperity, but the city needs the resources to do this properly so that those who work in the knowledge economy can reach their jobs without depending on cars.
He cited three very successful communities – Wolvercote, Jericho and Headington – which while very different in history and physical character, shared a strong sense of identity and community. He thought that the wide social mix and role played by primary schools and local clubs and associations were key to this success. The challenge is to replicate the success of these communities elsewhere.
The need for vision
Summing up, John Glasson, Emeritus Professor at Oxford Brookes, said the City now needs to aim higher with a clear vision of what it aspires to. We must consider how to develop planning policies that can integrate housing, transport and economic development. Green Belt policies need serious reconsideration. New stations create new opportunities for housing and employment. We could push for Oxford to become a ‘solar city’ where we’re known for renewable energy.
But a key issue is how we align our institutions – only if we speak with one, powerful voice will we get the ear of government. He cited how Cambridge Futures had become a forum for the discussion of ideas, while ‘Cambridge2You’ is now successfully using promotional techniques from Silicon Valley.
The debate starts here …
A member of the audience questioned whether growth was the right goal and whether it would deliver a better quality of life. Our speakers all noted that change is unpredictable but inevitable and that it must be managed effectively to ensure the prosperity on which all our futures depend.
We’re planning future events to take this debate forward so please watch this space.
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Nationals - April 2020
By: Eric Hoffman
Greetings Rockers ’N’ Rollers! A few shows squeezed in last month before the current crisis took over the world. Hall & Oates played the first night of their current tour at Hershey’s Giant Center on February 26th. This year marks the 50th anniversary of their formal partnership but the duo aren’t celebrating it, they are more focused on a new album. Hall & Oates sold-out Madison Square Garden in NYC two days later but had to put the rest of their 38 summer dates on hold. Harrisburg University brought The Revivalists to the Forum Auditorium downtown on March 4th. A unique show in which the Forum removed the permanent seats for the first time to create a general admission pit area. Harrisburg University will continue to bring live concerts to the historic Harrisburg venue that was built between 1929 and 1931. Young, The Giant is scheduled for December 12th and past HU shows at the Forum include Jason Isbell, Grace Potter and Rodrigo Y Gabriela. March also saw the grand opening of new music venue, Phantom Power in Millersville, PA. On March 6th, Heart Bones (featuring Har Mar Superstar and Sabrina Ellis) played the first show and put on a fantastic performance. The duo was in the middle of their Hot Dish US Tour 2020. Congratulations to Gregg Barley on his latest venture and new venue, Phantom Power. Gregg has been a huge part of the Lancaster music scene with many years spent at the Chameleon Club and the opening of Tellus 360. Congratulations are also in order to John Harris and the Millennium Music Conference which took place February 28th-29th, celebrating its 24th year. MMC has educated and showcased thousands of independent acts and artists over the years.
NATIONAL NEWS: As the world deals with the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, society has felt the affects in almost every possible way. Practically everything has shut down including businesses, employment and the entertainment industry. It began with professional sports teams ending their entire seasons on March 11th. Quickly to be followed by the music industry, with bands cancelling tours, venues closing and Live Nation putting all concerts on hold. With the viral spread, the city of Austin, Texas announced the cancellation of South By Southwest (the largest music conference in the Nation) which was scheduled to begin on March 13th. This marks the first time in 34 years that SXSW would not take place. The cancellation has estimated to have cost $336 million in economy revenue loss.
Pearl Jam was the first band to postpone their 2020 tour, citing public health concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. Pearl Jam wrote on Twitter “It’s been brutal and it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. So we are being told that being part of large gatherings is high on the list of things to avoid as this global health crisis is now beginning to affect all of our lives. The risks posed to fans is simply too high for our comfort level.” Then the Rolling Stones followed postponed their North America “No Filter” tour stating, “We are sorry to all the fans who were looking forward to it as much as we were, but the health and safety of everyone has to take priority. We will all get through this together – and we’ll see you very soon.” Which then led to a flood of cancellations of tours (Elton John, Rage Against The Machine, Foo Fighters, Guns N Roses, Madonna, The Who) and shows by bands, venues and promoters. The U.S. government then stepped in cancelling all events and closures. Governor, Tom Wolf, extended a shutdown to the entire state of Pennsylvania, closing schools statewide and a range of government offices.
The virus, which started in Wuhan, China, has spread to more than 30 countries, including the United States, Italy and South Korea. With the world’s population staying safe at home to combat the virus, many artists have started a new trend by streaming live performances for their fans. Neil Young was one of the firsts to announce his live stream the Fireside Sessions, “Because we are all at home and not venturing out, we will try to do a stream from my fireplace with my lovely wife filming. It will be a down-home production, a few songs, a little time together. See You Soon! NY.” Other artists who have streamed live include, Chris Martin (Coldplay), Keith Urban, Pink, Rob Thomas, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Dave Matthews and Metallica.
Lady Gaga is meant to visit six International cites this summer, July 24th to August 19th, as part of a short run dubbed “The Chromatica Ball Tour,” promoted by Live Nation. The concerts will take place at Stade de France in Paris (July 24), the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, UK (July 30), Fenway Park in Boston, MA (Aug. 5), Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON (Aug. 9), Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL (Aug. 14) and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ (Aug. 19). Lady Gaga was in the midst of her Las Vegas residencies “Enigma” and “Lady Gaga Jazz + Piano,” with shows confirmed through May.
Journey principal members Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain have fired drummer Steven Smith and bassist Ross Valory, alleging in a lawsuit the duo has launched a “corporate coup d’etat” by attempting to claim the rights to band’s trademarks. The suit was filed March 3rd in California Superior Court and seeks $10 million in damages along with other declaratory relief. Smith and Valory are accused of holding an improper shareholder meeting February 13th to oust Schoen and Cain from leadership roles in and take control of Nightmare Productions, the corporate entity that conducts part of the band’s business and owns the Journey Mark. The lawsuit accuses Smith and Valory of “self-dealing .. and have destroyed the chemistry, cohesion and rapport necessary for the band to play together. Journey can only tour successfully and succeed creatively if it is united and the band members trust one another. The actions taken by Smith and Valory shattered that trust.”
Live Nation will book shows at Philadelphia’s nonprofit Mann Center for the Performing Arts as part of an exclusive multiyear partnership. As part of the agreement, the Mann and Live Nation will offer enhanced VIP options to enhance the guest experience at the open-air venue. Live Nation will also participate in developing new music festivals to fill the Mann’s multiple stages. The Mann’s 22-acre campus is in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. The main stage, seats 4,500 under its roof and can accommodate 10,000 more concert goers for terrace and lawn seating.
Public Enemy has abruptly fired founding member Flavor Flav following a public spat over the rap group’s plan to perform at a Bernie Sanders campaign event. Public Enemy “will be moving forward without Flavor Flav,” the band said in a brief statement. “We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.” Flavor Flav responded on with incredulity, writing to band leader Chuck D: “You wanna destroy something we’ve built over 35 years OVER POLITICS?” He scolded the rap pioneer: “I’m very disappointed in you and your decisions right now.” Public Enemy released this, “Official Statement: Public Enemy did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views. Flavor Flav has been on suspension since 2016 when he was MIA from the Harry Belafonte benefit in Atlanta, Georgia.That was the last straw for the group. He had previously missed numerous live gigs from Glastonbury to Canada, album recording sessions and photo shoots. He always chose to party over work.”
Currently, there are no future concerts in the near future. Most tours have been postponed until later this year. Stay tuned. Please take care of yourselves and stay well.
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Information Regarding Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Court Operations
The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon is a federal court serving the area corresponding to the state of Oregon. The District has courthouses in Portland, Eugene, Medford, and Pendleton.
Local Rules Now Allow Attorneys to File Motions to Seal Electronically +
As of December 1, 2020, attorneys will file motions to seal and documents that are the subjects of those motions in CM/ECF rather than in paper. This change applies in both criminal and civil cases. See LR 5-2(e); L. Crim. R. 49-1. For filing instructions, see Sections 10 and 11 of the CM/ECF User Manual.
Self-represented parties may use any method authorized by 2020-8 Amended In Re Pro Se Filing by E-Mail in Response to COVID-19.pdf to file motions to seal and documents that are the subjects of those motions.
Standing Orders Regarding Court Operations During the COVID-19 Emergency +
Click here for more more information on Court Operations during the COVID-19 emergency.
2020-4 In Re Court Operations In Response to COVID-19.pdf
2020-5 In Re District Clerks Office Operations in Response to COVID-19.pdf
2020-7 In Re Use of VTC and Telephone Conferencing for Criminal Proceedings.pdf
2020-12 In Re Court Operations in Response to COVID-19.pdf
2020-12 Amended In Re Court Operations in Response to COVID-19.pdf
2020-12 Second Amended In Re Court Operations in Response to COVID-19.pdf
2020-8 Amended In Re Pro Se Filing by E-Mail in Response to COVID-19.pdf
2020-12 Third Amended In Re Court Operations in Response to COVID-19.pdf
Action Required: The District of Oregon Has Transitioned to CM/ECF NextGen +
The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon completed its upgrade to the latest version of Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF), known as "NextGen" on January 21, 2020.
See below to learn what is required for public users to access their CM/ECF NextGen accounts.
Other Courts and Related Agencies
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Federal Public Defender
U.S. Attorney
Oregon State Courts
Appeals from Opinions and Orders of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon are heard by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. For more information about the Ninth Circuit, visit their website.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon handles all bankruptcy matters. The Bankruptcy Court's website has directions to its courthouses and information for individuals, companies and attorneys.
The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System carries out probation and pretrial services functions in the U.S. District courts. Through its officers and other employees, the system works to make the criminal justice process effective and the public safe.
Federal Public Defenders ensure that the right to counsel is enforced on behalf of those who cannot afford such services. More information about the Federal Public Defender can be found on the office's website.
United States Attorneys conduct most of the trial work in which the United States is a party. More information on the U.S. Attorney's Office can be found on their website.
The Multnomah County Courthouse is located across the park from the Hatfield Courthouse in Portland. If you have a summons, trial, or other proceeding in "Circuit Court" for any county in Oregon, you will need to refer to the Oregon state court website for more information.
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Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report
by Dan Krieger
August 27, 2018 - International League (IL)
International League: The recently announced move of the Triple-A International League's Pawtucket (RI) Red Sox (PawSox) to Worcester (MA) for the 2021 season still has to be approved by the league and by Minor League Baseball, but Worcester is moving forward on plans to build a new stadium for the PawSox. The city of Pawtucket has to consider what will become of its 10,000-seat McCoy Stadium. One businessman talked of bringing a short-season Class-A New York-Penn League team to Pawtucket, but getting approval would be difficult since Pawtucket would be in Worcester's territory. A team in an independent league could be an option, but the stadium capacity is large for an independent team.
Pecos League: The independent Pecos League recently completed its 2018 season and announced it will return with 12 teams in 2019. The three divisions (Mountain, Pacific and Southern) of four teams each will be replaced by six-team Mountain and Pacific divisions. The Pecos League's fall developmental/prospects league called the Hudson River League will again be based in Houston starting in November. There are currently plans for four teams called the Salina Stockade, Houston Apollos, Coastal Kingfish and the Lyndhurst Blacksox.
American Association: The future of the Wichita Wingnuts in the independent American Association is uncertain since its home stadium is to be torn down after this season. The city has approved funding for a replacement stadium to be built, but city officials want to make the new ballpark contingent on obtaining an affiliated team. If the Wingnuts remain an option for the new stadium, they could temporarily play next season as a travel team or on the campus of Wichita State University.
Northwoods League: The Green Bay Bullfrogs of the summer-collegiate Northwoods League announced seven potential names for the team that is being rebranded as it moves to a new ballpark for the 2019 season. The Green Bay nickname finalists are Booyah, Cheese Curds, Old Fashioneds, Supper Clubbers, Tailgaters, Under Dogs and Wurst. Council members in the Milwaukee suburb of Pewaukee have given initial approval for a proposed baseball complex that would include a 2,500-seat ballpark for a possible team in the Northwoods League.
Prospect League: After 11 seasons (2008-18) of play, the Butler (PA) BlueSox team is leaving the summer-collegiate Prospect League. The team was the league's easternmost member and faced additional travel costs. The team is said to be considering a move to the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Another Prospect League team called the Kokomo (IN) Jackrabbits announced last month it was leaving for the Northwoods League next season.
National Basketball Association Gatorade League (G-League): The G-League held a player draft to stock its lone expansion team for the 2018-19 season called the Capital City Go-Go (Washington, DC).
Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional: The LNBP, Mexico's top professional basketball league, recently announced the schedule and team lineup for its 2018-19 season. Last season, the league had 11 teams aligned in one table but after losing a team and adding 4 more, the league will have 14 teams aligned in seven-team North (Zona Norte) and South (Zona Sur) divisions. The Toros de Nuevo Laredo will sit out the 2018-19 season, but the Huracanes de Tampico will return after sitting out last two seasons and three new teams called the Laguneros de Torreon, Angeles de Puebla and Lenadores de Durango were added.
American Basketball Association: The ABA announced another new initiative called ABA International Tours (ABA IT) that will arrange international tours of ABA teams to foreign markets as well as foreign teams touring U.S. markets. These tours will take place during April to October in the ABA's off-season.
Indoor Football League: The IFL announced a new expansion team will be added in Tucson for the 2019 season. The Tucson team is expected to be a natural rival for the league's Phoenix-based Arizona Ratlers. The addition of Tucson puts the league at seven teams and the league is expected to try to add at least one more team by next season. When funding was first announced for local arena renovations to accommodate an indoor football team, it appeared as though Tucson was considering a team in the Arena Football League. The ownership of the new Tucson team had also considered the league called Champions Indoor Football as a possible option. The IFL's Cedar Rapids (IA) Titans came under new ownership this summer and the team has announced a name-the-team contest as part of a rebranding for the 2019 season. Team names can be submitted until September 5 with the new name to be announced on September 14, 2018.
National Arena League: The ownership of the NAL's Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (Allentown, PA) is putting the team up for sale and hopes new local ownership will be able to keep the team in the area. The team has been around since 2011 playing two seasons (2011-12) in the Indoor Football League, two seasons (2013-15) in the Professional Indoor Football League, one season (2016) in American Indoor Football and the past two seasons (2017-18) in the NAL.
Northern Arena Football: The owner of the New England Cavalry team, which played as an affiliate and travel team in the 2018 American Arena League season, announced the team will be part of the proposed new NAF. The NAF plans to start play in 2019 with at least six teams based in the Northeast region of the United States. The Cavalry will play home games at a new facility in Hooksett (NH).
Canadian Women's Hockey League: The CWHL's only United States-based team called the Boston Blades is moving to Worcester (MA) and will be known as the Worcester Blades for the 2018-19 season. The league had seven teams last season, but will now operate with six teams after its two teams from Shenzhen (China) called the Kunlun Red Star and the Vanke Rays have combined as the Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays for the 2018-19 season.
USA Central Hockey League: The proposed new junior-level USACHL, which plans to start play in the 2018-19 season as a non-tuition league with four Texas-based teams, announced its fourth team will be called the Texas Lawmen and based in McAllen. Apparently the league was waiting on interests at two other locations but moved forward with McAllen since the start of the season is only two months away. The USACHL previously announced its three other teams called the Wichita Falls Force, Laredo Bucks and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (Hidalgo, TX).
United Soccer Leagues Division-III League: The ownership of the Rochester (NY) Rhinos, a Division-II United Soccer League (USL) team that sat out the 2018 season, has received permission from the USL to join the new USL Division-III league by the 2020 season. The Rhinos plan to vacate the city's Marina Auto Stadium and try to build a new stadium in the region. The USL Division-III league's new Chattanooga team has launched a name-the-team contest with the new name to be announced this fall.
National Premier Soccer League: The men's elite-level NPSL is considering a new professional division currently referred to as NPSL Pro. The NPSL has lost markets to developing Division-III pro leagues.
National Independent Soccer Association: The proposed new NISA says it will apply to the United States Soccer Federation for Division-III status to start in the fall of 2019. The NISA will play a European-type schedule with fall and spring schedules and off during the summer.
Major League Soccer: The MLS's Columbus Crew SC ownership, which is trying to move the team to a proposed new soccer-specific stadium in Austin (TX), announced the team will be called the Austin FC when and if the move is complete. Austin FC and Austin Athletic were two names trademarked by the MLS last August.
Major League Rugby: As the professional MLR moves toward its second season in 2019, it has entered into negotiations with Lique National de Rugby (LNR), which operates France's Top 14 rugby union league and its lower-level Pro D2 league, for possible collaboration between the LNR and MLR in the future. Some areas could include television, media and player and referee development.
Dan Krieger is the creator of the Leagues, Teams & Nicknames, which tracks the changes in league alignments, franchise movements and team nicknames in today's sports world. The publication is available for sale at www.amazon.com.
Check out the International League Statistics
• Discuss this story on the International League message board...
International League Stories from August 27, 2018
Kramer, Wood Record Two Hits Apiece in Loss - Indianapolis Indians
One Last Homer for Vladdy as Bisons Fall 4-2 - Buffalo Bisons
RailRiders Take IronRail Series - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Pigs Fall in Finale; Iron Rail Returns to Moosic - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Bats Dominate Indians in 14-2 Win - Louisville Bats
Knights Beat the Stripers 3-1 in Monday's Finale - Charlotte Knights
Chiefs Pull off Another Comeback Win, Surging Past Wings, 6-3 - Syracuse Mets
Wings Fall in Final Road Game, 6-3, Monday - Rochester Red Wings
Knights Outpace Stripers Monday to Split Series - Gwinnett Stripers
Cuevas Fans 10 in 4-2 Win over Buffalo - Pawtucket Red Sox
Norfolk and Durham Suspended Monday Night at Harbor Park - Norfolk Tides
Spencer Turnbull Impresses in Hens Debut - Toledo Mud Hens
Bisons Name C Danny Jansen 2018 Team MVP - Buffalo Bisons
LHV Game Notes 8-27 - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Rochester Red Wings Homestand Highlights - Rochester Red Wings
Bats Three-Game Winning Streak Snapped, Losing 5-3 - Louisville Bats
Louisville Bats Notes: August 27 - Louisville Bats
SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Red Sox Rehabbers on the Horizon - Pawtucket Red Sox
Durham Bulls Game Notes - Monday, August 27, 2018 - Durham Bulls
IronPigs' Playoff Schedule Now Official - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (70-62) vs. Louisville Bats (57-72) - Indianapolis Indians
Bisons Game Notes - Buffalo vs. Pawtucket (7:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons Announce 2019 Playing Schedule - Buffalo Bisons
Chiefs Homestand Highlights - August 27th, August 31st-September 3rd - Syracuse Mets
Osuna Slugs Way to International League Player of the Week Award - Indianapolis Indians
International League Names Players of the Week - IL
Touki Toussaint Named IL Pitcher of the Week - Gwinnett Stripers
Bisons Announce Return of Ballpark Golf Course, 'The Links at Coca-Cola Field' - Buffalo Bisons
Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
Knights Sink the Stripers 10-4 on Sunday - Charlotte Knights
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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Deborah Mitford's Brideshead Revisited to lead sale at Sotheby's
A personally inscribed copy of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited is among the highlights of a sale of pieces from the collection of Deborah Mitford.
The lot is valued at £15,000-20,000 ($21,457-28,609) ahead of a March 2 auction at Sotheby's London.
Deborah Mitford and her sisters attracted frenzied press coverage for their associations with fascism and communism
Waugh was a close friend. The book is inscribed: "Debo & Andrew, with love from Evelyn, A very old fashioned story".
Deborah Mitford was one of the six eccentric and unconventional Mitford sisters, who lived much of their lives in the public eye.
She spent most of her life as duchess of Chatsworth House, one of England's most spectacular stately homes.
The sale will include a wealth of personal artefacts, ranging from jewellery to Elvis memorabilia (she was a big fan).
David MacDonald, Sotheby's specialist in charge of the sale, added: "This auction paints a vivid picture of Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, featuring mementoes, objects and pictures that tell the story of her remarkable life.
"A friend to many of the people who shaped her generation, she herself was a writer, an entrepreneur, a patron of the arts, and a much-admired beauty who also had the knack of absorbing the influences of other designers and decorators to develop her own style.
"The objects with which she chose to surround herself in her final home, the Old Vicarage at Edensor, were often moving, funny, or both, and usually had marvellous stories attached. The items in this sale capture the very essence of this endlessly captivating woman."
Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about autograph auctions.
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James Bond magnetic Rolex watch proves irresistible at Christie's
Christie's has completed its sale of Important Watches with a wide range of watches going under the hammer from IWC, Piaget and especially Patek Philippe.
However, there was only one watch which was going to grab the headlines - and rightly so: how much more important can you get than a watch which is likely to save you from ravenous sharks (or was it ill-tempered sea bass?) - James Bond's Live and Let Die Rolex.
In the film, the 'magnetic' wristwatch had been converted from a stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner timepiece by 'Q Branch'. It is almost certainly the most memorable Submariner to appear in movies and must be considered a timeless piece not only for the watch fan but also for film and James Bond collectors in general.
James Bond's 'magnetic' Rolex with circular saw clearly visible
(Great in a crisis; terrible for shirtsleeves)
Especially designed for James Bond to be worn during 007's mission in Live and Let Die, it was created in 1972 by the world-famous film production designer Syd Cain, a British production designer who worked on more than 30 films, including four in the James Bond series in the 1960s and 1970s.
Featuring not only a bezel spinning at high speed to cut ropes and chains, in the movie it also bore an ultra-strong magnet which was supposed to neutralise bullets but was first used by 007 to unzip Miss Caruso's dress. Both 'complications' were used in the final showdown with the dastardly Kananga.
It sold within the expected range at CHF219,000 ($242,500). The James Bond franchise is still going strong, with the name of the latest Bond movie, Skyfall, recently announced.
The earlier movies are hardly being left behind, either. In Christie's sale of classic movie posters in June earlier this year, a poster for the classic James Bond movie Diamonds are Forever (1971) topped the bill, selling for £79,250 ($129,970) to an American collector.
This signed photo of Daniel Craig is available right now
(Click here to find our more)
We've sold various pieces of James Bond memorabilia in recent months, but there are a few great pieces in our stock which might make a James Bond collector's Christmas all the merrier: signed photos of Daniel Craig and Roger Moore. Sean Connery's autograph is also available.
Despite the fascination of Bond, we should mention the top lot in the sale, especially as it performed so brilliantly: this was an extraordinarily fine and rare 18K pink gold automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, original certificate and box by Patek Philippe.
The reference 3448 was made in 1968, and was listed at a more than respectable CHF500,000-1,000,000, but in fact doubled its top estimate to bring CHF2,099,000 ($2.3m).
If all this talk of fine Swiss watches is making your arm feel a little naked, you might like to take a look at this fine Longines Men's Olympic watch too.
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Don Bradman cricket bat sells for $18,000 in Australia
An Australian sports memorabilia auction was highlighted yesterday (December 18) by the sale of a Don Bradman game-used bat.
The bat was signed "Don Bradman/Private" on its reverse and sold for $17,827.
Prime Minister John Howard once described Bradman as the greatest living Australian
The bat at auction was used by Bradman during the 1931/1932 Australia v South Africa test series, in which he scored 806 runs with a high score of 299 not out and an average of 201.5. It was sold together with a photocopy of the letter of authenticity from Sir Don, which reads:
"You are lucky enough to have one of my old bats. The use of the word 'private' on the back was merely to indicate that it was my personal bat to distinguish it from the team bats. I apparently used it against the South Africans in 1932".
Bradman is widely recognised as the greatest test batsman in the history of cricket, rising to become an integral part of the Australian cricket team in just over two years. His 20 year career saw numerous records, with former Australian captain Bill Woodfull describing him as "worth three batsmen to Australia."
Another of Bradman's bats was sold shortly after his death by Christie's for $20,955 in 2002, displaying the appeal of the legendary batsman in the collectibles market. The current world record for Bradman memorabilia is held by his first test bat, which sold for $145,000 in 2008.
Learn more Bradman and cricket collectibles here.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a superb range of sporting autographs for sale, each of which will make a great Christmas gift. See more of our exciting Christmas collectibles.
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What a Muslim Brotherhood Win in Egypt Could Mean for U.S.
May 25, 2012 6:11 PM EST
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-a-muslim-brotherhood-win-in-egypt-could-mean-for-u-s
Two of the most-polarizing candidates for Egypt's presidency might face off in a runoff after a partial vote count Friday in the country's first free presidential election. Jeffrey Brown and McClatchy reporter Nancy Youssef discuss the candidates, Ahmed Shafiq of the Mubarak regime, and the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi.
JEFFREY BROWN:
Reporter Nancy Youssef is covering the elections for McClatchy Newspapers in Cairo. I spoke to her a short time ago.
Nancy, thanks for joining us.
So what's its reaction there? Is this seen as a surprising result?
NANCY YOUSSEF, McClatchy Newspapers:
Yes, people are really stunned here.
The news started trickling in around 4:00 in the morning. And many people woke up and were shocked at the results. And if you were a revolutionary, you were particularly shocked because none of the revolutionary candidates appeared to make the runoff, which means, rather than sort of creating the great reform that they had hoped for, people are really voting for some of the past ideas, whether it was the 80-year-old Muslim Brotherhood or a regime candidate.
So there's really been a state of shock throughout the country about the outcome of the elections and really in what areas each candidate did very well in.
Well, tell us a little bit about what looks to be the two finalists and how they are polarizing figures, Mohammed Morsi and Ahmed Shafiq.
NANCY YOUSSEF:
Well, Ahmed Shafiq was Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister in the final days before he was deposed.
He's a former air force general, a colleague of Mubarak's, and has really been unapologetic about his ties to the regime. He has promised to restore order in this country and security at a time where people are suffering from more crimes since the revolutionary — from more unemployment and higher food prices.
And he is really unapologetically a face of the past. And one could argue his base is what they called the couch party, those who stayed home during the revolution. Mohammed Morsi was a name that sort of emerged pretty late in the campaign after the Brotherhood's first candidate dropped out.
And he's by everyone's estimation a rather uncharismatic leader, but has the backing of a huge organized machine here, the best organized political machine in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, which really galvanized the vote on his behalf.
And he has promised to bring back — bring Egypt the kind of Islamic state that the Brotherhood has talked about for years and years, for decades in exile, and recently since the revolution in open areas.
So the more secular forces that you were talking about earlier who pushed for the revolution to oust Mubarak, they're feeling confused, angry. What happened to them?
They will tell you the mistake that they made was that they had three revolutionary candidates on the ballot. Had they just had one, they would have had someone.
And so the leading of the three, Hamdeen Sabahi, got 20 percent of the vote, compared to 26 and 24 percent from Morsi and Shafiq respectively. The other thing that they will tell you is that they were poorly organized, that they were too decentralized, and that they didn't really get behind a person.
And we're already starting to hear threats of boycotting in the general election. We're hearing threats of violence. We're even hearing people saying that they will vote for Mohammed Morsi despite the fact they don't agree with anything he stands for, because it's better than putting someone in from the regime back in power. To do so would really essentially kill the revolution.
You can hear the sort of rumblings here about, is the revolution over now that these two are the candidates? And I think, for some people, today, it is.
So you mean the potential for unrest again is very real precisely because of these potential two candidates?
I mean, in the days up until the revolution, I ran into people who said, I'm voting for Shafiq even though I know this will lead to war, you know, because for — he's such a polarizing figure in a way, more than Morsi, because he is the face of the very thing that people died for to get rid of.
And so there is an expectation here that, at the minimum, people will go back to Tahrir Square. Conversely, if Morsi ends up losing in the runoff election, we could see Islamists going to the street and not accepting the results of the election. And so there is a real possibility of instability here in the days and weeks to come.
So, of course, Nancy, there are wider stakes beyond Egypt. You have a lot of people watching. You have other Arab countries, you have Israel, and of course the U.S.
What are the stakes for the U.S. in this?
Well, I think, primarily, the stakes are the potential of either having relatively similar relations to Egypt that they had under the Mubarak regime, and fundamentally different relations.
Remember, that for years, the Muslim Brotherhood was shunned by the United States. And the Brotherhood hasn't forgotten that and has sort of promised to the public that they will distance themselves from the United States.
So this portends of a weakened relationship, not only for the United States, but by extension for Israel, and even puts the peace accords in jeopardy. So it is as much at stake in a way for the United States as it is for voters here in terms of the kind of outcome that could come from this election.
All right, Nancy Youssef in Cairo for us, thanks so much.
ahmed shafik
mcclatchy
mohammed morsi
run off
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Fifth Squad detectives are investigating three incidents of indecent exposure that occurred on two separate dates in February.
According to detectives, on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at 4:20 pm, while walking home from Valley Stream High School on E. Beverly Parkway in Valley Stream, a 17-year-old female victim was approached by an unknown male black driving a black, 4-door, vehicle. The subject got her attention by asking for directions and was observed by the victim fondling his exposed genitals. The victim then ran from the scene and 911 was contacted.
The same day at 5:00 pm, while walking her dog on Brixton Road S., Garden City South, a 56-year-old female was approached by an unknown male black who was driving a black, 4 door, Mercedes Benz. After gaining her attention, the subject was observed by the victim fondling his exposed genitals. The victim left the area, went home and called 911.
On Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 4:15 pm, while walking on Grove Street, Valley Stream, a 47-year-old female was approached by an unknown male black who was driving a black, 4-door, vehicle. After gaining her attention, the victim observed that the subject displayed a black handgun at her and was also observed fondling his exposed genitals with his other hand. The subject, while continuing to point the gun at her, demanded money. The victim ran from the area, went home and called 911. The subject in all three cases was described as being between 20 -30 years old, with black hair.
Detectives believe that the subject involved in the three incidents is one in the same and request anyone with information regarding any of the above incidents to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
Details by: Det. Delmore/5th Squad 02/07/20/0005/6672
*****UPDATE*****
Details by: Det. Ingram/5th Squad 03/06/20/2150/8751
The Fifth Squad reports the above listed unknown individual is believed to be responsible for the following additional incidents of public lewdness that occurred on Friday, March 6, 2020 in Valley Stream:
- At 5:53 p.m. on Dianne St., a 17-year-old female victim was walking when she was approached by a black male operating a newer model black Mercedes Benz. The subject engaged the victim in conversation while exposing himself. The subject fled the scene in an unknown direction.
-At 7:20 p.m. on North Grove St./Keller St. a 56-year-old female victim was approached by a black male operating a black Mercedes Benz. The subject engaged her in conversation before exposing himself. He fled in an unknown direction.
The subject is described as a male black, approximately 20 years old. He was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, a tan vest and tan pants. No further description is available.
Detectives request anyone with information regarding the above incidents contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous.
Det. Ingram/5th Sqd. 03/11/20/0240/8688
Corwinn Hall, 27, of 1598 Yarrow Circle, Bellport, was arrested for the above incidents.
Defendant Hall is being charged with Robbery 1st Degree (Attempt) and five (5) counts of Public Lewdness. He will be arraigned Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at First District Court, Hempstead.
Detectives request anyone who may have been the victim of a similar incident to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
⇐PreviousHomicide UPDATE / HicksvilleNext⇒Media Advisory / COFFEE WITH A COP
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Mali has recently experienced a period of upheaval, with a transition from one government to another, a deadly pandemic and growing security concerns. In this context, what are the opportunities for a transition to peace? Our local expert, Boubacar Thera, looks at what this crossroads could mean for Mali.
Marta de Jong-Lantink via Flickr
While Mali has experienced an increasingly deteriorating security situation since 2012, the number of cases of COVID-19 has increased dramatically as a second wave has shaken the country since November. Public support varies on the measures taken by the government to curb the spread of the pandemic, often across socio-economic lines. There has been a gradual rise in the number of cases with a peak never reached during the first wave.
Faced with the scale of the health crisis, the Council of Ministers, meeting in an extraordinary session on Friday 18th December, adopted new emergency measures and complementary support measures. Amongst others, these are:
mobilising and deploying a committee to monitor, raise awareness and follow up on actions to stop the virus throughout the country;
declaring a state of emergency throughout the country from 19th December 2020;
supporting civil society organisations, in particular by providing them with spraying kits;
Since government support for civil society efforts has often been lacking in Mali, this last provision is an important one. Nevertheless, it is the communities that bear the brunt of the impact of the pandemic: no more school until 4th January, no more public hearings until the 16th, and the closure of shops, bars, restaurants and clubs until further notice.
A tightening grip on security
In parallel with the health crisis, the security situation has been increasingly deteriorating in the northern and central regions of the country. These regions have become very difficult to access due to the presence of unidentified armed groups who commit attacks on the roads, carry out kidnappings and increase the number of improvised explosive devices.
In parallel with the health crisis, the security situation has been increasingly deteriorating in the northern and central regions of the country
Alongside measures to combat the pandemic, the transitional authorities have invoked "the country's security situation" and "the persistence of terrorist actions" to put in place a whole series of measures of a different kind that will "significantly alter the exercise of public and individual freedoms", in the words of the Minister of Territorial Administration. The government has been seen to be tightening its grip on security through these measures.
In a letter addressed to all governors, prefects and sub-prefects of Mali, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Lieutenant-Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga has given the green light to now "order searches in all places by day and night". The minister also reminded them that they now have the power to "ensure the control of the press", "social networks", "radio or television broadcasts, as well as cinemas and theatres".
While medical personnel denounced "a relaxation" in the application of measures to protect against the virus, this selection of arrangements gives the National Human Rights Commission of Mali cause for concern, according to its President Mr. Aguibou Bouaré. Freedom of expression and individual liberties have been threatened in the name of the pandemic. As President Bouaré declared in an interview with Radio France Internationale RFI, we must be doubly vigilant in the face of these measures deemed "freedom-destroying".
Impacts on local peace actors and national reconciliation
Given the national context, exacerbated by the health, security and social crisis, the work of local peace actors has not been made any easier.
According to the Protection Cluster report, "out of a total of 3,714 violations recorded between January and November 2020, property rights violations and violations of physical/psychological integrity are the two highest categories every month without exception. The number of forced population movements is directly linked to the number of violations of the right to life". In addition, a Rapid Assessment Report by the Protection Cluster reports several cases of attempted rape accompanied by physical violence or assault against girls and women of all ages.
Due to a lack of access to certain parts of the centre and north regions of Mali, local peacebuilding actors find themselves cut off from some areas for awareness-raising activities. In some areas, the main water points are not far from the spots frequented by armed groups, putting the women who fetch wood and water at risk of abduction or violence.
Due to a lack of access to certain parts of the centre and north regions of Mali, local peacebuilding actors find themselves cut off from some areas for awareness-raising activities
Despite this situation, a significant number of people were found to believe that the challenge could turn into an opportunity to open the way for peacebuilding. A survey by Mali Mètre indicated that the majority of the population believes that the government transition can have an impact on reconciliation between segments of society: between the army and armed groups (52.7%), political parties and citizens (55.8%), between communities themselves (76.9%), between religious leaders (66.8%) and between the justice system and the population (71.5%).
Opportunities for peacebuilding
Alongside the hopes seen across the population, the establishment of the transitional Government and the appointment of Colonel-Major Ismael Wagué as Minister of National Reconciliation could raise hopes for a breakthrough in the peace and reconciliation process in Mali.
On Thursday 5th November, an inter-community reconciliation forum was held in Niono, a town in the Segou region in the centre of the country. Four ministers were present, and several hundred local people were invited to participate. The discussions were aimed at easing tensions between the different communities in the cercle (an administrative area in Mali), including the traditional Dozo hunters on one side and the Peule ethnic group on the other.
On Thursday 5th November, an inter-community reconciliation forum was held in Niono, a town in the Segou region in the centre of the country
The main commitments satisfied most of the participants, and if implemented, would pave the way for peace in the Niono cercle: After the forum, one participant stated with satisfaction: "We felt a change. The ministers want to move away from the logic of the militias.” Seeing these projects materialise will mean a step forward in breaking the cycle of violence that has gripped the country for years. This is just one example of how communities are leading these efforts.
The agreement reached at the forum was signed by representatives of the Dozo and Peule groups, and senior national figures were heavily involved. This large-scale effort takes a traditional conflict management mechanism and makes it more inclusive; allowing the participation of all parts of society.
The crossroads at which Mali is currently situated is a crucial place to grasp the small opening for dialogue seen between opposing communities, and to demonstrate that community-led conflict resolution efforts are the most effective. This transition back to a constitutional and democratic order in Mali could also be an opportunity for a transition to peace. As COVID-19 continues to threaten the social fabric, supporting local peacebuilding efforts must become a priority. Only time will tell how successful and long-lasting this transition will be.
Boubacar Thera is Peace Direct’s Local Peacebuilding Expert in Mali. Boubacar is the National Coordinator for the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding in Mali, and an Assistant Professor at the Université des Sciences Juridiques et Politiques de Bamako. Prior to this he worked for a variety of NGOs and other organisations, and as an interpreter.
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From skeptic to convert: how I learned to love tarot cards
To mark the republication of A.E. Waite’s landmark book The Key to the Tarot, a former cynic reflects on a chance encounter that opened his mind to the mysterious powers of the deck.
Stephen Carlick
Two years ago, I was at my old job in Toronto, where we were having a small party in honour of my co-worker Emily’s last day. Our peers were listening to a playlist of ‘the best songs of 2018 so far’ (it was a music job, I’m sorry), drinking cheap lagers and eating pizza. Fifteen feet away, at a small table, Emily and I were having something of a heart-to-heart about life’s next steps. For her: buying a house, finding somebody with whom to settle down. For me: eating one more slice, probably. And then??
Truth be told, I was feeling stuck. I’d been at my job for almost the entirety of my twenties, and despite feeling ready for something new, didn’t know quite where to turn in a job market where salaried jobs were increasingly hard to find and freelance writing was increasingly difficult to sustain. I’d also just been through the most significant breakup of my life, and was finding dating on ‘the apps’ unfulfilling. I needed guidance.
“Well,” Emily said, pulling a deck of tarot cards from her bag onto the table, “how about a reading?”
Anything resembling spirituality, to me, seemed dubious – tarot cards included.
My coming-of-age in the late 1990s and early 2000s, on a cultural diet of The Simpsons, 30 Rock, and the snarky, not yet Condé Nast-owned music blog pitchforkmedia.com, had taught your young author to conflate good taste and cleverness with cynicism and a kind of combative scepticism, respectively. Anything resembling spirituality, to me, seemed dubious – astrology and horoscopes, palm readers, and tarot cards, with their seemingly attendant mysticism, included. I was, I thought, no rube. This wasn’t for me.
Before I was quite able to verbalise my scepticism, Emily had offered me the deck, and I’d pulled a card each for my past, present, and future. By the end of the reading, I’d be a convert.
1. “The High Priestess–Secrets, mystery, the future as unrevealed.”
The history of tarot cards isn’t nearly as exciting or as shrouded in mystery as one might think: they started as playing cards, which after a long history in Egypt began to materialise in Europe roughly around the mid-15th Century. In Italy, the playing decks originally featured four suits – batons or clubs, coins, swords and cups – but soon came to include additional cards that featured allegorical paintings known as trionfi: trump cards. By the end of the century, the game Tarocchini was widespread in Bologna, and decks of cards known across Italy as taroccos – tarocks in central Europe, and in France, tarot – were everywhere.
It wasn’t until the 1780s that the cards were picked up, then popularised, by occultists. Around 1785, Parisian occultist Jean-Baptiste Alliette published the book Manière de se récréer avec le jeu de cartes nommées Tarots (‘How to Entertain Yourself With the Deck of Cards Called Tarot’) under the utterly untraceable pseudonym Etteilla, then produced a deck of his own based on his interpretation of The Book of Thoth, a series of ancient texts purported to have been written by the Egyptian god of writing and knowledge.
By the late 19th Century, tarot cards had reached the English-speaking world, and after writing England’s first published discussion of the occult tarot, Arthur Edward Waite designed a deck of his own for mass consumption. Drawn by illustrator Pamela Colman Smith on instructions from Waite himself, the Rider-Waite tarot deck was published by William Rider & Son in 1909; a year later, it would be re-released with a small guide, titled The Key to the Tarot.
It was the first complete cartomantic deck (i.e. one designed for the reading of one’s cards, as opposed to gaming), and its included guide, which provided an overview of the history and tradition of the cards, and how to interpret them, provided a perfect entry-point for aspiring tarotologists. The accessibility of the deck, provided by its Key, led to the Rider-Waite deck’s eventual ubiquity. It’s now one of the most popular and recognisable decks in use in the English-speaking world, and easily the most influential; countless decks since have based their designs and reading descriptions on the Rider-Waite’s illustrations and text.
It was from this deck that Emily would have me pull cards over a century later, but the mindset I had going in was borrowed from the era between, in which tarot cards, despite a popularity boom in the late 1960s with the rise of the counter-culture, was still considered either the realm of occultists like Alliette and Aleister Crowley (who produced his own deck as part of his The Book of Thoth in the 1940s), or part of the rise of New Age thought. The books of tarot-obsessed former actress Eden Gray were central to tarot reading’s rise; Carl Jung’s writing on the tarot, published in the 1930s, also played a part in its rising counter-cultural popularity, commensurate with the late 1960s and 70s interest in psychology and the human mind.
By 2018, tarot was developing a new, younger and more mainstream audience. Tarot cards, once seen as “the preserve of fairground fortune-tellers spouting platitudes from a booth”, were coming back en vogue. And my scepticism – not to mention the self-defeating factors that had brought about my professional malaise, my breakup – were about to be revealed by the first card I pulled, to represent my ‘past’: The High Priestess.
Cards pulled from the Rider-Waite tarot deck. Image: Penguin
2. “Three of Wands–He symbolises enterprise, effort, discovery.”
The summer of 2018 was practically the summer of tarot cards.
“Instagram is full of beautifully shot tarot spreads,” asserted The Guardian that August, “while tarot-card readers are the heroines of crime novels such as Ruth Ware’s The Death of Mrs Westaway and EV Harte’s Dolly Greene series.” An article in which The Evening Standard effused about “how tarot cards are going mainstream” also reported that sales of tarot cards in the UK that year were at their highest level in 50 years. One Bloomsbury shop noted that they had “seen a 50 per cent increase in just the past two years and around half of the store’s customers are under 30 — compared with just 25 per cent in 2010”.
There are plenty of reasons that young people seek out the tarot, but prime among them are, according to the New Statesman, a lack of control. As the economy continues to sag, young people are increasingly feeling professional strain, and with the continued rise of secularity, young people are increasingly looking for somewhere to turn for guidance. Governments – whether you’d like to point to Donald Trump’s election in the US or Brexit in the UK – aren’t providing young people with much stability or faith.
As the economy continues to sag, young people are increasingly feeling strain, looking for somewhere to turn for guidance.
“Millennials’ economic, professional, domestic and romantic lives are so far removed from those experienced by baby boomers that we can no longer look to older generations for advice,” wrote the New Statesman’s Amelia Tait. “Where else do we go?”
So, I gave Emily my attention, even if I wasn’t entirely ready to suspend my disbelief. And the High Priestess was right, in her way: personally speaking, I had been something of a secret to myself for the past few years; professionally speaking, my future felt extremely “as yet unrevealed”. I’d known for years that I was approaching the right time to leave my job, but hadn’t given it true consideration.
I found myself wanting to argue with the Priestess that this wasn’t the case anymore. Feeling like there were things to learn about myself in the wake of my breakup, I was now seeing a psychotherapist, working on my relationship to myself and others. I was making new friendships, strengthening old ones; taking ballet classes just to test myself (maybe the most “just went through a breakup” move possible). Career-wise, I was beginning to think about my next move in earnest, and discussing it with a new woman I’d just started seeing. My hard work was beginning to pay off. (Ballet really tones your core.)
So I was vindicated when Emily pointed to my ‘present’ card, the Three of Wands, and read from The Key to the Tarot: “A calm, stately figure, with his back turned, looks from a cliff’s edge at ships passing over the sea. He symbolises established strength, enterprise, effort, trade, commerce, discovery; those are his ships, bearing his merchandise, which are sailing over the sea.”
The Key to the Tarot. Image: Penguin
“This could mean,” Emily began analysing, “that you’ve been working hard, maybe on yourself or your prospects. Your ships are coming in.”
Oh, god. This was helping! Tarot cards were actually helping me see things! My cynicism was melting away. On to card three.
3. The Lovers–“Love, beauty, trials overcome.”
I live in London now. Here’s what happened: therapy went really well. The woman I was seeing became my partner, and after over a year together in Toronto, she asked me to move to the UK with her. I decided I would go, and study psychotherapy as a career option for the future. It was a big move, a big chance to take. Part of me was sceptical. Of course.
Scepticism is good; unlike its more sinister sibling cynicism, it encourages seeking the truth. And to my mind, there is no truth in tarot cards.
Hear me out.
In my experience of tarot cards – not just Emily’s reading of mine, but any and all I’ve had since – they are not ‘fortune-tellers’. I don’t believe that they held or can hold the key to anyone’s future, nor do I believe they possess mystic, paranormal or divinatory powers. They are mass-printed paper cards.
But nor are they powerless.
I don’t believe that they possess mystic or divinatory powers. But nor are they powerless.
Think of them a bit like mirrors, maybe. Mirrors can be used for vanity, and they can warp the truth; only the viewer can decide, after sending light towards it, how to use the information it returns.
A good tarot reader isn’t cold-reading you; they are providing information about the card that you happened to pick in that moment. The High Priestess didn’t accurately read my past any more than the Three of Wands correctly guessed my present moment; they offered a mirror and, with an open mind, I bounced myself off of them. I brought my existence to bear on them, rather than the other way around. (Paper cards, remember.)
Still, when Emily pointed to my third and ‘future’ card, and read that The Lovers signify “Truth, Honour and Love” and “other and higher aspects”, I couldn’t help but feel the pull of belief.
Wouldn’t you?
What did you think of this article? Let us know at editor@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk for a chance to appear in our reader’s letter page.
Image: Ryan MacEachern/Penguin
The Key To The Tarot
A.E. Waite
The official companion to the world famous Original Rider Waite Tarot - the most popular deck in the world.
The Key to the Tarot is the essential guide to unlocking the secrets of tarot from renowned scholar of the occult, A. E. Waite. This enlightening book, which can be used in conjunction with any set of tarot cards, explains the history and symbolism of the tarot deck as well as providing a step-by-step guide to using the cards for divination practices. This is your key to harnessing the power of the tarot.
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A House Divided . . .
By James Donahue
Abraham Lincoln quoted Jesus when he gave his famous "house divided" speech before the Republican State Convention in Springfield, Illinois, on June 16, 1858. He went on to win the Presidency against Democrat Stephen A. Douglas.
Lincoln’s speech was controversial when he said it. Yet it was clearly prophetic because of the looming Civil War that was to literally tear the nation apart during his term in office.
That war was fought over the issue of state’s rights and slavery. Today, a century and a half later, America is once again a house divided, and the rift may be even more severe than it was in 1858.
Not only are Americans divided over racial issues, but Lincoln’s grand old party was battling a Democratic black president; the first ever to be elected to the White House. The party is now hosting a president who has made it clear he despised the fact that a black president preceded him. Mr. Trump has gone out of his way to erase the work accomplished by President Barack Obama and his Vice President Joseph Biden.
That Mr. Biden is now opposing Donald Trump for the presidency this year appears to be intensifying the ongoing conflict that clearly has racial undertones.
The fighting on party lines has been so severe that President Obama had to use every trick in the book to get important legislation passed. Many of his appointments to vacant political and judicial seats remained unapproved by the Republican controlled Congress. Because of gerrymandering and trickery in key voting districts the Republicans also gained control of the Senate, thus creating a political block against just about anything Mr. Obama had on his plate for his final years in office.
While unable to get much done on the home front, the Obama Administration focused on issues in the Middle East, which have always been ugly.
Vice President Biden, who was personally involved in negotiations with Iranian leaders, justifiably exploded in anger when 47 Republican Senators sent a letter to Iran which questioned the authority of President Obama to negotiate his nuclear deal with Iran. Mr. Biden accused the Senate Republicans of undercutting "sensitive international negotiations" and acting "beneath the dignity of an institution I revere."
The letter suggested that any deal the Iranians make with President Obama would likely be scuttled by Republican legislators, and that a successor to Mr. Obama might choose to invalidate its terms. And this is exactly what happened after Mr. Trump entered the White House in 2017.
Biden warned in his statement that the letter "ignores two centuries of precedent and threatens to undermine the ability of any future American president, whether Democrat or Republican, to negotiate with other nations on behalf of the United States.
"As the authors of this letter must know, the vast majority of our international commitments take effect without congressional approval," Biden wrote.
Indeed, the United States is currently steaming through perilous times and it appears imperative that the President and the other branches of government stand united in efforts to negotiate peaceful solutions.
Since it is clear that the Republican legislators have been resisting everything President Obama was attempting to accomplish, and the Judicial branch has been muddying the waters with controversial decisions, this house . . . the United States government, is clearly divided in almost every front. That Mr. Trump and his gang of thugs appear to be succeeding in appointing yet another extreme right-wing thinker to the latest Supreme Court vacancy, the conflict may remain unresolved for many years ahead.
That Mr. Trump and many of the people working close to him have now been stricken with the COVID-19 virus appears to be putting the brakes on the rush to appoint Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the high court before the election.
It is no secret that America has made enemies in all corners of the world. The Republican senators . . . many of them greenhorn Tea Party extremists have been joining Trump in placing our nation in great jeopardy. Could they collectively pull themselves up for a united front in the event the United States comes under an attack by a foreign power?
Operatives for ISIS, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, North Korea and China might be asking this very question as they watch events unfold in Washington.
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Subject tag: Air quality
Young climate activists quiz Enfield North MP on Edmonton incinerator
Enfield North MP Feryal Clark was recently interviewed by three members of Enfield Climate Action Forum's youth section. All questions put by Navaeh West Lawson. Kim Ly and Dhaneesha Cattaree related to the plan to replace the existing incinerator on the North Circular Road in Edmonton with a much larger facility
Let's transform the 'school run' to protect children's health and their future, say charities
An alliance of eight sustainable transport charities has issued a press release appealing to families to support their children to walk, cycle or use public transport as much as possible as they return to school in order both to protect their children's health and wellbeing and to support the effort to reduce carbon emissions to net zero in order to avoid climate catastrophe.
Urgent! Help keep the air clean and roads safer in central London
Two campaigning organisations have issued urgent appeals to respond to the Mayor of London's consultation on temporary changes to the Central London Congestion Charge and support the proposals, in order to help prevent the return of heavy traffic with consequent implications for air quality and increased road danger. The appeal has been made by Mum's For Lungs, a group set up to try to protect schoolchildren from toxic traffic fumes, and London Living Streets, which brings together London members of the charity which campaigns to rebalance the interests of road users.
'A cry from the heart of Bowes'
Residents of streets to the south of Bowes Road, particularly those living in Brownlow Road, Warwick Road and nearby streets, have come together to launch a campaign to prevent traffic in the area building up to the unacceptably high levels that were normal prior to the Covid-19 lockdown. Their proposal is to create a low-traffic neighbourhood to prevent use of roads in the area as a cut-through. The campaign, under the slogan 'A Bus Gate for Brownlow?', has won the support of Better Streets for Enfield, who promote the idea of creating people-friendly streets across the entire borough.
Council outlines its plans for school streets
Enfield's first 'school street' schemes - outside St Monica's primary school and Oakthorpe primary school - are likely to go live after the February half term. The council hopes to complete a further three schemes by this spring. The rate of implementation in the next financial year and thereafter will depend on availability of funding and the degree of interest and commitment shown by schools.
Mums for Lungs: London's toxic air
The Mums for Lungs campaign has published an updated version of its London's Toxic Air flyer, intended primarily for distribution at school Christmas fairs, but useful for informing everyone about the problem of air pollution in the capital and ways in which individuals can help reduce pollution and their exposure to dirty air.
Updating road user charging to reflect the true impact of individual journeys
A new report by Centre for London, Green Light: Next Generation Road User Charging for a Healthier, More Liveable, London, calls for London to move towards an innovative new road user charging scheme which charges drivers on a per-mile basis. Costs would vary by vehicle emissions, local levels of congestion and pollution and availability of public transport alternatives; and prices would be set before the journey begins.
Film shows the effects of air pollution
Living, Breathing, London is a film about the effects of air pollution created by Ross Field of Videoblogg Productions
Air pollution: What's the problem and what can we do about it?
The air pollution that we breathe every day is largely invisible, but is killing us. How did it get this bad, and how can we stop it? Dr Gary Fuller, an air pollution scientist in the Environmental Research Group at King’s College London, explores the history and affects of air pollution, how we can all make a difference and why he's written his new book: The Invisible Killer: The Rising Global Threat of Air Pollution and How We Can Fight Back. Listen to a podcast with Dr Fuller.
Want to walk to school but have concerns?
There are many reasons to regret the fact that so many children these days are driven to school instead of walking or making their own way by public transport. Among the problems are lack of sufficient exercise, congestion and road danger caused by build-ups of cars near school gates, and exposure to toxic fumes, which recent research has found is actually more of a problem inside a car than outside.
Revealed: Every Londoner is breathing in toxic particulates
New research reveals that every Londoner in the capital lives in an area exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the most dangerous toxic particulates known as PM2.5. The research, based on the latest updated London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, also shows that 7.9 million Londoners – nearly 95 per cent of the capital’s population – live in areas of London that exceed the guidelines by 50 per cent or more. PM2.5 are small toxic air particles which are.......
Improving air quality: What’s the plan?
This article has been republished with permission. It originally appeared on the Greener Journeys website on 22nd April. In view of yesterday's announcement, the first sentence presumably no longer holds true. DEFRA is due this month to publish its new Air Quality Plan. Government has already lost two court cases on this issue, so the pressure is on. Concern over air quality is no longer just the preserve of environmental groups and it is widely recognized that we are facing a.......
Tackling air pollution in Enfield
Caroline Russell writes about the Clean Air for Enfield meeting that took place at Bowes School on 12th January.
"Black" air quality alert - time for action!
Air pollution levels in London and elsewhere in the UK have been alarmingly high since before the weekend. Yesterday central London registered the highest possible alert level: 10: Black. And the extremely high and dangerous levels reached outer London. 8: Red at sites in Enfield - a value associated with central London on particularly bad days. Pollution peaks in London 23 Jan 2017 recorded by www.londonair.org.uk (Source: Evening Standard) Calls for action are growing.......
Second phase of Mayor of London's Air Quality consultation
The Mayor of London has launched the second phase of his consultation on proposed measures to improve air quality in the Capital. The consultation phase, which runs until 18 December, invites the public to comment on detailed proposals for an Emission Surcharge payable by drivers whose vehicles do not meet stipulated conditions when driving in the Congestion Zone. It also asks for feedback on the possible earlier introduction of an Ultra Low Emissions Zone and its possible enlargement to.......
Become a Clean Air Champion - and pick up some useful skills
Vehicle Idling Action are recruiting volunteers to become Clean Air Champions in twelve London boroughs - including Enfield. Join our Vehicle Idling Action campaign and be part of a movement to bring much needed positive environmental changes to our communities. Together we can spread awareness about the negative impacts of engine idling, creating long-term behavioural changes in drivers to immediately reduce localised air pollution. We are establishing a team of enthusiastic, willing,.......
Solving London's air quality crisis may require a complete phase-out of diesel cars
The Mayor of London's public consultation on measures to resolve the capital's air quality crisis finishes on Friday 29th July. Recently published reports question the adequacy of Sadiq Khan's proposals and suggest much tougher controls, especially in relation to diesel cars. See this earlier article for information about the consultation. Call to completely remove diesel cars A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, drawing on analysis by Kings College London, calls.......
Public consultation: Cleaning up London's air pollution
The Mayor of London has set out his intention to address poor air quality in the capital. He has announced plans to introduce new measures, such as an extra charge on the most polluting vehicles, and expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone beyond inner London, in order to improve the local environment and health of residents and visitors. Residents of all London boroughs are invited to participate in an online consultation about their views on the severity of the problem and proposed.......
Protecting yourself against air pollution
The following advice has been issued by the British Lung Foundation. What can I do about air pollution? On most days and away from busy city streets, air pollution in the UK does not rise to levels at which we need to make major changes to our habits to avoid exposure. Nobody needs to worry about going outdoors. Children should not be kept from going to school or stopped from taking part in games. If you have a lung condition, you might want to avoid spending long periods of time in places.......
Commons committee urges clean air zones and diesel scrappage scheme
The following is reproduced from www.parliament.uk Urgent Government action is needed to stop up to 50,000 people a year dying early from air pollution-related illnesses, says the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, in its report on Air quality. Report: Air quality Report: Air quality (PDF 675KB) Inquiry: Air quality Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee The Committee's Air quality report presses for new Clean Air Zones in dozens of English towns and cities.......
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November 10, 2000 - From the November, 2000 issue
Kotkin's New Digital Geography: Digital Revolution's Impact On Landscape
As the Information Age evolves, businesses and residents are finding they have increasing flexibility in terms of where they locate. Proximity to physical infrastructure-roads, ports, resources-is less important than ever before. But as Joel Kotkin, author of newly released The New Geography, discusses in the following TPR interview, this does not mean cities and communities will become less important. In fact, Kotkin argues it will be precisely this sense of place-of community involvement, quality of life, and neighborhood vitality--that will attract people to live, work and play, and ultimately, determine the future of our civic spaces.
Joel, you begin the first chapter of your book, The New Geography: How the Digital Revolution Is Reshaping the American Landscape, with the following statement, "In a manner not seen since the onset of the Industrial Revolution, technology is reshaping the landscape of American communities." Could you elaborate for our readers on this major point and on the book's central thesis?
What really drove me to write this book is the large body of material currently available about new technological paradigms of cyberspace and virtual reality, and the dearth of information about their effects on people in the brick and mortar world. There has been a lack of serious thought in terms of how this technology will impact communities, families, or even how we operate as a society. That's my focus-the issue of place and community.
You go on to write, "The Digital Revolution not only accelerates the speed with which information is processed and disseminated, it also restates the relation of space and time within our communities. Decisions about where to locate businesses, for example-once dependent on questions of access to ports, roads, rails, or raw materials-are increasingly dependent instead on the ability to link often scarce human resources." Infrastructure, planning, housing and government policy have long been a focus of The Planning Report, so elaborate, if you would, on this central message.
The key issue for regions around the country is attracting Information Age workers, investors and entrepreneurs to a community-either as residents or workers. What does that mean? That means that planners, educators and government (particularly local government) have to create an environment in which these people will want to live, work and play.
Your book goes on to assert that Information Age businesses will supplant the energy and conventional manufacturing centers of our economic core metropolises. What are the planning implications of that assertion?
We're seeing the transformation of an economy away from its traditional base. The question is, will this new base be large enough to supplant the old base in a way that's going to work sociologically? Certainly, places like West L.A., Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Monica, the 101 Corridor, large parts of south Orange County and even central O.C. have been big winners in the Information Age economy. But there are a lot of areas that are not big winners-places where the old economy has declined, and nothing has really come to replace it. An example of that is Detroit.
TPR has also covered the work of the Governor's Infrastructure Commission. Elaborate on how the economic changes that you describe in The New Geography are "profoundly alter[ing] the very nature of place and its importance by de-emphasizing physical factors-such as access to raw materials and ports-and placing greater emphasis on the concentration of human skills in dense concentrations of population." Does that mean that the work of the Infrastructure Commission, or at the Ports or LAX are any less relevant than before?
No. And in the case of airport infrastructure, it's actually more important. People in high-tech industries tend to work in terms of large global or national markets; they don't tend to be that concentrated in the local market. As a result, they're very dependent on air transportation.
However, each of the facets of infrastructure that you mentioned is important. A major reason people leave Silicon Valley or Los Angeles is that they hate the traffic. And places like Reno are pitching Silicon Valley companies to relocate to their cities where employees can live in a beautiful place and not have to commute for an hour and a half. These are all parts of the locational choice.
Again, communities and governments have to look carefully at quality of life issues now more than ever because companies are capable of moving wherever they want.
Let's continue this discussion by focusing upon another quotation from your book: "By its very nature, the emerging post-industrial economy-based primarily on information flows in an increasingly seamless net-frees location from the tyranny of past associations. Even such centers of gravity as Wall Street, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley, though possessing functions and allures that are mutually reinforcing, are increasingly not mandatory for the building of a successful firm or career in finance, film, or the computer industry." Explain the implications of this assertion for a place like metropolitan L.A.?
Let's take the case of Hollywood. It's very important for the future of Hollywood that it remain an environment where people want to live-the rebuilding of Hollywood Boulevard itself is an important sign to people in the entertainment industry that being in Los Angeles is a positive experience. One need only look to the recent movement of the entertainment industry away from Hollywood to the pleasant environments of Santa Monica and Burbank as evidence that people value quality of life.
The people currently planning in Burbank are very conscious that they offer efficiency and a pleasant environment. Look at the development around San Fernando Road. "Beautiful downtown Burbank" is now truly beautiful, and that's one of the factors luring the entertainment industry.
Let's introduce a little reality therapy into this, Joel. In the mid-80s, when you were covering the "growth/no-growth" battle in Los Angeles, you tended to rail against local jurisdictions who wanted to slow development, to plan and regulate their neighborhood environments. But aren't those precisely the communities and regions that have done well in this post-industrial economy?
I don't recall being very involved in much of that discussion. But I would say that growth during the 1980s ended up backfiring, particularly in Downtown L.A. What we did with Bunker Hill siphoned away growth from the older parts of Downtown, which have only recently begun to recover. Los Angeles was definitely characterized by stupid growth in the 80s. And we weren't alone-many cities grew stupidly in the 80s.
You cite William Mitchell's book Bits and Bytes by saying, "The worldwide computer network-the electronic agora-subverts, displaces and radically redefines our notions of gathering place, community and urban life. The Net has a fundamentally different physical structure, and it operates under quite different rules from those that organize the action of public places of traditional cities." Joel, does place still matter?
Place matters more now than ever before. In 20 to 30 years, no one will want to go to Costco to buy toilet paper; they'll simply purchase it on the Net. But people will want places that are fun, interesting, and offer an experience of some kind. That is going to be very important. But the boring, uninteresting, purely functional center of the present day city will increasingly lose out to cyberspace.
What do you believe are going to be the civic organizing dynamics of this new digitally-motivated metropolis? Are we going to have, as Putnam said, more Bowling Alone, or is there some dynamic that draws these social entrepreneurs into a long-standing civic leadership structure?
I don't know where this will eventually end up. But fundamentally, the Internet reverses the structural patterns created during the Industrial Revolution, which emphasized economies of scale-where bigger is better-and professionalization in the corporate and governmental world. In fact, Los Angeles is a perfect example of that process.
What the Digital Revolution is doing is empowering smaller communities. People always say that Los Angeles is a disintegrating civic culture. Perhaps as a region and a city that's correct, but not as a locality. Throughout the Valley and the City-and even in my own neighborhood-whether it's in terms of street fairs, farmers markets, or people concerned with their neighborhood safety, there is a real resurgence of the small scale community group. There will be the Bowling Alone phenomena, but there will be other things too, perhaps harking back to something out of Norman Rockwell (but occurring in the San Fernando Valley in the Year 2000).
If we continue to push decision-making down to this local level, the situation will only get better. Today, when you go to a community meeting in a small city or you talk to a small city's officials, they're amazingly sophisticated. They have access to the Internet, they can read the New York Times online every morning, and they can communicate with other cities by email. We have very sophisticated people in high positions in city management-like Rick Cole and Frank Benest-who have access to the same information that the U.S. Secretary and Cabinet have. This is a major change in the potential for empowering local communities. And that's what's really getting strong-people's sense of local community.
Let's tie The New Geography to this notion of "location, location, location." What should people who read your book come away with in terms of a new "iron law" for real estate development?
Well, I think there are two things going on. First, the Internet allows businesses to locate in different environments-urban environments, suburban environments, Nerdistans (the peripheral environments like Irvine), and even in the countryside. So the question is, which locations are going to work best? Well, it'll be the places that the two fundamental types of people who work in the Information sector like to inhabit.
The first involves the hard edge of technology-engineering, science and biotech. These are the people producing the pipeline, the infrastructure for the Information Revolution. They tend to be scientists and engineers who prefer antiseptic environments-new houses, big driveways, good schools-and they tend to be married with children. They want an Oakpark, a Westlake, a Calabasas, or a Thousand Oaks.
Then there's the soft edge, the people developing what you put into the pipeline. And they're a different breed altogether. They have brought a resurgence of graphics, design and other technological business to San Francisco, Santa Monica, lower Manhattan, Boston, Chicago and Dallas. All these renewed urban areas have attracted this population of young, single, often gay couples without children.
So different locations attract different people. In Southern California, the hard edge residents prefer the 101 Corridor and Orange County, while the creative soft edge prefers West L.A., Pasadena, and other urban settings.
Let's ground this interview in the reality of an open Mayor's race coming up in the spring in the City of L.A. What would you hope-having written this book and assuming the candidates have read it-to hear from these candidates as they debate their platforms for the leadership of this City in the 21st Century?
The City is so distracted by Rampart, secession and other issues that it doesn't seem to be focusing very strongly on making itself a competitive place in the Information Age.
What I'd like to see is candidates saying, "All right. Now how can we make Los Angeles a place that people will choose to live in?" Because that's really the bottom line.
L.A. has some great advantages, but if we continue to push an agenda that prioritizes the use of the public sector as a device to engineer a socially just democracy, we're going to be in serious trouble. That's an Industrial Age solution to an Information Age problem. What we need to do is empower people.
Another quotation from your first chapter reads, "Workers in the Information field-whose numbers are projected to nearly double between 1994 and 2005-represent the ascendant new middle-class of the 21st Century, earning roughly twice as much as other private-sector workers." Joel, you've always been an advocate and spokesman for the middle-class-what policy choices should the middle-class of metro L.A. argue for over the next decade?
If we cannot retain a large number of this "Information middle-class," the City will have no future. And I'm not talking about the millionaire in Brentwood. I'm talking about the people who own homes in Sherman Oaks, Rancho Park and South Pasadena-the incredibly important cogs in the Information Revolution.
If we can keep those people here and the industries dependent on those skills stay, L.A. has a chance. But if we continue to pursue the politics we've been pursuing, we'll end up with a core of very wealthy people living in a few selected neighborhoods surrounded by mostly poor people in the valleys.
Are the things that make great communities in the Information Age going to be the same as the things that have made communities great in the past?
The fundamentals are basically the same. People don't decide to live and stay in an area solely because of the climate, the architecture or anything easily definable-it's the spirit of the place. People decide to stay in Baltimore, or Los Angeles, or Manhattan, or a small town like Grand Forks, North Dakota because that's where their church or their synagogue is, that's where their friends are, and that's where they feel like they can make a difference. A famous quote says, "People don't live together just to be together; they live together to do something together." I think the more involved people are in their communities, the better those communities become. And that's absolutely crucial to success in the Information Age.
In closing, Joel, what's keeping you in Los Angeles?
I'm part of the Los Angeles community. And in some small way, I feel that I have an impact on what happens. When I drive through a declining neighborhood or I drive down Hollywood Boulevard and see something happening, I get excited. I identify with it. I care.
So what keeps me in Los Angeles? This is my home, and this is where I'm involved.
VX2020: 13th Annual Green Marketmakers Conference
Abel & Associates
Levin & Associates
VerdeXchange
© 2021 The Planning Report | David Abel, Publisher, ABL, Inc.
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/ Home / Press office / Celebration of marine expertise and heritage at Big Festival Weekend
Celebration of marine expertise and heritage at Big Festival Weekend
Plymouth University's world-leading marine and maritime research and teaching is to be showcased during two days of events on the city centre campus
Mr Alan Williams
Media & Communications Officer
Plymouth’s proud and historic links to the oceans are to be celebrated during two days of festivities on the Plymouth University campus.
The University’s world-leading marine and maritime research facilities are to be showcased to the public as part of the first ever Big Festival Weekend.
And the 2015 Plymouth Respect Festival, taking place as part of the weekend’s event, will feature the colourful maritime creations of city schools.
Being held on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June, the weekend aims to give visitors a flavour of life at the University and the role it is playing in transforming lives locally and globally.
Professor Martin Attrill, Director of the Marine Institute at Plymouth University, said:
“As a celebration of both University and city life, it is appropriate that our marine and maritime expertise and heritage plays a central role in the Big Festival Weekend. For centuries, Plymouth has been a gateway to the seas and is renowned across the world as a hub of discovery and innovation. The University is leading efforts to enhance that reputation, through first class courses and academic research, and the world-class facilities of our Marine Building and new Marine Station.”
Ahead of the weekend’s events, children from across Plymouth have been inspired by its marine heritage, taking part in activities and workshops on the topic of Sailing with Respect – the theme of this year’s Plymouth Respect Festival.
They have built ships and marine creatures, all of which will be paraded through the city centre to the University campus on the first morning of the festival.
On campus, there will be a host of activities related to the seas, with visitors able to tour the Marine Building and see its cutting edge wave tanks and navigation simulator as well as the chance to view live footage from an underwater camera in Plymouth Sound.
They will also be able to talk to leading researchers in fields such as marine conservation and renewable energy, showing the expertise which saw the University awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education in 2012 in recognition of its marine and maritime research and teaching.
And there will be maritime, discovery and travel stories for children on both days in Drake’s Place Gardens, as part of a range of family activities.
The Big Festival Weekend will also include showcases of prominent partnerships, while university graduates are being invited to return for a ‘Back to Plymouth’ alumni events programme. Innovative artwork will be showcased at HOT’15 – an exhibition of works by final-year students across a range of art and design disciplines – while events will also be staged in Drake’s Place Gardens and Reservoir, and there will be a host of family activities, such as campus trails and treasure hunts, a fun park, craft fairs and performances.
Read more on the Plymouth University website:
Courses and study with Plymouth University
Find out about our world-leading research
Read about the University's Marine Institute
Read more on other websites:
Visit the Plymouth Respect Festival website
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Obama stood flanked by Hillary Clinton, vowing to hunt down those responsible.
Obama's Libya moment
By DARREN SAMUELSOHN
President Barack Obama had a presidential moment Wednesday in responding to the attacks in Libya that killed four Americans. He delivered—but the benefits of power also come with real responsibilities he’ll have to live up to before November.
Obama stood in the Rose Garden, flanked by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, vowing to hunt down those responsible. Now comes sorting through the carnage of Benghazi, answering tough questions about the intelligence and security lapses that led to the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens – and the larger problem of grappling with a sputtering Morsi regime in Cairo dependent on U.S. aid, still incapable of protecting Americans in the country.
( Also on POLITICO: Obama: Mitt tendency to ‘shoot first, aim later’)
The violence comes at the outset of a fall campaign which Obama is trying to press his foreign policy experience, but Libya will provide a difficult test as Obama has to sort out the warring factions, stabilize the regime and and hunt down the killers.
Officials from the Pentagon and State Department officials were scrambling late Wednesday to deal with a host of immediate challenges: Speeding Marines and anti-terror teams to the region, shipping off vulnerable diplomatic personnel from locations in Libya to Europe, and deploying the FBI to investigate the groups that may have plotted what increasingly appeared to be organized assaults in Benghazi and Cairo.
If they fail, a tragedy could be cast as a leadership breakdown, especially in the increasing political pressure of the fall election. And the hawks were circling, ready to use Obama’s response as another part of the ongoing efforts to paint him as another Jimmy Carter.
( PHOTOS: Obama, Clinton visit State Department employees)
“I’ve said for three-and-a-half years the president doesn’t care about national security. He doesn’t think the world is terribly threatening,” former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, a Romney adviser, said Wednesday during an appearance on WMAL, a Washington D.C. conservative talk radio station.
“I think a weak reaction, a failure to demonstrate American power and resolve, will help see this stretch throughout the region… I come back to Tehran in 1979, that if we’re not careful here, we’re going to see a repetition of that crisis which of course was a major factor contributing to the destruction of the Jimmy Carter administration,” Bolton added.
( PHOTOS: Ambassador Christopher Stevens)
In a previously scheduled interview with CBS, Obama drew a contrast between his approach and Romney’s.
”Governor Romney seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later,” Obama said. “And as president, one of the things I’ve learned is you can’t do that—it’s important for you to make sure that the statements that you make are backed up by the facts and that you’ve thought through the ramifications before you make them.”
For the most part, foreign policy and political experts agreed that Obama won the day Wednesday with his sharp focus on a tactical response that included honoring the victims, deploying Marines to secure U.S. consulates and making a solidarity visit with Clinton to the State Department immediately after leaving the Rose Garden.
“There’s been no false notes coming out of Washington in what is a terrible and terribly complicated situation,” said Heather Hurlburt, a former Clinton-era White House speechwriter and diplomat, and current executive director of the National Security Network.
( Also on POLITICO: Timeline of attacks)
While the basic details of the North Africa violence have emerged over the last 24 hours, there’s still plenty of key specifics to sort out. In a Wednesday afternoon conference call with reporters, three senior administration officials said they didn’t have answers yet on several specific questions, including who is responsible for the attacks and how Stevens got separated from his security detail inside a Benghazi compound and also how he got to a hospital.
Ken Pollack, a fellow at the Brookings Institute’s Saban Center for Middle East Policy and a former Clinton White House National Security Council staffer, said Obama is smart to avoid pointing fingers so early on as the investigation begins.
“It’s always important to start with what really happened here,” Pollack said. “Anytime you get into as situation like this, it’s important to give this a little bit of time. What you find is you don’t have a good handle on what happened anyway right at the moment.”
Pollack noted that initial intelligence after the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 pointed to Iran – rather than Libyan nationals. If a U.S. president had spoken up with that information, he said, “that probably would have wound up backfiring very badly in a whole variety of ways.”
There’s room for a presidential debate on larger Middle East strategy questions, said Peter Feaver, a former George W. Bush White House National Security Council staffer. But the Duke University political science professor agreed that Obama is in good shape with his initial focus on securing the embassies and getting Americans out of harm’s way.
“I’m reasonably confident President Obama will get the tactics right,” he said. “If he gets that wrong, then we’re in quite bad shape.”
Obama faced no shortage of criticism from his right – though the complaints were repeat performances that he’s not been on the ball leading in a region that’s seen vast change in just three years.
The Romney campaign issued a statement late Tuesday night statement slamming Obama’s administration for wanting to apologize for American values after protests against an anti-Islam film may have spawned the protests in Cairo and Egypt. Speaking in Jacksonville, Fla., Romney didn’t back down.
“I think it’s a terrible course for America to stand in apology for our values,” Romney said. “The statement was akin to an apology, and I think was a severe miscalculation.”
Bill Kristol, the editor of the “Weekly Standard” and a critic of Romney’s decision to overlook Afghanistan in his acceptance speech at last month’s GOP convention, wrote on his blog that it’s fair to question “the timing and tone” of Romney’s statement Tuesday night.
“One can note he wasn’t as fluent and clear as he might have been at his press conference this morning,” Kristol added. “Still, the fact remains that the events of September 11, 2012, represent a big moment for the country. Romney is right to sense this, and to seize on this moment as an occasion to explain the difference between his foreign policy and President Obama’s. He’s right to reject the counsel of the mainstream media, which is to keep quiet and givePresident Obama a pass.”
Kori Schake, a Hoover Institution fellow who advised John McCain on foreign policy in his 2008 campaign, cautioned against overreacting to the Libya attacks. She noted that the highest percentage of al Qaeda fighters in Iraq during the war came from Libya – and mostly from the eastern part of the country.
“I’m worried we’re going to conclude Libya is ‘lost,’ extremism is the nature of democracy in the so-called Arab world, and these states are only governable by autocrats — none of which I believe to be true,” added Schake, who also served on George W. Bush’s National Security Council. “That said, the president’s leadership has been deficient in aligning America with the forces of democratic change in the Middle East.”
If North African violence offers any mid-campaign lessons, several Obama allies say the administration and the campaign will need to be nimble to deal with potential trouble spots threatening to flare up across the Middle East from Syria to Israel to Iran.
David Rothkopf, a national security expert and Commerce Department official in the Clinton administration, noted the condolences expressed by Libyan National Assembly President Mohammed Magarief after the attack.
But he also noted that Egyptian leaders have been notably silent despite the reliance on U.S. public aid and a major business mission to the country last week. “The slowness of the Egyptian government is in some respects more troubling,” he said. “Simple protocol would have suggested some kind of stronger, pro-forma statement.”
“If there’s any place in the world where the United States is actively involved, where we are frustrated by the fact that there are many events beyond our control, it’s the Middle East,” Rothkopf added. “We’re not the captain of that ship.”
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Flynn’s Turkish lobbying linked to Russia
The former national security adviser’s client had business dealings in Russia and worked with an executive in Russian oil companies on Turkish lobbying projects.
By ISAAC ARNSDORF
Michael Flynn has offered evolving accounts of his lobbying work for Ekim Alptekin. | AP Photo
The Turkish man who gave Mike Flynn a $600,000 lobbying deal just before President Donald Trump picked him to be national security adviser has business ties to Russia, including a 2009 aviation financing deal negotiated with Vladimir Putin, according to court records.
The man, Ekim Alptekin, has in recent years helped to coordinate Turkish lobbying in Washington with Dmitri “David” Zaikin, a Soviet-born former executive in Russian energy and mining companies who also has had dealings with Putin’s government, according to three people with direct knowledge of the activities.
This unusual arrangement, in which Alptekin and Zaikin have helped steer Turkish lobbying through various groups since at least 2015, raises questions about both the agenda of the two men and the source of the funds used to pay the lobbyists.
Although Turkey is a NATO ally, its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has grown increasingly authoritarian and friendly with Putin. And the hiring of Flynn by Alptekin came at a time when Flynn was working for Trump’s campaign and Putin’s government was under investigation for interfering with the U.S. election.
Flynn’s lawyer, Robert Kelner, declined to comment. In a filing with the Justice Department, Flynn said he relied on assurances from Alptekin that he was not directly or indirectly funded by a foreign government. But shifting explanations and a web of business ties raise questions about the arrangement.
Flynn has offered evolving accounts of his lobbying work for Alptekin. In September, Flynn reported his client as a Dutch shell company owned by Alptekin. After being forced to leave the White House — reportedly because he lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations during the transition with the Russian ambassador — Flynn filed new paperwork in March acknowledging that his lobbying work “principally benefitted” the Turkish government.
Decision time for GOP on Trump’s wall and government shutdown
By BURGESS EVERETT
The revelation of Russian business ties to the man who hired Flynn threatens to complicate the White House’s struggle to escape the shadow of the FBI investigation into whether members of the Trump campaign coordinated with Russian agents.
Flynn has been a focus for concerns about Russian ties to both the Trump campaign, for which he was a key adviser and surrogate, and the Trump administration, in which, as national security adviser, he had access to the most sensitive state secrets.
He also has a history of failing to disclose ties to Russia. His original White House ethics disclosure failed to include payments from Kremlin propaganda network RT and two other Russian companies. The RT payment was for a paid speech Flynn gave at a Moscow gala where he sat at the same table as Putin.
A White House spokesman declined to comment.
Zaikin declined to be interviewed but said in an email that he wasn’t involved in Flynn’s lobbying and doesn’t know Alptekin.
Alptekin, in an interview, said he hired Flynn with his own money and did not coordinate any lobbying for the Turkish government. He also denied knowing Zaikin.
But Alptekin acknowledged that he has attended events and met with leaders of the Turkish Heritage Organization, a Washington-based group of Turkish-Americans loyal to Erdogan. The organization was started when Zaikin asked a Washington-based international political consultant named John Moreira to help set it up, Moreira told POLITICO.
Asked why Zaikin — who is not Turkish and has no apparent ties to Turkey — would be organizing a Turkish heritage organization, Moreira said he thought Zaikin had Turkish friends and business associates.
“I don’t know who David was working for. He just asked me to do this,” Moreira said.
Moreira said he was paid to help manage the heritage organization but would not say by whom.
Moreira said he gave Zaikin weekly updates on the organization’s activities and that Zaikin visited Washington about every other month. On at least one occasion, Alptekin, who was born in Turkey and grew up in the Netherlands, met with communications consultants working for the Turkish Heritage Organization, he said.
But three people with direct knowledge of the situation said it was more than just one meeting; Zaikin and Alptekin worked together to help coordinate pro-Turkish lobbying.
For his part, Zaikin said, “I introduced [the Turkish Heritage Organization] to a few companies who I believed were industry professionals in good standing. I was present at a few meetings.”
Zaikin, 49, was born in Ukraine and grew up as a citizen of the Soviet Union. He said in emails that doctors excused him from the Soviet military draft because of an injury, and that his family left the Soviet Union in 1990. He subsequently became a Canadian citizen and now lives in London.
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In the 2000s, Zaikin was an executive in Russia’s oil industry at a time when Putin was consolidating control over the country’s mineral wealth to the financial benefit of himself and the circle of oligarchs who are his key supporters and associates.
As chairman and CEO of a company called Siberian Energy Group, Zaikin obtained mineral interests and exploration licenses in Russia’s Kurgan province, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Siberian Energy Group’s dealings under Zaikin were characteristic of the equity trades, offshore financing schemes and consulting agreements that Putin’s allies have used to protect and hide assets.
In 2008, Zaikin made a deal with an ex-KGB oligarch involved in the giant state oil company Gazprom. Zaikin’s company sold the oligarch a 2.5 percent stake in a subsidiary, known as KNG, for shares worth $10, equivalent to valuing the entire subsidiary at $400, according to SEC disclosures. That came less than two years after Zaikin’s company bought KNG for the equivalent of $2.7 million.
The same month as the deal with the oligarch, Zaikin’s company issued shares to a limited liability company in Moscow called Business Standard. In 2007, Zaikin’s company agreed to pay the firm thousands more shares in exchange for what the contract called “certain consulting services,” including help in obtaining oil and gas drilling licenses from the Russian government.
Zaikin was also a director of a subsidiary called Zauralneftegaz that explored for oil and gas in West Siberia. The company was in part controlled by shell companies set up by a London law firm involved in the Panama Papers, the massive leak of records from an offshore finance law firm that showed how Putin associates secretly moved around $2 billion in assets.
Alptekin has had his own business dealings in Russia.
As a partner in an investment group called ETIRC as early as 2006, Alptekin bought a stake in a New Mexico jet manufacturer called Eclipse Aviation. In September 2008, Eclipse announced plans to build a $205 million factory in Russia financed by Russian state bank Vnesheconombank, whose board was chaired by Putin, then prime minister. A photo in the trade press showed Putin personally inspecting one of Eclipse’s jets.
But a month later, Eclipse filed for bankruptcy protection. Alptekin and his partners planned to buy out the company with financing from the Putin-chaired bank. Putin was personally involved in approving a loan from the bank to Eclipse, according to court records.
“The Eclipse project is one of the top priority to be funded and has been approved by Prime Minister Putin,” the minutes of an Eclipse board meeting Feb. 16, 2009, said, referring to ETIRC’s planned purchase of Eclipse.
But the funding apparently never materialized, and the sale didn’t go through. Instead, Alptekin and partners bought the old company’s assets for $40 million and formed a company called Eclipse Aerospace. When the company sought bankruptcy protection, it had declared assets valued at almost $1.1 billion.
“I think it was a good deal,” Alptekin said in his interview with POLITICO.
Ivanka Trump faces skeptical audience in Berlin
By ANNIE KARNI
Alptekin acknowledged ETIRC’s negotiations with the bank chaired by Putin, but said he never interacted with any Russian officials. There are no Russians involved in the new company, he said.
Today, that company, known as EA Group, markets Eclipse jets in Turkey, Russia and the Middle East, according to its website. But Alptekin, in his POLITICO interview, said he lost the license to market the jets in Russia because he failed to sell any.
The company also has an arms-dealing division, focusing on Turkey and the Middle East. Alptekin said he sold video surveillance equipment for Turkish police helicopters and declined to discuss his other deals. He said the arms division isn’t active currently.
In his Justice Department filings, Flynn said the lobbying work he did for Alptekin focused on pressuring the U.S. to hand over Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric living in Pennsylvania whom Erdogan claims is trying to overthrow him.
The lobbying work that Alptekin and Zaikin helped organize on behalf of Turkish groups also focused on Gulen.
Zaikin did not sign checks or contracts — the K Street firms were hired through the Turkish Heritage Organization and another nonprofit called the Turkish Institute for Progress, according to lobbying disclosure records. Zaikin also asked Moreira to help set up the Turkish Institute for Progress, Moreira said.
But the firms sometimes sent invoices to one of Zaikin’s companies, Key Elements Group in London, according to people with direct knowledge of the dealings. Zaikin dissolved the company in December, according to British corporate records.
The Turkish Institute for Progress’s president until December, a Turkish woman in New Jersey named Derya Taskin, initially denied knowing Zaikin. Later, she acknowledged hiring Moreira and knowing a “David” who worked with him.
Taskin declined to disclose the group’s donors. She said her organization’s nonprofit status was still pending approval so she could not provide an annual IRS filing.
Asked how she connected with the lobbying firms her group hired, Taskin said, “We just Googled them.” Later, she acknowledged that Moreira recommended the firms.
Trump’s prisoner dilemma
By NAHAL TOOSI
The Turkish Heritage Organization says it operates independently of the Turkish government and of the Turkish Institute for Progress. But emails hacked from Erdogan’s son-in-law Berat Albayrak and published by WikiLeaks in December appear to show that the organization’s leaders reported to Albayrak and other Turkish officials about their lobbying activities in Washington. The emails, which were stolen by a Turkish Marxist group called RedHack, also appear to show Zaikin receiving reports of those lobbying activities.
In February 2015, Turkish Heritage Organization member Ali Cinar alerted Zaikin and the group’s other leaders to a congressional letter critical of Erdogan, according to one of the emails. The heritage organization’s president at the time, Halil Danismaz, forwarded the email to Albayrak, Erdogan’s son-in-law, and Erdogan’s son Bilal.
Danismaz, who left the group and the U.S. last year, denied reporting to Albayrak and said Zaikin introduced the heritage organization to “companies who can help us on PR and similar issues."
“I have been a victim of massive defamation campaign sponsored by sophisticated GULEN owned infrastructure,” he said in an email to POLITICO.
Cinar, now the Turkish Heritage Organization’s president, confirmed the emails’ authenticity but said he wasn’t aware of Zaikin’s Russian ties or Danismaz’s apparent contacts with Turkish officials. He said Zaikin was a consultant to Danismaz.
“We don’t do lobbying for the Turkish government,” he said.
In another email from the same hack, Moreira, the American consultant who was working with Zaikin, updated Zaikin, Cinar and longtime Turkey lobbyist Lydia Borland about a congressional resolution commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Danismaz told Erdogan’s son and son-in-law that the heritage organization would soon publicize its own resolution that their lobbyists were promoting to members of Congress. Moreira’s message included the original email signature from one of the lobbying firms working for the Turkish Institute for Progress.
Albayrak, Erdogan’s son-in-law, was one of the Turkish officials who Alptekin arranged for Flynn to meet in New York in September, according to Flynn’s disclosures. They discussed kidnapping Gulen to remove him to Turkey, according to a person who was briefed on the meeting.
Trump Russia scandal
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Koeitjies & Kalfies: Text of complaint against Lesufi to SAHRC
John van den Berg et al. |
John van den Berg says MEC's reckless social media postings put others at risk (13 July 2016)
Dear Sir/Madam, 13 July 2016
This letter and request are prompted by a recent article on the Politicsweb website, written under the nom de plume Ratcatcher and titled Panyaza Lesufi: Addicted to non-racialism, or race-baiting?
The article, a link to which is given above, details actions of MEC for Education in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, and Deputy Director-General and spokesman for the Department of Home Affairs, Mayihlome Tshwete, in response to an apparent ‘outing’ of white racism at the Koeitjies & Kalfies crèche in Centurion. We would respectfully ask that you peruse that article, taking particular note of the postings by Lesufi and Tshwete that are copied therein.
In what follows, references (for example [Note 1]) are to numbered items in the attached Annexure.
If what is detailed in the article is correct - and it is hard to doubt the veracity of Ratcatcher’s report since it is supported by copies of actual social media postings by the various players, including those of Lesufi and Tshwete - then both are guilty of most reprehensible race baiting. That they have chosen to target a relatively weak and powerless body makes their actions all the more repugnant.
The facts of this case are to be found in the article and we shall, therefore, not repeat them here. Two salient points are worth expanding upon, however.
Our first observation: Lesufi and Tshwete have disseminated on social media a series of seriously intemperate accusations of racism directed at caregivers at the Koeitjies & Kalfies crèche [Note 2]. It is a concern that in a society such as ours, with its present heightened sensitivity to matters of race, an accusation of racism may prove deeply injurious to its target, regardless of whether the accusation has merit or not. It is surely imperative that such accusations only be made after a responsible, fair and sufficiently careful investigation of the facts.
In the event, we have seen no evidence that their actions were preceded by such careful examination of the facts. The accusations were evidently based on a single photograph that appeared on social media, which seems to have been misinterpreted - a plausible and innocent explanation of events was already available in the public domain, but was evidently disregarded [Note 1].
In this regard, we have two observations. The first is that, even if the two men had established the truth of the allegations to their own satisfaction, their subsequent action should surely have followed properly-regulated procedure designed to protect the rights of citizens suspected but not convicted of an offence. However, having decided that this was an instance of white racism [Note 2], Lesufi and Tshwete
- communicated this opinion to unknown thousands on Twitter,
- provided details of the name and location of the crèche, and
- Lesufi placed an invitation on his Facebook page to join him in a visit to its premises, not clarifying what was intended once they were there. Perhaps a clue to his intentions are to be found in another Facebook message posted by him, with a picture of himself, taken from the street-side and showing the crèche, Lesufi boasting that he might have to ‘jump fences’ [Note 4]. An implication of this remark is that he was preparing for some sort of violent confrontation. This from a provincial minister approaching a crèche with a few female caregivers and toddlers. A disturbing extension of this was provided in a message posted by
Tshwete [Note 5], showing a prostrate person being sjambokked and bearing the words “some exclusive images of MEC Lesufi engaging with the management of the racist crèche.” This from the official spokesperson of the National Department of Home Affairs.
It is certainly reasonable to infer that Lesufi’s and Tshwete’s actions were intended to intimidate and frighten those at the crèche. But regardless of their intention, given the postings by Lesufi and Tshwete referred to above, the danger of harm to those in the crèche - psychological or even physical - if a number of angry people turned up, was significant.
In addition to this, Lesufi and Tshwete’s questionable impugning of its caregivers and the crèche without due process may, in all likelihood, have caused harm to the crèche’s reputation and threatened its future viability. It would also have exposed the white employees of the crèche to the danger of attacks - on social media, in telephone or cell phone calls, by way of graffiti, possibly shouted abuse. These dangers are real and not simply imagined. In an article titled 'My racial nightmare' written by the school's principal, Anéll Engelbrecht, in response to the accusations of racism and published on Politicsweb [here], Engelbrecht says:
"Thobo’s actions threaten the existence of our school. My life is threatened and so is that of my family. I receive racist calls threatening to set my school alight and to come and sort me out. I receive e-mails calling me inhumane, a racist and an embarrassment to Christians!"
The Thobo referred to here is Thobo Wanatsha Mosinyi, the mother of the black child appearing in the photograph and the person who first posted accusations of racism on social media. Since Lesufi and Tshwete were responsible for the wide dissemination of these accusations, they must share some responsibility for the alleged threats and hurtful comments directed at Engelbrecht, her family and her school.
Whilst the actions of Mosinyi are most regrettable and quite possibly actionable, mitigating factors are present in her case, for as parents we fully understand the fury of mother who believes her child to be the victim of mistreatment and who takes to the keyboard too hastily. No such mitigating factors pertain to the conduct of Lesufi and Tshwete, however. Indeed, we would submit that it is reasonable to hold the actions of a senior member of government and a senior civil servant to a higher standard than those of other players.
The actions of the MEC and DDG were not just inappropriate, highly irresponsible and dangerous; they smacked of inciting mob justice.
Our second observation: Lesufi expresses “disgust” at the fact that the main caregivers and children in this little crèche (without the little girl who was black and had been withdrawn by her mother) were all white. The tweet in which this opinion is expressed makes it clear that his disgust derives from the particular racial group to which they belong (white) and not from their actions.
In summary, we believe that, at the very least, the actions of the Gauteng MEC for Education and the Deputy Director General in the Department of Home Affairs have:
- Infringed the right of both caregivers and children in the crèche to be fairly treated [constitution 33(1)].
- Violated the right of the caregivers, but especially of the children, not to be exposed to threats and intimidation and to be put in harm’s way.
- Exposed the young children to unfavourable attention by relaying and distributing an unredacted image of them on social media;
- Impugned the dignity and infringed the right to equal treatment of those in the crèche by circulating on Twitter contemptuous remarks about their race. This from a provincial minister.
We are not legally trained and may, therefore, not be presenting our request in the form that you would require or prefer. If that is the case, could we ask for your indulgence, and that you please consider the facts as related in the Ratcatcher article and evidenced in the various twitter messages referred to therein and determine which human rights have been infringed. Could you then also take the appropriate corrective measures.
John van den Berg
Ingrid van den Berg
Johann van den Berg
ANNEXURE:
1. In a statement* (circulated by Thobo Wanatsha Mosinyi - the aggrieved mother - on her Facebook page), the owner of the crèche, Anéll Engelbrecht, offers an account of the facts underpinning the incident:
a) There were only 8 [out of 10] children in the class yesterday.
b) A table can only seat six children.
c) The teacher asked all the kids to come out the patio for the party
d) N [full name redacted by PW] walked to the playground instead with another little girl.
e) After placing the children, the teacher asked the assistant to bring the two girls.
f) She then placed both at the table next to them.
g) As she was about to take the photo, the other little girl started crying and the teacher asked the assistant to pick her up.
h) The photo was taken at that moment.
i) If you zoom into the photo you will see that N is holding a cupcake in her hand with no icing because her teacher removed it for her. She doesn’t like icing.
j) With these photos were also other photos where N is taking part in class activities and where her teacher is helping her.
k) The photo in question unfortunately does not tell the true story.
*For a voice version of this statement:
Whether one chooses to believe the statement or not, it does offer a coherent and innocuous explanation of the scene in the photograph. There is also mention of other photographs which, Engelbrecht contends, demonstrate equal and caring treatment of the little girl. If Lesufi, or a representative of his Department, had approached the crèche for a response to Mosinyi’s accusations, the above account and photographs would surely have been provided.
Yet Lesufi gives no indication of having seen and evaluated this evidence before launching his attacks and accusations of racism. Indeed, he was already commencing his plan to go to the crèche at 11:26 on Thursday morning, June 23rd, the morning on which he had received the complaint from Mosinyi.
2. There are many references to the alleged racist nature of the crèche. Here is one, posted at 11:52 on Thursday 23 June:
3. Lesufi, on Facebook, identified the crèche and extended an invitation to join him there:
4. Lesufi dressed to ‘jump fences’
5. Tshwete’s sjambokking picture.
Lesufi: 'Race baiting' not a human rights violation - SAHRC
My racial nightmare
Panyaza Lesufi: Addicted to non-racialism, or race-baiting?
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Maine still waiting for internet health care revolution
Poor broadband and out-of-step Medicare policies relegate the state's use of telehealth to small niches when it should be in the mainstream.
By J. Craig AndersonStaff Writer
Northern Light Home Care and Hospice patient Raymond Dube meets with his cardiopulmonary nurse, Stacey Laqualia, at his home in Scarborough this month. Dube uses a tablet device to provide information about his health condition electronically to nurses at Northern Light in South Portland. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer
Information technology should be revolutionizing the way patients in Maine interact with their health care providers, but poor broadband infrastructure and outdated federal policies are slowing progress to a crawl.
Many people believe the best way to increase access to quality, affordable health care in Maine is to connect more patients and providers in real time over the internet and cellular networks via an approach known broadly as telehealth, but there are major obstacles.
Broadband communications are essential for providing telehealth services, and many areas of rural Maine still don’t have reliable broadband internet or cellular network access. An equally big problem is that despite Maine’s recent passage of a parity law requiring Medicaid and private insurance to cover most telehealth and in-person services equally, the federally controlled Medicare does not cover many telehealth services.
Advocates say telehealth should ideally account for at least 25 percent of all patient-provider interactions based on Maine’s demographics. Currently it is estimated to comprise less than 5 percent.
“It’s still considerably smaller than it could and should be,” said Danielle Louder, executive director of the Augusta-based Northeast Telehealth Resource Center. “A big part of that is the variation in policy. We have one set of policies for Medicare, and then our MaineCare and private payer policies in the state are getting closer (to full acceptance).”
All four members of Maine’s congressional delegation say they would support policy changes to promote rural broadband expansion and make telehealth more accessible to Medicare recipients. Ironically, one lawmaker said, the biggest potential hurdle to expanding Medicare coverage of telehealth is that some congressional leaders fear telehealth is so effective at improving access to care that it would result in higher Medicare spending overall.
Without greater buy-in from Medicare, Maine’s health care networks are unwilling to make large investments in telehealth programs that advocates say could make the difference between life and death for many chronically ill, elderly and rural residents in the state.
Health care providers in Maine say the Medicare restrictions are based on a faulty assumption that adding telehealth services would make health care more expensive because it involves the purchase of additional equipment, and more patients would use it. While that might have been true initially, the providers said telehealth has advanced to the point where it can actually cut costs overall by reducing the need for emergency care while making health care services more widely available.
They already have proved that telehealth can be effective at keeping patients out of the emergency room – and out of the morgue.
Improving health care access among isolated populations such as rural residents and seniors who live alone is a top priority for health care providers in Maine. They said telehealth can reduce the rate of health emergencies among those populations via videoconferencing, mobile apps and home health-monitoring devices. The technology is already available and improving exponentially.
“I believe that it’s going to become more ubiquitous in respect to it’s a tool in the toolbox, and it’s a must-have,” Louder said. “It becomes part of a larger strategy.”
TELEHEALTH AT WORK
Up until a year ago, 68-year-old Scarborough resident Raymond Dube was constantly bouncing back and forth between his home and the emergency room.
Northern Light Home Care and Hospice patient Raymond Dube checks his blood oxygen levels on a tablet with his cardiopulmonary nurse, Stacey Laqualia, at his home in Scarborough. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographe
Dube, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, has regular episodes during which he cannot catch his breath. In the past, those bouts of breathlessness would cause him to panic, and the only way he knew to restore normal breathing was a trip to the ER for a dose of morphine.
“I was practically living there,” Dube said.
His health care providers decided to try something different. They enrolled Dube in a telehealth program at South Portland’s Northern Light Home Care and Hospice that places specialized tablet devices in patients’ homes. Each tablet is connected wirelessly to home health-monitoring devices and a cellular network.
At least once a day, Dube responds to audio prompts about his current condition using the device’s touchscreen: Is he having difficulty breathing? Has he developed a cough? Does he feel the need to limit his physical activity? The device also can check Dube’s breathing, pulse, heart rate and other vital signs. All of that information is sent automatically to Northern Light in real time.
If there’s a problem, a nurse calls Dube immediately and talks him through the necessary steps to restore his breathing, including the use of medication he keeps at home. At least once a week, Northern Light cardiopulmonary nurse Stacey Laqualia also visits Dube in his home for a more thorough examination.
“It’s saved me a lot of trips to the ER,” Dube said. “I can quickly get in touch with the nurse, who tells me what to do.”
Laqualia said there are many benefits to the technology. It can be used to monitor any patient’s health, anywhere. It also keeps a historical record of each patient’s responses, so any provider with access can view the data and make a diagnosis.
“We monitor patients all the way up to Presque Isle in The County,” Laqualia said. “We end up talking more to the patients, as well.”
A reduction in emergency room visits has the benefit of reducing costs to health care providers and insurers, but Bill Whitmore, Maine market vice president for Massachusetts-based insurer Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, said the push for telehealth has more to do with a desire to improve access to care.
Health care access is a nationwide problem, he said, but it is particularly acute in Maine.
“This state is way, way ahead of the country as far as the percentage of the population that’s over 65 years old, and with that comes more and more health services,” Whitmore said. “I think that alone is going to really require that more services are delivered from a telehealth perspective.”
Fitch Ratings, one of the country’s leading bond rating agencies, has said that by 2026, Maine will have the highest percentage of people 65 and older in the country, a status it calls “super aged.” It estimated that nearly one in four Mainers will be 65 or older.
Another issue that is likely to require expansion of telehealth services in Maine is the trend toward small, rural hospitals eliminating areas of specialized care and referring patients to the nearest large hospital in their system, which can be located hours away. For example, St. Andrews Hospital in Boothbay Harbor closed its emergency room in 2013, and other small hospitals have eliminated specialty services such as maternity care in recent years.
“By doing that, they’re going to have to find ways to deliver those services to the people in the rural areas, and (telehealth) is a way that that will happen,” Whitmore said.
SLOW ROLLOUT
Maine is regarded as a pioneer in the field of telehealth, with a handful of programs developed in the state long before the advent of smartphones and tablet devices.
MaineHealth Care at Home, formerly known as Visiting Nurses, was using bulky computers with dial-up modems to remotely monitor elderly patients’ health conditions all the way back in 2001, said the organization’s vice president, Mia Millefoglie.
Under the program, the home care service has upgraded its technology several times and has been able to reduce COPD, diabetes and heart failure patients’ 30-day hospital readmission rates from the industry average of 20 to 25 percent down to a low of 3 to 8 percent, Millefoglie said.
“It’s significant,” she said. “The technology is really a tool that extends our expert critical services. It really is just a tool – it’s a conduit to services.”
Another program, created in 2001 by the Maine Seacoast Mission, involves a boat outfitted with telehealth equipment and staffed by nurse Sharon Daley, the mission’s director of island health. The mobile telehealth service regularly visits 10 inhabited islands east of Boothbay Harbor, including Frenchboro, Isle au Haut and Matinicus.
Daley said the program has saved island residents countless hours of costly travel for routine medical appointments.
“It costs a couple hundred dollars to go off-island,” she said. “You miss a day of work.”
Despite the success of those programs, major health care providers in Maine have only recently begun to take telehealth more seriously, said MaineHealth Telehealth Director Tom Caswell.
MaineHealth, the state’s largest health care system, has in the past encouraged individual providers to start their own telehealth programs, but the programs usually would die if the providers leading them left the MaineHealth system, Caswell said.
“If the provider left, the whole (program) that they were doing would kind of evaporate, because it would only be one champion, and that champion would leave,” he said.
But that changed about 18 months ago, when MaineHealth decided to take a more structured approach to telehealth, Caswell said. Now, its telehealth programs are no longer at the whim of individual providers and are designed to withstand turnover.
About 16,000 patient visits in 2018 were conducted via telehealth within the MaineHealth system, he said – a growing number, but still just a tiny fraction of all health care interactions.
The major limiting factor to the growth of telehealth in Maine is Medicare, Caswell said. The federally subsidized health insurance program will not reimburse providers for telehealth services offered to patients in their homes, or to patients in urban areas, he said.
About 336,000 Mainers – roughly one-fourth of the state’s population – were on Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans in 2018, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit health care research group.
But there is strong evidence that Medicare comprises an even higher share of annual health insurance claims filed in Maine. Recently, the Maine Health Data Organization, a state agency that collects health care data from health insurance companies and hospitals, undertook a project to examine all private insurance claims filed in the state from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017. Of the roughly 16 million claims it examined, roughly 10 million were Medicare and Medicaid claims, and only 6 million were for private insurers.
In most cases, Medicare patients in rural areas must go to a medical facility to receive telehealth services in order for Medicare to reimburse the provider, Caswell said. In other words, they must travel to a local doctor’s office or other health care facility just to communicate remotely with a health care provider located farther away.
The only exceptions are for some patients on home health monitoring, and for those receiving home-based treatment for opioid abuse.
“So you can imagine in our state, as old as it is, if you take oncology, cardiology, orthopedic joints, you take all these practices that literally will not do telehealth because such a large portion of their practice is Medicare,” Caswell said. “And to tell a person with cancer that they have to go to a primary care practice to see someone with telehealth is not good care.”
Maine’s Medicaid program, known as MaineCare, does reimburse providers for most telehealth services, as do private insurers. The Maine Legislature recently passed a “coverage parity” law that requires insurers to cover telehealth services, but it does not mandate “payment parity,” or equal compensation to providers for both types of service. It also does not apply to the federally controlled Medicare.
Since Medicare is primarily for seniors, much of the current telehealth focus in Maine is on pediatric care, Caswell said.
POSSIBLE FIXES
Members of Maine’s congressional delegation said they are aware of the Medicare problem and have been working on a variety of possible solutions.
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, is a member of the the Congressional Telehealth Caucus and co-sponsored a bill in 2018 called the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act, which would have broadly expanded the types of providers eligible to provide telehealth services under Medicare and allowed more Medicare patients to receive telehealth services at home.
That bill failed, but Pingree said she expects it to be reintroduced this year under the U.S. House of Representatives’ new Democratic leadership following the August recess.
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, is a co-sponsor of two bills that are aimed at addressing the Medicare issue. One would expand Medicare reimbursement to providers for mental health treatment provided via telehealth, including home-based treatment, and the other would create a three-year pilot program for Medicare to cover home-based respiratory therapy for COPD patients through telehealth.
“I’ve heard from doctors and health care providers in Maine about the importance of telehealth initiatives to bring high-quality, affordable care to more Mainers, particularly in rural areas,” Golden said in a statement. “Expanding access to affordable rural broadband is essential to improving rural health care, but we can’t take full advantage until we change the Medicare rules to bring telehealth into more homes.”
U.S. Sens. Angus King, an independent, and Susan Collins, a Republican, both expressed frustration over the fact that Medicare’s current policies restrict access to telehealth.
“Telehealth has the potential to revolutionize the way we provide health care to rural America – but only if the federal government can get out of its own way,” King said in a statement. “Right now, its transformative potential is being hindered by inadequate broadband connectivity and Medicare regulations that limit access to telehealth services.”
Collins pointed to recent success by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in rolling out telehealth services for treating war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. She said it “makes absolutely no sense” that Medicare patients cannot access telehealth services at home.
“The federal government shouldn’t be a barrier,” Collins said in an interview. “They should be promoting this.”
Collins said one positive development is that starting in 2020, providers of Medicare Advantage plans will have greater flexibility in defining coverage, which could open the door to more telehealth services. About 100,000 Mainers had Medicare Advantage plans in 2018.
However, she said another development that could have adverse consequences is that the Congressional Budget Office is working on a report to summarize the likely fiscal impact of opening up Medicare coverage to telehealth.
Collins said she fears that if the CBO report determines telehealth coverage would increase Medicare expenditures overall, it could be used by some lawmakers as justification for maintaining the status quo.
“We live and die by the estimates provided by the CBO,” she said. “It could be that if there are more services used, that it would increase costs under the Medicare program. I would argue that it’s more likely to decrease costs, because if we can keep people healthy and out of hospitals and long-term care facilities … and keep them in their own homes, that seems to me to be not only more in line with patients’ preferences, but also a cost-saver.”
BROADBAND NEEDED
Another problem holding back telehealth expansion in Maine is the lack of reliable broadband communications infrastructure in many rural areas of the state.
Islesboro resident Frank Start said his teenage daughter recently enrolled in Maine Behavioral Healthcare’s telehealth program for her counseling needs.
The program, which Start said has saved his family from many hours of missed time at school and work, is only accessible because of a municipal broadband project approved in 2016 that brought gigabit fiber-optic internet service to the island.
Because the island community relies on a ferry service to access the mainland, a round-trip visit to the behavioral health practice takes three to four hours, he said. That means his daughter would have to miss school, which would only exacerbate her anxiety problems.
Being able to use telehealth services from home has made it possible for her to receive treatment once a week in the evening, Start said, and she is more relaxed because she isn’t missing school and can discuss her mental health issues in a safe and familiar place.
“We couldn’t do this telehealth without a good internet connection, and what we had before wouldn’t have worked,” he said. “It has been extremely beneficial.”
Many rural communities in Maine have been waiting decades for the major internet service providers to bring broadband service to their areas, a situation exacerbated by the state having one of the slowest average internet speeds in the country.
The lack of broadband in areas that would hypothetically benefit the most from telehealth services is another significant deterrent to investment in telehealth, the providers said. Some rural Maine communities are in some stage of planning their own broadband projects, but others still have no clear prospects for broadband in the foreseeable future.
There are some federal bills in the works that could make it easier for Maine communities to access funds for rural broadband expansion projects. Collins is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan American Broadband Buildout Act, which would offer up to $5 billion in matching funds for rural broadband projects, and King helped successfully push for a funding increase from $25 million to $350 million for rural broadband in the December 2018 Farm Bill.
In the Maine Legislature’s most recent session, a $239 million bond package that included $30 million for rural broadband expansion failed to receive the two-thirds majorities needed to send it to voters.
All four of Maine’s federal lawmakers said they support efforts to expand rural broadband services in the state.
“Telehealth can help bring top-of-the-line medical care to some of the hardest-to-reach communities across Maine, but bringing this expert medical care to areas where it’s otherwise difficult to access means our state needs better connectivity,” Pingree said in a statement. “Right now, Maine ranks 49th in the nation for broadband access, which is why I’ve worked in Congress to change that through greater access to federal grant programs and loans.”
REVOLUTION WHEN?
In 2011, Bangor-based trauma surgeon Dr. Rafael Grossmann had an idea to use consumer technology to supply small, rural hospitals in Maine with trauma surgery expertise.
Grossmann, a self-described “health care futurist” and telehealth evangelist, reasoned that video chat-enabled mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones would make it easier to share medical expertise during emergencies, because they were far more affordable and ubiquitous than the expensive telemedicine equipment other health care providers were using at the time.
He set up a pilot program involving seven sites in the former Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems network, now part of Northern Light Health. Medical staff at each location had smartphones and tablets equipped with special Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant software that allowed them to consult remotely with an on-call trauma surgery expert when needed.
But Grossmann said the pilot program ultimately was scrapped. He said participating providers failed to see the value in it, and he doesn’t understand why.
“Unfortunately we’re not doing that anymore,” he said. “We still have the capability. We actually have the hardware capability to connect to all these sites, but certainly the impetus, the interest, the continuous work on the telehealth pillar of care, was really not developed.”
However, within the past year or so, Grossmann said he has been approached by health care executives who are looking to implement telehealth programs similar to the one he envisioned nearly a decade ago.
In his spare time, Grossmann is an avid public speaker, giving lectures on how exponential growth in the advancement of technology will alter the health care landscape in unimaginable ways.
He believes a telehealth revolution is coming, and that all health care providers – in Maine and around the globe – will need to embrace it.
“We know that we don’t have the person power – the demand for health care services is too much for (what) we have,” Grossmann said. “The numbers are astonishing. We know that five billion people in the world don’t have access to safe and affordable surgery.”
health care, maine businesses, state government, technology
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Strengthened guidance to protect children at risk
Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance sets out new requirements for improved partnerships to protect children
Children at risk of abuse or neglect will now be protected through improved partnerships between local police, councils and health services.
Strengthened guidance published today (4 July) sets new legal requirements for the three safeguarding partners, who will be required to make joint safeguarding decisions to meet the needs of local children and families.
Senior police, council and health leaders will jointly be responsible for setting out local plans to keep children safe and will be accountable for how well agencies work together to protect children from abuse and neglect.
The new advice is aimed at all professionals who come in to contact with children and families and includes guidance on current threats to child protection, such as sexual and criminal exploitation, gangs and radicalisation.
Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi said:
"We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of children and protect those at risk of harm. It is important that young people can grow up in an environment that is as safe and stable as we would want for our own children. That’s why we have changed the law to create a stronger safeguarding system, placing greater accountability on the key professionals involved so vulnerable children can get the support and protection they deserve.
"This guidance will bring health agencies, police forces and councils together to work more collaboratively, making effective decisions that put the needs of local families at the heart of their work."
The Government has also announced 17 areas of the country as ‘early adopters’, which will work with the National Children’s Bureau to implement the new local safeguarding arrangements before they are established across the rest of the country.
The 17 areas include 39 local authorities and will develop new and innovative approaches to set up multi-agency safeguarding processes and produce clear learning which can be shared across other areas, which will have up to a year to publish local arrangements.
The statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’, follows a public consultation on the changes, which received over 700 responses.
In response to the consultation, the requirements on all those working in sports and faith-based organisations have been strengthened, requiring them to co-operate with the local police, council and health partners where requested. This is in line with the important role these groups play in promoting children’s welfare.
The new safeguarding arrangements will replace existing Local Safeguarding Children Boards, taking into account recommendations made in a 2016 review by Sir Alan Wood.
Sir Alan Wood said:
"I am delighted that the government has brought forward legislation and guidance to reform the safeguarding arrangements we make for children. I believe the changes will ensure a sharp focus on the key factors of improving multi-agency practice which protects children, create a national learning framework to improve our ability to learn from serious events and introduce a health-led process to maximise potential for learning from child deaths.
"I am particularly pleased that the new arrangements ensure that each of the new statutory partners in an area, the police, health and the local authority, now have duties which require them to take joint responsibility for ensuring multi-agency safeguarding arrangements in an area are effective."
The changes include:
• equal duties placed on the police, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and local authorities to work together on safeguarding decisions and to promote children’s welfare;
• placing greater accountability on senior leaders for each agency: the council Chief Executive, the accounting officer of a CCG and the Chief Officer of Police;
• strengthening expectations on schools and other educational settings that they must co-operate with the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements;
• extending safeguarding responsibilities to sports clubs and religious organisations in recognition of their important role in working with and protecting children and young people;
• new duties on CCGs and councils to carry out reviews of child deaths, instead of children’s services, in line with evidence that only a small numberof these incidents relate to safeguarding concerns; and
• better reviews of complex or nationally-important cases, and improving identification of the lessons learnt from these, led by the new Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel chaired by Edward Timpson and replacing Serious Case Reviews.
• The 17 successful bids to adopt the new local safeguarding arrangements early are: Tameside; Northumberland, Gateshead, Newcastle on Tyne, North Tyneside, South Tyneside & Sunderland; Calderdale; North Lincolnshire; York; Hertfordshire; Bexley, Greenwich & Lewisham; Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow , Kensington & Chelsea & Westminster; Reading, West Berkshire & Wokingham; Devon, Plymouth & Torbay; Wiltshire; Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall & Wolverhampton; Birmingham; Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire; Solihull; Trafford; and Salford.
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Island Wildlife Haven Saved from Public Sale
Poll: Support for Protecting Owyhee Canyonlands Crosses Party Lines
Ag Dept., DNR Merger for SD Back in Spotlight
Montana Conservation Interests 'Push Back' This Session
Poll: Support for Public Lands Cuts Across Political Lines
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - From the Tea Party to Occupy Wall Street, support for protection of public lands, clean water and clean air cuts across political boundaries in the West, according to the results of a poll released this week.
The Colorado College poll, "State of the Rockies: Conservation in the West," found that westerners of all political persuasions value governmental protections to maintain the West's wide open spaces and wildlife, and ensure water and air quality.
U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., says he's not surprised that Coloradans value environmental protections and clean energy sources.
"In the process, you create jobs, you protect our land and water and you make Colorado a really attractive place to do business. Our public lands and our clean air and clean water not only keep part of our way of life but also are an important part of our economy."
The study found that 93 percent of respondents agree that national parks, forests, monuments, and wildlife areas are an essential part of Colorado's economy.
Two polling firms - one Republican and one Democratic - conducted the study. Dave Metz, a pollster with Fairbanks, Maslin, Maulin, Metz and Associates, says two-thirds of Colorado respondents believe environmental protections and development of clean-energy standards can help bolster the economy.
"We see a strong conservation ethic in the West. Voters believe there is not only compatibility between policies that will protect the environment and having a good economy, but in a number of specific areas like renewable energy use, they believe that pursuing these policies will create jobs."
This is the second year of the "Conservation in the West" survey. The full study is online at coloradocollege.edu.
Kathleen Ryan, Public News Service - CO
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‘Medical postage stamps’: the Medical Sciences Video Archive
The Medical Sciences Video Archive, newly available online and hosted by Oxford Brookes University, opens up oral history video interviews with leading figures in 20th-century medicine.
Christopher Merrett and the beginnings of champagne
In the 17th century, RCP fellow and Harveian librarian, Christopher Merret, discovered how to make sparkling wine.
The lighter side of Victorian medicine: the BBC’s Quacks in five objects
Five objects from the RCP museum show the medical history that underpinned the BBC television series 'Quacks'.
Breath-taking encounters with records of lung disease
To celebrate Explore Your Archive week, visitors came to see a hands-on display of archives relating to tuberculosis, emphysema, smoking and other lung health issues, chronicling people and practice over 400 years.
Explore your medical archives
For national Explore Your Archive week, archivists from three medical royal colleges – the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists – reveal some of the treasures in their archives.
All-cleansing, all-healing, all-vigorating: James Graham’s earth cure
The 18th-century quack doctor James Graham recommended bathing in earth or soil as a cure for a wide range of complaints.
A life in parasitology: donations from Professor Wallace Peters
Professor Wallace Peters' donations to the RCP's collections illustrate his contributions to the fields of entomology and parasitology, particularly on malaria.
The ‘good death’ and after: post-mortem photography in the late 19th century
Post-mortem photos of RCP fellow William Jenner are an example of the 19th-century mourning practice of photographing recently deceased relatives.
The Kitchener School of Medicine: 20th-century medical education in Sudan
The Kitchener School of Medicine, now part of the University of Khartoum, had links with the Royal College of Physicians from the time of its foundation in 1924.
Medicine in conflict: Philip Graham Stock in the Second Boer War
The RCP archives have photographs taken by army medical officer Philip Graham Stock, who served in southern Africa during the Second Boer War.
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College Counselor
Stephen Allan has guided students applying to both elite undergraduate universities and top-tier graduate programs for over four years, having assisted over 500 students who applied to 175 different programs. His students have gone to undergraduate schools such as Duke, Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, and Stanford, while others have enrolled in graduate programs like Yale School of Management, London School of Economics, Penn Law School, and the Master’s of Education at Harvard, to name just a few. With his writing expertise, journalism background, and creative mind, Stephen specializes in crafting top-notch essays that grab the admission officer’s attention, create a memorable impression, and garner admission to highly selective programs. Stephen earned his bachelor’s of arts in psychology with a certificate in policy journalism and media studies from Duke University, during which he wrote for the largest newspaper in North Carolina and edited work for writers at places such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and The Atlantic. Following graduation, he became a full-time entrepreneur, first blogging about his experiences as a professional poker player before becoming an author of science fiction and fantasy novels, running an editing company, and helping students gain admission to their dream school. Stephen also assists websites with creating strong web content that boosts SEO rankings and leads to more sales. Stephen currently lives in Raleigh, NC, where he writes epic fantasy novels, provides mentorship to young aspiring authors and writers, and practicing Krav Maga.
Sign up for your free consultation
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Agosta, Mikkelson inject experience into Canada’s roster for Rivalry Series
CALGARY — Canada’s 23-player roster for the first two games of the Rivalry Series against the United States features the return of veteran forward Meghan Agosta and defender Meaghan Mikkelson.
The two women took the 2018-19 season off to have children.
Agosta, from Ruthven, Ont., is a four-time Olympian and has won three gold medals.
Mikkelson, from St. Albert, Alta., helped Canada claim Olympic gold in both 2010 and 2014.
Canada opens the five-game Rivalry Series against the Americans on Dec. 14 in Hartford, Conn., followed by a Dec. 17 rematch in Moncton.
The series resumes Feb. 3 in Victoria followed by games Feb. 5 in Vancouver and Feb. 8 in Anaheim, Calif.
Canada is coming off 4-1 and 5-3 exhibition wins over the U.S. earlier this month with a different lineup.
“We are coming off a very good training camp and two games with the United States in Pittsburgh, where we were able to evaluate our players and take a closer look at our depth chart,” said Gina Kingsbury, Hockey Canada director of women’s national teams, in a statement Thursday.
“We continue to strengthen our identity and grow as a team leading into the world championship, and the competition against the Americans is a good measuring stick for us.”
The Americans are the reigning world and Olympic champions.
The two countries met in the final of every world championship until this year when host Finland upset Canada in the semifinal.
Halifax and Truro, N.S., are the host cities of the 2020 women’s world championship March 31 to April 10.
Canada’s roster for the opening two games of the Rivalry Series was chosen by head coach Perry Pearn, associate coach Troy Ryan and Kingsbury with input from head scout Melody Davidson and regional scouts.
The lineup also includes veteran forwards Marie-Philip Poulin, Natalie Spooner and Sarah Nurse, defenders Jocelyne Larocque, Laura Fortino and Lauriane Rougeau, as well as goaltenders Genevieve Lacasse and Emerance Maschmeyer.
Rebels embarrassed by recent performance, determined to overcome it
Blough impressive in defeat in debut for Lions
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Trump Reveals How He'll Win In A Landslide, Sends Chilling Message To Opponents: 'Never Bet Against Me'
President Donald Trump laid out his path to victory and his post-election legal fight during an interview with the Washington Examiner on Thursday.
"The president called on Thursday morning to update the election challenges his campaign is making in several key states," The Washington Examiner's Byron York began.
"The bottom line from our conversation: No matter what news organizations have projected, Trump says he's confident he will win the states needed to get to 270 electoral votes. He quickly ran through the situation in six states," he added.
Read the full interview below:
"We're going to win Wisconsin," Trump began. "Arizona — it'll be down to 8,000 votes, and if we can do an audit of the millions of votes, we'll find 8,000 votes easy. If we can do an audit, we'll be in good shape there."
"Georgia, we're going to win," he continued, "because now, we're down to about 10,000, 11,000 votes, and we have hand-counting" — a reference to the coming recount. "Hand-counting is the best. To do a spin of the machine doesn't mean anything. You pick up 10 votes. But when you hand-count — I think we're going to win Georgia." He'll also win North Carolina, Trump joked, "unless they happen to find a lot of votes. I said, 'When are they going to put in the new votes in North Carolina? When are they going to find a batch from Charlotte?'"
Then there are two more — Michigan and Pennsylvania. "The two big states," Trump said, before allowing, "They're all sort of big." In those two, Trump is pinning his strategy on protesting the exclusion of his campaign's observers during critical periods of vote-counting. "They wouldn't let our poll watchers and observers watch or observe," Trump said. "That's a big thing. They should throw those votes out that went through during those periods of time when [Trump observers] weren't there. We went to court, and the judge ordered [the observers] back, but that was after two days, and millions of votes could have gone through. Millions. And we're down 50,000."
It was definitely an optimistic scenario and one at odds with the current state of the race. Wisconsin has already been called for Joe Biden, who has a lead of 20,546 votes. Arizona has just been called for Biden, with a lead of 11,390 votes. Georgia has not been called yet and is headed for a recount, the hand recount that Trump wanted, with Biden leading by 14,057 votes. North Carolina, on the other hand, looks good for Trump. Although it has not yet been called, the president leads Biden by 73,244 votes.
Then, there are Michigan and Pennsylvania. Both have been called for Biden, who has a 148,382-vote lead over Trump in Michigan and a 54,273-vote lead over Trump in Pennsylvania. There is no way that many votes for Trump could appear, so the president's hope is for the protests to work — so far, they haven't — and also, in Pennsylvania, for a judicial victory over the state Supreme Court's unilateral decision to extend the deadline in which mail-in votes could be received. That is a case Trump should definitely win — the state court completely ignored the legislature's constitutional authority to make such decisions — but that does not mean it will make much difference in the vote totals.
Indeed, the picture looks bleak for the president. As he spoke on Thursday, GOP strategist Karl Rove, Hugh Hewitt, and this newsletter noted that it is impossible, or all but impossible, for him to come back in enough states to win the election. At one point in the conversation, the president seemed to consider and then quickly reject the idea of losing. "I'm a guy who realizes — five days ago, I thought, 'Maybe,'" he said, pausing for just a second. "But, now I see evidence, and we have hundreds of affidavits," referring to the testimonials included in his lawsuits.
Democrats and their allies in the press, of course, are demanding that Trump drop his legal challenges. They are nothing more than a "temper tantrum" by the president and Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday. On the other hand, many in the GOP would prefer to let the process run its course. But one voice on the Left is also arguing that the litigation should go ahead.
"Americans should not worry about these suits," wrote Jed Shugerman, a professor at Fordham Law School, in a Washington Postop-ed. "Indeed, we should welcome them." Shugerman said he does not believe the various Trump suits have any merit and indeed thinks they will all be thrown out of court. That, he said, would highlight their shortcomings.
But then: "It is also a bad idea, as a general matter to object to election law litigation. In two years, or four years — and possibly in two months in Georgia — the shoe may be on the other foot. It would look hypocritical to condemn the very idea of challenging an election result now, only to turn around and do so in different (albeit more legitimate) circumstances."
Whatever the case, Trump is forging ahead. When I asked him how quickly he might turn things around, he said, "I don't know. It's probably two weeks, three weeks." He knows the situation. He has heard many people tell him it's over and time to concede. But at the very least, it is important for his most devoted supporters to see him fighting to stay in office. And he closed with a good-natured warning for everyone who has told him there is no hope: "Never bet against me."
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RCSD graduation rate increases by 5.2%
Posted: Jan 14, 2021 / 10:52 AM EST / Updated: Jan 14, 2021 / 12:16 PM EST
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Rochester City School District graduation rate has increased by 5.2% according to data released from the state on Thursday.
The New York State Education Department has released the graduation rates for the 2016 cohort — those students who first entered 9th grade in 2016 and graduated in 2020.
From 2015 to 2016, the graduation rate jumped from 63% to 68.2%.
According to RCSD, more than 80% of the RCSD high schools showed increased graduation rates compared to August 2019. The district released the following data:
8.1 percentage point increase for English Language Learners, from 42.6% to 50.7%
7.1 percentage point increase for Black students, from 62.6% to 69.7%
5.8 percentage point increase for Economically Disadvantaged students, from 59.8% to 65.6%
4.0 percentage point increase for Hispanic students, from 62.6% to 66.6%
0.9 percentage point increase for Students with Disabilities, from 47.0% to 47.9%
3.9 percentage point decrease in Dropouts, from 16.8% to 12.9%
“Our students endured an unprecedented school year that no one could have expected, and the increase in our graduation rate is due to the collective work of students, families, staff, teachers, and administrators,” Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small said in a statement. “The data points us toward key information, highlighting areas that require attention and focus to better educate our scholars and ensure their programmatic needs are being met. Increasing the graduation rate remains our focus, with a strategic plan that prioritizes the purposeful use of data to help improve academic success through student-centered learning while closing the achievement gap of our students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and English language learners.”
The Big 5 City School Districts saw varying rates of increase this year, with New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers all experiencing increases greater than the overall rate of growth statewide.
Big 5 City School District Cohort June Graduation Rates
2015 2016 % Point Change
Statewide 83.4 84.8 +1.4
NYC 77.3 78.8 +1.5
Buffalo 64.7 76.3 +11.6
Rochester 63.0 68.2 +5.2
Syracuse 64.5 70.7 +6.2
Yonkers 88.0 90.6 +2.6
In the entire state, the overall August graduation rate increased to 84.8%, up 1.4% points from 83.4% for the 2015 cohort. The 2016 cohort graduation rate is 8% points higher than it was a decade earlier, when the 2007 cohort graduation rate was 76.8%.
More RCSD Stories
Rochester City School District announces Phase 3 reopening date
by WROC Staff, Jack Watson / Jan 12, 2021
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) -- The Rochester City School District announced its Phase 3 reopening date Tuesday evening.
According to the district, students in grades 7 - 12 who are not in specialized programs will be able to return to hybrid, in-person learning on February 22. Students from families choosing that option will spend 2 days in the classroom each week, and 3 days learning virtually.
RCSD students return to the classroom on Tuesday
by Josh Navarro / Jan 5, 2021
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — On Tuesday, the Rochester City School District will open its doors to in-person learning for some since the pandemic forced closure in March of 2020.
RCSD was the only district that didn't offer some in-person learning options for students in the fall of 2020.
Almost 600 signatures for online petition, asking RCSD delay return of in-person class
by Eriketa Cost / Jan 5, 2021
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) -- The Rochester City School District will be offering in-person classes for the first time in the COVID-19 pandemic – starting Tuesday. The district is bringing students back in a tier-based system – beginning with students in grades k-12 in specialized programs.
Almost 600 people have signed a petition asking the district to delay its return to in-person learning, until the "holiday surge" for COVID-19 cases passes. The petition, organized by the Rochester Organization of Rank and File Educators, is asking a decision be made on January 11.
How soon are you immune to COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine?
Weather Forecasts / 1 hour ago
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It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad Cannes
Michał Oleszczyk May 19, 2013
Cannes critc as sketched by Roger Ebert
Cannes is so many things at once it all but creates a dimension of its own. Simultaneously an art festival and a jumbo-sized machine for cranking out media buzz, it’s a red-carpeted stage for movie buffs, business folks and assorted wackos alike. Half-naked cuties traverse the beach, hardcore fans organize parties to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Troma studios (I just said hi to a Toxic Avenger), and tuxedoed civilians stand for hours hoping to get a ticket from a benevolent insider. It’s a frenzy, and it’s fun — but boy, do I need to get some sleep.
When you’re a journalist, Cannes is all about hierarchies. The press pass is free and quite easy to get. However, if you happen to be a rookie (as I was last year), you end up with the weakest badge of all: the dreaded yellow pass, which makes it hard to get into the most-awaited screenings. It also forces you to sit at the very top of the balcony, making the screen below so tiny you could practically hold it at the end of a toothpick. The more coverage you do, the more regularly you come and the bigger your publication, the better badge you get. Going up the ladder of importance, there’s blue, pink, pink one with a yellow dot and then the all-powerful white pass that reportedly helped Moses part the Red Sea.
No matter what your pass looks like, though, lines are always huge. This year, it doesn’t help that it’s been raining cats and dogs at Cannes for the past couple of days. Last night, I spent an hour and fifty minutes queuing up before the new Coen brothers movie, which was actually shorter than the time I stood in the rain, sheltered only partially by my raggedy old umbrella. The crowd was so tight, drips from adjoining umbrellas formed little waterfalls, one of which found its way straight under my jacket’s collar. It’s a good thing my film critic buddies were there to keep me company — at one point, we turned our shared predicament into a sing-a-long, starting out with selected verses of Billy Joel’s “Goodnight, Saigon” (“Yes we would all go down… together…”) and ending with a Sondheim marathon (“I’m Still Here” kicked off entire series).
Standing in lines forms bonds and enables new friendships. One of the great things about Cannes is that you can safely assume everyone around is at least as movie crazy as yourself, so it’s safe to open a conversation in a way that would normally earn you a slap in the face or a weird look at the very least (“Say, what do you make of the new Kiarostami?” is a terrible pick-up line anywhere except Cannes). And even if you have something less than seduction on your mind, you’re sure to leave the festival with more friendships you came here with. Most of the folks you won’t see until next year, but it doesn’t matter. Next time you’re here, you will bump into each other in front of Grand Théâtre Lumière and say: “Isn’t this just crazy? I almost didn’t make it to the new Jia Zhang-Ke!”
The ultimate goal for many is to make themselves visible at Cannes. To stand out is to earn a badge of honor that trumps all official colors. Costumed fan boys and girls aside, there’s a tribe of beautiful people looking their best and roaming the fest turf in the hope of being spotted by a big-time producer and play out “A Star is Born” in their real lives. Then, there are the hipsters and the fashionistas, as well as mutations of both. Just the other day I saw a gorgeous girl wearing stilettos at 11am, lining up for a screening and totally immersed in her copy of “On the Road,” the movie version of which played in last year’s competition. Talk about new cool.
After each screening, it’s time for a Twitter-palooza. Hundreds of minds share their first-time impressions, giving the movies their very first critical spin, which will stick for better or worse (unless there’s a backlash in opinions). Reviews are written in matter of minutes, opinions abound, and all this in the press office packed so tightly even the floor serves as a desk. It’s the closest thing to working in an old-fashioned news room and waiting for Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell to show up and trade verbal blows, before they yell "Stop the presses!"
As tiring as it is, it’s also a kind of heaven. Its denizens pride themselves on their exhaustion, but they all end up here the next year, and the next — possibly hoping for their pass to get bumped up to a flashier color. How can you not love a place in which reports of a stolen necklace are making news just like in the good old days of “To Catch a Thief”? Only yesterday a bitter letter from a Jerry Lewis-supporter and fan got leaked, and it felt like a real-life version of Martin Scorsese's “The King of Comedy.” As naughty, gaudy, bawdy and sporty as 42nd street used to be before the reign of Simba, Cannes is truly something else and it doesn’t give a damn if you love it or hate it, as long as you talk about it and keep the buzz going.
Michał Oleszczyk
Michał Oleszczyk is a film critic and scholar based in Poland. In 2012, he has been named the Critic of the Year by the Polish Film Institute.
Christy Lemire
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The impact and management of chronic stress and the David Waxman memorial lecture
Date and time Mon 9 Dec 2019 from 3:00pm to 11:00pm
Organised by Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine
The meeting will raise awareness of the impact of chronic stress on health and well-being and the effect of self-hypnosis on immune functioning. With high profile speaker presentations, small group discussions and whole group feedback, this promises to be an informative day that explores ways to improve general wellbeing.
Join us to:
Increase knowledge of the research evidence relating to stress and its impact on health
Learn how cortisol, a steroid hormone, regulates biological functioning across both day and night and how detrimental chronic stress can be on your long term health
Identify behavioral and environmental strategies to improve health, with regard to the impact of using hypnotic induction techniques on brain functioning
Current research evidence for the use of self-hypnosis in strengthening immunity.
And don't forget to book your place at our delicious Christmas dinner after the meeting for just £60. Everyone is welcome to join and enjoy themselves.
The Waxman Memorial Lecture
John Gruzelier will look at the impact of self-hypnosis on immune system markers, presenting a new model of high and low “hypnotic susceptibility” and how using and teaching self-hypnosis can improve health.
Angela Clow
Angela Clow is Emeritus Professor of Psychophysiology at the Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London.
Angela is trained in neuroscience and psychology and enjoys working at the interface of these disciplines; exploring how mind-body links affect physical and mental health.
For her PhD (Institute of Psychiatry, London), she investigated the mechanism of action of antipsychotic drugs. During her post-doctoral studies (Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London) she researched the biochemistry of addiction and stress. In 1989, she joined the University of Westminster where she became a founder member of the interdisciplinary Psychophysiology and Stress Research Group.
Currently, she investigates the impact of environmental and psychosocial stress on the circadian pattern of cortisol secretion and consequent health outcomes. She also has an interest in evaluating strategies to reverse the negative impact of stress on health.
Angela has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers, 5 books, and 30 book chapters or reviews. She is a UK National Teaching Fellow and a frequent public speaker.
John Gruzelier
John Gruzelier MA PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Following a PhD on the psychophysiology of schizophrenia at Birkbeck, and schizophrenia research at University College Hospital, John Gruzelier established a psychophysiology laboratory in 1975 on the Charing Cross Hospital campus, which later emerged with the Imperial College medical faculty, joining Goldsmiths in 2005. Research interests also include hypnosis, topographical EEG, neurofeedback, and performing arts.
Gruzelier has over 400 journal and book publications, with more than 13,600 citations, which you can see here. His European grant sources have included the Medical Research Council (MRC), EU 6th Framework and Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), Decision Resources Group (DRG), Wellcome, Mental Health Foundation (MHF), Nesta, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and SANE. He was a co-editor of the International Journal of Psychophysiology, 1984-2004, edited Contemporary Hypnosis and Integrative Therapy, 2001-2012, and established the Society of Applied Neuroscience in 2002. He is a member of the Tate Patron Executive Committee, and a trustee of the charity MASK.
Registration, tea and coffee
Part one: How stress gets ‘under the skin’ and what to do about it
Professor Angela Clow, Emeritus Professor of Psychophysiology at the Department of Psychology, University of Westminster
Part two: How stress gets ‘under the skin’ and what to do about it
Professor Angela Clow
Tea and coffee break
Small group discussion and workshop
Waxman memorial lecture: The impact of self-hypnosis on immune system markers
Professor John Gruzelier, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London
Close of meeting
Annual Christmas dinner
For those who have pre-booked
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World body says clean record required for athletes seeking welfare grant
(Reuters) - Olympic-bound professional athletes must have clean anti-doping records to be eligible for a one-off grant aimed at assisting them financially during the COVID-19 crisis, World Athletics said on Friday.
FILE PHOTO: Sep 26, 2019; Doha, Qatar; IAAF president Sebastian Coe speaks at a press conference prior to the IAAF World Athletics Championships at Khalifa International Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
The sport’s governing body said athletes will have until May 31 to register for the grant from a $500,000 fund jointly set up by World Athletics and the International Athletics Foundation to support competitors whose incomes have been hit.
The novel coronavirus outbreak, which has infected over 4.39 million people globally and caused more than 296,900 deaths, has affected the schedules of several athletics events, with the Tokyo Olympics postponed to next year.
"The IAF has allocated a substantial sum to the fund, and we hope to raise more through private donations from friends of our sport," World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe, who is chairing the group assessing applications for help, said in a statement here.
“But it has become apparent the resources must be focused on athletes who are likely to be competing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year and are struggling to pay for basic necessities due to loss of income during the pandemic.”
World Athletics said athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo Games by meeting the entry standard and those who have not had anti-doping rule violations would be eligible for grants.
They will also have to demonstrate justifiable need through “significant” loss of income in 2020 compared to 2019.
“We know this is a stressful situation for many athletes and we are trying to provide meaningful assistance ... so they can continue to train for the competition season we have scheduled for August to October, and for next year’s Olympics,” Coe said.
Athletes ranked in the top six in their event in the world rankings, those who have finished in the top six of any Gold Label Road Race in 2019 or have earned more than $6,000 in prize money from the Diamond League last year cannot apply.
This year’s international athletics season will begin with a Continental Tour Gold event in Finland on Aug. 11 and end with a Diamond League meeting in China, World Athletics said Tuesday.
Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Larry King
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Fifty dead as cold wave sweeps through Bangladesh
DHAKA (Reuters) - At least 50 people have died in Bangladesh as cold weather continues to sweep across the country, officials said.
The country’s lowest temperature this year was recorded at 4.5 degrees Celsius (40.1° Fahrenheit) early on Sunday in Tetulia, a border town in Bangladesh’s north, the weather office said.
At least 17 people died of acute respiratory infection and 33 from diarrhoea caused by rotavirus and other diseases across Bangladesh from Nov. 1 to Dec. 28, said Ayesha Akhter, a senior official of the government’s health directorate.
Hospitals have been crowded with people suffering from cold-related illnesses, such as influenza, dehydration and pneumonia, she said.
Those on low incomes, particularly labourers, are the worst affected by the cold weather because they lack clothes while many others, especially children and the elderly people, are prone to diseases such as pneumonia, Akhter said.
The weather office said the cold snap, accompanied by chilly winds and dense fog, was likely to continue for few more days.
Thick fog forced authorities to divert several flights and delay others, aviation officials said.
“I have no choice. I have to work regardless of the harsh weather to feed my family,” said Abdur Rahim, a rickshaw puller in the capital, Dhaka.
“The number of passengers has reduced sharply as people are avoiding going out. It is also getting difficult to pull the rickshaw as I feel like my body is frozen.”
Reporting by Ruma Paul, editing by Louise Heavens
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Get Recruited
Academic Achievement Award
STRIVE Program
Bulldog Alumni
Football Scholarships
There are over 850 college football programs and more than 80,000 college football players currently playing college football. Football is the
number one scholarship sport at the college level with more full-ride scholarship than any other sport. There are 245 NCAA D1 FBS & FCS schools; 148 NCAA D2 schools, 237 NCAA D3 schools, 91 NAIA schools and 138 NJCAA schools.
Getting Recruited for Football
The process of getting a scholarship first starts with getting recruited. Most athletes and families think that recruiting doesn’t start until
their senior or maybe junior year; that is not that case. In an effort to get the best players from each recruiting class, coaches are looking at athletes as soon as their freshman and sophomore years in high school and sometimes earlier. Coaches are restricted in contacting you early in high school, but they can view online profiles of athletes and watch video of them if it is available. That is why we assist any football player who wants to create an online profile and get their information online for coaches to view.
How Football Scholarships are used by College Coaches
Each program has different rules for how they like to award scholarships and how they evaluate players. The most important thing to understand is that every college football team has more players than scholarships. Coaches use scholarships to try and get the best players for the most important positions on the team. The rest of the roster is full of players who are known as walk-ons, meaning they are part of the team but not receiving an athletic scholarship. Because each division level is different, the breakdown is as follows.
NCAA DI FBS (Football Bowl Series)
This is the top level of college football. These programs have 85 scholarships and all scholarships are full-rides; there are no partial scholarships at this level. Every year a coach can hand out up to 25 new scholarships, not including the scholarships they might take from a current player and give to another. When most people think of college football, they think of the FBS level. However, even with more scholarships than any other division level, 80% of the opportunities to play college football fall outside of the FBS level. It’s always good to pursue the dream of playing for an FBS program but your recruiting efforts should include other division levels as well.
NCAA DI FCS (Football Championship Series)
This is the second level of college football, formally known as DI-AA. These programs have 63 scholarships per team and can divide their scholarships up and give partial scholarships. The level of football for FCS schools is still very high. Many times athletes, who could have played at the FBS, chose to play at an FCS school because they could come in a play right away or the school was a better fit for them personally. While not all scholarships are full-rides, the vast majority of the time, coaches give full-ride scholarships to the most important players and positions on the team.
NCAA DII
Football programs at this level have 36 scholarships per team. Not all of the scholarships at this level are full-rides and many times coaches
divide them up in order to get as many high quality players as possible. NCAA D2 football is still very competitive and increasingly we are seeing athletes from this level go on to careers in football after college.
NCAA DIII
No school at the NCAA DIII can offer an athletic scholarship. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other forms of financial aid available for athletes. Many times schools have other combinations of financial aid that can often be a larger scholarship then an athletic scholarship you might have received at another division level. This division level can be a great option for athletes looking for a healthy balance of school and
NAIA football programs can offer up to 24 scholarships per team. The coaches can divide the scholarships as partial scholarships in order to get
more high quality players on the team. The majority of high school athletes and families do not know about the NAIA division level. Here you can find a more relaxed recruiting process and opportunity to get recruited ahead of other players who simply aren’t looking at NAIA schools.
NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association)
These schools are known as Junior or Community Colleges. These are two year schools and are most well-known because many athletes who are not immediately academically eligible to go to a four year school will play two years at a JC first. There are 85 scholarships per team for a fully funded program. However, most programs are not fully funded and in California, there are no scholarships at all. Playing at this level is best for getting exposure and maturing as a player, not necessarily to get a scholarship right away.
The following steps will help increase the chances of obtaining a scholarship.
1. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
2. Attend recruiting camps and combines.
3. Be active in the community.
4. Keep good grades.
5. Train. Train. Train.
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NorthCountry Federal Credit Union (East Montpelier)
June 15, 2011 News + Opinion » Environment
A Lake Expert Interprets Champlain's Highs and Lows
Local Matters
By Leon Thompson
Matthew Thorsen
Mary Watzin
Mary Watzin watched in horror last month as muddy waves inundated homes and businesses along the shores of Lake Champlain. It “hurt in a strangely personal way,” said Watzin, who is the dean of the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources. For more than 20 years, she’s been working on the science needed to protect and restore Lake Champlain.
“In terms of lake level, we have turned the corner, and the water level will continue to drop,” Watzin predicted. But make no mistake: “We are witnessing a historic reformation of the lake,” she said of the recent flooding, which is unlike anything seen in 200 years of regional record keeping. As a scientist, this Lake Champlain expert has a unique understanding of the deluge’s impacts on lake pollution, topography and research in Vermont.
Shorelines and fish habitats may change, but the flood will not kill the lake, Watzin assured. It will leave its mark the way the 1998 ice storm did on Vermont’s forests, she predicted.
“The shoreline will never be the same again,” Watzin told Seven Days. “It simply can’t.”
SEVEN DAYS: The lake is receding, but what concerns do you have as thunderstorms and winds continue to hammer the region?
MARY WATZIN: The lake will continue to recede as long as the amount of water leaving the lake — flowing into the Richelieu River or evaporating — is greater than the amount coming in through rainfall and runoff. How quickly the lake level falls depends on how much rain falls.
It is unlikely that summer thunderstorms will produce enough water to cause the lake to rise again, but they could continue to cause lakeshore and stream bank erosion and localized flooding throughout the basin.
SD: Do you think the lake will return to normal stage — 98 feet — by next winter?
MW: It all depends on the amount of rainfall we have throughout the summer and fall. Many times, the lake falls several feet below 98 feet in the summer and early fall. I do not think that is likely this year.
SD: This year, a combination of heavy snow and rains generated flooding. If we have less snow in the future, will that mean lower lake levels?
MW: Scientists predict that we will have less snow as the climate changes, but more rain. If we simply replace the snow with rain, the lake will not be lower. The total amount of precipitation controls the lake.
SD: Are we getting a firsthand look at global climate change?
MW: Climate scientists have predicted an increase in extreme weather events with global climate change, including more heavy rains and generally wetter conditions in New England. Certainly, what we are seeing this spring is consistent with these predictions. However, it is important to remember the difference between weather and climate.
What we experience, day to day and week to week, is weather. Long-term patterns make up the climate. The weather this spring is highly unusual, far outside the norm even with climate-change predictions in mind; however, there have always been unusual weather years.
I do believe we have entered a wetter and stormier climate pattern — the last two decades of rainfall and runoff data bear this out — but this year’s unusual combination of heavy snow and record-breaking rain does not represent “the new normal,” as some people have said.
SD: Tell us about flood-related pollution in the lake. Has your office conducted any studies to gauge the short- and long-term impacts?
MW: The pollutant loading to the lake is probably a thousand times that in a normal year. We can see the sediment and trash in the water, but along with what is visible has come tons of phosphorus, nitrogen, organic matter and a huge variety of chemicals never intended for the lake.
In addition to stream and riverbank erosion and wash-off from the land, there have been many sewer-system overflows, flooded septic fields and agricultural lands, and overtaxed systems of many sorts. The Lake Champlain Basin Program reported that in just one day in late April, the Winooski River phosphorus load was 77 metric tons, which is equal to half the usual annual load for this river.
We have begun sampling for water quality and the biotic impacts of the flood, and we will continue this sampling throughout the summer and into the fall. It is very hard to predict what all this pollution will mean for Lake Champlain.
Right now, much of the phosphorus and other contamination is bound to the suspended particles in the water, and thus it is available to algae or other organisms. Later in the summer and in the fall, after bacteria begin to break down particles that have settled to the bottom of the lake, some of the phosphorus and other nutrients may be released into the overlying water. This might be when greater impacts occur, including algae blooms.
I have spent more than a decade studying potentially toxic algae blooms in Lake Champlain. It is a complex story, and many factors contribute to algae blooms. This year, with all its extremes, will provide a wealth of useful information for understanding what drives these noxious blooms. Once we understand what controls the blooms, we can more effectively predict outbreaks and target management actions to control them.
SD: What is the toxicity of the water right now?
MW: We don’t yet have all the results of all of our chemical analyses. Although there is probably a variety of pollutants in the water, they may not be at toxic levels because the large volume of water has diluted them. We have started our regular scanning for potentially toxic blue-green algae, and these nuisance species are not yet present in any significant numbers.
SD: Did lakefront development play a role in all of this?
MW: We have never faced lake levels like this before, so people were comfortable building close to the lake without worrying about water rising above 101 feet or so. If current climate-change predictions hold true, we should expect higher lake levels in the coming years — not necessarily the historic levels we saw this year — again, this was a highly unusual spring — but higher nevertheless.
That suggests we should not simply rebuild in all the places where we had buildings and other structures before, but move inland a bit. An undeveloped shoreline has adaptive capacity — the cobbles, sand, mud and plants can absorb the wave energy, and move with the wind, waves and currents during storms. When human structures interfere with that movement, it usually only makes the problem larger, damaging the structures themselves as well as the natural habitats along the shoreline. We need to think about the likely scenarios coming with climate change and adapt to them as proactively as we can.
SD: Drifting objects — from refrigerators to bed frames — have been found in and along the lake. What advice do you give to boaters and anglers as they hit the water this season?
MW: Be careful while motoring on the lake, but there is no need to stay away. What you see at the surface is only a fraction of what has been washed into the lake. The lake bottom has undoubtedly changed, and there are submerged hazards in many shallow water areas. That said, I hope anglers and boaters will still enjoy as much of the summer season as possible. It may be a whole new adventure to find the fish, but they are there.
SD: Please elaborate on the changes to the lake bottom.
MW: Tons and tons of sediment have been carried to the lake and settled to the bottom. The lake bottom has changed, and boaters should be careful and use a depth sounder if they have one.
These changes also have huge implications for the biota of Lake Champlain. The bottom waters are habitat for many species. Some of these, like mussels, have been buried, while others are now swimming and foraging in different areas. The temperature swings and water-level changes have affected fish spawning and emergence of fry. Visual cues for fish have been erased. And as many have probably noticed, we have carp, pike and bass spawning in backyard lawns and farmers’ fields.
There will be winners and losers from these changes, and it will likely take a while to sort out which species are in which category. For example, some invasive plants like water chestnut, water milfoil and purple loosestrife may invade new areas, but zebra mussels and native mussels may be buried in some of their previous best habitats. For many other species, we are just beginning to sort out the complexity of the changes — and their implications.
SD: Has any aspect of the flooding posed long-term effects to the rivers that feed Lake Champlain?
MW: The rivers that feed Lake Champlain have changed dramatically, too. A huge amount of soil and sediment has moved around. Riverbanks have been cut back significantly in some locations, and large deposits have been laid down in other areas, including wetlands in floodplains and river mouths.
River and stream channels and banks are formed and shaped by the water that flows through them. There has been a dramatic reshaping in many areas, and these channels will continue to adjust until they reach a new stable point — probably several years into the future.
SD: Does this flood have any benefits?
MW: This event will be a boon for scientific research and understanding how Lake Champlain functions. Just as a cardiologist learns much about heart health from a stress test, environmental scientists will learn much about lake health from this dramatic stressor.
If good can come from bad, this will be the good: new understanding about how the lake absorbs pollution and responds to a huge reshaping of its habitats. The information we glean will inform our phosphorus-management strategy and virtually every other facet of natural resource management for years to come.
From an ecological perspective, most of the attention has focused on the negative impacts of the flood. However, there are some positive effects for the surrounding river mouths and wetlands; they have been rejuvenated with sediment and nutrients, seeds have been dispersed broadly, and germination of new plants is occurring in many areas.
SD: What is the light at the end of the tunnel for homeowners and businesses that rely on the lake during the summer?
MW: Water clarity will improve as less soil and other material is washed down the lake and what is there settles to the bottom or flows out of the lake at the Richelieu River.
As the pollutant loading declines and water temperature warms, it should be safe to swim in most regular swimming areas. In fact, recent sampling by the state of Vermont suggests that pathogen levels are already low, but everyone would be well advised to pay attention to public-health warnings throughout the summer when choosing where to dive.
Tags: Environment, local matters, environment, local issues, water
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Phoenix, S., Khan, F., & Teklu, B. (2020). Preferences in quantum games. Physics Letters A, 384(15), 126299. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
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Preparation of International Business Negotiation Strategies: Competitive Assessment Aspects in The Market Power System
Social-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania
Factors affecting implementation of green marketing orientation
Biosphere Compatibility as a Principle of Sustainable Urban Development
The Issues and Considerations Associated with BIM Integration
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SickthingsUK
Name: Kip Winger (Charles Frederick Kip Winger)
Instrument: Bass, Backing Vocals
Born: June 21st, 1961
Joined: 1986
Left: 1987
Alice Cooper Tours: 'The Nightmare Returns'.
Alice Cooper Albums: 'Constrictor', Raise Your Fist And Yell', Live material from the 'Nightmare Returns' tour.
Kip was the bassist on the 'Constrictor' album and 'Nightmare Returns' tour, and the 'Raise Your Fist And Yell' album on which he wrote 'Gail'. He left Alice to form his own band 'Winger', which also featured Alice bandmate Paul Taylor and future Alice guitarist Reb Beach. Alice suggested the name 'Winger' after they initially considered 'Sahara'.
Winger had moderate success in the US with their first self-titled album and the hit single 'Seventeen', and followed it up with the even more successful 'In The Heart Of The Young' in 1990. The band continued for a few more years before splitting up to pursue other projects.
Kip released four solo albums before he reunited 'Winger' in 2006 to record new music and tour. He also wrote music for a ballet (Winger is a qualified ballet dancer!) called 'Ghosts' and was nominated for the 'Isadora Duncan Award for Excellence in Music'. He also wrote the four part 'Conversations with Nijinsky', a recording of which was released by the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra and topped the Billboard 'traditional classical' charts.
In 2011 Kip popped up on Alice's 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare', much of which was recorded in his home town of Nashville. He continues to play and record with 'Winger'.
SickthingsUK is not associated with Alice Cooper, Alive Enterprises, Universal Records or any official entity.
This is an unofficial fan site.
I am NOT Alice Cooper, Toby Mamis OR Shep Gordon. Honest!
The SickthingsUK News Page and Site are copyright © 1997-2021; all rights reserved. Any duplication or reproduction of items on this page without permission is prohibited unless you provide a link please. Credits and acknowledgements are noted where known. No copyright infringement is intended.
I accept all news stories related to Alice Cooper; click here to contact me.
SickthingsUK is a participant in the Amazon Europe S.à r.l. Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.
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SAVING the RANCH
Jenny Goldsmith
Courtesy photoAided by the Pacific Forest Trust and the Truckee-based Sierra Business Council, Russell Turner, pointing, signed an easement that assures no homes will sprout up on the hay farm and cattle ranch his family has owned for over 150 years in the Sierra Valley.
With real estate developers offering to buy his 725-acre Sierra Valley ranch, Russell Turner chose quite a different real estate decision.
Aided by the Pacific Forest Trust and the Truckee-based Sierra Business Council, Turner signed an easement that assures no homes will sprout up on the hay farm and cattle ranch his family has owned for over 150 years.
Conservation easement signings like the one that recently paid the Turner family $4 million have become an increasingly popular option for Sierra Valley ranchers that have little money in the bank, but are sitting on suddenly lucrative tracts of land.
Non-profits like the Pacific Forest Trust and Sierra Business Council have teamed up to offer the easements to assure that the open land and ranching heritage of the Sierra Valley are not splintered apart by rapid real estate development.
“The Turner Creek Ranch was clearly a very high priority project in the Sierra Valley,” said Steve Frisch, president of the Sierra Business Council. “It’s important that these ranching uses continue to preserve the historical significance.”
The Pacific Forest Trust ” a nonprofit organization that seeks to preserve the integrity and productivity of America’s privately owned forests ” holds the easement that prevents the parcel from being subdivided and developed but leaves the Turners as owners and managers of the land.
“I am grateful for my partnership with the Pacific Forest Trust, which has allowed me to protect my ranch and with it, the key to preserving my family’s way of life here in the Sierra,” Turner said in a news release.
The market value of the land was $4.4 million, and the California State Resource Agency’s Sierra Cascade Conservation Grant Program awarded the Pacific Forest Trust a $4 million grant for the acquisition of the easement. The Turner family donated the remainder of the price, enabling the conservation group to make the purchase below market value.
“The idea is to make sure the land remains a working ranch,” said Megan Wargo, conservation project manager of the Pacific Forest Trust. “Our role is to make sure all of the restrictions put down by the easement are maintained to protect the property’s future.”
The Sierra Business Council contributed funds to assist with project development, planning assessment, and appraisal costs, said Frisch.
The business council was able to donate $65,000 from a $5 million grant received from the Packard Foundation in 2001, which was designated for land acquisition, Frisch said.
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Consumer Compact | Food
Common Problems with Food Recalls, Potential Impacts and Recommended Solutions
Most food exporters, importers, manufacturers, packers, distributors, food service operators and retailers have recall programmes to remove from the marketplace products that have some form of hazard. Additionally, most firms test these programmes at least once a year, but this is a traceability test and not a demonstration of how effective the recall programme is from the perspective of companies, government and consumers.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has published the common problems, potential impacts and the recommended solutions for food recalls, to help the industry become more effective1.
There are seven areas in recall programmes that CFIA states are the most common:
Notice of the recall
Identification of the product(s)
Product distribution list
Informing the government agency
Controlling the product
Verifying the effectiveness
Common problems for recall notifications include the hazard not being described clearly, the urgency or recall level not being stated, key facts hidden by promotional information and instructions on how to handle the recall programme are not provided or are vague.
These errors can result in a product not being recalled, its continued use by consumers and product not being removed in a timely manner, requiring additional notifications to be sent by the company recalling the product, or a government agency. Notifications must clearly state the hazard, for example, ‘there is an undeclared peanut allergen in the product’. The recall notification must also state the urgency of the recall and if urgent, it must indicate this in the title in bold capitals.
Failure to identify all the products that are being recalled is another issue. Recall notifications must include all affected lots, sizes, brands and products affected. If this doesn’t happen, products remain in the distribution chain or consumers’ hands. This means hazardous products are consumed and additional notifications are required. Before a notification is issued, a mock recall needs to be performed to determine which product is involved, from the point of origin of the problem to its resolution. The list of products identified in the recall must be complete, detailed and only include the recalled materials. For consumer products, the Universal Product Code (UPC) should be included along with the product description. A picture of the product helps too.
Retailers, distributors and consumers frequently see recall notifications, so the word ‘recall’ is less important to them but ‘urgent’ still carries significant weight. Notifications should be brief and to the point and not include a sales pitch. Inform the people receiving the notification what to do with the product.
DISTRIBUTION LIST
The CFIA requires firms to provide a product distribution list within 24 hours of the recall being classified. Typically, distribution lists are missing essential information, such as contact names, addresses and phone numbers. They are often unreadable and include companies not involved in the recall. Poor distribution lists cause products to remain in consumers’ hands as well as delays in product removal and in determining the recall’s effectiveness. Companies must develop systems to provide timely and accurate information.
INFORMING THE AUTHORITIES
Failure to inform, or promptly inform, the government agency of the recall is another problem. This can result in products being left in the distribution system or on the shelf and will create situations where some consumers will not be aware of the recall.
Most government agencies have experienced personnel to help facilitate the removal of a recalled product and instigate programmes to notify the public. Additional resources in a time of crisis helps and notifying the government agency demonstrates that the company is taking responsibility for their mistake and being proactive to protect the public.
Some firms try to remove recall products in secret. Others don’t prepare their message to consumers ahead of time and others try to announce the recall in a manner that avoids publicity. Failure to notify consumers in a timely, public manner, causes recall products to remain in consumers’ hands and in the distribution system. This negates the purpose of the recall, which is to protect people.
Speed and accuracy of removal of the recalled product is essential in mitigating the hazard to the public.
CONTROLLING THE RECALLED PRODUCT
Problems occur during or after a recall where the product recalled is accidently shipped to customers or sold to consumers. Hence, the product may be placed on the shelves and consumed, thereby requiring another recall.
Unfortunately this happens frequently, as recall products are not clearly identified and not held in a secure manner. Recall products at all levels of the distribution chain and in manufacture must be clearly identified and kept separately and securely to prevent this from happening.
After a recall has taken place, most firms do not verify its effectiveness. This can result in product remaining on the shelf, or with consumers. Following up the effectiveness of a recall notification enables a firm to judge whether any elements of it were handled poorly. If so, non-conformances can be noted, with root cause analysis and corrective actions taken. Preventative actions must also be made to improve the programme in the event of a further recall.
Naturally, the best way to handle a recall is to structure a system to prevent it from happening in the first place but in the real world, mistakes happen and it is best to learn from the mistakes of others rather than making them ourselves.
For more information, please visit SGS Food Safety or contact:
Food Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Manager
SGS North America, Inc.
1 CFIA - RAPEX - Recall Plans - Importer’s Guide
Chicken Fillets to Chicken Toys - The Uncertainty in Regulating Against Persistent Organic Pollutants
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were responsible for the recall of nearly 160,000kg of Chilean chicken entering the US, and the banning of the plastic toy named ‘Shrilling Chicken’ by two European countries. What is striking, and similar, in both these cases is the fact that while one country may recall or ban consumer goods for POPs contamination, it does not necessarily mean the same goods will automatically be banned or eliminated from all markets.
Disposable Hygiene Product Testing Ensures Customer Satisfaction
Safety, efficacy and confidence are crucial to consumers in the disposable hygiene sector. Quality assurance and performance testing ensures that products in everyday use are strong, flexible and reliable.
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Showing posts with label Dick Francis. Show all posts
Saving the Cat
In the delightful Albert Brooks movie Defending Your Life (1991), the souls of the dead go to Judgment City, where they must prove they deserve to break free from the reincarnation cycle and move to a higher level of existence. During trials, prosecutors and defenders support their arguments by showing film clips from the dead person's life. (Yes, your most paranoid fantasies are true: Everything you've ever done has been filmed and filed, and can eventually be used against you.) The onward progress of Meryl Streep's character is assured by a clip from the night her house caught fire. We see her rushing out of the burning building, leading her two children to safety. Then we see her rushing back in, flames all around her, to emerge moments later with the family cat safe in her arms.
I don't know if Blake Snyder had this scene in mind when he wrote his 2005 guide to screenwriting, Save the Cat! It seems possible. Snyder defines a Save the Cat scene as "the scene where we meet the hero and the hero does something--like saving a cat--that defines who he is and makes us, the audience, like him."
True, he admits, not all protagonists are sterling sorts likely to save cats or help old ladies across the street. He cites Pulp Fiction as an example of a movie with protagonists who are, to put it mildly, not very nice. (But even then, he argues, the writers manage to get us interested in the protagonists, to come close to sympathizing with them.)
I think many insights in Snyder's book apply not only to movies but also to novels and stories. As a writer, I've found his ideas about plot structure helpful, and I've been careful to include Save the Cat scenes in the first chapters of my recently released novel (Interpretation of Murder) and my soon-to-be-released young adult novel (Fighting Chance). Much as I'd love to talk about my own books, though, I decided more authoritative examples would provide more convincing support for Snyder's ideas. So I pulled some mysteries and thrillers from my bookshelf, not quite at random, and looked for Save the Cat scenes.
I'll start with an obvious example, Tom Clancy's Patriot Games. Jack Ryan is strolling down a London street with his wife and daughter when he hears an explosion. Grenade, he realizes instantly. He hears a burst of gunfire, sees a Rolls Royce forced to a halt in the middle of the street, sees one man firing a rifle at it and another man racing toward its rear. IRA, Ryan thinks. He yanks his wife and daughter to the ground to keep them safe. Then he takes off. He tackles one attacker, grabs his gun, shoots the other attacker. Ryan gets shot, too, in the shoulder, but he hardly notices. He's done what he had to do. He's protected his family and stopped the attack. He's saved the cat.
So now we know, after only a few pages, that Jack Ryan is observant, courageous, quick, and capable. His first thought is to keep his wife and daughter safe, but he doesn't hesitate to risk his own life to rescue the people in the Rolls. His actions match a pattern we easily recognize as heroic. If we want to keep reading about him, if we want to see him triumph, no wonder.
The second book I looked at was Dick Francis' Banker. Even before I read Save the Cat, I'd noticed how often Francis uses his first chapter to make us like and admire his protagonist. Banker begins when one of Tim Ekaterin's co-workers looks out a window at the bank and sees an executive, Gordon Michaels, standing fully clothed in the courtyard fountain. The co-worker exclaims about it but does nothing more. Ekaterin "whisk[s] straight out of the deep-carpeted office, through the fire doors, down the flights of gritty stone staircase and across the marbled expanse of entrance hall." He rushes past a "uniformed man at the security desk," who presumably should know how to handle unsettling situations but instead stands "staring . . . with his fillings showing," past two customers who are frozen in place, "looking stunned." "I went past them at a rush into the open air," Ekaterin says, "and slowed only in the last few strides before the fountain." He tries to reason with his boss and learns Michaels is gripped by hallucinations about "people with white faces," who are following him and are, presumably, up to no good. The chairman of the bank, a "firm and longtime" friend of Gordon Michaels, scurries into the courtyard. "My dear chap," he says to his friend, but evidently can think of nothing else to say, nothing else to do. He turns to Ekaterin."Do something, Tim," he says.
"So I stepped into the fountain," Tim Ekaterin says. He takes his boss by the arm, gently assures him he'll be safe even if he leaves the fountain, gets him to come into the bank, takes him home, helps get him into bed. Ekaterin's actions aren't heroic in a traditional sense--he's never in physical danger--but he's shown himself to be compassionate, intelligent, and determined. And he's acted. When other people are too stunned and stymied to do anything but stare, Ekaterin runs past them "at a rush" and solves the problem. He saves the cat.
Then there's Harry Kemelman's Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, the Edgar-winning first novel in the Rabbi Small series. David Small doesn't have much in common with Jack Ryan. He's slight and pale, he'd trip over his own feet if he tried to tackle a terrorist, and if he picked up an a bad guy's gun, he wouldn't know how to fire it. But he takes decisive actions when, in Chapter One, two of his congregants are locked in a silly dispute about damages to a car one borrowed from the other. The two men are longtime friends, but neither is willing to admit he could be at fault, and both are so angry and frustrated they refuse to talk to each other, or even to pray in the same room. Rabbi Small persuades them to submit their case to an informal rabbinic court at which he presides. As he explains his judgment, he applies centuries-old Talmudic principles to this contemporary situation, displaying deep knowledge of complicated texts, impressive mental agility, and penetrating insight into human nature. By the time he's finished, the two men are friends again, relieved to put their differences behind them. The dispute about the car has no relevance to the novel's central mystery, to the murder that hasn't yet been committed. But the scene has served its purpose. We like and admire Rabbi Small and want to keep reading about him. And, once again, the cat is safe.
A week or so ago, I bought Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca, embarrassed to realize I'd never read it. It's a mystery classic, I'm a mystery writer--high time I get down to business and read Rebecca. I started reading and felt the pull of that famous first sentence, of that haunting opening description--the trees, the smokeless chimneys, the threadlike drive, the nettles, the moonlight. Next comes the second chapter's account of a couple living in a comfortless hotel, welcoming boredom as an alternative to fear, waiting impatiently for newspapers that bring them scores from cricket matches and schoolboy sports--not because they care about such things, but because trivial news offers some relief from the "ennui" that otherwise envelopes them. Then Chapter Two merges into Chapter Three, into memories of a time when the narrator was dominated by the repellant Mrs. Van Hopper and felt incapable of fighting back. That's as far as I've gotten.
I'm not saying Rebecca isn't good. The quality of the writing impresses me, the situation beginning to develop in Chapter Three intrigues me, and generations of readers have loved this novel. There must be wonderful things lying ahead. But I've got to admit I missed a Save the Cat scene. As I read the opening chapters of Rebecca, I kept waiting for the narrator to do something.She didn't.
That, I think, is the essence of the Save the Cat scene. As Snyder says in his definition, "the hero does something"--his italics. Or, as the befuddled chairman in Banker says, "Do something, Tim"--my italics.
I think readers are drawn to protagonists who do things. I'd guess that's probably true of most readers, especially true of mystery readers. In mysteries, after all, there's always a problem to be solved, an injustice to be set right. Sitting around and feeling overwhelmed by circumstances doesn't cut it. Feeling sorry for oneself definitely doesn't cut it. If we're going to commit ourselves to spending time with a protagonist, we mystery readers want it to be someone who responds to a tough situation by taking action. We can forgive a protagonist who makes mistakes. Passivity, though--that's harder to forgive.
I fully intend to read the rest of Rebecca. But not yet. While I was browsing through my bookshelves to find examples for this post, I got hooked by a protagonist who does things, who knows how to save a cat. I'll finish reading Rebecca right after I finish re-reading Friday the Rabbi Slept Late.
Posted by Unknown at 00:00 21 comments
Labels: B.K. Stevens, Daphne Du Maurier, Dick Francis
Location: Hampden Sydney, VA, USA
I Found My Thrill (but not on Blueberry Hill)
by Fran Rizer
The original title at the top of this was simply "Thriller." When my grandson stood behind me and saw that, he asked, "G-Mama, are you writing about Michael Jackson?" I'm not, so I changed the title though I'm not writing about Fats Domino either. (BTW, my grandson is the ONLY person who can stand behind me while I write without igniting my wrath.)
Somehow I don't believe this photo really
needs a cut line.
As some of you know, my Callie Parrish Mystery series is so close to cozy that I don't object to being classified as a cozy writer. I wrote the first one following what I thought were the guidelines for cozies, but Berkley Prime Crime thought not and marketed them as Mainstream Mystery. I've also done some writing under pen names because I didn't want to offend or upset those wonderful people who read about Callie and Jane nor disillusion any of my former students that Ms. Rizer might say something that wasn't "nice."
I'm presently trying to find a publisher for a new thriller, and when I do, it will be published under the name Fran Rizer. I've decided I'm too old to try to protect my reputation any longer, and the students I last taught are now grown. It's not going to hurt for my readers to realize that while Callie Parrish doesn't use profanity, Fran Rizer knows how to spell those words!
Since my genres sometimes cross, I researched genres again when I finished this book to see what I'd written. Yes, there are several murders (way more than the maximum of two allowed in a cozy), but I wasn't quite sure what to call this book. After all, I researched cozies before the first Callie book, and didn't hit the target. My agent helped me. He calls this a southern mystery thriller. Everyone knows the meaning of southern and mystery, but what exactly IS a thriller?
I'll share my findings with you, but please don't think I'm comparing my thriller with the ones mentioned in this article.
First off, I don't believe in writing "formulas." There is no formula for writing a thriller, but there are shared characteristics. The biggest one is obvious: thrillers "thrill." The plots are scary with great risk to the characters, making the reader either eager to turn the page or scared to turn the page and see what's next.
Thrillers cross many writing genres and can be divided into different categories: action thrillers, military thrillers, psychological thrillers (like Hitchcock's Psycho), romantic thrillers, sci-fi thrillers, spy thrillers, and even more. The stories begin with a major, generally life or death, problem and a protagonist who attempts to solve it only to find the threat grows bigger and bigger and more and more dangerous. The confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist is dramatic, and the book ends with a short wrap-up.
Recognize these people?
The thrillers that most interest me are the thriller murder mysteries. Some are classic "Who-done-its?" Thomas Harris's Silence of the Lambs is that kind of thriller. We don't know who committed the murder(s) until the end.
Ken Follett's The Eye of the Needle and Peter Benchley's Jaws are "How-done-its?" The readers (or movie viewers) know who the bad guy is from the very beginning. The tension and thrill is in the question, "Will they catch him/her/it before more people are killed?" Note that the bad guy doesn't have to be human. It can be an animal like in Jaws.
Dick Francis died in 2010. He had
received numerous awards including
three Edgars, the Crime Writers'
Association Cartier Diamond Dagger,
and the MWA Grand Master Award.
Not all murder mysteries are thrillers. Many are puzzles that are interesting and entertaining but don't sweep the reader into a thrilling action-filled ride. Dick Francis's works don't fit that category. He was a master of the mystery thriller.
There are mystery/thriller writers whose works surpass the genre and become serious art. Examples are:
Raymond Chandlers Phillip Marlow novels, James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice; John D. McDonald's Travis McGee novels; and Ross McDonald's Lew Archer novels. They all make serious social commentary and have existentialist undertones. Somehow, I don't think I'll fall into that category, but I'm pleased enough with my new southern mystery thriller under my own name.
Wish me luck finding a publisher for this new venture.
Until we meet again… take care of you.
Posted by Fran Rizer at 00:01 5 comments
Labels: cosies, Dick Francis, Fran Rizer, James M Cain, John D MacDonald, Ken Follett, Peter Benchley, Raymond Chandler, Ross Macdonald, Thomas Harris, thriller
The Long and the Short
by Janice Law
Recently, I was asked to write a four page mystery for a forthcoming anthology. While our Sleuthsayers colleague John Floyd constructs such tidbits for Woman’s World, this is unknown territory for me. However, there’s nothing like a contract in hand and promises of a check to focus the writer’s mind and once I had a plot idea, the story went surprisingly easily. And fast.
This was because I have learned one of the invaluable aspects of the writing game, writing to length and having a sense of how many words take up how much space. Obvious, apparently, but anyone who has worked with beginning writers knows that writing to a set length is one of the difficult things to master. Ask a class for a two page essay, and you will get one and a half skimpy paragraphs with looks of anguish from half the class, and prideful four and a half page torrents from the other half.
Of course, journalists acquire a sense of length with their mother’s milk – or by their editor’s pencil. Well before they earn their first byline the decent journalist can hit his or her word count or, in bygone days, the allotted inches, on the nose.
And how does one acquire this useful skill? By writing over and over again pieces of the same length. I learned by doing two page movie reviews for a West Hartford newspaper. After several months, I not only could hit my page count, I had a new confidence in writing in general, and composition ceased to be a matter of tears and angst.
Now, everything I write (and with twenty books published and more than I’d like in the drawer I’ve written plenty) is just a multiple of those old two page reviews. I’ve acquired a sense of length.
So the little ultra-short story was not quite two reviews length or slightly more than the old Criminal Brief blogs. I figured a half page to set up the situation, a half page for the conclusion and just under three pages for the meat of the story. QED, as we used to say in geometry class.
The matter of length, though, has another aspect. I am convinced that writers all have an optimal length (or lengths). In my case the Anna Peters mysteries consistently came in around 275-290 pages. My contemporary novels are a tad longer, between 300 and 350 pages. My short stories without the incentive of a contract run between 10 and 14 pages, rarely longer – or shorter.
Other writers, I believe, follow the same sort of pattern. Stephen King clearly writes long. The Portuguese Nobelist Jose Saramago wrote short – check Cain, his posthumously published novel about the first murderer.
The great Edwardian humorists, P.G. Wodehouse and Jerome K. Jerome liked short. The classic American novelists were divided. Melville liked long as did Stowe; Hawthorne liked short and was better even shorter. The great UK Victorians and the great Russian novelists needed amplitude, though one of the best of the era, Emily Bronte, brought in Wuthering Heights at a modest length.
Perhaps if penicillin had been available to knock out her TB, Bronte might have evolved into a long writer. More recently, this been the pattern of successful mystery novelists. While Christie, Chandler, and Simenon all stayed with compact books, all too many of our contemporaries have moved from short and tight to brogdingnagian. Dick Francis, he of the thrilling Nerve and Flying Finish, grew rich on doorstop novels of multiple plots – and abundant padding.
P.D. James has grown longer, too, over the decades, if with fewer ill effects, but Elizabeth George’s Believing the Lie suggests that she may have reached the tipping point. Ruth Rendall has resisted the trend; indeed her most recent novel was shorter than usual, but she has had the outlet of the Barbara Vine novels, suggesting she has two ideal lengths.
Surprisingly, given the cost-cutting in the publishing world with lower advances – or no advances at all – cheaper paper, and cheesy construction, there seems to be a preference for the massive. Big novels, big books suggest big ideas or, at least, big sales and big sticker prices. Big suggests important, though many a savvy reader knows it really means inflated. But in this economy, who can blame writers, if like me with a contract in hand, they are tempted to venture beyond their muse’s favorite territory?
Posted by Janice Law at 00:01 6 comments
Labels: Dick Francis, Elizabeth George, Emily Bronte, Janice Law, writing
Location: Hampton, CT, USA
As New Year's Eve rapidly closes upon us, I am reminded of this Scots phrase from Robert Burns. Auld Lang Syne: literally translating into English as “old long since” — or, more colloquially, perhaps: “Long, long ago . . .” A time to look back, to take stock, perhaps to dissect or deconstruct our past actions or thoughts . . .
Dissection can be messy.
I’m no book reviewer. I’ve never been paid to write a book review, nor have I ever written one before. This is not to knock book reviewers. Many do a wonderful job. I read book reviews just like anyone else – hoping to find clues to my next good read.
It’s a job I view with great trepidation however. Because:
(A) I worry about hurting people’s feelings.
(B) To me, reviewing books is just too much like dissecting them.
Whether the type of dissection under discussion is physical, mental or literary, my fear is that after you perform a dissection, you still end up with the guts of a once-living thing cut out, catalogued and stored separately (at least temporarily). Or — if I were handling the job — probably strewn all across creation.
I suspect Lucy Ricardo would make a better M.E. than I would; by the time I completed an autopsy, there’d probably be entrails hanging from the overhead lights. Not intentionally, of course; it’s just the way I do things—you should see what our kitchen looks like after I cook a meal. (Comparing autopsies to cooking . . . can’t tell I recently watched Sweeney Todd on DVD again, can you?)
As for literary dissection . . .
Dismembering story elements for study
Well, it still seems pretty messy to me. And, just as chilling. Even deconstructing a sentence seems to rob it of the life and character it once had. Clauses, sub clauses, words – each forever ripped from the bosom of its family, stored separately, catalogued, labeled.
And, quite dead.
Concerning Self-dissection — well that’s even more tricky.
I suppose dissecting your own writing is easier than dissecting your own body, but only just easier in my opinion. I sometimes have a terrible time trying to tell what’s wrong with a story I’ve written, even when I can clearly feel the “wrongness” within some certain part of it. And that problem increases exponentially when I get involved in novel editing. If you’ve been a faithful reader, then you know that I often turn to a critique group, for help, at times like these.
But one of the stranger tricks I’ve also learned (one which has helped me quite a bit) is to read works by now-best-selling authors, written back when they were in their early years — still “learning the ropes” as it were. The ease of recognizing errors committed in their earlier days is probably comparable to the relative ease of performing an autopsy on someone else, versus pulling one on my own cadaver. (I mean you have that whole “Dead people usually find it difficult to make voluntary movements,” thing to overcome.)
Comparing what went wrong in these early writings, against the way these authors surmounted their “writing problems” in later work, gives me the chance to recognize problem-patterns, then look for them in my own writing. Sort of like a med student learning to diagnose damaged organs contained within live bodies, by examining fatally flawed organs in cadavers. Such study provides the opportunity to seek out and diagnose flawed areas in my own work. It’s not quite as hands-on as an autopsy might be, or as I personally might prefer. But, I’ve learned to try and Go With the Flow! when it comes to the touchy-feely side of writing.
Oddly, perhaps, this is also one of the reasons Felix Francis’s writing appealed to me over the past few years. The son of mystery great Dick Francis, Felix has been finding his way from teaching physics to (and through) the writing thicket.
Not an easy trek.
His writing is much like his father’s in many ways. It’s as if there are similar family features on the faces of both their prose. But, especially in the beginning, there was a certain, unfortunate “flatness” to Felix’s writing — particularly compared to his father’s.
I don’t mean Felix’s stories suffered from flat characters; most were well-rounded and well-drawn. Nor do I mean that he's a bad writer; he's not. He's a good writer. It's just that, where Dick Francis' stories stood up and danced, Felix's seemed to fall flat on my tongue. His writing was flat in the same way that soda left in an open bottle becomes flat. Reading Felix’s work, I felt as if I were reading his father’s work, but it had lost its fizz — and a lot of the flavor along with it.
Now this is a problem I can recognize and sympathize with. I sometimes struggle with “flat writing” in my own work — and I find it one of the most perplexing problems to correct. So I was overjoyed to encounter Felix’s flat writing, because I knew it was so similar to his father’s, that I just might be able to diagnose the cause by comparing the two. In turn, this might open a door to healing my own writing ailments. “Let’s see if we can’t just find out,” I thought to myself, “what the reason for this loss of fizz is.”
Thankfully, I’ve got a pretty full library of Dick Francis paperbacks lying around my office (Yes: “lying around” – all part of that “entrails hanging from the light fixtures” thing!), so I got cracking. And those differences, I discovered, were primarily very small. Tiny even.
Perhaps the truest insight I gained was that the root of the problem (and the reason it’s such a tough nut to crack) lies in the tiny size of the transgressions, multiplied by the number of times they occur.
In retrospect, I decided the nature of the difficulty shouldn’t have surprised me. After all, while lack of carbonation (because it’s all escaped into the atmosphere) lies at the root of flat soda’s problem, it manifests itself through the absence of millions of tiny bursting bubbles. One overall problem -- but, lots of missing bubbles causing it.
One tiny bubble failing to rise to the surface of the soda, and burst there, would hardly be noticeable; a million missing bubbles and the soda is flat, lifeless. It’s no longer effervescent.
In other words: I discovered that (to me, at any rate) flat writing doesn’t seem to be a single problem; it’s a number of tiny problems that snowball, finally combining to rob the piece of flavor.
One difference I discovered was that Felix Francis’ characters often made outright philosophical statements. Either the reader agreed with those statements, or that reader didn’t agree with the character. I suspect that a little of this goes a long way toward erecting a barrier that keeps a reader, who didn't agree with the expressed opinions, from fully identifying with (and thus caring about) a protagonist, if that protagonist is the character making those statements. And that can be a big problem.
Dick Francis’ characters, on the other hand, seldom made philosophical statements as absolutes. Particularly when working in first person, his POV characters tended to couch such statements in gentle, very subtle ways, nearly always incorporating words such as nearly, almost, sometimes, or some to soften the blow.
It seems to me that using these "wiggle-room" words permits a reader to disagree with the sentiment expressed, but still agree and connect with the character, because the character’s own description has left room for that disagreement. It’s a subtle difference, but over the length of a novel I believe it can have a great impact.
One way to view this recurring difficulty is to think of these little problems as grains of sand at the beach. A beach is composed of millions of tiny grains of sand; if a few grains are misshapen — rough, or sharp edged — it makes little difference to your feet. The beach texture is still inviting. But, keep substituting misshapen grains in place of smooth ones, and eventually the sand texture becomes a little too rough on the toes. The beach becomes uncomfortable to walk on, barefoot. A person finds it hard to settle-in and relax on that beach. Next time they want to spend some time by the ocean, they’ll probably go somewhere else. Though they might have a hard time explaining why.
If I were the kick-ass analyst I wish I were, I would have been able to isolate some sort of Seldon’s Laws (to borrow a term from Asimov's Foundation series) concerning what constitutes the equivalent of “carbonation” in writing. In the real world, however, I’m just not that bright. Consequently, to me, it seems pretty difficult to fix a beach (or manuscript), once it’s filled with a bunch of misshapen sand grains. Because, you can’t just correct one problem to fix the overall flaw. Instead, you’ve got to first find then polish a lot of misshapen little pebbles. Not a quick and easy task — whether we’re talking about beaches, or manuscripts.
For a beach, you might be better off just scraping it clean, then bringing in all new sand. For a manuscript? Well, it might be a good idea to take a tip from the great Asimov and “run it through the typewriter again” completely rewriting that section.
For Felix Francis, however, there seems to have been another solution.
Gamble, Felix’s first book to be published since the death of his father, came out over the summer. Circumstances conspired to keep me from getting my hands on it until last week, however. And, I have to tell you: in my opinion his writing has improved by leaps and bounds. And, it is no longer flat.
In fact, I’ve been thinking a lot about it over the past week. (The kids have been home 24/7 with Winter Break, so it’s not like I was going to get much writing done.)
I’ve never met Felix Francis, haven’t even seen him at a book signing. So I did some online searching and this, coupled with my knowledge that his father died in 2010, has got me contemplating a possible reason for the change.
You see, part of what I think I noticed is that his prose has lost a few of those “family trait” characteristics. Don’t get me wrong; you can still clearly see the resemblance between the writing of father and son.
But, sometimes as a person grows, s/he loses some of the striking similarity in features that were so clearly prevalent in earlier years. It’s just part of the physical metamorphosis of growing up. Other times, a man’s son may do something that would be so uncharacteristic for his father (not necessarily a bad or evil thing—just different from what the father would do) that people are forced to realize the son isn’t just a carbon copy; he’s “his own man” so to speak.
This sort of subtle (on one level), but striking (on another) change, is what I believe I saw in Felix Francis’ writing. You could chalk it up to the idea that his writing is simply maturing, and no one could prove you wrong. But, I suspect another factor is also at play.
This is the first novel he’s written, in which his father has played no role. According to an interview in the British racing magazine Eclipse, Felix said that during the previous novels: “I would write the prose and he (Dick Francis) would then make suggestions or correct me if I had some of the racing not quite right. We never argued much – he seemed to like what I did.”
I’m not saying the earlier problems were being caused by Dick Francis. I’m sure that wasn’t the case. Instead, I’m left wondering if maybe Felix was stretching into a zone, when writing Gamble, which he couldn’t comfortably operate in when his father was alive.
The pressures on a son, writing under his father’s byline — particularly with the knowledge that his father is going to look over what he’s written before it gets sent to a publisher — are sure to be much different than if the son writes under his own byline. Gamble is billed on the cover as: “Dick Francis’s Gamble by Felix Francis.” This is subtly, but powerfully different from the billing Felix received on the previous novels he (evidently) largely wrote. Those were billed as being written by: “Dick Francis with Felix Francis.”
Later in the Eclipse interview, when Felix was asked if his father had left lots of book idea notes, Felix replied: “Sadly there are no notes. It’s all down to me now. It is a bit strange that he is no longer around to read the manuscript and criticise my grammar, but I am confident that he would be happy with the result.”
I believe he’s right; Dick Francis would be happy. Because, what I’m convinced I read in Gamble was a fresh new thing called Felix Francis’ voice. I don’t think he’s got it completely locked in yet. But, I do think he’s got at least one foot in the groove and is closing on target. When he gets there — who knows? Maybe his body of work will even eclipse his father’s.
One thing I’m sure of, however: choosing to write with his new voice took guts. Felix took the risk that long-time Dick Francis fans might slip away. It was a gutsy gamble to use his own voice in the novel. For Felix Francis, however, it looks as if his Gamble will probably pay off.
The great Dick Francis died in 2010, but I didn’t blog back then. So, during this time of Auld Lang Syne when we often look back in remembrance, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge Dick Francis’ legacy through a series of photos borrowed from Felix Francis’ website.
Dick Francis as racing fans must have thought of him.
Dick Francis as I (for some reason) always think of him.
I love the pose here. His stance is so reminiscent of the jockeys he wrote about. And . . . gee, who are those two women he's talking to?
Dick Francis with his wife, Mary.
(L to R) Felix Francis, Dick Francis, and Felix's older brother, Merrick
(That photo at the top of today's blog, incidentally, is Dick Francis finishing a ride he may not have cared to remember too often.)
See you in two weeks,
Posted by Dixon Hill at 00:01 7 comments
Labels: autopsies, Dick Francis, Dixon Hill, forensics, mysteries
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Is A Marvel Zombies Movie Coming To The MCU?
on 21st October 2019 at 4:45 pm
A lot of people are wondering about whether Marvel will ever bring their incredible comics series, Marvel Zombies over to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel Zombies was a limited-series comics series which was published by Marvel Comics from December 2005 to April 2006.
This comics series was written by The Walking Dead’s creator Robert Kirkman with art by Sean Phillips and covers by Arthur Suydam.
The story was set in an alternate universe where the world’s superheroes had been infected by a virus which turned them into flesh-eating zombies.
Will the Marvel Zombies be unleashed onto the MCU?
The dead will walk again. #MarvelZombies #MarvelComics pic.twitter.com/SsAFIk7EnX
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) July 2, 2019
Read more Could Deadpool Help Bring The Multiverse Into The MCU?
The series also featured a crossover story-arc with the Ultimate Fantastic Four in which the zombified Reed Richards tricked his Ultimate counterpart into opening a portal to the zombie universe.
It’s a really interesting comic and one which fans have been looking forward to seeing come to the big screen.
If Marvel were to bring it to the MCU, then it would have to take place in an alternate universe, and perhaps the introduction of the Multiverse could lead to this actually happening.
We already know that Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness will feature the Multiverse, but we don’t know exactly how.
We were also introduced to the idea of a multiverse existing in the MCU in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but it all turned out to be a ruse.
That said, it could all end up actually being a thing, and Peter Parker (Tom Holland) seemed to think it could exist. He got really excited when he was told that Mysterio was from an alternate universe.
There was also a little nod to the Marvel Zombies in the film during the hallucination scene when Mysterio drugged Peter and a zombie version of Iron Man came out from a grave.
Marvel is going to make R-rated movies
Marvel Zombie version of Iron Man in Spider-Man: Far From Home – Credit: Marvel Studios
Read more: Here Are All The Movies Coming Out In Phase 4 Of The MCU And Their Release Dates
But then, people will be saying that Marvel just doesn’t make R-rated movies, and these people would be correct. Although all of that looks like it could be about to change.
With Disney having purchased Fox, it means that they’ve bought the rights to all their movies, including Deadpool.
The Deadpool movies are R-rated, and the film’s writers, Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, revealed that Disney is going to let them carry on writing more ‘adult’ movies.
Deadpool co-writer Paul Wernick recently opened up about the future of the Deadpool movies during an interview with Entertainment Weekly whilst promoting Zombieland: Double Tap.
“We’re always in touch with Ryan… I think the party line and truth is we’re all still figuring it out.
“Marvel has promised to continue to let us play in the R-rated Deadpool universe, and the hope is that they will also let us veer into the MCU a little bit as well and play in that sandbox.
“Our feeling and Ryan’s feeling is that it’s got to be the right idea, it’s got to be great… I think once we collectively agree what idea that great idea is we’ll be off to the races.
“Ryan’s super-busy, we’ve got a lot of projects lined up, but we wake up thinking about Deadpool, and we go to sleep thinking about Deadpool.”
FILMMARVEL
kevin feigeMarvelMarvel Cinematic Universemarvel studiosMarvel ZombiesMCU
Monos Review
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Smallwood Trust
Our board and leadership
Grants to Individuals
Women's Sector Resilience Fund
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Home » Our history
The Smallwood Trust was originally founded in 1886 by the late Miss Edith Smallwood. We were formerly known as the Society for the Assistance of Ladies in Reduced Circumstances until 2017, when we changed our name to reflect a more contemporary approach while still honouring the heritage of our founder and the charity.
Miss Edith Smallwood
Miss Edith Smallwood was born in 1859, the daughter of a Yorkshire banker. Her father died when she was only 16, leaving her an income for life. Miss Smallwood saw it as her duty to help those less fortunate than herself, and she began collecting small sums of money to benefit women who, through ill-health or old age, were unable to support themselves. She also encouraged these women to execute for sale items of needlework such as embroidery, knitting and tapestry.
From these small beginnings, the Society for the Assistance of Ladies in Reduced Circumstances was founded. When she founded the Society in 1886, Miss Smallwood was living in Malvern, Worcestershire where she remained until 1908 when she moved to London, where the Society operated from 192 Lancaster Road, North Kensington. In London, the Society continued to thrive, and in 1910 was endorsed by Her Majesty the Queen.
The return to Malvern
The air raids during the Great War forced her to return to Malvern in 1916. The Smallwood Trust still operates from the premises it acquired in Malvern in 1916. We were registered as a charity on 2nd November 1917. Miss Smallwood returned permanently to London in 1924 where she continued to play a leading role in the charity until her death, following a long illness on 20th May 1928, aged 69 years.
“Assistance in the form of grants from the Smallwood Trust has made the difference between managing to make end meet, and not being able to cope financially on benefits alone”
Smallwood Trust beneficiary
Become a partner We value partnerships with other organisations that share our mission and values
Make a donation Help us meet the daily needs of women in need by supporting our work.
Privacy policy - Individuals
Smallwood Trust is registered in England & Wales under charity number 205798.
at Lancaster House, 25 Hornyold Road, MALVERN, WR14 1QQ.
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Housing and Community Services
Community Action Partnership
Community Services Advisory Council
The Snohomish County Community Services Advisory Council (CSAC) was established by the County Council in 1986, per Snohomish County Code (SCC) 2.420. This advisory council exists due to Snohomish County Human Services Department's designation as a Community Action Agency (CAA).
Community Action Agency
CAAs are nonprofit and public organizations established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty. The CSAC is a broadly representative body advising the Snohomish County County Executive, County Council, and the Human Services Department on poverty related issues, including ways to reduce or eliminate the causes of poverty to meet the needs of individuals and families who are of low income in Snohomish County.
CSAC Mission
The advisory council's mission is to make Snohomish County more responsive to the needs and interests of the poor by mobilizing both government and non-governmental resources, and creating greater institutional sensitivity through education and advocacy.
Function & Purpose of CSAC
The purpose of the advisory council is to engage the Snohomish County community in assessing local needs and working to address the causes of poverty through education and advocacy efforts. Furthermore, the CSAC reviews Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding applications and makes recommendations based on appropriateness and effectiveness of proposed projects in addressing priority needs of low-income residents in Snohomish County.
The CSBG program must be administered through a community-selected tripartite board. This tripartite board governance is a feature unique to CAAs and is a critical element in differentiating CAAs from other community-based organizations. The tripartite board governance also helps to empower those who have direct experience of the barriers to economic security to participate directly in the development of effective alternatives.
The advisory council makes efforts to have each County Council legislative district represented through membership and shall consist of the following:
A minimum of 12 members, but not more than 24
At least one-third of the members representative of low-income individuals and families, living in the county district served
At least one-third of elected public officials currently holding office or their representatives, or appointive public officials if there are not enough elected officials available
The balance drawn from the private sector including businesses, nonprofits, faith-based groups, charities, and civic organizations, or other major groups and interests in the community served
To read more about the CSAC, please review the CSAC bylaws (PDF). Meetings
CSAC meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday of each month from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00p.m., and are open to the public. Meetings are located in the Robert J. Drewel Building (Administration Building East), Room 6A04, sixth floor at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, in Everett.
To be considered for membership on the CSAC, request agendas and/or meeting minutes, or for further information, please email Tyler Verda or call at 425-262-2904.
Community Services Block Grant
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How I wrote ‘Feelin’ Alright?’ by Traffic’s Dave Mason
on 17 January 2017 at 10:58 pm
The guitarist, sitar-player and songwriter behind this frequently covered two-chord classic, talks about the song’s willful simplicity and enduring popularity
Formed in Birmingham in 1967, Traffic was an English rock group that embraced a progressive mix of psychedelia, Eastern instrumentation and jazz sensibilities. But the simple two-chord song Feelin’ Alright? – included on the band’s eponymous sophomore album in ’68 before being released as a single later that year – would go on to become one of their most powerful and enduring tracks.
Over the subsequent half century, the song has also been a hit single for several performers, including Joe Cocker (reaching No 69 on the US chart in 1969 and re-charting at No 33 in 1972), Mongo Santamaria, Grand Funk Railroad, and been recorded by the likes of Three Dog Night, The 5th Dimension, Lou Rawls, Freddie King, Paul Weller, Lulu, Chairmen Of The Board, The Electric Concept Orchestra, Mother’s Finest, The Ohio Players, Diana Ross with the Jackson 5, Maceo Parker, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes and Coldplay. Over 50 cover versions of Feelin’ Alright? have been recorded and the song has been featured in dozens of films and television commercials.
Here, Traffic guitarist and sitar-player Dave Mason tells the story of how the band got together, how the song came to be and how he feels about its umpteen versions…
Artist: Traffic
Label: Island Records
Writer: Dave Mason
Producer: Jimmy Miller
UK chart position: –
US chart position: 123
Misc: Joe Cocker’s famous version reached No 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972
“I’m from Worcester and Jim Capaldi’s from Evesham, which is not that far way. We started a couple of bands together, like Deep Feeling and one called The Hellions which did a Jackie DeShannon song for Pye Records. There were shows that we’d do in Birmingham and I think we all met at a place called The Elbow Room, which was somewhat of an after-hours place that would have bands playing – I think one of the early Moody Blues incarnations were there one night. Anyway, I think that’s where we met and became friends through the different kinds of music that we liked.
“At one point it was apparent Steve Winwood wanted to leave The Spencer Davis Group and do something different, and I was actually a roadie with them for about three months. In fact, I had to stand-in for Steve who didn’t make it to a show one night! When we could, we’d hang out for a year or more before Traffic formed: Steve, Jim, myself and Chris Wood. Then we hid ourselves away out in country in Berkshire, to work out what we were going to do.
“I’d never written anything before, so I decided it that maybe it was time to see what I could come up with. My first attempts were somewhat naïve in some ways, but then I wrote a song called Hole In My Shoe which was our first big hit really. After our first album and the success of it all – I think I was about 19 years old – it came too quick and I couldn’t really handle it. And that’s the reason I left. It was just a little too much for me. Also I thought, if I’m going to be writing songs, it wouldn’t hurt to have a few more life experiences to write about.
“So I took off for Greece with a bag and a guitar. I went to a little island called Hydra, which is where I wrote Feelin’ Alright? Musically, it was a kind of exercise in trying to write the simplest thing I could come up with. I’d been playing sitar for a while, which I used for Hole In My Shoe and Paper Sun, and that got me thinking about writing something very simple. There are only two chords in Feelin’ Alright? anyway. Basically it’s an unrequited love song. It’s ‘feeling alright’ with a question mark; the song’s really about not feeling too good about myself – I wasn’t feeling alright! That was what it was about.
Dave Mason. Photo by Chris Jensen
“I don’t remember the specifics of how it happened, but it probably just all came together a period of a week or so. At the time it was just another song that I wrote. To be honest, I’d never say I was really prolific – I’m not just writing and writing – but there were a handful of songs that I had and Feelin’ Alright? was one of them. I also wrote You Can All Join In sitting in a café in Athens, and they both finished up being on the second Traffic album.
“If I remember correctly, I went to the US and they were at a studio in New York and I went by the session. They were working on that album and they only had five songs, so I said, ‘Well, I’ve got five songs here,’ and that’s how it started. That’s how I remember it. Frankly, there was no concept of Feelin’ Alright? being a hit or anything; I was just trying to write good songs. I think it was picked as a single, but the song has never really been a big hit, it’s just been done by a lot of people.
Traffic (clockwise from top left): Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Steve Winwood.
“Later on, when Denny Cordell [producer of Joe Cocker’s album Mad Dogs & Englishmen] played me what Cocker had done with it, it was like, ‘Oh my God! This is great.’ Then obviously that version spawned the 50-plus cover versions that almost every garage band and bar band in the world has played and still plays! I think it’s because the song’s so simple but also because Joe Cocker’s version is so damn good! You have to think that the track was made 50 years ago, and it still sounds great; it doesn’t sound dated at all.
“I’m flattered there have been so many, but to me Cocker’s is the definitive version. When I play it now, we use the piano riff from the Cocker version and I up-tempo it. Aside from the song itself, that piano part is another major hook in itself.”
Interview: Aaron Slater
Dave Mason brings his Traffic Jam World Tour to the UK for a series of spring 2017 concerts, starting 23 February. For tickets, go to: davemasonmusic.com/tour
FeaturesHow I WroteInterviews
Chris WoodDave MasonFeelin' Alright?Island RecordsJim CapaldiJoe CockerSteve WinwoodTraffic
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Vande Sompel, Wotherspoon Agree To Terms
The New York Islanders announced today that defensemen Mitch Vande Sompel and Parker Wotherspoon have agreed to two-year contracts.
Vande Sompel (left), 23, has 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) in 128 career games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The London, Ont. native was injured during the 2019 Islanders Training Camp and missed the entire 2019-20 season. In 2018-19, Vande Sompel led all Sound Tigers defensemen with 10 goals and was named to the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic. Prior to his professional career, Vande Sompel played four years of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Oshawa Generals and London Knights. He won the 2015 OHL Championship and Memorial Cup with Oshawa as well as a gold medal with Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Wotherspoon (right), 23, scored 27 points (four goals, 23 assists) in 62 AHL games last season during his third full year with the Sound Tigers. The Surrey, BC native was Bridgeport’s fourth-leading scorer and recorded the club’s second most penalty minutes (82). In 186 career games with Bridgeport, Wotherspoon has 68 points (17 goals, 51 assists). He played junior hockey with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and represented Canada at the 2015 Under-18 World Junior Championships.
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Big 4 banks to help Australia’s growing space industry
Max Blenkin
Australia’s big banks have moved away from a traditional reluctance to fund tech start-ups, with NAB and Westpac launching new services primarily aimed at funding the technology sector – and that includes the booming space business.
Last Updated: 14 April 2020 Published: 27 June 2019
Neither specifically mentioned space in their product launch literature, but both banks have confirmed that space was certainly included.
A spokeswoman said NAB’s $2 billion financing commitment aimed to support emerging technology companies across industries.
“There are exciting developments in the space industry and we are working with government and university partners to better understand how we can help small to medium enterprises access capital to participate in the space sector,” she said.
“As per any funding discussion, we are open to exploring opportunities with organisations that are at the right stage of development, have an appropriate risk profile and good commercial prospects.”
A spokeswoman for Westpac confirmed that space was on their radar.
“The emerging industries division has been set up to look after all the new emerging industries and the businesses driving their growth within,” she said.
“We are very excited about the emerging space industry in Australia and are looking forward to engaging productively with this sector and helping them in their growth.”
Australian tech start-ups have traditionally found it challenging to secure both seed and growth funding and that appears to especially apply to the new space sector.
That contrasts with the US, with its long tradition of venture capital firms willing to take a risk on newcomers, and China where space start-ups can call on vast private sector and government funding. Even the most modest of American and European launch companies can gain $10 million assistance from their governments.
Earlier this month, Australian space entrepreneur Adam Gilmour said there were plenty of people willing to give them a pat on the back but not write a cheque.
“We are competing against American companies that can get $1 or $2 million from 10 different funding organisations. Of all my rocket competitors, the stingiest of them has got about $10 million from their government,” he told Space Connect.
NAB launched its fund last week, allocating $2 billion over five years to support Australian tech-innovators by providing loans, facilitating access to capital markets and supporting companies though transactional banking and risk management.
Anthony Healy, NAB chief customer officer for business and private banking, said NAB wanted to boost productivity in Australia’s technology sector by supporting companies at a critical stage of their life cycle.
“This commitment is about giving technology companies with demonstrated potential for growth the shot-in-the-arm they need to be bigger and better,” he said.
“These tech-driven companies are often already profitable but need further capital and banking expertise to grow.
“NAB can support technology companies at every stage of their development – from NAB Ventures, which backs start-ups through to big business. This now includes a new team focused purely on high-growth technology companies. We believe this is a unique proposition from a major Australian bank.”
Westpac launched its scheme in February. The bank is looking more to fund tech companies at the scale-up rather than the start-up stage.
Both Westpac and NAB released studies making useful observations on the challenges confronting the Australian innovation and technology ecosystem.
Westpac’s Emerging Industries: Towards 2030 report observed that Australia’s capital markets were hindered by short-term thinking, which made them risk averse, though that was improving.
“However, compared to the US, which raised US$84.2 billion last year, Australia represents a tiny tadpole in the global venture capital pond,” it said.
NAB’s Australian National Outlook 2019 report said Australia had been very fortunate, with nearly three decades of economic growth, but there were sound reasons to question whether this good fortune would continue into the future.
“The world is changing and Australia will need to adapt much more rapidly than in the past if it is to keep up. Nowhere is this more evident than in the role that new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, automation and life sciences, are playing in transforming established industries and creating new ones,” it said.
Boeing Starliner Space Capsule completes parachute testing
SpaceX reveals first commercial mission target
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Info@SpinnakerGroup.com
Broward County Judicial Complex, Midrise Full Building Renovation Project, Achieves Prestigious LEED Gold Certification
Weston, FL (November 26, 2019)
The Broward County Judicial Complex
midrise building, located at 540 SE 3rd
Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has
achieved LEED Gold Certification for
New Construction and Major Renovations
as designated by the U.S. Green Building
Council (USGBC) for its environmental
performance and sustainable design.
The joint announcement by the
Construction Management Division,
Public Works Department of Broward County and The Spinnaker Group, the project's LEED consultant, notes significant sustainable design features of the 64,000 sf project, which forms an integral part of
the Complex's re-development, acting as a critical support facility to the adjacent courthouse and its associated services. The project encompassed the full renovation and interior construction fit-out on four floors of the midrise building.
Sustainable design features of the renovated building design include:
Use of approximately 40 percent less water than a typical building of its size.
Use of approximately 15 percent less energy than a typical building of its size.
Diversion of more than 300 tons -- or 97% -- of all construction waste from the landfill.
A comprehensive indoor air quality plan, including use of low VOC construction materials and materials with a high percentage of recycled content; as well as installation of sustainable furniture throughout the facility.
Implementation of a green cleaning program.
A parking garage that includes preferred parking for 89 energy-efficient vehicles.
"We enjoyed working with the talented professionals from the Construction Management Division, Public Works Department of Broward County," said Jonathan Burgess, Principal, The Spinnaker Group. "Our integrated team approach significantly reduced the revamped judicial complex's environmental footprint and achieved noteworthy cost savings on energy and water. Employees and visitors to the beautiful venue will be the most important beneficiaries of the County's green vision come to fruition."
Broward County Commissioners have long encouraged investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices and environmental protection. The progressive County passed a green-building resolution in 2008 to make all new building construction LEED-Certified minimum. In 2014, Broward County was recognized for National Excellence in Sustainability when it became the first county government in the United States to achieve a 4-STAR Certified Community Rating. View a list of the County's green buildings here http://www.broward.org/Facilities/Pages/LEEDSBuildings.aspx.
Founded in 2003, the award-winning Spinnaker Group helps facilitate the delivery of the highest quality, sustainable building projects. Using an integrated team approach with a diverse range of clients, the firm has more than 130 LEED Certified projects under its belt and more than 600 million sf of commissioned building space to its credit. In addition to tapping USGBC's LEED and other ratings systems as anchors of its sustainable consulting, Spinnaker's team of professional architects and engineers offers project management, energy modeling, fundamental and enhanced building commissioning, Living Building Challenge, SITES, WELL ... and more.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building, community and home project types, LEED provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. Created by the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, DC, LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. The voluntary, consensus-based rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings is designed to inspire project teams to seek innovative solutions that support public health and our environment, while saving building owners money over a project’s life cycle. LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building techniques and the LEED Green Building Rating System.
Spinnaker Group
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Share this Story: Martintown stories: Listen to the Silence of the Stones - The Legend of Jacob
Martintown stories: Listen to the Silence of the Stones - The Legend of Jacob
Standard-Freeholder staff
Jul 05, 2019 • November 27, 2020 • 7 minute read
The historic Martintown Mill. Taken on Thursday July 4, 2019 in Martintown, Ont. Nick Dunne/Cornwall Standard-Freeholder/Postmedia Network Photo by Nick Dunne /Nick Dunne/Standard-Freeholder
A story by Jim Barton
Aaron Rechter was a Jewish lad who was born in 1852 and grew up in Upper New York State in
Martintown stories: Listen to the Silence of the Stones - The Legend of Jacob Back to video
Fairhaven, New York on Little Sodus Bay. At age 15, he became disenchanted with his life in Fairhaven, didn’t see much future in this small fishing village, so after a falling out with his parents, Yaakov and Dafna Rechter, he decided to run away from home and make his way to the Promised Land of the Bible, Israel. He had been told that his grandparents lived in Jerusalem, so he hoped to find them and make his future with them in Israel. He trusted that God would protect him in his journey and provide for him along the way so he had no fear of starting out on such a daunting task.
Since he was familiar with boating, and living on the shores of Lake Ontario, he decided that crossing the lake to Kingston, Ontario and then down the St. Lawrence River to Montreal was a much easier route for him than going over land to Boston. Of course he didn’t own a vessel so the first thing he needed to do was steal a large birch bark canoe since he felt it would be ideal for travelling down the St. Lawrence and he knew just where to find one – a local fur trapper just outside the village and right on the Bay. So in the darkness of night, he headed out in his new found canoe and hugged the south shore of the lake for two reasons— first so that he could put in to shore if the weather turned bad, and second so that he could find opportunities to rob the locals near the lakeside for food and supplies. It was a good plan and he successfully made it around the Lake to Kingston by July 1st, 1867. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he rounded Simcoe Island and saw the great festivities going on in Kingston as the city celebrated the birth of Canada. And best of all, there was free food being handed out in front of the City Hall and he was a hungry boy. So he stayed in town for several days and found lots of opportunities to build up his supplies through unwitting store keepers and drunken patrons celebrating their new country. He heard a speech by their leader, John McDonald, and found him hard to understand since he spoke a strange version of the English language with an equally strange accent!
He continued on his journey down the river using his same provisioning tactics until he could hear a huge noise of rapids ahead, so he decided to put in to shore and investigate before continuing on. What he saw from Sheik’s Island was a rapids system so large that he knew he could not continue by canoe, so he befriended some local natives who agreed to trade his canoe for fur bedding and more food supplies. They advised him to travel over Indian Lands to the north of the river and make his way to McMartin’s Mills on the Riviere aux Raisins and from there is St. William’s Town and then back out to the St. Lawrence River where he might steal another boat or hitch a ride with someone to Montreal. He found his way, walking along well travelled trails, to McMartin’s Mills and was amazed to find a relatively new massive stone structure at the centre of the town, just below the newly constructed wooden covered bridge.
Needing a place to rest for a few days he decided to hide out on the top floor of the mill behind some bags and equipment stored there. An unlocked trap door under the mill gave him easy access without being noticed and then it was just a matter of climbing several flights of stairs, unnoticed by the three hired hands and William Sylvester, the mill operator. But he needed food so, by night, he would sneak out of the mill and “borrow” from local establishments and homes. But having grown up along the water and enjoying fresh fish, he longed for a feed of fish from the river alongside the mill. So Aaron found some fine cord in the office of the mill, a nail he bent into a hook, and a plentiful supply of dew worms and decided he would fish from the bridge and cook them on the wood stove in the office on the first floor of the mill. Of course the stove wasn’t in use in July but there was a supply of split wood, some kindling and a few matches left over from the winter season, so it would be no problem to fry up a few fish along with a few slices of bread he “happened” to find late at night in Charles McPhadden’s storeroom, which was attached to the beautiful store/house and just “happened” to have a small back door with a lock that was not all that difficult to overcome. But behold, it was not necessary, since he found the door to be unlocked and was able to easily gain entry. Not only that, but in the store room he found some real fish hooks. He would have “found” more supplies for his mission; however, it was very difficult to see in the storeroom at night since there were no windows and the small amount of light available by leaving the access door open was not of much help. None the less he was able to find the bread he had come for, as well as the fish hooks, so he considered this a successful job and he set off back “home” to the third floor of the mill to store his loot. He now had the means to feed his flock, namely himself, with “loaves,” so now all he needed was some “fishes” to carry out his mandate and live out the parable of the Bible as described in the Book of John; a parable Aaron was very familiar with having grown up in a very religious family.
So armed with his fishing gear and a strong desire for fresh fish, he set out to catch some perch or bass in the Riviere aux Raisins next door. Fishing from the old covered wooden bridge wasn’t a straightforward task. The sides were formed of crisscrossed wooden supports covered about halfway up by vertical boards. So to gain access to the river for fishing, one would have to climb up the supports to the top beam, which being horizontal, gave a good place to sit and fish. The water wasn’t running very fast, since it was midsummer, and the dam was below the bridge so there was a great place for fish to gather since they couldn’t get past the dam. So Aaron climbed up to the beam, sat down, and began to fish. He caught several bass and was having a great time when a group of rowdies from either the Old Hotel, or perhaps more likely from Brennan’s Hotel, started across the bridge on their way home. One of them spied Aaron and attempted to jump up and pull him down. In order to evade this threat from a half dozen drunken men Aaron stood up and attempted to climb down the outside of the bridge wall. However one of the men, a Macintosh it was said, grasped his heel and as he did, Aaron fell into the water and struck his head on a rock, killing him instantly. As his body floated downstream, the men high-tailed it down the street and to their beds, fearful of the next day and what it would bring.
The next day Aaron’s body was found down river, washed up on the shore near the ashery on the east bank. Of course no one knew who the boy was or how he came to be in the water and needless to say, those that knew the answer to that riddle were silent. Since no one claimed the body, William Sylvester, the mill operator agreed that his body could be buried under the mill in a dry corner. In time the real story of what happened to Aaron came to light and lacking an identity he was named Jacob, which is an old Hebrew name meaning “he grasps the heel.”
My father, Ken Barton, who owned the mill from 1934 to 1971, told me that, during those years, on many occasions he heard Jacob call out for help as he was falling from the bridge, and especially when dad went up to the third floor, Jacob would be asking him for food, especially bread and fish. So Jacob lives on and we need only listen to the silence of the stones of the Old Martintown Mill to hear his sad tale and relive the story of Jacob and his journey to find the Promised Land. Perhaps he really did!
Martintown Mill Authors’ Challenge
On a weekly basis from July 6 to Aug. 17, readers will get to pour through a story written by eight local authors, all of which have a connection to South Glengarry. The stories themselves will also feature the mill and/or the tale of Jacob in some way. On Aug. 17, an online poll will open for readers to choose their favourite story.
The authors will be featured on the following dates (stories appear online the day before):
Today – Jim Barton
July 13 – Katelin Kennedy
July 20 – Leah Lindeman
July 27 – Bobi Poitras
Aug. 3 – Jennifer deBruin
Aug. 10 – Marnie Fossitt
Aug. 17 – Bob Taylor
(Note: one author withdrew from the challenge just prior to July 6)
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SPRINGFIELD SALLIES
In 1948, Springfield, Illinois was added to the League. This was a fitting choice as Springfield has a long history of successful mens baseball leagues. Springfield was and still is, the capital of the State of Illinois and The city was represented in the Central League in 1889, The Western Association in 1895 the Central League in 1900 and the Mississippi League in 1933. In 1904 the city hosted a game between the Blondes and Brunettes which was the first game in which fans paid to attend and women players were paid. This League was a successful business and it could have offered the city an opportunity to build on it long history of baseball firsts and provide additional business opportunities for its citizens.
Source: http://aagpbl.org/teams/springfield-sallies
AAGPBL - Springfield Sallies
AAGPBL League - Unisex Long Sleeve Crew T-Shirt
AAGPBL League - Unisex Fleece Pullover Crewneck
AAGPBL League - Unisex Premium Hoodie
AAGPBL League - Unisex T-Shirt (Various Colors)
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UK public 'failing to engage' with 3D TV
By Marc Chacksfield 20 June 2011
New report shows mixed reaction to 3D
3D - not yet essential viewing
A new report on the state of the 3D TV market in the UK has outlined that 3D will eventually become a mass market product but it is currently failing to engage with audiences.
Informa Telecoms & Media has forecasted the state of 3D TV over the next five years and believes that the technology will eventually end up in 11 million homes but the amount of 'active' users of 3D TV will be less than half this amount.
While the use of 'active' as an adjective is a little confusing, considering we are currently in the midst of an 'active v passive' 3D technology debate, the report sees active users as those who actually actively use their 3D TV to watch 3D content and not just plain old 2D.
The current take-up of 3D TVs in UK is around 125,000, according to the Guardian, and out of these 90 per cent use their TVs for 3D use.
While this figure will increase 100 times by 2016, Informa Telecoms & Media believes this will be because the technology will be embedded in most TVs by this time and not because of consumers' appetite for 3D. In fact, it believes that just 42 per cent of those with a 3D TV will be using their set for 3D watching.
"Irrespective of existing public demand for 3D, major set manufacturers (Samsung, LG, Panasonic, et al) increasingly see 3D capability as a feature that they must include in their sets, or the perception will be that rival manufacturers are producing a technically-superior product (with 3D included)," said Adam Thomas of Informa Telecoms & Media.
"The result is that an increasing proportion of TV sets are having 3D capability built into them. But instead of a USP, 3D is now often marketed as just one of the set's benefits – along with features such as internet-connection capability and LED backlighting."
One of the reasons that 3D will be seen as just another feature and not the main feature is that it is not an evolution like HD.
"We do not share the view that 3D represents the obvious next evolutionary step for TV, in the same way that colour followed black and white, or HD is following SD," said Thomas.
"A case can be made that colour and HD offer noticeable enhancements to the technologies that preceded them. But 3DTV is less of an enhancement and rather more a new type of viewing experience – one that many people will enjoy, but some way from becoming ubiquitous."
This arrival of Wimbledon this week will be a decent litmus test for current 3D viewing, as the men's semi-final and women and men's final is to be shown in 3D on BBC HD.
See more Television news
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Home / World / He didn’t flinch from ‘mother of all battles’
He didn’t flinch from ‘mother of all battles’
UN Security Council passed a resolution at the end of November authorising the use of force against Iraq if it did not leave Kuwait by January 15, 1991
Telegraph file picture
New York Times News Service | Washington | Published 01.12.18, 07:53 PM
In the early hours of August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces under the command of Saddam Hussein rumbled into Kuwait and seized its oil fields.
“This is radical Saddam Hussein moving,” Bush wrote in his diary as he sat in the Oval Office at 6am. In an address to the nation a few days later, Bush signalled that the US was prepared to respond with force. “This will not stand,” he said.
Over the next two weeks, Bush moved the nation towards war while trying to reassure leaders like Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Britain, who told him, “Don’t go wobbly on me, George.” He sent paratroopers to Saudi Arabia and ordered warships to the Persian Gulf to enforce UN trade sanctions against Iraq.
From the start, Bush was dubious that Hussein would respond to diplomacy. But while Thatcher was trying to steel him, other European allies, as well as Gorbachev and Democrats in Congress, were pressuring him not to act too aggressively.
Bush pressed his case, saying publicly that he wanted to avoid a military solution, while preparing for just that. “Vital issues of principle are at stake,” he declared to Congress on September 11. “Saddam Hussein is literally trying to wipe a country off the face of the earth.”
In November, Bush nearly doubled the size of the US presence in the Persian Gulf.
Democrats in Congress were concerned. “Howling in the Congress was loud,” Gen. Colin L. Powell, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Bush, wrote in his memoir. “Was this George Bush, whom some people criticised as a ‘wimp,’ trying to prove his manhood by starting a war?”
The UN Security Council passed a resolution at the end of November authorising the use of force against Iraq if it did not leave Kuwait by January 15, 1991. It did not. On January 12, the House and Senate, with bipartisan support, authorised military action in the Persian Gulf.
By then Bush had built a foundation for it: 28 countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Soviet Union, were behind him.
At 3am in Iraq on January 16, after a midnight deadline had passed without an Iraqi withdrawal, Bush ordered airstrikes. Waves of bombers and cruise missiles hit Baghdad and targets elsewhere in Iraq and in Kuwait.
“Our goal is not the conquest of Iraq, it is the liberation of Kuwait,” Bush said in a televised address. Hussein proclaimed that the “mother of all battles has begun”.
The war began with a spectacular display of US air power, as precision missile and bombing runs appeared to be inflicting grave damage on Baghdad. The White House held out hope that this assault alone would win the war, without American casualties, but Pentagon officials realised that a ground invasion was inevitable.
When it came, the ground war lasted almost exactly 100 hours, with minimal American casualties. Encircled, the Iraqi Army surrendered. Bush called a ceasefire, even though it allowed members of the Republican Guard, an elite Iraqi unit, to escape, and even though it left Hussein in power.
Gen. Powell advised Bush to end the fighting. “Mr. President, it’s going much better than we expected,” he recalled saying, according to his memoir. “The Iraqi Army is broken. All they’re trying to do now is get out. We don’t want to be seen as killing for the sake of killing.” Bush, by Gen. Powell’s account, responded, “If that’s the case, why not end it today?”
Bush would be called to defend that decision time and again, saying that he had been convinced that Hussein would be overthrown once the war ended.
In the next six months, Bush balanced urgent demands both abroad and at home. He went to Moscow in July 1991 and signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which slashed the American and Soviet long-range nuclear arsenals by 25 percent to 35 per cent.
But Gorbachev was losing his battle to hold on to power. Less than three weeks later, Bush’s loyalty was put to the test when Gorbachev, his country in economic turmoil, was ousted by hardliners. Bush denounced the coup as a “misguided and illegitimate effort” and demanded that Gorbachev be returned to power.
For Bush, it was an uncharacteristically risky move, considering what might have happened to US-Soviet relations had the generals behind the coup succeeded.
George W. Bush Saddam Hussein Margaret Thatcher
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Navico UK
Our focus on making boating safer, easier and more fun has resulted in the release of a number of world leading products. Innovation is at the heart of Navico’s business model and culture, this is coupled with an unprecedented product launch schedule that enables us to deliver real benefits to consumers across a broad range of recreational boating activities.
Navico on average launches a new product every 20 days. The majority of our revenues come from products launched during the past 24 months, which underlines the importance of innovation for profitable growth. We have continued to see success in our design-to-value engineering, as well as in our sourcing strategies, and have managed to improve our margins despite the average selling price reducing in the market. The lean efforts in the manufacturing facility in Ensenada, Mexico are another contributor to improved margins, and an average employee in the facility today produces ten times as many products as in 2007.
Charts, Publications & Navigational Equipment
Navico UK Ltd
First Floor Templars House Templars Way
SO53 3TL
W: www.navico.com
E: sales.uk@navico.com
Navico adds Lowrance to SMG in the UK - Navico is pleased to announce an extended partnership with SMG for distribution in the UK of its Lowrance brand from April 2018. SMG will now distribute all three Navico brands:… ...read more
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J.K. Rowling on bringing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to Broadway, and whether we’d ever see a movie version
Josh Weiss
@JoshuaHWeiss
Jun 12, 2018, 3:45 PM EDT (Updated)
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Tag: J.K. Rowling
Tag: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Tag: Broadway
Tag: Interviews
Tag: Wizarding World
Today, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child enjoyed its premiere on Broadway in New York City at the Lyric Theater, and among distinguished guests like Glenn Close, Chris Colfer, Whoopi Goldberg, and Ezra Miller was the magical author herself, J.K. Rowling. The play, written by Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, is based on a story by Rowling while drawing dozens of elements from the Wizarding World she established in her seven Harry Potter novels. Originally debuting at the Palace Theater in London, the show has finally reached the States, and not without certain challenges involved.
"One of the biggest challenges was finding a theater that could [be conducive to the production]," Rowling told SYFY WIRE on the red carpet. "It's an intricate production, there were certain technical demands, there's a lot of magic happening onstage, so we needed to find the right space, and the Lyric was, I think, [producer] Sonia Friedman said to me, 'It's been an unloved theater, and it's a big theater, and I'm not sure it will work for us [but] we took on the project of renovating the theater to make the play work, which was massive, so that was a huge challenge; we tend not to make life easy for ourselves."
More J.K. Rowling
_Albus Dumbledore - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Remembering a wise wizard: Albus Dumbledore's 12 greatest quotes
13 Harry Potter fan films, ranked
Cursed Child serves as an epilogue to the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, following Harry and Ginny's son, Albus Severus. With companion works like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them getting the Hollywood treatment, one may wonder if Rowling plans to bring this play to the big screen. If you were hoping for a movie adaptation, you can stop holding your breath.
"Cursed Child was written for the stage, and I love it on the stage," said the 52-year-old writer. "It's a theatrical experience. To be honest, I think it would be quite a lazy thing to do to put it on screen."
(With reporting by Tara Bernie)
Video of Hogwarts with Draco | SYFY WIRE
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UK University News
Universities producing the most employable graduates have been ranked by companies around the world, with 14 UK universities featuring in the global top 250.
The University of Cambridge is the top-ranked UK university for producing employable graduates in the UK, finishing 4th overall, and was closely followed by Oxbridge rival the University of Oxford in 5th. Imperial College London (18th) and King's College London (21st) also featured in the top 30, with two Scottish universities - the University of Edinburgh and University of St Andrews - also making the ranking.
The ranking reveals the 250 global universities that recruiters at top companies think are best at preparing students for the workplace, and was produced by HR consultancy Emerging and published by Times Higher Education.
Are you interested in studying in the UK? Arrange a free consultation with SI-UK Nigeria today to begin your application.
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The College Board has commissioned stonework repairs to be undertaken to both the Mary Aikenhead building and the St Dominics building together with seismic strengthening.
Mary Aikenhead Building
No. 54-78 Victoria Street Potts Point was designed by Sheerin & Hennessy, in 1885 and opened in December 1886. Sheerin & Hennessy were the architects commissioned by Cardinal Moran to build St Patrick's College at Manly, which was being constructed the same year as St Vincent's College. The Main Building is a three storey neo - Gothic building constrained by a narrow and rocky site. The building has distinctive bands of decorative pale sandstock brick contrasting with terracotta colour brick and Gothic sandstone details and trims to the windows and doors on the Victoria Street facade. 'The central steep pitched gabled feature with entrance door surmounted by sandstone inscription St Vincent's Convent displaying triple gothic windows, with miniature ones under the eave. On the ground and first floor were ten pairs of tall pointed arch windows, with indoor pulley ropes to open them, while the second floor had pairs of rectangular sash windows ... the sandstone chimneys in clusters of four added to the verticality of the building, and the roof ... was finished in slate. In the front hall of black and white marble tiles, the cedar staircase was beautifully lit by three stained glass windows with ascending base line.’ This feature was altered when a brick extension made a new entrance on the garden side, in 1967. (Source: HIS Ruth Daniell 2010)
St Dominic's Building
Another late 19th Century building in the same Gothic Revival architectural style is located to the south of the 1886 Main Building, and on the Victoria Street frontage it is believed to be also by Sheerin & Hennessy, however the exact date of construction has not been established. The building is a simple brick with stone details and slate roof of two storeys. Another building has been built onto the 1886 Hall and this is also a two-storey structure. The exact date of construction is not known however it appears to be c.1920. The ground floor of both the 1886 Hall and c.l920 building are currently used for storage, the rooms in the building are used for applied technology classrooms.
St Vincent’s College is of historic significance
St Vincent’s College is of historic significance for its long association with the historical development of Potts Point and with Tarmons, one of the earliest residences, and with the Sisters of Charity, the founders of the school. There are early historical associations with Sir Maurice O’Connell and Sir Charles Nicholson the first and second owners of the original Tarmons House. The site is associated with a number of architects of note. The 1886 building was designed by prominent architects Sheering and Hennessey. The 1863 building was possibly designed by Government Architect Mortimer Lewis. The Chapel was designed by Dublin architect W.H. Byrne, with details transposed to Gothic details by Sydney architect Arthur Polin. The 1938 College Building was designed by Clement Glance Senior, an architect who designed a number of institutional buildings for the Catholic Church.
Review of Environment Factors Decision Statement
File size: (4.05 mb)
Review of Environmental Factors
File size: (23.73 mb)
Council Notifcation Letter July 2018.pdf
File size: (332.84 kb)
Heritage Council Application Dec 2018.pdf
Historic images courtesy of the Sisters of Charity Congregational Archives.
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