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__label__wiki	0.9063	0.9063	Drummakid Datum: 23 March 2016 Yaw (Eddy) Addai, born October 17th, 1991 also known as Drummakid, always had a major love for music. This began at a very young age while listening to traditional West African music. Growing up in a Ghanaian family music has always been an outlet. At home there was one family computer, which was always in his big brothers (Nana Yaw) room. As a ten year old every now and then Drummakid snuck into his brother’s room. Playing around on the family computer he got introduced with a program called FL Studio and started to experiment with making music. At the age of fourteen he began playing instruments in church together with his other brother (Ebenezer). This is where he developed his passion for playing the drums. After dropping out of college he and his “KRU“ decided to start their own band/movement called The Xperience. Very soon after Drummakid played the drums for various artists in the Dutch music scene such as: Berget Lewis, Jennie Lena, SEEKA, Zwart Licht XL and many more. While playing for Seeka he had a strong urge to be more than just a guiding drummer. He more likely felt the need to express himself throughout music and wanted to be more authentic. At this point he started producing his own music inspired by Kanye, Pharrel, Teddy Riley, Dr. Dre and others. After producing on his own for a while he joined forces with fellow musician and friend, Marvin Escobar. In spite of his parent’s disapproval Drummakid moved in with Marvin to continue making music fulltime. Together they created their own sound, which led to producing 23 songs for the first solo album of Zwart Licht member Akwasi, from which the song “Dorst” went Gold. During this period Drummakid started rapping on his own productions. His first project was an (unreleased) mixtape with Kalibwoy, who motivated him to pursue a solo career. Even though he was also drumming for successful rapper Typhoon, he still felt there was a missing piece to his puzzle. In March 2015 Drummakid released his first body of work ”Out Of The Blacc”. This EP was his first big step into this industry as a solo artist. Out Of The Blacc contains 5 songs, which are all produced by Drummakid. ”Out Of The Blacc is a first class ticket to my planet” The success of touring with Typhoon created possibilities for Drummakid to build his own fan base. He also discovered that he had a “special weapon”, performing his Raps behind the drums. This is when several people of the industry developed a love for Drummakid and felt the need to see him perform live as a solo act. A few months later he made a bookings deal with MOJO (Live Nation) Concerts and soon after he made his first live solo debut at the prestige Eurosonic Noorderslag festival. The future is looking very bright for Drummakid. 2016 will be the year of new releases, collabs and a lot of great performances. Stay tuned cause this “New Kid In Class” has a lot to bring and he definitely got “What U Need”. Zonin (Lyric Video) That''Il Do It (#TheArtofBanksy Banksessie 15.0 ) Hi Freq Girl	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2204
__label__wiki	0.706778	0.706778	Outfit worn by Kendall Jenner named as Fashion Museum’s Dress of the Year Monday 2nd December 2019 Bath Echo News Team Community The Fashion Museum Bath has revealed its Dress of the Year 2019, a pleated pink tulle dress by Giambattista Valli for H&M, selected by British Vogue’s Donna Wallace. Kendall Jenner, image courtesy of H&M © 2019 Pascal Le Segretainamf AR The dress became famous when it was modelled by Kendall Jenner, who wore it to the amfAR gala during Cannes Film Festival in May. “These are the girls who really marked extraordinary moments,” said Valli during the collection’s unveiling on YouTube. “One of the brand’s most historic moments was when Kendall came in with that couture dress on the red carpet at Cannes.” The pink tulle dress, which takes inspiration from Valli’s signature multi-tiered couture gowns, was part of a limited-edition, pre-collection range that was launched in selected H&M stores around the world in May 2019. The much-anticipated Giambattista Valli x H&M main collection, including his first foray into menswear, was unveiled in a lavish fashion show in a grand palazzo in Rome and went on sale to the public on 7th November 2019. Many items sold out within hours. Giambattista Valli was born and raised in Rome. Having worked for Capucci, Fendi and as Creative Director of Emanuel Ungaro, he launched his eponymous label in 2005. He showed his first haute couture collection in 2011. The designer is popular with celebrities such as Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Amal Clooney and Ariana Grande. Each year, the Fashion Museum invites a respected expert from the fashion industry to select an outfit that encapsulates the prevailing mood of fashion, represents the past year and captures the imagination. The Dress of the Year 2019 was chosen by Donna Wallace, Fashion and Accessories Editor at British Vogue. Donna Wallace said: “Giambattista Valli is best known for his incredible couture tulle creations in sophisticated pastel hues. “These rarefied pieces are designed to be worn in less than everyday settings. With this H&M collaboration, Giambattista makes something usually seen as elite and exclusive accessible. “Debuted and worn by Kendall Jenner, one of the biggest and most followed models of the moment, it was introduced to the world in the most modern of ways – not on a catwalk show but via our digital feeds. “It makes perfect sense to end the decade with such a youthful hue. No other colour has evolved and defined the decade as much as pink!” Giambattista Valli added: “It is an honour to be awarded this prize, to have one of my creations included alongside the iconic silhouettes that have been selected in the past. “I am very flattered, especially given the fact that this gown was born out of the collaboration with H&M; while based on the commercialized short version, it was created as a unique silhouette by our ateliers especially for Kendall Jenner to debut at the collaboration announcement in Cannes.” Rosemary Harden, Fashion Museum Manager, said: “Wow! This is a must-see selection for the Fashion Museum’s Dress of the Year 2019. “A huge thank you to Donna for such an inspired choice to represent the mood of fashion in 2019, and to H&M for working with us to bring the dress to Bath, for everyone to see. “There has been a ‘bright colour-big dress’ narrative in fashion this year, ranging from Jodie Comer’s pink tulle dress by Molly Goddard, worn to such devastating effect as the character Villanelle in BBC TV series Killing Eve, to frothy, candy-coloured dresses from houses such as Valentino and Viktor & Rolf, along with new boy Tomo Koizumi. “Giambattista Valli takes his place in dress history in authoring this trend, and in taking it one step further to work with leading global high street and online name H&M to create a version that anyone can wear, should they choose. “We are beyond thrilled that this grand dress, a dress for 2019, is on display here in Bath.” The Dress of the Year 2019 has now gone on display at the Fashion Museum. Next article Community programme launched in bid to improve and brighten Snow Hill Previous article College entrepreneurs enjoy business success at the Bath Christmas Market	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2206
__label__wiki	0.935001	0.935001	Scotland Politics Scotland Business Edinburgh, Fife & East Glasgow & West NE, Orkney & Shetland Tayside & Central Homelessness applications on the rise in Scotland duration 26 June 2019 The number of applications for homelessness status in Scotland has gone up for the second year in a row. Latest Scottish government figures show 36,465 people asked for help from their local council in 2018-19, up 3% on the previous year. It is the second year applications have risen after a period of consistent decline since 2005-06. The Scottish government said it was committed to ending homelessness for good. Glasgow saw the biggest increase in the number of people applying for homelessness status with 5,679 applications last year, up 8% on 2017-18. The city also accounted for 95% of the 3,535 Scotland-wide cases where a council did not fulfil its legal obligation to offer temporary accommodation to a homeless person. Elsewhere, East Ayrshire experienced a 29% hike in homelessness applications, while Fife dealt with 10% more than the previous year. image captionNearly 3,000 people were recorded by the official figures as having slept rough at least once in the three months prior to seeking help from their local council Gordon MacRae from Shelter Scotland said the figures exposed the devastating impact Scotland's "housing emergency" was having on people's lives. He added: "This is the human cost of our collective failure to build the homes we need. On an industrial scale, thousands of men, women and children are being denied their most basic right to a safe home." Mr MacRae said a household was being made homeless in Scotland every 17.5 minutes. "The question every citizen of Scotland must ask ourselves is how much longer are we prepared to tolerate this," he said. Overall, a total of 29,894 people were assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness in 2018-19, a 2% rise on the previous year and the third year in a row the tally has gone up. The figures also showed that rough sleeping remained an issue, with 2,876 people reporting they had slept without a proper roof over their head at least once in three months before applying for help. That figure was 8% higher than the 2017-18 tally. 'Specialist support' There were a total of 620 breaches of the rules on suitable accommodation offered to vulnerable people or families, an increase of 225 compared to the previous year. A total of 465 of these were in Edinburgh. Increasing numbers of people were also staying in temporary accommodation, such as B&Bs, the figures reveal. Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said it was "unacceptable" that citizens of a country with some of the strongest rights in the world found themselves without a home. He added: "Our Ending Homelessness Together action plan sets out a range of measures that support our ambition to eradicate rough sleeping, transform temporary accommodation and end homelessness altogether. "There are multiple, complex reasons why people sleep rough - many have experienced drug or alcohol addiction problems or suffer from poor mental health and require specialist support, in addition to a home, to tackle these issues. "We are investing in the Housing First programme because we recognise a permanent home as the best, stable platform to address needs and build a life." New plan to tackle Scottish homelessness proposed BBC Scotland - The Nine, 01-04-2019, Could Housing First end homelessness in Scotland- BBC - The Social, Scotland, Homelessness In Scotland	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2207
__label__cc	0.501288	0.498712	Flying High: A Conversation with Tyler and Rebecca Morse, Owners of MCR Hotels In the feature article of this issue of Owner to Owner, we sit down with Tyler Morse, founder and CEO of MCR Hotels, and his wife and creative partner, Rebecca Morse, to discuss developing the TWA Hotel, scaling the business and working with your spouse. The year was 1962. John F. Kennedy was president. John Glenn became the first American in space. West Side Story won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The TWA Flight Center, which was commissioned by Howard Hughes and designed by Eero Saarinen, opened at New York’s JFK International Airport. Nearly 60 years have gone by, but you can still transport yourself to 1962 by visiting the new TWA Hotel in the former terminal. No detail was spared by Tyler and Rebecca Morse of MCR Hotels in the development and creation of the hotel, down to the Saarinen mid-century modern furniture, TWA travel poster prints by David Klein, hotel uniforms by famed designer Stan Herman – who designed TWA flight attendant uniforms in the 1970s – rotary phones and Tab sodas that can be found throughout the property. BBH sat down with Tyler and Rebecca Morse to discuss their latest passion project: the TWA Hotel. In this excerpted interview, we also cover growing and funding MCR, which has purchased and built 130 hotels, leadership, their investment approach and working together as creative partners. Wheels up! Brown Brothers Harriman: Tyler and Rebecca, tell us a little about yourselves. Tyler Morse: I grew up in L.A. and went to college at UC Berkeley. I attended Harvard for business school and, after graduating 17 years ago, moved to New York. Leading up to founding MCR 14 years ago, I worked in a variety of different jobs. My experience has spanned from being a valet, ski instructor, airline baggage handler and even the youngest bank teller in the state of California to working at Ernst & Young, Morgan Stanley and Warner Music Group. I’m very proud of the diversity of my experience. MCR started with a single hotel in Huntsville, Alabama, then another in Kalamazoo, Michigan, then we kept building – Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri. We bought about 110 hotels and built 20 hotels. Today, we own about 100 and have sold 30 along the way. We have around 5,000 employees and do business in 27 different states. I love the hotel business. I’m also passionate about staying active. I’ve ridden my bike from Canada to Mexico, along the Pacific Coast Highway and Highway One. I’ve done five marathons and have done the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon three times. Rebecca Morse: Tyler and I graduated from Harvard the same year – he from the business school and I from the college. I was a corporate associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell for several years before Tyler encouraged me to pursue a career that used my creative passions. I worked as a writer for interior design and architecture publications, eventually becoming an editor-in-chief. I did everything from determining overall vision and look to researching, scouting locations and styling photo shoots. I loved it. When MCR began developing independent hotels, I saw the chance to apply those skills. BBH: How did MCR come to be? TM: After graduating from Harvard, I worked for Starwood Hotels and was Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht’s right hand guy. I bought and sold a lot of hotels and a couple of office buildings. I sold 350 acres of land in Italy and worked on buying a billion-and-a-half dollar pub business in the UK – everything you can imagine. One of the deals that I worked on was buying a company called Bliss, a spa, bath and beauty products company. The day before we closed, Barry Sternlicht suggested I run the business. Next thing you know, I’m the CEO of Bliss. I didn’t know anything about bath and beauty products, but I jumped in and grew the business from $30 million in sales to $110 million in sales over a three-and-a-half-year period. It was kind of an extraordinary run: it grew from being unprofitable to $17 million of EBITDA over that same period. But, I decided I didn’t want to spend my career in the cosmetics business. It wasn’t my passion, so I started MCR on a shoe-string budget with the Alabama hotel. BBH: Did you always want to be an entrepreneur? TM: Yes, I’ve always known that I’m an entrepreneur. It’s in the blood. BBH: What about your passion for hotels? Was there something deep-seated there or did it develop over time? TM: I like hotels because I love traveling and the travel business. I’ve traveled to 95 countries and have flown eight or nine million miles on commercial airliners – 98% of that in the middle seat on the back of the bus. The hotel business is very dynamic. It’s the most complicated of the real estate asset classes, and it changes every day. Its complexity is the barrier to entry. There are about 58,000 hotels, just in the United States. I’d say that 15% of them are run really well, so that creates a great deal of opportunity. BBH: How did you start the first one? Did you create a fund? TM: No, it was deal by deal up until 2016. We’d find a good investment, call up some friends and family and capitalize the equity and then get a bank loan. It started with small hotels, then grew to medium-sized ones. I did a couple of individually capitalized portfolio acquisitions, then we raised a discretionary fund in 2016. We are almost finished deploying the fund. BBH: You touched on this when you said that only 15% of hotels are well run. What does it take to be a well-run hotel, and how do you differentiate when there are so many of them out there? TM: I would say it’s partly design – the creativity behind the building. You have to activate them every month – that’s what keeps people coming back. I subscribe to the European hotel model, where hotels are meeting places for communities. They are not just about the guests that are in the building; they are about the surrounding neighborhood. So, it is part design and creativity, part distribution. The distribution landscape continues to change. It’s important how you manage your sales channels, and it’s really quite complicated. You can always sell the rooms, but it’s a question of what price you can sell them for. If you give away the rooms early at a low price, then you leave some profitability on the table. If you take more risk and hold back your inventory and wait until closer to the time of stay, you could potentially get more profits, but you might go empty. You’ve got to play that risk analysis game. BBH: Rebecca, you worked with Tyler on The High Line Hotel. Talk about how you identified the opportunity and the development of the hotel. RM: The High Line Hotel is a dream project – a magnificent architectural jewel in the middle of one of New York City’s most charming areas. The High Line Hotel was a former Episcopalian Seminary, turned former priest housing, which we transformed into a hotel. Our beautiful building feels like the grand dame of Chelsea, and we’ve always wanted it to be an anchor for our special neighborhood. Our seasonal events are open to all, free of charge. It has been thrilling to see our annual Halloween dog costume parade grow from a quirky neighborhood tradition to an event attended by hundreds of people and their pets. The first year we hosted an Easter egg hunt, I stayed up all night assembling paper Easter egg lanterns, and Tyler and I hung them from the trees in the front yard while our older daughter slept in her stroller. Five years later, we have lines for blocks to get into a party that includes a petting zoo and crafts. And our holiday tree lighting in December is a must-do – whether to see our spectacular evergreen aglow or to enjoy a couple hot toddies! But what I’m most proud of is the vibe of The High Line Hotel. It’s incredibly cool of course. But the feeling is one of total openness and warmth. I love walking through the lobby and seeing locals, couples, tourists, babies, dogs, grandparents – it’s as eclectic and welcoming as New York City itself. There are different languages being spoken, families visiting, novels being written on laptops, meetings taking place – there are always a lot of great stories unfolding in The High Line Hotel lobby. BBH: How much of MCR operations is centralized versus decentralized? TM: We have about 200 people above property and about 4,800 people who work in the hotels. We have two offices, one in New York and one in Dallas, and that is where revenue management, operations, e-commerce, creative acquisitions, marketing and sales all sit. We purposely don’t distribute out the IT role to individual hotels; we keep that at corporate, and we do the same thing with marketing. Marketing is a very challenging field. Traditionally, hotels promote themselves from within the building. We centralize that and then push it out to our individual hotels. BBH: How do you spend your time and think about leadership? TM: There’s no shortage of hotels out there; they’re everywhere. A huge part of how you differentiate your hotel company is culture. People want to have fun when they come to work. We look at fun in a competitive way: doing it better than the other guys. It’s fun to outperform the competitors. There’s a metric in the hotel business called rev-par index, which is revenue per available room. It’s an amalgam of distribution and IT and marketing and great customer service and loyalty. The metric lets you assess daily performance and informs how we can create an exceptional guest experience so they keep coming back. When you see yourself winning, that’s fun. We say, “happy employees lead to happy guests.” The happiness gets passed through, so if the team is happy, then the guests are happy. And if the team is not happy, then the guests definitely won’t be happy. BBH: How would you describe your investment approach? How do you think about investing in new properties? TM: To put it succinctly, what’s our edge? What can we do with this hotel better than the people we are running it for? It’s about differentiating. And how can we best our competitors? BBH: What would you say is your biggest success and your biggest challenge as CEO? TM: Launching the TWA Hotel was a big deal. Raising our second discretionary investment fund was a big success. The biggest challenge is integrating the teams when you have thousands of people. We have an annual general manager conference, and we are up to 500 people attending it now. It’s about bringing the team together and getting everybody to work collaboratively towards progress. BBH: You mentioned TWA. How did that project come to be? It was definitely unique compared to what else you had previously done. TM: Yes, it was. We won an RFP from The Port Authority of New York. It was a very opened-ended RFP, but we beat some strong competitors. People often ask me why we won, and I think it’s because we had a good financial plan, a great operating plan and terrific creative. The design of the buildings and the project, as well as the enthusiasm for the project, was what won us the deal. We won it about five years ago, and then it took us about four-and-a-half years to bring it all together. It’s a national historical landmark, which creates a lot of additional challenges and a lot of additional hurdles to jump through. In all, we dealt with 22 government agencies and 176 national consulting firms. It’s such a stunning building, and I think a lot of people appreciate the care and the detail that we put into it. RM: I remember walking through the TWA Flight Center right after MCR won the deal. It had been boarded up for over a decade, but you could still feel the magic of the building. It was palpable. And now this wonderful American architectural icon is open for everyone to enjoy – whether you are an overnight guest, a gym member, have a dinner reservation at Jean-Georges’ Paris Café or are just wandering through. My favorite Friday night activity is sitting in The Sunken Lounge watching how delighted people are with the hotel – whether twisting in the Twister Room, browsing at the TWA Shop or taking in the interactive museum exhibits and custom Solari Board messages. BBH: Tell me about how you and Rebecca became creative partners. TM: Rebecca has always been my creative partner. The High Line Hotel was when we started to work together professionally. She got excited about it, and we got excited about working together. We went from The High Line to TWA, and now she runs our creative group. We have about 15 people in the group, and they do a terrific job. BBH: What are the dynamics of working with a spouse like? TM: There are differences of opinions, in how to execute different creative functions, but that’s standard in any working relationship. We have a mutual respect and trust that two co-workers just don’t have. That carries us through. RM: I share Tyler’s vision of MCR as a place of integrity, respect, innovation and excellence. We are lucky. We have the most unbelievable people at MCR – from the property teams to the corporate staff. To me, they all feel like family. Having shared goals is extremely efficient. Between the two of us, we can get a lot done in one day. We have each other’s backs. We really listen to each other and can both make each other laugh! BBH: You have two relatively young kids. Do you see this becoming a family business? Would you encourage them to work with you at some point? TM: I love what I do; Rebecca loves what she does; and I think that’s the most important thing. Our two daughters are eight and five. They are amazing. If they want to be in this business, we’d love that, but the key to success in life is enjoying what you do. I wouldn’t want to push them into this if they were not passionate about it. There are a lot of different directions you can go in hotels and real estate development, so they may find something they love, and that’d be terrific. RM: I hope our daughters pursue their own passions, whatever those may be – just like my parents encouraged me to do. On the other hand, they already work with MCR in a way. Our kitchen island has been the scene of as many meetings as any boardroom, and the girls are not shy with their opinions. And they have some great ideas. They spend a lot of time at all of our properties. I think MCR’s hotels feel like familiar and warm landing spots to them. I hope they feel like that to all visitors. No matter what our daughters end up doing, the hotel industry has been helpful in exposing them to the idea of a strong work ethic. I think it’s difficult for children to conceptualize spreadsheets being manipulated on a computer or emails being typed on an iPhone. At a hotel, the concept of hard work is quite tangible. It’s easier for someone young to grasp – there are rooms to be cleaned, suitcases to be carried, coffees to be made, cars to be parked. From managers to housekeepers to chefs, there are many roles to be filled, each quite different, each equally integral to a team that can only function as a sum of its parts. It is a concept that is important to us and which we have endeavored to show our daughters. BBH: What the biggest risk you’ve ever taken at MCR? TM: Probably TWA. We were a relatively small firm; it’s a big project; and it was a very challenging project. It’s something we’re extremely proud of, but there were a lot of sleepless nights. BBH: Are there plans to do more unique hotels? TM: We have some other projects up our sleeves! BBH: Tyler and Rebecca, thank you so much for your time and insights. Interview conducted by Jacob Turner and article written by Maddy Pellow and Jacob Turner. Contact BBH Send us an email	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2208
__label__wiki	0.679284	0.679284	BioCatch’s series C increases to $168 million with additional $20 million investment by Barclays, Citi, HSBC and NAB banks The company also announced the establishment of a new board to develop new ways to leverage and scale the unique attributes of behavior Hagar Ravet 16:4730.09.20 Israeli startup BioCatch announced on Wednesday the extension of its series C financing round by an additional $20 million invested by four major global banks – Barclays, Citi, HSBC and National Australia Bank (NAB) – to increase the round to a total of $168 million. BioCatch has so far raised $215 million in total, with its investors including venture capital firm Maverick Ventures. American Express Ventures, the strategic investment group of American Express, CreditEase, Bain Capital, Bloomberg and Jerusalem-based equity crowdfunding firm OurCrowd. BioCatch COO Gadi Mazor. Photo: BioCatch The company, which was founded in 2011 by Avi Turgeman (CTO), Uri Rivner (Chief Cyber Officer), and Benny Rosenbaum, employs 160 people, 100 of them in Israel and the rest in London, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, Mumbai, and Boston. BioCatch is active in the behavioral biometrics field: the research of digital behavior by users from a physical and cognitive standpoint in order to protect them and their data from fraud in the digital space. Analyzing behavioral traits by users provides insights that can help prevent fraud even without exposing personal data and allows to identify hackers before the transfer of funds is completed, providing good protection for banks, their clients, and their assets. BioCatch announced that In conjunction with the funding it has established the BioCatch Client Innovation Board with the investing banks. The board will be a collaborative forum where members will meet regularly to develop new ways to leverage and scale the unique attributes of behavior. The four investing banks and longtime BioCatch investor American Express Ventures will each be allocated two seats on Client Innovation Board. One of the board’s key focus areas will be on the development of advanced solutions for online fraud, which has increased by 50% since the outbreak of Covid-19. Board members will also work closely with each other and with the company to explore how collaboration and network effects can effectively combat online fraud and identity theft at an industry wide level. According to the company, behavior provides signals about whether online users are actually whom they purport to be, without revealing personally identifiable information. Flagging potential fraudsters before they can transfer funds from an account drives digital transformation and protects banks, their clients and their assets "The concept is to allow close work with the banks in order to understand what is really troubling them,therefore we have a big group of banks that will provide feedback in the forum," Gadi Mazor, COO of BioCatch told Calcalist. "Furthermore, believe that strong solutions for fraud must use the network effect, meaning collaborations between the entire industry." Isn't there a conflict of interests or competition between the banks, who are interested in gaining an advantage over their rivals? "There is an understanding in the industry that there is a need to fight fraud together and in certain countries the regulator is demanding that more of these organizations be founded. We have encountered situations in which banks told us that they wanted exclusivity but there is agreement that you need to work together in order to fight fraud." How has Covid-19 affected the rise in fraud cases? "Studies have shown an increase of between 30-50% in fraud cases. The main reason for that is that all the banking anti-fraud systems are based on finding anomalies. For example, when we could still travel abroad frequently the anti-fraud system would check where we were making credit transactions from and blocked the card if a strange location popped up. But since March all of these systems have become erratic because everything has changed. We are buying different things at irregular times. That has resulted in these systems giving inaccurate alerts and that is why fraud is on the rise. People are also at home more so it is easier to trick them and acquire their credit card details. The advantage of our system is that the only constant is user’s behavior." Howard Edelstein, BioCatch chairman and CEO said: “We have already seen the power of collaboration in solving difficult problems in other areas of the financial services industry, such as clearing corps, transaction networks, post-trade processing, margin calculation and collateral management, when banks work together and share knowledge, workflow and data in the common interest.” eToro is on its way to a Nasdaq IPO at a $5 billion valuation “We aim to be the largest gaming company in the world,” says Playtika CEO	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2210
__label__wiki	0.635212	0.635212	Invented in California: Wetsuits Health & Fitness Lifestyle By California.com For surfers and divers, wetsuits are a way of life, a wardrobe staple, a necessity that is often taken for granted—but they have not even been around for 75 years. While the exact history of wetsuits is debated, one thing remains clear: Wetsuits were invented in California. The groundbreaking invention allowed individuals to stay underwater longer, aiding the Navy in performing life-saving practices and spurring on a new form of surfing. Before being crafted from neoprene, diving suits were made of rubber and canvas and weighed around 30 pounds; they also needed to be used in conjunction with a copper helmet, which weighed approximately 55 pounds. Despite their weight, these original wetsuits (called the Mark V) performed well enough to allow military divers to venture deeper into the ocean’s depths than they had previously been able to. Originally made for U.S. Navy divers so they could venture deeper into the ocean, early versions of wetsuits were crafted from canvas and rubber and weighed approximately 30 pounds. Does your business rank among the best in California? Recomended businesses Show me California.com Recommended Businesses near Discover the best of California. Our recommended businesses are top-quality and are committed to their communities. Event Services & Venues What does it mean to be a California.com Recommended Business? Learn more about our selection criteria and vetting process. Additional research began during World War II, when Americans noticed that the Italian frogmen wore rubber diving suits and were self-contained divers that did not require air lines. The invention of rebreathers in 1910 changed scuba-diving gear forever and inspired a new generation to innovate a better, more modern wetsuit in America. This triggered research into various kinds of rubber, the outcome of which was neoprene. A new kind of wetsuit was invented in 1951, when Berkeley physicist Hugh Bradner began experimenting with neoprene in an effort to redesign the equipment for the American frogmen. This rubbery synthetic material—which clung tight to the skin, like a glove—allowed a small amount of water to be trapped between the wearer’s body and the suit, warming the water to body temperature and acting as a better insulator. At the onset, these wetsuits were not lined on the inside and needed to be coated in talcum powder, and they were not strong enough to avoid tears; these flaws allowed for more experimentation and innovation as the years went by, resulting in the wetsuits worn today. Unfortunately, for Bradner—who is still considered to be the father of wetsuits—his invention was not patented. After undergoing various iterations over the years, modern-day wetsuits have become a second skin for surfers across California. While wetsuits became known and loved worldwide, the debate between who initially created them continues. For those who interacted with Bradner, there is little doubt that he was the first, but for others, it is easier to believe wetsuits were pioneered by the large companies that are now household names: Body Glove and O’Neill. As the years went by and these companies continued to improve their methods, wetsuits became lined with nylon, which simultaneously made the suits less sticky and less flexible. To mitigate this, two layers of neoprene were sewn together using blind stitching so that holes were not created in the wetsuit during the sewing process. Neoprene wetsuits of various thicknesses allowed for different levels of warmth and protection against particulates in the ocean’s waters, further opening the market and providing additional ease for divers. Surfing icon and businessman Jack O'Neill is credited with popularizing neoprene wetsuits, which help shield surfers from the frigid water temperatures of Northern California. Since these impressive, industry-changing discoveries, companies have created all kinds of variations to fit every sport and need, including: zip-up wetsuits, non-zip wetsuits, suits with thermoplastic materials to increase insulation, wetsuits with spandex to boost maneuverability, wetsuits with taped seams, women’s wetsuits, and kids’ wetsuits. Regardless of who invented the wetsuit as we now know it, all of these incredible minds in California helped to improve the ways in which we experience the ocean. The modern wetsuit created a niche for cold-water surfing; allowed the military to become more efficient; and enables divers to head down deeper than imagined to protect our coral reefs, understand marine life, and better care for our planet. These 9 Spots Offer The Best Snorkeling in California From wild NorCal shores to manicured SoCal beaches, here's where to find the best snorkeling spots in the Golden State....Read more The 15 California Fitness Bloggers to Follow This Year Check out the best health and fitness blogs from California trainers for access to workout videos, training tips, and health …...Read more 11 Easy Ways To Live a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle in California February is American Heart Health Month, so there’s no better time to begin a heart-healthy diet and explore California’s natural …...Read more The 15 Most Romantic Things To Do in L.A. Looking to spice up your typical date-night routine? These unique date ideas in L.A. are bound to do the trick....Read more	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2211
__label__wiki	0.752339	0.752339	Facilities Holding Immigrant Children Will Be Reviewed By The Inspector General The Department of Health and Human Services will not be looking into allegations of abuse, which are being investigated separately. By Salvador Hernandez Salvador Hernandez BuzzFeed News Reporter Last updated on June 27, 2018, at 9:43 p.m. ET Posted on June 27, 2018, at 6:52 p.m. ET Brynn Anderson / AP Immigrant children outside the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children in Homestead, Florida. The Health and Human Services inspector general is launching a wide-ranging review of all facilities that are housing undocumented immigrant children, officials said Wednesday. The review, which is expected to be completed before the end of the year, will look at steps being taken by the agency and contractors "to ensure the health and safety" of children found unaccompanied at the border, as well as those separated from their families, officials told BuzzFeed News. The review comes as local and federal lawmakers press US Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services, known as HHS, for details on where the children are being held and how officials plan to reunite them with relatives. An HHS spokesperson told BuzzFeed News the inspections will focus on training, qualifications, and background checks conducted of facility employees, as well as their response to "incidents of harm." The inspection will not previous at allegations of abuse at the facilities, which are expected to be conducted separately. Some of the children under the care of HHS are placed in facilities run by private companies under contract with the federal government, and the inspection is expected to look at how these contractors have responded to a sudden spike of unaccompanied children in custody, according to the agency. As of Tuesday, HHS officials said 2,053 children who had been separated from their relatives at the border were currently in their care. The children were separated from their families after the Trump administration's implementation of a "zero tolerance" policy that sought criminal prosecution for all adults caught trying to enter the border anywhere but at a port of entry. But there were signs that the Trump administration was looking to continue the practice of detaining the immigrant families, and to expand the government's ability to house them. On Wednesday, the Department of Defense said it had received a request from the Department of Homeland Security to search for facilities to expand housing capacity by 12,000 people. "DHS requests that DoD identify any available facilities that could be used for that purpose," the Department of Defense said in a statement. "If facilities are not available, DoD has been asked to identify available DoD land and construct semi-separate, soft-sided camp facilities capable of sheltering up to 4,000 people, at three separate locations." The DHS added that it preferred locations on the border, including Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. It was unclear when the Department of Defense would be able to complete the request, but the DHS asked that the Pentagon increase their capacity by at least 2,000 people within 45 days. The announcements came after a federal judge on Tuesday night ordered the Trump administration to end separations for most families at the border and to begin the process to reunite children with their parents. But federal and local officials have been complaining about a lack of information from federal agencies. And Wednesday, Democratic lawmakers also called for the release of "basic" information about the children in detention. Even Lawmakers Say They Have No Idea How The Government Plans To Reunify Immigrant Kids And Parents Immigrant Kids Separated From Their Parents Are Being Moved All Over The US, And The Trump Administration Won’t Say Where Salvador Hernandez is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in Los Angeles. Contact Salvador Hernandez at salvador.hernandez@buzzfeed.com.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2214
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S. H.RES. S.RES. H.CON.RES. S.CON.RES. H.J.RES. S.J.RES. H.AMDT. S.AMDT. Status All Passed Failed On Floor Enacted Into Law Featured Read full text at Congress.gov John M Spratt Jr. D-SC 5th 18 Cosponsors Oct 15, 2008: Became Law Crime and law enforcement October 15, 2008 Became Public Law No: 110-424. October 15, 2008 Signed by President. October 7, 2008 Presented to President. October 1, 2008 Message on Senate action sent to the House. September 30, 2008 Cleared for White House. September 30, 2008 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. September 30, 2008 Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10184) August 1, 2008 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. 7:51 PM EDT The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. 7:51 PM EDT Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 7:51 PM EDT On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 7/29/2008 H7232) 7:50 PM EDT Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7707) 4:09 PM EDT At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. King (IA) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn. 3:59 PM EDT DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6083. Show Debate Speakers 3:59 PM EDT Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7232-7233) 3:59 PM EDT Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. 12:34 PM EDT Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-784 . July 29, 2008 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 503. July 29, 2008 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-784. July 16, 2008 Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. July 16, 2008 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. May 19, 2008 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. May 19, 2008 Introduced in House Show All 23 Actions Roscoe Bartlett, R-MD 6th James Clyburn, D-SC 6th Steve Rothman, D-NJ 9th Dutch Ruppersberger, D-MD 2nd Artur Davis, D-AL 7th Bill Delahunt, D-MA 10th Chet Edwards, D-TX 17th Tim Walz, D-MN 1st Elton Gallegly, R-CA 24th David Loebsack, D-IA 2nd Keith Ellison, D-MN 5th David Wu, D-OR 1st Earl Blumenauer, D-OR 3rd Mike Turner, R-OH 3rd Steve Cohen, D-TN 9th Bruce Braley, D-IA 1st Joe Wilson, R-SC 2nd Nick Rahall II, D-WV 3rd Show All 18 Cosponsors	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2216
__label__wiki	0.671348	0.671348	US Supreme Court Decisions On-Line> Volume 283 > NEW JERSEY V. CITY OF NEW YORK, 283 U. S. 473 (1931) NEW JERSEY V. CITY OF NEW YORK, 283 U. S. 473 (1931) New Jersey v. City of New York, 283 U.S. 473 (1931) New Jersey v. City of New York No. 17, original 1. The Court approve the findings of it Special Master showing that the City of New York creates a nuisance in New Jersey by dumping into the ocean large quantities of garbage which subsequently float into New Jersey water and are washed up upon New Jersey bathing beaches, and that the City has unreasonably delayed to make provision for disposing of garbage by incineration. Pp. 283 U. S. 478, 283 U. S. 482. 2. Having jurisdiction of the defendant and of the property injured by the nuisance, the Court has jurisdiction to enjoin the defendant from dumping garbage in the ocean beyond the waters of New Jersey and of the United States. P. 283 U. S. 482. 3. The fact that the garbage is dumped at places permitted by the Supervisor of the Harbor of New York under the Act of June 29, 1888, does not affect the Court's jurisdiction or constitute a defense. Id. 4. A reasonable time should be accorded the City within which to carry out its plan for the erection and operation of incinerators, or to provide other means, to be approved by the decree, for disposing of the objectionable substances, and the case is again referred to the Special Master to find what is such reasonable time. P. 283 U. S. 483. Hearing on defendant's exceptions to the report of the Special Master, in a suit brought in this Court by the State of New Jersey against the City of New York for an injunction. chanrobles.com-red MR. JUSTICE BUTLER delivered the opinion of the Court. New Jersey invokes our original jurisdiction under § 2, Art. III, of the Constitution. The complaint alleges that the City of New York for many years has dumped and still is dumping noxious, offensive, and injurious materials -- all of which are for brevity called garbage -- into the ocean; that great quantities of the same moving on or near the surface of the water frequently have been and are being cast upon the beaches belonging to the state, its municipalities and its citizens, thereby creating a public nuisance and causing great and irreparable injury. It prays an injunction restraining chanrobles.com-red the city from dumping garbage into the ocean or waters of the United States off the coast of New Jersey and from otherwise polluting its waters and beaches. Defendant by its amended answer denies the allegations that constitute the gravamen of the complaint. For a first defense, it states that for many years it has dumped garbage into the Atlantic Ocean under the supervision of the Supervisor of the Harbor of New York and in accordance with permits issued by him under the Act of June 29, 1888 (33 U.S.C. §§ 441, 443, 449 and 451) at points about 8, 12, and 20 miles southeast from the Scotland Lightship and about 10, 12 1/2, and 22 miles, respectively. from the New Jersey shore, and not in the waters of New Jersey or of the United States, and that, in view of these facts, the Court has no authority to enjoin it from so dumping garbage. And, for a second defense, it alleges that, for many years, garbage in large quantities has been and is being dumped by others inside and outside the entrance of the harbor and at various places from 2 1/2 to 8 miles from the New Jersey shore and at other places from 3 to 25 miles southeast of Scotland Light, that this material would float upon the New Jersey beaches alleged to have been polluted, that it is impossible to determine whether garbage dumped by defendant is carried to such beaches, and that, if any injury or damage is suffered by New Jersey, its municipalities or citizens, the injury is not chargeable to defendant. And, for a third defense, it alleges that the complaint fails to state facts sufficient to entitle plaintiff to any relief. The Court appointed Edward K. Campbell as special master and authorized him to take and report the evidence together with his findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations for a decree. The master filed his report and the evidence introduced by the parties. It sets forth his findings, conclusions, and recommendations. chanrobles.com-red The substance of the findings of facts follows: New Jersey borders on the Atlantic for about 100 miles. The shore principally involved extends from Atlantic Highlands southerly 50 miles to Beach Haven. On this stretch of shore, there are 29 municipalities. The state has conveyed or leased portions of the frontage to municipalities and individuals. It still owns 285,000 lineal feet between Sea Bright and Beach Haven. Municipalities have about 13,000 lineal feet, and private parties the rest. The assessed value of property within these municipalities exceeds $139,000,000, and their population is more than 160,000. They are summer resorts, and the number of summer visitors is many times greater than their population. The beaches are gently sloping and wide, and have been improved at great expense. The ocean and bathing, fishing, and boating are the principal attractions. Inhabitants of the municipalities chiefly depend for their livelihood upon the business of maintaining these summer resorts. Approximately 500 persons are engaged in the operation of fish pounds constructed under authority of the state within three nautical miles from the coastline. This is a commercial activity that results in the taking of large quantities of fish annually. Vast amounts of garbage are cast on the beaches by the waters of the ocean, and extend in piles and windrows along them. These deposits are unsightly and noxious, constitute a menace to public health, and tend to reduce property values. Prompt removal is necessary, and men are regularly employed to haul them away. At times, there are 50 truckloads deposited on a single beach. When garbage is carried upon the shore, the adjacent waters hold large quantities in suspension. Floating garbage makes bathing impracticable, frequently tears and damages fish pound nets, and injuriously affects the business of fishing. Usually the sea along the shore clears within a few days, chanrobles.com-red and sometimes within a single day. The deposits generally occur when the winds are from the east or northeast, but sometimes southeast winds bring them in. The heavier deposits occur four or five times in a season, and frequently throughout the year varying in number on different beaches. For about 20 years prior to 1918, defendant disposed of its garbage by a reduction system, and, except for a brief period in 1906, did not dump any at sea. A plant was destroyed by fire in 1917, and a contractor failed. It then applied to the supervisor of the harbor for permission to dispose of its garbage at sea, and, because of the conditions then existing, he gave such permission and designated a dumping place. But later, because of complaint from New Jersey beaches, he designated the areas specified in defendant's answer. The defendant has installed and uses some incinerating plants, but, by reason of increasing population and volume of garbage, the quantities still being dumped at sea are very large. Weather permitting, the city dumps garbage daily. Less is dumped in the winter than in the summer. In February, 1929, the quantity was 52,000 cubic yards, while in June of the same year, it was 192,000. When dumped, the mass forms piles about a foot above the water, spreads over the surface, and breaks into large areas. Some materials remain on the surface, and others are held in suspension. These masses float for indefinite periods, and have been found to move at the rate of more than a mile per hour. Areas of garbage have been seen between the dumping places and the New Jersey beaches, and some have been followed from the place where dumped to the shore. In his report to the chief of engineers for 1918 and in each of his subsequent annual reports the supervisor of the Harbor of New York stated that garbage deposited in the sea, no matter what the distance from the shore, is liable to wash up on the beaches. chanrobles.com-red The master concluded that large parts of these floating and submerged areas of garbage dumped by the defendant are driven and carried by winds and water to and upon the shores of the plaintiff, and constitute the objectionable materials thereon and in the adjacent water. In 1907, a committee appointed by the mayor reported to him: "All of the refuse collections could be dumped into the Atlantic Ocean, but unfortunately the least harmful material sinks and the foulest floats, so that much of the floatable mass will be scattered along beaches through the action of current and wind. This fouling of beaches creates a nuisance that the public should not be asked to tolerate." In June, 1921, a committee composed of heads of departments and officials of the city reported to the mayor: "Aside, however, from the question of cost it, seems undesirable to dump garbage at sea, as it is being done at present. It is known that the federal authorities quietly resent, if they do not openly object to it, and there is always the possibility of objections from other communities which have in the past claimed that they have been injured by the practice. When these objections become sufficiently strong, it may be that New York will find itself so unprepared as to be unable to quickly introduce a more satisfactory form of disposal." The defendant, through its mayor and other representatives, has for years been informed that the dumping of its garbage is undesirable, and that other municipalities by the sea have suffered injury as the result of such dumping. Governors and the Legislature of New Jersey have repeatedly complained to defendant. In 1929 the city had 20 incinerators, and considerable garbage is being destroyed by them. In December of that year, the department of sanitation presented to the mayor a program for increasing the number. The cause of the delay in providing an adequate disposal system was not shown. chanrobles.com-red The master concluded that the method of disposing of garbage by dumping at sea was not an approved or a good system, and disposition of such material by incineration or the "reduction system" was a proper way to dispose of the same. He found that the delay of defendant in adopting a proper method of disposal had been unreasonably long. The master found that whatever garbage reaches the plaintiff's shores from vessels and other dumpings than those of the defendant was negligible in comparison with that constantly being dumped by the defendant. As his conclusions of law, the master reports that the defendant has created and continues to create a public nuisance on the property of New Jersey, and that the latter is entitled to relief in accordance with the prayer of its complaint, but that defendant should be given reasonable time within which to put into operation sufficient incinerators. He recommends that decree be entered accordingly. The plaintiff filed no exceptions to the master's report. The defendant excepted to substantially all material findings and conclusions. The Court has heard the arguments of counsel for the respective parties and considered their briefs for and against the exceptions and upon final submission of the case. The evidence abundantly sustains the findings of fact. The defendant maintains that the master erred in concluding that it has unnecessarily delayed providing incinerators. The record shows that garbage gathered in the Boroughs of Queens and Richmond has not been dumped at sea. The quantities shown to have been so dumped were taken from the Boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx, and Brooklyn. The amounts collected, the amounts dumped, and the percentage that the latter is of the former for the years 1924 to 1929 inclusive were shown in the evidence, chanrobles.com-red and are indicated in the margin. * While such percentages have substantially decreased, the diminution of quantities actually dumped has been relatively slight. Further discussion of the evidence would serve no useful purpose. It is enough to say that defendant has suggested no adequate reason for disturbing the findings. They are approved and adopted by the Court. Defendant contends that, as it dumps the garbage into the ocean and not within the waters of the United States or of New Jersey, this Court is without jurisdiction to grant the injunction. But the defendant is before the Court and the property of plaintiff and its citizens that is alleged to have been injured by such dumping is within the Court's territorial jurisdiction. The situs of the acts creating the nuisance, whether within or without the United States, is of no importance. Plaintiff seeks a decree in personam to prevent them in the future. The Court has jurisdiction. Cf. 10 U. S. 158 et seq.; Hart v. Sansom, 110 U. S. 151, 110 U. S. 154; Cole v. Cunningham, 133 U. S. 107, 133 U. S. 116; Philadelphia Co. v. Stimson,@ 223 U. S. 605, 223 U. S. 622-623. There is no merit in defendant's contention, suggested in its amended answer, that compliance with the supervisor's permits in respect of places designated for dumping of its garbage leaves the Court without jurisdiction to grant the injunction prayed and relieves defendant in respect of the nuisance resulting from the dumping. There is nothing in the Act that purports to give to one chanrobles.com-red dumping at places permitted by the supervisor immunity from liability for damage or injury thereby caused to others or to deprive one suffering injury by reason of such dumping of relief that he otherwise would be entitled to have. There is no reason why it should be given that effect. The master's conclusions of law and recommendations for a decree are approved. A decree will be entered declaring that the plaintiff, the State of New Jersey, is entitled to an injunction as prayed in the complaint, but that, before injunction shall issue, a reasonable time will be accorded to the defendant, the City of New York, within which to carry into effect its proposed plan for the erection and operation of incinerators to destroy the materials such as are now being dumped by it at sea or to provide other means to be approved by the decree for the disposal of such materials. And, inasmuch as the evidence does not disclose what is such reasonable time, the case is referred to the same special master for findings of fact upon that subject. He is authorized and directed to hear witnesses presented by each of the parties, and, should he deem it necessary so to do, to call witnesses of his own selection and then with all convenient speed to report to the Court his findings and a form of decree. Amount collected (from 3 boroughs Amount Approximate Year only) cu yds. Dumped at Sea Percentage 1924 1,837,970 1,675,657 .91 1925 1,812,251 1,517,934 .83 2/10 1928 1,955,818 1,378,572 . 70	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2219
__label__wiki	0.547541	0.547541	CHCF Blog Listening to Black Californians: Racism and Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic By Vanessa Grubbs Lisa Bruce, a single mom raising five school-age children, keeps her family afloat financially as a caregiver for three elderly clients in Barstow, California. Photo: Harrison Hill The COVID-19 pandemic has been wreaking havoc across the US for eight months, and new cases and deaths are reaching alarming and record-setting heights. For many Americans, especially people of color with low incomes, the effects of the pandemic are far more personal than the devastating numbers that dominate news media reports. To better understand the scope of the pandemic’s impact on the health care experiences of California’s residents with low incomes, CHCF conducted the Listening to Californians with Low-Incomes Survey in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, a national research organization. The survey, conducted last summer, focused on adults between 18 and 64 years old who had consulted a health care professional since March 2019. The widespread systemic racism faced by Black people has been tragically exemplified by the disproportionate number who have died of COVID-19. While Black people make up 6% of the state’s population and slightly more than 4% of COVID-19 cases, they account for 7.3% of deaths. The survey captured the impact of racism on the lives of Black survey respondents. In spite of the anti-Asian hate that intensified during the pandemic, only 9% of California Asian survey participants responded that the “impact of racism on my and my family’s health and safety” is the most concerning thing to them. That response was a distant third to “fear of getting COVID-19” and “the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on me and my family.” In contrast, 21% of Black survey participants responded that racism was their greatest concern, neck and neck with the 22% who said the pandemic’s economic impact was their top concern. About Listening to Californians with Low Incomes CHCF partnered with NORC, a national research organization, to conduct a statewide survey of the health care experiences of California residents between 18 and 64 years old who received health care since March 2019. The survey included an oversampling of residents with low incomes. NORC asked respondents about their health care concerns, experiences, and access before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as about their experiences with racial discrimination and the pandemic’s impact on employment and insurance coverage. The report, published in October 2020, highlights key survey findings focused on telehealth experiences, health care access, mental health, pandemic-related stresses, and experiences with racial discrimination. CHCF plans to interview Californians with low incomes to add important context to the numerical findings and to document their experiences in their own words. A final report with the interviews will be released in early 2021. Black Californians are being hit hard by these compounding stresses. For many, it is affecting their physical and mental health. For those whose mental health is worsening, this further complicates the baseline level of general stress that was high before the pandemic. While 17% of survey participants overall rated their mental or emotional health before the pandemic as “fair or poor,” 21% of Black participants did so. Worsened Mental Health Among Black respondents, 73% said their mental health status remained unchanged since the start of the pandemic, but 17% perceived that their mental health had worsened. Lisa Bruce was among the 17%. As a caregiver for three seniors in Barstow, California, Bruce, 40, drives from home to home, attending to her clients’ needs as she has done for years. She is among the essential workers who had to go out in those early, frightening days. “I’m in and out of homes all day,” she says to explain why she purchased her own personal protective equipment and paid $20 for one can of Lysol in the early weeks of the pandemic when many merchants were price gouging. “Worrisome” is the word she uses to describe her experience with the pandemic. She has noticed more frequent flare-ups of her eczema and asthma since California issued shelter-in-place orders in March. She finds the masks uncomfortable and wheezes when she walks, but she does not want to go to the doctor. Her clinic was not capable of telehealth visits early in the pandemic. And when she did seek help for the anxiety contributing to her flareups, her primary care provider simply referred her to a behavioral health clinic where, she said, crowds of people were always standing in line for walk-in appointments. She did not want to risk getting sick and worried that her usual asthma symptoms might be mistaken for COVID-19 symptoms, and she would be told to quarantine. She has bills to pay and more pressing responsibilities on her mind. Bruce is a single mom who takes great pride in maintaining her independence, paying her bills on time, and being punctual when caring for the seniors who depend on her. Like half of the survey respondents with low incomes who report pandemic stress over whether they could afford basic needs, Bruce said the pandemic has resulted in more bills for her. In turn, that is forcing her to take on more clients and work more hours. She has experienced homelessness before, so she knows that even temporarily falling behind on rent could turn into a major crisis for her family. Internet service was nice to have if there was money to spare, but now it’s a bill that must be paid because her five school-age children attending classes online depend on it. With the children “home all day with the lights on and trying to eat me out of house and home,” Bruce jested, she finds that her PG&E and grocery bills are growing. Missing Lunches and Meaningful Help The school offers five free lunches every weekday, but it isn’t possible for Bruce to take advantage of that. “How am I supposed to pick them up when I’m at work?” she said. “They took the bus to school before the pandemic.” The free food pantry near her is open on weekends and provides a bag of groceries and a gallon of milk. “A gallon of milk lasts one day in my household,” Bruce said. Meaningful help often is not easily accessible and falls short of what her family needs, she said. She lives two hours from family and more than 30 miles from Victorville, the nearest city with an American Red Cross center that provides people in need with clothing, food, job leads, housing, transportation, holiday food baskets, and a Christmas toy program. They also offer hot meals and showers. But that distance makes her feel isolated. Samali Lubega, MD, former associate medical director of LifeLong Medical Care’s East Oakland Health Center, worries that patients like Bruce aren’t getting the care they need. Lubega has been providing care via telehealth since April, the vast majority by phone. She appreciates that telehealth is more on her patients’ terms because they eliminate bus transfers, transportation costs, and hour-plus waits often required for a 15-minute in-person visit. “Patients take calls while they are managing the competing priorities of life — they’re at the grocery store, they’re at the bank,” she said. While she values the improved access that telehealth provides, particularly for patients who would have otherwise missed their appointments, she also worries that the phone visits are less focused and comprehensive than face-to-face meetings. While video visits would be an improvement, “There have been some video hiccups,” Lubega said. With patients, there can be inequality of both access and technological literacy that the pandemic has exposed. Among staff members, some struggle with helping patients connect to video visits. Lubega’s worry that patients like Bruce aren’t getting the care they need during the pandemic is in part because they weren’t used to ever having their needs met. Lubega says that generally, her White patients seem to trust that the system will work for them. Many White patients, while acknowledging that things are different or delayed because of the pandemic, more readily ask about what else is available to meet their needs. One such patient, unable to come to the clinic to retrieve the weekly food giveaways offered, asked, “Can anyone deliver my veggie box?” The clinic staff responded by creating an outreach system with weekly food deliveries. In contrast, one of her Black patients said, “I heard there is a six-month wait for a colonoscopy, so I guess I’ll just have to wait,” hopeful that nothing bad would happen rather than pushing the system for accommodations. Lubega is reminded of a sentiment she first heard years ago: The health care system isn’t broken — it was never designed to serve Black patients with low incomes. The pandemic has disrupted Mame Benson’s life but hasn’t caused severe problems. Photo: Harrison Hill In Health Care, One Size Does Not Fit All Mame Benson, on the other hand, has had a very different experience. She is a 43-year-old single Black woman in Los Angeles who describes the pandemic as just “annoying” and is among the 76% of survey respondents with low incomes who have not had a health problem during the pandemic that made them want to see a health care provider. She is among the 44% who said their mental health during the COVID-19 era remained “about the same.” Benson has mild hypertension, which is controlled with diet and exercise. Her job in the entertainment industry virtually disappeared as the pandemic appeared, but she received her stimulus check and unemployment benefits without delay. Though she has at times fallen behind on her rent, the landlord has been understanding. Benson has gotten help from organizations that help with rent, and she takes odd jobs with minimal risk of COVID-19 exposure to help make ends meet. Virtual parties with her extensive network of family and friends have made the last eight months easier to bear. These contrasting stories remind us that the ability to meet one’s basic needs is deeply connected with the state of a person’s mental and physical health, and that a one-size-fits-all approach to health care does not, in reality, fit all. For Bruce, free Wi-Fi and school lunches delivered to her children while she works would probably do more to ease her anxiety than talk therapy and anti-anxiety medications, while Benson may be well served by a periodic phone or video visit. As we consider the impact of the pandemic on Black Californians, we need to consider both the data from surveys like Listening to Californians with Low Incomes and the stories and lives of the people our systems serve. If we fail to do both, we risk making generalizations and perpetuating stereotypes. So, whether we are health care providers, policymakers, or health care grantmakers, in order to support the health and well-being of Black people in California, we must ask them what they need to improve their health. They are the experts on their own lives, and we need to listen. CHCF Goal: Improving Access to Coverage and Care, COVID-19, Health Equity, Patient Experience, Public Opinion & Surveys, State Health Policy Vanessa Grubbs Vanessa Grubbs, MD, is a nephrologist who changed her focus from practicing medicine to writing. She is the author of Hundreds of Interlaced Fingers: A Kidney Doctor’s Search for the Perfect Match. Grubbs received her medical degree from Duke University and specialty training in kidney diseases at UCSF. She lives in Oakland, and her website is thenephrologist.com. More by this Author: Researchers Seek Reproductive Justice for Black Women, The Health Care System Has the Black Community in a Choke Hold, When Dialysis Is the Wrong Approach to End-Stage Kidney Disease Anne Sunderland - Senior Communications Officer, Improving Access Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Basketball Legend, Community Activist Biden’s Panel Outlines Proactive Pandemic Response as COVID-19 Toll Soars Xenia Shih Bion - Communications Officer Adapting Our Goals to a Changing World Kara Carter - Senior Vice President, Strategy and Programs America’s Health Was on the Ballot Sandra R. Hernández - President & Chief Executive Officer	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2220
__label__wiki	0.816644	0.816644	2021 CFF International Ltd Receive Money Saving Deals! Flights: start your search now Leaving From: Flexible Dates: +/- 3 Days Shows prices 3 days before and after your chosen travel dates. Whole Month Finds the cheapest day to fly in the whole month of your chosen travel dates. Whole Year Finds the cheapest possible flight in the entire upcoming year. Adults: Prices shown per adult passenger. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 12+ yrs 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2-11 yrs 0 1 0-2 yrs Also see: Hotel Deals Package Deals Car hire Email Here: Add your email to receive money saving deals! Cheap & Flexible flights to Linosa (LIU) in 2021/2022 Recent deals found from to in ANYTIMEJanuary 2021February 2021March 2021April 2021May 2021June 2021July 2021August 2021September 2021October 2021November 2021December 2021 VIEW DEAL NEXT DEAL Map of Linosa Home > Destinations > Europe > Italy > Linosa Find cheaper flights and flexible date options to Linosa, Italy, Linosa Heliport, LIU in 2021/2022 with CheapFlightsFinder from the USA and airports all over the world. The GEO coordinates for Linosa Heliport are 35.8722222, 12.8666667, located in the country of Italy. On this page you can find the best deals, flexible times to fly to Linosa and the cheapest dates to travel to Linosa Heliport (LIU) in the year 2021/2022 from the best meta search engines in the world. We search Skyscanner, KAYAK, momondo, Dohop, KIWI, Jetradar, Google Flights and many more to make sure you get the best price possible. Also, see the best things to do in Linosa, the weather in Linosa, a map of Linosa, some travel videos of Linosa and flight times and distances to Linosa Heliport (LIU) from the most popular US airports. Top things to do in Linosa Pozzolana Di Ponente Monte Vulcano Faraglioni di Linosa Montagna Rossa Piscina Naturale Linosa Vacanze Sea Turtle Rescue Center Linosa Punta Beppe Tuccio Scogli dei Bovi Marini Monte di Ponente FLIGHT DISTANCE AND FLYING TIME TO Linosa Flights from Atlanta - Georgia, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,263 miles (8,470 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 12 hours 11 minutes. Flights from Los Angeles - California, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 6,680 miles (10,750 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 15 hours 20 minutes. Flights from Chicago - Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,098 miles (8,204 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 11 hours 49 minutes. Flights from Dallas - Dallas, Texas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,875 miles (9,455 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 13 hours 33 minutes. Flights from Denver - Colorado, Airport - Denver International Airport (DEN) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,870 miles (9,446 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 13 hours 32 minutes. Flights from New York - John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 4,513 miles (7,263 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 10 hours 31 minutes. Flights from San Francisco - California, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 6,607 miles (10,633 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 15 hours 10 minutes. Flights from Seattle - Airport - Seattle Tacoma International, Washington (SEA) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 6,048 miles (9,733 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 13 hours 56 minutes. Flights from Las Vegas - Nevada, McCarran International Airport (LAS) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 6,449 miles (10,379 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 14 hours 49 minutes. Flights from Orlando - Florida, Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,312 miles (8,548 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 12 hours 18 minutes. Flights from Charlotte - North Carolina, Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,037 miles (8,107 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 11 hours 41 minutes. Flights from Phoenix - Arizona, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 6,471 miles (10,415 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 14 hours 52 minutes. Flights from Houston - Texas, Airport - George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,927 miles (9,539 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 13 hours 40 minutes. Flights from Miami - Florida, Miami International Airport (MIA) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,361 miles (8,628 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 12 hours 24 minutes. Flights from Boston - Massachusetts, Edward L. Logan International Airport (BOS) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 4,332 miles (6,971 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 10 hours 7 minutes. Flights from Minneapolis - Minnesota, Airport - St. Paul International (MSP) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,200 miles (8,369 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 12 hours 3 minutes. Flights from Fort Lauderdale - Florida, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,344 miles (8,600 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 12 hours 22 minutes. Flights from Detroit - Michigan, Airport - Wayne County International (DTW) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 4,893 miles (7,874 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 11 hours 22 minutes. Flights from Philadelphia - Pennsylvania, Airport - Philadelphia International (PHL) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 4,606 miles (7,412 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 10 hours 44 minutes. Flights from Baltimore - Maryland, Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 4,696 miles (7,557 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 10 hours 56 minutes. Flights from Salt Lake City - Utah, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 6,091 miles (9,802 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 14 hours 2 minutes. Flights from San Diego - California, San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 6,702 miles (10,786 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 15 hours 23 minutes. Flights from Tampa - Florida, Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 5,391 miles (8,676 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 12 hours 28 minutes. Flights from Portland - International Airport, Oregon (PDX) to Linosa (LIU) - The flight distance between these airports is 6,162 miles (9,916 kilometres). The direct flight time is roughly 14 hours 11 minutes. Travel videos about Linosa Flight Routes to Linosa	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2221
__label__wiki	0.927628	0.927628	All Heroes Wiseman, Osborne B Osborne Beeman Wiseman was born on February 20, 1915 in Zanesville, Ohio to Paul and Margaret Wiseman. Osborne was one of two children. Osborne attended the Lash High School in Zanesville from 1928-1932. He was chairman of the Motto Committee, a member of the Glee Club, and on the Zanesvillian Yearbook staff. Osborne did not participate in athletics, and did not appear to be a leader or heroic, but "Heroes are often hidden in normalcy, until the need arises". Little is known of his family and early life, but he was determined to become a Navy Pilot. Osborne received an appointment to the Naval Academy from the Fifteenth Ohio District and entered the Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1934. In the days before radios in the dorms, midshipman would sing or ‘croon’ popular songs for entertainment. Ozzie was known for his talented voice. After graduation from the Naval Academy in June 1938, Osborne was commissioned as an Ensign. He married his wife June (Midshipman are not allowed to be married until after graduation). They lived in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Ensign Wiseman reported for sea duty on the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, CV-3, until October, 1939. He was then detached for the fitting out of the new USS Roe DD-418, a Sims Class Destroyer then at the Charleston, South Carolina Navy Yard. Wiseman served on the destroyer through her commissioning (January 5, 1940) and was detached in September, 1940 for flight training as a Naval Aviator. Osborne received training at Pensacola Naval Air Station and received his golden ‘wings’ in May, 1941. He was then assigned to Bombing Group 3 (VB-3) on board the USS Saratoga. Osborne was a Dive Bomber pilot flying the Navy’s Northrop BT-1 and later the famous Douglas SBD Dauntless, a refined version of the BT-1. The ship made two trips to Pearl Harbor for training in the beginning of the year. At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, she was just returning from Bremerton, Washington after a short overhaul. The port visit to San Diego was cut short, and the Saratoga was ordered to sea immediately. June met Osborne in California when he had a few days leave while his ship was being overhauled. But his leave was cancelled after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor. It was the last time she saw her husband. Saratoga, with Enterprise CV-6 and Lexington CV-2 loaded Marine Corps aircraft to reinforce the Marines on Wake Island, but arrived too late. Wake Island fell on December 23rd. The Saratoga continued operations in the Central Pacific, but was torpedoed on January 11th by the Japanese submarine I-16, 500 miles south-west of Oahu. The ship returned to Hawaii under its own power but needed repairs. Obsorne's squadron was transferred to the Enterprise, to serve in Bombing Group Six. The Enterprise accompanied the aircraft carrier USS Hornet CV-8 in the daring Doolittle Raid in April, 1942. Sixteen twin-engine Army B-25 Mitchell bombers were loaded on the deck of the Hornet to bomb Japan. This was a daring feat, as the bombers were larger than aircraft designed to take off from a carrier. The task was to launch the bombers off the carrier within 400 miles of Japan, drop their bombs on Japan and fly on to China. The mission was in the utmost secrecy, as they had to sail so close, the carriers were in danger from the large Japanese fleet as well within the range of enemy bombers. The Enterprise provided scouting and protection for the Hornet, as the Hornet’s deck was crowded with the B-25’s. The ships radar detected enemy contacts during the night and Halsey ordered the Task Force to turn north for an hours sailing, then turned back west towards Japan. Osborne was flying a scouting mission ahead of the Task Force at dawn. When Task Force was 650 miles from Japan he spotted Japanese fishing boats serving as pickets ahead of the fleet. Osborne flew low over the deck of the Enterprise to drop a note around 6 a.m. (because of radio silence) with the information. Admiral Halsey ordered the B-25 bombers to launch. In May, Osborne’s squadron transferred to the USS Yorktown CV-5. Lt. (jg) Osborne was one of 19 pilots, and became the squadron's personnel Officer. He served under Lieutenant Commander Maxwell Franklin Leslie, and was the second section leader in the third division of the Squadron. Osborne was was assigned to fly aircraft B-16 (SBD-3-02327) with his radioman. ARM3c Grant Ulysses Dawn. from, Tennessee. Along with Enterprise, Hornet sailed northeast of Midway Island to meet the Japanese attack on Midway. On June 4th, when the Japanese four aircraft carriers were found, the carriers launched all available aircraft for the attack. While another squadron attacked another enemy carrier, Osborne's group attacked the Soryu, which was misidentified as the carrier Kaga. Preparing for the dive bombing attack, they used a newly installed system to electrically arm their bombs. However, this failed, and instead, released the bombs before they were aimed. Warned of the problem, the remaining pilots did not use this system. The Dauntless dive bombers attacked out of the sun. The first four aircraft lost their bombs but attacked never the less, using their machine guns. The following aircraft hit the carrier with three bombs, dooming the enemy ship. Lt. (jg) Wiseman's target was the Soryu, but it was fatally hit by other aircraft of his squadron, so he attacked a nearby battleship. Returning to his carrier, he was “waved off” and instructed to land on board the Enterprise, as a wave of Japanese bombers was approaching the Yorktown and ultimately fatally damaged the ship. Osborne participated in the second strike, launching from the Enterprise. His squadron’s target was the last of the four undamaged enemy aircraft carriers: the Hiryu. Osborne hit his target and sealed the fate of the last remaining enemy carrier in the Midway Battle Fleet, producing an overwhelming victory which became the turning point of the war. Osborne’sDauntless Dive Bomber was attacked and shot down by the revengeful Japanese fighters. Neither he, nor his radioman/gunner Grant Dawn (ARM 2/c) was ever heard from again. Osborne’s wife, June, was notified by telegram that he was Missing In Action. After a year, he was officially listed as Killed In Action. In November, 1942, she received notification that her husband was awarded the Navy Cross Citation. The Navy Cross is the Navy’s second highest award, second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor. She was not at liberty to permit its publication, due to the need for secrecy during the war. Wiseman’s Navy Cross Citation signed by President Roosevelt, reads: “For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as pilot of an airplane of a bombing Squadron in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of Midway during the period of June 4-6, 1942. Defying extreme danger from a concentrated barrage of antiaircraft fire and fierce fighter opposition, Lieutenant (junior grade) Wiseman, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, participated in persistent and vigorous attacks against the Japanese invasion fleet. His gallant intrepidity and loyal devotion to the accomplishment of a vastly important objective contributed in large measure to the success achieved by our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service” Lieutenant (jg) Osborne Beeman Wiseman is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial Cemetery, Hawaii. The Navy honored Osborne by naming a ship after him – the USS Wiseman DE-667, a destroyer escort of the Buckley Class. The ship was constructed by the Dravo Corporation in Pittsburgh, and commissioned at Algiers, Louisiana on April 4, 1944. Mrs. June Holton, Osborne’s widow, sponsored the Wiseman. How important was this Battle in which Lieutenant Wiseman played a key role? A battle often neglected in our history books, and little known by the public today, this victory was the keystone of our victory in World War II. Some clues can be found in quotes from historians. The inscription dedicated to the Battle of Midway on our National World War II Monument in Washington written by Walter Lord: They had no right to win. Yet they did, and in doing so they changed the course of a war…even against the greatest of odds, there is something in the human spirit – a magic blend of skill, faith and valor – that can lift men from certain defeat to incredible victory. James R. Schesinger, Former Secretary of Defense wrote: Then came Midway. Through an extraordinary combination of the skill and courage of our pilots, splendid intelligence, prudent risk-taking by our commanders that paid off, and sheer good luck, the apparently inferior American forces were victories. This victory occurred despite the inferiority of our aircraft, the ineffectiveness of our torpedoes, the substantial absence of backup surface ships, and our overall numerical inferiority. You know the rest! Four Japanese carriers had been sunk. It all confirmed the dictum of Otto von Bismarck: "the Lord God has special providence for fools, drunkards, and the United States of America." The Japanese offensive had now been blunted. The Japanese fleet turned back toward the Home Islands and the opportunity for victory had been lost forever. Roosevelt could now execute his Grand Strategy, with all that was to imply regarding the condition of post-war Europe. Winston Churchill stated: The annals of war at sea present no more intense heart shaking shock then this Battle in which the qualities of the United States Navy and Air Force and the American Race shone forth in splendor, the bravery and self-devotion of the American Airmen and sailors and the nerve and the skill of the leaders was the foundation of all. USS Enterprise CV-6 Casualty List Research by Don Wambold, WCMSC Bannach, Anthony S Bickert, Edward T Bickert, Elwood O Boyd, Thomas Jr Buchanan, Millard J Bush, George Colona, Louis J Cunningham, William Davis, Penrose M Diemer, Lester E Dobson, George W. Jr Eckman, Robert P Ewing, Herman C Falini, Emidio J Farmer, Roscoe L. Sr Featherston, Harold J Fedelen, John P Grycky, John A Guiler, Robert P Hamilton, Richard J Horshock, John T Huss, Albert E Kuleski, Vincent P Larue, Richard V Lewis, Edward D Maguire, John L Main, Malcolm G McCormick, James Morrison, Lewis H Neeld, Samuel Phelps, Warren Philips, Harlan M Pickhaver, Clarence W Potts, Howard G Reynolds , Ralph C Segal, Charles Sheehan, Joseph F Steinmetz, Arthur A. Jr Stott Kermit L Thomas, Milliner W Toney, Sidney Vasko, Joseph Weimer, Robert Winchester, Randolph Yale, Leff Monday - Friday 830 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Chester County Veteran Affairs Chester County Veterans Affairs Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Mid-Atlantic Air Museum America in World War II Magazine Visit the Hall of Heroes Wall • Submit a Story / Photos • Veteran Resources • Site Map • Accessibility • Disclaimer	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2223
__label__wiki	0.563472	0.563472	Mary Healy Mary Healy is Associate Professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. Healy received a BA from the University of Notre Dame in 1986, an MA in theology from Franciscan University in 1988, and an MA in philosophy from the Catholic University of America in 1991. She earned a licentiate at the International Theological Institute in Gaming, Austria, and completed her doctorate in biblical theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2000. Healy served for several years as Coordinator of Mother of God Community, a lay Catholic community in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She has taught at the Institute for Pastoral Theology at Ave Maria University and the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College. She is the author of Men and Women Are from Eden: A Study Guide to John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and co-editor of three books on biblical interpretation: ‘Behind’ the Text: History and Biblical Interpretation; Out of Egypt: Biblical Theology and Biblical Interpretation; and The Bible and Epistemology. She is general editor (with Dr. Peter Williamson) of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, and is author of the first volume, The Gospel of Mark. More by Mary Healy According to God's Design 05/13/2019	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2226
__label__wiki	0.846462	0.846462	ACT and SAT scores no longer required for admissions at some colleges Updated on: October 7, 2020 / 5:33 PM / MoneyWatch New book gives rare look at college admission New book gives rare look at college admission... 05:32 A growing number of U.S. colleges and universities are abandoning ACT and SAT scores as part of their admissions process. The so-called test-blind movement has gathered steam this year amid widespread cancellations of the standardized tests because of COVID-19. The list of schools dropping the exams includes Northern Illinois University; Reed College in Oregon; Hampshire College in Massachusetts; Loyola University in New Orleans; the University of New England; Washington State University; and some University of California campuses, including Berkeley. Admissions staff at these schools cite two basic reasons for dropping the ACT and SAT, long a rite of passage for high school students planning for college. The first is one of simple scheduling given the pandemic: Canceled testing days in the spring and summer made it impossible for students to take exams in time for fall admissions. The second, however, is more fundamental — some education experts say the ACT and SAT are a poor predictor of whether a student will succeed in college. "Our research has shown that a student's performance in high school is the most significant predictor of academic success at UNE," Scott Steinberg, who runs the University of New England's admissions office, said in a statement in May when the school announced that it was going test-blind. "Standardized tests provide very little — if any — incremental value beyond the high school record and grade point average." Adopting a test-blind policy is different from a college going test-optional, which many campuses have done in recent years. Test-optional colleges, such as Arizona State University, Texas A&M University and Drexel University, will consider ACT and SAT scores when selecting a student — but only if the student chooses to submit them. Test-blind colleges completely ignore exam scores when assessing a student's application, placing more emphasis on the person's high school GPA, admissions essay and other factors. Staple at most admissions offices Despite the shift away from entrance exams at some schools, the ACT and SAT remain a staple at most admissions offices. Almost 2.2 million high school students from the Class of 2020 took the SAT, up from 2.1 million in 2018, College Board data show. More than 1.7 million students took the ACT in 2019, a slight dip from 1.9 million in 2018. Ignoring test scores is a mistake in college admissions, according to ACT, a nonprofit organization based in Iowa City, Iowa. High school teachers, particularly ones at wealthy private schools, may inflate their seniors' grades if colleges begin placing greater weight on a student's academic record, former ACT CEO Marten Roorda said earlier this year in a letter to the University of California. Eliminating the ACT "is a short-term Band-Aid that shortchanges students in the long run," Roorda said. ACT respects any college's decision to go test blind and the nonprofit offers its help to schools developing a different criteria evaluating potential students, ACT's interim chief Janet Godwin told CBS MoneyWatch. "We have and will remain a valid and trustworthy measure for colleges – regardless of their test use policy," she said. UC system eliminates standardized tests 04:49 The College Board, the New York-based nonprofit organization that administers the SAT, told CBS MoneyWatch that schools going test blind ultimately bars students from making their admissions application stand out. "All students should have the opportunity to distinguish themselves in as many ways as they can," the nonprofit said in a statement. "Taking that off the table altogether isn't helpful for students." After canceling test dates for March, April and May, the College Board asked admissions offices if they could extend application deadlines for students who didn't get a chance to take the exam. In June, the College Board said it was examining offering at-home SAT testing as well as looking for local high schools, colleges and other sites to provide more space for in-person testing. The College Board and ACT have since reopened testing centers and are now offering dates in October. First published on October 6, 2020 / 10:57 AM Khristopher J. Brooks Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter and video editor for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports. Brooks has covered business and economic development for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and the Bristol Herald Courier. He also covered higher education for the Omaha World-Herald, the Florida Times-Union and The Ledger in Lakeland, Florida. Work on Keystone XL pipeline halted What a Biden presidency means for your wallet	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2228
__label__cc	0.563258	0.436742	Can't find what you're looking for? Search our full catalog! Allen Public Library DailyMed provides information of medication and is the official provider of FDA label information. Family Doctor managed by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Girls Health offers girls reliable, useful information on health and well-being. The site was created in 2002 by the Office on Women's Health. It covers topics from getting your period to stopping bullies to getting fit. Kids Health provides doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. Created by the Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health, KidsHealth provides families with accurate, up-to-date, and jargon-free health information they can use. Lab Tests Online designed to help patients and caregivers understand the many lab tests that are a vital part of medical care. MedlinePlus Magazine - Get a free subscription National Women's Health Information Center Subsidy Calculator - find out if you are eligible for subsidized health care Texas Medicaid Program Agency for Health Research and Quality Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - A comprehensive national and state health resource. Includes health recommendations. Center for Public Health Nutrition facilitates interdisciplinary research to improve nutrition, food systems, and population health. Healthfinder - A website sponsored by the government that has resources on a wide range of health topics selected from over 1,600 government and non-profit organizations to bring you the best, most reliable health information on the Internet. Mayo Clinic - Provides information and services from the world's first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group medical practice. Manage your health with information and tools that reflect the expertise of Mayo's 3,400 physicians and scientists, learn how to access medical services, and discover Mayo's medical research and education offerings. Medline Plus - Provided by the National Library of Medicine. This site brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. Use MedlinePlus to learn about the latest treatments, look up information on a drug or supplement, find out the meanings of words, or view medical videos or illustrations. Find links to the latest medical research on your topic or find out about clinical trials on a disease or condition. Merck Online Medical Library - The online version of the various Merck manuals. National Organization for Rare Disorders NIH: Health Information - A database from the National Institutes of Health for general health information. PubMed - A database providing information for consumers and clinicians on prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions. Texas Center for Health Statistics Texas Department of State and Health Services - The Texas Department of Health Audiovisual Library circulates materials throughout Texas for a short time basis. They have health related ½" VHS video, CD-ROMs, slides, audiocassettes, educational models, charts, and 16mm film. There are some Spanish and bilingual (English and Spanish) materials. There is no charge for Texas residents to borrow from our library except for return shipping charges. There are medical and health related resources available through the TexShare Databases. Call the Reference Desk at 214.509.4905 for more information or to obtain the password. Download Audio and e-Books Monday - Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday - Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Curbside Hours Monday - Saturday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 300 N. Allen Drive	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2230
__label__cc	0.608676	0.391324	A project of CFACT Bill Gates laments lack of carbon tax: ‘We haven’t put a price signal like a carbon tax in, and this is certainly very disappointing’ By: Marc Morano - Climate DepotMarch 15, 2014 1:30 AM http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/bill-gates-the-rolling-stone-interview-20140313?print=true Let’s talk about climate change. Many scientists and politicians see it as the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced. It’s a big challenge, but I’m not sure I would put it above everything. One of the reasons it’s hard is that by the time we see that climate change is really bad, your ability to fix it is extremely limited. Like with viruses, the problem is latency. The carbon gets up there, but the heating effect is delayed. And then the effect of that heat on the species and ecosystem is delayed. That means that even when you turn virtuous, things are actually going to get worse for quite a while. Right . . . we’re not virtuous yet, are we? We’re not even close – we’re emitting more CO2 every year. In order to get a 90 percent reduction of carbon, which is what we need, the first thing you might want to get is a year of global reduction, and we have not had that. U.S. emissions are down right now, partly because we buy more goods from overseas. But even if you invented some zero-carbon energy source today, the deployment of that magic device would take a long time. Are you hopeful that global climate talks will lead to a solution? Many climate-change discussions are off-target because they’ve focused on things like the $100 billion per year that some people believe should be spent by the rich world to help the developing world, which is not really addressing the problem. At the same time, discussion about how to increase funding of research-and-development budgets to accelerate innovation is surprisingly missing. We haven’t increased R&D spending, we haven’t put a price signal [like a carbon tax] in, and this is certainly very disappointing. I think it’s a real test of the boundary of science and politics – and an acid test of people’s time horizons. Before the economic downturn, attitudes in the U.S. about climate change had become quite enlightened, and then there was a big reversal, which I believe was a result of people’s worries about their immediate economic situation. Talking about problems that will have a significant effect 30 or 40 years out just gets off the agenda, and there’s this shrill political debate that is distracting people. So we’ve made some progress, but you can’t take the progress we’ve made and linearize it – if you do, you really are going to find out how bad climate change can be. Let’s say climate change was delayed 100 years. If that were the case, science would take care of this one. We wouldn’t have to double the Department of Energy budget, because there’s five or six different paths to go down. And 100 years, at the current rate and speed of science, is a long time. We’re heading for big trouble, right? Absolutely. That’s why I happen to think we should explore geo-engineering. But one of the complaints people have against that is that if it looks like an easy out, it’ll reduce the political will to cut emissions. If that’s the case, then, hey, we should take away heart surgery so that people know not to overeat. I happened to be having dinner with Charles Koch last Saturday, and we talked a little bit about climate change. And what was the conversation like? He’s a very nice person, and he has this incredible business track record. He was pointing out that the U.S. alone can’t solve the problem, and that’s factually correct. But you have to view the U.S. doing something as a catalyst for getting China and others to do things. The atmosphere is the ultimate commons. We all benefit from it, and we’re all polluting it. It’s amazing how few problems there are in terms of the atmosphere. . . . There’s just this one crazy thing that CO2 hangs around for a long, long time, and the oceans absorb it, which acidifies them, which is itself a huge problem we should do something about. Like cut carbon emissions fast. Yes, but people need energy. It’s a gigantic business. The main thing that’s missing in energy is an incentive to create things that are zero-CO2-emitting and that have the right scale and reliability characteristics. It leads to your interest in nuclear power, right? If you could make nuclear really, really safe, and deal with the economics, deal with waste, then it becomes the nirvana you want: a cheaper solution with very little CO2 emissions. If we don’t get that, you’ve got a problem. Because you are not going to reduce the amount of energy used. For each year between now and 2100, the globe will use more energy. So that means more CO2 emissions every year. TerraPower, which is the nuclear-energy company that I’m backing, required a very long time to get the right people together, it required computer modeling to get the right technology together, and even now it’s going to require the U.S. government to work with whatever country decides to build a pilot project – China, maybe. In a normal sort of private market, that project probably wouldn’t have emerged. It took a fascination with science, concern about climate change and a very long-term view. Now, I’m not saying it’s guaranteed to be successful, although it’s going super, super well, but it’s an example of an innovation that might not happen without the proper support. Nuclear power has failed to fulfill its promises for a variety of economic and technical reasons for 40 years. Why continue investing in nuclear power instead of, say, cheap solar and energy storage? Well, we have a real problem, and so we should pursue many solutions to the problem. Even the Manhattan Project pursued both the plutonium bomb and the uranium bomb – and both worked! Intermittent energy sources [like wind and solar] . . . yeah, you can crank those up, depending on the quality of the grid and the nature of your demand. You can scale that up 20 percent, 30 percent and, in some cases, even 40 percent. But when it comes to climate change, that’s not interesting. You’re talking about needing factors of, like, 90 percent. But you can’t just dismiss renewables, can you? Solar is much, much harder than people think it is. When the sun shines, electricity is going to be worth zero, so all the money will be reserved for the guy who brings you power when there’s no wind and no sun. There are some interesting things on the horizon along those lines. There’s one called solar chemical. It’s very nascent, but it comes with a built-in storage solution, because you actually secrete hydrocarbons. We’re investing probably one-twentieth of what we should in that. There’s another form of solar called solar thermal, which is cool because you can store heat. Heat’s not easy to store, but it’s a lot easier to store than electricity. Given the scale of problems like climate change and the slow economic recovery and political gridlock and rising health care costs, it’s easy for people to feel pessimistic about the way the world is going. Really? That’s too bad. I think that’s overly focusing on the negatives. I think it’s a pretty bright picture, myself. But that doesn’t mean I think, because we’ve always gotten through problems in the past, “just chill out, relax, someone else will worry about it.” I don’t see it that way. Filed under: carbon tax, energy, funding, un « Climate Depot home Another New Study Says Warming & CO2-Induced Greening Leads To COOLING Of Land Surface Temperatures Ground Shifts Under Oil/Gas Industry as Biden Takes Office – American Petroleum Institute welcomes more regulations & U.S. Chamber of Commerce seeks carbon tax ‘World leaders laud US return to climate fight under Biden’ Watch: Morano on Fox and Friends: Biden’s climate policies are designed to ‘hammer America first’ – Biden rejoins UN Paris pact & cancels Keystone pipeline Arctic Cool Off: Canada, Greenland & Iceland Have Seen Almost No Warming So Far This Century Biden rejoins the Paris climate accord via executive order in ‘first move to tackle global warming’ Biden’s inaugural speech claims he hears planet Earth speaking to him: ‘A cry for survival comes from the planet itself’ How Biden’s Return To The Paris Climate Accord Benefits Beijing Morano: COVID-19 Lockdowns Set Precedent for Climate Lockdowns – The left’s ‘ticket to a Soviet-style regulatory state’ ‘Every agency is a climate agency now’ – ‘How Biden could use his whole government to take on climate change’ – Education Dept to fund teachers ‘to raise awareness of climate’ Biden to use first 100 days to ‘set U.S. on the path to tackling climate change’ Biden to reveal comprehensive day-one climate agenda – ‘Will unveil sweeping action to combat climate change’ China’s economy expands at faster rate than before coronavirus – powered by rising coal output Surprise! Chinese Coal Output has Risen to 2015 Levels, Undermining Climate Pledges Climate activist Holthaus excited: Biden is ‘best chance we’ve ever had to make transformational changes throughout society’ Biden Treasury Dept seeks to develop a CO2 tax & pressure banks not to lend to fossil fuel companies Bill Gates & UN Launch New Climate Agenda – Seeks ‘to kick start a transformational decade’ of climate ‘action’ Media Puff Piece: Fighting Climate Change Could Define Kamala Harris’ Vice Presidency Canadian PM Trudeau says he’s ‘really looking forward’ to working with Biden & Harris to ‘build back better’ Listen: Morano on Breitbart radio talks Trump’s energy accomplishments & coming Green New Deal	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2232
__label__cc	0.604298	0.395702	Those with invisible disabilities also have employee rights On behalf of Law Offices of Anthony Choe \| Jul 2, 2018 \| Employee Rights The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act protect workers with disabilities in California and other states. However, to benefit from the protection of these laws, a worker must disclose his or her disability. In many cases, disabilities are invisible to others, and workers may fear discrimination or other violations of their employee rights after disclosure. Invisible disabilities could include dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or a mild traumatic brain injury, all of which might not be immediately evident. Those who have autoimmune diseases such as heart problems, multiple sclerosis, lupus or fibromyalgia might also hesitate to disclose their disabilities. However, with limited accommodations by employers, these workers can be as efficient as any others without disabilities. A technical writer who suffered a mild TBI explained how she struggled to distinguish between similar words, but her request for a proofreader was denied. Another woman who works at a research agency says, despite being a statistician, a mathematician and having a master’s degree, her reading and writing is at the level of a fifth grader. She also agrees that reasonable accommodation has been hard to come by throughout her studies and her career. California workers with invisible disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodation that evens the playing field and allows everyone to reach his or her full potential. Those whose employee rights are being violated may find comfort in knowing that help is available. An experienced employment law attorney can assess the circumstances and provide the necessary support and guidance throughout ensuing proceedings.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2234
__label__cc	0.746537	0.253463	Capistrant Van Loh, P.A. is a Family Law-based legal practice located in the St. Anthony Main district of Minneapolis, Minnesota. We are a small, capable firm dedicated to providing our clients with outstanding legal representation, holistic support and personal attention. THERESA A. Capistrant As a part of her family law practice, Traci has handled everything from simple, straightforward divorces, to complex custody and financial litigation in cases involving custody, third-party custody, paternity, dissolution, post decree enforcement, step-parent adoption, child support enforcement/ modification, parenting time and custody disputes, and a myriad of other issues that arise in a family situation. University of Minnesota, B.S. William Mitchell College of Law, JD, summa cum laude Traci has been named to the Thomsen Reuters “Super Lawyer” list every year since 2002, earning Top 100 Women Super Lawyer honors in 2005, 2006 and again in 2009 Daniel J. Van Loh Dan focuses his practice in family law and family related ADR services. He graduated with honors from Pillsbury College in Owatonna, Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Science degree and double major in Theology and Business Administration. William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, J.D. Pillsbury College, Owatonna, Minnesota, B.S., summa cum laude Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers, 2005, 2008, 2011 – 2012 Minnesota Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers, 2015 – 2019 Jerry burg Jerry Burg brings practical, forged-in-the-trenches experience to men, women, small businesses and non-profit organizations who need accurate, straightforward information about the legal system, and their own situations. As a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Burg provides aggressive defense for individuals charged with crimes such as DUI, public indecency, sex related crimes, domestic abuse, assault, theft and drug violations. Minnesota Super Lawyers 2019-2020 Heidi S. Nelson Heidi Nelson is the law firm’s paralegal devoted entirely to serving our family law clients. She has over 20 years of experience as a paralegal at various law firms. She has a B.S. degree in business administration and lives in Waconia. Email: Heidi@CapVanLoh.com SUE BOELTER Sue Boelter, born and raised in the Mankato area, joined Capistrant Law, P.A. in January 2016. She has an Associate of Science degree in Paralegal Studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Rasmussen College. She has 5 years of family law experience and was recognized by Hennepin County for initiating e-filing while it was still voluntary. She also has 2 years of experience in the financial industry. Email: Sue@CapVanLoh.com ALEX HARSTE ADR Coordinator/Business Manager Alex Harste, Minnesota born and raised, began working at the Uptown Business Center as a receptionist in 2008. In 2010, she moved into the position of Legal Assistant with Capistrant Law, P.A. In this new role, Alex received on-the-job training that has honed her skills as a legal assistant. She is now well-versed and knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the unique world of family law. Alex also serves as the firm’s Office Manager, handling billing and other business matters. Alex lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, and she is in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Alex is Traci’s main legal assistant. Email: Alex@CapVanLoh.com Bailey Durham Bailey Durham, Minnesota born and raised with a heart for warmer climates, joined Capistrant Law in March 2018. She has a Liberal Arts Associates Degree and an ABA-Approved Paralegal Certificate from North Hennepin Community College. Email: Bailey@CapVanLoh.com © 2020 by Capistrant Van Loh, P.A. One SE Main Street, Suite 206 admin@CapVanLoh.com	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2237
__label__wiki	0.976473	0.976473	Ebola outbreak ‘running much faster’ than response Jason Miks Updated 10:43 AM EDT, Fri October 17, 2014 WHO warns 10,000 Ebola cases per week possible in West Africa by end of year Peter Piot co-discovered Ebola virus in 1976, concerned about outbreak response Piot has warned of 'unimaginable catastrophe' if the virus becomes lodged in a mega-city Watch the full interview with Dr. Peter Piot on “Fareed Zakaria GPS,” this Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET on CNN Ebola sparks fear in Ohio Enhanced Ebola screening at 5 airports The current Ebola outbreak is “running much faster” than the international response to it, the co-discoverer of the virus said Thursday. “This is the first Ebola epidemic where entire nations are involved, where big cities are affected,” Peter Piot, a microbiologist and a former undersecretary general of the United Nations, told Global Public Square host Fareed Zakaria. “And I continue to be worried that the response to the epidemic is really running behind the virus.” According to the World Health Organization’s latest update, there have been almost 9,000 confirmed and suspected cases, with almost 4,500 deaths. However, the WHO warned there could be as many as 10,000 new cases per week in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone by the end of this year. Aid workers train to battle Ebola Epidemiologist: Nothing is slowing Ebola What lessons can be learned from Dallas? Piot, a member of the team that discovered the virus in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, made headlines earlier this month when he told The Guardian newspaper he feared an “unimaginable catastrophe” if the virus became lodged in a mega-city such as Lagos. “The three countries that are affected are being totally destabilized, not only in terms of people who are killed by Ebola – their families, the orphans that now are coming up because the parents died – but the economy has come to a standstill,” Piot said Thursday, speaking from Oxford. “People are massively dying from other diseases that are normally treatable, like malaria, or women die while giving birth because hospitals are abandoned or are full with Ebola patients. So that’s a very, very destabilizing factor,” he said, adding that the impact of its spread is “beyond Ebola.” Watch the full interview on “Fareed Zakaria GPS,” this Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET on CNN Piot said that it is impossible to predict the number of cases. Asked about the WHO projections, he said: “10,000 per week, or 1,000, we don’t really know.” “At the moment, there are about 1,000,” he said. “It’s still expanding, that’s for sure. And it probably will continue to grow until all the measures have been put in place in a more efficient way.” Piot’s comments came on the same day as Daniel Varga, the chief clinical officer for Texas Health Services, apologized over mistakes he says were made in the care of Thomas Duncan, a Liberian national who became the first person in the United States to die from the virus. Duncan was sent home despite saying he had a fever and that he had visited West Africa. “Unfortunately, in our initial treatment of Mr. Duncan, despite our best intentions and a highly skilled medical team, we made mistakes,” Varga testified to Congress. “We did not correctly diagnose his symptoms as those of Ebola. We are deeply sorry.” Writing for CNN earlier this month, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Tom Frieden said one way for the United States to prevent the disease spreading in the United States is to tackle it at the source, in West Africa. “After all is said and done here, that is the only way to truly and completely protect the health security of America – and the world,” Frieden wrote. This view was echoed by Piot, who added that there were some encouraging signs from two of the countries in the region that have been worst affected. “As long as there is a major epidemic in West Africa, the rest of the world is also at risk. That is an additional reason for providing assistance to stop the epidemic. And because there will be people who will show up – be it in Europe, in the U.S. or in China,” he said. “The good news is that both Nigeria and Senegal have been able to contain a number of important cases,” Piot said. “In Senegal, there was never even any secondary case. In Nigeria, there were a number of people who were infected and died, but it has not given rise to an outbreak in Lagos, after all, a city of more than 20 million people.” “That shows that if you act decisively and early enough … it can be controlled.” Asked by Zakaria what steps he would like to see taken to try to halt the spread of the virus, Piot suggested that it is particularly important to focus on protecting health workers. “Something that we’ve learned through Doctors Without Borders is how to treat patients, to care for them and isolate them so that they don’t infect others. But also to reduce, more or less, mortality,” he said. “We need to protect health care workers. We’ve seen it in the U.S. We’ve seen it in Europe. But above all, in Africa, where over 200 nurses and doctors and lab workers have died from Ebola. And that can be done by protective care.” But he added that the biggest challenge in slowing the spread of Ebola is changing the kinds of behaviors that allow it to spread. “Stopping the transmission in the community around funerals – that is still going on. And so we have to change people’s behaviors and beliefs and also what to do with all the patients who are still at home, who can infect people while they’re being transported to hospital units.” “So that’s going to be a massive undertaking of behavior change. And it will have to come from within, where their beliefs are influenced and where safe behaviors have to be introduced. And that can come from traditional chiefs, from the opinion leaders in each community.” Asked whether he believed the United States was overreacting to the potential spread of Ebola, Piot said he hoped the extensive media coverage of the virus would ensure that people are more aware of how to protect themselves. But he said he also believed it was possible to get the current outbreak under control. “I’m not worried about an epidemic in the larger population,” he said. “There will be cases. I think we should not be naive about that. But I think it can be contained.”	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2239
__label__wiki	0.939103	0.939103	Here's The First American Airport Powered Entirely By Solar Energy Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport CHATTANOOGA METROPOLITAN AIRPORT Chattanooga's been having quite a cultural moment recently, what with dozens of new restaurants and bars popping up across town. Last September, The Edwin Hotel, a member of The Autograph Collection, opened with much fanfare, joining The Dwell and The Moxy Chattanooga Downtown in The Scenic City's growing boutique hotel scene. Now, Tennessee's fourth-largest city is once again turning heads by claiming a first in the sustainability sector. Earlier this month, the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport announced that it had hit a much-anticipated milestone in becoming the first airfield in the United States powered by 100% solar energy. The end result of an ambitious project that started seven years ago, the airport's 2.64-megawatt solar farm was completed with about $5 million of funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. That investment is expected to be earned back in under 20 years, as a renewable energy stream brings down the facility's overall costs of operation. According to a press release, the installation measures about the size of 16 football fields—eight long and two wide. “This is a momentous day for the Chattanooga Airport as we complete our solar farm and achieve a major sustainability milestone,” said Terry Hart, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Airport in the release. “This project has immediate benefits to our airport and community, and we’re proud to set an example in renewable energy for other airports, businesses and our region. While generating a local renewable resource, we are also increasing the economic efficiency of the airport.” According to Bloomberg, Chattanooga Airport's solar farm saves energy via storage units that allow operations to continue after sundown. The publication also reports that the system is expected to last between 30 and 40 years.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2240
__label__cc	0.531295	0.468705	The Difference Between Orthodoxy And Catholicism And The Orthodox Church Orthodoxy and Catholicism have a place in amongst over 35,000 Christian organizations (Jacobsen 7). I attended a mass at St. John 's Catholic Church and a service at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, and the similarities and differences that I observed were extremely intriguing. Both services recite similar prayers, like the Nicene Creed and Our Father, and they celebrate the Eucharist during mass. While the Orthodox Church is demographically Greek, the Catholic Church represents a large white population, and they both show incredible hospitality toward newcomers. The Orthodox Church is dome-shaped and houses many paintings, but the Catholic Church is a cathedral design with statues of saints scattered about. The content of both Orthodoxy and Catholicism present close fundamental ties between the two churches, but the people represent different demographics and this is reflected in the style and design of the churches. St. John 's Catholic Church service consisted two readings along with the Gospel …show more content… St. John the Baptist 's website describes their tradition as centered around Greek origin. It also gives a bit of history and description of their tradition. So, while it is a website to look for information on events, it also is educational to those unfamiliar with orthodox tradition. St. John 's website is more focused on informative facts, such as extra programs and mass times. Most people at the Orthodox service were of Greek descent. There were people of all ages present, and they all dressed in different ways. Some dressed causally in jeans and a nice shirt while others wore dresses and high heels. The priest and altar servers had on intricate garments, all colorful and meticulously stitched with patterns. The Catholic Church consisted mainly of Caucasian students and young couples. Everyone was dressed in casual attire. The priest wore a simple white garment with gold Historical Background Of Our Lady Of Victories, Catholic Church Glenelg This includes stain glass windows with symbolic and sacred symbols, such as a dove, or the cross. The Catholic Church is usually decorated with statues of Mary and saints. Also displayed in this particular Catholic Church is the 14 stations of the cross. The candles located in the church symbolise light as pure and penetrating through the darkness, therefore it is a fitting symbol of God. More prevalent in the Catholic Churches and traditions is finding the presence of God in material objects.… Compare And Contrast Evangelical And Catholicism The religious services of each religion will give an insight how their holy place has a role on its beliefs. Architecture plays a major role in representing the example a church wants to set. It sets the foundation of what will become the sacred place of prayer. The settings of a Catholic church differ from that of a protestant church. For example, one of the first noticeable differences is the remarkable stained glass apparent in the Catholic church.… Similarities And Differences In The Way Christian Worship There are a lot of similarities and differences in the way Christians worship. Worship is something that can be done in numerous ways, but the overall purpose remains the same. Many have differing opinions on how to worship depending on their preference. Some of the ways Christians worship include using visual art, music, and theatre. Each way of worshipping has its own unique qualities, but there are many comparisons between the worshipping styles.… The Importance Of The Sunday Mass When you look around in the church, most churches have stained windows of representations or saints. There are also statues; they are usually in the corners of the church and some have a place where you can light a candle. Lighting a candle in front of a statute is very common when you are praying or asking them for something, as well as thanking them. The altar is centered in the front of the church and is usually covered with an altar cloth of a certain color; the colors represent different seasons in the church: green represents ordinary time, purple represents preparation, white is used during the church holy days, blue is used during Christmas time, and red is used during the Holy Week. Candles adorn the altar, and they are representations of the Holy Spirit.… Importance Of Christian Marriage Essay The Catholic and Orthodox rite applies the Sacramentary, which contains solemn blessings, Eucharistic prayers and prefaces for all of the Masses, including special occasions such as the rite of Marriage. The Anglican church utilise The Book of Common Prayer, or the Prayer Book for Australia (Episcopal), however, this may be used in those dioceses only where approval for the use of such rites has been granted. When two Catholics, Orthodox and some High Anglicans exchange wedding vows, they do so in the context of the Eucharist. This is referred to as a Nuptial Mass (i.e: Catholic & Orthodox) or Divine Liturgy (Anglican). Through consubstantiation, the Eucharist becomes the central aspect of the rite, as the marriage is now iconic.… My Experience At The Redeemer Lutheran Church Red represents the Holy Spirit giving strength to followers ("Church Year \| Liturgical Colors - The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod"). Throughout the church there were accents of red. Also, they had stained glass windows depicting a scene from the bible. Stained glass windows are prevalent throughout a lot of religions, but what makes this specific church unique is their logo. Their logo consists of two stick figures holding a cross up that appear to be making an outline of a building.… The Importance Of Faith And Christianity In The Victorian Era As of 2015, the Christian faith had for over 2.2 billion followers in the world, representing over 30 percent of every man, woman, and child on this Earth. Historically, Christianity was the predominant religion in both Europe and North America. Because of this, it was significantly embedded into the foundation of both legal systems as well as the central basis that shaped the moral values of society. Even literature written during or about the Victorian Era, referenced many of the Christian values that were expected to be followed during that age. While other religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Atheism also existed during this same time period, British authors fancied Christianity the most.… Catholic Church Reflection Paper The Catholic Church is one of the oldest religious institutions in the world. The church is headed by a bishops who are also called successors, but the pope is the leader of the church. During Mass services, Catholics participate in the liturgical life that uses signs and symbols that come from the creations of the world and sacraments which are signs of grace. The sacraments are baptism, confirmation, marriage, Eucharistic, and holy orders (ourcatholicfaith.org). I was able to witness a few of these sacraments during the service I attended which was very interesting to see.… Differences Of Christianity And Christianity In North America Group Paper The Christian faith and its denominations in North America are similar in many ways and different in many as well. The four main traditions are: Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, and Orthodox. Of these four major traditions Catholic makes up the most at 50 percent while Protestant and Pentecostal are both 20 percent each and the last 10 percent being orthodox. These four big traditions of Christianity are all part of one family tree. Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism share common roots in the church of the old Christian Roman Empire and have histories that intertwine back to their roots, which trace back to Jesus and his disciples.… My Personal Belief System Furthermore, the two religions both attend a place of Worship. Catholics and Jews can both pray in solitude every day; however the two religions each have a community that Worship together, and the services for both are held by one specific person. Lastly, as I stated above lightly, there is a similarity between both Sacred Texts for Catholicism and Judaism. For example, the Torah contains five books from the bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Additionally, both texts speak about some similar concepts.… Christian terms	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2248
__label__wiki	0.842788	0.842788	SA Trio Sign Up For IPL South Africans Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini and Mark Boucher, along with West Indies duo Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle are the latest international stars to join the Indian Premier League. Almost 50 international cricketers have already signed up for the IPL, which is scheduled to start in April 2008. The competition will consist of eight teams and will last 44 days. The league was launched by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to counter the “rebel” Indian Cricket League, which is due to start on November 30. Other international stars who have signed up include Australians Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Adam Gilchrist, Indians Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid as well as Pakistanis Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi. UFC 112: Invincible truebluefan Nov 9, 2007	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2249
__label__cc	0.508511	0.491489	Port of Call Naples, Italy Cruise ship steaming out of Naples harbour, Vesuvius in background Where do cruise ships dock in Naples (or tender) @ googlemaps Naples Cruise Port Naples Shore Excursions Pompeii Pompeii was totally destroyed by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD. The Roman town was hit by lightning-quick ash flows, which completely covered the town and its 20,000 citizens. The site was carefully excavated in the 1860s, and today you can stroll the streets, visit the shops and enter the homes just as they were moments before the catastrophe. Located about 10 miles south east of Naples, just past the town of Torre Annunziata. Resourceful DIYers can make the journey from Naples to Pompeii by train. Herculaneum Herculaneum, a town of about 5000 people, stood in the narrow strip of land between Mount Vesuvius and the coast. It was wiped out by the same eruption that buried Pompeii. Partial excavations though have revealed even more detail than Pompeii, with hundreds of fascinating artefacts, like near intact wooden furniture and almost legible papyrus scrolls, many of which remain in-situ. Herculaneum is located about half way along the road from Naples to Pompeii. Mount Vesuvius Regular buses from both Pompeii and Herculaneum railway stations climb up the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, and stop at a parking lot a short distance from the summit of this barely dormant volcano. You can then hike the steep path to the crater rim (850m in distance, and 200m of elevation) which takes around half-an-hour. The views of the half-kilometer wide caldera and the Tyrrhenian sea far below are breathtaking. Castel Nuovo The huge Castel Nuovo (also known as the Maschio Angioino) is next to the cruise port dock. It was originally built by Charles I of Anjou in the 13th century, with many additions since. The entrance is formed by a superb Renaissance arch, with ornate decoration, built in the 15h century for Alfonso I of Aragon. The castle now houses the city's art collection with many paintings depicting the rich history of Naples. There's an expansive view from the Castle's terrace overlooking the city, the port and Mount Vesuvius. Marina Grande Beach Fast ferries depart from the ferry terminal (positioned just next to the cruise pier) bound for the beautiful island of Capri (the voyage takes about 45 minutes). This lovely (but pebbly) beach is a short stroll from the pier in Capri. After taking a dip, you can investigate charming Capri town. There's a funicular that takes you up the hill to the quaint upper town, which is very touristy, and chock full of shops, restaurants and bars. Anything you'd like to say about Naples as a cruise destination? Cruises To Naples, Italy Cruises To Naples	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2250
__label__cc	0.688398	0.311602	HomeAbout UsContact PPP Alert: SBA Issues Loan Necessity Questionnaires By Jennifer Horowitz & Samantha B. Epstein on November 6, 2020 Posted in Recent Developments The U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) is requiring lenders to obtain completed “economic need” questionnaires (the “Questionnaire”) from Paycheck Protection Program for-profit and nonprofit borrowers (“PPP Borrowers”) who borrowed $2 million or more in Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans. While the content of the Questionnaire remains subject to review and final approval by the Office of Management and Budget, PPP Borrowers should be prepared to complete the Questionnaire as part of the PPP forgiveness application submissions. Economic Need Certification, Generally As summarized in our prior Alerts regarding PPP loan eligibility and forgiveness[1], all PPP Borrowers were required, at the time of application, to demonstrate economic need for PPP funds, specifically certifying in good faith that “[c]urrent economic uncertainty makes [the] loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Applicant”. In determining whether a PPP Borrower meets the need threshold, subsequent SBA guidance instructed borrowers to consider the state of its then-current business activity and its ability to access other sources of liquidity sufficient to support ongoing operations in a manner not materially detrimental to the business. Additional SBA guidance issued on May 13, 2020 provided a safe harbor for PPP Borrowers that, together with its affiliates, received PPP funds in an amount less than $2 million. Such PPP Borrowers are deemed to have made the economic need certification in good faith, on the basis that such category of borrowers were less likely to have had access to other sources of liquidity at the time the loan was applied for and obtained. The SBA further clarified that PPP Borrowers who obtained loans in excess of $2 million may still have an adequate basis for making the required certification, but will be subject to SBA review for compliance with program eligibility requirements set forth in prior SBA Interim Final Rules and the Borrower Application Form. Loan Necessity Questionnaire The SBA has already begun to distribute the Questionnaire to PPP lenders servicing PPP Borrowers with loans of $2 million or more. Not only does the Questionnaire impose substantial document production and certification requirements on PPP Borrowers, but it also requires PPP Borrowers to respond within only 10 business days from receipt of the Questionnaire. Most notably, the Questionnaire focuses not only on compliance at the time of application (and the veracity of related “economic need” certifications), but also the condition of the business and operations of PPP Borrower following receipt of funds. The Questionnaire focuses primarily on the assessment of two operational conditions: business activity and liquidity. Business Activity Assessment. With respect to business activity, PPP Borrowers are required to provide details relating to gross revenues in the second quarter of 2019 (or, for businesses not in operation in 2019, the first quarter of 2020) and 2020. In addition, PPP Borrowers are required to provide information relating to cash outlays necessitated in connection with mandatory shutdowns and/or significant operational alterations resulting from government mandates and emergency declarations issued throughout the pandemic. Note that the nonprofit questionnaire requires substantively similar information, with a focus on gross receipts from gifts, grants, contributions and other amounts. Liquidity Assessment. The liquidity assessment contains a series of questions relating to cash flow, capital expenditures and distributions of the applicable PPP Borrower both at the time of application and thereafter. PPP Borrowers are required to disclose, among other things: Cash and cash equivalents as of the last day of the calendar quarter immediately preceding PPP Borrower’s submission of its application; Payment of dividends or distributions to the PPP Borrower’s owners; Prepayment of debt during the Covered Period; Employee compensation in excess of $250,000 on an annualized basis; Ownership of 20% or more of PPP Borrower by any publicly traded company (together with name and market capitalization of any such publicly traded company) or any private equity firm, venture capital firm or hedge fund; Information relating to subsidiaries, parents and affiliates of the PPP Borrower; and Receipt of funds from any CARES Act program or other COVID-19 relief. Again, the nonprofit questionnaire follows a similar form, with additional questions relating to cash, savings and temporary cash investments, types and values of endowment funds (including donor-restricted endowments, quasi-endowments or similar funds), and questions specific to health care service providers. The Questionnaire raises substantial concerns for PPP Borrowers, as it requires PPP Borrowers to consider current operational and liquidity factors which appear to go well beyond the SBA’s previous guidance with respect to the economic need assessment determined at the time of the application (and through the previous safe harbor periods). It is unclear whether this will be used as a screening mechanism to determine which loans require further review or if there is actually an intent to determine eligibility based upon subsequent events. Unless and until there is further guidance, PPP Borrowers with loans at or above the $2 million threshold should be prepared not only to certify to the information detailed above, but to gather, review and ultimately produce substantial documentation with respect to their responses at the time of submission of their PPP loan forgiveness application. While many PPP Borrowers are hoping for additional guidance prior to submitting their PPP forgiveness application, the SBA has not yet indicated if and when any such further guidance will be issued. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updated alert(s) as additional information becomes available. Our attorneys are available to guide you and answer any questions regarding the Questionnaire and related PPP considerations. [1] For additional information, please see our prior alerts issued on April 24, 2020 (regarding SBA Frequently Asked Questions), May 13, 2020 (regarding SBA guidance with respect to the good faith certification), May 14, 2020 (regarding extension of the safe harbor deadline) and May 18, 2020 (regarding loan forgiveness). As the law continues to evolve on these matters, please note that this article is current as of date and time of publication and may not reflect subsequent developments. The content and interpretation of the issues addressed herein is subject to change. Cole Schotz P.C. disclaims any and all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this publication to the fullest extent permitted by law. This is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Do not act or refrain from acting upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining legal, financial and tax advice. For further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to your firm contact or to any of the attorneys listed in this publication. SBA Clarifies Treatment of PPP Loans in M&A Deals By Christopher Kula & Samantha B. Epstein on October 27, 2020 Earlier this month, the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) issued Procedural Notice Control No. 5000-20057 (the “Guidelines”), providing guidance with respect to M&A transactions involving entities with outstanding Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) facilities. This Alert summarizes the Guidelines as they relate to change of control and M&A transactions, specifically with respect to diligence review, transaction timing and SBA consent requirements. For purposes of the PPP, a “change of ownership” is deemed to have occurred upon (i) the sale, transfer or other conveyance of (A) at least 20% of the common stock or other equity interests of a PPP borrower (including publicly traded companies), including to any affiliate or existing owner of such PPP borrower, or (B) at least 50% of the assets of a PPP borrower (calculated in terms of fair market value), in each case whether in one or a series of transactions, or (ii) the merger of any PPP borrower with or into another entity. In determining whether a PPP borrower satisfies the foregoing thresholds, the SBA will aggregate all sales and other transfers occurring since the initial date of approval of the PPP facility. Regardless of the consummation of any change of ownership transaction, the PPP borrower will remain fully responsible for its obligations under its existing PPP facility, including all certifications made in connection with such borrower’s initial loan application. The Guidelines specifically reference compliance with the economic necessity certification as an example. Further, PPP borrowers remain responsible for obtaining, preparing and retaining all PPP documentation relevant to the loan, as required by its applicable PPP lender, and providing the same to the SBA upon request. Prior to the closing of any change of ownership transaction, a PPP borrower must notify its PPP lender in writing of the proposed transaction, which notice must provide a copy of all proposed documentation contemplated to effect the transaction. SBA Approval Negotiations regarding transaction timing and structure must necessarily contemplate required SBA approvals upon a change of ownership. The Guidelines address the following circumstances under which prior SBA consent may or may not be required in addition to the prior written consent of the target company’s PPP lender. Generally, there are no restrictions on a change of ownership transaction if, prior to closing, (i) the PPP loan has been paid and satisfied in full, or (ii) the PPP borrower has completed the loan forgiveness process and (A) the SBA has remitted funds to PPP lender in full satisfaction of the loan, or (B) the PPP borrower has repaid the outstanding balance of the PPP loan in its entirety. SBA consent is not required under the following circumstances: In the event that the change of ownership is structured as a sale or transfer of common stock or equity interests or as a merger, the PPP borrower may consummate such transaction without prior approval of the SBA if (i) the sale or transfer is of 50% or less of the common stock or equity interests of the PPP borrower, or (ii) the PPP borrower submits a forgiveness application indicating its use of all PPP proceeds, together with any required supporting documentation, to PPP lender, and a lender-controlled, interest-bearing escrow account is established with funds equal to the outstanding balance of the PPP loan. Upon completion of the forgiveness process, the escrow amount must be disbursed first to satisfy the outstanding PPP loan balance plus interest. In the event that the change of ownership is structured as an asset sale, the PPP borrower may consummate such transaction without prior approval of the SBA if the PPP borrower submits a forgiveness application indicating its use of all PPP proceeds, together with any required supporting documentation, to PPP lender, and a lender-controlled, interest-bearing escrow account is established with funds equal to the outstanding balance of the PPP loan. Upon completion of the forgiveness process, the escrow amount must be disbursed first to satisfy the outstanding PPP loan balance plus interest. In this case, the PPP lender must notify the appropriate SBA Loan Servicing Center of the location of, and the amount of funds in, the escrow account within 5 business days of consummation of the transaction. In the event that a change of ownership transaction fails to satisfy any of the foregoing conditions, the parties will be required to obtain SBA consent in connection with the same (and the PPP lender may not unilaterally approve the transaction). In such case, the PPP lender is responsible for submission of an approval request to the appropriate SBA Loan Servicing Center, setting forth in detail: The reason that PPP borrower is unable to fully satisfy the PPP loan or escrow funds as described above; Details of the proposed transaction; A copy of the PPP Note; Any letter of intent and the purchase agreement setting forth the obligations of the PPP borrower, seller (if an entity other than the PPP borrower), and buyer; Information regarding any existing PPP loan obtained by buyer (if any); and A list of all owners of 20% or more of the equity of the acquiring entity. The SBA will review and provide a determination within 60 calendar days of receipt of a complete consent request, which will inevitably factor into the initial determination by the parties of transaction timing and target closing. Transaction Considerations In addition to the threshold consideration as to whether a change of ownership transaction requires prior authorization by the SBA, the Guidelines highlight several additional restrictions and obligations to be considered when structuring an M&A transaction and allocating risk under the definitive documents. Below is a high-level summary of those considerations: SBA may require, in its sole discretion, additional risk mitigation measures as a condition of its approval of any change of ownership transaction. SBA approval of the sale of 50% or more of the assets of any PPP borrower will be expressly conditioned on the assumption by the acquiring entity of PPP borrower’s obligations under the PPP loan (including responsibility for continued compliance). The purchase agreement drafted in connection with the transaction must address such assignment and assumption, or a separate assumption agreement must be submitted to the SBA. For all sales of common stock or equity interests or mergers, whether or not SBA approval is required, the PPP borrower or successor by merger, as applicable, will remain subject to all obligations under the PPP loan. In addition, the SBA will have full recourse against the new owners in the event they use the PPP funds for any unauthorized purpose. In the event that any new owner or successor in interest by merger, as applicable, has obtained its own PPP facility, then, upon consummation of any change of ownership transaction, the PPP borrower and new owner or successor, as applicable, are responsible for segregating and delineating PPP funds and expenses, and providing documentation to demonstrate compliance with PPP requirements under both PPP loans. The PPP lender must notify the applicable SBA Loan Servicing Center within 5 business days of consummation of the transaction of the identity of the new equity holders, such new holders ownership percentage and the tax ID number for any owner holding 20% or more of the aggregate equity in the business. As we continue to see an uptick in M&A deal flow, it is critical that potential buyers consider the impact of requirements set forth in target’s PPP loan documentation as well as SBA change of ownership requirements as set forth in the Guidelines. The existence of outstanding PPP loans on both the buy-side and sell-side will have implications on transaction structure and timing, due diligence and the representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities contained in the purchase agreement and transaction documents entered into among the parties. Our attorneys are available to guide you and answer any questions regarding the Guidelines and related M&A transaction considerations. SEC Proposes Conditional Exemption from Broker Registration Requirements for Finders Assisting Small Businesses with Capital Raising Efforts By Rimma Tsvasman on October 22, 2020 Posted in Securities Laws and Regulation Easing of restrictions may be on the way for smaller issuers seeking to rely on “finders” to assist with their capital raising efforts. On October 7, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed a new limited, conditional exemption from broker registration requirements of Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) for “finders” who assist issuers with raising capital in private markets from accredited investors. If adopted, the proposed exemption would permit natural persons to engage in certain limited activities involving accredited investors without registering with the SEC as brokers. This proposed exemption might also allow certain existing registered broker-dealers to possibly withdraw their registration as well. The purpose of the proposed exemption is to help smaller businesses raise capital and provide regulatory clarity to the parties involved in such efforts. The proposed exemption would create two classes of exempt Finders, Tier I Finders and Tier II Finders, and establish clear lanes for both registered broker activity and limited activity by finders that would be exempt from registration. Tier I and Tier II Finders would be permitted to accept transaction-based compensation under the terms of the proposed exemption, but each would be subject to certain conditions tailored to the permitted scope of their respective activities. Tier I Finders would be limited to providing contact information of potential investors in connection with only a single capital raising transaction by a single issuer in a 12-month period. A Tier I Finder would not be permitted to have any contact with a potential investor about the issuer. Tier II Finders would be able to solicit investors on behalf of an issuer, but the solicitation-related activities would be limited to: identifying, screening, and contacting potential investors; distributing issuer offering materials to investors; discussing issuer information included in any offering materials, provided that the Tier II Finder does not provide advice as to the valuation or advisability of the investment; and arranging or participating in meetings with the issuer and investor. Both Tier I and Tier II Finders would be subject to the following conditions in order to take advantage of the proposed exemption: the issuer is not required to file reports under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; the issuer is seeking to conduct the securities offering in reliance on an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”); the Finder does not engage in general solicitation; the potential investor is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Act or the Finder has a reasonable belief that the potential investor is an “accredited investor”; the Finder provides services pursuant to a written agreement with the issuer that includes a description of the services provided and associated compensation; the Finder is not an associated person of a broker-dealer; and the Finder is not subject to statutory disqualification, as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(39) of the Exchange Act, at the time of his or her participation. Additionally, because Tier II Finders would participate in a wider range of activity and have the potential to engage in more offerings with issuers and investors, the SEC has proposed additional disclosure requirements and conditions. These disclosure requirements, which include a requirement that the Tier II Finder provide appropriate disclosures of such Tier II Finder’s role and compensation, must be made prior to or at the time of the solicitation. The Tier II Finder would also need to obtain from investors a dated written acknowledgment of receipt of the required disclosures prior to or at the time of any investment in the issuer’s securities. The exemption would not apply to a number of activities, including resales of securities, due diligence, and negotiating terms of an investment. To read the full proposal, click here. SEC Expands Definition of Accredited Investor By Christopher Kula & Jennifer Horowitz on August 31, 2020 On August 26th, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted amendments to the “accredited investor” definition in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D, a key determinant for eligibility to invest in unregistered securities. The amended definition expands access to private capital markets to a broader swath of potential investors, such as “knowledgeable employees” (with respect to investments in a private fund), those holding certain professional credentials or licenses (Series 7, 65 and 82, Chartered Financial Analysts and others that the SEC may designate from time to time), SEC and state registered investment advisers, exempt reporting advisers, as well as any entity, including limited liability companies, Native American tribes, funds and entities organized under foreign law, that own investments in excess of $5 million and that was not formed for the specific purpose of investing in the securities offered, and family offices (and their “family clients”) with investments of at least $5 million, among others. The amended definition also adds the term “spousal equivalent” for purposes of clarifying who can pool their finances to qualify as an accredited investor. Notably, the net worth and income standards for individuals and entities under the definition were not updated – which is interesting given the focus in recent years over updating such amounts to take into account inflation – consistent with the thrust of the current amendments to expand access to investors not only based on their personal wealth, but also based on their level of financial sophistication. These changes follow decades of growth in private capital markets and are expected to facilitate capital raising for early stage companies and private funds. These amendments become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. See this link to the SEC’s press release for more information regarding the amended “accredited investor” definition. Delaware Offices Permitted to Reopen with Restrictions By Rimma Tsvasman on July 2, 2020 Posted in Employment, Recent Developments As Delaware operates in Phase 2 of its economic reopening, the following are general guidelines applicable to offices which are not otherwise subject to industry-specific guidance. The following applies as of June 15, 2020, the date that Delaware began Phase 2 of its economic reopening, as more fully set forth in the Twenty-First Modification of the Declaration of a State of Emergency for the State of Delaware: Employers must enforce strict social distancing protocols. Employers must exclude employees who (a) have been diagnosed with COVID-19, (b) are reasonably suspected to have COVID-19, or (c) have symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, aches or muscle pain, chills or repeated shaking with chills. Such employees shall stay home and not come to work until they are until they are free of fever (100.4 °F or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g., cough suppressants). These employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick. Daily health screenings of employees are strongly recommended before work (and mandated for high risk businesses). Symptomatic employees must not physically return to work until cleared by a medical professional. Employers must prohibit employees who have been told they must be isolated or quarantined from on-premises work until isolation or quarantine status is discontinued by the DPH. Employers are encouraged to continue teleworking. Employees who have been working from home should continue working from home unless there is a substantive change to business operations in Phase 2 (e.g. a business was closed, but now it is open). All surfaces touched by visitors, including doors, seating restrooms, and elevators must be disinfected using an EPA-approved disinfectant every 15 minutes to 2 hours. Hand sanitizer must be used by employees at frequent intervals during any service, appointment or scheduled event, including at a minimum after contact with surfaces touched by others, after incidental contact with a visitor, and before preparing or distributing food or drink. Employees must social distance from each other while working. This can be accomplished through spacing or moving workstations, staggering shifts or other means. Businesses must make hand sanitizer or handwashing stations readily available for all employees, patrons, and visitors throughout the business’ location, including at each entry and exit at a minimum. Hand sanitizer must be composed of at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol. Businesses must stagger appointments or other scheduled gatherings and events to allow for a thorough cleaning and disinfecting according to CDC guidelines of any public spaces before the next appointment or other scheduled gathering or event begins. Employers must post signs on stopping the spread of COVID-19, hand hygiene and wearing cloth face covering. Additionally, owners of buildings used for commercial offices must adopt policies that, at a minimum, implement the following cleaning protocols: Clean and disinfect high-touch areas routinely in accordance with CDC guidelines, particularly in spaces that are accessible to staff, customers, tenants, or other individuals, and ensure cleaning procedures following a known or potential exposure in a facility are in compliance with CDC recommendations. Maintain cleaning procedures in all other areas of the facility. Ensure that the facility has a sufficient number of workers to perform the above protocols effectively and in a manner that ensures the safety of occupants, visitors, and workers. As offices reopen, they are required to be compliant with Federal, State and local safeguards for its employees, visitors and operations, and should be guided by requirements and recommendations, as applicable, specified by Delaware Executive Orders, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The above relate exclusively to professional and commercial offices operating in Delaware. As noted, there may be additional and different restrictions and requirements with respect to other industries permitted to be open at this time. While Governor Carney announced on June 25, 2020 that Phase 3 would be delayed in light of concerns about instances of noncompliance in Delaware and surging COVID-19 cases in other parts of the country, it is expected that when Delaware enters Phase 3, restrictions on businesses will be further relaxed. Requirements continue to evolve and we will continue to monitor Delaware’s economic reopening. Newer PostsOlder Posts Our corporate blog provides news and commentary for entrepreneurs with start-up and early-stage companies to middle market private and public companies. 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__label__cc	0.557909	0.442091	Sixers have a lot on the line: Moore Bucks County Courier Times There is still time for the 76ers to salvage their 2019-20 season. Whether they’ll be able to remains to be seen. With 22 games remaining, starting with Sunday afternoon’s contest against the Clippers that begins a four-game Western Conference trip, the 76ers are still capable of securing homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They went into Saturday with a 37-23 in a virtual tie with the Heat for fourth place in the East, though Miami owns the tiebreaker via a 3-1 head-to-head edge. But let’s be honest — it seems more likely the Sixers will lose in the opening round than advance to the conference finals, especially if they don’t get a top-4 seed and have to win at least one game of a best-of-seven series on the road. There are no clear victories on the trip for a team that is 9-21 on the road, where it has dropped its last seven and are coming off of a double-digit drubbing by the woeful Cavaliers. After the Clippers, the Sixers face LeBron James and the Lakers on Tuesday night, the Kings on Thursday evening and the Warriors, who could have Steph Curry back, next Saturday night. And the Sixers won’t have star Ben Simmons (pinched nerve, lower back) on the trip and probably will be without fellow all-star Joel Embiid (sprained shoulder) for the entire time, too. Big night pre-injury:Embiid scores career-high 49, 76ers beat Hawks 129-112 From a big-picture perspective, it’d be almost impossible to refer to this as a successful season if the Sixers don’t get beyond the Eastern Conference semifinals again, given the great expectations and a payroll that puts them just under the luxury tax threshold of $132.6 million but will require them to pay the tax in 2020-21. They’ve already committed $147 million to nine players next year — $27.5 million to Al Horford, $29.3 million to Simmons, $29.5 million to Embiid, and $33.5 million to Tobias Harris. As for the five-year, $180 million contract general manager Elton Brand gave Harris, yes, that’s above the market value for a very good player who has never been an all-star. Harris benefited from the Sixers’ ability to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him and that Philly couldn’t use all of that money to sign somebody from outside the organization. If Harris went elsewhere, unless it was a sign-and-trade, the Sixers would’ve been in a bind so they overpaid to keep him. The Sixers’ best option is to make it work with this roster, if possible, because it might be difficult to trade the 34-year-old Horford and, perhaps, Harris for quality players if management and Brand want to alter the core around Embiid and Simmons. If the Sixers don’t reach the conference finals, management would have to determine if the problem is roster construction or if they aren’t producing the way they should. To me, it appears to be a combination of the two. Moore:Sixers will go as far as Joel Embiid takes them If it’s deemed the primary issue is these players don’t fit well, that’d fall primarily on Brand, whose most questionable move is agreeing to Horford’s four-year, $97 million guaranteed contract. If management believes the group is underperforming, that’d be more Brett Brown. Brown could end up taking the bulk of the blame. If he ends up getting replaced, Brand would have to hope the next coach is more successful or he could — and should — wind up on the clock. We may be getting ahead of ourselves here. Perhaps Joel Embiid doesn’t allow his conditioning to drop off considerably by the time he returns from a strained shoulder March 11 against the Pistons, dominates inside and is healthy for the first time in the postseason. Then Ben Simmons comes back from the pinched nerve in his lower back in time to fill up the stat sheet like he’s playing pinball. While those two are a huge part of the Sixers’ offense, they’re even more important at the defensive end. That could be quite apparent on the trip. No matter how you slice it, there’s a great deal at stake for the Sixers during the rest of the regular season and playoffs. Moore:Sixers trying to make the best of it without Simmons Blue Rocks:Sales for Blue Saturday on Leap Day include 30 cent Opening Day tickets	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2254
__label__wiki	0.663255	0.663255	Homosexual activists vandalize pro-life foundation with red paint and condoms Jérôme Lejeune Foundation was smeared with red paint Radical homosexuals demand not just tolerance, but complete approval from society. However, like everything about the Left, their demand is yet another example of their self-serving and hypocritical modus operandus, “Do as I say, not as I do.” On the night of August 4-5, 2013, members of the homosexual activist group, AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP), vandalized the office of the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation in Paris. Doctors and patients of the foundation discovered insulting posters, condoms strewn around, and blood-red paint thrown against walls, doors, and windows. Jérôme Lejeune Foundation was established in 1996 by the family of pro-life geneticist Jérôme Lejeune (1926-94) as a continuation of his research into genetic disabilities. The foundation also offers concrete help to patients and their families, as well as works towards a greater protection of unborn children. The foundation’s president, Jean-Marie Le Méné, said about the vandalism: “I denounce this most outrageous act of intimidation, as it relates to medical space welcoming people with intellectual disabilities and their families. It is always easier to attack the weakest and take them as a scapegoat.” Act Up is heavily funded by France and justifies its attack by saying that the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation was homophobic for supporting the “Manif Pour Tous” (March for All) – a French mass movement against the legalization of gay marriage and gay adoption. In January 2013, 1.4 million Manif Pour Tous protestors peacefully marched in Paris. French police tear-gassed and beat the protestors with batons, including children, the elderly, and priests. Founded in March 1987 by homosexual activist Larry Kramer at the Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center in New York, ACT UP is notorious for its attack and vandalism against St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. On December 10, 1989, ACT UP launched the first “Stop the Church” protest against the Roman Catholic Church’s opposition to homosexuality and abortion. Some 4,500 protestors — many dressed as clowns, Catholic bishops, and even Jesus Christ — gathered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral during Mass, chanting slogans and laying down in the aisles. One protestor desecrated the Holy Eucharist — the Body of Christ — by breaking the wafer and throwing it to the floor. Police arrested 111 protestors, but filed only minor charges. The protestors were sentenced to community service; those who refused were tried but did not serve jail time. Sources: Catholic World News reports; Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe. See also Richard Evans and Henry Makow, “Coercing Homosexual Consensus.” Highly recommend! ~Eowyn Dr. Eowyn is the Editor of Fellowship of the Minds and a regular contributor to The D.C. Clotheslines. Previous articleRetired Marine Col. Pete Martino: “Is Everybody Blind?” The US “Is Building a Domestic Army!” Next articleClowns vs. Chicks	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2257
__label__wiki	0.935353	0.935353	News Releases February 25, 2020 Deere recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies MOLINE, Illinois (February 25, 2020) – Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is one of the World's Most Ethical Companies according to the Ethisphere Institute, which today announced its annual ranking of companies with highly ethical business practices. The Ethisphere Institute has recognized Deere as one of the world's most ethical businesses 13 times since first starting its annual ranking over 10 years ago. This year, 130 honorees were recognized spanning 21 countries and 51 industries. "Integrity is a core value at John Deere and has been critical to our company's long history of success," said John May, chief executive officer at Deere & Company. "We remain committed to upholding the highest ethical standards and maintaining our reputation for doing business the right way." The Ethisphere Institute assesses company performance across five categories: Culture of ethics Corporate citizenship and responsibility Leadership and reputation "This is a moment to acknowledge the leaders working to advance corporate cultures defined by integrity and affirm those companies contributing to broader societal imperatives and the greater good," said Timothy Erblich, Ethisphere's chief executive officer. Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world's dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality built on a tradition of integrity. For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at www.JohnDeere.ca. For further information, the news media should call: Ken Golden Director, Global Public Relations Deere & Company CorporateLeadership	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2260
__label__wiki	0.954907	0.954907	John Bolton’s Curious Appearance In A Russian Gun Rights Video Former U.N. ambassador John Bolton recorded a video used by the Russian gun rights group The Right to Bear Arms in 2013 to encourage the Russian government to loosen gun laws. The episode, which has not been previously reported, illustrates the common cause that Russian and American gun rights groups were forming in the years leading up to the 2016 election through former National Rifle Association president David Keene. Keene appointed Bolton to the NRA’s international affairs subcommittee in 2011. Russian politician Alexander Torshin helped establish The Right to Bear Arms and cultivate ties with American gun rights groups including the NRA. As a Putin ally, Torshin served as the deputy speaker of Russia’s parliament for more than a decade, and also spent time on Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee, a state body that includes the director of Russia’s internal security service. The Bolton video appears to be another plank in a bridge built by Russia to conservative political organizations inside the United States. It’s unclear why Russian leaders wanted to curry favor with the NRA, but Torshin and Keene appeared to have developed close ties over in the years prior to the 2016 election. It’s a relationship that has outsized importance now that the FBI is reportedly investigating whether Torshin illegally funneled money to the NRA to assist the Trump campaign in 2016, as McClatchy reported in January. The NRA has declined wrongdoing. Bolton, who visited President Donald Trump in the Oval Office earlier this month and has reportedly been considered as a replacement for national security adviser H.R. McMaster, is a curious pick for The Right to Bear Arms in its video effort to influence the Russian legislature. After all, Bolton is one of the most hawkish, anti-Russia figures in Republican Party foreign policy circles. And yet the video recorded by Bolton was used by this obscure Russian gun rights group with ties to the Kremlin. A source close to Bolton told NPR that he was originally asked to record the video by David Keene, who served as NRA president from 2011 to 2013, and that he was informed the recording was for the Russian legislature. The source also said the former ambassador had never heard of The Right to Bear Arms until recent news coverage of the group. Russian gun laws are relatively strict, and there is no fundamental right to own a gun. In the video, Bolton urges the Russian people to adopt gun rights as part of their constitution — in much the same way that the United States has a Second Amendment. At the time, he was a member of the NRA’s international affairs subcommittee, a position Keene had appointed him to. The two have known each other since 1972, when Bolton interned for Keene. “Thank you for this opportunity to address the Russian people on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Russian Constitution,” Bolton said in the video, which has previously been unreported. “Were the Russian national government to grant a broader right to bear arms to its people, it would be creating a partnership with its citizens that would better allow for the protection of mothers, children and families without in any way compromising the integrity of the Russian state. That is my wish and my advice to your great people.” Keene is a central player in the links between the American and Russian gun rights movements, and the fall of 2013 was a key moment in the development of this relationship. A few days before Bolton’s video was posted online, in November 2013, Keene was in Moscow for The Right to Bear Arms annual conference, delivering a speech. More than 300 gun rights advocates across the globe gathered in an upscale hotel to hear arguments for loosening of gun rights, and even a concealed carry fashion show. There were signs that the Russian government had given its approval that the conference take place. Russian politicians, such as Torshin, were present, made speeches, and were presented with honorary memberships to The Right to Bear Arms. “One would have to make an assumption that in Russia, which is a fairly closed society, that if someone was doing this, the government wasn’t upset by it and knew what was going on,” said conference attendee Alan Gottlieb, the founder of the U.S.-based Second Amendment Foundation. “The feeling was that it was sanctioned by the powers that be, so to speak. Otherwise, I would have doubted if it were to have taken place.” Gary Burris, another attendee, recalled “two or three high-ranking government officials there” who represented the Russian legislature. “They were people who had some political sway.” Bolton was not present at this conference. But the issue the former ambassador raised in his 2013 video — changing the Russian constitution to guarantee gun rights — was a major theme. “Amending the Russian constitution to include a right to keep and bear arms provision, like our Second Amendment, was definitely a high priority for the attendees at the conference,” Gottlieb told NPR. At the conference, Keene said that it was a “great honor to be here today, partly because over the course of the last three years, I’ve hosted your senator Alexander Torshin at the National Rifle Association’s annual meetings.” Torshin regularly tweeted and posted photos of his visits with Keene over the years. Keene had once reciprocated, and posted a photo of Torshin on his personal website. But with the report of an FBI investigation, as well as a preliminary inquiry into the National Rifle Association, times have changed — that photo was removed from Keene’s website. However, he did not delete the reference from his Facebook page, where it remains. Neither Torshin nor Keene responded to multiple requests for comment.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2266
__label__wiki	0.917681	0.917681	Saracens Football Club is a London based club that made their return to the Premiership league in 2012. They have a distinctive red and black jersey and are currently sitting last on the table due to a breach of salary cap regulations in the last three seasons. It has been a devastating blow to the club. However, they have still played eight games and won 6 making them the assassins of the Premiership capable of taking down the toughest clubs. The team has a long history going back to the 1800s arising out of Marylebone Grammar School. They established a rivalry with the Crusaders but later merged with the club in 1878. The 1970s was a golden era for the club when they made it to the semi-finals of the National Cup. The club also played special games including a huge win in 1971 against an International XV. The crowd was a huge one for North London at the time. The team returned to the Premiership in 2012 at Allianz Park and continue to make their presence felt in the UK Premiership League as well as internationally. In a recent Premiership Table of the Decade, Saracens are at the top of the table. Interesting Facts about the Exeter Chiefs The Saracens have won the European Rugby Champions Cup more than any other English team. Their three titles have been won in 2016, 2017 and 2019. Their name is based on Saladin desert warriors from the 12th Century. The title means ‘endurance, enthusiasm and invincibility.’ Despite being -7 and last on the table due to the salary cap issues, they have won as many games as the top two teams. The Saracens will get over their salary cap issues and continue to play devastating Rugby. Their season could still show how dangerous they can be against the leaders of the table. They will be fighting against relegation.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2267
__label__cc	0.521774	0.478226	> Animation & VFX Jean Jullien’s new music video celebrates International Women’s Day By Neil Bennett \| on March 08, 2016 It’s International Women’s Day – also known as ‘don’t be a dick about it being International Women’s Day, guys’ – and to coincide, Jean Jullien and his brother Nicolas have released a music video (above) for Nicolas’ electronica band The Coward that tells the story of a woman’s life through a series of vignettes. The video for the track, also called The Coward, was directed and animated by Nicolas using artwork created by Jean – bearing his trademark seemingly-simple brushwork that matches the clean sound of Nicolas’ chiming instrumental music (which reminds us a bit of Visage’s synthpop classic Fade to Grey). The Coward uses the metaphor of a clock to pick 12 scenes from an ‘everywoman’s life’ – from birth to an early understanding of death, school to career success, find a relationship to moving on when it breaks down, to contentment as her life comes to a close. Rather than focussing on still-very-pertinent subjects such as misogyny, The Coward shows a woman becoming more confident, capable and successful as she gets older – showing the world as it should be (and how it will be in the future hopefully) than how it is now. Jean and Nicolas (above) work on projects together under the moniker of The Jullien Brothers, having produced videos for the likes of Pitchfork and the NSPCC. Jean has also produced this graphic for International Women’s Day. Jean Jullien is best known for his much-shared visual responses to terrorist attacks in France. He's also illustrated the wonderful children's book Hoot Owl and produced illustrations for the likes of Eurostar.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2269
__label__cc	0.573096	0.426904	Syria - Q&A - Excerpts from the daily press briefing (23.08.18) Q – What, according to the Foreign Ministry, are the necessary conditions for a voluntary repatriation of refugees to Syria in safety and dignity? Do you believe it is possible to begin a return in the current circumstances? A – More than 5.6 million Syrians have taken refuge in neighboring countries and in Europe. There are 6.6 million internally displaced persons in Syria – the largest displaced population in the world. These people have fled violence, insecurity and the atrocities of a criminal regime. Their return must be voluntary and must guarantee them a decent, secure life, consistent with HCR criteria. To date, these conditions do not exist. The adoption of Law No. 10, which confiscates the property of refugees and displaced persons, the country’s instability, and cases of the arrest and forced conscription of refugees returning from Lebanon prove that the regime is continuing its strategy of preying on refugees and displaced persons. As this year saw the largest movement of displaced persons since the beginning of the conflict, with 920,000 new DPs since January 2018, and the entire international community is warning of the risks of a major humanitarian and migratory crisis in the event of an offensive against Idlib province, envisioning the refugees’ return is unrealistic in the current circumstances. France remains committed to supporting the efforts of Syria’s neighbors, which are harboring millions of refugees. In this spirit, we announced at the Brussels II conference on April 25 that we are allocating more than a billion euros for Syria and the countries harboring Syrian refugees for the period of 2018-2020. We are also working actively within international bodies and with our partners to ensure that the conditions are met for a voluntary repatriation in safety and dignity. We are demanding in particular the abrogation of Law No. 10 and guarantees by the regime that there will be no reprisals or forced conscription. We reaffirm that only a negotiated political solution in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 will make it possible to establish the conditions for a voluntary repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons in safety and dignity. France / Syria (In French) More information on the website of the ministry Embassy of France in Syria (in French) War in Syria: Understanding France’s position The Stabilization of Raqqa French contribution to support the Syrian people in North Eastern Syria European sanctions: an instrument for fighting repression in Syria Syria – Amnesty International report on crimes committed in Saydnaya Prison - Statement by Jean-Marc Ayrault (07.02.17) Syria – Attack in Azaz (07.01.17) Syria – Breakdown of the truce - Q & A from the daily press briefing (04.01.17) Syria - Reminder of the spokesperson’s statement (31.12.16) Syria – UN General Assembly – Establishment of a mechanism to investigate on war crimes (21.12.16) Syria – Aleppo – United Nations – Adoption of a resolution (19.12.16) Syria – United Nations – Meeting between Jean-Marc Ayrault and Staffan de Mistura, UN Special Envoy for Syria (15.12.16) Situation in Aleppo – Statement by Jean-Marc Ayrault (13.12.16) United Nations – Syria - Statement by Jean-Marc Ayrault (09.12.16) Syria – White Helmets – Joint statement by Jean-Marc Ayrault and Frank Walter Steinmeier (09.12.16) The fight against impunity: a prerequisite for peace in Syria	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2270
__label__cc	0.706766	0.293234	US to be short between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033 by John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter \| July 01, 2020 The U.S. is expected to have a deficit of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033. The U.S. is projected to face a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033, according to a report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Decreases in available doctors are expected in both primary and specialty care, despite a rising demand for physicians by a growing and aging population, says the study, which is titled The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projection from 2018-2033. “To ensure an adequate physician workforce, Congress must remove the caps on federal funding for graduate medical education that have been in place since 1997,” Michael Dill, the AAMC’s director of workforce studies, told HCB News. “To help address the physician shortage, the bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019 would provide increased Medicare support for an additional 3,000 new residency positions each year over the next five years.” New & Refurbished C-Arm Systems. Call 702.384.0085 Today! Quest Imaging Solutions provides all major brands of surgical c-arms (new and refurbished) and carries a large inventory for purchase or rent. With over 20 years in the medical equipment business we can help you fulfill your equipment needs Conducted prior to the rise of COVID-19, the analysis evaluated supply and demand scenarios, as well as trends in healthcare delivery and the state of the healthcare workforce, including data on physician work hours and retirement trends. It predicted primary care to be short of between 21,400 and 55,200 physicians, and non-primary care specialties, between 33,700 and 86,700 physicians. Surgical specialties are expected to lack between 17,100 and 28,700 physicians, followed by medical specialties by a rate of 9,300 to 17,800. Areas of healthcare labeled as other medical specialties included pathology, radiology and psychiatry, and would be in need of 17,100 and 41,900 more physician by 2033. The study credits this lack of medical personnel to a large portion now nearing traditional retirement age, with two of five currently active physicians to reach 65 and over within the next decade. Supply projections are also sensitive to workforce decisions of older physicians, and greater concerns over physician burnout are more likely to cause physicians to accelerate rather than delay retirement. Concerns over the lack of physicians are further fueled by a projected 10.4% rise in the U.S. population between 2018 and 2033, from 327 million to 361 million. The number of people under 18 are expected to grow by 3.9% and those 65 and over by 45.1%, which indicates a greater need for specialists that predominantly care for older Americans. The authors of the report also evaluated scenarios where underserved populations — uninsured individuals, those in rural settings, and people of different races and ethnicities — were to experience the same healthcare use patterns as populations that face fewer barriers to access for care. They found that current demand for physicians could increase by between 74,100 and 145,500. Such estimates, which are separate from the shortage-projection ranges, highlight the impact of current barriers to care, they say, and indicate a need to consider these factors when assessing the number of available physicians now and in the future. “The study included an estimate of how many providers would be needed at the present time if currently underserved populations had health care use patterns similar to populations with fewer barriers to access,” said Dill. “Under that hypothetical, current demand for doctors could rise by an additional 74,100 to 145,500 physicians (in 2018).”	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2273
__label__wiki	0.585679	0.585679	Home / News / Hyundai reveals their ground-breaking EV secret weapon Hyundai reveals their ground-breaking EV secret weapon By News.com.au • 24/07/2019 Photos / Supplied Hyundai is turning to the sun in its battle to take on the Toyota Camry Hybrid. The upcoming Hyundai Sonata mid-sized sedan will have in-built solar panels on its roof claimed to allow up to 3.6km of emissions-free driving each day. But, there’s a catch: you’ll need to keep it in bright sunlight for six hours to reach that modest target. While it’s an important fuel-saving boost in an era when car makers are looking for any edge to reduce the environmental impact of their wares, it reinforces how little energy will be sourced from the roof of the car, with less than 1kWh to be produced on a bright sunny day. That equates to about 20c of electricity every day — again, provided the car is in the sun. Most of the Sonata’s driving will instead be done with a regular 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine powered by good ol’ petrol. Combined with the electric motor as part of the hybrid system it produces 143kW of power, 17kW less than the rival Toyota Camry that is the car’s prime competitor. Claimed fuel use for the Sonata Hybrid is 5.0 litres per 100km, more than the 4.2L/100km of the rival Camry. However, those fuel figures don’t take into account energy harnessed from the sun, something that could significantly lower fuel use for those doing only short trips each day. Reinforcing its focus on technology, the new Sonata also comes with a digital key that allows owners to leave the physical key at home. It uses near field communication built into some smartphones and a dedicated app to unlock or lock the car. Owners can also temporarily share the key via the app with friends or family, effectively allowing remote access to the vehicle. Hyundai has been reinforcing its push towards hybrid and electric propulsion in recent years. Over the past 12 months it introduced three versions of the Ioniq and an all-electric version of the Kona SUV. - News.com.au	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2275
__label__wiki	0.813457	0.813457	Curtis Banks proudly presents Victoria Evans and her world record attempt to solo row across the Atlantic Curtis Banks, one of the UK’s largest independent SIPP providers, has announced it will be sponsoring Victoria Evans in her pursuit of a world-record solo row across the Atlantic Ocean, for which she will depart in the first quarter of 2021. With the campaign around the row entitled ‘Sea Change Sport’, Victoria is using the challenge as a vehicle to draw attention to gender inequality in sport, in particular the barriers that prevent access to sport for women and girls. Victoria, a 33-year-old sports lawyer from Yorkshire, will attempt to row across the Atlantic Ocean faster than the current world record of 49 days, 7 hours and 15 minutes. Scheduled to depart from Gran Canaria next February, she will finish the challenge in Barbados, becoming only the 13th women to row the Trade Winds I Route from east to west. Through the partnership, Curtis Banks will become a silver level sponsor and provide financial support towards Victoria’s transatlantic endeavour. In addition to seeking corporate sponsorship for the challenge, Victoria hopes to raise a minimum of £50,000 for the charity Women in Sport, whose mission is to ensure that every woman and girl in the UK has the opportunity to experience the transformational rewards of sport. This is a cause close to Victoria’s heart after her own life has been transformed through sport. Will Self, CEO of Curtis Banks, commented: “Women in Sport was founded in 1984, with the goal of giving every woman and girl in the UK the opportunity to experience the transformational rewards of sport. Having daughters myself, and being an active family, I have seen first hand the benefits of sport and the team work and support that it brings. “At Curtis Banks over 60% of our team across the three locations are female but I think that this challenge will resonate across the whole business. We are really excited to be partnering with Victoria, and her initiative will be a way of motivating and exciting our staff to be more active and show them what is possible. It also goes hand in hand with our CSR activities in sustaining and improving our community, both directly and indirectly, through supporting others.” Victoria added: “This is the first action in my commitment to promote change in women’s sport and I want to leave a legacy that goes far beyond the row. I am very grateful for the support that Curtis Banks is providing and I look forward to working with them over the next 12 months and beyond”. “More people have climbed Everest or been to space than have rowed the Atlantic. Fewer than 15 women have done it solo, so it’s quite the challenge, but I am working hard and by the time I set out I will be fully prepared.” For more information on the challenge, visit www.seachangesport.com or follow on social media @seachangesport. Keep posted to our to our LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter pages for further updates.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2276
__label__wiki	0.884809	0.884809	Leaked TPP investment chapter shows risks to Australia's health Written by The Conversation Despite assurances from Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, the TPP could negatively affect Australian health policy.Dan Himbrechts/AAP Amid ongoing speculation about the prospects for the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), Wikileaks published another confidential chapter last week, this time on investment. And like almost everything we know about the secretive negotiations for the agreement, the leaked chapter provides plenty of cause for concern. The leaked late-stage draft of the investment chapter contains information about the agreement’s investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clause. Clauses like this give investors direct access to international arbitration, where they can bring claims against a government over regulatory measures they think may damage their bottom line. The chapter has a footnote saying Australia is exempt from ISDS, but that may change “subject to certain conditions”. The leaked draft doesn’t indicate the exact nature of these conditions, and the footnote remains in brackets, indicating the issue has not yet been settled. The Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Robb, has repeatedly said the TPP will not adversely affect health policy. In a recent interview with ABC TV, he said the government had insisted on carveouts for health and environmental public policy decisions from investor-state dispute settlement clauses. But the leaked draft shows these carveouts (which are still under negotiation) are limited to specific areas such as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Medicare Benefits Scheme, Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator. ISDS health concerns An independent health impact assessment of the TPP negotiations conducted by Australian academics and non-government organisations published in February 2015 found the ISDS clause presents a significant threat to health policy. Part of the problem is that the TPP defines investments very broadly to include intangible assets and intellectual property, such as trademarks and patents. These kinds of assets are at the heart of current ISDS cases contesting Australia’s plain packaging laws and Canada’s decisions about what medicines can be patented. Such claims can result in large-scale costs for taxpayers. Not only do the awards for investor-state cases often amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the OECD the average cost of fighting a claim is US$8 million. Another issue that has health advocates worried is the potential “chilling effect” of investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms; the prospect that governments may be deterred from implementing innovative health policies and laws that may be contested by corporations using ISDS clauses. Director-General of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan noted in 2012 that legal actions against Uruguay, Norway and Australia were “deliberately designed to instill fear” in countries trying to reduce smoking. Uruguay has publicly acknowledged that it would have had to drop its tobacco control law and settle with Philip Morris if it didn’t have financial support from a foundation set up by Michael Bloomberg. Protecting health? In addition to the carveouts for specific health programs, the TPP contains purported “safeguards” to protect health and the environment. But these safeguards have also drawn strong criticism, in particular, from eight health and community organisations who wrote to the trade minister last week to outline their concerns. One of the main concerns centres on the safeguard related to “indirect expropriation”. While Australian law protects against direct expropriation – the seizure of assets by government – the TPP goes further to include instances where a government’s actions have a negative impact on an investment, but do not result in a transfer of property to the state. The broader scope of expropriation under ISDS in the Hong Kong - Australia bilateral investment treaty, for instance, has enabled Philip Morris to contest Australia’s tobacco plain packaging through international arbitration even though the High Court determined that there had been no acquisition of property by the state under Australian law. To safeguard against abuse of this provision, the TPP includes an annex that appears to exempt “non-discriminatory regulatory actions by a Party that are designed and applied to protect legitimate public welfare objectives, such as public health, safety and the environment…”. But any protective effect intended by this clause may be undermined by the added phrase “…except in rare circumstances.” This loophole, which invites corporations to argue that their circumstances are rare, is being used in a case against Costa Rica over a national park established to protect the nesting grounds of the endangered giant leatherback sea turtle. Nine US investors lodged a dispute, seeking over US$36.5 million in compensation, when Costa Rica suspended development permits for beachfront land within the national park boundaries. The case has yet to be decided. Another proposed exemption – this time for compulsory licenses – is also highly problematic. Compulsory licences are important mechanisms for ensuring access to medicines, as they allow patents to be bypassed in circumstances such as public health emergencies. But the wording of the exemption in the TPP would allow corporations to argue a compulsory license is not compliant with World Trade Organization rules. Or with the intellectual property chapter of the TPP, which actually provides more expansive rights for corporations. This could create a situation where WTO rules could be interpreted and enforced outside the more flexible and accountable state-state dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO itself. Other safeguards, such as the explicit link drawn between a clause promising investors “fair and equitable treatment” and customary international law (international obligations that arise from established state practice), may also prove insufficient. Such a safeguard was introduced by the parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement in 2001 but this did not prevent the tribunal in the recent Clayton/Bilcon case from finding that customary international law in this area has evolved over time in a manner that is more in line with the investor’s interpretation, than with that of Canada’s government. The tribunal has yet to make a decision on damages, but the company is seeking US$300 million. The problems and loopholes characterising the latest leaked TPP draft throw doubt on the government’s claims that it’s taking the concerns of health stakeholders as seriously as the interests of big transnationals. And they highlight exactly why it’s vital for the draft text to be made public and subjected to independent scrutiny before it is signed. Indeed, it would be safer to exclude ISDS from the TPP altogether. Minister Robb asks us to trust his assurances that Australian health policy will not be negatively affected by this trade agreement. But this latest leaked draft does little to inspire such trust. Deborah Gleeson receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She has received funding from various national and international non-government organisations to attend speaking engagements related to trade agreements and health, including the TPP. She has represented the Public Health Association of Australia on matters related to the TPP. Kyla Tienhaara receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Sharon Friel receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council. Authors: The Conversation Read more http://theconversation.com/leaked-tpp-investment-chapter-shows-risks-to-australias-health-39799 In the outrage over the Trump-Putin meeting, important questions were overlooked The outrage over Trump's comments at the joint press conference meant an opportunity for meaningful … Beyond Blue and Coastrek partnership embraces ‘friluftsliv’ Coastrek and Beyond Blue are proud to announce a new charity partnership based on a series of cele… How Hayne failed remote Australia The remote community of Urapunga in South East Arnhem Land, more at the mercy of the finance industr… Will Julian Assange quit the Ecuadorian embassy? Did we miss him?Reuters/Peter NichollsSpeculation is rife that Julian Assange could be about to emer… We don’t know what we’ve got till it’s gone – we must reclaim public space lost to the coronavirus crisis At a deserted Federation Square in Melbourne, the big screen broadcasts this message: 'If you can se… Dependent and vulnerable: the experiences of academics on casual and insecure contracts Academics in precarious employment struggle to feel a strong sense of self.Nathan Dumlao/UnsplashA m… Could Islamic State's new threats against Australia show its bark is now worse than its bite? Islamic State today is in increasingly dire straits on the ground in Iraq and Syria.Reuters/Umit Bek… Everyone knows climate adaptation is crucial, but beyond that it's pretty hazy It can be hard to know how best to adapt to climate change.Reuters/Wolfgang RattayMost of the intern… Coulson acquittal – beginning of the end game of Leveson? 'Is this a hack-ney carriage?' 'As your lawyer I advise you to say nothing at all Andy'.EPA/Sean Dem… The revolving door: why politicians become lobbyists, and lobbyists become politicians Former resources and energy minister Martin Ferguson went into lobbying for that sector after retiri…	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2277
__label__wiki	0.566653	0.566653	could bacteria in a capsule protect us from coronavirus and other respiratory infections? Written by Peter Sly, Director, Children’s Health and Environment Program and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Children’s Health and Environment, The University of Queensland Scientists around the world are continuing to test countless vaccines and drugs in the hope of finding effective ways to prevent and treat COVID-19. Among the trials happening in Australia is one my team is about to begin, looking at something called OM85. OM85 is not a conventional drug, but a combination of molecules extracted from the walls of bacteria that commonly cause respiratory infections. It’s not available in Australia, but has been used widely in Europe and South America for 40-50 years, commonly under the brand name Broncho-Vaxom. We’re now looking at its potential to prevent respiratory infections, including COVID-19. But how does it work? Read more: Where are we at with developing a vaccine for coronavirus? First, a bit of background Some of our organs, including the skin, airways and lungs, and gastrointestinal tract, are effectively “open” to the outside world. The cells that line these organs, called mucosal linings, host trillions of bacteria. These bacteria, known as our “microbiota”, play essential roles in keeping us healthy. This is especially important in the gastrointestinal tract, where the microbiota “train” the immune system. One of the ways they do this is by providing a continuous stream of signals that move through mucosal linings into the tissues below, where immune cells are found. Specialised immune cells responsible for detecting the invasion of infectious pathogens recognise and respond to these signals. We now recognise these signals from the microbiota operate as “immune training” agents, helping to keep the front-line defences of the immune system in a state of high alert. OM85 is made from molecules extracted from the walls of bacteria. Shutterstock OM85 is an immune stimulant OM85 appears to enhance some important aspects of this natural “immune training” process. One way it does this is by stimulating the maturation of regulatory T-cells (called Tregs) in the lymph glands in the upper intestine. Once they have fully matured, these Tregs can migrate to other mucosal surfaces in the body to bolster local anti-inflammatory defences. This process is especially important in the lungs and airways to prevent respiratory infections. Read more: Explainer: what is the gut microbiota and how does it affect mind and body? OM85 signals also leak into our circulation. There they are recognised by cells in the bone marrow, which control the production of other immune cell types. This results in increased immune cells – both in number and function – that travel to front-line mucosal surfaces, including the airways, to further bolster our immune defences. We strongly suspect OM85 also influences the makeup of the gastrointestinal microbiome itself, although we know very little about how this happens. This in turn helps to promote the survival of bacterial strains that stimulate the immune system. What the evidence tells us OM85 is a preventative, given to those at risk of more severe consequences from respiratory infections, rather than as a treatment of current infections. Studies have shown OM85 reduces the risk of wheeze linked to infection in infants and schoolchildren. It also reduces the incidence of severe flare-ups of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults. A review of 35 placebo-controlled studies involving 4,060 children concluded that immune stimulants, including OM85, reduced respiratory infections by an average of 40% in susceptible children. Read more: A strong immune system helps ward off colds and flus, but it's not the only factor OM85 has a good safety profile. A small proportion of people may experience some gastro-intestinal upset, but in clinical trials, such as one we conducted in infants, side effects are rarely seen. So why don’t we use it more widely? No application has been made to bring OM85 to Australia. We are a small market not necessarily attractive to drug manufacturers. In countries where OM85 is available, doctors can prescribe it but people can also buy it over the counter, in the same way they might a complementary medicine or health food supplement. Research shows OM85 can reduce the risk of severe respiratory infections in children. Shutterstock OM85 has attracted plenty of scepticism in its time, with some people regarding it as “snake oil”. Scientists are sceptical when we don’t understand why something works, or at least where we don’t have a plausible explanation for how it works. The idea something swallowed but not absorbed could protect the lungs sounds fanciful, especially without solid explanations. But as we start to understand more about the mechanisms that may explain how OM85 works in the body, and with the accumulating clinical evidence, we have good reason to be open to and further explore its potential. What we’ll do in the trial Health-care workers are susceptible to severe respiratory respiratory infections associated with other viruses, including influenza, that can cause them to miss work. We plan to give 1,000 health-care workers OM85, half immediately and half delayed by three months. To understand how OM85 works we will collect blood samples and test immune responses. We will determine which virus caused the respiratory illnesses if illness occurs (COVID-19 or other), whether the immune response is different depending on the virus, and whether OM85 is equally effective against all respiratory viruses encountered. The trial is due to start this month and first results should be available by November. Read more: The fascinating history of clinical trials Authors: Peter Sly, Director, Children’s Health and Environment Program and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Children’s Health and Environment, The University of Queensland Read more https://theconversation.com/om85-could-bacteria-in-a-capsule-protect-us-from-coronavirus-and-other-respiratory-infections-140064 Boyer Lectures: Episode 1 – Health inequalities and the causes of the causes Professor Sir Michael Marmot: 'Health is a better measure of social progress than national income.'N… Matt Canavan says Australia doesn't subsidise the fossil fuel industry, an expert says it does Queensland Nationals Senator Matt Canavan on Monday night denied suggestions the government subsidis… Mums in prison or whose babies are in care need breastfeeding support too With the right support, women in prison or whose children are in care can breastfeed. But there are … Fed up with always being in the slow queue? 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__label__wiki	0.973425	0.973425	Mother, 45, is warned her 14-year-old daughter could be taken into care after complaining her child was 'encouraged' to have sex change Mother raised objections after her daughter, 14, was 'encouraged' to change sex NHS worker told daughter to take hormones to stop period after hour meeting Lisa said daughter came out as transgender after being bullied for being lesbian By Sanchez Manning for The Mail on Sunday Published: 18:23 EST, 24 November 2018 \| Updated: 18:26 EST, 24 November 2018 A mother was warned that her daughter could be placed under the care of social workers after she complained that the 14-year-old was being ‘encouraged’ to change sex by a therapist and her teachers. The 45-year-old, whom we’ve called Lisa to protect her identity, raised the objections after discovering that, during their first hour-long appointment, an NHS psychotherapist had told the girl she could take hormones to stop her periods and give her male characteristics. She also found out that teachers had given her daughter – who wanted to identify as male – a boy’s name and referred to her using male pronouns at school without her parents’ knowledge. Lisa, who says her daughter is a lesbian and only claimed to be transgender after being bullied for being gay, also demanded teachers stop treating her as a boy and revert to using her girl’s name The school in the Midlands – the name of which the MoS has agreed to withhold because the girl still attends classes there – called in social services after Lisa banned her daughter from visiting the NHS clinic where she was receiving counselling and tried to find another therapist. Lisa, who says her daughter is a lesbian and only claimed to be transgender after being bullied for being gay, also demanded teachers stop treating her as a boy and revert to using her girl’s name. At a meeting at the school in January Lisa was told her attempt to find an alternative therapist was akin to ‘conversion therapy’ – a psychological practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation. Days later Lisa received a ‘terrifying’ email from Child and Adult Services stating that her daughter was deemed to be at risk. Further warnings said the teenager could be placed in a ‘child protection plan’. ‘I was reduced to tears because we were being treated like criminals when we were trying to protect our daughter,’ Lisa said. ‘My daughter felt rejected as a lesbian, so she turned to the internet for answers and was sucked in by these social media sites selling her a lie that there are young people born in the wrong body.’ ‘Drunk, stupid’ thug who set off a fire extinguisher in the... Seeing double? Candid photographs capture famous actors... In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, Lisa told how her daughter came out as transgender at 13 after being bullied for being lesbian. ‘She wrote me and my husband a letter saying that she was born in the wrong body and she was really a boy,’ she recalls. ‘I remember thinking, “These are not her words – these are words she’s picked off the internet.” ’ The teenager soon began begging her mother to see a therapist for gender dysphoria after being encouraged to do so by a friend. Lisa refused, but eventually relented and, in the summer of last year, her daughter was referred to the NHS Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS). However, Lisa said she was ‘horrified’ when a counsellor brought up the possibility of taking hormones that could help her change sex. ‘That woman comforted my daughter and said, “Don’t worry, it is only a year and a half until you can take hormones.” I phoned the counsellor up immediately and said, “I did not expect there to be a mention of hormones – let alone on the first visit.” ’ Lisa says it was then a ‘constant battle’ with CAMHS and her daughter’s school to stop them from ‘affirming’ her daughter’s desire to be a boy, culminating in the intervention from social services. However, after emails between Lisa and a social worker, during which the mother-of-one explained her concerns about the NHS therapy her daughter had received, the local authority closed the case. The school has also reverted to using the teenager’s real name. ‘I’m furious at the way we’ve been treated,’ Lisa said. ‘No family should be put through this hell.’ Last week, The Mail on Sunday revealed that an astonishing 17 pupils at a single British school are in the process of changing gender. Mother warned daughter could be taken into care after sex change row	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2279
__label__cc	0.592582	0.407418	The Baby Factory Delivering a baby at the convenience of the physician can be traumatic for the mother. By Joan Rapfogel Published in D Magazine September 1978 Before my daughter was born all was well. I was thirty years old and pregnant with my second child. I had chosen a reputabie doctor who was to de-liver my baby at a hospital that I was sure offered the finest obstetrical care in Fort Worth – Harris Hospital. I looked forward to the birth with confidence. But that was before my baby was born. Today, almost three years later, I still feel cheated. My physician’s indifference, and his eventual resentment of my needs, stole a precious moment from me. The memory is painfully vivid. My husband and I had gone to pre-. pared childbirth classes so we could share the experience. It had never been an important issue to me; I had read extensively about pregnancy and childbirth, and saw the classes as just another source of information. But it turned out to be much more. The class put me in touch with my changing body. I decided that I wanted to be awake during the birth and to use minimal medication. I was prepared for childbirth. But I was not prepared for the change in my doctor’s attitude in the last three weeks of my pregnancy. From the beginning he had assured me that my pregnancy would be a happy event. Although he was not completely familiar with all aspects of prepared childbirth, he said that, barring emergencies, he approved of my plans. Then, as the time for my confinement approached, he seemed to forget everything we had agreed on; he recommended the use of medication to control my labor, so that the baby would arrive at a convenient time. When I reminded him that I wanted spontaneous labor and as few drugs as possible, his irritation was obvious. The night my labor began and I checked into Harris Hospital, I was relieved to learn that my doctor was not on call. I liked the physician who examined me, and I was pleased that he would deliver my baby. But my labor was very slow. In the morning, he came to say goodbye and to tell me my own doctor would be there soon. He wished me good luck and left. I was exhausted from laboring all night. My husband was with me, timing my contractions and helping me with breathing techniques. But I was in pain, and I felt the need for some medication. Our confidence shaken, my husband and I needed reassurance and understanding. We waited. I was in the middle of a contraction when my doctor burst into my room, throwing the swinging doors wide open, whistling. His abrupt entrance broke my concentration and breathing pattern, and I began to writhe with the contraction. He showed no concern. He examined me and confirmed that I was progressing slowly. He informed me that I could continue in my present state or I could “get the show on the road” by allowing him to speed up my labor chemically. My spirit broken, I decided to have my baby his way. I had placed responsibility for my labor and delivery in his hands. He abused that trust. It began with the administering of an anesthetic. When I leaned over the edge of the bed, ready to receive the epidural (an anesthetic administered in the lower spine), I felt a contraction begin. I was afraid that I might move or jerk from the pain so I told him of it. He stopped whistling long enough to tell me, facetiously, that one contraction does indeed follow another. He then continued with both the whistling and the needle. As I was positioned on the edge of the bed still receiving fluid, my doctor left the room without uttering a word. The medication had not yet taken effect. I didn’t see him again until after my baby’s birth. I was now deadened from my waist down, and the head nurse laid me back on the bed. She began an intravenous drip of Pitocin to hasten my labor. Now I had one tube in my arm and another in my spine. The head nurse left the room and a younger nurse remained to monitor my blood pressure. When I complained to her of a pain high under my ribs, she summoned help. She explained that this was her first day on duty and that she was unfamiliar with this procedure. The head nurse returned. Without checking me, she decided to give me another dose of anesthetic. She went to get authorization from my doctor, who was in the hospital lounge. The nurse, not my doctor, returned and injected more fluid into my spine, then left. The extra dose was unnecessary be-cause my lower body was already completely deadened. The pressure under my ribs increased and I complained again. The young nurse became alarmed as I began to arch my back. She ran for help. This time the head nurse was openly impatient. She informed me that there was nothing more she could do. My husband suggested that she check my progress. In a half-bored, half-patronizing manner, she complied. When she pulled back the sheets, she saw my daughter struggling to be born. 1 was rushed to the delivery room where a surgical nurse, already scrubbed and gowned, was waiting. The other nurses tried to keep my husband out in the hall, but they were unable to lift me without his aid. Once in the room, he remained with me. As soon as I was placed on the table, my baby was born. The surgical nurse expertly untangled the umbilical cord from around my baby’s neck and delivered her safely. Only 40 minutes had passed since my doctor had come to my room. When my doctor finally arrived, still unscrubbed, he stood outside the door, joking. I looked away. When he entered the room to carry out post-delivery procedures, I fell silent. I held my husband’s hand, my eyes fixed on my new-born daughter. Then I was wheeled to recovery, where my husband and baby were rushed away from me. My doctor told me that the anesthetic would wear off in a couple of hours, and then I would be taken to my room. Five hours later I began to feel scared. I was still completely dead from the waist down. When I noticed my doctor leaving the recovery room, I told him I still could not move my legs. Without breaking his pace, he walked to the door, then turned and struck the final blow. Shaking a scolding finger, he yelled, “If you had done what I told you to do in the first place, this never would have happened.” I wanted to scream for help, but I was too stunned to even speak. I lay quietly for three more hours. Although the anesthetic had not completely worn off, a concerned nurse decided to allow me to go to my room. Fourteen hours after I had received the anesthetic, the feeling in my legs returned. I finally cried. The day 1 left the hospital, I left my doctor too. But 1 am unable to leave the memory behind. HHarris began its rise as a leader in obstetrical services during the baby boom of the 1950s. Because Harris was oriented toward specialized med-icine, it drew doctors who practiced the new obstetrical specialty. An obvious attraction for both doctors and patients appeared in 1963, when Harris opened the Mary Gibbs Jones building for maternity patients. In the same year, Harris Hospital joined with Fort Worth Children’s Hospital to form the Fort Worth Medical Center. In 1970, when the obstetrical unit at Harris was financially sound, the psychiatric unit was not. Since these same units at Saint Joseph’s Hospital were showing the opposite trend, the hospitals cooperated in closing their losing facilities. Harris’s maternity unit grew even larger. Three years ago Fort Worth Children’s Hospital established a neonatal unit, with special staff and facilities to provide care for the distressed newborn – the only such unit in a private Fort Worth hospital and an added incentive to giving birth at Harris. Now Harris Hospital is considered the baby factory of Fort Worth. More babies are born there each year (4668 in 1977) and more obstetricians practice there (40) than at any other North Texas hospital. The facilities are excellent: Other hospitals often refer high-risk patients to Harris for obstetric and pediatric care. But there are disadvantages to having a baby in the largest and best birthing hospital in Fort Worth. Women may be processed through the “baby factory” without receiving the individual attention they need. And some obstetricians who practice at Harris have practices far larger than they can properly handle. I talked with three nurses at Harris – I’ll call them Linda, Betty, and Diane – who are troubled by these practices and policies: ●Induction of labor-a risky medicalprocedure which is necessary for somemothers and infants-is being used atHarris by some obstetricians for their ownconvenience in scheduling deliveries, according to these nurses. ●Scopolamine, a hallucinogenic whichcauses a woman to forget the pain ofchildbirth, is rarely used at other hospitalsbecause it is believed to have more disadvantages than benefits. According tothese nurses, the drug is used regularly bysome doctors at Harris. ●A new policy, unique to Harris in thisarea, allows an obstetrician to instruct anurse to administer Pitocin, the drug usedto initiate or speed up labor, in the physician’s absence. ●Harris, unlike most area hospitals,allows an obstetrician to leave the hospitalafter initiating a regional anesthetic, suchas an epidural. Induction of labor is sometimes necessary. If a woman does not deliver after 42 weeks, the placenta (the tissue that nourishes the fetus) begins to dry up and the fetus becomes malnourished. Women with such conditions as high blood pressure, toxemia, and diabetes also warrant a medical induction. But the nurses I talked to at Harris are concerned about the prevalence of inductions which are not medically indicated – elective inductions, which are done strictly for the convenience of the doctor or the patient. Some Fort Worth physicians, these nurses say, schedule patients in their ninth month for morning office appointments on the same day that the physician will be on call at the hospital. If the doctor finds the patient ready, he sends her directly to the hospital to induce labor. “Some doctors induce labor in the morning and regulate it [speed it up or slow it down with drugs] so that they can do the delivery in the evening after office hours,” Betty says. When a physician induces labor by rupturing the amnion (the membranous sac surrounding the fetus), the delivery must occur within 24 hours or the fetus risks infection. But, Betty says, “Some women are not ready to deliver and the induction does not work. If the doctor has ruptured the membranes he is committed and is forced to perform a Caesarean section.” Inductions pose other risks, too. During a normal labor, each contraction reduces the flow of blood to the uterus, cutting down the baby’s oxygen supply. When the uterus relaxes between contractions, the baby’s supply of oxygen is restored. But when Pitocin is used to speed up induced labor, the uterine contractions tend to be longer and harder, with less time between them. The baby could be deprived of oxygen long enough to suffer brain damage. Pitocin can also cause a woman to go into a tetanic (continuous) contraction: The uterus becomes hard and will not relax. A tetanic contraction cuts off the oxygen to the baby. It can also cause the uterus to rupture or the placenta to separate from the uterus prematurely. If a tetanic contraction occurs, the woman must be taken off Pitocin immediately and given oxygen. If the Pitocin is given intravenously, stopping the IV drip can have an immediate effect, but if the drug is taken orally, as a tablet placed under the lip, the effect is less easily reversed. If a tetanic contraction does not cease, a Caesarean section, if performed in time, can save the baby. For the mother, Pitocin increases the risk of tearing the cervix and hem-orrhaging. Dr. Rose Marie Riber, a neonatologist (a specialist in the care of newborns) at Fort Worth Children’s Hospital, refers to elective inductions as “babies by appointment.” She adds, “I oppose it. There is no reason except convenience, which I do not think is adequate. It is extremely difficult to tell when a baby is really due. There are high risks to inductions, including death. Hyaline membrane disease [immature lungs] is the problem I see most often. The percentage isn’t large; an individual physician might see only one baby like this, and so he won’t see induction as much of a risk. But as a doctor who takes care of newborns, I see only the sick, and I see a fair number of babies born by elective induction that have problems.” Yet, often, the decision to induce labor is made casually, for the mutual convenience of doctor and patient. Last year, for example, a Fort Worth woman, then pregnant with her second child, chose to have an induced labor at Harris. “It was summer and it was hot,” the woman explains. “I had another baby to worry about – who was going to take care of him’.’ My doctor asked if I would like to be induced, and I said, Yes, I think I can get in tomorrow or the next day. So I did. He said that I was ready, and so I thought I was ready too.” That decision would not have been possible at some other Fort Worth-area hospitals, at least according to their official policies. Dr. Phellem Staples, head of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at John Peter Smith Hospital, stated, “We do not do elective inductions. We induce some patients when a medical problem dictates the induction.” Fort Worth Osteopathic Hospital representative Mary White said, “Inductions are rarely done and only when medical complications arise.” These days elective inductions are less frequent than they used to be at most hospitals, including Harris. Many physicians are now reconsidering their use of this procedure. But, according to nurses I interviewed, some doctors continue to send their patients to Harris before labor has begun spontaneously. Then the physician will administer Pitocin, ostensibly to augment labor, when in reality he is initiating labor. In view of all the risks, why would an obstetrician routinely perform elective inductions? Diane remarks, “Some doctors have too large a practice to allow everyone to deliver spontaneously.” copolamine is often referred to as “twilight sleep.” It causes a woman to forget the pain of labor, without killing the pain itself. Other drugs are administered in combination with Scope to achieve pain relief. A woman who is about to deliver her first child might labor painfully for 12 to 15 hours. But doctors don’t want to interfere with a first labor more than is necessary: A regional anesthetic, if administered too soon, can slow down or even stop labor, and the risks of induction are higher for first pregnancies than for succeeding ones. Most doctors, when dealing with a first labor, will keep medication to a minimum, administering a regional anesthetic when it can do the most good. They will stay with their patients to make these individual medical decisions. But some doctors don’t want to spend a long time overseeing a first labor. These doctors will administer Scope, allowing their patients to labor as long and as hard as necessary; then they’ll administer a regional anesthetic when they show up for the actual delivery, which may be long after the anesthetic would have been useful. The woman will not remember either the pain of labor or her doctor’s absence. Linda says that some doctors at Harris will give their patients Scope, then let them thrash, twist, and scream out in pain nearly until the end of their labor. When the baby is about to be born, the doctor comes to the hospital, administers a regional anesthetic, awakens his patient with Antilirium (the antidote to Scope), brings in the father, and delivers the baby. In this way, Linda says, the doctor keeps his promise to deliver the baby and allow the woman to be awake. Betty recalls, “One baby had crowned (its head was protruding) almost to its ears, but the doctor sat the woman up on the baby’s head, administered the epi-dural, and then woke her up. He delayed the birth so that he could stage a show with her awake and the father there.” While Scope may ease the doctor’s burden, it has some serious disadvantages. Helen Cox, a registered nurse for 29 years and supervisor of obstetrics at Hurst-Euless-Bedford Hospital, says, “A woman can’t handle herself as well with Scope. She has no control.” Betty says, “Most of the women given this drug become wild and uncontrollable because it removes inhibitions. Some women become so violent that they must be strapped down, and that only makes them wilder. It is not uncommon for a nurse to lean on a woman to restrain her, and sometimes a nurse has to use almost her whole weight. Then when the woman wakes up all bruised and sore, she doesn’t understand why.” Several “scopy” women may be laboring in Harris’s large labor ward at one time. “When one womean starts screaming and thrashing, it triggers all the others,” Betty says. “The whole room becomes hysterical and unmanageable. It’s hideous.” A woman’s reaction to Scope can strain the nurses’ tolerance. Actual mistreatment of patients is rare, but Betty relates the case of one laboring woman who was delivering a posterior baby (face up instead of down). The woman got up on her hands and knees. “This is a normal position for a woman to assume in this kind of labor,” Betty says, “but the nurses in charge of her care wouldn’t allow it. Every time she would pull up, one of the nurses would slap her on the buttocks to knock her down.” As at other hospitals, no policy governs the use of Scope at Harris; it’s used at the discretion of the physicians. The difference is that some physicians who practice at Harris choose to use Scope regularly, according to my sources, while the physicians at other hospitals use the drug rarely or not at all. One physician at Harris who uses Scope says, “Practically every doctor uses Sco-polamine at one time or another.” He cites two reasons for his use of the drug on his patients (he calls them “girls” or “gals”): A patient will require less anesthesia with Scope, and it is a good drying agent. (When a woman is under a general anesthetic, it is important to keep the mucus membranes in her nose and throat dry to prevent her from aspirating secretions and drowning.) A local teaching doctor, though, says that Scope is being taught in medical schools only as a “curiosity.” He said that the drug disassociates the mind from reality. The pain is there, but the woman is not consciously aware of it. “Scope has been superceded by better and more adaptable medication,” the doctor said. Some of the physicians at All Saints Hospital also use Scope. But at Arlington Memorial Hospital, Scope is rarely used, and then only at the woman’s request that she not remember her labor and delivery. In such a case, the patient is fully informed about the effects of the drug. The physicians at John Peter Smith Hospital, Huguley Hospital, the Osteopathic Hospital, and the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Hospital do not use Scope. While the nurses’ concerns about elective induction and Scope apply only to the way some obstetricians at Harris choose to practice medicine, they are also concerned about some policies at Harris that are not found at other hospitals in the area. A new policy, in effect only a few months, allows a nurse to initiate a Pito-cin drip in the physician’s absence. A physician does not have to examine his patient before instructing a nurse to initiate or speed up her labor. The nurse takes responsibility for the procedure and for the condition of the patient. An aide (called a sitter) stays with the patient to monitor the Pitocin drip. Mary Moore, a nurse at Harris, says that a sitter might be a nurse or only a nurse’s aide. A nurse’s aide, with only on-the-job training and little formal education, might therefore be responsible for detecting any complications that might arise when sitting with a patient. Every other hospital in Dallas and Fort Worth requires a physician to be present to begin a Pitocin drip. An older policy at Harris allows a physician to leave the hospital after he has administered a regional anesthetic such as an epidural. (The epidural was once used only for difficult labors because of the skill required to administer it and because it posed the risk of a sudden drop in the mother’s blood pressure. Today, however, the epidural is used in nearly 80 percent of all deliveries in the United States.) The hospital staff assumes responsibility for monitoring the patient in the doctor’s absence, and a nurse may administer additional doses with the doctor’s authorization. Arlington Hospital also allows a physician to leave after administering a regional anesthetic, but he must first stabilize the patient and return to give additional dosages as needed. The hospital staff is responsible for monitoring only, and the doctors at Arlington who take advantage of this policy have offices within a block of the hospital. At All Saints, Os-teopathic, and Hurst-Euless-Bedford, a physician must remain at the hospital while his patient is under any anesthetic. Nurse Helen Cox of Hurst-Euless-Bedford says that, although she feels capable of monitoring and regulating an anesthetic, she would not feel comfortable accepting that responsibility, even with her 29 years of nursing experience. Although most of the obstetricians at Harris have at times left the hospital after initiating an anesthetic, the nurses are concerned mainly about a few doctors who abuse this privilege. “Some doctors let the nurses do it all,” Linda says. Ron Smith, executive director of Harris Hospital, responds to the nurses’ criticism by saying that the uses of Scopolamine and elective induction are as varied as the physicians’ views and techniques. He also says that the hospital’s in-service training program assures that the staff is capable of handling its broadened responsibilities. The medical results are the same as at hospitals where more restrictive policies prevail: Harris has a low infant mortality rate. Smith recognizes the need for a patient representative system, and he says the administration is considering establishing such a system. He says that the administration is kept aware of patient complaints through evaluation forms sent to all patients after they leave the hospital. The hospital is making progress in dealing with the emotional trauma of childbirth. Fathers can be present during normal deliveries if they attend prepared childbirth classes with their wives. A mother can have her baby with her in her room; her other children can see her and the new baby in the visiting area. But a woman who is about to give birth needs more than procedures such as these. She needs her physician. Harris Hospital’s acceptance and support of its physicians’ methods of delivering large numbers of babies may be promoting efficient childbirth at the expense of the mother’s psychological heath. Dr. Richard Yentis, director of the adolescent unit at the Psychiatric Institute of Fort Worth, says, “Some women have difficulty handling the many changes which pregnancy and childbirth bring. The problem and its intensity are different for every woman, but the stress such problems can bring is universal.” Dr. Yentis believes that a realistic ex-planation of the natural process of pregnancy and labor and of medicine’s role in this process can help allay a woman’s anxiety about her body. He cites the benefits of prepared childbirth classes: “The classes provide information but they also provide emotional support. A woman makes an enormous adjustment to her new baby; the more prepared she is, the better the adjustment will be.” The doctor’s role in this process is paramount. “When a woman becomes pregnant and puts herself in the care of an obstetrician,” Dr. Yentis says, “she enters a bond with him based on trust. For nine months they will try to build understanding and rapport into their relationship.” Too often, though, neither the physician nor the hospital delivers all that has been promised. Ooooo Baby!	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2282
__label__wiki	0.951295	0.951295	THE SECOND LIFE OF RAY WYLIE HUBBARD TWENTY YEARS AGO THE WROTE "UP AGAINST THE WALL, REDNECK MOTHER," A HONKY-TONK ANTHEM OF THE OUTLAW MUSIC SCENE. THE LOST HIGHWAY ALMOST TOOK HIM DOWN, BUT HE’S BACK WITH A NEW GRIP ON LIFE AND A NEW RECORD. By CHRIS TUCKER Published in D Magazine March 1993 RAY WYLIE HUBBARD IS READY. HE SAID SO AN HOUR ago over lunch at the Black-Eyed Pea. the restaurant named after a song on Hubbard’s first album, the record that might have put him up there a long lime ago if Nashville hadn’t mined it. But that’s another story. ? Yes, he’s ready. He said so again in the truck rolling out to his spacious, comfortable home in Baja Oklahoma, Carrollton. Houses with double fireplaces, huge bay windows and twittering alarm systems dot the neighborhood, an unlikely roost for an old honky-tonk warrior. The ladies jogging by in perfect running togs probably don’t know that the neighbor with the unusual hair once opened for Willie at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. back when the Austin outlaw music scene was so hot that Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan showed up to see what it was ill about. They probably don’t know about the time Willie’s road crew kidnapped Hubbard and partied all the way jo Chicago, and the drummer kept firing that little derringer at a Bible. But that’s another story, too. Sipping coffee beneath his cathedral ceilings, Hubbard says l again: He’s ready. It’s an hourly affirmation, almost a verbal tic, a mantra he repeats whenever the conversation lags. He feels really good about things now. He’s got the clear head and the quiet mind, and he’s ready. This time it’s going to be different. “I write the songs, I sing the songs, I’ve got the publishing, I’m the record company. I do the video, and I’m not under contract on anything,” he says. “But it’s just finding the right people to bring it up a notch, getting national distribution and some promo. If I can find that key person this year…I don’t know whether I’m getting mature or just getting tired, but I really think it’s starting to jell.” He wants the right people to help him build on the solid work he’s done on Lost Train of Thought, the CD he recorded and produced last year. Lost Train contains some of the best music he’s turned out in 20 years as one of Texas’ premier live performers, a hard-working, often hard-drinking cult figure. Things do seem to be looking up. Hubbard has spent the last five years free of all drugs except caffeine. In addition to his new CD, he has released the now-vital video, which Country Music Television may soon add to its playlist. Last fall, he was pronounced “on the edge” by the popular Nashville Network program “Crook and Chase”-and this time it was a compliment, meaning he was poised to break nationwide. For most of the ’70s and ’80s, the edge for Hubbard meant the outer limits of cosmic-cowboy music weirdness, the kind he turned out with his beloved Cowboy Twinkies, who are definitely another story. He’s ready, but he needs to tell more people, the right people, that Ray Wylie Hubbard at 46 has a new attitude toward life and work and it’s yielding some great new songs. In a perfect world he would send Lost Train to the Supreme Ministry of Music, where wise and sensitive critics would hear songs like “Twist of Fate” and “Wanna Rock and Roll” for the gems they are. Buttons would be pushed, connections made and Ray Wylie Hubbard would be molten hot by the end of the week. Yeah, Without a big record label behind him, however, he must depend on hit-and-miss local airplay and word-of-mouth among cult members and their converts. In the meantime he’s playing local gigs, clubs and private parties, and driving to Nashville on his own nickel to spread me word. And for what must be the millionth time, he’s explaining with grace and good humor how he came to write The Song that has been his calling card, his meal ticket, his albatross. That’s another story. One more time, now. IT WAS A GREAT TIME TO BE YOUNG AND STUPID, HE LIKES TO say. After graduating in 1965 from Oak Cliffs Adamson High School (also the alma mater of singers Michael Murphey and B. W. Stevenson), Ray Hubbard headed for North Texas State University to major in English. Summers he spent folk-singing in Red River, N.M., as one-third of a trio known as Three Faces West. By night they’d sing, and by day they’d work the Jaycee information booth, stage fake gun fights or drive tourists around to see the sights. A favorite was the exact spot where Billy the Kid was shot. Once in a while a knowledgeable tourist would insist that the Kid met his end far south of Red River, but Hubbard was ready with an answer: “Sure, that’s where he got killed. But he got shot all over the place.” In the mid- and late-’60s, Red River was a pit stop between Austin and Colorado for the likes of Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Murphey, Steve Fromholtz and Bill and Bonnie Hearne. “We’d play until around midnight, then go to somebody’s house and jam the night away,” Hubbard says. “Everybody was writing songs and stealing songs and raps. It was a neat era, a lot of energy.” This was long before Willie Nelson brought about a harmonic convergence between hippies and rednecks by playing at Austin’s Armadillo World Headquarters. Ropers and dop-ers still glared at each other across the cultural divide. Excess hair, of which Hubbard had plenty, made a statement about music, Vietnam, Nixon, life itself. “There was a lot of tension then,” Hubbard says. “It’s hard to believe now, but driving through West Texas or New Mexico at the time, you’d put your life in danger going into a service station.” To make matters worse, Merle Haggard unleashed “Okie from Muskogee” in the fall of 1969, scorning shaggy, flag-burning freaks with their “beads and Roman sandals” and pledging allegiance to Old Glory and the hard liquor God meant real men to drink. “Okie” was a middle finger waved in the face of the counterculture. And the musical answer flung back was “Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother.” It happened one night in Red River, when Hubbard, Joe Ely and some others were jamming late. The beer was running low, so Hubbard went for reinforcements. He strolled into a store and an older woman asked him a familiar question: “How can you call yourself an American with hair like that?” “I said I didn’t remember calling myself an American,” Hubbard says with a practiced grin. “I just came to get a case of beer. So we got into this little deal, and she said she was from Oklahoma. She had her son with her, a guy with a real burr haircut. I went back to the house, set down the beer and picked up my guitar. I told everybody I had run into this redneck mother down there, and I just started singing: “He was born in Oklahoma…His mother’s name is Mary Jo Thelma Liz…He’s not responsible for what he’s doin’…’Cause his mother made him what he is.” The next night at a club called the D Bar D, Hubbard gave the song its public debut. Filling time while another guitarist changed a broken string, he wandered into the story of his encounter with the Okies. “She was gonna whip me,” he told the crowd. “I think I could have taken her, but she had her boy with her.” So “Redneck Mother” was born. The rest is still something of a mystery to Hubbard. During the first few years of the song’s life, he regarded it as a throwaway number not even worth rehearsing. He never sang it the same way twice; the now-famous chorus-“M is for the mudflaps on my pickup, O is for the oil I put on my hair”-underwent endless mutations depending on the town, the room and the band’s alcoholic content. Some who heard it smiled, some whooped, some sat on their hands. “Redneck Mother” might have just drifted off into the ether, to be picked up light-years hence by extraterrestrials who would judge humanity by its lyrics: “He’s 34, and drinkin’ in a honky-tonk…Just kickin” hippies’ asses and raisin’ hell!” But the Fates had something else in store. The song transcended mere barroom life when Hubbard later played it with Bob Livingston, a bassist who later played it with Jerry Jeff Walker one night at the Broken Spoke in Austin. “The hippies started yelling and the rednecks yelled back,” Hubbard says. “People started fighting and pouring pitchers of beer on each other. So Jerry Jeff said, lHey, I better learn this song!” Walker added the song to his act and, in the summer of 1973, wanted to put it on the album that became the groundbreaking Viva Terlingua, recorded in Luckenbach. Texas. Livingston called Hubbard to ask for a second verse, which he quickly wrote over the phone: “He sure likes to drink Budweiser beer…Washes it down with that Wild Turkey liquor…He’s got an old GMC pickup truck with a gun rack.. .and a ’Goat Ropers Need Love Too’ bumper sticker.” Hubbard had neither recorded nor copyrighted the song. But during the taping, Livingston paid tribute to the father of “Mother” by declaring, “This is a song by Ray Wylie Hubbard.” The label bosses told Walker that the intro should be cut, lest people think it was Hubbard and not Walker singing, “Jerry Jeff said he didn’t care,” Hubbard laughs. “And every time they’d play the song in public. Bob would say the same thing. That helped me get my name around. “It’s really weird. I’ve never had a hit record. I wrote this song that somebody else cut that was never a single and never got a lot of airplay. And it became this catalyst, the definitive progressive country thing. It’s always been this bastard child. I say I wrote ’Portales’ and ’Texas Is a State of Mind’ and other stuff. And they say they wanna hear ’Redneck Mother.’ “ LABELS LIKE HEAVY METAL. GRUNGE ROCK. NEO-TRADITIONAL. polkafunk-speed-metal and progressive country are useful to those who sell and critique music, not those who make it. Ask Ray Wylie Hubbard to define his style, or measure out just how many cups of country he mixes with how many splashes of rock, and you get a polite, rambling 2.000-word monologue that lets you out by the same door you entered. As with most performers, be they ballerinas or wide receivers, me magic is in what he does, not in what he says about it. That goes double when you’re talking about a band like Hubbard’s original Cowboy Twinkies. If you were lucky enough to catch them at ’70s nightspots like Whiskey River, Fannie Anne’s, Faces or Mother Blues, you remember the spontaneous combustion. Music happened on stage that was never captured on vinyl. The Twinkies in full flight defied classification, which is what happens when you run a steel guitar through a Leslie speaker, add vibes, bongos and congas, mix an electric saw with heavy reverb and toss in a theremin (the thing that goes oooWEEooo on the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”). Imagine all that inflicted on a Hank Williams standard, and you’ve got the Cowboy Twinkies. “Some people say we were the first country-punk band,” Hubbard says. “We’d come out and do country stuff, but we’d also do [Led Zeppelin’s] ’Communication Breakdown’ and Hendrix’s version of ’The Star-Spangled Banner.’ ” We’d be doing “Silver Wings’ by Merle Haggard, and the guitar man would do the break in feedback. We’d either piss people off or they’d love us. You couldn’t ask for more than that.” Pat Toomay, then a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, got his first glimpse of Ray Wylie Hubbard in his pre-Twinkie days at the old Rubaiyat, an Oak Lawn folk club where Hubbard often did a solo act. Toomay helped launch the Twinkies by offering them gigs at the Handlebar, a club he owned with teammates Charlie Waters, Cliff Harris and others. “I still remember the first time I heard him do ’Redneck Mother,”” says Toomay, now a Dallas screenwriter. “1 never laughed so hard in my life.” The Texas tide was rising, and with the success of “Redneck Mother” it looked like Ray Wylie Hubbard would be one of those riding the wave. Toomay became the Twinkies’ unofficial and then official manager, and soon afterwards landed an offseason job as a regional promotion director for Warner Bros. Records. It looked like a record deal was just a matter of time. On the strength of a demo tape cut in an Austin studio, the band drew the attention of Atlantic. Discreet (Frank Zappa’s label) and Warner Reprise. (Toomay remembers when he and Hubbard were summoned to New York for a sit-down dinner at the Central Park penthouse of a top Atlantic official. When they met at the airport, Toomay says, Hubbard had packed nothing but a toothbrush in his coat pocket.) Finally they set up a tentative working agreement with Atlantic. That’s when the troubles began. Hubbard says. “The damn thing was, everybody said they loved the tape. So I said great, release it. Let’s go. And they said, ’Oh, no, no, you cut it in Austin, Just think what you can do with real studios and real musicians.’ “ So the band went to studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala., to record-and argue with their producer. Hubbard wanted that Viva Terlingua feel-“that attitude and energy, not just meticulous correct notes.” Above all, he wanted to cut “Redneck Mother” live. “I wanted to just go in some bar somewhere and let it happen.” Hubbard says. But the producer had his own ideas: They’d cut in the studio and then he’d dub in the crowd noises-good noises, mind you. from Bob Dylan’s Isle of Wight concert. Says Hubbard: “I told him he was missing the point. It wasn’t going to do any good to have 50,000 people yelling ’Baaahhhb!’ You gotta hear beer bottles breaking.” Toomay was at the Cowboys’ training camp in California when he began getting calls from a worried Hubbard. The studio pros wanted to use the Muscle Shoals rhythm section, not the Twinkies, but Hubbard was adamant. “He just wouldn’t do it,” Toomay says. “He had depended on these guys, and he just couldn’t.” So Hubbard called the record honchos and told them things weren’t working out. Atlantic released him, and within a few months Toomay had arranged another deal with Warner Reprise. Fearing he would miss his chance. Hubbard agreed to some compromises and the band headed for Nashville. They laid down the basic tracks and were planning to return for recutting and polishing-or so they thought. Hubbard did come back to redo one song, but he had a sinking feeling about the process. “I was losing control of the situation,” he says. “I just felt like the train was rolling and I wasn’t on it.” His intuition was dead right. The record company, hurrying to make a September deadline, abruptly decided that things were perfect enough and released the album. Hubbard didn’t own a cassette player, so when he got his copy in the mail he and the other band members went out to his van. They slid in the tape. To their surprise, the First song had several girl singers chirping in the background. So did the second. And the third. A couple of tracks still carried Hubbard’s reference vocals, not the final lyrics. It was that old Nashville sound. And it was a botch. “Man, this still hurts to think about it,” Hubbard says, shaking his head. “We couldn’t believe it. What had happened to that piece of our soul we’d worked on down in Austin? First we started laughing. Then we just started crying, all of us.” In a real sense, Hubbard never recovered from that blow. The Twinkies were still a hot live act, but they couldn’t capitalize on their record. They didn’t even want to acknowledge it was theirs. “It was so bland, and our shows were so wild,” Hubbard says, wincing like it all happened yesterday. “I’d go to radio stations and hand it to them kind of sideways. I don’t really blame anybody. Now 1 can see that they were just trying to make it more commercial, but we had this image of what it was supposed to be like, like what Austin and Texas were at the time, and they just didn’t understand that in Nashville. “Willie and Waylon [Jennings] knew how to work in that framework and get what they wanted,” he says. “We didn’t understand how to do it. It’s like what happened to a bunch of people at that time, like Rusty Wier, Gary P. Nunn, the Side of the Road Gang. It just never went on to the level I thought it would.” Ironically, the Nashvillized version of the album enjoyed decent sales. Warner wanted to do another-but this time, no Twinkies. Hubbard insisted on full-tilt Twinkie or nothing. “These were guys who would go back to back with you, like you were at the Alamo,” he says. “If you said something bad about the drummer, you had to fight the whole band.” “His attitude was admirable, but that’s the way they do things,” says Pat Toomay. Soon afterwards, he and Hubbard had a friendly parting. “I couldn’t do much more,” Toomay says. ’These opportunities don’t come along that often. The way these cultural machines work, they put the spotlight on you and when it’s gone, it’s gone.” Hubbard and the Twinkies cut another record a year or so later, this time on Willie Nelson’s short-lived Lone Star Records. It was thrown together with manic haste, but the result was at least a close neighbor to their stage act. Buoyed, they went on tour with Nelson, doing 38 cities in 45 days. They killed the crowds, but bad luck dogged them. Due to slipshod distribution, the new record arrived in each city about a week after they were gone. Eventually the Twinkies broke up, victims of the entropy that seems to set in when talented people find their way blocked. Hubbard went on to make a lot of good music with some great players, including the amazing Dallas guitarist Bugs Henderson. But the wave had passed, leaving him on the beach. Now he believes it’s building again. And he’s ready, “I just really haven’t had the right catalyst there to take what I do to the record companies and do it the right way,” he says. “Sometimes I feel like I was thrust in mere before I was really ready, you know. Right now, I feel like I’m ready to get into the music business for the first time.” THE TITLE OF HUBBARD’S NEW work. Lost Train of Thought, carries numerous shades of meaning. Along with the cover photo-Hubbard in Stetson and sunglasses, sitting in an old-time railroad car-it links him to the hoary train-pain-rain tradition of country music. But the title also makes a dark joke on a career that has seen him lose many a train of thought, and take years to pick it up again. Hubbard’s 11 original songs (two were written with longtime guitarist Terry Ware, a former Twinkie) run the gamut of style and mood-from gentle steel guitar to thundering drums, from buoyant optimism to rage and mayhem. The opening song, the bouncy “Here Comes the Night,” celebrates those giddy moments of unearned joy (“My day job’s nothin’ but a memory,..Here comes the night, my baby ’n’ me”). “These Eyes,” a moving duet with Willie Nelson, praises devotion and fidelity; it’s a song that would sound natural coming from Porter Wagoner or any other pillar of Nashville’s ancien régime. Hubbard grows more somber and skeptical on side two. “Rockabilly Rock” is roots music, recalling the “teen-age rampage” sel off by early rockers like Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. The other songs deal with lost love and damaged hearts, from the haunting “Portales” (a remnant of Hubbard’s New Mexico days) to the anguished “Twist of Fate,” the tale of an embittering divorce: “The judge gets my paychecks and my alibis…I get the pain, my kids get the lies…” The record closes with “Wanna Rock and Roll,” a bubble-gum title that hides a story of passion, betrayal and murder. As much as he wants to look toward the future-and hurry it along-Hubbard knows that part of his appeal lies in his colorful, often self-destructive past. “Here’s a chance to relive your wasted youth,” he joked recently, introducing “Redneck Mother” at Fort Worth’s White Elephant Saloon. The crowd laughed, but the words were spoken by one who has been there. It wasn’t just his music but his life mat made Ray Wylie Hubbard a demigod in the pantheon of Texas music. “Willie was the old one, Waylon was the mean one, Jerry Jeff was the drunk one, David Allan Coe was the cussin’ one, and I was the wild one,” he says with a rueful smile. “They always said, ’Don’t dare Hubbard, ’cause he’ll do it.’ “ And if nobody dared him, he’d dare himself, like so many other musicians who have sacrificed livers and brain cells to their art. It’s Margarita ville, not Tofuville. Hubbard grew up idolizing Hank Williams, who died from whiskey and pills before he was 30. “You’re 26 years old, and you’re playing Willie’s picnics,” Hubbard says of his early days. “There’s beer, hippies, mud, naked women. Why would you want to do anything else?” But years passed and Hubbard, like his famous redneck, was 34 and still drinking in a honky-tonk. “I kept doing the same things and expecting different results. When you’re 21 or 22, you can play an Austin club, close it down, get a case of beer, take a couple of white crosses and drive all night to Colorado. Then you sleep a couple of hours and you’re ready to play again. Well, I was still doing that when I hit 35.” Hubbard’s world fell in during his late 30s. He divorced. His father died. He had run through most of the money he made during the good years with the Twinkies. Nights of drinking for fun turned into days of drinking to maintain. He stopped caring about his music. It was too much even for an old friend like Bugs Henderson, who quit the band. “I just hurt a lot,” Hubbard says. “I was just drinking to get through a day. I started having blackouts. My mind would leave, and then it would come back and I’d have no idea what my body had been doing.” Five years ago Hubbard, then 41, made the break with alcohol. He’s stayed sober with the help of a 12-step program, some musician friends who had made die same passage and his second wife, Judy Stone. The two met in 1988 at Poor David’s Pub, where Hubbard was playing. Whether drinking or not, he’s always been a talkative, engaging performer, and he was in rare form that night. “Everybody was in a real goofy mood,” says Hubbard. “I can’t remember anything 1 said, but I went off on some real tangents and Judy liked it.” When he was coming out of the dressing room, she blocked his way and playfully refused to let him pass until he asked her out. So he invited her to another gig the next night. “She walked in and started grinning, and I started grinning. It just felt right.” Humor bonds the couple, who married in 1989 and are expecting their first child in June. When the expectant mother tells someone the news, Hubbard is likely to quip, “At least we know whose it is this time.” drawing a laugh and a good-natured slap from Judy. “You know, people always say that a sense of humor is important to a woman,” Hubbard muses. “I never really believed that. I thought it was a Porsche, or a great body, or Tom Cruise looks.” He jokes that they’ll give the baby “a real ’90s kind of name. You know, maybe Wylie Ice or something. I was going to name my first son [Cory, now 14] Lake Ray, but we thought it might get confusing.” Hubbard eventually reached the point where he was scared to keep drinking, but he was also scared to stop. “I didn’t really know that I would actually have fun [without drinking]. ’ thought. God, it’s gonna be so damned boring. I didn’t want to be one these reformed people you see on ’The 700 Club.’ And he worried about staying sober when his workplace was a bar. Temptation was everywhere; his first gig after swearing off liquor was a big New Year’s Eve party at a hotel. The contract carried the note he had always loved to see: “RFB”- room, food and booze provided free. He laughs, remembering the sight that greeted him at the hotel. “I showed up about 8 o’clock, and some girl in a formal dress was already drunk, crawling down the hall and throwing up. That actually helped me that night. I figured that could be me. Or I could wind up with her!” Happily, Hubbard has none of the self-righteous smarminess of some reformed drinkers. He and Nelson are scheduled to play a March benefit for the Ethel Daniels Foundation of Dallas, which helps young people quit drugs, but don’t look for him on “The 700 Club.” Unless someone presses him, he doesn’t discuss his drinking at all, except obliquely in a recent song called “Didn’t Have a Prayer.” After booze “tore my soul and turned against me,” Hubbard wrote, he found himself at a crossroads. But the answer, for him, was not the familiar turn to Jesus. “I’ve been straight five years,” he says, “and during that time I’ve been to church three times. I got married and buried two people.” The song serves as a bookend to an early Hubbard song, “Lowlife Companions.” He recently added a new verse (“I got my degree in honky-tonk school…The first rule is, there are no rules”) and offered it to Jimmy Buffett. who is planning an album of party songs. With the help of old friend Tony Joe White, who wrote “Rainy Night in Georgia” and had a ’70s hit with “Polk Salad Annie,” Hubbard is getting serious about writing and selling songs, not just playing them. There is no age limit for songwriters, he notes. In mid-February he set up a showcase at a Nashville club, hoping to lure and impress “the right people” from the industry. He’s confident that Lost Train of Thought carries solid material, but he knows that his stage work packs a punch of its own. “I’m going to have to show them that what we’ve got is a viable…product,” Hubbard says with a grimace. “I hate that word, but the live show is part of it, a real good selling point.” And so, too, is The Song, his personal contribution to the Texas time capsule. A few years ago, Walker’s Viva Terlinguo went gold, having sold more than 500,000 copies. “Redneck Mother” has been recorded by Bobby Bare, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, a German band named Islem Hillbillies and many others. From time to time Hubbard still gets stray royalty checks off “Redneck Mother,” little telegrams from the man he used to be. “That song is my jacket, as they say in prison. It’s what I did. and it’s what I’ve gotta wear,” he says with a bemused smile. He believes he has done and will do better music, but he knows the bastard child will always be part of him, as will the freewheeling outlaw days. “You’re a young kid, and like the song says, there ain’t no signposts along this highway. And if there had been, I wouldn’t have listened. What happened happened. Now it’s over, so what do I do?” Mostly he works, playing the Three Teardrops Tavern, the Ozona Grill, private parties, a “Texas cruise” in early February. He refines his songs and sharpens his guitar skills, aiming to do more solo gigs in the future. “There’s a lot more I want to learn about finger picking and song structure,” he says. “It’s funny. I’ve been play ing in honky-tonks for 25 years, and two years ago, when I was 44, I took my first guitar lesson.” And he waits for the right people to listen to his CD or catch him at a club some night. “I know I screwed up and there’s probably some people in the business I owe amends to. but I’m hoping to be judged on what I’m doing now.” he says. He looks into the distance, a tinge of sadness in his voice–but only for a moment. Then he laughs, and the old mischief is back. “Hell, I never burned that many bridges. You know, a couple of times I’d fall into me drums, but people would stand up and cheer.” Above all, he keeps his spirits up. He believes the categories are loosening enough to admit an old outlaw who is leading a new life. He hopes that young people struck by Randy Travis and Garth Brooks will go beyond what they hear on the radio and dig down toward the roots, where they’ll find Marshall Tucker and the Allman Brothers-and Ray Wylie Hubbard. “They’re gonna run out of everybody else,” he grins. “And when they do, I’m going to be there, and I’m going to be ready this time.”	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2283
__label__wiki	0.791795	0.791795	Michael and Nicetas Akominatos Michael (d. 1215) and Nicetas (d. 1206); also known as Choniates, from their native city, Chonia (the Colossae of St. Paul). Two famous Greeks of the later Byzantine period. While studying at Constantinople by their father's wish, Michael acted as tutor to his younger brother Nicetas. Michael became a priest; Nicetas studied history and jurisprudence, in addition to theology, and rose to high honors in the imperial service. As governor of the province of Philippopolis, he witnessed the passage of the Third Crusade under Frederick Barbarossa, in 1189, a march which entailed great hardships and sufferings on the whole Eastern Empire, and which Walter Scott has dealt with, incidentally, in his "Count Robert of Paris." Michael, who, by his brother's influence, had been made Archbishop of Athens in 1175, had a similar experience of "Latin" aggressions, and was even forced to retire to the island of Chios. Nicetas, with his family, fled from Constantinople to Nicaea, where he died. Nicetas is the author of several important works concerning Byzantine theology and history. His "Treasure of Orthodoxy" (Thesauros Orthodoxias) is a historical and polemical work against all anti-Christian heresies, valuable among other reasons for the treatment of contemporary errors, and in a way supplementary to the famous "Armory of Doctrine" (Panoplia Logmatike) of Euthymios Zigabenos. It is also prized for its quotations from the synods of his time and for the fragments it has saved from lost Monophysite and other heretical writings. It has never been printed in its entirety; some portions of it are reprinted from earlier editions in Migne (P.G., CXXXIX, 1101-1444; CXL, 9-281). The work was written probably between 1204 and 1210. His fame as an historian of medieval Constantinople rests on his description in twenty-two books of the period from 1180 to 1206; it is practically an account of the fateful reigns of the last of the Comneni especially the vicissitudes of the royal city during the Fourth Crusade (1204); its siege, capture, and pillage by the Latin Christians (P.G., CXXXIX, 287-1088). Krumbacher vouches for his generally objective temper and equitable treatment of persons and events. The style is bombastic and overladen with rhetorical ornament. His little treatise on the statues destroyed by the Latin "barbarians" (De Signis, P.G., CXXXIX, 287) is highly prized by students of classical antiquities. Michael, of whom Krumbacher says (p. 469) that his tenure of the see of Athens was equivalent to a ray of light amid the obscurity of ages, was a meritorious orator, pastoral writer, poet, and correspondent. His discourses cast a sad light on the wretched conditions of contemporary Attica, as does his iambic elegy "On the City of Athens", described as "the first and only surviving lamentation for the decay and ruin of the ancient and illustrious city." Of his letters 180 have reached us. His character is described as energetic, but gentle and upright. He was too much a Byzantine to denounce the imperial authority in the person of the cruel Andronicus, while that monster lived; but after his death, says Krumbacher, he could not find words enough to depict his iniquities. Many of his writings are in Migne (P.G., CXL, 298-384; 124-1258). The best edition of his works is that of Spiridion Lambros (Athens, 1879-80). KRUMBACHER, Gesch. d. byzant. Litteratur (2d ed., Munich, 1897), 92 sqq., 281 sqq., 468 sqq.; CARL NEUMANN, Griech. Geschichtschreiber, etc. (Leipzig, 1888); WILKEN, Gesch. der Kreuzz ge V (Leipzig, 1829; for the treatise on the statues). The History of Nicetas was edited by BEKKER for the Corpus Script. Byzant. (Bonn, 1835). The portions relating to the Crusades are found in MILLER, Recueil des historiens grecs des croisades (Paris, 1875). For a comparison between Nicetas and the French "Herodotus of the Crusades", Geoffroy de Villehardouin, see SAINTS BEUVE, Causeries du Lundi (Paris, 1854), IX, 305-40; see also TAFEL, Komnenen und Normannen (1852). THOMAS J. SHAHAN	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2287
__label__wiki	0.751272	0.751272	Chinese cloisonné Three colours blue A controversial new survey of an art made famous by the Chinese Books & artsFeb 12th 2011 edition THE lid of the charming, round enamelled metal box (pictured) is decorated with squat, rosy apples. Their colour gradually shifts from red to orange to yellow. This cheerful yet subtle object, less than 7.5cm across, is one of the highlights of a New York exhibition, “Cloisonné: Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties”. There are 161 pieces: vases and incense burners, shrines, teapots and candlesticks. Many creatures make an appearance, among them an arrogant rooster, a pair of lions and a very annoyed-looking goose. An extravagant basin is enamelled on the interior with swimming fish. The self-professed aim of the exhibition and its scholarly catalogue is to examine cloisonné production in China, from its emergence in the late Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) to the end of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The attribution of the earliest pieces will raise eyebrows. For decades these have been described as early Ming ware, but six works in this show have been labelled as dating from the earlier Yuan dynasty. Fifteen other pieces have also been redated, the result of a collaboration between scholars in China and the curator of this exhibition, Béatrice Quette. Their conclusions are so recent that last-minute revisions to the catalogue delayed its publication. Not all specialists will be convinced, though. In the catalogue, Ms Quette discusses the general inaccuracy of early Chinese reign marks. This makes it difficult to offer more than a vague dating to the earliest pieces, yet she and her Chinese colleagues are convinced that their reattributions are correct, and she looks forward to the discussions this will provoke. The Chinese were the first people to make paper, porcelain and pyrotechnics. Cloisonné enamelling as an overall decoration of metal vessels was a relatively late import. It had been used in the West since ancient times, reaching an aesthetic and technical peak in 12th-century Byzantium. European cloisonné is thought to have arrived in China during the Yuan dynasty. Local artisans soon learned the technique themselves, which gave rise to centuries of rich and productive inventiveness. Chinese cloisonné was made for the delight of emperors, courtiers and scholars. Like luxury goods everywhere it was also used for diplomatic gifts. Those familiar only with the banal 20th-century examples made for the tourist trade are in for a happy surprise. This show is full of colourful, luminous delights. To the visitor for whom the biggest danger is sensory overload, Ms Quette has some useful advice: first zoom in on a detail. Take time; study it. Then step back and consider the whole object. When considered this way a single Ming wall panel covered with flowers, for example, is not only lovely to look at, but also a technical tour de force. The French word cloisons means partitions. To create cloisonné, a design is drawn on a metal object. Then a band made of a thin metal strip is affixed to it. This creates the small compartments into which a paste of finely ground, coloured glass and water is placed. The piece is then fired at around 700ºC, turning the glass into enamel and fusing it with the metal. Often the enamel shrinks, and a second application and firing is needed to fill the cloisons completely. Cloisonné is a slow and technically difficult process, which has always made it expensive and highly sought after. Early on, traders, travellers and missionaries came home with the odd piece of Chinese cloisonné. In the second half of the 19th century, large numbers of pieces, including many imperial works, were brought to Europe and America. This was booty seized during the opium wars and then the Boxer uprising of 1900. Exceptional collections were built up as a result. In the 1920s a French financier, David David-Weill, gave 150 pieces he had amassed to the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. This show has 61 of them, including the lovely little apple-lidded box. Indeed the entire exhibition consists of loans from European and American museums. The arrival of Chinese cloisonné in Europe also revived Western interest in making similar works. In 1870 or so, James Tissot, a French painter, acquired a Ming jardinière, which had been removed during the sacking of the Summer Palace in Beijing ten years earlier. He then made his own version of it, which is visibly influenced by the Art Nouveau movement. Both works are on view, reunited for the first time since 1902. The Western appetite for this Chinese enamelwork continues. Giuseppe Eskenazi, the leading London dealer in Chinese works of art, recalls that when he was paying high prices for Chinese cloisonné at Christie's in Paris in 2007, most of it came from European collections—and the buyers were all still Westerners. Now the Chinese are also competing, especially for imperial, Qing-dynasty pieces, and prices have risen again sharply. Last December a Hong Kong businessman, Joseph Lau, bought a pair of tall, imperial white cloisonné censers each in the shape of two cranes. He paid $16.7m, a world auction record, for them. Mr Eskenazi has a pair of joined Qing-dynasty cloisonné cylinders with imperial markings on the cover of his spring catalogue. He is planning to show them during Asia Week in New York in March, priced at $750,000. Three similar pieces are on view in this show. A display to tempt the senses. “Cloisonné: Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties” is at the Bard Graduate Centre in New York City until April 17th. Catalogue, Yale University Press, $80 and £50 This article appeared in the Books & arts section of the print edition under the headline "Three colours blue"	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2289
__label__wiki	0.680884	0.680884	It's those people, all over again Slogans that helped to topple East German communism are now being used to defend an exceptionally generous welfare system EuropeAug 14th 2004 edition FIFTEEN years ago, the burghers of this medieval city inspired the world with their clarion calls, heard at protest meetings every Monday, against East German communism: “We are the people”, or still more powerfully, “We are one people”—a demand for reunification which was satisfied sooner than anyone expected. Recently the Monday rallies have returned to Magdeburg's historic streets, as well as to Leipzig and half a dozen other eastern German cities. Old slogans are being revived as a protest against the harshness of capitalism—and in particular against a law that will reduce benefits for the long-term unemployed. History never repeats itself exactly. But on August 9th, when more than 12,000 protesters gathered in front of Magdeburg's Gothic cathedral—having numbered 600, and then 6,000, on the preceding two Mondays—there were faint echoes of the anti-communist rallies. It was a peaceful crowd of all ages. They have vowed to return each Monday until the government abandons the dreaded “Hartz IV” law, the fourth piece of legislation implementing reform proposals from a commission led by Peter Hartz, personnel director at Volkswagen. “People don't care whether the system they live in is called socialism or capitalism. They want a life—and having a job is part of it,” said Andreas Ehrholdt, a protester who has not worked for a decade. Do these new demonstrations signal serious unrest? If so, could Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's broader set of reforms, Agenda 2010, be rolled back? Politicians from both government and opposition are getting nervous. Although most supported the passage of Hartz IV late last year, many are now stepping back—especially those who face the voters soon. Georg Milbradt, the conservative premier of the state of Saxony, where elections are due on September 19th, has suggested postponing implementation of the law, now due to come into force in January. If people like Mr Milbradt feel wrong-footed, it is because they failed to see that the law, though not radical by world standards, amounts to a big about-face for Germany and its welfare system. Over the years this has become a giant insurance policy, designed to cushion living standards. It has proved costly and counter-productive: a large chunk of the unemployment rate reflects the fact that the jobless have little reason to return to work. Even compared with those in other generous countries (see chart), out-of-work Germans are well protected. People who lose their jobs get unemployment benefit of 60% of their previous earnings (or 67% if they have children) for up to 32 months. After that, payments drop to between 53% and 57%, but have no time limit. By this stage, payments are known as Arbeitslosenhilfe, or unemployment aid. Add in other perks, like family and housing benefits, and it is easy to see why workers with few skills—making up over half the unemployed—eschew badly paid jobs. To change this, Hartz IV will shorten the period of unemployment benefit to 12 months (or 18 months for those over 55) and do away with the second phase of unemployment aid. Instead, the long-term unemployed will receive a flat-rate benefit, means-tested and paid only to those who seek work seriously. On average, benefits for single people living in western Germany will be €345 ($422) a month; for those in the east, the level will be €331 plus rent and heating allowances. The Hartz reforms have been presented as a way to “support the jobless” in their search for work. Another Hartz law aims to turn the Federal Labour Office, Germany's largest bureaucracy, into a customer-friendly employment agency. While many analysts say the reforms are too cautious, they will be quite painful—especially in the east, where unemployment is 18.5%, versus 8.5% in the west. Yet if people are angry, it is because the government has failed to inform them, and the tabloid press is spreading half-truths. At the Magdeburg rally, protesters plied reporters with questions. Will children's savings be taken into account? (Yes, above a certain threshold, because parents would otherwise move money to their offspring's accounts.) Must we move to a smaller home? (In most cases, no.) Such questions suggest that the protest rallies, which were attended by about 40,000 last Monday, may fizzle once the government has launched its planned information campaign. But that may underestimate the East Germans, who showed their staying power in 1989. Then again, a democratic government is harder to destabilise than a sclerotic communist one. The protests will probably have real impact only if they take hold in the west, where the demos have so far been paltry. But a spillover is possible: the western German middle class is feeling nervous about economic decline. In any case, the political fallout will be felt at the forthcoming elections. The ex-communists have made Hartz IV their main campaign issue, calling it “poverty by law”. Chances are that their party, the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), will become the number-two political force in the state of Saxony and possibly number one in Brandenburg, where elections are held the same day. Extreme-right groups will also gain votes. Protests against Hartz IV will also benefit a new left-wing party, being formed by dissident Social Democrats and trade unionists. This week, Oskar Lafontaine, a populist ex-chairman of the ruling Social Democrats, threatened to defect to the new party unless Mr Schröder resigned and Agenda 2010 were scrapped. The chancellor is unlikely to do his arch-enemy either of these favours, although his government decided on August 11th to bring forward the first payouts of the new benefit, and allow children more savings. In fact, Mr Schröder has reason to be optimistic, despite all the protests and dismal election results. His health-care reform is showing some positive effects. Siemens, DaimlerChrysler and other firms have finally cut deals with trade unions to deregulate labour markets from the bottom up. The public mood is improving, with newspapers saying Germany's situation may not be hopeless after all. Most importantly, growth seems to be coming back, albeit only driven by exports. Even the revival of the PDS and the emergence of a new left-wing party could work to Mr Schröder's benefit—because both developments mean fewer opponents of Agenda 2010 will vote for the right. In Saxony, for instance, the Christian Democrats will probably lose their majority in the legislature and could be forced into a coalition, maybe with the Social Democrats. In Magdeburg language, today's Germany is not “one people” united against tyranny, but a kaleidoscope of shifting interest-groups—thanks to the democracy that the 1989 protests helped create. This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline "It's those people, all over again"	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2290
__label__wiki	0.932801	0.932801	Catalan nationalists protest as their leaders are jailed for sedition The Spanish Supreme Court imposes harsh prison sentences EuropeOct 19th 2019 edition “THE WHOLE of one’s life is a dream, and dreams are nothing but dreams.” So says Prince Sigismondo in a play by Pedro Calderón de la Barca, the great dramatist of Spain’s Golden Age in the 17th century, currently being revived in Madrid. That, in effect, provided the question before Spain’s Supreme Court in the long-running trial of a dozen Catalan separatist leaders for their role in the referendum and declaration of independence in October 2017. Was their unilateral implementation of a democratic “right to decide” on independence for Catalonia, one of Spain’s largest and most prosperous regions, a mere pipe dream of political theatre; or was it a conspiracy to break up the country? The court concluded that it was somewhere in between. Dismissing the more serious charge of rebellion, it found nine of the leaders guilty of sedition and four guilty of misuse of public funds. It sentenced Oriol Junqueras, who was vice-president of the Catalan regional government at the time, to 13 years in jail. Six other former officials were sentenced to terms of ten to 12 years; the leaders of two separatist mass movements each got nine years. The court found that they had “led the citizenry in a public and tumultuous rising” which prevented the application of law and court decisions. The court also issued a fresh European arrest warrant, for sedition, against Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan president, who fled to exile in Belgium in 2017. An extradition request against him on the charge of rebellion was rejected by a German court last year. Spanish conservatives were disappointed that the court dismissed the charge of rebellion. Others, abroad and in Catalonia, saw the jail terms as disproportionate. The defendants argued that they were merely carrying out a democratic mandate to seek a referendum on independence. Their supporters say they are “political prisoners” who faced a “political trial”. In a joint statement, Quim Torra, the current president of the Generalitat (the regional government) and Roger Torrent, the speaker of the Catalan parliament, described it as “an insult to democracy and a show of contempt for Catalan society”. The sentence triggered days of protests in which masked demonstrators first blockaded Barcelona airport and then set dozens of fires and barricades in the centre of the city. Among more than 150 people injured were 72 police, most of them from the Catalan force. Contradictorily, Mr Torra at first encouraged the protests while the Generalitat’s police was repressing them. The protests mark both a radicalisation and fragmentation of the independence movement. Pere Aragonès, Mr Torra’s deputy, warned against violence. Spanish officials stress that the defendants were on trial for their actions, not their ideas. The cause of independence has never enjoyed clear majority support in Catalonia. Josep Borrell, the foreign minister, who is Catalan, accused Mr Torra of a “totalitarian attitude” in denying the Catalan-ness of those who disagree with independence. “The root of the problem is that Catalan society is divided in two and one of those parts excludes the other,” said Mr Borrell, who is about to become the EU’s new foreign-policy chief. In 2017 the separatists used their narrow majority in the Catalan parliament to ram through laws tearing up the constitution and the region’s statute of home rule. They deployed the resources of the Generalitat to organise their “binding referendum” on independence, which they then used to declare an independent republic. They did all this despite repeated warnings of the illegality of their actions. In their unanimous verdict, the seven judges of the Supreme Court addressed not just the defendants’ actions but also the political basis on which they rested. Far from being unique, Spain’s constitutional protection of the nation’s territorial unity is the European norm, they noted. “No European constitution exists that recognises ‘the right to decide’.” Especially given the chaos triggered by the Brexit referendum, no European national government looks kindly on the separatists’ demands. Mr Junqueras claimed that the heavy sentences will galvanise the independence movement, which has recently been losing steam, albeit slowly. A survey in July by the Catalan government’s own pollster, the CEO, put support for independence at 44% (and only 35% when other options, such as greater devolution, are offered). A radical fringe is flirting with violence: last month the Civil Guard arrested nine people in Catalonia found with bomb-making equipment. But the CEO poll found that only 9% now support the unilateral approach pursued by the defendants in 2017. The threat of Catalan separation has revived long-dormant Spanish nationalism and prompted the emergence of Vox, a far-right party. If the protests are sustained, they may cast a shadow over Spain’s general election on November 10th, the fourth in four years. Pedro Sánchez, the Socialist leader, became prime minister in June 2018 following a censure motion against the then prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, backed by the Catalan nationalists. If, as seems likely, the Socialists are again the largest party, Mr Sánchez will seek—and probably gain—the acquiescence of the right to avoid relying on separatist support. In Calderón’s play Prince Sigismondo is freed from the prison to which his father has condemned him. No such happy ending seems in store for Mr Junqueras and the others. However, the court rejected a prosecution request that they be denied normal prison benefits. That means most could enjoy day release from prison within months. Even when the dust from the trial settles, the problem of Catalan separatism will remain. Mr Sánchez this week called for “a new era” to achieve “coexistence within Catalonia” through dialogue and the constitution. That may take a while. ■ This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline "Dreams and nightmares"	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2291
__label__wiki	0.849675	0.849675	Subscribe below to recieve updates direct to your inbox edie podcast CSR & ethics Energy efficiency & low-carbon Waste & resource management Net-Zero Live Make a Net-Zero pledge The pledge wall Plastics hub edie Explains Insight Reports Edit company details Recent tenders Search tenders Tenders by email Submit Tender Webinars and Masterclasses Engagement week - on-demand Sustainable Investment Conference - Digital Sustainability leaders forum Sustainability leaders awards Careers and training Sustainability leaders club Energy leaders club The river's edge - a journey of transformation 11 September 2012, source Water & Wastewater Treatment The team working on the rivers and wetlands of the Olympic Park, one of Europe's biggest greening projects, faced numerous challenges, explains Ruth Boyle of engineering consultancy Atkins The installation of a wetland plant When Mike Vaughan, who heads up an Atkins multidisciplinary design team of river engineers, geomorphologists and ecologists, was approached to be the river edge engineer for the planned London 2012 Olympic Park there was no doubt about the scale of the opportunity. Rivers and wetlands are at the heart of the Olympic Park, which lies in east London's Lower Lea Valley. Atkins is used to large-scale projects and to working alongside a number of other teams, but the Olympic Park project is at the far end of the scale. The 246ha of formerly derelict land is one of Europe's biggest ever greening projects. The objective was to provide new river edges to the park, the frog ponds and the wetland areas. The official remit for the team was to manage everything below the 4m contour line; the work above this line was owned by the landscape architects. Vaughan and his team had a clear vision - to play a significant role in the transformation of the Park for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and for the legacy that would follow. The transformation has been unprecedented. Over 8km of riverbanks have been restored as part of the project, as well as the creation 2ha of reed beds and ponds, along with 9,000m2 of rare wet woodland. The challenge was to achieve visual and physical access to the river and to make the rivers more open, and therefore an integral part of the Park. "The idea was to open up the river corridor by making the steep slopes that line the river flatter," explains Vaughan. "By dropping the slopes, we've brought the river into the Park and made it much more accessible - people can now get close to the river and see what's going on there." Getting the riverbank geometry right was a delicate task. Too steep and the banks would need costly artificial reinforcement; too shallow and they would start to eat into valuable land at the site. An optimum slope of 1:2.5 - about 22° - was chosen. The riverbank area was limited by the need to convey floodwater and the location of terrestrial landscape and infrastructure. The team used two approaches to steepen the riverbanks. Firstly, where possible, the riverbanks were terraced using coir rolls and timber stakes. In other locations, where only a 70° bank was possible, a reinforced detail was used, providing layers of geo-grid and steel mesh cages, faced with a riverside turf. Now, following an intense transformation, the revitalised waterways continue to be vital during the games as well as into the legacy to follow. The features ensure flood resilience, enhanced biodiversity and visual appeal. The Olympic Delivery Authority's vision for the Park was always to achieve a natural habitat and Vaughan and his team have played a vital role in making this a reality. What now exists is a natural habitat of greenery and accessible waterways, quite a difference from the previous site of complex weeds and neglected riverbanks. For Atkins, the process began by developing a detailed understanding of the maze of waterways and channels that twist and turn their way through the Park. Flows and velocities were measured at different points over a period of time, with data used to construct a detailed hydraulic model to predict flood risk. Atkins undertook analysis of the risk of flooding caused by frequent rainfall, taking into account the tidal impact. The modelling exercise was made considerably more complicated by the impoundment of the river system during the course of 2008; in effect, this eliminated the direct tidal influence of the Thames. Vaughan had concluded that the tidal effects were of great importance as they would directly affect the flow of water out of the River Lea and fluctuations were on average 400mm/day. The findings impacted on the landscaping profile, highlighting the need for raised riverside paths, the absence of which could have impacted negatively on the Park today, particularly in adverse weather. Maintaining the correct water levels was critical for survival of the landscape. Sustainable drainage techniques were also used across the Park. In the landscaped areas, porous strips were used, feeding into bioswales, which drain down into the riverside ponds. Surface conveyance, underground pipes and other storage features have also been used. The first step in the river restoration process was to 'lay back' the banks, many of which were precipitously steep. This re-profiling was necessary because much of the surrounding land was 'made' ground; the result of centuries of tipping that had raised the ground level by as much as 10m in places. Atkins' team was also responsible for the final look of the riverbanks and wetlands, considering the ecological and aesthetic demands, including seasonal planting to ensure that the site would be in bloom for the Games. Choosing the right species with the right root systems was also critical to protect the banks from erosion. An added challenge was that the river network is semi-tidal. The twice-daily rise and fall of around 400mm had the potential to create issues for the new plantation. The Atkins team conducted a trial along a 50m stretch of the Lea in the Olympic Park, a unique activity to ascertain the right plantation. In addition to the River Lea were other bodies of water. To the north of the Park lie three new triangular ponds. Two of these were designed to dry up in the summer, forming moist grassy hollows. The third pond was created to retain water; however preventing it from drying out was complex. The team created a connection between the third pond and the river to act as an overflow and a feed, which could also be regulated. When the pond level rose too high, water could be drained back into the river; when it started to dry out, a valve could be opened to release river water back into the pond. This is believed to be the first of its kind on this scale. Wet woodlands In addition to the waterways, the team was involved in wet woodlands. These areas required some shallow water in order to support the natural habitat in a moist environment. Control of water flow in the two wet woodlands areas was achieved by enclosing them in low earth embankments, which are overtopped by the river during higher flow. The wetlands project was extensive and the detailed flood risk assessments enabled a multifunctional and resilient landscape to be created. The carefully designed waterways emerged and enabled plantation of what we can now see in full bloom on the dramatically transformed Park. The design of the wetlands area has given the park a sustainable habitat, breathing natural life into the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Olympic \| wetlands \| Ecology Click a keyword to see more stories on that topic, view related news, or find more related items. Please login or register to make a comment You need to be logged in to make a comment. Don't have an account? Set one up right now in seconds! © Faversham House Group Ltd 2012. edie news articles may be copied or forwarded for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent. Now available on demand: edie's free webinar exploring onsite net-zero technologies Government unveils 'radical' energy efficiency standards for homes and offices Aldi's plastic-free packaging and Portugal's coal phase-out: The sustainability success stories of the week Report: UK could recycle three times as much plastic by 2030 Pandemic aside, humanity's biggest threats are climate and biodiversity-related, WEF warns Join the edie Get your daily dose of sustainability news	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2292
__label__wiki	0.746079	0.746079	Esports Awards 2019 – General Admission Tickets Full terms and conditions of tickets can be found here. B2B: Click Here for Hospitality and Experience Options The fastest 5G Network in the World just got bigger and better. Experience high-speed, low-latency gameplay on Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband. Verizon announced a huge leap forward in this new era of technology-led disruption & innovation by expanding coverage of the 5G service built to be the 21st century infrastructure that will shape the future of next-level gaming. Verizon continues to lead the industry with its 5G Ultra Wideband service – the fastest 5G in the world – built for gamers. It’s important to remember that not all services are created equal. Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband boasts throughputs 25x faster than 4G and, as the technology matures, it is expected to handle data volumes 100 times larger than today’s capabilities, and ultra-low latencies, which is the time it takes for a signal to make a round trip from point A to point B. We are an automotive company that takes inspired design, relentless innovation and uninhibited performance and turns them into passionate, moving experiences. But, that’s only part of our DNA. We’re equally dedicated to offering exceptional customer experiences. And in doing so, creating loyalty throughout the world—not just with the people who buy our vehicles, but the people in the communities around us. Yes, our unique contributions have moved the entire automotive industry forward. But, we never forget about giving back. That’s why we strive to empower people’s lives, help to preserve the environment and donate to numerous causes. These are the things that matter to us—the things that drive us every day. WE ARE A MUSIC LICENSING PLATFORM BUILT FOR CONTENT CREATORS eBeatz is filled with beats and tracks specifically produced for creators; whether for an intro to your video, the background song in your vlog, or the tracks playing while you game. You’ll find something for just about anything you could need, and it doesn’t stop there. Our Premium Subscription enables you to use our music catalog in your content that you produce, and monetize that content. We produce or purchase the rights to the music in our catalog, giving you peace of mind when you use it. Our platform communicates with Twitch and YouTube’s ContentID systems to verify and protect our users and the integrity of their subscriptions. With eBeatz Premium, you can stream the music on eBeatz or download it to be used in your video content. Welcome to Matrix Keyboards, home of the leading Esports gaming keyboards and specialized keycaps! Here at Matrix Keyboards we aim to bring all gamers with top of the line equipment to enhance your gaming experience! Matrix Keyboards is a new gaming company started in 2018 driven by the rising demands of high quality Esports products. All of us here at Matrix Keyboards have been gaming our whole lives and truly care about the development and future of the gaming community! With the competitive gaming industry quickly rising, we are raising the bar on what gamers should expect from their gaming equipment by providing the most innovative and state of the art technology. Whether you are playing competitively or for fun, we believe you shouldn’t settle for anything other than the best gaming equipment available. We have designed our equipment with some of the finest products on the market to date and will continue to produce only the highest quality work. We take pride in developing exactly what’s desired in order to play with the most comfort and to have the most fun while we also focus on engineering products with the best quality to create the ultimate experience for all types of gamers. Founded in 2017, RESPAWN has become a leader within the gaming industry, brought to you by office furniture experts with over 25 years of experience creating only the highest quality of products. RESPAWN’s product assortment includes gaming chairs, desks, rockers, recliners, monitor arms, floorpads, greenscreens and more. RESPAWN aims to offer the gaming community the highest quality of ergonomic gaming furniture products at affordable prices whether you’re a content creator, professional player or casual player. We pride ourselves on providing quick delivery and amazing customer service. Live CGI drives up the value of your brand in two ways – By letting you create content faster and by keeping your message at the top of your community’s social media feed. Our software product has been used around the world to help brands and leagues reach their community with high-quality content. Live CGI has the tools you need to create the content your community wants. LiveCGI is the ultimate tool that allows brands to be flexible to the quickly changing needs of content creators and their consumers. The Update Room is Live CGI’s “AT HOME” virtual studio. This product requires minimal technical ability to run on a simple gaming laptop. It is a unique way for players, teams, and advertisers to connect and keep brand continuity with no need to travel to a specific location to film. We help brands adapt with the times and sustains continuity, allowing them to thrive through any circumstance. Please select a category to view the criteria for each award CommunityCreativeIndustryOn Air TalentPro Grind Gaming’s mission is to break down the high barriers in the eSports industry and create platforms that open doors for individuals and groups in pursuit of a professional gaming career. By providing customers with opportunities, conveniences, and reliability that were not offered in the past. 52 weeks. 52 influencers. 52 life-changing opportunities. eFuse was founded by gamers, for gamers eFuse was founded by gamers, for gamers. All throughout 2020 and beyond, eFuse is committed to providing life-changing opportunities #ForTheGamers. Sit back, relax, pull out your favorite beverage, and enjoy all the best content from the eFuse community. With the lounge you can: Stay up-to-date on everything gaming, Be discovered by fans, teams, & brands. Get your own content featured Network with other gamers and professionals. Grow & learn from an authentic community Bryce Blum Bryce is the founding partner of ESG Law, the world’s first dedicated esports law firm, where he represents preeminent esports teams, talent, and institutions. Bryce is also a founding partner at Theorycraft, a creative and strategic advisory firm focused on helping major brands, sports teams and owners, and investors on how to successfully enter and navigate the esports space. Bryce’s work spans across the esports landscape; he has worked on major deals involving every esports title, and his clients range from long-standing, endemic esports entities to marquee sports, media, and entertainment companies looking to capitalize on the explosive growth of the industry. Bryce is a contributing writer for ESPN, and drives industry standards as a thought leader on key legal and business issues facing all aspects of the esports ecosystem. Bryce was named to the 2018 classes of the Forbes 30 under 30 and Sports Business Journal/Daily 40 under 40. Chris Mead Chris Mead is Twitch’s Senior Director of Partnerships for EMEA, where he works with broadcasting partners ranging from individuals to developers, publishers, and organizations. Chris’s expertise lies in live and VOD content licensing, esports and go-to market strategy development. Prior to joining Twitch, he competed professionally in Call of Duty tournaments between 2008-2012 and worked for a full service digital agency in London. Justin Dellario Currently the Head of Twitch Esports, Justin Dellario looks after Twitch’s first-party esports content development and business programs, strategic business partnerships, and technology development. Before Twitch, Justin lead esports Marketing at Razer where he oversaw sponsorships and marketing. Justin is active in sitting on several industry panels and boards helping to shape the future of the esports industry. Duncan Ironmonger Duncan is CEO and co-founder of Scuf Gaming. He oversees the company’s overall business operation, vision, product design, and growth. With over 15 years of experience in telecom and technology, Duncan decided to pursue his passion for video games and made a switch to the gaming products space when he founded Scuf Gaming in 2011. At the time, professional gaming was still in its infancy, and Scuf effectively created a new market for professional, feature rich, customized gaming controllers. He developed key relationships within the professional gaming community to advance controller design and deepen Scuf’s presence in the growing esports market. He is named on over 100 controller patents and has leveraged Scuf’s intellectual property to expand the business through key partnerships with other major gaming peripheral companies. Christina Alejandre Christina Alejandre is an executive consultant in esports and video game publishing space. Prior to this, she served as General Manager of ELEAGUE and Vice President of esports for Turner Sports. In this role, she lead the development and strategy for ELEAGUE, a transformative esports tournament brand created in partnership with IMG. Alejandre has two decades of years of experience in video games and new media, driving business development for global companies. She previously served as a consultant for Electronic Sports League where she identified and developed the core elements to establish the company’s long-term growth in North America. In addition, she previously held several high-ranking positions overseeing licensing and partner management, publishing and esports at Turbine and Warner Bros. Games. She also has led business development for 38 Studios and Octopi after working on interactive licensing and product development at Nickelodeon and Viacom Alaric Choo Secretlab was started by former competitive Starcraft II players Ian and Alaric who have applied their analytical and strategic mindset to gaming chairs, taking Secretlab from 1 country to 50 in just under 4 years. Under Alaric, who is the company’s Partnerships & Technical Director, Secretlab has signed industry-shaking esports partnerships with Riot Games for their global League of Legends tournaments, as well as world-renowned teams such as Cloud9 and Team Secret; pioneering collaborations with pop culture icons including HBO’s Game of Thrones and Warner Bro.’s Batman; and even in the electronic dance music industry with renowned EDM producer deadmau5. Ryan Hart A fighting game legend has joined the ranks of our Esports Awards Panel. Ryan Hart has been a part of the fighting game community for over 25 years and is now a world class player, caster and presenter. He started his career in 1994 and is possibly the world’s first professional player, winning himself hundreds of titles around the world in the Street Fighter, Virtua Fighter, King of Fighters and Tekken series. Ryan is one of the most accomplished fighting games players in the world, holding 4 Guinness World Records including most international competition wins and most countries victorious in around the world. Ryan is also a multi-lingual event host, influencer and commentates at some of the biggest tournaments. In addition to his impressive resume, Hart works as a project coordinator and content creator for ESL’s main products. With his long career within esports and the video game industry, he has also had the opportunity to co-author a book and work full time for top video game publishers such as Sega of Europe and Nintendo of Europe. Anton Ferraro For the past 13 years, Anton has worked exclusively in esports for organizations that include Riot Games & Major League Gaming. During this time he has supported the production of over 100 live events, developed thousands of hours of content on behalf of sponsors, and pushed strategic initiatives across for a wide array of projects including streaming, content acquisition and business development. Currently, Anton is driving communications efforts for Central Esports at Riot Games. In this capacity, he organizes the messaging strategy for the 13 competitive leagues with the goal of elevating the perception of esports across the globe. In the past year, Anton has supported Riot Esports’ initiatives that include thought leadership, partnership amplification, and earned media strategy for major global events such as the League of Legends World Championship and the Mid-Season Invitational. Rishi Chadha With over 10+ years of experience in the gaming industry, Rishi has worked on everything from distribution platforms to game publishers. As the Global Head of Gaming Partnerships, Rishi brings exceptional content from global gaming leagues, esports franchises, publishers & developers, and game communities to fans in real time, while driving reach and revenue for these strategic partners and Twitter. In 2018, he launched strategic partnerships with Activision Blizzard across the Overwatch League and Call of Duty World League, Riot Games, ESL, DreamHack, and FACEIT. Prior to joining Twitter in 2017, he spent time at Mobcrush, where he grew the mobile games live streaming platform to over 1 million monthly active users within 30 days of launch. As the vice president of content partnerships at Major League Gaming, he helped launch the company’s live streaming platform, MLG.tv, and led strategic partnerships with top publishers, including Valve, to create programs like the first North American CS:GO major, MLG Columbus. Prior to Major League Gaming, Rishi focused his career on elevating the visibility of the gaming community at notable organizations such as Machinima and Gunnar Optiks. Rishi is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego, where he received a BA in Economics. Ryan Wyatt Ryan oversees three businesses at YouTube, which includes Gaming, Telco and Tech, as well as the growing Virtual Reality business. Ryan leads a team from around the world to manage global Gaming Publisher partnerships, Top Gaming Content Creators, live streamers and Esports Leagues. In addition to his Gaming role, Ryan leads the VR/AR and Telco & Tech businesses overseeing global strategy, content and partnerships, budget development, P&L, and cross-functional work for these respective businesses. Ryan joined YouTube in 2014 to create the Gaming vertical, and has since lead Gaming at YouTube to be the most watched Gaming content platform in the world, and has also done the same for the Virtual Reality video business on YouTube. Previously, Ryan worked in senior roles with major gaming industry companies, including Vice President of Programming with Major League Gaming and Head of Live and eSports at Machinima. As a prominent Esports personality, Ryan is known for his strategic contributions in growing the Esports scene while in his former roles, and as a New York Times Best Selling Author for his work on OpTic Gaming: The Making of Esports Champions. Ryan also was listed on Forbes 30 under 30 in 2014 for his work in the Gaming industry. Richard Lewis has been the definitive esports journalist for over a decade, starting at forgotten blogs like Source Junky, working his way into sites like GotFrag, Tek-9 and Cadred, spearheading the Daily Dot’s foray into esports, before finally becoming a TV anchor for Turner Sports. Breaking stories that focus on the aspects of esports people would rather ignore, such as match-fixing, contract disputes, exploitation of players and predatory practices, his work isn’t always welcome but is certainly necessary. Nominated for multiple awards, his first win came in 2016 winning the 2016 Esports Journalist of the Year. Ross Thompson also known as “TommyT999” is a video game industry veteran who is now running his own business & creating/publishing content via his YouTube channel TommyT999. Fully focused on video games content across games both new & old, spanning all formats & genres the channel hosts some of the biggest Top 10 gaming series running on YouTube at this time & he covers across a wide variety of games including Call of Duty, Rainbow Six, Fortnite, PUBG, Rocket League & Fifa to name but a few. Working within the industry for the length of his career to date, in many companies all dedicated to growing the world of video games & esports he has a vast knowledge & experience of the industry & within his current role, every day he is watching the best clips the best players & gamers have to offer in the world of online competitive gaming. Working within the industry for the length of his career to date, in many companies all dedicated to growing the world of video games & esports he has a vast knowledge & experience of the industry & within his current role, every day he is watching the best clips the best players & gamers have to offer in the world of online competitive gaming. Alan Brice Alan ‘Bricey’ Brice is a professional host and commentator within the esports industry with over 7 years’ experience. Starting out as a player in a local community team attending LAN events, Bricey has a grass roots knowledge of what goes through players’ minds during matches. Bricey is a recognised face in the gaming community hosting and commentating a wide range of events and tournaments, ranging from the Call of Duty World Championship finals to the Civilisation VI live launch. He has worked with some of the largest names in the industry, like Activision and Microsoft, to deliver launches of their most prestigious titles, such as Call of Duty and HALO, more than this Bricey has a passion to see the industry continue to grow. Mike Sepso Mike Sepso is Senior Vice President of Major League Gaming, with a focus on global strategy and brand partnerships across the Activision Blizzard esports portfolio. As part of the Activision Blizzard executive team, Mike continues to build on his experience as a pioneer in the development of esports leagues and properties worldwide. Prior to joining Activision Blizzard, Mike was the co-founder and president of Major League Gaming (MLG), a global leader in esports. Mike launched MLG with co-founder Sundance DiGiovanni in 2002 and over the past 14 years has been a leading force in the development of the global esports industry. In addition to signing the first major non-endemic sponsors; including Dr. Pepper, Old Spice, and Boost Mobile, Mike launched the first professional gaming circuit in North America and co-created and executive produced the first esports television series on USA Networks in 2006. Prior to founding MLG, Mike was co-founder and co-CEO of Gotham Broadband, an early innovator in the broadband content and video streaming industry. He also launched a digital startup incubator and has been a proponent of the tech startup community in New York City for 20 years as an entrepreneur, investor, advisor and mentor. Mike is a graduate of Babson College with a bachelor of science in management and has been a resident of New York City for 23 years. Christoper 'Montecristo' Mykles MonteCristo started in esports as a volunteer writer for WCReplays, a Warcraft 3 replays site. He began shoutcasting for WCReplays with Phreak. During his involvement with the Warcraft 3 scene, Mykles managed a professional Warcraft 3 team with Verge Gaming and joined the Team Sportscast Network, a now defunct esports shoutcasting organization. Mykles became “obsessed” with League of Legends in its beta phase and subsequently founded ggChronicle to provide a journalism outlet devoted to professionalism for the LoL esports scene.MonteCristo then took a full-time, contract casting position at OnGameNet, where he still casts presently. In 2013, he then joined CLG as a coach and coached the team until the end of 2014, moving on to become a co-owner of Renegades on June 19th, 2015. Duncan 'Thorin' Shields Known as “The Esports Historian”, Thorin has been a custodian of the history of competitive computer games since 2001. Also known for his work on analysis desks at CS:GO events, he is considered one of the world’s foremost experts in the subject of esports. Michael O'Dell General Manager of one of the world’s largest competitive gaming organizations, ODEE’s esports career began in 1999 as a Quake 3 pro player. Four years later, his Battlefield 1942 team merged with another, giving birth to Team Dignitas. With the experience and ideals he earned as a player, ODEE built Team Dignitas from the ground up, coaching and managing players across a multitude of games like CS:GO, League of Legends and Heroes of the Storm. Over his 19 years of experience, ODEE’s philosophy has always been to put his players and staff first in his efforts to further esports. Eefje 'Sjokz' Depoortere Eefje ‘sjokz’ Depoortere has been a part of Riot’s League of Legends esports on-air team for almost six years, most notably as host of the European LCS and interviewer at international events throughout the years. Sjokz first esports experience was as part of the competitive Unreal Tournament 1999 scene, competing at online tournaments and LANs as part of several iCTF squads as well as the Belgian national team. Fresh out of university, she started her career in 2012 as editor and eventually editor in chief for SK Gaming, and from there grew into a globally known on-air personality for League of Legends. From the start of an order to finish we take pride in having highly trained professionals monitor all work and orders right here in Las Vegas, USA at our in-house printing facility. Established in January 2018, EsportsGear was created with the intent of taking the stress out of your custom printing experience. Each purchase, from design inception till your product goes out for shipping, is easy to follow and fluid to provide one of the fastest order to shipping processes in the market. All orders come with a 1-3 week or sooner processing. Period guarantee, making us one of the fastest shipping businesses available today! EBeatz is a music licensing platform. Our Premium Subscription enables you to use our music catalog in your content that you produce, and monetize that content. We produce or purchase the rights to the music in our catalog, giving you peace of mind when you use it. Our platform communicates with Twitch and YouTube’s ContentID systems to verify and protect our users and the integrity of their subscriptions. With eBeatz Premium you can stream the music on eBeatz or download it to be used in your video content. Any questions? Check out our Help Page. Our main focus is our creators, whether you’re an artist making music for us or a content creator who uses that music, our transparency and infrastructure was built around the needs of you. We are actively improving our methods and products to maximize your satisfaction, hopefully you’ll notice that right away. We’re the company you want to be associated with you and your brand because we share the same DNA. Go checkout the site, ask some questions, and make some amazing content that the world is dying to see. ReKTGlobal, Inc. is a marketing services and brand consulting company for the esports industry founded in 2016. Under their competitive games division, they own the pro team Rogue which includes a League of Legends European Championship franchise and the London Call of Duty franchise. With their recent acquisition of Greenlit Content, ReKT has produced content for or represented dozens of clients in the gaming industry, including State Farm, HyperX, NBC Sports, and more. State Farm, a top marketer in North America, has long been a significant sponsor of traditional sports leagues and their teams. With esports, ReKTGlobal helped to craft an activation strategy that helped to mirror the most successful aspects of their partnerships in traditional sports and also create campaigns that engage and educate fans, not just sell products. State Farm embarked on this journey after reading a Nielsen report that stated that “Insurance Services” and “Financial Services” were the two industries that fans wanted the least in esports. With that in mind, ReKTGlobal worked with State Farm to develop an approach that, at first, ran no traditional media spots and instead developed educational and entertaining programs to engage core audiences. The strategy and campaign started with a marquee position in the League of Legends North American League Championship Series (NA LCS) including a position on the State Farm Analyst Desk; three different in-broadcast segments including use of their popular Assist of the Week spot from traditional sports, in-broadcast signage, and several live event activations during the LCS split finals. Along with the NA LCS, State Farm is a sponsor of the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) and the NBA2k League. The focus of the approach in all of these leagues was to reject traditional ad roll, in favor of short form in-broadcast programs that resulted in positive or neutral brand sentiment given how sensitive fans are to new brands entering the space. The target audience for State Farm’s esports initiatives were younger fans who were core esports viewers. The strategy was created to gain real credibility from fans and show the core audience that State Farm was not here to just run a few ads, but actually create programs that resonated with the audience from the get-go and allowed State Farm to more aggressively market to this demographic in the future. Once credibility is gained from core fans, they evangelize the brand and segments to casual fans. In 2018, insurance and financial services were the least wanted by esports fans, but by the end of the year we, through direct survey and Nielsen measurement, had as high as 90% explicitly positive approval ratings for our league sponsorship activations. In addition, State Farm was selected as Brand of the Year at the Tempest Esports Awards for their efforts in the industry. At 100,000 sq ft., Esports Stadium Arlington is the largest dedicated esports facility in North America. The facility serves as a turnkey solution for esports events and productions, built to serve the unique needs and demands of the esports community. Men are facing a health crisis that isn’t being talked about. They are dying too young, before their time. The Movember Foundation is taking action and we need your help. We are the official destination marketing organisation for the city of Arlington, Texas. Our mission statement is: THE ARLINGTON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU MARKETS AND DEVELOPS THE CITY AS A PREMIER SPORTS, BUSINESS AND LEISURE ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION TO ACHIEVE NEW TOURISM SPENDING BENEFITS FOR THE VISITOR INDUSTRY, COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENTS. This simply defines our goals and ambitions as we strive to make Arlington, Texas, a top destination for meetings, conventions, groups and leisure travellers. Arlington CVB was founded in June of 1972 with its first board of directors. Originally a division of the City of Arlington, the Arlington CVB became its own independent bureau 20 years later in 1992. The Koyo Store is an entertainment and games merchandising specialist creating bespoke merchandise in the form of pin badges and achievement coins. Secretlab was established in 2014 with the mission of providing every computer user with a quality yet affordable chair. The solution is simple: Selling top-quality chairs direct—so customers don’t pay for retailers or distributors’ mark-ups, while maintaining the best customer and aftercare services. Today, users have upgraded their seating experiences in over 40 countries worldwide—such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and across Europe and South-east Asia. In our world, there’s no room for the average or the mundane. We help businesses connect with their clients by creating products that are innovative, relevant and compelling. And because we have worked with some of the world’s most demanding businesses you can be sure the integrity of your brand is safe with us. The narrative of the story behind our designs is all important; this requires a deep understanding of your brand values and the message you wish to project. Only when we understand your target audience and the context of the gift can we truly begin the creative process. We start with the premise that what you are looking for is unique and probably doesn’t exist; if it did you will have found it already. Working with you to define the brief, our highly creative design team will develop merchandise that will stand out from the crowd and give your brand real cutting edge. Award winning solutions with integrity. Since 2005, Sizzle Creative has been working with an eclectic mix of B2B & B2C clients to maximise the effectiveness of their online & offline marketing activity. As a full-service creative agency, we deliver innovative, holistic strategies to target customers throughout the life-cycle and maximise the impact of any available touch points. This methodology has seen us develop a market-leading voting platform for the ‘Esports Awards’ and delivered an exponential growth in voting numbers and brand engagement. Sizzle Creative is listed and Recommended by ‘RAR’ (the Recommended Agency Register), is a certified Google Partner Agency and an Accredited Bing Ads Professional. We have a passion for esports and are actively looking to support emerging and established esports talent. Maika’i Copenhagen Is a Danish based production and design company, with speciality in high-end merchandise and esports gear.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2293
__label__cc	0.577729	0.422271	THE PROJECT MANAGER'S GUIDE TO ALL THINGS METAPHYSICAL Sketches of a Life Garden to High Place To Think Philosophy & Other First Things The Academy & the Real World "Creation vs Evolution" Society, Culture, Polis On Pandemics & Progress Sexuality & Christian Faith > Sexuality & Flourishing Sexuality & The Old Testament Sexuality & The New Testament Sexuality & Theology Toward a Resolution Sexuality & Nature The Positive Case Politics & The Common Good > Political Systems Two Liberalisms Obligations & Love Socialism & Property The Common Good An Appeal ... What Do We Owe One Another? Love and the State (Part 4 of the essay) What do we owe one another? (Part 1) Philosophers distinguish among actions ones that are permissible, obligatory, and supererogatory. (52) If a donut shop has a plate of donuts out and free for the eating, it is morally permissible for me to take one (or not). On the other hand, it is morally impermissible for me to break the glass counter, steal a donut, and run off. I am morally obligated (I have a duty) to not do a donut “smash-and-grab.” As to the word ‘supererogatory,’ it just means going “beyond the call of duty.” It would be a supererogatory action to buy the plate of donuts and give it to a homeless man outside. Layered on to all this is the familiar distinction between acts of commission and omission. To do a donut “smash-and-grab” would be an act of commission, to fail to stop my son from doing the same would be an act of omission. I have a duty to act in the second case and to not act in the first. (53) Some philosophers do not believe there are genuinely supererogatory acts. I either have a duty or I do not. Though important, this is not a question that is, for our purposes, critical to answer. (54) The reason is that most people believe and act as if there are actions -- whole classes of action, in fact, like giving to charity -- that are above and beyond the call of duty. In a fascinating bit of linguistic history, the word ‘supererogation’ came into philosophical usage by way of the Latin Vulgate’s translation of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. (55) Everyone knows the Parable as told by Jesus of Nazareth. The prompt for the story -- in which a man goes to great lengths to save the life of a person from a social group bitterly opposed to his own -- is a question from a religious scholar. The “teacher of the law” asks what he must do to obtain eternal life. Jesus, drawing from the Torah itself, affirms the archetypal answer: Obey the two supreme commandments, to love God with your whole being and to love your neighbor as yourself. The scholar -- in an act of self-justification -- asks Jesus: “And who is my neighbor?” The Parable is Jesus’ account of neighborliness. While this story has special relevance for those in the Christian tradition, it is as good a jumping-off point as any to the life-defining question of moral obligation. That is, what do we owe each other? What are our duties with respect to one another? (56) While I am unable to provide here a general account of the sources, reasons, and contexts (social / cultural / historical) for our duties, I can say this with confidence: Few people would deny a maxim as basic as the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (57) Even fewer would deny the Rule’s “negative” formulation: Don’t do unto others as you would not have them do unto you. The rub is that, as with many maxims, how to apply the Rule is problematic to say the least. It’s hard enough to figure out what I owe those closest to me: Do I “owe” my children a college education? An aged parent a house next door to me? A neighbor who is ill care for her children? A coworker whose spouse dies dinners for a month? Things become exponentially harder as we move through our nested and interconnected communities: Should I help rebuild a Gulf Coast community after the latest hurricane? Or sponsor an inner city child’s education? How concerned should I be with where my clothes are made (e.g., sweatshops)? Or the effects of my carbon dioxide on a fishing village in Indonesia? Do I “owe” people in eastern Congo protection from murderous militias? Or those in the Sahel relief from a changing climate? Who counts as my “neighbor” in a world like ours is thus a fraught question. Anyone who gives a simplistic answer -- I have obligations just to my closest circle or I have obligations to the entire world -- simply isn’t credible. Clearly my duties lie somewhere between these poles. It would appear that my obligations are greatest to family and friends. Yet, again, in a world like ours, choices like the car I drive and the clothes I wear have real, if diffuse, impacts on other people. The power of a story like the Good Samaritan lies in its ability to shape our moral imaginations. We think we know who falls within our circle. We then see we’ve drawn it far too small. We think we understand reciprocity. We’re then blown away by someone demonstrating a radical solidarity that transcends all “othering.” We seek moral axioms to guide our behavior. We then learn that personal qualities like compassion and empathy often give the best guidance. Above all, such stories remind us that to identify our obligations we must repudiate simplistic answers and engage the complexities of our social worlds. Interestingly, while the Parable has become a byword for supererogation, this doesn’t seem to match Jesus’ original intent. Again, the question at hand was how to obtain eternal life -- a necessity, one would think. The answer involved being a “neighbor.” That in turn required behavior that we would call supererogatory but which Jesus apparently believed was obligatory. This should be a prompt for conscience, it would seem. To return to our topic, as I see it, the moral divide between classical and common good (welfare) liberalisms comes down to two questions: What are my personal obligations vis-à-vis others with respect to their freedom, both negative and positive? And, how do these obligations “translate” when shifted from the sphere of individuals to that of society in general as that is governed within a modern, democratic nation-state? We have already had reason to question the assumption that our “circles of responsibility” are neat and tightly circumscribed. Our lives are all now very much entwined. Moreover, maxims like the Golden Rule and stories like the Good Samaritan should, I believe, push us to “err” on the side of a more expansive sense of our obligations rather than the opposite. Put another way, when deciding whether a putative social obligation is truly obligatory or instead simply supererogatory, we should take the claim that it’s merely supererogatory as bearing the burden of proof. When cast in the language of freedoms, what does this entail? I have of course a standing obligation to not cause harm, to not violate another’s negative freedoms. But I also have a prima facie obligation to advance their positive freedoms as well. Perhaps we could conceive the former obligation as first-tier, the latter as second-tier (though I’m not sure how to make sense of this exactly). Regardless, such a second-tier obligation is more than merely “nice to do,” more than merely supererogatory. It has a prima facie claim on me. That is, the burden is on me to establish that I don’t have the obligation. A central issue in all of this is whether it is ever acceptable to regard an individual as less than fully human. A legacy of Modernity is the absolutely pervasive and (I believe) completely pernicious notion that a person’s humanity and her function in society can be -- neatly and without remainder -- separated. That a person doesn’t carry her full humanity around with her, even as she serves as a small component in an enormous bureaucracy or a single citizen in a massive state. That people can be reduced to cogs and Social Security numbers. What could possibly justify such a separation? Efficiency in the capitalist economy, rational organization of bureaucracies, ease of operation of the state -- these are all valid concerns. But genuine human feeling -- not to mention good philosophy and true religion -- surely presses us to see, foremost, people in their full and splendid humanness. Even when thinking in the cold-but-inevitable logics of cost / benefit analyses and war, acknowledging people qua humans should be paramount. The upshot must be a strong commitment to mutuality. No one has expressed this more profoundly than Martin Luther King, Jr. In a real sense all life is interrelated. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be... This is the interrelated structure of reality. (58) Words like these from a man like King deserve a serious response; mere lip-service is not enough. Either this is high-flown rhetoric, an ode to our consciences, that is merely inspirational. Or it is a statement of fact. That is how I take it -- as moral fact. And while I have no idea how to “prove” it -- beyond the points made above about community -- I must say that a person whose very bones don’t reverberate with King’s words seems to me somehow morally disabled. The French have a word for what King is getting at: solidarité. Solidarity -- a deep regard for another, a genuine mutuality -- is quite simply love at the societal level. Indeed, if we refuse to see individuals in the bloodless, functionalist terms of Modernity but insist instead on attesting their full humanity, then we cannot abandon love when we enter the ballot box or pay our taxes. Put another way, because modern life is lived in terms of nation-states, ‘neighbor’ is coextensive with ‘fellow citizen’ (even ‘fellow world citizen’) and love entails thoughtful concern for everyone -- especially for “the least of these.” (59) This is to say, in the context of Modernity, to love my neighbor as myself entails standing in solidarity with my fellow citizens. Transmitting Love The question becomes, then: How is love actually transmitted to our fellow humans in a society constituted like ours? What does solidarity look like? (60) Classical Conservatives stress the importance of family, neighborhoods, local communities, and civil society (clubs, universities, churches, charities, and associations both formal and informal). (61) This is obviously true. As discussed already, these institutions and arrangements have been under enormous strain due to our hyper-individualism. Clearly, important work lies before us in renewing and rebuilding them. But -- and here lies an essential difference between our two Tribes -- Liberals see an essential role for the state itself in all of this. Ronald Reagan’s quip -- "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help” -- sums up the Conservative “small government” mindset very well. Arguing as to the appropriate size of the state is different (logically, at least) than as to its role or function per se. What Conservatives are actually advocating for is the most minimal state possible. That’s because they see “big government” as a financial / resource vampire, as taking up social space better filled with family and civil society (per above), and, above all, as a standing threat to our liberties. The fury Conservatives direct against “Leftism” is really the emotional reaction caused by such possibilities. Setting aside the questions of “vampirism” and social space for now (partially addressed later), let’s return again to liberties. If the state is the ultimate source of coercive power in a polity, then for its citizens to be guaranteed their freedoms the state must stand as the ultimate guarantor. Furthermore, if the exercise of the state’s power is justified only insofar as it promotes liberty (as liberalism asserts), then the state is the state in its truest form when it is guaranteeing those freedoms. For classical liberals (Conservatives), all that’s at stake are our negative freedoms. That is, the state is obligated to exercise its coercive power so as to prevent its citizens from harming one another. (Obviously, the state itself must not harm its citizens.) This minimalist vision is why classical liberalism entails only a “small government,” “night-watchman” state. On the other hand, welfare liberalism is not only committed to this “negative” vision. It’s also committed to advancing positive freedoms like basic health and well-being, education, and opportunities to earn a living. If such positive freedoms are freedoms indeed, then the state is obligated to exercise its coercive power to guarantee these freedoms. How to “balance” all of these obligations -- not taking too much from the wealthy to help the poor, for example -- is the real trick, of course. But acknowledging the messy tradeoffs of practical policy is one thing; categorically denying a whole class of freedoms is quite another. On the State Again, Conservatives have a deep suspicion of the state -- and understandably so. Hobbes called it Leviathan. Followers of Lord Acton worry about “absolute power corrupt[ing] absolutely.” (62) History is littered with illiberal statist governments. Present-day, the Chinese model of illiberal capitalist statism seems in the ascendant. But America is not China; democratic republics are not autocracies. Indeed, if we are to honor the spirit of the Founders (as evinced not only in the Constitution, itself stitched together out of ugly compromises, but also The Federalist Papers, where creative imagination grappled with thorny political conundrums) the current obsession with Manichaean characterizations about the role of the state in society should cease. It has been incredibly damaging. The state is not, as “true believer” Socialists would have it, the end-all and be-all for human flourishing. Yet neither is it, as what goes for Conservativism nowadays has it, an absolute scourge, an invasive species that must be remorselessly hacked back. Clearly, it’s something between these. Political wisdom lies in finding the right mix, the right application, for the state for a given issue at a given time. It does not lie in brittle orthodoxies. For what, after all, is the state? As with “the media,” it is easy to wave toward a nebulous idea rather than pinning the notion down and owning it. There are the obvious formal institutions and practical mechanisms of the state. But the beating heart of a democratic state must be its people. In Lincoln’s words: “[G]overnment of the people, by the people, for the people.” The ultimate power of a democratic state lies in the citizenry itself as expressed through their elected representatives. Granted, this is as much aspiration as fact in present-day America. Yet it must remain a fundamental hope we fall back on, as we consider our moral obligations toward one another. True, the impact I have on some randomly selected other citizen -- through my vote, my taxes, my following the law -- is mediated by the formal government and thereby drastically attenuated. But that doesn’t lessen the fact of that impact. It’s real. And by exercising another form of love -- civic engagement -- we can work with others in a democracy to effect the practical changes which embody solidarity. To sum up: I am a common good (welfare) liberal -- and thus am also a political Liberal -- because I believe that my duties toward my “neighbors” include not only guaranteeing their negative freedoms (e.g., protection from theft or bodily harm) but also advancing their positive ones (e.g., basic health and well-being). While some may find the latter to be supererogatory only (akin to charity) I do not. Furthermore, given that humans are humans even within Modernity, I embrace King’s thesis of “the interrelated structure of reality.” I must therefore draw a fairly large circle as I identify my “neighbors.” This implies, then, a firm commitment to mutuality and thus to solidarity -- the form that love takes at the societal level. Though I fully agree with the Conservative insight as to the importance of non-state actors in advancing solidarity, I can nevertheless see no a priori reason why the state shouldn’t also play a central role in this. Some things the family and civil society do best (for example, the care of children); some things only the state can effectively manage (for example, reducing wealth inequality). Moreover, working through the political process to advance others’ positive freedoms -- especially for “the least of these” -- is, to my mind, an important element of living an ethical life and of being a good citizen. These are then the reasons I am a political Liberal. Let us turn now to consider potential objections to political Liberalism -- in particular, the risk of Socialism -- in Part 5 of the essay. (52) Another way to understand permissible and obligatory acts is that permissible ones are morally indifferent and that obligatory acts are ones that are either morally required (it would be an “ethical breach” of omission to fail to do it) or morally prohibited (it would be an “ethical breach” of commission to do it). (53) The Christian tradition has much to say about “sins of omission,” some of which are relevant to issues of social and economic justice. Saint James tells us: “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (4:17). Likewise, he writes: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (2:14-17). Finally, we have the terrifying Parable of the Sheep and the Goats as told by Jesus himself: “Then he [the King on the day of judgment] will say to those on his left [the goats], ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me’” (Matthew 25:41-44). (All quotations are from the NIV.) (54) See the entries on “supererogation” in the SEP and CDP. Per the CDP, supererogation can be understood in two ways: “Supererogatory actions are sometimes equated with actions that are morally good in the sense that they are encouraged by morality but not required by it. Sometimes they are equated with morally commendable actions, i.e. actions that indicate a superior moral character.” I take it that the first sense is the more properly philosophical one. It’s what I’m getting at in the essay, in any event. (55) Specifically the part at the end where the Samaritan says he’ll reimburse the innkeeper for any extra expenses incurred in taking care of the Jewish traveler. I owe this observation to the SEP. (The Parable is given in Luke’s Gospel 10:25-37.) (56) We also have duties to ourselves of course. Those are not my focus here. (57) The “positive” formulation is given by Jesus in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31. These are restatements of the “second greatest” commandment referenced by Jesus and the teacher of the Law, just above. That was itself originally given in the Book of Leviticus (19:18). (58) I have been unable to find the direct source of these famous words. They seem to be an amalgam of text from Letter from a Birmingham Jail and a commencement address given at Oberlin College in June 1965, entitled “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.” See the former document here: https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html. The latter may be found here: https://www2.oberlin.edu/external/EOG/BlackHistoryMonth/MLK/CommAddress.html. (59) This is how Jesus described the hungry, unclothed, weak, and poor in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. (Matthew 25:31-46) (60) A point I will render as a footnote as it is not directly relevant to our overall flow is this: Less than twenty years ago a person (or group of people) who sought to transmit the idea of his regard or disregard for a fellow citizen in a “mass” way would have had to do so through traditional media like books, pamphlets, newsletters, emails, or (if they had the means) radio or TV. Social media has utterly upended this. It provides the terrifying capacity to communicate regard or disregard to others -- literally, millions of others -- in an instant. We can club together in our loving and loathing in groups of ever-increasing homogeneity, a process driven by algorithms designed to reinforce our prejudices. (We can of course mobilize not only ideas but also concrete actions against our opponents.) The old media actually mediated among us. Now there is a free-for-all. No doubt there is some good that comes from social media, though it’s hard to see it as a net gain to our shared life. It’s also a fact that once a technological genie comes out of its bottle and begins creating vast sums for shareholders, it’s foolish to think it will ever go back in. Still, the damage done by social media is immense. We’re only just now grasping the risks, let alone determining how to manage them. “Love for neighbor” in social media may mean not using it -- or at least being quite careful about our behavior there. “First, do no harm.” A scholar who is doing excellent work on this topic is Siva Vaidhyanathan. See his book Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy, as well as his many articles. (61) The phrase ‘civil society’ may be used in slightly different ways. However, a good idea of what it connotes in practice may be ascertained by overlapping, as it were, the following descriptions: From Google Dictionary: “Society considered as a community of citizens linked by common interests and collective activity.” From the World Health Organization’s website: “Civil society refers to the space for collective action around shared interests, purposes and values, generally distinct from government and commercial for-profit actors. Civil society includes charities, development NGOs, community groups, women's organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, trade unions, social movements, coalitions and advocacy groups. However civil society is not homogeneous and the boundaries between civil society and government or civil society and commercial actors can be blurred. There is certainly no one 'civil society' view, and civil society actors need to contend with similar issues of representativeness and legitimacy as those of other representatives and advocates.” (https://www.who.int/social_determinants/themes/civilsociety/en/) The UN calls it the “‘third sector’ of society, along with government and business. It comprises civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations.” (https://www.un.org/en/sections/resources-different-audiences/civil-society/index.html) (62) I actually attended a weekend retreat by the Acton Institute (www.acton.org/) some years ago. "The good Samaritan (after Delacroix)," by Vincent van Gogh. Public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vincent_Willem_van_Gogh_022.jpg "Abernathy Children on front line leading the SELMA TO MONTGOMERY MARCH for the RIGHT TO VOTE." Abernathy Family, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. ttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Abernathy_Children_on_front_line_leading_the_SELMA_TO_MONTGOMERY_MARCH_for_the_RIGHT_TO_VOTE.JPG The white man in the photo is Rev. James Reeb. He was beaten to death by white segregationists soon after this photo was taken. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Reeb) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife are in the center of the photo. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy and his three children are at the right and center. "Transmission Lines." Image by analogicus from Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/fog-landscape-current-power-poles-4666170/ "Caryatids." Image by Panagiotis Lianos from Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/caryatids-athens-parthenon-4476073/ (These caryatids are part of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece.) Original 1/1/21. Copyright 2020 by Brian Russell Pinkston	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2295
__label__cc	0.746059	0.253941	Department of Entomology ISU Insect Collection Collection Records Insect Drawers The Iowa State Insect Collection (ISIC), which is housed in the Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, is the only major entomological collection in the state of Iowa. The collection maintains global holdings for taxa of prior and current research focus (e.g., Miridae, Siphonaptera, Blephariceridae, and Mycetophilidae). ISIC is of national and international importance because it is a primary source of insect specimens from prairie habitats of Iowa, and because of significant collections by H.H. Knight, J.A. Slater, and H.M Harris (Hemiptera), J.L. Laffoon and W.A. Rowley (Diptera), R.L. Lewis (Siphonaptera), and G W. Courtney (Diptera and aquatic insects). Although the majority of specimens are from Iowa and the upper Midwest, the collection houses abundant representation from other North American localities. Significant international collections include specimens from Asia (especially India, Nepal, and Thailand), Central America (especially Costa Rica), South America (especially Patagonia), and Australasia. Only major entomological collection in state of Iowa. Primary source of historical specimens from prairie habitats of Iowa & upper Midwest Significant collections by H.H. Knight, J.A. Slater, and H.M Harris (Hemiptera), J.L. Laffoon and W.A. Rowley (Diptera), and G.W. Courtney (Dipteraandaquatic insects) Significant international collections from Asia (especially India, Nepal, and Thailand), Central America (especially Costa Rica), South America (especially Chile) and Australia Invertnet - Home Insect Zoo BugGuide.Net Curator: Dr. Gregory W. Courtney 432 Science II gwcourt@iastate.edu	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2297
__label__cc	0.725038	0.274962	EPRA and EAO signed revised Memorandum of Understanding EPRA and EAO signed revised Memorandum of Understanding The revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the EPRA Board Association represented by the Chairperson of the EPRA Board, Ms. Helena Mandić and the European Audiovisual Observatory, represented by its Executive... EPRA meets in Tbilisi to address challenges of media regulation EPRA meets in Tbilisi to address challenges of Media Regulation The 40th EPRA meeting will take place in Tbilisi, Georgia, from 8 to 10 October 2014 at the invitation of the Georgian National Communications Commission. On this occasion, about 140 delegates from over 50... EPRA meeting in Budva to address Key Challenges of Media Regulation EPRA meeting in Budva to address key challenges of media regulation The 39th EPRA meeting will take place in Budva, Montenegro, from 4 to 6 June 2014 at the invitation of the Agency for Electronic Media of Montenegro. On this occasion, about 150 delegates from over 50... Better Internet for Kids: third edition of the policy mapping posted on 08 January, 2021 (public) Despite some fragmentation in the policy process and greater complexity in terms of implementation, the BIK Map shows positive progress in the implementation of the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children Launched for the first time in 2015, the Better Internet... Media Literacy research: MK network issues Guidelines on Ethics posted on 14 December, 2020 (public) Guidelines promote ethical conduct towards individuals and groups and encourage good research practice The Media Literacy Network, of which the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services from the Republic of North Macedonia is a member, has adopted Guidelines on Ethics in... Ofcom launches consultation on the future of Public Service Media Public Service Broadcasters: a valued institution in search of a new model On 8 December 2020, Ofcom published the findings from Small Screen: Big Debate (SS:BD) – its review of public service broadcasting. The publication brings together findings from its...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2298
__label__cc	0.704889	0.295111	Impact-investment-Do-we-have-the-capacity-to-overcome-the-financing-gap-which-exists-in-order-to-complete-the-SDGs- Return to Blog home page Impact investment: Do we have the capacity to overcome the financing gap which exists in order to complete the SDGs? 21 Sep 2016 by Aymeric Jung Why do you think Impact Investment is increasingly relevant in today’s economic setting as a method of deploying finance with double or triple bottom line objectives? Investment must adopt a long-term vision and allow for solutions to bloom. We have lost the essential meaning of investment, which has become volatile and focused on the short-term through speculation. For instance, in the 19th Century, private investors financed the railroad network in the United Sated, responding to the need for transportation across the continent. Now, we must face the major challenges of feeding a rapidly expanding population, Climate change and large-scale migrations. Solutions exist, entrepreneurs reinvent goods and services to address the social and environmental needs of the future. Supporting these solutions lies at the heart of Impact Investing. It is going to be increasingly difficult for a company not to operate in a sustainable way, either due to the demands of consumers, or the imposition of regulation. In the near future, business will need to be sustainable in order to be profitable; but sustainability also comes with profitability and the ability to attract private investors. These two notions - sustainability and profits - are closely interlinked and soon will be embedded in any form of investment. Does impact investment have the capacity to overcome the financing gap which exists in order to complete the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? The development of Impact Investment puts forward solutions to the inadequate distribution of wealth and thus essentially supports the implementation of the SDGs globally. If we look at the numbers, we have on one side approximately USD 70 billion invested through Impact Investment, microfinance included. On the other hand, USD 70 trillion are managed by fiduciaries, while the amount necessary for the realisation of the SDGs is approximately USD 3 trillion annually. If we were to invest 3% to 5% of the portfolios managed by fiduciaries in response to the great challenges of our time, we would quickly reach the allocation needed to realise the 2030 agenda. Funds would then be available, what about the solutions’ pipeline in which to invest? Indeed, we need professionals in investment and risk management able to propose solid pipelines to create the necessary comfort zone for investors. This is achieved through investment companies such as Quadia, with a strong network of field specialists who understand value chains such as the food production or energy efficiency; but also through the most reputable players in the industry. However, our competencies do not cover every sector and this is where public-private partnerships come into play. International Organisations can have an important role in Due Diligence processes, in widening the scope of available solutions and providing guarantees which facilitate investment. How do you deal with the question of risk and return on investment with your investors? The risk is linked to the portfolio. By diversifying and targeting the most interesting SMEs through diligent control mechanisms, we attenuate risks. Let’s not forget that by failing to measure and integrate sustainability in investment strategies, we dramatically increase the risk of a portfolio and weaken future returns on investment. Risk also lies in refusing to join the new circular economy which preserves natural resources and respects communities. Quadia concentrates on bringing capital and technical assistance to developing SMEs that focus on social and environmental priorities. We are interested in different aspects of a company: its financial solidity, its team, but also its integration in the value chain and its impact, which we measure. For instance, a company that relies on international and complex sales and logistics has probably little resilience. Since we like integration in the value chain, we will probably not invest in a milk producer that does not own its distribution or transformation processes. We manage risks through a step-by-step approach and by working with stakeholders who know perfectly the local market. Of course, we also mitigate financial risk by taking collateral on the company as well as on their financial and commercial partners. Another important aspect related to risk and return is the way in which we present the relation between the investor and the beneficiary. For instance, it is difficult to propose to a pension fund a EUR 5 million investment in a Senegal based cooperative which employs 2500 local producers of rice. However, if we offer a participation in a financial structure which provides loans to the cooperative and receives, upon sale of the rice, reimbursement of capital plus interest, then the investor is more interested. As for returns on investment, these are similar to typical return rates of around 6% to 10% for equity and 3% to 6% for credit lines. Do existing pipelines have sufficient absorption capacity? Is it best to bet on larger projects? This is a sort of chicken and egg conundrum. When the funds are available, we have the pipeline and vice versa. If an investor tells us that he wishes to invest 100 million in 6 months, we can put in place additional resources (teams, research, etc.) that go beyond the management of our usual streams and we can guarantee to investees that the funds are available. We then have the elements to achieve the objectives of the investment. It is wrong to believe that we should only bet on the bigger projects. We’re just talking about different players. Let’s imagine the case of a startup in need of 50,000 euros. Business angels, foundations or public programs provide the first 50,000 euros in order to calibrate a good or service and make it operational. Once the product exists and we know it provides a solution that is marketable, sales must be developed (which calls for working capital). It’s on the scaling of activities that Quadia intervenes. What is essential is to have public policies or foundations which provide seed capital in the research and development phase, when the product or service is not yet ready for the market. I would like to conclude with a quote from George Bernard Shaw: "You see things; and you say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?’” Blog post Agenda 2030 Sustainable development Aymeric brings over 20 years of experience in Capital Markets and Financial Engineering. Interest in impact investing and sustainable finance led him to investigate innovative investment approaches to finance the local economy, with a specific focus on food, health and farming. Before joining Quadia as Managing Partner, Aymeric worked at Lehman Brothers and Nomura in London as head of fund derivatives structuring and product specialist. Previously he had similar activities at Credit Suisse and Crédit Lyonnais and initiated numerous product innovations leading to the delivery of new solutions for investors such as the first reverse convertible notes or options linked to fund of hedge funds. Since 2013, Aymeric’s activities have been concentrated on responsible investing and as a result he, with colleagues, founded Slow Money Francophone, an investor alliance for supporting domestic food systems and organic farming. He is also a member of Sustainable Finance Geneva (SFG), treasurer for Slow Food Suisse, a board member of Terre de Liens, (a French association buying farmland to support organic farmers) and of NiceFuture (a Swiss association for an ecological transition). Aymeric will speak at the Social Good Summit, Geneva on October 6th. Read more here. This blog post was kindly translated by Farrah Geddes. Read it in French See the Q&A with Aymeric Jung in French here. Quadia on Twitter Tweets by @Quadia_Impact	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2299
__label__wiki	0.747104	0.747104	Endometriosis and Endometrial Cancer Endometriosis often results in infertility, but rarely in endometrial cancer. Find out more about these two diseases and how they're very different. By Diana RodriguezMedically Reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH Infertility and pain in the pelvic area can be worrisome symptoms to many women — but are they signs of cancer? Not necessarily. While pelvic pain is a symptom of endometrial cancer, it is also one of the main symptoms of a health condition called endometriosis, which very rarely leads to endometrial cancer. The endometrium is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. When that tissue spreads and grows in areas of the reproductive system outside the uterus — including around the fallopian tubes, the exterior of the uterus and surrounding uterine tissues, the ovaries, and the inside of the pelvis — it's known as endometriosis. Sometimes the collections of endometrium that are deposited on these areas are referred to as endometrial implants. Endometriosis affects as many as 10 to 20 percent of all women in the United States. However, researchers still don't know what causes the condition. It's thought that endometriosis could develop due to an abnormality that occurs during menstruation, when tissues that should be shed outside the body through the vagina instead flow backward and out into surrounding areas. There could also be a genetic factor that causes a woman to develop endometriosis. Other possible causes being investigated include problems with the endocrine (involving hormones and glands) and immune systems, or the involvement of environmental factors (such as man-made chemicals). Get tips from real women who are dealing with endometriosis every day. Find them on Tippi. Symptoms of Endometriosis Endometriosis can be diagnosed through a pelvic examination by your gynecologist, or by an ultrasound of your uterus to detect abnormal growths. But the pain of endometriosis is often what sends women to the doctor for a diagnosis of endometriosis, as it can be severe enough to interfere with daily activities and responsibilities. Some common symptoms of endometriosis include: Painful menstrual periods, or pain during urination or bowel movements Very severe menstrual cramps Feeling very tired Sharp pain during or after intercourse Pain in the abdominal area, pelvic area, or lower back Abnormal bleeding or spotting that occurs between periods Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, bloating, or constipation Endometrial Cancer Risk The abnormal tissue implants that grow as a result of endometriosis aren't cancerous. They're simply benign tissues that grow in areas where they aren't meant to grow. Endometriosis very rarely causes endometrial cancer or uterine cancer, as these cancers are seen in fewer than 1 percent of all women with endometriosis. In the rare instances where endometrial cancer does develop, it's typically found in women who are older — often post-menopausal — and the prognosis is generally pretty positive. When associated with any type of uterine cancer, endometriosis most commonly (but still very rarely) is found with a type called endometrioid cancer — however, research hasn't shown that endometriosis actually causes this type of cancer. A Common Complication of Endometriosis Even though endometriosis rarely leads to endometrial cancer, these benign growths can still cause serious problems and pain. Each month, a woman's body releases hormones that signal the start of the menstrual period, when the endometrium sheds its lining. With endometriosis, even though those tissues aren't inside the uterus, the abnormallygrowing endometrial tissues tend to get larger with the blood and endometrial tissue that is shed during the period. As these tissues grow, inflammation and scar tissue can result, inhibiting the function of the fallopian tubes and the ovaries. Consequently, infertility is a common complication of endometriosis. Endometrial implants can also cause bladder and intestinal problems. Endometriosis is a health condition to be concerned about, so seek a diagnosis and treatment if you spot symptoms. Sign up for our Cancer Care Newsletter! The Latest in Uterine Cancer Camille Grammer: ‘Housewives’ Battle With Endometrial Cancer PCOS and Endometrial Cancer Risk Polycystic ovarian syndrome leads to excess estrogen production, which has been linked to increased endometrial cancer risk. By Diana Rodriguez June 9, 2010 Uterine Cancer and Your Sex Life Discover how to regain a satisfying sex life after uterine cancer treatment. By Elizabeth Hanes, RN February 18, 2009 Uterine Cancer and Your Fertility Depending on the type of treatment you receive, uterine cancer can lead to infertility. Here's what you can do to prepare for the changes ahead. By Jonathon Weber February 18, 2009 Ovarian Cancer: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer? What Is Ovarian Cancer? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention What Is Pancreatic Cancer? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2300
__label__cc	0.709524	0.290476	The Wassenaar Arrangement has issued a statement The Chair of BExA’s Customs & Export Licensing (CEL) sub-Committee has advised members of some of the key points that were issued in the statement by the Plenary Chair on 2019 outcomes and 2020 aims for conventional arms & dual-use goods and technologies. “new export controls in a number of areas, such as cyber-warfare software, communications monitoring, digital investigative tools/forensic systems, sub-orbital aerospace vehicles, technology for the production of substrates for high-end integrated circuits, hybrid machine tools, and lithography equipment and technology; further clarified existing controls regarding ballistic protection, optical sensors, ball bearings, and inorganic fibrous and filamentary materials; and relaxed some controls, including with respect to certain laminates and commercial components with embedded cryptography”. Additionally to this, the criteria for items being included in the dual-use list will be reviewed. As the UK looks to exit the Eu at the end of January 2020, dual-use items will require export licences to move between companies based in the UK and EU. This will be covered in the first CEL sub-Committee call in January 2020. The Wassenaar Arrangement has been established in order to contribute to regional and international security and stability, by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, thus preventing destabilising accumulations. The aim is also to prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists. Participating States seek, through their national policies, to ensure that transfers of these items do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities which undermine these goals, and are not diverted to support such capabilities. Click here to download the full statement issued by the Plenary Chair. Source: https://www.wassenaar.org/	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2302
__label__wiki	0.639491	0.639491	Give Bigotry No Sanction Give Bigotry No Sanction Readings Facing History and Ourselves has curated a collection of readings, written by staff members and scholars, that touch on the echoes of the letter exchange between George Washington and the Hebrew congregation of Newport. These readings address issues of religion, difference, and identity, and suggest that reflecting on these issues is just as important today as it was in 1790. Religion in Colonial America Puritans and Anglicans, Baptists and Quakers, Catholics and Jews, Native Americans and slaves, rationalists and revivalists: long before 1776, American settlers struggled to deal with religious difference. Learn some of the common experiences around religion in colonial culture that shaped the United States' balance among national law, local practice, and individual freedom of belief. Learn about Religion in Colonial America Once Upon a Time in New York: A Temple Denied Learn about the struggles that religious groups faced in building places of worship in early American history, and consider the parallels to issues of religious freedom today. Religious Freedom, Then and Now: Suspicion of Catholics Once Common in U.S. Examine the rise of nativism and anti-Catholic prejudices in the 1800s in the US and consider connections to issues surrounding religious freedom today. Alexis de Tocqueville on Democracy and Religion Learn about how Alexis de Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America (1835), viewed democracy, freedom, and religion. Religious Freedom in Colonial Virginia Explore the role of leaders and ordinary citizens in the history of religious freedom in colonial Virginia. Created Equal: How Benjamin Banneker Challenged Jefferson on Race and Freedom When the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791, the liberties it provided were withheld from the hundreds of thousands of Africans living in slavery. In a public letter to Thomas Jefferson, a free African-American Benjamin Banneker challeneged the treatment of blacks and the continued existence of slavery. Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom Investigate Thomas Jefferson’s foundational beliefs about religion, government, and religious freedom. Religious Freedom, Then and Now	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2304
__label__cc	0.638243	0.361757	Feedback: Hey, Michigan Republicans! Stop taking away my right to vote! Reading the recent article about the Republican-led Michigan Legislature passing the wolf hunt is another example of the heavy-handed way our elected officials in Lansing have again taken away our right to voice our opinions. They don’t trust the electorate to make educated choices. The people need to wake up and vote. If this is the representation you want, fine. I personally am tired of not being given the chance to vote for things like raising the minimum wage, wolf hunts or whatever petitions are collected for the November ballot. I feel insulted by the tactics used to negate my vote. Leslee Crowley Talking compromise on when to start school Here we go again with the debate about when Michigan students should return to school after summer vacation. The tourism industry pushed for and received an after Labor Day start, while others are now pushing back, wanting students to return earlier. How about a compromise? Why not run the school year later in June and return after Labor Day? The summer recess could start July 1 and run to just after Labor Day. This would still coincide with a lot of parents’ vacation schedules, keep the tourism industry happy and appease the educators and lawmakers. Ken Sellers Lawmakers must protect net neutrality Net neutrality is a key component of informational freedom and equality on the Internet. It allows the Internet to drive economic innovation without prejudice. Innovation and economic growth translate into jobs, and net neutrality ensures residents of Detroit, Grand Rapids, Marquette and everywhere in between have equal access to the necessary information and commercial opportunities to realize that translation. Earlier this year, a federal court eliminated the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to enforce net neutrality rules. Unless the FCC moves to protect net neutrality, Michiganders will continue to labor at a disadvantage. That is what a group of Michigan innovators told U.S. Sen. Carl Levin when we met with him earlier this month. Levin heard our concerns and took swift action on our behalf. He wrote a letter to the chairman of the FCC, encouraging him to protect net neutrality. Levin’s support of net neutrality is a small part of his distinguished career defending Michigan. I hope Sen. Debbie Stabenow will follow his lead and do what is necessary to protect the Internet and Michigan jobs. Steven La Chance Power outages proof of need to make changes Recently I was passing through a darkened neighborhood that had lost its power in the recent storms. I noticed the only light was coming from the solar-powered garden lights that didn’t rely on the larger grid. The power outages during this month should remind us that we need to switch up our state’s electrical infrastructure, moving toward cleaner, affordable, Michigan-based energy sources that work better for residents. DTE Energy and other utility companies need to drop their resistance to a stronger standard for renewable energy in Michigan, and stop relying on burning coal imported from out of state. We also need more locally based energy sources, such as the solar-powered streetlights that recently went up in Highland Park. Otherwise, it’s only a matter of time until we are all left in the dark. Joel Batterman MSU shouldn’t play favorites with sports With major renovations to Michigan State’s football stadium unveiled last week, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees and the athletic director have once again put the “revenue program” ahead of most other athletic program on campus at the expense of the rest of the athletes! It is no wonder the rest of the athletic teams don’t get the big name athletes from the state and around the country. Take for example the swimming and diving program at MSU. MSU is no longer even capable of hosting a Michigan High School Athletic Association swimming championship, and I would bet there never will be a Big Ten championship meet in its antiquated indoor pool. John M. Leidlein Jr. Article celebrates Yoopers’ heritage Thank you for John Carlisle’s front page article on Finns in the Upper Peninsula. It was fascinating to learn more about my U.P. history. I am a Swede and Dane from parts southeast of the Copper Country. The Finns and Scandinavians have given much to the U.P. over the centuries. All Yoopers are proud of their pasts and your focus on the U.P. Finns was a great story. The Keweenaw Peninsula is a great place to be from, to live in and to consider going to. I only disagree with one word in the headline: “brutal.” I don’t think many Yoopers would use that word to describe life up here, even in places where snowfall exceeds 350 inches a season. In the same Sunday paper, you ran a picture and Michigan Reflection about the writer’s many visits, year after year, to the waterfalls, mines and the lakes in the U.P., thereby encouraging visitors to “come on up.” Yoopers welcome all kinds of visitors, including those from “below the bridge.” Mike Olson Story captures the spirit, legacy of the U.P. John Carlisle did an excellent job of capturing the great Finnish heritage and legacy that permeates so much of the region. The video, a distinctive Free Press short film, was the icing on the cake. I wish I was having coffee at Roy’s Pasties & Bakery in Houghton right now! Lawrence D. Hadley Start figuring out how to fix flood problems I remember helping my parents clean up our basement after it flooded in the 1950s. We have known about the waste and storm sewers being tied together for a long time. We keep on complaining for someone to solve the problem. We are told it is too expensive. We know what to do, but we do nothing. We have an opportunity now in metro Detroit to do something about separating the two systems as we think about better urban planning and opening old rivers that have been covered for decades. In areas that have abandoned houses that are going to be torn down, the lots could be converted to retention ponds to take street run off. We need to start on the new plan to change Detroit’s landscape to handle problems like flooding. Some of these ideas could be used in the suburbs that have large open areas to handle heavy rains. Don Wade Cut taxes? Where does money come from? Election time is just around the corner and, as usual, we are inundated with mountains of political rhetoric. The most common promise is “I’ll reduce taxes.” Just one question: Who picks up the slack for lost revenue? Nothing is free, someone must pay, but those who want more couldn’t care less who pays. Gone are the days of promising “a chicken in every pot.” Now it’s free cell phones provided and paid for by others. The “silent majority” needs to get off their collective duffs and show the “want mores” we are tired of paying their way. Prove it on Election Day. Ronald Navickas	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2307
__label__cc	0.634661	0.365339	Jalen Davis is originally from Detroit, but has been in Atlanta for about 13 years now. He has a huge family, but was raised by his strong, independent single mother — a huge influence and motivator for him. Jalen has a degree in audio engineering and has released multiple independent projects as a record producer and recording artist. He also owns his own clothing/shoe brand! His long-term goals include starting his own nonprofit for the youth and run his own record label. In the short-term however, he is looking forward to purchasing a Tesla! Thank you for stopping by. We'd love to hear from you. Drop us a line below, and we will be in contact as soon as possible! ©2020 by Focus South. Proudly created in collaboration with NK Inc.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2310
__label__wiki	0.865406	0.865406	It's Trevor Noah: Born A Crime--Stories from a South African Childhood Watauga High School Summer Reading for English II Honors A New York Times Bestseller The host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, tells the story of growing up half black, half white in South Africa under and after apartheid in this young readers' adaptation of his bestselling adult memoir Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. BORN A CRIME IS SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING OSCAR WINNER LUPITA NYONG'O! Trevor Noah, the funny guy who hosts The Daily Show on Comedy Central, shares his remarkable story of growing up in South Africa with a black South African mother and a white European father at a time when it was against the law for a mixed-race child to exist. But he did exist--and from the beginning, the often-misbehaved Trevor used his keen smarts and humor to navigate a harsh life under a racist government. This fascinating memoir blends drama, comedy, and tragedy to depict the day-to-day trials that turned a boy into a young man. In a country where racism barred blacks from social, educational, and economic opportunity, Trevor surmounted staggering obstacles and created a promising future for himself, thanks to his mom's unwavering love and indomitable will. It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime not only provides a fascinating and honest perspective on South Africa's racial history, but it will also astound and inspire young readers looking to improve their own lives. "Through the foreign, the familiar, and the funny, Born a Crime is a piercing reminder that every mad life--even yours--could end up a masterpiece." --JASON REYNOLDS, New York Times bestselling author "Readers will find this journey through Noah's formative years humorous and exciting." --BOOKLIST "Startling in its honesty, humor, and humility." --KIRKUS REVIEWS	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2311
__label__wiki	0.772842	0.772842	Counters & Serveries Kitchen Management Cost Sector Chain Champions FEJ Awards Jinlong Wang Kitchen Excellence Week Kitchen Innovators QSRs Rees Associates RH Hall Sandwich chains Tiger Bills Kitchen VictorManufacturing REACHING FOR THE CROWN: Inside Burger King UK with CEO Alasdair Murdoch Best ArticlesIn Depth by Andrew Seymour on 5th September 2018 A change in the franchise structure of Burger King UK has given the fast food chain fresh impetus and a focus on expansion again. FEJ was at the Commercial Kitchen show to hear CEO Alasdair Murdoch give a candid account of his plans to correct some of the “missteps” that have held the business back and give the likes of McDonald’s a proper run for its money. Alasdair Murdoch is a man who knows what a good burger tastes like, but more importantly he has a precise understanding of what it takes to prevail in a quick-service restaurant sector that is having to adapt to the unique needs of the modern consumer. Over the years he has worked for the likes of Pizza Hut and KFC in a senior operational capacity, while more recently he spearheaded Gourmet Burger Kitchen’s ascent in a casual dining market that has served as fertile hunting ground for a new generation of contemporary burger chains. His current assignment involves restoring Burger King’s presence in the UK market and leading a star-studded industry team that successfully gained the rights to the brand in the UK last year. Plans are afoot to launch 25 new outlets this year, and between 30 and 50 a year over the next few years, as part of an effort to regain scale having dropped from a peak of 700 stores to 500 now. Backed by private equity firm Bridgepoint, which has just sold Pret, Murdoch’s management team includes Casual Dining Group chairman Martin Robinson and its former CFO Tim Doubleday. They secured the master franchise agreement for Burger King UK and acquired Caspian, one of the UK’s largest Burger King franchisees with 70 restaurants, in simultaneous deals last year. Getting both agreements over the line concurrently was “quite difficult”, admitted Murdoch during his keynote session at Commercial Kitchen, but ultimately it was fundamental to the entire strategy as it could not risk being in the position of owning the master franchise rights but not having any restaurants under its jurisdiction. The Caspian takeover gives it a platform to build a portfolio of restaurants that it controls, with further acquisitions likely. Having now had a few months to get his feet under the table, Murdoch insists the chain is firmly geared up to growing its footprint. “We think there is a very significant opportunity with Burger King; I suppose we’d liken it a little bit to having a start-up with a global brand — there was literally no-one in the organisation and it has been great fun in the sense of pulling together a whole team from different backgrounds. Alasdair Murdoch says that Burger King UK is planning up to 50 new store openings a year. “Ultimately, despite perhaps a series of missteps that the organisation has taken over the last five, six, seven, eight years — and that is no disrespect to the franchisees at all — and despite some big issues we have had, the restaurants take quite a bit of money, they are still profitable and there is a significant opportunity out there. “There are 500 Burger Kings and 1,700 McDonald’s; each McDonald’s does significantly more volume than Burger King, so there is some very obvious opportunity without just necessarily chasing McDonald’s. You can see the size of the market and we think the market is pretty open.” Murdoch acknowledges that the growth potential of the business has suffered from successive years of ownership changes in the UK, which led to a lack of consistency. “Every time Burger King was poised to go on another sort of growth cycle, they’d perhaps change the management again, and I think for the most recent part there has perhaps been a lack of reinvestment into the brand itself. If you go into a lot of our restaurants they are perhaps more tired than we would want — not all of them — so I think there are some fairly obvious opportunities around those sorts of areas,” he says. We have a number of restaurants as well whose coffee machines don’t work, there are those sorts of issues, which are really quite gritty but those are the realities and we just have to work out the order to do them all in” Murdoch concedes that Burger King has had a “history of closing restaurants, not opening them” but he insists the current management team intends to “reverse” that process. “A lot of time is being spent on finding the right pipeline. I think one of the opportunities that we are benefitting from is that the slowdown in the market that other people are struggling with means that landlords are much more realistic about rent, and secondly there are many more sites available. We are not finding it difficult, at all, to find opportunities. Those opportunities might be two years away but we see a lot of opportunities from a real estate point of view in a way that people perhaps weren’t seeing a year ago.” The master franchisor is making a “big investment” to grow its estate, with between 20 and 25 openings planned in 2018 and between 30 and a 50 a year over the next couple of years. Of the 500 sites it currently runs, 170 are in “captive” locations, such as train stations, airports and motorway service stations. Such destinations will continue to be a central feature of the strategy moving forward. Murdoch has already alluded to the difference in scale between Burger King and McDonald’s, but it is inevitable that the two will always be the subject of comparisons. What is his view on how the two chains stack up in the UK? The chain intends to trial a remodelled breakfast offering this year. “I think McDonald’s executed extremely well and will carry on doing that, but there are obvious opportunities that we see around the edge. Being a smaller, more agile, more challenger brand gives us opportunities, but McDonald’s is a very well-run business and has been for a long time.” He acknowledges the success McDonald’s has had with coffee and breakfasts especially, while the breadth of beverages it now offers has not gone unnoticed. “They are very good at that and they probably have a bigger marketing budget than almost any other company within the UK. That is not why they are successful, but one begets the other thing.” He admits that he holds a “different view” on their product, but then as boss of Burger King you wouldn’t expect him to say anything else. “One of the great things about Burger King is, of course, customers still talk to us about the quality of the Whopper, the quality of the burger and the flame-grilled experience, which gives an aspect to that taste. The quality of the Burger King burger we would see as being significantly better than what McDonald’s has to offer, and I don’t think I am speaking out of turn there. I am sure they would disagree, that’s their right, but I think there is some real mileage potentially in that kind of approach,” he says. If Burger King is going to make up ground on its rival, it’s going to have to increase its investment in technology. Its current ePOS system is at least 12 versions behind the original, there is an abscence of wide area networks in its restaurants and the company’s digital presence is nowhere near as sophisticated as its rivals. Murdoch is confident that having access to self-owned stores will soon change that. One of the great things is that customers still talk to us about the quality of the Whopper, the quality of the burger and the flame-grilled experience, which gives an aspect to that taste” “One of the big opportunities, or growth levers, for us as a business is to build our own restaurants and to run them because then we can put in the latest look and feel, the latest technology, and we can really drive those operations,” he comments. It’s fair to say that one of the biggest changes since Murdoch first entered the industry is the rise of delivery. Even QSRs need to think carefully about where delivery fits into their model. What is his take on that? “I think there is a very big opportunity with delivery, which we haven’t got right yet, but I don’t think any of the QSR players necessarily have got it. I think it takes a bit too long and the margins are quite difficult because the burger product that might be selling is relatively low-priced. You need a high average spend to get delivery to work, but there is significant latent demand and you know that because of the drive-thrus — people are driving there for convenience and taking it home. It is finding a way to do it so the customers get great service and everyone can take a little bit of money out of it, too.” It also comes back to that issue of technology again. Until it has the ability to fully integrate its delivery platform with its ePOS system and reduce the potential for error, it’s unlikely that all of its estate will be tuned into third party delivery. It is certainly on Murdoch’s to-do list, but it’s not the only thing. Building stronger relationships and improving the company’s menu offering are also firm priorities. Breakfast is one area where the brand could be doing more. Alasdair Murdoch speaking on stage at the Commercial Kitchen show this year. “We have a number of restaurants that theoretically open for breakfast but don’t open until 9 o’clock in the morning, which would seem a little bit late to me. We have a number of restaurants as well whose coffee machines don’t work, there are those sorts of issues, which are really quite gritty but those are the realities and we just have to work out the order to do them all in. “We will work on breakfast and later in the year we’ll probably trial a remodelled breakfast offer with one of our captive partners, so maybe a motorway services operator, before pushing that out to our restaurants. Alongside that, I think we have a very complicated menu. If you are not a regular Burger King user, you go in and it is slightly daunting and difficult to understand, so we’ll need to simplify and reduce.” There is no denying that an awful lot of transformation lies ahead, but Burger King UK certainly knows what it needs to do to reign supreme. Burger King says kitchen suppliers need to excel to make its approved buying list Burger King’s ethos for buying kitchen equipment is less about price and more about service, its UK CEO has claimed. Alasdair Murdoch, who runs the business that holds the master franchise for Burger King in the UK, says the overall value and after-sales service that an equipment supplier can add will ultimately make the difference when it comes to future purchasing decisions. One of the challenges for the UK arm is that it must abide by a list of globally-approved suppliers that it can buy from. And while it can apply for new suppliers to join this list, the complexity involved in securing approval means it has to be absolutely worth it. He said: “In order for us to make the effort to say that we would like to approve this new supplier selling us this bit of kit they have really got to be offering us value. And it’s not really about price — I think price is obviously an important factor but we need more added value. “What we are particularly interested in is after-service and after-sales at a decent price, not a ridiculous price where you can’t make any money, but we don’t want stuff that when it goes out of warranty the price for it to be serviced goes through the roof.” Murdoch added: “Clearly we need to be seeing efficiencies and savings — that could be in oil though fryers as an example, that could be in heat, that could be in reduced amounts of power — that’s what everyone is coming to us with but you need to be trying to create a long-term relationship.” Burger King UK is embarking on an expansion drive that is likely to see it open between 20 and 50 new stores a year over the coming years. That will see a fresh injection of investment aimed at helping it bridge the gap between rivals such as McDonald’s and KFC. Murdoch, who was speaking at the recent Commercial Kitchen show, described the chain’s kitchen operations as “incredibly unmechanised” and suggested there was a big opportunity for this to change in the future. “There are lots of fantastic [suppliers] but I don’t quite see the technology there as yet. What we are beginning to see is a lot of efficiency, so we see a lot of people driving much better uses of power and much better uses of oil. They are obviously very interesting, but I also think we must be able to mechanise some of the other stuff that we do as well, which we don’t see being done successfully or properly anywhere in the world at the moment.” Tags : Alasdair MurdochBurger King Precision Refrigeration seeking to double production capacity within two years East Midlands kitchen house returns to life under helm of former boss The author Andrew Seymour Burger King explores restructuring options for UK business Burger King confirms permanent closure of two Welsh restaurants Burger King chief warns that up to 10% of its UK restaurants may not survive Burger King motorway kitchens wired up to prep orders from customers en route LETTER FROM AMERICA: How the owner of Burger King and Tim Hortons is getting back on its feet Harry Wood says: If Burger King is to succeed, one of the first things Alasdair Murdoch needs to do is pay more attention to customers and treat them with respect. Customer services are useless. He needs to get rid of predatory parking companies managing Burger King car parks preying on unsuspecting customers to charge them £60-100 for staying over some arbitrary limit — even when the purpose of managing the car park is to make sure customers can park and stop non-customers taking up space. Civil Enforcement charged me and three friends who had lunch at the Aldershot branch £400 for staying about 1hour 20 mins. None of us had eaten there before so didn’t even think of looking out for signs. There are no signs inside the restaurant and staff didn’t say anything. They didn’t tell us that we could register our car numbers at the counter on an iPad eventhough we said we were eating in. After receiving the PCN, Burger King customer services said it was nothing to do with them. We went back to the branch to get a printout of the receipt. and they accepted we had been there. However, they would only remove the charge from one person, saying they could only do one a month. Civil Enforcement are renowned for targetting legitimate customers and refusing to rescind charges even when asked by the company that hired them. The Coop had to go to court to stop them and remove them from managing their car park. If Burger King wants to trade with reputable companies, enhance its reputation and build its customer base, it should help customers that have been unreasonably fined by Civil Enforcement to remove the fine and repay those who already paid Ex-Compass cafe brand head takes on equipment sales director post THE LONG VIEW FROM LOCKDOWN: Meiko’s UK managing director Paul Anderson DATA CRUNCH: UK’s four largest pub groups hold 25.5% of the market MKN kicks up efficiency in professional kitchens Carpigiani takes over supply of fellow Ali Group brand from Winterhalter Editor's Choice » Ali Group mourns its visionary founder and leader Luciano Berti EXCLUSIVE: Rebranded Falcon spreads its wings and looks to the future Boris Johnson dodges call to create Minister of Hospitality role Click here to download our media pack and learn about advertising opportunities online and in print.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2313
__label__wiki	0.731855	0.731855	President Kovind in Independence Day address says changes brought in J&K will benefit&nbsppeople President Kovind in Independence Day address says changes brought in J&K will benefit people Updated: August 14, 2019 7:31:55 pm President Ram Nath Kovind 73rd Independence Day Speech Live Updates: Heavy security has been deployed in New Delhi ahead of the Independence Day celebrations. President Ram Nath Kovind’s address is being broadcast live on Doordarshan and All India Radio. President Ram Nath Kovind spoke about the abrogation of Article 370 in his address to the nation on the eve of India’s 73rd Independence Day. Kovind said that the recent changes made to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would be of immense benefit to the people of the region. “They will enable the people to access and enjoy the same rights, same privileges and same facilities as their fellow citizens in the rest of the country,” Kovind said. The Narendra Modi-led government had on August 5 abrogated Article 370, the temporary provision that provided a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The government also announced that Jammu and Kashmir would be split into 2 Union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The President’s address came in the backdrop of India celebrating it’s 73th Independence Day on Thursday. On 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, unfurled the Indian national flag on the Red Fort in Delhi. Keeping this tradition alive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will raise the tricolour at the Red Fort on Thursday which will be followed by an address. This will be his sixth straight address from the ramparts of Red Fort. Heavy security has been deployed in New Delhi ahead of the Independence Day celebrations. The Delhi traffic police has also put out a traffic advisory to ensure minimal inconvenience to residents due to the Independence Day function at the Red Fort. 73rd Independence Day Speech by President Kovind Independence Day Live Telecast 19:21 (IST)14 Aug 2019 President Kovind on triple talaq law Enactment of law making instant triple talaq a criminal offence will deliver justice for our daughters, Kovind said in his Independence Day address. Kovind congratulates voters for turning out in large numbers Speaking about the recently held Lok Sabha elections, President Ram Nath Kovind congratulated voters for turning out in large numbers. "Earlier this summer, people of India participated in the 17th general election, the largest democratic exercise in human history. For this I must congratulate our voters. They turned up at polling stations in large numbers & with much enthusiasm," Kovind said. President Kovind says communication and transportation being expanded across the nation President Kovind said that means of communication and transportation are being expanded in all parts of the nation. Better roads are being constructed. Roads are also being constructed in hinterlands. Confident that recent changes made in J&K would be of immense benefit I'm confident that the recent changes made in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh would be of immense benefit to those regions. They will enable the people to access & enjoy the same rights, same privileges & same facilities as their fellow citizens in the rest of the country: President Ram Nath Kovind. This year also marks the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev: President "This year also marks the 550th birth anniversary of one of the greatest, wisest and most influential Indians of all time Guru Nanak Dev ji. He was the founder of Sikhism but the reverence and respect he commands go far beyond just our Sikh brothers and sisters," Ram Nath Kovind said. President remembers Mahatma Gandhi President Ram Nath Kovind paid a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi saying that he had predicted the challenges that we would be facing today. President Kovind addresses the nation President Ram Nath Kovind has started his address to the nation on the eve of the 73rd Independence Day. Ram Nath Kovind awards President's medal to TS Gopakumar President Ram Nath Kovind awarded the President’s Police Medal to TS Gopakumar, Asst Security Commissioner, Southern Railway for Distinguished Service. He also awarded Police Medal for Meritorious Service to 15 Railway Protection Force/Railway Protection Special Force officers and staff. Rajnath Singh to issue message at 6.15 pm Ahead of President Ram Nath Kovind's address, Defence minister Rajnath Singh's message will be broadcast on All India Radio from 6.15 pm onwards. A security personnel stands guard in front of the historic Red Fort on the eve of India's Independence Day celebrations in Delhi. (Reuters)Last year on the eve of the 72nd Independence Day, President Kovind addressed the nation and spoke of the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi and his noble mantra on the power of 'ahinsa' or non-violence. In his 21-minute speech, the president said that contentious issues and extraneous debates should not distract us at a pivotal moment. In his address, President Kovind addressed a range of issues affecting the society. Amid concerns over women's safety, the President reflected upon the role of women in our society and the choices they are entitled to.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2314
__label__cc	0.579843	0.420157	FairMormon Come, Follow Me Resources Media & Apps FAIR Examination 3a: Two mothers of sons with same gender attraction December 14, 2011 by SteveDensleyJr https://media.blubrry.com/mormonfaircast/p/www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Two-Mothers-With-Sons-With-SGA-pt-1.mp3 How do Mormon parents respond when they find out they have a son or daughter with same sex attraction? What happens when the child decides the leave the Church and engage in homosexual activity? What can parents do to show love for such a child while still remaining faithful to the Church? In this episode, two active, LDS mothers talk about their experiences raising sons who are involved in homosexual relationships. It should be noted that they will not be referred to by name out of respect for their sons and for other family members, and they did not feel comfortable using pseudonyms. Filed Under: Homosexuality, Podcast Joshua Johanson says Thanks for showing us how to be true Christians. Love is the basis of the gospel, and you two know how to show it. May we all show as much love in all our dealings. Thank you for sharing this! I admire you women of faith who have chosen to exemplify the love of the Savior for your sons. I wish one of you was my mom! J R says The statement that struck me the most during this interview was; “it is not the sum total of who I am, it is a piece of me”. I am afraid that those who are affected with same sex attraction feel that their attraction is the sum total of who they are. In turn they do not love themselves, and pull away when others attempt to love them. People with SSA come in all sorts of different shapes and colors. You can’t put all of them into one category. You might be right on some level with some people with SSA, but most are not that way and even for those who do seem to pull away, I would argue that there is probably something deeper going on. What I see much more often is a disconnect between the way the person with SSA needs to feel love and the way people are trying to show love. You can’t always show others love the way you would like others to show you love. I think a lot comes from misunderstanding of homosexuality in general and what people with same-sex attraction need. To me, one of the biggest things for me is for people trying to understand me. I want people to care enough about me to risk hurting me in order to try understand me. Inviting me to go play basketball with the guys isn’t going to do it for me. I appreciate the offer, but I don’t feel loved. Other people are highly private and their guards go up when people start asking them personal questions. They would much rather be treated like one of the guys and not given any special consideration. Loving others is complicated, and to say that they just pull away when others attempt to love them isn’t really getting to the root of the issue. Alan says The part about supporting a child’s “same-sex attraction identity” is interesting. One of the mothers suggested that if faithful gay Mormons can get together with other faithful gay Mormons, they can receive understanding and love that is perhaps different than what heterosexual members can give them. Gay camaraderie, you might say. Whatever happened to Dallin Oaks’ logic that if you’re experiencing and want to keep in check same-sex attraction, it’s best to join groups that don’t centralize around same-sex attraction — in other words, it’s best to break up that gay camaraderie? Seems the Church is in a transition period in terms of how much it “trusts” its gay members to “choose the right,” even when they’re alone together. As hopeful as this podcast tries to make things seem, the truth of the matter is, most gays leave the Church and will continue to the leave the Church — just as these mothers’ sons have. I do like the one mother’s enthusiasm in the second part of the podcast about sexually-active gay couples attending LDS wards. I’m sure there’s a few out there, as she said. They’d make for an interesting podcast. And FAIR would be at an ethnographic forefront if it could track them down for interviews. One comment to Steven about something he said. It might be reassuring to the Mormon mind to think that “the world” tells those with same-sex attraction that their only option is to be in a gay relationship, and therefore “the world” is stripping people of their agency and the Church is enabling it. In reality, “the world” tells those with same-sex attraction that being in a gay relationship is one of their options, and the Church tells them that being in an opposite-sex relationship is their only option (other than celibacy, of course). I think there should be no doubts that the Church is interested in funneling people’s agency more than the world is on this matter. I think you will have to show some data to support the assertion “most gays leave the Church and will continue to the leave the Church”. I think we are all influenced by the people we know. I know more SSA people who have stayed in the church than have left, and I know many people with SSA who have converted to the Church. I know outside the church, most people with SSA choose not to have gay sex, so it would seem odd that the church would be an exception in that. See: http://en.fairlatterdaysaints.org/Mormonism_and_gender_issues/Same-sex_attraction/Denial I’m not familiar with the quote from Elder Oaks that you are referring to. I know one from God Loveth His Children that seems to be taken out of context. FAIR has responded to this issue as well: http://en.fairlatterdaysaints.org/Mormonism_and_gender_issues/Same-sex_attraction/Association As far as agency is concerned, the church does believe people “are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil.” I don’t think we have to agree with someone’s actions in order to allow them to do it. The Church teaches you can choose to follow Christ and be either celibate or faithfully married to someone of the opposite sex, or you have the option to not follow Christ and have sex outside of marriage. The choice is still yours. Even if you do choose something else, the Church has made very clear they do not oppose that right to choose something and they even do not oppose all of the benefits and subsidies that have been provided in the state of California to choose something else. Compare that with someone of the statements given by the courts on this issue: From Judge Walker (who overturned Prop 8): Marrying a person of the opposite sex is an unrealistic option for gay and lesbian individuals. No agency in those comments. He is saying my choices are unrealistic. His option is the only way. There is no admitting some people have found it to be a realistic option. The gospel of Christ says you can choose. The church is on the side of agency. From the Iowa Supreme Court: Viewed in the complete context of marriage, including intimacy, civil marriage with a person of the opposite sex is as unappealing to a gay or lesbian person as civil marriage with a person of the same sex is to a heterosexual. Thus, the right of a gay or lesbian person under the marriage statute to enter into a civil marriage only with a person of the opposite sex is no right at all. Under such a law, gay or lesbian individuals cannot simultaneously fulfill their deeply felt need for a committed personal relationship, as influenced by their sexual orientation, and gain the civil status and attendant benefits granted by the statute. Instead, a gay or lesbian person can only gain the same rights under the 31 statute as a heterosexual person by negating the very trait that defines gay and lesbian people as a class – their sexual orientation.” “Accordingly, because sexual orientation is central to personal identity and ‘may be altered [if at all] only at the expense of significant damage to the individual’s sense of self,’ classifications based on sexual orientation are no less entitled to consideration as a suspect or quasi-suspect class than any other group that has been deemed to exhibit an immutable characteristic. They are saying we cannot change our sexual orientation and with our sexual orientation we cannot fulfill our deeply felt need for a relationship. There is no room for agency in their statement. There is no people can choose whatever lifestyle they want. They only say it is impossible for us to choose a fulfilling marriage to someone of the opposite sex. The California Supreme Court said the following: California law does not literally prohibit gays and lesbians from marrying; however, it requires those who do to marry someone of the opposite sex. As a practical matter, of course, this requirement renders marriage unavailable to gay and lesbian individuals, whose choice of a life partner will, by definition, be a person of the same sex. Clearly, the statutory definition of marriage as male-female has a disparate impact on gay and lesbian individuals. Their claim is that “by definition” I will choose someone of the same sex. They also have a similar conclusion that I cannot choose my sexual orientation. That is not agency. The data about most gays leaving the Church I draw from Ron Schow, who reported in 2007 that in an internal meeting with GAs present, it was announced by LDS Family Services that “80% of those dealing with this issue are leaving the Church.” Why do you think God Loveth His Children pamphlet was created? And in the 5 years since, I’m not sure that 80% has been chipped away all that much. The quote from Oaks I’m referring to was in the 2007 interview. He said, “in a nutshell…if you are trying to live with and maintain ascendancy over same-gender attractions, the best way to do that is to have groups that define their members in terms other than same-gender attractions.” Now, of course this isn’t a full denouncing of groups like Evergreen. But notice how Evergreen is not an official arm of the Church. I doubt it ever will be. The quote you’re pulling from Walker is taken out of context. In more detail it reads: “While gay men and lesbians in California are permitted to marry, they are only permitted to marry a member of the opposite sex. For the vast majority of gay men and lesbians, that is not a realistic option. This is true because sexual orientation is about the relationships people form–it defines the universe of people with whom one is able to form the sort of intimate, committed relationship that would be the basis for marriage. Some gay men and lesbians have married members of the opposite sex, but many of those marriages dissolve, and some of them experience considerable problems simply because one of the partners is gay or lesbian.” Summarized, this reads under a header: “Marrying a person of the opposite sex is an unrealistic option for gay and lesbian individuals.” I suspect when the California and Iowa Supreme Courts say, “by definition,” they referring to demographic truths like how for the vast majority of those who identity as gays and lesbians, the “universe of people” they involve themselves with romantically does not match up the man+woman status quo. If it did, then there wouldn’t be the “gay” and “lesbian” identities. Rather, traditional and queer kinship structures are mixing and matching in American society. The Courts are merely responding to this reality. I will be the first to admit that “sexual orientation” legalese is problematically worded. Judges are not trained sociologists, gender theorists, or psychologists; they’re awful with nuance. Also, I’m also not really a fan of how the state takes up and defines the borders of acceptable kinship. But that’s a different matter. Anyway, I thought you didn’t identify as gay. I thought Mormons were supposed to concentrate on how everyone in the afterlife is heterosexual, so this whole “gay” thing is a waste of time and energy. The unfortunate byproduct of the Supreme Court ruling goes beyond problematic wording. It puts into law a mentality that has been pervasive in our society. This is precisely what Elder Oaks was talking about when he spoke against using gay as a noun. He said: “It is wrong to use these words to denote a condition, because this implies that a person is consigned by birth to a circumstance in which he or she has no choice in respect to the critically important matter of sexual behavior.” Everyone has a choice in their sexual relationships. These court rulings deny the existence of the choice. That does much more to hurt agency than refusing to adopt a philosophy of moral relativism, which is what you accuse the church of. Let me break it down for clarity. The courts said that no one chooses their sexual orientation and that their sexual orientation “may be altered [if at all] only at the expense of significant damage to the individual’s sense of self”. They then said people with a homosexual orientation are defined by those who choose life partners of the same sex. Therefore, according to the courts, there exists a class of people, who because of factors outside of their control, will only find fulfillment with life partners of the same sex. This “born to have gay sex” philosophy denies the power of agency. We are free to choose our sexual relationships. We are free to act for ourselves and not to be acted upon by our sexual desires. That is the whole doctrine behind agency, and it is the courts that is trying to take that away. The quote you used from Walker only further illustrates my point. He said: “sexual orientation is about the relationships people form – it defines the universe of people with whom one is able to form the sort of intimate, committed relationship that would be the basis for marriage.” He is denying that people of a homosexual orientation can form intimate, committed relationships with someone of the opposite sex. I personally know many people who were gay-identified, in same-sex relationships, and through the atonement of Christ were changed and went on to find fulfillment in opposite-sex marriages. Maybe marriage isn’t everyone, but to say the “vast majority” denies the reality of the situation. Millions of Americans with a homosexual orientation are in opposite-sex marriages. See: http://en.fairlatterdaysaints.org/Mormonism_and_gender_issues/Same-sex_attraction/Marriage You argue that these rulings reflect the reality. I argue they reflect the common view of reality, but that view is false and only perpetuates false stereotypes. Stereotypes confine people and take away their agency. Through North Star, I constantly hear stories of married men who are coming to terms with the fact they are gay even though they are married. For years they denied they were gay, thinking that if they admitted they were gay they would have to loose their family. The very idea that you could be openly gay, and still be a committed, loving husband was foreign to them. By coming in contact with North Star, they find they can be open and honest about their feelings, while holding strong to the gospel and loving their wives. (I’m in the men’s group, so I don’t hear about the women of North Star.) I have also heard of gay men who wanted to stay in the marriage, but the wife thought you needed to divorce a gay spouse, so the misconception goes both ways. It is these false notions that gay people cannot form fulfilling and intimate relationships with people of the opposite sex that is the real threat to agency. I have seen these notions almost tear families apart, as the spouse struggles with whether fidelity to their spouse is even a choice. People need to know they have choices. Everyone can choose to be faithful. Yes there are many who will probably never find an opposite-sex spouse with whom things will work out, but there are many who can and many who short-change themselves. Too many marriages fail because one of the spouses thinks divorce is the only option. I think it is the definition that “sexual orientation … defines the universe of people with whom one is able to form the sort of intimate, committed relationship” or that “civil marriage with a person of the opposite sex is as unappealing to a gay or lesbian person” or that for “gay and lesbian individuals” their “choice of a life partner will, by definition, be a person of the same sex” is the definition that Elder Oaks is warning against with groups that define their membership by their sexual attraction. As he also said in the same interview: “We have the agency to choose which characteristics will define us; those choices are not thrust upon us.” Evergreen does not use that definition, but the definition that we are all first and foremost children of God. The Church seems to have a positive relationship with Evergreen, but I am glad it does not have an official connection. If the connection were official, Evergreen would have to be more careful about talking about therapies and scientific research, since the Church doesn’t take a stance on those issues. With the current relationship, Evergreen can talk about several different approaches without needing sanction from the Church. But I don’t think Oaks is saying you should avoid Evergreen. I can’t comment on data that I haven’t seen about gay people leaving the church. It may well be true, but if anything I think it is this false notion of what sexual orientation means and how it relates to possible choices that is pushing gay people away from the church. I am thankful FAIR is willing to try to reverse the prevailing tide that there are some people who are born to have gay sex. The Church was never set up to try to attract the greatest number of people, but to teach truth which those seeking the truth will hear and recognize. You made several other comments that I would like to address. First, according to Hinckley, those “who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians … can go forward as do all other members of the Church.” That is what I am doing. See http://en.fairlatterdaysaints.org/Mormonism_and_gender_issues/Same-sex_attraction/LGBT_identity The counsel is not to label yourself primarily by your sexual attractions, so labeling myself heterosexual would be just as wrong as labeling myself homosexual. Personally, I think sexual attractions will be completely different in the resurrection with glorified bodies. If there is no temptation, how can married men be sexually attracted to women who they aren’t married to? The idea that some poor resurrected being will be attracted to all these women and constantly having to keep himself in check like he does now just seems odd. You have to admit things just have to be different in the resurrection. Having your same-sex attractions go away does not mean you become heterosexual. I am perfectly confident that my wife will be the only woman I am ever sexually attracted to and I highly doubt that at the resurrection I will suddenly be sexually tempted by other women. Joshua, it’s really is not as awful as you make it out to be. The legal landscape only to some extent shapes demographics (if we think, for example, of immigration laws); for the most part, the legal world follows already existent demographics. In this case, there are tons of same-sex couples and tons of children being raised by same-sex couples — just as there are tons of gay people in mixed-orientation marriages. Now, I agree with you 100% that a logic of gay people “lacking agency” and therefore “gay marriage must exist” is a broken logic. It’s not the right way to frame the “civil right” of same-sex marriage. This is true not only because there are a great number of happy mixed-orientation marriages, but because it’s disrespectful to frame it that way. To me, it harkens back to the days when homosexuality was considered a disorder: “Oh, they can’t help it. They were born broken.” If a society allows same-sex marriage, that doesn’t mean all gay people will enter same-sex marriages; it just means that same-sex marriages will be an option for everyone. I’m pretty hopeful that when all the dust settles, that it how it will be framed. RE: “the spouse struggles with whether fidelity to their spouse is even a choice” If a gay person in Mormon culture thinks they cannot be faithful to an opposite-sex spouse, I wouldn’t blame an outside-of-Mormon-culture phantom that says “gay people are born to have gay sex.” What I would blame is Mormon culture for making its members think an admission of homosexuality is incompatible with a opposite-sex marriage. What happens is that the “temptation” itself snowballs into something bigger when a person feels so alone and trapped. I think you’re waaay too eager to point fingers at non-Mormons for what are Mormon problems. Most of the problems concerning homosexuality in the Church, the Church created for itself by making homosexuality unspeakable for decades (e.g., Boyd Packer warned in the 1970s that merely using the word “homosexual” will lead people to believe they are homosexual — hence, don’t talk about it. It used to be that even saying you were “gay” meant you needed a disciplinary counsel; now, it’s just highly suggested you don’t identify that way). I think it is hard for you to understand the pressures that mixed-orientation couples go through. Maybe it was more salient for me spending so much time in the bay area where I felt same-sex couples could be open, but I couldn’t. I very much felt the gay community was trying to keep me in the closet, which just seemed so hypocritical to me. My Exodus group couldn’t even meet in public because of the onslaught of persecution the more militant activists in San Francisco dished out, and the Evergreen group was basically shut down. I think the legal landscape is a reflection of the prejudice we face on a frequent basis, but that doesn’t make it right. I also hope they change their rhetoric. I wouldn’t have half as many problems if they used your argument that gay people should be able to choose, rather than gay people have no choice. I hope it changes when the dust settles, but as it stands, they are not using your arguments. I think Steve did a good job showing several different problems members with SSA go through. I don’t think he or I am putting all the blame on non-members. There were several examples in the podcasts were members could improve. I think there is a reason why the church is speaking against bullying, gay bashing, and the need for common sense rights. The Church teaches what members need to hear, and what we need to work on. Most gay members of the church feel that we have the worst of both worlds – not fully accepted by the gay world or the Mormon world. Just because we are telling our story, doesn’t mean our story is the only story out there. I personally know many great same-sex couples out there living their lives the best way they know how and trying to raise their children in a world that is very hostile to them. Just because they are facing prejudices and they are facing discrimination doesn’t we aren’t as well. After all, the podcast did talk about the need to treat same-sex couples better. I don’t think anyone is saying there isn’t room for improvement in the Church. I think both society and Mormon culture (and now the legal system and soon the schools which invariably will follow the legal system) teach that an admission of same-sex attractions is incompatible with marriage. I wish Mormon culture followed more closely with what our leaders taught. They teach no one should enter into a marriage under false pretenses or under a cloud unknown to their spouse. Much has changed since the 1970’s, including our culture and how to respond to the problems we face. Gay meant something different back in the 1970s. Most members of the church did not see it as same-sex attraction. It used to mean gay sex. You can’t judge 1970 advice using today’s vocabulary. My Christmas wish is that we can all do a better at understanding each other and loving each other. I hope members of the Church can understand the issues people with SSA are facing, both inside and outside the church, AND that the gay community can better understand the issues we are facing. I think communication is the key. I hope during the next year more cities in Utah will follow Salt Lake’s example and extend employment and housing rights. I hope more focus will go towards ending bullying in schools. I hope more members take up the challenge to bear the burdens of those with same-sex attraction. But I also hope more gay rights activists will take consideration of our needs and the difficulties members of the church face. Alan, I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a good season. I do wish for peace on Earth, good will towards men. You may not see it, but I am trying to do what I can in the world that I have. 16 December 2011 \| MormonVoices says: […] http://www.fairblog.org/2011/12/14/fair-examination-3a-two-mothers-of-sons-with-same-gender-attracti… […] RSS Feed (all posts) Subscribe to podcast in iTunes Subscribe to podcast elsewhere Listen with FairMormon app FairMormon Latest Come Follow Me Week 4: Doctrine and Covenants 3–5 Come Follow Me Week Three: The Turning of Hearts Joseph Smith’s First Vision Willing to Be Weak FairMormon Finances Blog Categories Select Category Administrative notices (17) Anti-Mormon critics (191) Apologetics (275) Apostasy (9) Archaeology (6) Articles of Faith (34) Atheism (14) Best of Fair (5) Bible (108) Book of Abraham (52) Book of Mormon (283) Book of Moses (28) Book reviews (82) Chastity (10) Come Follow Me (6) Conversion (57) Dead Sea Scrolls (6) DNA (14) Doctrine (120) Doctrine and Covenants (3) Early Christianity (41) Evidences (134) FAIR Conference (127) Fair Issues (26) Fair Mormon Front Page News Review (11) FAIR Voice (22) FairMormon Conference (61) FairMormon Papers and Reviews (1) Faith and Reason (33) Faith Crisis (125) First Vision (23) Gender Issues (17) General (128) General Conference (9) Geography (46) Gospel Doctrine: D&C (13) Hanna Seariac (25) Homosexuality (32) Hosts (141) Interfaith Dialogue (27) Joseph Smith (178) Julianne Dehlin Hatton (32) Latter-day Saint Scholars Testify (2) LDS Culture (58) LDS History (197) LDS Scriptures (69) Lesson Aids (74) Marriage (22) Masonry (19) Media (4) Mental Health (2) Michael R. 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BYU Religious Studies Center Interpreter Foundation LDS Perspectives Podcast Pearl of Great Price Central Donate to FairMormon We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back. Donate to us by shopping at Amazon at no extra cost to you. Learn how → Copyright © 1997-2021 by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this site may be reproduced without the express written consent of The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc. Any opinions expressed, implied, or included in or with the goods and services offered by FairMormon are solely those of FairMormon and not those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FairMormon™ is controlled and operated by the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2316
__label__wiki	0.719737	0.719737	fanatix \| Basketball \| NBA \| West All-Stars vs East All-Stars: NBA All-Star Game start time, preview and live streaming West All-Stars vs East All-Stars: NBA All-Star Game start time, preview and live streaming Sumeet Paul Read a preview and watch a live stream of the NBA All-Star Game… Where: Madison Square Garden, New York. When: Monday February 16, 01:00 (UK time) Watch live: Click here to watch on BT Sport online! The best in the West will take on the beast from the East at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night in the 2015 edition of the NBA All-Star Game. Injuries have certainly taken their toll on both teams with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Anthony Davis and Dwyane Wade all ruled out. However, it doesn’t take away from the spectacle too much as there is still plenty of star power on show. Stephen Curry, James Harden, Klay Thompson, Marc Gasol and possibly LaMarcus Aldridge will all be starting for the West who should be considered slight favourites given the depth on their roster. On the other side of the court, Kyle Lowry, John Wall, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Pau Gasol will be starting for the East, although there are doubts as to how long Melo will last for. The New York Knicks star is desperate to feature on his home court, but knee soreness has plagued him all season and he has conceded that he may well only play for a few minutes with surgery expected in the coming weeks. The Atlanta Hawks have four players in the East team this year with Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap and Al Horford all being selected as reserves while the likes of Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Damian Lillard will all come off the bench for the West. There will also be a slice of history made as the Gasol brothers will become the first siblings to face off in the game and the Spaniards have revealed that they are very excited about the prospect of facing off in such a big event. As with any All-Star Game, don’t expect too much defense to be played which will result in high scores. The West has a deep roster with several top guards, but Curry will be the one to watch to claim the MVP award. More Stories: NBA no-more-posts	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2318
__label__wiki	0.678316	0.678316	- 22 January 1999 https://www.fwi.co.uk HISTORY ON FILM… - 22 January 1999 NOTTINGHAM farmer Richard Watts has a treat in store for visitors to the Lincolnshire Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association show at Newark Showground on Jan 27 and 28. He will be showing old films of farm machinery throughout each day, selected from the archive of 1000 films he has amassed over the years. Most of the films were professionally made for sales promotion or educational use and the oldest in the collection is entitled The Worlds First Caterpillar. Shot more than 80 years ago, it promoted a machine by Ruston and Hornsby of Grantham. Other films in the collection show machinery in all its forms throughout this century and Mr Watts intends to screen several films featuring Lincs manufactured tackle in the wider selection of films he is showing at LAMMA. Mr Watts, who farms cereals and beef at Springs Farm, Edingly, Notts, admits that what started as a hobby has become something of a mission. He is keen to secure old films for the archive and would be glad to hear from anyone with reels relating to farming and rural life, so they can be preserved for future generations. On the same stand (P64/5) will be an exhibition of old photographs collected by Ray Hooley. TG The Hornsby Oil Tractor(1896) was the worlds first compression-ignition tractor. It was repurchased by Hornsby in 1904 and converted to the worlds first caterpillar tractor in 1905. Of the four produced three were exported to Australia. Two remain today, one undergoing restoration in England and the other preserved in Australia. Photo from Ray Hooleys collection.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2321
__label__wiki	0.904981	0.904981	Genting HK top executives waive pay, firm to cut jobs Genting Hong Kong Ltd, an operator of casino cruise ships and an investor in Asian land-based casinos, says it is moving to a new phase of cost reduction in a bid to limit the expected loss for the first six months of 2020, due to the negative impact of the Covid-19 virus. The company announced on Friday that its top executives had “waived 100 percent of fees and compensation from February 2020 till the end of this year”. Executives affected by the decision include the company’s chairman and chief executive, deputy chairman, deputy CEO, directors and group president, the firm said in a Friday filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Genting Hong Kong confirmed to GGRAsia in February that one of its units – Genting Cruise Lines – was cutting salaries for its senior staff by between 20 percent and 50 percent because of the negative impact on business of the novel coronavirus. Genting Cruise Lines operates three distinct ship-based holiday brands – Star Cruises, Dream Cruises and Crystal Cruises. In Friday’s filing, Genting Hong Kong said that about 90 percent of the group’s managers had “supported the initiative,” contributing to “saving US$15 million, or about 16 percent of the shore salaries and wages for the year”. The company said additionally that it would be implementing further cost reduction measures. They included: a reduction in on-board crew by not renewing expiring contracts; a reduction in the onshore workforce by not filling any vacancies and not replacing staff that were leaving; a reduction in all expenses – especially travel – to avoid possible virus infection; and voluntary no-pay leave. Genting Hong Kong said it expected the net loss for the six months ending June 30 to be “much higher” than the corresponding period in 2019. The expected increase in such net loss “is mainly due to the … Covid-19 outbreak, which has resulted in widespread travel advisories [warnings by governments] and temporary closure of cruise ports,” stated the firm. The company had said in February that the cruise business environment in 2020 would “continue to be challenging” due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The group had cancelled several of its scheduled voyages – across its three cruise brands – from late January. It said some cruise vessels were expected to resume operations in April. “The magnitude of the impact on the group’s performance is difficult to estimate due to the rapid spread and development related to the Covid-19 outbreak,” said Genting Hong Kong in its latest filing. A number of investment analysts covering the cruise business said they expected a steep decline in new bookings and elevated cancellations throughout the industry in 2020, followed by a partial recovery in 2021. Genting Hong Kong said in Friday’s document that it expected a net loss in the range of US$140 million to US$170 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. That compares to a consolidated net loss of US$224 million in the prior year. The numbers contained in its most recent update did not include the contribution from Travellers International Hotel Group Inc, the joint venture that operates the Resorts World Manila casino resort in the Philippines.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2323
__label__wiki	0.824315	0.824315	Kangwon Land extends casino closure to April 6 Kangwon Land, the only casino resort in South Korea where the country’s nationals are allowed to gamble, has decided to extend – for a fifth time – the temporary closure of its gaming venue. It now says it will reopen at 6am on April 6, a date which would signify the resort having almost a month and a half of suspension for its gaming business. The initial closure notice – for the casino only – was described by the resort’s promoter, Kangwon Land Inc, as a precautionary measure related to a Covid-19 pandemic, which has severely affected that country. Non-gaming facilities at Kangwon Land (pictured) are to remain closed until March 22, according to a Friday filing to the Korea Exchange. The Covid-19 virus outbreak – recorded first in mainland China – has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, with infections across the Asia-Pacific region and the globe. Kangwon Land Inc had originally announced a temporary closure of the casino from noon on February 23 until 6am on February 26, and then extended that on four consecutive occasions, the latest extension running until Monday (March 23). The firm said in Friday’s filing – at the time it flagged the fifth extension to the closure – that it was anticipating its lost casino sales to amount to KRW158.1 billion (US$124.8 million) from the start of the casino closure on February 23. The estimate was based on Kangwon Land’s daily casino revenue in full-year 2019, added the scheme’s promoter. The company said that non-gaming operation losses for March 2 until March 22 were expected to amount to an additional KRW11.0 billion. Non-gaming facilities at the complex are to open gradually, depending on the evolution of the Covid-19 disease in South Korea, stated Kangwon Land Inc in Friday’s filing. As of Sunday, South Korea had recorded an aggregate of 8,961 cases of Covid-19 infection and 111 deaths, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The country – the second hardest-hit nation in Asia after China – reported 64 new cases on Sunday, according to the latest official data.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2324
__label__wiki	0.900954	0.900954	Wells Fargo Is In Trouble For Charging Customers Millions For Bogus Accounts Hudson Hongo Published 4 years ago: September 9, 2016 at 8:30 am - Filed to:banks financewells fargo On Thursday, federal regulators announced that they were slapping Wells Fargo with a $US100 ($131) million penalty after discovering employees created hundreds of thousands of bank accounts and credit cards in customers’ names without their knowledge, costing account holders an estimated $US2.5 ($3) million in fees. According to the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 5,300 Wells Fargo employees have been fired for using “improper sales practices,” which included transferring customers’ funds into newly created, unauthorised accounts to meet incentivized sales goals. In other cases, employees secretly applied for credit cards, signed up for online banking and activated debit cards in customers’ names. In a 2013 L.A. Times story credited with first uncovering the scheme, former Wells Fargo employees claimed that managers coached workers on how to artificially raise sales numbers to meet the “relentless pressure” of sales quotas: “They’d just tell the customers: ‘You’re getting a credit card,'” [former banker Erick] Estrada said. He admitted to opening unneeded accounts, though never without a customer’s knowledge, he said. When customers complained about the unwanted credit cards, the branch manager would blame a computer glitch or say the card had been requested by someone with a similar name, Estrada said. One former branch manager who worked in the Pacific Northwest described her dismay at discovering that employees had talked a homeless woman into opening six checking and savings accounts with fees totaling $US39 ($51) a month. “It’s all manipulation. We are taught exactly how to sell multiple accounts,” the former manager said. “It sounds good, but in reality it doesn’t benefit most customers.” “This widespread practice gave the employees credit for opening the new accounts, allowing them to earn additional compensation and to meet the bank’s sales goals,” said the CFPB in a press release. “Consumers, in turn, were sometimes harmed because the bank charged them for insufficient funds or overdraft fees because the money was not in their original accounts.” An analysis commissioned by Wells Fargo found that some 1,534,280 deposit accounts and 565,443 credit card applications may have been created without customers’ knowledge since 2011. In addition to the $US100 ($131) million fine — the largest handed out by the CFPB since it was created after the 2008 financial crisis — Wells Fargo has agreed to conduct a comprehensive, independent review of sales practices and pay refunds to all affected customers, who will not be required to take action. At least one former financial regulator, however, questioned whether the penalty was large enough for a bank worth over $US250 ($327) billion. “It sounds like a big number, but for a bank the size of Wells Fargo, it isn’t really,” David Vladeck, the former director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, told CNN. In a statement on Thursday, Wells Fargo said it has set aside $US5 ($7) million for refunds to customers, 100,000 of whom have already been repaid. “Wells Fargo is committed to putting our customers’ interests first 100% of the time, and we regret and take responsibility for any instances where customers may have received a product that they did not request,” said the bank. [CNN]	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2326
__label__wiki	0.624226	0.624226	Home :: Military :: World :: Palestine :: Urban Areas :: Israeli Jerusalem Second Temple Jerusalem - Maps Jerusalem - Satellite Imagery Palestinian Jerusalem Haram Ash-Sharif Friends of Al-Aqsa Jerusalem is a holy city, a site of pilgrimage, and an object of devotion for all three of the largest monotheistic faiths. It is made up of a wide variety of ethnicities and religions, with the Old City divided into Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Armenian quarters. The city is also politically-charged ground. Clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians are common, particularly in East Jerusalem. Violent acts frequently have religious or ethnic overtones. U.S. citizens visiting the area should be mindful of their locations and be vigilant as they travel throughout Jerusalem and its environs. In AD 637, Commander Abu Ubaida accepted the surrender or sulh of Jerusalem to the Islamic Arab forces without preconditions. It seems that Jerusalem had no military or strategic importance, but it did have religious importance.2 For the Muslims, the town was the Bait al-Maqdis, (Sacred House) due to the presence of the Haram al-Sharif or Noble Sanctuary which included the Rock to be built up fifty-eight years later as the Dome of the Rock (incorrectly known as the mosque of Omar) and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Caliph Umar did visit the city and the Haram al-Sharif a short time later thereby enhancing the importance of the sulh that guaranteed the safety of the people, their property, and their churches in return for a tax. It was named by the Islamic Arabic-speakers as the Bait al-Maqdis, or Al-Quds for short. The latter name remains in use throughout the Arab and Islamic world. While Israelis designate Jerusalem as its present capital, the Palestinians recognize it as their traditional capital. From the 12th to the 16th centuries, the Holy City was taken and retaken a number of times by successive Crusaders, and the walls were leveled and then rebuilt according to the whim of successive conquerors. Islamic heroes such as Salah-al-Din restored Jerusalem following his AD 1187 reconquest of the city including the neighboring shrines to past likenesses, and he built a number of Islamic colleges or madrasas. In time, forty-three colleges were founded in Jerusalem during what is known as the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. Palestinians who live in the part of Jerusalem that was occupied during the 1967 War generally do not accept Israeli citizenship. They are, therefore, issued a residence permit or Jerusalem identification card by the Israeli Government. Israel applies the 1952 Law of Permanent Residency and its 1974 amendments to Jerusalem identification card holders. This law stipulates that a Jerusalem resident loses the right of residence if the resident leaves Israeli territory for more than 7 years, acquires the nationality of another country, or acquires permanent residence in another country. Such persons are permitted to return only as tourists and sometimes are denied entry. The Israeli Government does not apply these same restrictions to Israeli citizens. Israeli government officials deny that more stringent enforcement of the Jerusalem residency requirements reflects a concerted policy to decrease the Palestinian population in the city. American citizens are warned to limit travel to the Old City of Jerusalem to daylight hours, Saturday through Thursday. US Government personnel in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza are under tight security controls, including prohibition of travel to the West Bank and Gaza. Occasionally, US Government personnel are prohibited from traveling to sections of Jerusalem, including areas in both West and East Jerusalem, depending on current security conditions. Roads designed for Israeli settlers including in East Jerusalem have been the site of frequent shooting attacks and roadside explosives, sometimes resulting in death or injury. The majority of reported security incidents affecting US citizens occur near the main entrances to Jerusalem’s Old City. Crime increases in the Old City and the Sherover/Haas Promenade areas after dark. US citizens are advised to avoid open air public parks in Jerusalem after dark, as they are poorly lighted and policed. Isolated street protests, demonstrations, and violence can also occur across Jerusalem, including in West Jerusalem, within the Old City, and in East Jerusalem neighborhoods (Sheikh Jarrah, Shufat, Beit Hanina, Mt. of Olives, As Suwaneh, Abu Deis, Silwan, Shuafat Refugee Camp, Issawiyeh, Tsur Baher). Exercise caution when traveling in the villages surrounding East Jerusalem, due to reportedly higher crime rates. The US Consulate General also restricts US government personnel travel to the Old City on Fridays during Ramadan due to large crowds and the higher potential for violence. The security environment remains complex, hazardous, and dynamic in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. US citizens must be aware of the continuing risks of travel to these areas. All US citizens traveling within these areas are urged to exercise caution. Extremist groups continue to operate in these areas. During 2014, members of these groups and other individuals carried out lethal attacks and threatened additional attacks in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. While security cooperation between the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) continued in 2014, tensions remain high in the region, as the peace process faces familiar challenges moving forward. US citizens should be mindful that the security situation in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip is fluid and evolves rapidly.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2327
__label__cc	0.5726	0.4274	GLOBE STARS News & Events Stars and STEM Stories About GLOBE Stars & Instructions About STEM Stories & Instructions Lexington School for the Deaf Students (New York, USA) Discover their Power to Contribute to Science in a Significant Way In March 2018, GLOBE students at the Lexington School for the Deaf (located in East Elmhurst, New York, USA) began participating in the GLOBE U.S. Air Quality Student Research Campaign. Raising their focus to the sky, the high school students soon became adept at using GLOBE’s atmosphere protocols and Calitoo sun photometers to gather their elevated observations. Along the way, they also discovered their ability – as individuals and as a team – to make significant contributions to science. High school student, Kenya, uses a GLOBE Cloud Chart while observing the sky. The students’ teacher, Jillian Anderson, said she was contacted by NASA Langley Research Center (Hampton, Virginia, USA) to see if she was interested in joining the research campaign. “I started reading about GLOBE and I immediately jumped into this amazing opportunity.” At that time, she and her assistant teacher, Dolly Dominguez, and their students – with the help of their new mentor, NASA Research Scientist Dr. Margaret Pippin – began their scientific observation adventure toward higher ground – all eyes to the skies! Anderson didn’t hesitate to guide her students deeper into this inquiry-based activity. “Part of my teaching philosophy is that I believe that science should be accessible to everyone. There is no reason any individual person, or group of persons, should feel precluded from obtaining an education, especially an education in science.” High school student, Tayqwan, uses a Calitoo sun photometer. Anderson said that joining the campaign was a “perfect fit” for her students. “GLOBE’s educational materials have been an invaluable resource for my students, who struggle with English, and rely heavily on visuals. As a team, they have been collecting atmospheric data virtually every day. They have learned to observe different features of the sky and they have also started to become comfortable using a Calitoo sun photometer.” The scientific endeavor gave the students new-found confidence – in themselves and in each other. “My students have started to realize that they are indeed contributing to science in a significant way! Not only are they learning about Earth science, but they have also started to understand the impact each individual has on the Earth, as a system,” Anderson said. The students’ dedicated focus and enthusiasm for engaging in this project deeply impressed their NASA mentor, Dr. Pippin. “Seeing these students doing science is quite inspiring. Their collaboration skills are impressive. Each one has a role to contribute to their team work. For instance, one student is in charge of converting the local time to UTC, while another checks the barometric pressure on a weather website. They all observe the sky, they compare their notes with each other, and they help one another when they have questions.” In May 2018, the students – along with their teachers and school administrators – had the opportunity to connect (via video conference) with NASA scientists and engineers. During the event, the scientists spent time getting to know more about the students and answering their questions. A special guest, William Wood (from the Electronic System Branch), joined the meeting to talk to the students about his 25-year engineering career at NASA Langley. Wood, who is also Deaf, talked to the students about working hard and being proud of being Deaf. (This unique opportunity to connect with Wood, Anderson said, “was a very powerful experience” for the students.) Lexington students while connecting via video conference with Subject Matter Experts at NASA Langley. Photo Credit: Cindy S. Casson, Development Office, Lexington School for the Deaf. When asked about the importance of this scientific work for her students, Anderson said that she wanted her students to acknowledge that they can significantly contribute to science. “I think it is important for my students to realize that they have great skills that can help others. Since American Sign Language is a visual language, these students’ visual skills are top-notch! Therefore; their observations may very well be amongst the most reliable. My students’ involvement in GLOBE may bring awareness and interest in Deaf culture to other GLOBE students, teacher, and scientists – and that is very important to me as well.” “The participation of Lexington School for the Deaf students is important to GLOBE,” Anderson said, “because it can inspire others to include underrepresented students so that GLOBE can have a very rich and diverse group of citizen scientists collaborating with each other.” NASA’s Dr. Pippin agreed. “We encourage them to keep up their great work, and we invite other schools to continue submitting their observations to the GLOBE website as well.” The students crafted a special video to share their scientific excursion into the clouds. To watch the video and learn more about their scientific work, click here. High School student, Faith. This STAR Story was contributed by Rosalba Giarratano, GLOBE Intern, Science Systems and Applications, Inc./NASA Langley Research Center. Return to Stars Listing	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2328
__label__wiki	0.604399	0.604399	Dorman grad Natalie Srinivasan staying positive over end of terrific Furman golf year Eric Boynton eric.boynton@shj.com Former Dorman golfer and current Furman senior Natalie Srinivasan was putting together a terrific final college season until concerns over the coronavirus brought her roll to a sudden end. The 21-year-old had vaulted high up in various collegiate and amateur rankings, was likely a lock for Southern Conference Player of the Year in addition to being strongly considered for All-American status. She would’ve been considered one of the favorites at the NCAA women’s tournament as well as the second Augusta National Women’s Amateur (where she tied for 17th last year) early next month. Now all that remains this year is mulling over when to turn professional when and if the Symetra Tour, the development tour for the LPGA Tour, resumes its schedule amid the health crisis. Despite joining a host of other student-athletes who saw their final seasons end prematurely, Srinivasan is choosing to keep a positive outlook. “It’s definitely disappointing, but I’m trying to look at like I had such a great year, played really well and I had a great time with my team so those are the kinds of things I’m trying to focus on,” Srinivasan said. “It’s unfortunate they postponed Augusta and even if they reschedule I’m not sure if I’ll be able to play just depending on when I turn pro and things like that which is still up in the air.” She continued, “But I’m focusing just on the really good times I’ve had and this wasn’t the way you want it to end but there are a lot worse things. I’m still going to be able to play golf, it’s just my time at Furman is done which is a little sad but eventually it was going to happen so it’s really okay. There’s so many positive things I have to look at and I’m really glad I was able to play as well as I did.” Srinivasan posted three victories and one solo second among only six starts this season in addition to finishing tied for 16th and 26th her other two outings. She leads the Southern Conference in victories and with a 70.78 stroke average, a full shot lower than her nearest competitor. She elevated to Golfstat’s top-ranked college woman after previous number one Sierra Brooks (Florida) decided to leave school earlier this season to turn professional. Srinivasan is fourth in the Golfweek/Sagarin women’s golf rankings and 14th in the World Amateur Rankings, where she’s third among American born players. Of the 13 weeks it was awarded this year she was named Southern Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week five times and was the conference women’s player of the month for February. She was solo second at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, losing by one at Hilton Head’s Long Cove Club in her final college start against the strongest field Furman plays in the regular season. She credits her increased success to “just some stuff I’ve been doing outside of golf, some mental stuff that’s been helping and I’ve kind of just let things happen and accept the outcome whatever it is. That kind of helped me take some emotions out of it. Golf can be pretty frustrating especially when we put in as much time as we do. Just trying to take out that emotional piece really kind of helped me this year.” The NCAA recently announced student-athletes whose seasons were cut short this spring would be granted an extra year of eligibility. Srinivasan graduates in May with a Health Sciences degree and said she has definitely played her last Furman round as she looks ahead to turning pro. She could compete in at least one more prestigious amateur event when the 41st annual U.S. Curtis Cup eight-player team is announced sometime the second week of April. The match-play tournament held every two years features the U.S. against a team from Great Britain and Ireland and is scheduled for June 12-14 at Conwy Golf Club in Caernarvonshire, Wales. “Furman doesn’t really offer any graduate programs I’d be interested in and I’m turning pro so kind of on the fast track to do that,” Srinivasan. “As unfortunate as it is, I don’t think I’d take that (extra-year) option.” For now it’s waiting on professional golf to resume before she can definitively start planning the next stage of her career. “It obviously depends on whether Symetra cancels or not,” Srinivasan said. “Right now they’ve cancelled their two events in California and I’m waiting on the Curtis Cup and thinking I’m going to be able to play in that if it’s played. If it’s still on and I get chosen to play then I’m definitely going to represent the U.S. in that, but if it gets canceled I’ll just turn pro and kind of see what options I have.” Subscribe Today Newsletters Facebook Twitter Instagram E-Edition © 2021 www.goupstate.com. All rights reserved.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2332
__label__wiki	0.93951	0.93951	The team said the grants announced Thursday will help bolster efforts to provide food — and food programs — to residents in need. "This time of year we're busier than other times of the year, but we're busy all the time," Craig Robbins, director of Paul's Pantry, said following a press conference in the Lambeau Field Atrium announcing the grant. "This really helps. At the holidays we're going to need a lot of extra food. "This couldn't come at a better time. It's going to provide a lot of families with much-needed food." Paul's Pantry assists 4,100 families weekly with groceries. Grant recipients are: •The New Community Shelter, a Green Bay emergency shelter serving the homeless and operating a community meal program •The Salvation Army of Brown County, which operates a food pantry, lunch program, and youth meal program. •Paul's Pantry, an emergency food pantry in Green Bay. •The Boys & Girls Club After School Program, which provides after-school snacks, dinner, and lunch to about 750 kids a day in Green Bay. •Stock the Shelves, Gannett Wisconsin Media's annual food and donation drive program supporting food pantries throughout the state. The 10 media companies have a statewide goal of raising $700,000 for more than 100 food pantries. Donors have contributed more than $54,400 toward Press-Gazette Media's $115,000 campaign goal to help food pantries in Northeastern Wisconsin. "Every year we are inspired by the donations that come into Stock the Shelves, be it from individuals offering $50 to corporations and foundations donating thousands of dollars," said Press-Gazette Media Executive Editor Mike Knuth. "This gift from the Packers is remarkable, and it will help local pantries feed thousands of families. With a week left in our campaign, we hope many others step forward and give to a great cause." Packers staff recommended hunger relief as the focus of the $250,000 grant from the Green Bay Packers Foundation. This is the third such impact grant the team has provided the community. "The thought process with the staff was hunger and hunger relief are such big issues and they really wanted to make an impact," Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said. "We're heading into the holidays, and with winter approaching, we knew there was a real need here and wanted to get money to these organizations as soon as we could." Robbins said the Packers assist Paul's Pantry throughout the year, including offering a venue for food collection efforts and providing leftover food to the pantry. "The Green Bay Packers have always been there when we needed them, and they help us all year round, in ways that most folks don't even know about," he said. In the past year, the Packers community contributions have surpassed $6 million, including the more than 900 appearances made by players, coaches and staff, Make-A-Wish visits, and community events, youth football grants and outreach camps. — nphelps@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @nathanphelpsPG	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2334
__label__wiki	0.982387	0.982387	Advertising Match Michigan City, IN (46360) Sunshine. High 39F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Partly cloudy skies early will become overcast later during the night. Low 21F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Berrien County Commission prepares for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine By Louise Wrege For the News djohnson ST. JOSEPH — Berrien County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mac Elliott said during the board’s Dec. 10 meeting that he’s ready to declare a state of emergency at a moment’s notice once the county starts receiving the vaccine doses for COVID-19. That was expected to happen soon after the meeting, and on Dec. 11 the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The drug company began shipping out doses of the vaccine from its Portage, Mich., plant on Dec. 13. Elliott said that he can declare a state of emergency with only his signature for seven days. “Our local declaration can enable us to mobilize the emergency operations center to provide assistance in the distribution of the vaccine,” he said after the meeting. During the Dec. 10 meeting, commissioners approved an agreement between the Berrien County Health Department and Lakeland Hospitals at Niles and St. Joseph for temporary storage of the Pfizer vaccine, which must be stored at 77 degrees below zero or colder to remain viable. Commissioner Ezra Scott gave a report on his Dec. 8 visit to Washington, D.C., where he took part in the coronavirus summit with the members of Operation Warp Speed, the public-private partnership aimed at accelerating the development, manufacturing and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines. Berrien County is slated to receive 992 vaccines in its first shipment. After that, Scott said the county is expected to receive weekly shipments of the vaccine, which requires two doses per person. He said Army Gen. Gus Perna was put in charge of logistics for the vaccine distribution because the private companies involved in the distribution will have access to military satellites for GPS tracking. “They say ... 24/7 they can see where that package is within three feet, so they know when it gets out,” he said. Scott said that by the end of February, about 20 million Americans are expected to be vaccinated. By mid-summer, Scott said the number of Americans vaccinated is expected to be more than 100 million. Prior to leaving for Washington Scott said has been invited to meet with top officials in the nation’s capitol so many times, he’s lost track. He noted that Dec. 8 was the fifth or sixth time he’s traveled to D.C., adding that the emailed invitation came directly from the White House and states that it is not transferable “I’m very humbled to be part of this,” he said after the Dec. 3 Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting, where commissioners agreed to pay his travel expenses. Both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence participated in the Operation Warp Speed summit, held in the executive office building at the White House complex. “I’m going to use the opportunity to advocate for 150,000 vials (of vaccine) just for Berrien County,” he said prior to the summit. “I understand that the president doesn’t like our governor. That’s whatever it is. I don’t care about that. I’m looking at Berrien County. “I just like to take the politics out of it,” he said. “When I’m going there, I’m going for a particular reason. If I’m invited, I’m going. And then I’m going to advocate for Berrien County.” The first time he traveled to Washington, D.C., was with six other county commissioners in 2017, when they heard presentations and talked with Trump’s top administrative team. Scott said no other president before Trump had invited county commissioners to do that. “He wanted to hear from boots on the ground,” Scott said. During his visits, Scott has made multiple contacts and learned about grants that the county can apply for. “Without Washington contacts, we never would have known about many of these grants,” he said. “... These are tax dollars that are available. If we don’t apply for them in Berrien County, they will go to someone else.” Scott said he’s also used these contacts to help cut through red tape. For example, he said it took New Buffalo Township officials 18 months to get permits from Amtrak so they could run a water line under the railroad tracks to a subdivision. He said that work started in 2019, but was quickly shut down after an Amtrak line supervisor said they were missing a permit for a particular survey. When township officials contacted Amtrak, they were told that they would have to start the entire permitting process all over again because there were 80 other applications in front of their application. That’s when township officials called Scott for help. Scott said he called his contact for Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao at the White House and found out that that portion of the tracks was also under the control of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He said his contact already had plans to speak with the heads of both departments that evening. The next day, he said his contact called him back. “He told me that they decided that rather than have both offices call Amtrak to expedite this, they felt that the best thing to do is only have one office call, so that call will be made by the office of the vice president of the United States,” he said. The very next day, he said he got a call from New Buffalo Township Clerk Judy Zabicki, who told him that Amtrak had just faxed her office the new permit so the job could be completed. “She calls me her junk yard dog,” Scott said. “She says, ‘The dog did it again.’” Scott said this reduced the permit process from 18 months to two days. Why do officials in Washington keep inviting him to meetings? “I speak my mind. I’m not afraid to say anything,” he said. “... But I try to do it in the right way. I try to be respectful of others because I want them to respect me.” He said that many people get awestruck when they are with the top government officials and spend their time trying to get photos with them, which he called an “okey doke.” “The only one that I did was with (Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) Ben Carson, and he insisted on that,” Scott said. “ ... But that’s not what I’m there for. While they’re doing that, I’m talking with their senior aides.” Virtual Plan Also on Dec. 10, County Commissioners announced that a plan is in place so local elected bodies can continue meeting virtually in January if state legislators don’t take action before the end of the year. “The message to go out to all units of government is that we will, if necessary, make an emergency declaration so that as we head into the 2021 calendar year, they will be able to meet virtually in the event that the legislature fails to extend the modification to the Open Meetings Act, which will expire at the end of this month,” Elliott said. If needed, he said commissioners can declare a state of emergency for the entire county during their last meeting of the year, which was changed from Dec. 31 to Dec. 30. The virtual meeting will start at 10:30 a.m. and can be viewed on the county’s YouTube channel. Commissioners are also ready to meet on that date if they need to finalize how money from the CARES Act is spent, which has a Dec. 31 deadline. Elliott said the Dec. 30 meeting will be cancelled if it is not needed. State legislators amended the Open Meetings Act to allow elected bodies to meet virtually for any reason through Dec. 31. Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2021, the amendment allows public bodies to meet remotely if a statewide or local state of emergency or state of disaster has been declared. Most elected bodies have been holding online meetings since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Elliott said the local emergency declaration can be for 90 days and can be cancelled if the state legislature takes action. The Michigan House canceled all voting sessions this week due to a staffer testing positive for COVID-19. It is unknown if the state House will meet for its final voting days next week before it adjourns for the year. Follow djohnson Recent Front Pages Area essential workers take advantage of Futures for Frontliners program 'Contact' high school sports seasons slated to start in February ‘Gia’ in training to be a friendly canine presence at New Buffalo Library Harbor Country Hikers to share winter hiking tips on Jan. 23 Three Oaks Police Chief Dennis Buller resigns Berrien County COVID mass vaccination clinic goes smoothlly High-speed internet access survey planned in Berrien County Three Oaks Township aiming for marijuana ordinance to cover cover all possible issues New Buffalo Parks/Harbor Commission updated on 2021 lifeguard plans Farrell Ray Kirk Rebecca Schmidt Berrien County officials discuss COVID-19 vaccine 65-and-over waitlist ‘The Autumn Girl’ a tale of love & baseball harborcountry-news.com 422 Franklin St Suite B Email: news@harborcountry-news.com © Copyright 2021 harborcountry-news.com, 422 Franklin St Suite B Michigan City, IN \| Terms of Use \| Privacy Policy	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2341
__label__wiki	0.702553	0.702553	Posted on November 3, 2020, 11:39 am, by Executive Director, under Association Events, Hong Kong Festival HKNZBA is honoured to be welcoming Prof. Siah Hwee Ang, Mr. Robin Harris and Mr. Raymond Fan as our keynote speakers for a Business Seminar, as part of the 2020 Hong Kong Festival. Please note, the Seminar has been rescheduled from its original August date to Tuesday 17 November. Accordingly, some details have been updated. We look forward to seeing you there! Topic: Balancing economic growth in Asia in the COVID-19 era The Asia region covers 39 percent of the world’s product trade and 32 percent of the world’s service trade. The strength of the region builds on the stability of Japan and the Four Tigers – Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, followed by the rise of China in the last decade, and joined recently by the ASEAN countries and India. The arrival of COVID-19 threatens to slow and even halt the economic progress in the region. The keynote address will focus on how the Asian economies are adapting and how the economic landscape in the region might evolve in the COVID-19 era. Professor Siah Hwee Ang Siah Hwee Ang is Professor of International Business and Strategy, Chair in Business in Asia at Victoria University of Wellington and Director of the Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence. In these roles, Siah works closely with various stakeholders and companies on their strategies in Asia and Asia’s engagement in New Zealand. Siah sits on the national assessment panels for New Zealand Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia, Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships, and Marsden Fund. Before joining Victoria University of Wellington, Siah was Professor in Strategy and Associate Dean Postgraduate and International (Asia) at the University of Auckland Business School. Previously, Siah has held appointments at Cass Business School, City University in London and the National University of Singapore, where he also completed his PhD in Management. Siah is Visiting Professor to a few Asian universities. He writes frequently in the media. Prof. Ang’s keynote address will focus on how the Asian economies are adapting and how the economic landscape in the region might evolve in the COVID-19 era. Mr Robin Harris Robin Harris is Managing Director of Capricorn Capital Partners HK Limited, where he is responsible for the strategy and management of the Asian operations of Capricorn, specifically its Private Equity activities. Capricorn has recently collaborated with InvestHK, a venture you can read more about here: https://www.investhk.gov.hk/en/case-studies/growing-kinship-businesses.html Before his work with Capricorn, Robin was head of the Private Capital Markets business of Macquarie Capital in Hong Kong. Robin is a CFA Charter holder and holds a Bachelor of Business Science degree from the University of Cape Town. Being a proud Hong Kong resident for over 25 years, he will also be able to provide an on-the-ground reality check on life in Hong Kong; reflecting on new policy developments and what businesses can expect heading forward in the market. Mr Raymond Fan Mr. Raymond Fan is the Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Sydney. He is also the Representative to Australia & New Zealand, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Mr Fan has been working for the Hong Kong Government since 1984 in posts covering district administration; civil service and private sector labour affairs; immigration policies; Port, Logistics and Maritime development; marine laws; environmental protection and conservation; policy research for strategic development; leisure services and sports development. Mr Fan has extensive overseas representation experience for Hong Kong and was stationed in New York, USA from 1990-1993 and 1998-2002. He had also participated in and coordinated APEC Ministerial Meetings. Born in Hong Kong and educated in the United Kingdom, he has a degree in Medical Biochemistry and a Masters Degree in Environmental Management. He is also an Executive Fellow of the JFK School of Government in Harvard University in the US. Mr. Fan will be Zooming in from the HKETO Sydney Office, where he will share insights on how Hong Kong is positioning itself for the post-COVID world. Special prize draw HKNZBA is pleased to announce that there will be a special prize draw at the Seminar’s conclusion, marking our Hong Kong Festival’s grand launch. Among these include 2x complimentary room night stays with Cordis Auckland. Stay tuned for more details and good luck to all attendants, who will receive an entry each!	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2342
__label__wiki	0.607604	0.607604	Currey Cook Opinions/ Perspectives/ Top Stories Making the Case for Youth in Out-Of-Home Care Currey Cook July 17, 2016 Last year, Lambda Legal client Catherine, a transgender young woman in the California foster care system, faced eviction from her group home because of her HIV status. After Catherine learned of her diagnosis, she informed the group home staff. Administrators informed her they didn’t work with HIV positive youth and weren’t “medically equipped” to care for her, even though her treatment consisted of only one pill a day. Even though administrators wanted her out, Catherine did not want to leave the group home as it would have forced her to leave an affirming school she loved and move to her fourth placement since entering foster care. But 2015 brought good news for Catherine. Thanks to the advocacy of Lambda Legal’s Youth in Out-of-Home Care Project, Catherine was able to remain in her group home and graduate on time. While investigating her situation, we learned that the State of California allows group homes to refuse to accept placements of young people living with HIV. We are investigating this egregious policy and will work towards eliminating it in the coming year. Lambda Legal’s Youth in Out-of-Home Care Project has had an extremely busy year advocating for LGBTQ youth, and youth living with HIV, in systems of care across the country. Catherine’s story is just one example. Here’s a brief recap of some of our other work. In Minnesota we worked with Jackie, a young woman who was rejected by her mother when she came out as transgender. Child welfare authorities arranged for Jackie to live in a co-ed shelter, but shelter staff placed her on the boys’ side. Within hours of her placement, she was sexually assaulted by a male peer. Lambda Legal stepped in to advocate for Jackie, offering the shelter guidance about respecting and affirming her gender identity. The shelter agreed to move her to the girls’ unit, where she was safe and accepted. She has since returned home. Lambda Legal is working with the organization Children’s Rights to provide practical advice to professionals on how to affirm and support trans youth in out-of-home care that will feature guidance from trans youth themselves and help to prevent dangerous situations like Jackie’s first placement. In a state in the South, we’ve been working with Jennifer, a transgender girl. Like Jackie, Jennifer was rejected by her family and placed in foster care. In one of her placements, her foster siblings attacked her so violently that they broke her jaw. When she defended herself, she was arrested and detained. Caseworkers refused to respect her gender identity, denied her feminine clothing, and pushed her into the juvenile justice system where she doesn’t belong. Unfortunately she has now been placed in a boys’ juvenile facility. We are working hard on getting Jennifer out of jail and into an affirming foster home. Finally, in New York, Lambda Legal met Soul, a young man from Mali who had traveled to the United States to study after experiencing family rejection and discrimination from the community at home. Once in the U.S., Soul unequivocally came out as gay to his father, who promptly disowned him. With no degree, no money and no home to return to, Soul relied on the kindness of a childhood friend who lived in the Bronx. After a referral to us from the NYC LGBT Center, Lambda Legal helped Soul petition for his friend’s brother to be his legal guardian and apply for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. We hope that in 2016 Soul will obtain his permanent legal residence status. We are helping Soul achieve his goal to ensure that other undocumented LGBTQ youth receive the help they need by developing education and information about this underserved population. As we look forward to 2016, the Youth in Out-of-Home Care Project will continue to advocate for LGBTQ youth in foster care, juvenile justice systems, and homeless systems of care. If you are a youth in care who has experienced discrimination based on your sexual orientation or gender identity, please contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk. More resources for LGBTQ youth in care. Please join Lambda Legal today and help us advocate for LGBTQ youth! Your membership gift will be matched dollar for dollar by the $1.25 million matching challenge from the estate of John Barham and Dick Auer.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2345
__label__wiki	0.773265	0.773265	Home Features Why has the T... Why has the Transformers Franchise been so successful? Michael Walsh The Transformers franchise has been around since the first cartoons and toys burst onto the scene in 1984. Since that time, the concept of transforming robots battling it out has captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of children, and the franchise has expanded exponentially, to include a whole series of films and television series, action figures, video games and an array of branded merchandise. In recent years, there have been a new Transformers movie released on average every couple of years. While box office figures in the US have steadily fallen and western reviews have been sceptical, the franchise is still going strong, and there is nothing to suggest there will not be another several Transformers movies made. While US audiences may be weary of the Transformers, other areas of the world are most definitely not. Areas such as China, South America and India are still hot for the Transformers and have generated box office revenues of a volume not to be sniffed at. Despite tepid reception from US audiences, the Transformers franchise is going from strength to strength on the global platform. Not only do the movies perform well in other countries, but a series of spin-off merchandise is drawing in more revenue. There have been multiple Transformers video games released since the 1980s across a variety of platforms, including PC, console, handheld, mobile and arcade genres. In keeping with the upsurge in online casino gaming, there is even a Transformers slot game – you can find a full review here. Modern followers of the Autobots can play Transformer games on their PlayStation, Xbox, Wii or PC, while retro gamers have the option of choosing their favourite characters for the N64, Commodore 64 or even the ZX Spectrum. Transformers captured the imagination of a generation back in the early 1980s and has continued to enthral and entertain legions of children and adults ever since. The idea for Transformers was not unique; but taken from the Japanese line of Diaclone toys launched in 1980 by Takara Toys. Hasbro licensed the idea of the car-robot hybrid from Takara, along with the “micro-man” line, and released a series of transforming toys in conjunction with a comic book series in partnership with Marvel. Televised cartoons were soon to follow, as were millions of children whose hearts were captured by the fight between good and evil personified by the Autobots and the Decepticons. The love felt for the transformers by children everywhere was tested in 1986, with the release of the first ever film, Transformers: The Movie. The cartoon adventure featured the epic battles children already knew and loved Transformers for, but many thousands of children were left devastated when Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, was (SPOILER) killed off towards the end of the movie. Fortunately for future generations of children, Optimus Prime was reinstated in new iterations of the Transformers. The first non-cartoon movie version of transformers was released in 2007 and was an instant success. The film was a combination of live-action and computer animation, and grossed $709.9 million at the box office, making it the fifth—highest grossing film of the year. While the critics gave mixed reviews, the film won several awards and the revenue spoke for itself – Hollywood immediately launched plans to develop a series of live-action movies. The reprisal of the character of Optimus Prime was at least partially credited for the popularity of the film among adults, many of whom would have loved the character from their own childhoods. The latest live-action Transformers movie to be released was Bumblebee in 2018, which works as a prequel to the previous five movies. Bumblebee is set in the 1980s, going back not only to the origins of the protagonist but also of the audience. The film was bound to encourage feelings of nostalgia and was designed, in the words of Hasbro, to “bring the fun back” to the Transformers brand. That brand has been loved by many over the years but has been equally slated for being what some say is essentially one big marketing and merchandising ploy. Certainly the Transformers franchise has generated a huge amount of revenue for Hasbro over the years, and this includes not only international box office revenue but income streams from games, t-shirts, toys, mugs, phone cases, lunch boxes, bags and all manner of other items branded with Transformers. The box office success of the movies, which may not be as apparent in the United States, is till huge in other areas of the world. China in particular has a great love for Transformers movies and typically generates more than half of the total international revenue for each new release. Spin-off comics, cartoons, action figures and more all help Transformers to stay in the imaginations of children and adults the world over. Despite what many critics say, the fact remains that people love the Transformers, as international box office and merchandise revenues stand testament to, so it seems like Hollywood would be best advised to continue making movies for quite some time to come. Previous articleSouheila Yacoub, Félix Moati, James Krishna Floyd & Mélanie Thierry on new war drama No Man’s Land Next articleFaith Alabi on We Are Who We Are and working with Luca Guadagnino on the new mini-series Animated ‘Transformers’ prequel in development HeyUGuys travels Bee-Hind the Scenes of BumbleBee Interview: Travis Knight on bringing Bumblebee to the big screen	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2347
__label__wiki	0.679394	0.679394	D&O Insurer Gets Bounced Out of Court Based on Federal Statute OneBeacon Midwest Ins. Co. v. F.D.I.C., 2014 WL 869286 (N.D. Ga. Mar. 5, 2014) came before the Court on a motion for reconsideration filed by the plaintiff, the D&O insurer. OneBeacon’s original complaint sought a declaratory judgment that certain exclusions and carve-outs barred coverage under the Professional Liability Insurance Policy (the “Policy”) for the FDIC’s claims. In their subsequent Motion to Dismiss, the D&O defendants argued, and the Court ultimately agreed, that OneBeacon’s Complaint should be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure because the Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction. Specifically, the Court held that issuing a declaratory judgment on OneBeacon’s claims would affect the FDIC’s ability to collect money due to Habersham Bank. Thus, OneBeacon’s claims ran afoul of 12 U.S.C. § 1821(j) of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (“FIRREA”), which states in pertinent part: “[N]o court may take any action, except at the request of the Board of Directors by regulation or order, to restrain or affect the exercise of powers or functions of the [FDIC] as a conservator or a receiver.” Pursuant to Rule 59(e), OneBeacon moved the Court to reconsider its order granting the Motion to Dismiss and to permit the filing of an amended complaint. In support of its Motion for Reconsideration and Motion to Amend, OneBeacon argued that the proposed amended complaint cured the jurisdictional defects by dropping the FDIC as a party and by seeking declaratory judgment that the D&Os are not entitled to defense coverage under the Policy. OneBeacon relied heavily on F.D.I.C. v. OneBeacon Midwest Ins. Co., 2013 WL 951107 (N.D. Ill, Mar. 12, 2013) (“Wheatland II”) in support of its arguments for reconsideration and amendment. In Wheatland II, the Northern District of Illinois found that the plaintiff’s proposed amended claims were not barred by § 1821(j) because they did not “restrain or affect” the FDIC’s interests in the D&O policy. In reaching that ruling, the court noted that all parties agreed that the FDIC would not be bound because it was not a party to the amended claim. Further, in Wheatland II, the FDIC conceded that § 1821(j) did not bar the amended complaint. The Northern District of Georgia analyzed these facts and concluded that the Wheatland II court was persuaded to amend its prior order because the proposed amendment was uncontested. In this case, however, both the D&O defendants and the FDIC opposed OneBeacon’s position. In denying OneBeacon’s motion for reconsideration and motion to amend, the Court explained that § 1821(j) prohibits courts from taking any action to restrain or affect the exercise of the powers or functions of the FDIC. According to the Court, OneBeacon’s claims in this case would “restrain or affect” the FDIC in the exercise of its function as receiver to collect money due to Habersham Bank. Importantly, OneBeacon conceded in its amended claims that the FDIC had an interest in the Policy as a tort claimant. Therefore, even as amended, OneBeacon’s claims were enough to trigger the jurisdictional bar of § 1821(j). The Court went on to explain that the operation of § 1821(j) does not leave OneBeacon without a remedy—the plaintiff may pursue its claims through FIRREA’s administrative process and if they are not adequately addressed, the plaintiff is entitled to de novo review in federal district court. This discussion is confusing in that it suggests that an insurer may proceed in federal district court with a claim that is otherwise jurisdictionally barred by § 1821(j), provided the plaintiff first pursues its claim through the administrative process. Clearly, the courts are hesitant to run the risk of stepping on the FIRREA’s toes. Even if the FDIC is not a party to the case, and the action seeks a determination of coverage, the Court may find that the claims “restrain or affect” the FDIC. Based upon Judge Story’s opinion, insurance carriers would be wise to consider going forward with an administrative action before filing in federal court. Jaime Wisegarver is an associate in the Litigation Section, where she handles a variety of civil and commercial matters, including insurance recovery litigation and counseling. For more information, please contact Jaime at (804) 771-5634 or jwisegarver@hf-law.com. Jaime B. Wisegarver Litigation and ADR Kristen M. Chatterton kchatterton@hirschlerlaw.com	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2348
__label__wiki	0.763468	0.763468	War Valley (A Hank Gannon Western #1) Lancaster Hill Paperback, Large Print (8/7/2019) In this powerful new series for fans of William W. Johnstone, Louis L’Amour, B.N. Rundle, and Peter Brandvold, a Confederate veteran heads west to start a new life—and gets caught in the middle of a new kind of war . . . WAR VALLEY Hank Gannon grew up on a Florida plantation. He fought alongside his brothers-in-arms in the Civil War. Then he joined the Texas Special Police to help build a more peaceful union—and a future for his beloved Constance. That was the plan. But when a prisoner dies in his custody, Gannon is forced to leave Austin and head into Comanche territory. Alone but undaunted, he meets up with Roving Wolf—who has just slain a former soldier from his unit. Gannon can’t let the killing go unpunished. Even here, in this Godforsaken valley, the law must be upheld . . . On the one side is a bloodthirsty war party of Indians, heading for the white man’s capital. On the other side is a makeshift army of Texas Special Police and the Texas State Guard, ready to meet the threat head-on. In the middle are Hank Gannon and Roving Wolf, waging their own blood feud. Two men trapped in a war. Fighting to survive their mutual hate. Killing to get out alive . . . Pinnacle, 9780786044757, 352pp. Lancaster Hill is the pseudonym of New York Times bestselling author Jeff Rovin. Rovin has been an assistant editior for DC Comics, and the editor in chief of the Weekly World News, and has authored multiple titles in the Tom Clancy: Op-Center series. This is his first western novel.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2352
__label__wiki	0.754143	0.754143	Dear Thing Hardcover, Large Print (6/22/2016) After years of watching her best friends Ben and Claire try for a baby, Romily has offered to give them the one thing that they want most. Romily expects it will be easy to be a surrogate. She's already a single mother, and she has no desire for any more children. But Romily isn't prepared for the overwhelming feelings that have taken hold of her and which threaten to ruin her friendship with Ben and Claire-and even destroy their marriage. Now there are three friends, two mothers and only one baby, and an impossible decision to make... Thought-provoking, heart-rending but ultimately uplifting, Julie Cohen's Dear Thing is a book you won't be able to put down, until you pass it on to your best friends. Praise For Dear Thing… "Cohen is a master at bringing to life the intricate details of love, hope, and sacrifice. Her prose is vivid and sensual, and her characters take on lives of their own in full dimension. A gripping work of women's fiction with a satisfying emotional punch." —Kirkus Reviews "Cohen weaves a story of friendship, love, and betrayal, but ultimately, this is a story of what it means to be a mother." —Booklist "This story of friendship, love and motherhood is written with compassion and finesse, capturing hearts long after the final pages. With three main characters whose emotions are brought to life, this novel will grasp the heartstrings as readers wonder whether a happy ending is always possible." —RT Book Review (4 stars) "Julie Cohen has a genuine talent for plot, pacing, and crafting believable characters who pull you in from page one. Dear Thing kept me up long past my bedtime but sleep deprivation and dark circles under the eyes are a small price to pay for the pleasure of being pulled into such an emotionally rewarding novel." —Marie Bostwick, New York Times bestselling author of The Second Sister “An exquisitely crafted novel...compelling, fascinating and deeply affecting...Julie Cohen is an expert at making you care about her characters, and feel every nuance of emotion as they do. A truly brilliant writer who kept me gripped until the end.” —Rowan Coleman, author of The Accidental Mother “Fix yourself a cup of tea, find a cozy place to sit, and read this book! Dear Thing is a beautifully written story about love, friendship, and motherhood. This is a novel you will cherish.” —Lynne Branard, author of The Art of Arranging Flowers “Dear Thing is as its name suggests; a book that will touch your heart. The story of Ben, Claire and Romily is heartbreakingly real; something we can imagine happening to people we know. It had me hooked from the first page.” —Sarah Rayner, author of One Moment, One Morning “Julie Cohen creates fresh, complex characters and puts them in a situation that will break your heart. Dear Thing is a deeply moving novel that ponders the questions of surrogacy and friendship and love. Julie has a warm and inviting writing style, drawing you into the story and creating a plot with many twists and turns. I was completely consumed by it and it remained with me long after I turned the last page.” —Anita Hughes, author of French Coast “Both powerful and thought provoking, this wonderful book will move you to the core - and really make you think.” —Sun (UK) St. Martin's Griffin, 9781250081506, 432pp. JULIE COHEN grew up in Maine and studied English at Brown University and Cambridge University. She then moved to the UK permanently, where she taught English before becoming a writer. Her books have won or been shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Award, the National Readers' Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She now writes full-time and teaches creative writing. She lives with her husband and son in Berkshire, England, where she is teased daily about her American accent.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2353
__label__wiki	0.80764	0.80764	FBI Warns Of 'Armed Protests' At All 50 State Capitols In Lead-Up To Inauguration Day A bulletin warns they could start across the country on Jan. 16, stoking fears of more bloodshed after last week's deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol. Police keep a watch on demonstrators who tried to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is warning of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, stoking fears of more bloodshed after last week’s deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol. An internal FBI bulletin warned that, as of Sunday, the nationwide protests may start later this week and extend through Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, according to two law enforcement officials who read details of the memo to The Associated Press. Investigators believe some of the people are members of some extremist groups, the officials said. The bulletin was first reported by ABC. “Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the U.S. Capitol from 17 January through 20 January,” the bulletin said, according to one official. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The FBI issued at least one other bulletin — they go out to law enforcement nationwide on the topic — before the riots last week. On Dec. 29, it warned of the potential for armed demonstrators targeting legislatures, the second official said. Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told reporters on Monday that the Guard is also looking at any issues across the country, “We’re keeping a look across the entire country to make sure that we’re monitoring, and that our Guards in every state are in close coordination with their local law enforcement agencies to provide any support requested.” The riots followed weeks of online calls for violence in Washington in the waning days of Donald Trump’s presidency. A tweet in which Trump promised that last Wednesday’s event “will be wild” fueled a “month-long frenzy of incitements, strategizing, and embrace of violence against lawmakers,” according to a research group that tracks online extremism activity, In a report issued Saturday, the SITE Intelligence Group also warns that the Capitol attack has emboldened Trump-supporting extremists. “No matter how all this plays out, its only the beginning,” posted a user on TheDonald message board, according to the report. Kunzelman reported from College Park, Maryland. Donald Trump Politics and Government Politics Inauguration Day FBI	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2356
__label__wiki	0.708365	0.708365	Bluevale Lucknow/West Wawanosh Home/History /Auburn Print This Page East Wawanosh 150th Anniversary The Citizen s special Keepsake Commemorative Edition for the East Wawanosh 150th Anniversary looks back on the past century-and-a-half in the municipality. Auburn and District Lions Club 40th Anniversary The Auburn and District Lions Club recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary. Join The Citizen for a look at what makes the club special and the history behind the group. Beadles leaves his mark on Auburn Back in the 1960s, music groups from Britain, like the Beatles, came to North America. They called it the British invasion and the music scene here has never been the same since. Auburn's bridges When Auburn celebrated its 150th anniversary of the founding in 2004, the year also coincided with the 50th anniversary of the opening of the handsome Patterson Bridge... Auburn Memorial Hall Auburn Memorial Hall has been the centre for community activities in the village since 1962. The dream of a hall to commemorate area residents who had lost their lives in the two World Wars dates back to the formation of the Community Hall... Auburn's village council Situated at the corners of the former Townships of Colborne, Hullett, East and West Wawanosh, Auburn has always been in a difficult position for governing itself, given that it never grew large enough to become... CPR Railway: Auburn The haunting sound of a railroad engine s whistle is no longer heard in Auburn since Canadian Pacific Railway service was discontinued in 1988 and the rails pulled up shortly thereafter. Ironically, it was exactly 100 years since Auburn... Dr. Bert Weir Dr. B.C. (Bert) Weir is one of the legends of the Auburn community, a doctor who helped bring more than 2,000 area residents... Auburn Post Office Though over the years, Auburn has lost many services it once boasted, it can still claim its own post office and postmaster at a time when some larger communities...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2357
__label__wiki	0.872162	0.872162	Home » UPDATE: Supreme Court says gay, transgender workers protected by federal discrimination law UPDATE: Supreme Court says gay, transgender workers protected by federal discrimination law June 15, 2020 \| The Washington Post Keywords Discrimination / Diversity / Employment Law / Law After years of marginalizing the issue, Corporate America says ‘black lives matter’ Indiana Democrats prepare to choose attorney general nominee Indiana lawmaker jailed on allegations he assaulted deputies NFL commits $250 million over 10 years to ‘combat systemic racism’ African Americans point to racial biases in economics The Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal anti-discrimination laws protect gay and transgender employees, a major gay rights ruling written by one of the court’s most conservative justices. Justice Neil Gorsuch and Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. joined the court’s liberals in the 6 to 3 ruling. They said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination “because of sex,” includes LGBTQ employees. “Today, we must decide whether an employer can fire someone simply for being homosexual or transgender. The answer is clear,” Gorsuch wrote. “An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids.” Gorsuch and Roberts were joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. “This is a huge victory for LGBTQ equality,” said James Esseks of the American Civil Liberties Union. He added: “The Supreme Court’s clarification that it’s unlawful to fire people because they’re LGBTQ is the result of decades of advocates fighting for our rights. The court has caught up to the majority of our country, which already knows that discriminating against LGBTQ people is both unfair and against the law.” For 50 years, courts interpreted Title VII’s prohibition on discrimination because of sex to mean only that women could not be treated worse than men, and vice versa, not that discrimination on the basis of sex included LGBTQ people. The dissenting justices—Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito Jr. and Brett Kavanaugh—agreed with that view. “If every single living American had been surveyed in 1964, it would have been hard to find any who thought that discrimination because of sex meant discrimination because of sexual orientation—not to mention gender identity, a concept that was essentially unknown at the time,” wrote Alito, who was joined by Thomas in his dissent. The dissenters said their colleagues were amending the law, not interpreting it. “The court has previously stated, and I fully agree, that gay and lesbian Americans ‘cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth,'” Kavanaugh wrote, quoting a previous case. But he added: “Our role is not to make or amend the law. As written, Title VII does not prohibit employment discrimination because of sexual orientation.” Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s first nominee to the court, said that was wrong. The text of the law makes clear that gay and transgender workers who are fired are fired because of sex, he wrote. “It is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex,” Gorsuch wrote. “Consider, for example, an employer with two employees, both of whom are attracted to men. The two individuals are, to the employer’s mind, materially identical in all respects, except that one is a man and the other a woman. If the employer fires the male employee for no reason other than the fact he is attracted to men, the employer discriminates against him for traits or actions it tolerates in his female colleague.” It was exactly the message that lawyers for the gay and transgender employees had made, and was striking that it came from one of the court’s most conservative justices. Gorsuch acknowledged that lawmakers in 1964 were probably not protecting gay and transgender workers. But the words of the statute they wrote do that, he said. “Likely, they weren’t thinking about many of the act’s consequences that have become apparent over the years, including its prohibition against discrimination on the basis of motherhood or its ban on the sexual harassment of male employees,” he wrote. “But the limits of the drafters’ imagination supply no reason to ignore the law’s demands.” He said how the decision might affect religious employers was for future cases, as it was not an issue in the cases before the court. The court combined two cases to consider whether gay workers are protected under the law. Gerald Bostock claimed that he was fired from his job as a social worker in Clayton County, Ga., after he became more open about being gay, including joining a gay softball league. Donald Zarda said he was fired as a skydiving instructor after joking with a female client to whom he was strapped for a tandem dive that he was gay. (Zarda died in 2014.) The transgender case was brought by Aimee Stephens, who worked for years at a Michigan funeral home before being fired after informing the owners and colleagues of her gender transition. Stephens died of kidney failure in May, after seeing her case argued at the Supreme Court in October. Before her death, Stephens prepared a statement through the American Civil Liberties Union in anticipation of a possible ruling in her favor. “Firing me because I’m transgender was discrimination, plain and simple, and I am glad the court recognized that what happened to me is wrong and illegal,” she said. “I am thankful that the court said my transgender siblings and I have a place in our laws—it made me feel safer and more included in society.” The cases were the first the court heard since the retirement of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. He had written the majority opinion in all of the court’s major cases that advanced gay rights, including the 2015 decision that said gay couples had the constitutional right to marry. The issue was one of the most consequential of the term. More than 70 friend-of-the-court briefs were filed, dividing states, religious orders and members of Congress. More than 200 of the nation’s largest employers are supporting the workers. The Trump administration sided with the employers, a position that put it at odds with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which decided in 2015 that gay and transgender people were federally protected. Treating a man who is attracted to men differently from a woman who is attracted to men is discrimination, the EEOC reasoned. The commission also looked at a 1989 Supreme Court decision that said federal law protected against discrimination based on stereotypes; the court found for a woman who had not been promoted because her employers found her too aggressive and her manner of dress not feminine enough. That is analogous to discriminating against a transgender person for not conforming to norms expected of a gender, the commission said. Discrimination because of sexual orientation is the same thing, the EEOC said, because it relies on stereotypes about to whom men and women should be attracted. Most appellate courts had come to agree with the EEOC, even when they had not done so in the past. The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled for Zarda, and said its contrary past decisions on the issue were wrong. Chief Judge Robert Katzmann wrote that “sexual orientation discrimination is motivated, at least in part, by sex and is thus a subset of sex discrimination.” (Zarda’s case is being carried forward by his sister and partner.) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit came to a similar conclusion in Stephens’s case. The panel found it “analytically impossible to fire an employee based on that employee’s status as a transgender person without being motivated, at least in part, by the employee’s sex.” But in Bostock’s case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit went the other way, ruling for Clayton County, a suburb south of Atlanta, that Title VII did not protect on the basis of sexual orientation. Gay rights leaders say “married on Sunday, fired on Monday” is a possibility in more than half of the United States, where there is no specific protection for gay or transgender workers. The states that prohibit discrimination are not uniform—some protect only gender identity or transgender status, and some differentiate between public and private employment. Since the case was argued, Virginia became the most recent state to extend protection on its own. The sexual orientation cases are Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga. and Altitude Express v. Zarda. The other case is R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC. 10 thoughts on “UPDATE: Supreme Court says gay, transgender workers protected by federal discrimination law” DARRELL W. says: The question must be asked; Where is the protections for religious organizations that by conscience object to Cultural Secularism Idealogies? If an employee agrees as a condition of employment to sign an agreement/contract that they will adhere to the Biblical beliefs and standards when it comes to sexuality etc. and decides to go in an opposite direction in violation of the agreement, then what? There needs to be safeties built into the laws or else there will be severe conflicts and oppressing discrimination for example cast upon a church when a church objects to an employee changing genders that the new gender would cause compromising situations similar of a man being in the same restroom as girls. What a sick gender dysphoric world we live in!!! Chris B. says: I think courts and laypeople can readily distinguish between ordained clergy (who are not typical employees) and other parish/school employees of religious organizations. At the extreme, I don’t think it’s good public policy to allow, say, the Catholic Church to fire a gay, lesbian, or transgender custodian on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. But where it gets sticky is teachers and counselors in religious schools, and that really is one for the courts also. JOE B. says: Churches can exempt themselves from following this law by turning away federal funds, no? Randy S. says: Darrell, at least you are consistent in your homophobic views. Had you read the article, you would have seen that Gorsuch anticipates a possible different ruling for religious organizations. ‘He said how the decision might affect religious employers was for future cases, as it was not an issue in the cases before the court’. Most places have solved the “bathroom riddle” for trans people by utilizing single person bathrooms since you seem to be so worried about a trans person attacking your daughter. Please cite some legitimate statistics about men transitioning to women being more likely than others of sexually assault women of any age. The fact is, women are MUCH MORE likely to be assaulted by an opposite sex parent, aunt/ uncle, family “friend”, babysitter, or men with whom they are on a date. Same with young boys except you can add their priest to the list. Your final comment cements your bigotry: “a sick gender dysphoric world”. Wake up and stop tagging different people as the bogey man. Educate yourself. It is a real thing: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria https://www.webmd.com/sex/gender-dysphoria#1 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gender-dysphoria/symptoms-causes/syc-20475255 Joe B., I see where you are headed with your comment. Unfortunately, even subjecting churches to income and property taxes (or, at the very least, end the indirect public subsidy of making contributions to religious organizations tax deductible), does not solve the problem. Imagine the 95% of for-profit organizations that are not accepting federal funds saying, “Well, we don’t accept federal money so we are free to fire anyone who is ________ (Black, Jewish, Asian, LGBQT+, etc.). Not fair to any of them to allow such discrimination. Ed – seems likely that churches will eventually be allowed to declare that everyone they employ is a minister and be able to discriminate thusly. Which is a shame, as some of the best teachers in my private Catholic school days were gay and everyone knew it. But I don’t think that any religious school that takes voucher money should be able to discriminate. If they want to claim everyone is a minister, that’s fine I guess, but no government money for you. What will be more interesting, as you say, are the Hobby Lobby’s and Chic-Fil-A’s of the world and how they will spend their money on this issue. MARTIN W. says: What an important step forward for the LGBTQ community! Bigotry in all of its forms is simply wrong. On its face this is a perfectly legitimate argument but there is a segment of people that WILL use this decision to attack churches and other religious organizations. Its already been done almost everywhere. The ruling is too vague as it is written, as has often been the case in recent decisions handed down by the courts. If the rulings treating churches differently from other “essential” places, during the COVID 19 pandemic, are any clue as to how this latest ruling is enforced, then it can be assumed that this latest ruling will be used to compel churches and religious organizations to submit to whatever government or secular group thinks is “fair or equitable.” Just as the comment concerning the 1964 Civil Rights Act states that practically no one at that time would have connected the protections associated with that act to protect anything other than what was actually stated. This latest “ruling” is, however, a misrepresentation of what was originally implied. On part of this ruling is in keeping with a very dangerous group of people that see the Constitution as a “living” document. Of course what this really means is that no law can be assumed to mean what its original context was. Laws, under this concept, are never really permanent, only what the “prevailing” sentiment is. A law that can be changed or “redefined” by changing the context in order to “bring it up to date with MODERN ideas or concepts, is not a law at all. Its merely a “suggestion.” While laws have never been perfect nor do they solve all problems, their existence as referenced within the time and context in which they were created are critical. They have protected and helped more people than they have harmed or not protected. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was something that was legislated in Congress and Signed into law by the sitting President. What a redefinition of this Act does is an “end run” around the will of the people and the legislative process. In other words, it is legislation by the courts which is yet another un-Constitutional trend in our court system. Everyone deserves equal protection under the law, without exception; however, when “protection” is used to punish or destroy those that don’t agree with your point of view it isn’t protection, its an absurd distortion of everything that was ever written or intended by founders of this country. I often used to wonder when I was a college student, studying 20th century history, what it would have been like to be alive and present during the enormous struggles that went on during the 1920s and 30s in Europe. Well, the people in this country might get that chance at the rate we are going. Over the last 6 months we have been watching, like spectators at a play or movie, knowing where the tragic plot seems to be moving, and not knowing what to do. We know, if it keeps going the way it seems to be progressing, it will end in an enormous train wreck. We can see that the bridge is out up ahead and we want to yell or something but the train only seems to pick up speed. Lets hope cooler heads and more intelligent and caring people can stop this before it is too late. Oh, Neil D., clutch your pearls! Very few people are out to persecute the churches. This decision was supported by two conservative justices, including Gorsuch, who anticipates a possibly different ruling for religious organizations. ‘He said how the decision might affect religious employers was for future cases, as it was not an issue in the cases before the court’. BENJAMIN B. says: The problem with the belief that religious people or organizations should be exempt from generally applicable laws protecting LGBTQ persons is that courts and religious people and organizations routinely used their religious beliefs to argue for racial discrimination. The trial court in Loving v. Virginia used the Bible to defend anti-miscegenation laws, saying that God put black people and white people on different continents and thus wanted them to remain unmixed. Fortunately the Supreme Court saw through that veil and defended the right to marry across races. But arguing that “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve” is a variation on the same theme. Almost no Americans would support racial discrimination on the basis of religious freedom; the same should be true for discrimination against LGBTQ persons.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2358
__label__wiki	0.929031	0.929031	Researchers Race to Innovate Organ Controlling Implantable Teams will be awarded up to $1 million in additional research funding. Jennifer Langston This prototype implanted device designed at the University of Washington, code-named "Lollipop," receives up to 300mW wirelessly, performs neural recording, bi-directional communication, and performs optical stimulation. An international team led by researchers at the Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering (CSNE) based at the University of Washington is one of three finalists in a race to produce an implantable wireless device (see images in gallery) that can assess, stimulate and block the activity of nerves that control organs. For the GlaxoSmithKline Bioelectronics Innovation Challenge, the team is working on an implantable device that could help restore bladder function for people with spinal cord injuries or millions of others who suffer from incontinence. "For people with spinal cord injuries, restoring sexual function and bladder function are some of their top priorities -- higher than regaining the ability to walk," said Chet Moritz, deputy director of the CSNE and UW associate professor of rehabilitation medicine and of physiology and biophysics. "The vision is for these neural devices to be as ubiquitous as pacemakers or deep brain stimulators, where a surgeon implants the device and it's seamless for the patient," he said. "We're really excited to make a difference in people's lives and to help push these technologies forward." The CSNE team -- one of 11 initially selected by GlaxoSmithKline to compete in the challenge -- joined forces with another team of experts from the University of Cambridge and University College London for the second round of the competition. The company will award up to $1 million in additional research funding to each team. Another $1 million prize will go to the first group to deliver a device that is functional in small animal models. "This open innovation construct provides the platform for future public and private collaborations, which will advance pre-clinical and clinical research concepts and ultimately deliver novel treatment paradigms to address unmet patient needs,"' said Roy Katso, Director of Open Innovation and Funding Partnerships for GlaxoSmithKline. The final implantable wireless device will be able to stimulate and block electrical signals that travel along the nerves and control specific organs. Stimulating the pelvic nerve causes the bladder to empty, for example, while blocking those signals could help someone who is unable to control his or her bladder. However, numerous challenges persist -- such as delivering power efficiently and without wires while ensuring the implanted device doesn't overheat inside the body and limiting tissue reactions at the nerve interface. The CSNE team at UW is using a wireless power transmitter developed by CSNE leader and UW associate professor of electrical engineering and of computer science and engineering Joshua Smith. A similar technology is being used by Smith's new company WiBotic Corp. to manufacture wireless power systems for robots and drones. They designed the wireless device to interact with a rat's pelvic nerve in one of two ways -- both electronically and optically. Moritz and team member Greg Horwitz, UW associate professor of physiology and biophysics, have expertise in optogenetics, which uses light to control neurons. That approach may enable the team to stimulate the pelvic nerve without having to physically touch it, which may reduce swelling and scarring that can occur with direct nerve interfaces. The University of Cambridge and University College of London researchers have deep expertise in nerve and bladder physiology, as well as packaging implantable devices so they don't corrode or breakdown in the body's moist and dynamic environment. The competition's big idea is to replace pharmaceuticals, which can affect many systems throughout the body, with wireless devices that enable much more targeted interventions by stimulating or blocking the activity of specific nerves that send signals to organs. These devices could also "read" how the organs are functioning and decide whether any treatment action is necessary at that moment. "We want to be able to say, 'Right now the blood pressure is high or the bladder is full -- does the device need to do something or can the body be left alone?'" said Moritz. "That dramatically lowers the amount of treatment that's needed, as opposed to having someone on a drug 24 hours a day, seven days a week." After the competition concludes, the next steps will be to disseminate the technologies to the wider research community and begin working on human trials. The goal is to create a flexible platform that could act on a wide variety of organs. "The idea is that many groups could be pushing towards different human applications at the same time -- not just for the bladder but for any organ. So our platform needs to be robust enough that people can dream wildly about what they want to treat with neural devices rather than pharmaceuticals," said Moritz. Other UW team members include Tom Richner, postdoctoral fellow in physiology and biophysics, Bingni Brunton, assistant professor of biology, and Ryan Solinsky, resident in rehabilitation medicine. Team members from other institutions include James Fawcett, professor of experimental neurology at the University of Cambridge; Nick Donaldson, professor of neuroprosthesis engineering at University College London; Andreas Demosthenous, professor of analog and biomedical electronics at University College London; Polina Anikeeva, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at MIT and a CSNE member; Dai Jiang and Tim Perkins, postdoctoral fellows at University College London and Damiano Barone, postdoctoral fellow at University of Cambridge. The project builds on research begun at CSNE, a NSF-funded Engineering Research Center that is headquartered at UW and also includes MIT and other educational institutions. Moritz is the deputy director of the center, Smith is the thrust leader for communications and interface who is responsible for hardware research and Anikeeva is a testbed leader. Early hardware development was supported by funding from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, where Moritz and Smith are also Allen Distinguished Investigators. "It is gratifying to see the center's hardware research efforts paying off so quickly. Selection by GlaxoSmithKline in this rigorous international competition shows that technologies emerging from the CSNE are at the leading edge of what is possible," Smith said. Employees Get Implanted with Microchips	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2360
__label__wiki	0.797473	0.797473	FCA Attempts to Keep India’s Lookalike Jeep Out of U.S. Fiat Chrysler has filed a trade complaint trying to block the import of the Mahindra Roxor, calling it “nearly-identical” to the Jeep. Many global automakers are struggling this year as overall sales volume is declining, thanks in large part to a mass consumer exodus from passenger cars. Fiat Chrysler experienced another pronounced hit this July, when longtime, visionary CEO Sergio Marchionne passed away suddenly at the age of 66. And if that weren’t enough to navigate, one of the brightest points in Fiat Chrysler’s portfolio – the booming sales of its Jeep models – is facing new competitive threats. Last month, the Jeep model lineup was up 15 percent, supported in part by the re-designed Wrangler, which is pacing to have its best year on record. But unfortunately for Fiat Chrysler, Indian automaker Mahindra is hoping to cash in on the U.S. market popularity of the Jeep-style vehicles by importing its own. Bloomberg is calling it a Jeep “knock off,” and says Fiat Chrysler has filed a trade complaint trying to block the import of the Mahindra Roxor, accusing the company of using a “nearly-identical” body design. While Mahindra says it’s India’s largest SUV producer, the company has extended its supply chain into the land of American automotive legacy – Michigan. Last year, the company established its North American headquarters in Troy and has since committed $600 million to expanding the facility and tripling its workforce. But Fiat Chrysler says their Jeeps are threatened because Mahindra is able to undercut them on price, mostly due to a product that’s mostly manufactured in low-cost India and then “knocked-down kits” are sent to the US. for final assembly. But it looks like the case could get a little muddy, and for two reasons: one, Mahindra actually licensed the design for the original 1940s Willys Jeep at one point and, according to Auto Blog, “it’s unclear where that license currently stands.” And the other issue is that the Roxor isn’t actually even street legal in the U.S. due to not having passed the safety and emissions standards. Besides that, it’s top speed is 45 miles per hour, which would most likely send it directly into niche applications and keep it from head-to-head mass market competition with the Jeep. Jeep Teases Two-Door Concept Could Renault, FCA Merge? Fiat Chrysler Cuts 1,400 Jobs in IL Jeep, Ram Power Strong Profits for Chrysler	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2361
__label__cc	0.557479	0.442521	Liverpool Proud Of A Great Season Liverpool Fan's Blog Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has stated that the club can be proud of a great campaign irrespective of what happens at Manchester City on Sunday. The club came close to winning the first Premier league title in their history. However, two matches without a win in the last two weeks have proven to be a catastrophic outcome of the club. Prior to the defeat against Chelsea at Anfield, Liverpool went into every match knowing that destiny washing their hands. The 2-0 defeat against Chelsea changed the total outcome. They suffered a 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace on Monday night – a result that effectively ended their title hopes. Liverpool looked certain to take the title race to the last day of the season but they threw a three-goal lead in the space of nine minutes to finish the season empty-handed. City will now be able to win the title if they get at least a point against West Ham on the final day of the season. After having come so close, Rodgers was understandably a very disappointed man after the final whistle against Crystal Palace. Ahead of the weekend’s match with Newcastle, he said that the club can be proud of their achievements this season even if they do not win the title. “It’s certainly not over. But we can only concentrate on our job. We have to win the game. West Ham have some talented players. If you can go to Tottenham and win 3-0, you can certainly go to Manchester City and win. They’ve got the likes of Big Andy (Carroll), and they have a good defensive record, with something like 14 clean sheets this season. They are difficult to play against. The expectancy is, without disrespecting anyone, that Man City will win,” said the former Swansea manager, who is set to sign a new contract with the club. < Is John Flanagan ready to play for England? Win One, Take One. – Episode 18 [vs Man City/Liverpool] – Football Manager 2014 > GUARDIOLA FEELS THE PRESSURE LIVERPOOL MAKE IT EIGHT LEAGUE WINS Who will be Liverpool’s Top Scorer in 19/20?	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2362
__label__wiki	0.784212	0.784212	Prince Harry’s girlfriend Meghan Markle 'will attend' Pippa Middleton’s wedding next month The Suits actress is said to have been invited to the reception but not the ceremony Harry will have a date after all (Image: REX/Fameflynet) Meghan Marklewill be attending Pippa Middleton’s wedding to hedge fund boss James Matthews after all, according to US reports. Last month it was widely reported that Prince Harry’s girlfriend wouldn’t be at Pippa and James’ wedding day due to Kate’s sister’s ‘no ring, no bring’ rule, which bans anyone who isn’t engaged or married to a guest from attending. However, People magazine reports the Suits actress has been invited to the reception at St. Mark’s church on May 20, but not the ceremony. If Meghan has received an invite to the reception, it's a clear indication her relationship with Harry is becoming more and more serious. Harry recently admitted he would love to have kids at some stage (Image: PA) Meanwhile, the royal recently said he would “love” to have children. Speaking with The Telegraph as part of the publication’s Mad World podcast, he said: “I, of course, I would love to have kids.” And Harry has revealed being uncle to his brother Prince William’s children Prince George, three, and 23-month-old Princess Charlotte, as well as his godfather duties, has given him practice when dealing with children. Pippa will wed James next month (Image: Rex) He explained: “Yeah, I’m a godfather to quite a few of my friends’ [kids] … actually only five or six. “I’d like to think so [he is a good godfather]. But I think the key to that is to grow up, but also to be able to stay in touch with your childhood side. If that means going to someone’s house and sitting there and playing Play Station and kicking the ass of their son on [video games] or whatever it is, then I’ll try and do that. I’ve actually had a lot of practice for that.” The actress and royal have been dating since last summer (Image: Getty Images Portrait) Harry and the Meghan are said to be "deeply happy" in their relationship, regardless of their busy schedules, which sees the actress film for the popular series in Canada whilst Harry remains in England. Speaking previously about the couple and their romance, a source said: "Despite the distance, the media attention and everything else, there's a real ease to their relationship. It just works. They are deeply happy." However, when the pair are together they enjoy spending as much quality time together as they can. A separate source recently shared: "They spend a lot of time watching movies at Harry's and cooking new dishes. Meg is a great cook and sends Harry out to posh food shops. She has even added a few feminine touches such as scented candles and soft furnishings." Prince Charles, Prince of Wales	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2364
__label__wiki	0.548899	0.548899	Star Trek-inspired personalized medicine is on the horizon \| Opinion November 30, 2020 [email protected]_84 Horizon, medicine, opinion, personalized, star, Trekinspired This article is part of an op-ed series on engineering fields that will change the world by Rutgers School of Engineering faculty. By Umer Hassan Real-world innovations – from submarines to self-driving cars – come straight from imaginary worlds of science fiction. Think Star Trek’s handheld tricorder, a medical diagnostic device that made its first appearance in the original TV series. This sci-fi precursor is now changing the face of personalized medicine by taking the tricorder concept to the next level. Today, diabetics can anticipate a biosensor able to monitor their glucose levels through perspiration. A biosensor implant could detect genetic mutations as they happen, while British researchers are developing a wearable biosensor that will collect data and assess the efficacy of rehabilitation equipment and exercise. Other biosensors will be able to quickly and inexpensively detect costly and potentially fatal medical conditions such as sepsis and AIDS. Together with Rutgers University colleagues, clinical and industry partners, my lab has been working to solve these global health challenges with new tools that focus on a highly personalized approach to medicine. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we are also hoping to apply this technology to fight the coronavirus. Sepsis – the body’s life-threatening response to infection – is not only deadly, it is the most expensive inpatient medical condition in the United States, with patients who develop sepsis often spending days in intensive care units at a cost of $10,000 a day – or more. Recognizing that sepsis is responsible for as many as 6 million largely preventable deaths a year, the World Health Organization has identified the prevention, diagnosis and management of sepsis as a pressing global health priority. By applying electrical and computer engineering skills to identify new biomarkers and devise machine-learning algorithms, or artificial intelligence systems, we hope to dramatically improve clinicians’ abilities to diagnose, predict – and ultimately manage – sepsis. Simply reacting to diseases is no longer enough – we need to predict them in order to treat patients in a much smarter way. To this end, we are building an inexpensive medical device that even minimally trained health care providers can use to accurately diagnosis sepsis. This automated device would cost less than $10 a test and be simple to operate not only in resource-limited settings but anywhere where a rapidly confirmed diagnosis of sepsis is needed. In sub-Saharan Africa, where only one person in eight is even tested for HIV, many of those infected go undetected until they develop severe complications from the disease. In the near future, cheap, disposable biosensors that are as easy and convenient to use as a home pregnancy test, will detect infections with people living with HIV/AIDS in underdeveloped sub-Saharan African nations. A secondary goal is to develop sensors able to monitor a patient’s response to the antiretroviral therapy they receive. The positive health and economic impact of such sensors would be felt not only in underdeveloped nations, but also in the United States by reducing the cost of a single HIV test from hundreds of dollars to as little as $10. A smartphone-based microscope setup, working with a Galaxy S9+ attached to a 3D printed platform will display an image of white blood cells. My lab has also made the fight against COVID-19 a priority and a natural extension of our existing work. We are seeking to develop a sensor that could measure the ability of white blood cells to kill the virus in high-risk human patients. This could lead to new therapeutic interventions and could help develop a rapid, easy-to-use widespread stratification test. In terms of predicting health outcomes and personalizing therapeutic approaches economically, we are also collaborating with Robert Wood Johnson Medical Hospital to do just that by combining sensor data and electronic medical records data. Advancing personalized medicine and health monitoring is also a key concern of my Rutgers School of Engineering colleague, electrical and computer engineering associate professor Mehdi Javanmard. His lab has been developing a “lab on a chip” with the potential to monitor everything from health to germs to pollutants. His team’s innovative biosensor could be used in hand-held devices – akin to that old Star Trek tricorder – or wearable devices that measure biomarkers to track your health and exposure to harmful bacteria, viruses, and pollutants. While a single biomarker is measured in home pregnancy tests, multiple biomarkers need to be tracked simultaneously to diagnose and manage complex health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. The lab on a chip is designed to meet that challenge. Additionally, within the next three to five years, a lab on a chip could quickly analyze a sample of what – if any – harmful bacteria are on a doorknob of a bathroom; test a salad for the presence of E. coli or Salmonella bacteria; or even quickly test for the flu. In time, a future version of the smartphone will be the true tricorder of tomorrow. Smartphone-based health sensors will ultimately transform the smartphone into an intelligent, all-in-one monitoring and diagnostic device. Umer Hassan, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rutgers University School of Engineering, holds a joint appointment at Rutgers Global Health Institute. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Here’s how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters. ← Austin Dotson’s Newfound Purpose and Direction Is in Fitness As 75 Hard fitness program trends on TikTok, experts raise red flags →	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2367
__label__wiki	0.608056	0.608056	Cohort Rosh Chodesh Reflections IOWA Project Shvat Wisdom Photo by Terry Richmond Like many of us, I felt hope and despair/outrage last Wednesday with the Senate victories in Georgia in the morning followed by the violent insurrection at the Capitol building. At the same time as brilliant and gritty community organizing created an unbelievable progressive win, the ugliness of white supremacy and white nationalism burst into the open in the most public way possible. Over the past week I’ve struggled to hold the implications of both in my mind and heart at the same time. Jewish wisdom embedded in the month of Shvat offers a helpful perspective. The month of Shvat is the new year of the trees, marking the time when the sap begins to rise in the trees of the land of Israel. There is disagreement among the ancient sages as to when that moment actually occurs. The School of Shammai says it is today, Rosh Chodesh Shvat, while the School of Hillel says it occurs on the 15th day of the month, the time of the full moon. Rav Nosson of Breslov (d. 1844, Ukraine) offers a spiritual explanation of the difference between the two schools by noting the difference between the new and full moons. The new moon arrives when the sky is at its darkest point. This moment symbolizes when we feel the most despair and disconnection. It is in that place that the hidden light is strongest. The birth of the new moon on Rosh Chodesh symbolizes the recognition that light/hope is still there despite the darkness, which is reason for celebration and renewal. However, we only see a sliver of the light/hope at that moment, shown by the tiny, sliver of moon that shines shortly after Rosh Chodesh. Much spiritual work needs to be done to take that glimmer of hope and bring it to its full realization, which is symbolized by the full moon two weeks later. Each month we are reminded of this cycle of fear/despair, remembering hope, and service that builds towards the fullness of our hope and vision. Much spiritual work needs to be done to take that glimmer of hope and bring it to its full realization, which is symbolized by the full moon two weeks later. How does this relate to our current political moment? As heinous as the violent coup attempt last Wednesday was, some are calling it the “death rattle of white supremacy,” meaning a loud, large demonstration that actually points to the end, rather than the beginning of vitality. Whether or not this is true, the insurrection certainly woke up many of this country’s corporate leaders and centrists to the danger of white nationalists and the president and politicians who’ve enabled them over the past four years. Last Wednesday afternoon can be compared to Rosh Chodesh, when the sky is darkest, yet also reveals the possibility and hope of white supremacy and white nationalism being seen for what they are – deep and real threats to the wellbeing of this country. But, this recognition is nowhere near enough for us to defeat white supremacy and white nationalism. It is just a sliver. Rigorous, hard work is needed. This is the work demonstrated by the political organizing led by Stacey Abrams, LaTosha Brown and many others that made the victories in Georgia a reality. It is this daily organizing that will move us from the sliver of hope to the fullness of our vision of finally ending white supremacy in this country. Our ancient sages decided according to the School of Hillel that the new year of the trees is on the full moon, the 15th of the month and not on the new moon of Rosh Chodesh. Perhaps they are telling us that it is the fullness of our vision of a multicultural and multiracial democracy that we need to keep as our focus if we are to have the fortitude to do the long, hard work of daily organizing to move from a glimmer of hope of the downfall of white nationalism, to a country that finally subdues and heals from lies of white supremacy. With the change in administrations next week, we have an opportunity for a new beginning. I invite you to join us next week for a digital gathering where we will ground ourselves in the soul trait of Emunah/trustworthiness, as inspiration for both this new beginning, and for the continued work of building toward the fullness of our vision of liberation. Learn more and sign up below. Chodesh Tov, Join us on Thursday, January 21st at 8pm EST / 5pm PST for our upcoming webinar, Inauguration and Beyond: Spiritual Sustenance for Rebuilding. Learn more and register at bit.ly/inauguration-webinar. Spotlight Interview: Helen Bennett The IOWA Project is fiscally sponsored by FJC, a 501c3 public charity. Facebook: insideoutwisdomandaction info@insideoutwisdomandaction.org FJC, Registered Nonprofit: 13-3848582 About Support Us Resources Join a Group Community Contact © 2019 by IOWA Project. Proudly created with Wix.com \| Terms of Use \| Privacy Policy	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2370
__label__wiki	0.771461	0.771461	Title : MPP-English Chapters/Pages : 49/568 Total Price : Rs. : 426 History of English Literature Total views (422) This unit deals about the history of English Literature.English, is spoken as the mother tongue of the people of North America, Australia and New Zealand and by sections (large' and small) of the population of countries so widely different as Ireland, Africa, India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Malaysia, The Philippines and The West Indies. English is now the first language in increasing number of homes i ...... Backgrounds: Classical and Christian Total views (413) English literature. like any literature. is the result of a confrontation of life by sundry gifted men and women, an imaginative ordering of this experience, and its translation through the medium of language into art. Life has both universal and local or temporal aspects and it is the business of the poet to seize as far as possible the universal aspects of an experience and incarnate them in l ...... Approaches to Literature - I Total views (409) Art and Life . cannot, after all, be kept in wholly autonomous compartment?, and likewise aesthetic and moral values too cannot be treated as utterly independent of one another. As Charles Morgan aptly puts it, Man cannot begin to think more or less of religion, of love, of equality, of possessing of power of all else by which his mind and spirit are engaged". The raw stuff of life undergoes a ce ...... Approaches to Literature - II Total views (414) There are three kinds of novel a action novel, the character-novel and the 'dramatic novel', In the novel of action - in Treasure Island or in an Ian Flaning spy-story, for 'instance - 'the characters are designed to fit the plot', and what engrosses and charms the reader is "irresponsible delight in vigorous, events", Such novel action is a fantasy of desire rather than a picture of life", In ...... The Literary Criticism Total views (417) Literature, then in the widest sense, is the record of the impressions made by external realities of every' kind upon great men, and of the reflections which these men have made upon them. The subject matter of literature covers the whole range of human life and activity, as well as every , known manifestation of physical nature, Glossary of Literary Terms and Explanation From 'A' to 'B' Total views (414) A glossary is a collection of terms that lists explanation of those words. Most of the time writing about a work of poetry or drama requires a general vocabulary. For example, when your are writing about your feelings about love and hope after reading Romeo and Juliet or Keats's poem "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" perhaps that kind of writing or even speaking may not require a specialist language. Glossary of Literary Terms and Explanation From 'C' to 'N' Total views (413) At the end of working through this unit you should be able to state the meaning of the literary terms covered in the unit and recall their definition. They will also be able to explain in your own language the significance of the terms and cite examples to support your explanation. Price: Rs 22.5 Glossary of Literary Terms and Explanation From 'O' to 'S' Total views (405) At the end of this unit you should be able to state the meaning of the literary terms covered in the unit and recall the definition of the term. They should also be able to explain in your own language the significance of the term and cite examples where it is necessary to explain the meaning of the term covering more than one aspect if need be. Price: Rs 12 Glossary of Literary Terms and Explanation From 'T' to 'Z' Total views (407) A Primer Glossary of New Literary Theories Total views (467) What is Poetry? Total views (464) Confronted with a Block that claims to introduce you to poetry, you may be wondering "Who needs it?" and you may well be right. You hardly can have avoided meeting poetry before; and perhaps already have a friendship, or at least a fair acquaintance, with some poets of your language and the great English-speaking poets of all time. Forms of Poetry Total views (468) Poetry can be classified into two principal groups: subjective poetry and objective poetry. In subjective poetry, the poet reveals his own feelings, and develops the theme based on his own experience. Objective poetry is impersonal. Stylistic Features Total views (466) At the end of this unit you should be able to identify the role of the speaker in a given environment and define various figures of speech. They will also be able to cite examples of alliteration assonance and such other elements of poetry. Judging Poetry and Some Significant Statements on Poetry Total views (466) At the end of this unit you should be able to, recognize badness in poems and recall significant definition of poetry. They will also be able to cite famous definitions and apply them to your reading and appreciation of poetry. Ballad Form Total views (467) Ballads focus on a single crucial episode of situation. The ballad begins usually at a point where the action is decisively directed towards its catastrophe. Events leading up to this crucial and conclusive episode are told in a summary fashion. Little attention is given to describing settings.Ballads are dramatic. Lyric Total views (469) The term Lyric is one of the three general categories of poetic literature, the others being narrative and dramatic.Lyric as well as the drama and epic may have had their genesis in a spontaneously melodic expression which soon adopted itself to a ritualistic need and thus became formalized, music in dramatic and epic poetry was secondary to other elements of the works. Sonnet Form Total views (467) Sonnet is a lyric poem consisting of a single stanza of fourteen lines in iambic pentameter linked by an intricate rhyme scheme: There are two major patterns of rhyme scheme in the English sonnet. Ode Total views (468) Ode in its simplest form is a long lyric poem that is serious in subject and treatment, elevated in style and elaborate in its stanzaic structure. The Greek word is aeidein which means "to chant", "to sing". In its modern usage it is ceremonious and complexly organized form of lyric poetry, usually of considerable length. The Study of Drama Total views (468) A play is literature before it exists in a theater; and it might be argued that when we read an unfamiliar play, we meet it in the same basic form in which it first appears to its actors and its director. If a play is rich and complex, or int dates from the remote past and contains difficulties of language and allusion, to read it on the page enables us to study it at our leisure, to return to tho ...... Tragedy Total views (462) The ancient Greeks, "and following them the ancient Romans, divided poetry into three 'genres: Epic, Lyric, and Drama. The last comprised 'tragedy' which was serious drama and 'comedy' which was light. Although Plato described Homer's poems as 'tragedy' because of their noble "seriousness" although Dracontes called his poem "Orestes" a "tragedy", although Ovid's 'elegies' were regarded by some as ...... Comedy Total views (465) At the end of this unit you should be able to,state various definition of the term comedy and distinguish between comedy and farce. They will also be able to identify types of comedy and explain the essential elements of different types of comedy. Modern Drama and Views of Great Masters of Drama Total views (466) At the end of this unit you should be able to,state trends in 20th Century drama and explain characteristics of recent developments. They will also be able to recognize and recall the famous utterances of celebrated writers and playwrights on central issues connected with tragedy and comedy. Unit 1 : Henrik Ibsen: A Doll's House Total views (465) Before proceeding with a detailed analysis of the play A Doll's House, this unit introduces you to the author of the play. You will be able to understand the play better if you are familiar with the background of the author and his ideology. After giving you a brief biography of the author as well as his social and philosophical ideology, the unit brings you face to face with the actual play. Unit 2 : Henrik Ibsen: A Doll's House - Act II Total views (466) In this Act, we begin to see its effect on Nora when she meets Krogstad for the second time. The Act also defines the relationship between Nora and Dr. Rank. The theme of suppression of the individual is carried forward by dilating on the problem of Dr. Rank and Krogstad. The secondary theme of the influence of heredity and environment is also dealt with in greater detail through the characters of ...... Unit 3 : Henrik Ibsen: A Doll's House-Act III Total views (462) The developments of dramatic events in Act 'II lead to an unexpected and gripping climax. As the events further unfold in Act III, you will notice that Ibsen has certainly lived up to the expectations raised in Act II. Act III Nora finally giving vent to her inner thoughts and feelings which she hadn't realized until then. A Doll's House - Critical Analysis Total views (462) This unit is based on the assumption that you have read the textbook and also the study material, which has been provided as an aid for a better understanding of the play. As, students of literature" you need to know more than a detailed analysis of the play. You should critically examine the text, and comment on the . complex aspects of the play. The Novel and The Elements of Fiction Total views (464) At the end of this unit you should be able to explain what you understand when you use the term fiction and novel define and analyse the elements of fiction. They will also be able to distinguish between plot and story and recall the significance of characteristics of, description and selling in a novel. Types of Fiction Total views (466) At the end of this unit you should be able to define the term novella and short story '. They will also be able to state the definition of different types of novels and science fiction,identify and recognize techniques of fiction. Major Statement on the Novel and Fiction Total views (464) At the end of through this unit you should be able to state famous utterances of great writers and recognize the well-known utterances on Fiction. They will also be able to recall names of Fiction, celebrated novelists or critics, when their statements are mentioned. A Novelist's World View Total views (464) At the end of through this unit you should be able to explain what a critic means when,he uses ,the term philosophy of life or world view and analyze the relationship between novel and society. They will also be able to define the term realism and apply it while reading works of fiction. Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice Total views (464) One of the most widely read novels of Jane Austen is Pride and Prejudice. Do not limit yourself to reading only the units on Pride and Prejudice a sincere Student of literature must read the original text. Read the unabridged text. I am certain that the experience of reading the text will sensitize and also enriched you. Tagore: The Babus of Nayanjore Total views (464) The short story in India is ancient as well as modern. It is ancient because you can easily trace its origin to the Buddhist Jatakas as well as Panchatantra and Katha-Sarit Sagara. It is modern because in its present form it derives mainly from new conditions and social urges, and bears on it the heavy impress of the West. Mulk Raj Anand: The Lost Child Total views (464) Mulk Raj Anand is a master of the craft of the short story. In simple but telling words he can lay his knowledge of the human heart. It was Anand's desire to create "a new kind of fable which extends the old Indian story form into a new age, without the moral lessons of the Indian story, but embodying its verve and vitality and including the psychological understanding of the contemporary peri ...... R.K. Narayan: The Doctor's Word Total views (471) A novelist. short story writer and writer of humorous skits, R.K. Narayan (1907-2001) is one of our writers well known abroad. The humorous manner of his writing has caught the imagination of the people. R.K. Narayan's novels have achieved international recognition and some of them have been translated into European languages. Raja Rao: Javni Total views (476) Raja Rao (1908-), who hails from Karnataka State, is one of the important Indian writers of today. After graduating from the University of Madras, he went to France at the age of nineteen to do research in Literature at the University of Montpellier and at the Sorbonne. But he soon gave up research and started his literary carer as a writer of short stories in English and French. Unit 1 : George Orwell's Animal Farm Total views (480) The purpose of this unit is to introduce you to George Orwell the man and novelist and help you in approaching one of the masterpieces of the great novelist. At the end of this the unit, you should be able to describe the Old Major's dream: His inspiring message for revolt.They will also be able to list the Seven Commandments of Animalism and explain how Pigs take over the administration. At the end of this unit you should be able to explain how the battle of the cowshed in fought under the leadership of Snowball and describe the heroism of smaller animals.They will also be able to identify the action of Boxers and his humanness. George Orwell's Animal Farm Total views (492) At the end of working through this unit you should be able to describe events that look place after the animal rebellion and explain Animalism under the rule of Napoleon. They will also be able to describe Snowball projected as an enemy of the Animal Farm and explain how Squealer re-educates animals that the Hero of the Rattle of the Cows was Napoleon and Snowball a traitor. They will also be able ...... At the end of this unit you should be able to analyse how all the commandments are flouted by pigs and 'Animal Farm again becomes 'Manor Farm' as a result of reduction in Rations to animals and describe strategy to discredit snowball. They will also be able to analyse Boxer being sent to the slaughter House and state: Squealer's propaganda. Summing Up Total views (490) At the end of this unit, you should be able to recall the major incidents of the novel and ought to be able to, analyze what happens to the commandments of Animalism. Structure and Plot Total views (490) At the end of this unit, you should be able to, analyse the structure and plot and give examples of characterization and explain the theme of the story, They will also be able to relate the implications of applying terms like "Fable", "Fairy Story"and "Allegory" to the story. Allegorical Significance and Review of Criticism Total views (488) At the end of working through this unit you should be able to, analyze Animal Farm as a political allegory and to find suitable evidence for describing it as a historical allegory and to explain elements of style. They will also be able to list some points of views of important literary critics of Orwell's novel. A Note on the Audio - Visual Component on Animal Farm Total views (533) After reading this brief unit, you should be able to state information regarding the theatre and video versions of Orwell's Animal Farm available for viewing, and the advantage of viewing video production and plays. Glossary and Bibliography Total views (489) After reading through this unit you should be able to identify and explain a number of words/terms used in this block. You will also come to know of the other works of George Orwell, as well as works on George Orwell for further study. A Study of Prose Total views (487) At the end of working through this unit, you must be able to identify different genre of prose and distinguish between styles and approaches while using prose. They will also be able to assess what is good prose and explain its salient features. Of Studies Total views (488) This unit analyses and discusses at length Bacon's views and arguments with regard to studies. It focuses on giving you an in-depth understanding of the easy and also introduces you to the language and wisdom of Bacon - the wisdom that comes from experience and reflection on it and the presentation of it by means of a style which is at once economical and ornamental. Gulliver in the Land of Houyhnhnm-Jonathan Swift Total views (488) In this unit we shall discuss how Gulliver is received by the Houyhnhnm all a strange island. The focus is on the houyhnhnms which are rational horses and the Yahoos which are abominable, and savage. We shall also note yet resemble human beings in physical appearance, the caustic satire that Swift employs in his work. Definition of a Horse Total views (489) This unit will help students understand the story and it will make you familiar with the concepts of fact and fancy and will help students to get an insight into Dickens anger against a strictly utilitarian system of education.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2372
__label__wiki	0.642642	0.642642	Macquarie assets poised to grow Sarah Simpkins Macquarie Group is well placed for growth in its wealth management, according to Morgan Stanley, which expects the bank’s gross inflows in its alternative assets sector to more than double in 2H19. The report has also forecasted Macquarie’s Investment management flows to improve from flat in FY18-19 to around 3.5 per cent in FY20-21, with stronger asset management and commodities revenue to drive 2 per cent of its earnings per share upgrades. Morgan Stanley has upgraded gross inflows for the alternative assets business Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) for the second half, now expecting around $20 billion instead of its prior $8.5 billion, citing reasons including the firm gaining external management of the $2.5 billion The Infrastructure Fund (TIF) in Australia. Alternative allocations will rise from around 5 per cent currently to 6 per cent by 2023, the research said, with assets under management (AUM) to grow from $8.4 trillion to $14 trillion. Morgan Stanley said MIRA will be one of the players best positioned to tap into the global sector’s growth. The analysis expects the company to gain around 15 per cent growth for FY19, in line with its guidance. Profit-after-tax is predicted to be $2.9 million for FY19, an increase of 16 per cent from the year before, while net operating income is anticipated to be $12 million, up by 10 per cent. “MQG remains in an earnings and ROE (returns on equity) growth cycle given unrealised gains across a number of its operating businesses, a favourable operating environment in some of its businesses, lower US tax rates, and flexibility on the compensation ratio,” Morgan Stanley said. Also a strength for the group is its investment in commodities with revenues being up 85 per cent year-on-year for the first half, with the report saying Macquarie is “benefiting from the ongoing build out of its global platform and fundamental change in the US energy market.” Morgan Stanley upgraded its expected outcomes for the firm’s FY20/FY21 commodities revenues by around 10 per cent. Macquarie has an advantage in being geared to the production of goods and services, rather than just to financial markets, the analysis noted. “After several years of markets outperforming the real economy, there is a risk that markets may now underperform the real economy,” Morgan Stanley said. “However, Macquarie has a unique business mix among Australian financial firms, with around 35 per cent of its revenues being financial markets facing and more than 40 per cent being real economy driven.” In other divisions, the report estimated the Commodities and Global Markets sector to gain around 38 per cent year-on-year growth for FY19, as the “build-out of a global commodities business should drive market share.” Sarah Simpkins is a journalist at Momentum Media, reporting primarily on banking, financial services and wealth. Prior to joining the team in 2018, Sarah worked in trade media and produced stories for a current affairs program on community radio. You can contact her on [email protected].	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2374
__label__cc	0.504139	0.495861	Mutual aid: a cathedral thinking response to Covid-19 Hannah OrmstonCarnegie UK Trust We have seen, heard, and read a lot about the critical role of mutual aid in the response to Covid-19. In the early stages of lockdown, many new groups appeared, acting as a lifeline between some of the most vulnerable members of society, and those able to offer their support. From sharing food to collecting prescriptions, delivering books or newspapers, these compassionate acts during a time of anxiety and change will be remembered by many who experienced the pandemic. Photo by Alexander London on Unsplash So, though at first glance the mutual aid response to Covid-19 may appear to be random or sporadic, a closer look shows how in some cases, these responses formed part of longer-term systems, thinking and planning The hyperlocal infrastructures of care that emerged when society was instructed to stay physically apart and isolated in their homes, will no doubt be written in the history books as one of the more positive outcomes of Covid-19. Yet community participation and capacity to self-organise — particularly during times of crisis — is far from a new occurrence. There are many examples throughout history of groups pooling their resources and co-designing approaches to ensure community wellbeing. One such example is during the plague outbreak of 1665, the village of Eyam in Derbyshire mutually agreed to quarantine themselves to prevent the disease spreading to their surrounding areas. Another example is the Rochdale Pioneers of 1844. Faced with poor working conditions, low wages and rising food prices, they combined their resources to buy and sell basic goods to others at a lower price. This approach is now widely recognised as the co-operative model. In thinking about the future, it’s time to learn from history, and build on the capacity of our communities to enable long-term, sustainable change. Though these are just two examples of many throughout history, they both – along with the numerous community initiatives we have seen in response to Covid-19 - show the capabilities of individuals and agility of communities to respond, react and create solutions to emerging societal issues. So, though at first glance the mutual aid response to Covid-19 may appear to be random or sporadic, a closer look shows how in some cases, these responses formed part of longer-term systems, thinking and planning than we perhaps give credit. As a mechanism for empowering citizens, sustaining wellbeing, and creating change, mutual aid - and participation more widely – could be seen as part of pre-existing, deep-rooted community infrastructures that enabled a kinder, more collaborative, and inclusive response to the pandemic. ‘Cathedral thinking’ is a concept that refers to the long-term planning and strategic foresight that can be seen in architecture yet is often neglected in policymaking and practice. But are we also overlooking the capacity of our communities, too? To be sustainable, communities must be able to change, adapt and reimagine. Research undertaken during the early stages of Covid-19 suggests that many of the Local Authorities that had a long history of investing in their communities and developing opportunities for participation and engagement were better placed to respond to the crisis. Many of the communities that reacted most effectively and rapidly already had certain ‘preconditions’ in place long before Covid-19 emerged as a threat to our wellbeing. Community anchor organisations, such as housing associations and development trusts, that have, over a period of many years, developed effective partnership approaches, were able to react to the local needs of their communities, tailoring their methods of participation and drawing on deep-rooted connections with their local networks. But ‘cathedral thinking’ is not just about longevity. To be sustainable, communities must be able to change, adapt and reimagine. The Trust’s conversations with local authorities and communities throughout the pandemic supports this evidence. These conversations have highlighted that many who already had volunteers engaged in environmental work, or local-responses in place to respond to flooding, were able to build on and repurpose these mechanisms during Covid-19. In thinking about the future, it’s time to learn from history, and build on the capacity of our communities to enable long-term, sustainable change. To see mutual aid and citizen participation – and the communities in which they flourish – as a cathedral thinking response to recovery, worthy of long-term investment. This piece is part of the "Democratic Response to Covid-19" series curated by Involve and the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Westminster University. Hannah Ormston is a Policy and Development Officer working within the Wellbeing & Towns team, at the Carnegie UK Trust. The Trust works to improve the wellbeing of people living in the UK and Ireland. Find out more about the Carnegie UK Trust’s Enabling State programme of work in their recent report exploring how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the relationship between government, public services and citizens, here. OpinionMartin Johnstone Some things are so urgent that we can’t afford to do them quickly There is an inherent contradiction in the title of this blog, but also a deep truth. At times quick decisions need to be made and procrastinating… A democratic response to Covid-19 From the transition out of lockdown to the terms of the economic stimulus, significant decisions will be taken over the coming weeks and months with… OpinionGraham Smith A time for more democracy not less As part of the “A democratic response to COVID-19” project, we have been scanning print and social media to get a sense of how arguments for par…	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2375
__label__wiki	0.683193	0.683193	Unanimous support from Citizens' Assembly for Northern Ireland for better conditions for carers Tim HughesDirector 27 recommendations were agreed by members of the Citizens' Assembly for Northern Ireland, covering a number of themes including person-centred care, care provision and systems and structures for the funding and delivery of care. These recommendations include better support for carers, an end to compulsory zero hour contracts for care workers and support for older people to be better integrated into society. The members of the Citizens’ Assembly are ordinary people living in Northern Ireland who were selected to be broadly representative of the population in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, regional spread, and socio-economic status – otherwise known as a ‘mini-public’. The Citizens’ Assembly aims to give decision-makers the information and social-license to make difficult decisions on the future of social care for older people. The Citizens' Assembly for Northern Ireland With the support of an academic team and facilitators, the Citizens’ Assembly members teased out recommendations for decision-makers to create a social care system that meets both current and future needs. Citizens’ Assembly members worked through a series of exercises, involving small group discussions, as well as some voting and ranking of options. At each stage of this deliberative process, the arguments and conclusions were recorded to enable decision-makers to fully understand the rationales behind the recommendations. These recommendations came after two weekends of learning, deliberation and decision-making designed to ensure participants received the evidence they required to make informed recommendations. A number of the recommendations focus on better support for carers, including: “To make caring a more attractive profession by improving working conditions: including the identification of clear career pathways, providing emotional support for staff, paying for travel time and mileage and expenses in addition to salary and ending the use of compulsory zero-hour contracts”. Other recommendations include the need to better integrate older people within society: “To adopt policy and provision which promotes the integration of older people with the wider community. This should include a range of housing options (including intergenerational sharing), access to transport and community spaces where older people and others can interact”. See the full list of recommendation and resolutions. An official report from the Citizens’ Assembly will be published in January 2019. Tim Hughes from Involve said: “The recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly for Northern Ireland will be taken to the Department of Health and we are delighted that the Department has been so welcoming of this process. The recommendations from a representative group of citizens deserve to be taken seriously. “This model of deliberative democracy could, in the future, be used to resolve other complex and contested issues and help point the way to a more productive democratic system when the NI Assembly is back up and running”. Recommendations & Resolutions of the Citizens' Assembly for Northern Ireland.pdf NewsTim Hughes Join our team - we're seeking a new chair and two new trustees!! UPDATE: DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 11 JANUARY, MIDDAY Democracy isn’t working as it should, but it’s key to tackling the challenges we face. We bel… Project updatesKaela Scott A window into the first weekend of the Citizens’ Assembly for Northern Ireland Members of the Citizens Assembly gathered for the first time on the top floor of the Europa hotel on Friday 26 October for dinner. It was a chance t… Citizens' Assembly for Northern Ireland meets for the first time to discuss social care for older people A group of 77 people from across Northern Ireland came together this weekend to consider the topic of social care for older people in the first Citi…	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2376
__label__wiki	0.842179	0.842179	El Chaco: "The alliance between the indigenous people and the trade unions is very important" Professor of History and indigenous activist in La Paz (Bolivia) Carlos Mamani, who is coming to the end of his four-year tenure as President of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Questions, denounces the "very alarming" plight of the Guarani indigenous people in El Chaco and explains how the alliance between trade unions and indigenous people can help in defending the fundamental rights of these peoples who face widespread discrimination. Could you explain the work of the UN body you preside on indigenous questions? Our work is defined by United Nations mandate to examine questions regarding indigenous peoples: economic development, social, cultural, environmental and human rights. We oversee the application of the 2007 UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights. We promote and distribute everything to do with indigenous peoples around the world. Our forum is made up of 16 international experts, of whom I am one. Every year we hold a summit for two-weeks, with indigenous representatives from all over the world. You recently attended the ITUC-TUCA seminar on Forced Labour in Paraguay (November 2010- Asuncion), with special reference to the Chaco region. How would you describe the situation in El Chaco? First of all let’s define what we are talking about. El Chaco is not just in Paraguay. It also stretches into Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. In Bolivia alone it covers three departments (states) and in Paraguay it makes up 200,000 square kilometers, about half of the country. The situation is very alarming. For me it is most preoccupying and unfortunate to see the situation of the indigenous people. It’s not neo-colonialism. It is colonialism, pure and simple. For the indigenous people, it’s as if colonialism has never stopped. And the worst thing is that the worst abuses have been started by the Mennonites (Christian, mostly-ethnic German settlers); with their concept of being “God’s Chosen People” and “The Promised Land”. It’s a system of Apartheid. By and large Latin America is still run along the Spanish colonial system. In this way we could say that here in Paraguay colonialism never went away. If anything we are seeing an expansion of colonialism. The 1932-1936 Chaco War between my country Bolivia and Paraguay for control of the territory was a colonial dispute, because the land belonged to neither country. It belonged, and still belongs to the indigenous Guarani. The victims of this war were the Guarani, who have been forgotten. The Chaco was ceded to the Mennonites to populate the area, a classic colonial concept. When the Spanish colonials came here they also tried to “populate” their conquered territories. Before the Spanish conquest, the population of Guarani was around four million people. Now it is about 300,000. We talk about a “genocide”. These are very strong denunciations. But what exactly can you and the UN Forum do to improve the situation? Our mandate is to expose this and show the world what is happening. We have to show the political, social and economic condition. It is absolutely necessary to state unequivocally that this land belongs to the indigenous people. None of the indigenous peoples is looking for independence. How can they be independent when they are the original owners of the land? They are looking for self-government in the context of autonomy. Another thing we are talking about is cross-frontier access; because the people cover all the countries I’ve already mentioned. But we are not talking about secession. The Chaco territory has been split between four nations, so we need a special treaty to encompass this — to rectify the problem of freedom of movement across enforced colonial borders. We are talking about fundamental freedoms. There has been permanent discrimination. Indigenous people are treated as third or even fourth-class citizens. They have no rights to speak their own language and practice their own religion. The people are victims of this so-called “Development.” But “Development” for us is a holocaust. Many people say the United Nations is little more than a “talking shop.” What do you say to this? The United Nations is the only international organization that is fighting for and guaranteeing the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples. Without the UN, we would lose a powerful friend. Yes, the UN has problems. Things take time. Until now, the UN still doesn’t have a permanent representative, a formal seat for indigenous people. But it is a powerful international voice for indigenous people. How can the international trade union movement help in this struggle? Historically in Latin America, the indigenous movement has had very important assistance from trade unions, the Marxist parties and the international media. Here in Paraguay, the alliance between the indigenous people and the trade unions is very important. If, for example, we want to denounce the way indigenous workers are being treated and exploited, then we can do this through the trade unions. Because the unions are members of the ILO, they can take the fight to an international level. In your own country, Bolivia, there have been some very real advances in the fight for Indigenous Rights. What can we learn from the Bolivian experience? The exploitation that’s happening here is the same as in other Developing countries. All that governments and trans-national companies want to do is to exploit indigenous lands. They destroy homes, establish private police forces and divide the communities. All these entities have so-called “Social Responsibility” laws and programmes. But these are only cosmetic operations, designed to deflect criticism and avoid true responsibility. Paraguay still has a very weak system because of the long legacy of dictatorship. But in Bolivia there have been great advances. We have adopted the UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights as internal Bolivian law. In Bolivia we view indigenous territories as stolen land and so we have been returning it since 2008. What’s happening in Bolivia is an example to the rest of El Chaco. Interview by David Browne (photos David Browne) See the "Union View": The alliance between the indigenous peoples and trade unions in Latin America Also see the written and video interview with Marta Dora Peralta: "Domestic workers are exploited and discriminated against" See the written and video interview with Crecencio Caceres (Chaco Inter-Ethnic Council Paraguay): "We need help in the fight against forced labour among indigenous peoples" See Spotlight interview with Alvaro Ramazzini Imeri (Bishop of San Marcos – Guatemala): “What good is gold when you don’t even have water?” Also see the video: Guatemala: gold mine plundering sacred resources	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2378
__label__wiki	0.851634	0.851634	PIERRE LEFEVRE © IWM B 8699 Use this image under Non-Commercial licence. You can embed media or download low resolution images free of charge for private and non-commercial use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. By downloading or embedding any media, you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is: © IWM B 8699 <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205417803" target="_blank"> <img src="https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/673/331/mid_B_008699_1.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs" alt="PIERRE LEFEVRE"> </a> <span> PIERRE LEFEVRE <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright">© IWM (B 8699)</a> </span> [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205417803][img]https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/673/331/mid_B_008699_1.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs[/img][/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205417803]PIERRE LEFEVRE. © IWM (B 8699)[/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright]IWM Non Commercial License[/url] Original wartime caption: He is greeted by the crowd at the ceremony. The people still remember him despite the fact that he has been away for 5 years. Photographic negative Second World War (production), Second World War (content) No. 5 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit (Photographer) Sgt. Hardy (Undefined) whole: Nitrate THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 British Army, 21st Army Group North West Europe, Second World War North West Europe British Army 1939-1945 Meet The Squander Bug This unpleasant-looking character is called the Squander Bug, and it was created during the Second World War by artist Phillip Boydell, an employee of the National Savings Committee. The cartoon bug appeared in press adverts and poster campaigns as a menace who encouraged shoppers to waste money rather than buy war savings certificates. American troops and locals at the Dove Inn, Burton Bradstock, in Dorset, 1944. Tips For American Servicemen In Britain During The Second World War In 1942, the first of over 1.5 million American servicemen arrived on British shores in preparation for the Allied offensives against Germany during the Second World War. That year, the United States' War Department published Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain to help soldiers, sailors and airmen – many of whom had never travelled abroad before – adjust to life in a new country. What Happened To RAF 617 Squadron After The Dambusters Raid	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2380
__label__wiki	0.697979	0.697979	Astro Noise: War on Terror as (Virtual) Reality Laura Poitras: Astro Noise, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 5 February – 1 May 2016 [This review was first published on Warscapes.] On the eighth floor of the Whitney Museum of American Art, a large projection brings viewers back to the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September 2001. One side of the screen plays O’Say Can You See, a two-channel film by artist, filmmaker and journalist Laura Poitras containing slow-motion footage of stunned onlookers at Ground Zero in the days following 9/11. A performance of the National Anthem recorded at a 2001 World Series game at Yankee Stadium plays solemnly in the background, looped and deconstructed. Describing her artistic process to journalist David Remnick, Poitras explains, “I think you learn a lot from these faces, trying to comprehend something that’s incomprehensible.” The museum-goer then moves to the reverse side of the screen on which another event unfolds simultaneously: formerly classified footage shows the US military’s interrogation of two prisoners captured in Afghanistan in November 2001. Osama bin Laden’s driver Salim Hamdan crouches on the floor of a dark room. An armed guard stands in the background and an interrogator asks him a series of circular questions in choppy Arabic. “Who wrote the letter?” the interrogator asks. “My wife,” answers Hamdam. “What is the name of your wife?” “Saboura.” The footage is blurry at times, freezing and breaking into VHS static noise. “Why did she write Fatima at the bottom?” “To remind me of our daughter Fatima.” A bag is placed over the prisoner’s head and he is lead out of the room. The tape ends abruptly. In 2002, Hamdan is sent to Guantanamo. This is the first piece in a series of installations created by Poitras for her first solo museum exhibit. It weaves together subjects she has previously examined, including mass surveillance, the war on terror, the US drone program, Guantanamo Bay prison, military occupation and torture. The reverse-screen installation introduces the viewer to the dialectical nature of each work. Each piece has its “other,” layered with an alternative reality that is often dark, violent and unseen. The title of the exhibit—Astro Noise—refers to the faint background disturbance of thermal radiation left over after the Big Bang, most evident in the form of microwaves that pervade the universe, unconnected to any specific source. Astro Noise is also the name Edward Snowden gave to an encrypted file containing evidence of NSA mass surveillance that he sent anonymously to Poitras in 2013. Snowden was impressed with her previous documentaries on the post-9/11 world, including The Oath and My Country, My Country, as well as “her exacting focus on detail and process [that] gave her a natural talent for security.” Their top-secret correspondence, in which Snowden revealed vast networks of mass surveillance in the US, resulted in Citizenfour, Poitras’ Oscar-winning film that completed her “9/11 Trilogy.” As she communicated electronically to the man she knew only as “CITIZENFOUR,” Poitras was terrified, aware of the risks to her safety and never knowing who was following her. In 2006, after completing My Country, My Country, a documentary about the lives of Iraqis under the US Occupation, Poitras was placed on a secret government watchlist and has consequently been detained and interrogated more than fifty times. Relocated in Berlin, she wrote in her journal on 14 February 2013: “Reading 1984 again is somehow an extension of my reality. God I’m tired. Will I ever be able to sleep again?” In the installation entitled November 20, 2004, Poitras displays the files she received after filing a lawsuit against the US government in 2015. The series of highly redacted documents reveal that she was the target of a classified national security investigation conducted by the FBI and undisclosed intelligence agencies. Next to these documents is the footage that landed her on the watch list in the first place, an eight-minute video clip of an Iraqi family on their rooftop, watching gunfire on the streets. Children in their pajamas describe how they are “shivering” with fear, while simultaneously playing and joking around with one another. Appearing at the end of the exhibition, it is the show’s calmest moment. In an audio clip, Poitras’ voice tells visitors: “The government never asked to see what I filmed that day.” Yet while Poitras’s life and work has been entangled in a web of surveillance and secrecy, Astro Noise is not entirely about her. It is not about the breaking news of NSA surveillance that she helped bring to light alongside journalist Glenn Greenwald. It is not a cinematic reveal, as the reverse-screen instillation in the first room of the exhibit might suggest. Instead, Poitras sets up a highly immersive environment in which the museum visitor becomes the protagonist, asked to contemplate his or her own positionality and responsibility in the so-called “war on terror” that defines our world. The invitation to participate begins in the second gallery room, in which visitors can lie down on a carpeted platform in a dark room and gaze up at a projection of the night skies over Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia, countries where the US carries out drone strikes and “targeted killings.” It also includes overhead footage from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, where the military tests its unmanned aircrafts. The visitor assumes Bed Down Location, the title of the installation and the military term used to describe the sleeping coordinates of people targeted for assassination. As curator Jay Sanders explains it in the accompanying book to the exhibit, “The night sky in Bed Down Location is populated with unseen drones yet visually calls to mind a planetarium or James Turrell’s skyspaces: the celestial reveal.” Yet while the view from below induces a sense of calm, the soundscape immerses the visitor in the disorienting buzzing of drones, voices of drone pilots, and radio noise. As Nasser Hussain writes in Phenomenology of a Drone Strike, “If drone operators can see but not hear the world below them, the exact opposite is true for people on the ground.” Many people from the tribal areas of Pakistan (FATA) describe the sound as a low-grade, perpetual buzzing, an anxiety-inducing signal that a strike could occur at any time. Poitras creates this phenomenological soundscape, in which one can hear what potential drone victims hear. While the view from the drone erases the body on the ground and presents a “clean war” in which targeted human subjects are reduced into digital data, Poitras’ installation places the audience on the other side of this gaze. In the final room of the exhibit is an instillation titled Last Seen that projects a live-feed of everyone currently in the Bed Down Location gallery and includes a stream of the data picked up by visitors’ personal devices from Wi-Fi Sniffer software. This piece is particularly chilling, as it ties together US drone warfare “abroad” to policing “at home.” Yet the expansion of militarist logic from the battlefield into civilian life looks rather mundane. Through widespread reliance on Google Earth, Facebook and even Amazon, surveillance has become a part of everyday life, ensuring that we are never alone. Bed Down Location leads to the winding, L-shaped corridor of Disposition Matrix, in which visitors are confronted by a series of peepholes emanating with beams of light, illuminating slivers of papers, videos and still images. The content within these spyholes can be classified into two categories: the power of the state and those effected by it. The former works through concealment, obscuration and denial, veiled in an aesthetic of officialdom and business-as-usual: a 2002 memorandum detailing the CIA’s increasing cooperation with the NSA; a 2008 Department of Defense classified memo about when a cyber-attack constitutes an act of war; an article describing the NSA’s procedures for choosing which candidates to put on a terrorist watchlist; a map of access points for BLARNEY, a surveillance program providing data to the NSA, FBI and other agencies. Others peepholes reveal colorful, grainy close-ups of intercepted signals collected through ANARCHIST, a classified program run by the UK intelligence agency Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). Alongside official, top-secret state media are video testimonial of a Guantanamo prisoner, footage of the destruction wrought by a US drone strike on a wedding party in Yemen, line drawings of torture devices at secret CIA detention sites by former prisoner Mohamed al Shoreiya Ben Soud, and footage of an Abu Ghraib prison inspection filmed by Poitras herself in 2004. This type of evidence represents what Nicholas Mirzoeff calls “countervisuality,” a contestation as to who is capable of visualizing events, through alternative subaltern or decolonial readings.[1] The definition of legitimate acts of war typed up on official pieces of paper stands in devastating contrast to the human debris left behind after a drone attack. These are the narratives that the official frame would like to throw out, a remainder that exceeds the neat representations of risk and value that the war on terror aims to put forth: that of innocent people who are wrongfully targeted in drone strikes or tortured in prisons, and the liberties and human rights that are sidelined in the surveillance state. Poitras constructs an image of the “public secret,” at once shockingly unbelievable and glaringly obvious. The grainy image of an Israeli Heron drone carrying armed missiles confirms what the public seems to know all along, despite the government’s refusal to confirm the existence of such missions. A 2005 memo by a former interrogator at Abu Ghraib that described the site as a “goldmine of intelligence” and a “lifetime opportunity” conjures the now-public photographs of torture and prisoner abuse. In contrast to the so-called “bad apple thesis” in which instances of violence are seen as minor exceptions to US moral superiority, Poitras seems to be in agreement with Susan Sontag, who suggested that the photographs taken at Abu Ghraib “are us.” Through the act of seeing, contemplating, staring, gazing, listening, observing, peering and spying, the exhibit reveals the ways in which we are already implicated. [1] Nicholas Mirzoeff, The Right to Look: A Counterhistory of Visuality (Durham: Duke University Press, 1962/2011). Saturday, February 20, 2016 - 11:28:00 AM	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2381
__label__wiki	0.794415	0.794415	Interview #015: SkulShurtugalTCG Join me in welcoming SkulShurtugalTCG to the latest Industry Interviews! Besides being a HUGE Nintendo fan and supporter, a Nintendo Brand Ambassador, and a successful YouTuber, he's also a great guy to just get to know! So let's get right to it! Thank you Skul for taking the time to speak with me today. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? My name is SkulShurtugalTCG. I'm probably best known for my YouTube channel, which has over 200,000 subscribers. My channel primarily focuses on Nintendo games, but I am a lover of all kinds of video games, from the past and the present. I have over 600 games and 15 home consoles in my collection and I'm always expanding it. What was the first console/game you remember playing? My dad had an old Windows 3.1 computer. I remember a Snoopy game and a Jeopardy game that I used to play all the time when I was very little. The first video game console I played was probably the Nintendo 64 at a friend's house. The system came out when I was four and he had all the best games. I went to his house almost every day and we played for hours on end. What is your fondest childhood video game memory? Spending days and days playing the original Pokémon games. Back when I first played them, there were only two: Red and Blue. My family would let me rent a Game Boy and one of the games from Blockbuster for $10 a week. I constantly saved up my allowance to get them over and over and over again. It's definitely something that only 90s kids will understand. It's time to get social! Social media that is, hahahaha! Your YouTube channel has over 240k subscribers and your Twitter recently passed 10K. First off, congratulations! Secondly, can you talk about what got you into social media? I never thought I'd become a full-time YouTuber. I started off by opening up random Pokémon Trading Card Game booster packs. I got lucky and people found my channel--a LOT of people. After two really good videos, I realized I was earning more from YouTube than at my "real" job, so I quit and shifted full-time into making videos. Since then, my channel has evolved and changed, and now I focus more on video games. I created my Twitter account to better interact with my audience, providing them with a peak of what the "real" me goes through day to day. On YouTube, viewers can often find you recording live streams of gameplay. Was this always your intent to produce this type of content? My intent was always to just have fun with whatever I was doing. At some point, I realized that livestreams were a lot of fun and don't take nearly as much energy as recording and editing videos. Plus, it gives you a better opportunity to interact with your audience in real-time. I don't have a live stream schedule, because I find spontaneous streams to benefit my mental health more, but I try and aim to do at least one or two a week. What else can new viewers and longtime subscribers expect from your channels? I try and cover the newest Nintendo games whenever they release. Expect to see lots of Super Mario Party in October, Pokémon Let's Go in November, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in December. Your primary focus appears to be Splatoon and Pokémon. What is it about these two games that interest you so much? The moment I saw the first Splatoon trailer during E3 2014, I was hooked. I've never been a big fan of shooters, but this was the perfect twist on the genre to rope me in. The goal of the games isn't to kill opponents; it's to cover the ground with as much of your color ink as possible. It's a much more casual way of playing, and it's exactly the kind of thing I can play for hours on end without getting bored. Pokémon has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was six when the very first Pokémon ANYTHING came out in America - episode 15 of the animated TV show, which acted as a teaser for what was to come. I saw it the night of its premiere, and ever since then, I've been hooked. I don't really know what it is about the series I like so much. Maybe it's all the different creature designs. Maybe it's the multitude of media tie-ins that help flesh out that world and make it feel more "real" than other video game worlds. Whatever it is, I have loved Pokémon since I can remember and I know that will never go away. Is there any new content planned for 2019 that you can tease today? I don't really plan that far ahead, haha. I can tell you, though, that I am planning a few trips that I'll document on my channel--including PAX East for my first time. Follow my Twitter for more details as I share them. We have to talk about your role as a Nintendo Brand Ambassador. For those that do not know, what does this entail and can you describe how you became one? Nintendo Brand Ambassadors are people who have a large following online--generally social media--and represent Nintendo to anyone who happens upon them. In exchange, Nintendo sends me review copies of their latest games for me to share with my followers, and show what they can expect if they choose to play it. For example, I got Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido a few months ago for the Nintendo Switch. I livestreamed the game for an hour on its release date, and loved it far more than I expected. Many of my fans decided to go and buy it for themselves, something that wouldn't have happened had Nintendo not given me a copy of the game to show off. I'm not at liberty to say how you can become a Brand Ambassador, unfortunately. What is it about Nintendo that drew you to their consoles, games, and community? I've loved Nintendo characters since I was little. I didn't play on a non-Nintendo console until just a few years ago in 2015. When I was growing up, the PlayStation was just coming around, and my friends talked about how much better it was which made me feel a bit defensive for my beloved Nintendo characters. This was the same when the Xbox came about. Nowadays, I own every single current-gen console, but I find myself still drawn to Nintendo. Their high quality, their attention to detail, their commitment to making games timeless, really help them stand out against the competition. Since the Nintendo Switch has come out, what area(s), if any, do you feel could be improved upon? I'd like to see more third-party support. Ubisoft and Bethesda have really committed to the Switch, and that's great. It's amazing to see Doom and Skyrim and even South Park on the console, in sharp contrast to the Wii U which got barely any support at all. But we're still missing out on big AAA developers committing to the Switch. Ideally, I'd like to see Day 1 ports of big, highly-anticipated games. Can you imagine how well a Red Dead Redemption 2 port to the Switch would be? If you could choose any game from any console to release on the Switch, which would it be? Grand Theft Auto V. I want for people, both gamers and non-gamers, to look at the Switch as an equal player against the PS4 and Xbox One. Sure, the graphics would be limited, but if any one game can be ported to the Switch to tell people "Hey, this console is a good option too", GTA V would be it. What Nintendo franchise are you hoping makes its debut/return on the Switch? Nintendo's done a good job of bringing back lots of franchises to the Switch. There are lots that have been shelved for years that I'd like to see. 1080, F-Zero, and Advance Wars are a few I can think of that aren't "obvious" (like Animal Crossing and Pikmin). Do you prefer handheld or docked mode for the Switch? I prefer docked because it works better with my setup. I'm able to tap a button on my wall and the second monitor for my computer suddenly becomes my Switch display. It's great for livestreaming and video capturing, which is almost always what I do when I use my Switch. I play in handheld mode probably only 10% of the time, when I'm away on trips. What game(s) are you currently playing and what are you looking forward to? I'm playing Octopath Traveler and it's such a good game. I can't recommend it enough. I'm most looking forward to Pokémon Let's Go in November and of course Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in December. But there's a LOT of other games that are already confirmed for the Switch that I am looking forward to. Metroid Prime 4, the new Yoshi game, next year's Pokémon game, Shin Megami Tensei V, and Doom Eternal, just to name a few! Is there anything else you'd like to share today? I want Zelda CD-i ports to the Switch. Change my mind. I dare you. Follow SkulShurtugalTCG [Industry Interview #035] Iggy (Co-Founder of 1Print Games) Industry Interview #034: Douglas Bogart (Co-Founder of Limited Run Games) Industry Interview #033: Barry Dunne (Nintendo Impact Gaming!)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2384
__label__cc	0.566703	0.433297	School of Computing and Mathematics Postgraduate research opportunities Computer Science research Computational Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering Evolutionary Systems Machine Learning and Computational Intelligence Software and Systems Engineering Mathematics research Fluid Dynamics and Acoustics Theoretical Solid Mechanics Multi scale modelling of nano and meta materials Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering Computational Mathematics/Mechanics Pure Mathematics and Statistics Key work Evidence-based Software Engineering Engineering and the Environment SEND research projects UK Ontology Network mathssandbox Covid-19 information and FAQs for applicants, students and staff > We carry out research in Algebra, Number Theory, and Logic. We study algebraic structures and their applications to problems arising in algebraic geometry, number theory, and combinatorics. Our work in Logic focuses on intuitionism, including implications for mathematical physics. Our main Statitsics research is on Regime switching models with applications in financial and economic time series. We are also interested in empirical analysis, especially volatility forecasting performance and its application in risk management. Currently, we carry our research on how to facilitate high frequency data to volatility estimation and forecasting. The branch of Mathematics now known as Galois theory arose from a natural concrete question: given a polynomial in one variable f(x) (for example: f(x)=x^2+5x+6 , or f(x)=x^5+x+1 ), can we determine the solutions of the equation f(x)=0 (the roots of the polynomial) in terms of the coefficients? This answer to this question for quadratic polynomials is encapsulated in the familiar quadratic formula, and renaissance Mathematicians discovered similar formulae for cubic and quartic polynomials. However, they were then able to prove that there is no such formula for general polynomials of degree 5 or higher. The 19th century French Mathematician Evariste Galois studied certain symmetries present in the roots of polynomials, and established a criterion for determining whether the roots of a particular polynomial could be expressed in terms of its coefficients. The techniques he pioneered became known as Galois theory in his honour. As the techniques of Galois theory evolved, concrete equations were replaced with abstract Mathematical objects called field extensions. The modern perspective on these problems is that if a particular field extension satisfies certain hypotheses then Galois theory yields important information about its structure and properties. Much of my work has focussed on a generalization of Galois theory known as Hopf-Galois theory. This approach was developed in the 1960s, and generalizes Galois theory in two ways: it applies to a much broader class of field extensions than Galois theory, and it can provide multiple perspectives on a given field extension. This raises the possibility that a particular perspective might be more or less suitable depending upon the precise question that one wishes to address. Hopf-Galois theory was developed to study problems in algebra and number theory. However, in 2016 an unexpected connection emerged between Hopf-Galois theory and theoretical physics via a new abstract object called a skew brace. This connection has already been fruitful in both directions: results from Hopf-Galois theory have been translated into the language of skew braces, and vice versa. Dr. Paul Truman presenting at a conference in 2019 Here are some selected publications by Paul Truman: A new construction in the theory of skew left braces. One application of the results is the creation of new solutions to the Yang-Baxter equation in theoretical physics; another (via the results of the paper “Normality and short exact sequences of Hopf-Galois structures”) is to the theory of Hopf-Galois structures, which occur in algebra and number theory. Koch, A., & Truman, P. J. (2020). Opposite skew left braces and applications. Journal of Algebra, 546, 218-235.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalgebra.2019.10.033 One of the advantages of Hopf-Galois theory over classical Galois theory is that it applies in situations where the classical theory does not. This paper is the first to apply this principle to certain problems in algebraic number theory, specifically the structure of rings of algebraic integers in non-normal extensions of global fields. Truman, P. J. (2020). Hopf-Galois module structure of tamely ramified radical extensions of prime degree. Journal of Pure and Applied Algebra, 224(5), 106231.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpaa.2019.106231 This paper instigated the study of new structural questions for Hopf algebras occurring in Hopf-Galois theory. We provided answers and classifications in many cases, and gave examples of pathological behaviour. The paper marked a new direction in Hopf-Galois theory, which has been pursued by several authors. Koch, A., Kohl, T., Truman, P. J., & Underwood, R. (2019). Isomorphism problems for Hopf–Galois structures on separable field extensions. Journal of Pure and Applied Algebra, 223(5), 2230-2245.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpaa.2018.07.014 The centerpiece of classical Galois theory is the Fundamental Theorem of Galois theory. This paper generalizes important parts of that theorem to the context of Hopf-Galois theory, which paves the way for generalization of the many applications and consequences of that theorem. Some of these have now been explored by the authors, their collaborators and their students. Koch, A., Kohl, T., Truman, P. J., & Underwood, R. (2019). Normality and short exact sequences of Hopf-Galois structures. Communications in Algebra, 47(5), 2086-2101. https://doi.org/10.1080/00927872.2018.1529237 Prof Lindsay Childs, University at Albany, USA Prof Cornelius Greither, University of Munich, Germany Prof Kevin Keating, University of Florida, USA Prof Alan Koch, Agnes Scott College, USA Dr. Timothy Kohl, University of Boston, USA Prof Robert Underwood, Auburn University at Montgomery, USA Intuitionism is a philosophy of mathematics, founded by L.E.J. Brouwer in 1907, which views mathematics as a creation of human mathematicians, and as constrained by human limitations. This is very different from the usual platonistic view of mathematics as existing timelessly, independent of human beings. Intuitionistic mathematics appears to have a subjective, time-bound nature, which is very disconcerting to conventionally trained mathematicians. In a recent paper [1] I argue that the difference between these two viewpoints is less than it seems. I examine Brouwer's apparently most subjective concepts, his 'weak counterexamples' and his 'theory of the creative subject', and show that the mathematical work that they do can be understood in a way that is not at all subjective or time-dependent. [1] P. Fletcher, Brouwer’s Weak Counterexamples and the Creative Subject: A Critical Survey, Journal of philosophical logic, 2020. Regime switching modelling and risk management (Dr Jie Cheng) Traditional regime-switching models are widely used for volatility modelling in empirical economics and finance research for their ability to identify and account for the impact of latent regimes or states on the behaviour of the interested variables. Recently, there are several different ways of modelling endogenous regime changes. By different constructions, the resulting state transition probabilities are time-varying and dependent on the lagged values of the observed time series. By considering regime switching chains, we proposed the general idea of using Reducible Diffusions (RDs) with nonlinear time-varying transformations for modeling financial and economic variables. Our application suggests that from an empirical point of view time-varying transformations are highly relevant and statistically significant. We expect that the proposed models can describe more truthfully the dynamic time-varying behavior of economic and financial variables and potentially improve out-of-sample forecasts significantly [Bu, R., J. Cheng, and K. Hadri. (2016). Reducible Diffusions with Time-Varying Transformations with Application to Short-Term Interest Rates. Economic Modelling 52: 266–277.]. We examine model specification in regime-switching continuous-time diffusions for modeling S&P 500 Volatility Index (VIX) [Bu, R., Cheng, J., & Hadri, K. (2017). Specification analysis in regime-switching Continuous-time diffusion models for market volatility. Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics and Econometrics, 21(1), 65–80.]. Our investigation is carried out under two nonlinear diffusion frameworks, the NLDCEV and the CIRCEV frameworks, and our focus is on the nonlinearity in regime-dependent drift and diffusion terms, the switching components, and the endogeneity in regime changes. While we find strong evidence of regime-switching effects, models with a switching diffusion term capture the VIX dynamics considerably better than models with only a switching drift, confirming the presence and importance of volatility regimes. Strong evidence of nonlinear endogeneity in regime changes is also detected. We generalize the latent-factor-driven endogenous regime-switching Gaussian model of Chang, et al., Journal of Econometrics, 2017, 196, 127–143 by allowing the state-dependent conditional distributions to be non-Gaussian. Our setup is more general and promises substantially broader relevance and applicability to empirical studies. We provide evidence to justify our generalization by a simulation study and a real data application. Our simulation results confirm that when the state-dependent dynamics are misspecified, the bias of model parameter estimates, the power of the likelihood ratio test against endogenous regime changes, and the quality of the extracted latent factor all deteriorate quite considerably. [Bu, R., J. Cheng, and Jawadi. Fredj. (2020). A latent-factor-driven endogenous regime-switching non-Gaussian model: Evidence from simulation and application. International Journal of Finance & Economics, DOI: 10.1002/ijfe.2192]. Current research is focussed in understanding bivariate time series models driven by either threshold/smooth transition chains or (exo and endo) regime switching models with latent vector autoregressive factors, which allows for (un)synchronized switching and endogenous feedback. This will allow us to consider dynamics of several financial factors and the interactions among them. Several projects are based on this idea. Another key topic we are interested in is risk management. It is vital for clearinghouses to employ appropriate market instruments (Margin, capital requirement and price limits) in order to strike a delicate balance between increasing futures price stability, not impairing price discovery, and facilitating futures growth. A framework is proposed that is rooted in extreme value theory to study the performance of margin, capital requirement and price limits and their interactions in the presence of clearing firms’ risk preferences. By applying the concept of self-enforcing contracts, we incorporate clearing firms’ risk attitudes into the framework. The efficacy of these market instruments under three risk measures (i.e. VaRs, ESs and SRMs) is studied, while the latter two risk measures present two approaches to gauge potential losses in the form of capital requirement [Cheng, J., Hong, Y., & Tao J (2015) How do risk attitudes of clearing firms matter for managing default exposure in futures markets? The European Journal of Finance, 22(10)]. The results cast new light on the economic rationale of price limits, which is examined now during the Coronavirus outbreak. Dr Ruijun Bu, Liverpool University, UK Prof Fredj Jawadi, University of Lille, France Dr P. Truman Dr P. Fletcher Dr J. Cheng James Appleby (supervisor: Dr Peter Fletcher) Stuart Taylor (supervisor: Dr Paul Truman) Order or download our prospectus. Everything you need to know about our entry requirements. Open days and offer holder days. Everything you need to know about student funding. Follow School of Computing and Mathematics	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2387
__label__wiki	0.805637	0.805637	Home Politics Pro-Reform Protesters Rally Outside King’s Army Unit Pro-Reform Protesters Rally Outside King’s Army Unit A protester's backpack is adorned with a large yellow duck, which has become a good-humored symbol of resistance during anti-government rallies, while waiting for other protesters outside the base entrance of the 11th Infantry Regiment, a palace security unit under direct command of the Thai king, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s indefatigable pro-democracy activists took to Bangkok’s streets again Sunday, this time to protest the army as they push forward with their campaign for sweeping reforms, including to the nation’s monarchy. Around 800 protesters marched to the base of the 11th Infantry Regiment, which is closely associated with the country’s royal palace. Their number grew to well over 1,000 as they settled in for speeches by protest leaders. An advance group of protesters had already pulled away two decrepit buses that had been used to block the entrance to the base and removed strands of razor wire. A large contingent of riot police, several rows deep, stood their ground in front of the gate but no violence was reported by the end of the rally. The protesters believe that the army undermines democracy in Thailand, and that King Maha Vajiralongkorn wields too much power and influence in what is supposed to be a democratic constitutional monarchy. The student-led protesters for months now have been demanding reforms to make the monarchy more accountable, even though criticism of the institution has long been considered taboo and comments judged defamatory of the king and key royals are punishable by up to 15 years in prison. “People should be able to criticize the king. People should be able to inspect what he does. In this way, people will respect and love him more,” said activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, who served seven years in prison for defaming the monarchy and is facing criminal charges in connection with this year’s protests. Police stand guard behind barbed wire barricading the base entrance of the 11th Infantry Regiment, a palace security unit under direct command of the Thai king, as they await for the arrival of protesters Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) The protesters also want Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government to step down and the constitution to be amended to make it more democratic. As the army chief in 2014, Prayuth led a coup ousting an elected government. His military junta oversaw the rewriting of the constitution, which shifted power from elected politicians to unelected bodies, and he was returned to power after elections held under the new rules last year. Prayuth faces a legal challenge on Wednesday, when the Constitutional Court is to rule on whether he illegally stayed in army housing after he retired from the military at the end of September 2014. If found guilty, he could be forced out of the prime minister’s post. Protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak urged the crowd to rally outside the court on the day of the verdict. The site of Sunday’s protest was symbolic for several reasons. Protesters try to get through barbed wire barricading the base entrance of the 11th Infantry Regiment, a palace security unit under direct command of the Thai king, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Last year, the 11th Infantry Regiment was shifted from the army’s chain of command and made part of the Royal Security Command, answerable directly to the king. The action was one of several denounced by protesters as an example of the palace taking powers that should not be allowed under constitutional rule. Although it was a bloodless army revolt in 1932 that ended the absolute monarchy and installed constitutional rule, the military and the palace have been closely allied for decades. By promoting and defending the royal institution, the army lays claim to being the protector of the nation, while the palace can count on the army to put down any threats to its position of privilege. There have been 20 military coups since 1932, the most recent ones in 2006 and 2014. Because it is based in Bangkok, the 11th Infantry Regiment has been a key player in coups, or opposing them, according to the prevailing political climate. While most coups are bloodless, the army has not hesitated to use force to crush threats to the established order. Protesters carry inflatable yellow ducks, which have become good-humored symbols of resistance during anti-government rallies, while marching towards the base of the 11th Infantry Regiment, a palace security unit under direct command of the Thai king, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) In 2010, more than 90 people were killed and almost 2,000 injured during nine weeks of protests that saw part of central Bangkok occupied by protesters who were eventually cleared out by the army. Prayuth, then a senior army general, was involved in the crackdown. In announcing plans for Sunday’s protest, a group from Bangkok’s Thammasat University explained on Twitter that the regiment was targeted “because this unit suppressed people in 2010 and it was the main force for the previous coups.” Near the end of the rally, protesters threw red paint in the direction of the army base — some splattering on shields held by the police — to symbolize the 2010 bloodshed. Associated Press journalist Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul contributed to this report. Previous articleJapan, China Welcome Restart of Business Travel in Pandemic Next articleTop Virologist Advises Thais to Adapt to Virus New Normal IconSiam Says It’s Investigating Guard for Slapping Student Protester	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2389
__label__cc	0.618836	0.381164	Speeds Over 100 MPH Lead to Cocaine Arrest Home » Headlines » Speeds Over 100 MPH Lead to Cocaine Arrest Around 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, a Hopkins County deputy noted a vehicle traveling at speeds of 100 mph on I-30 westbound. When the deputy stopped the vehicle at the 124 mile-marker, the driver, Gerardo Arrellano-Saldana, 19, of Sulphur Springs, had bloodshot eyes and said he had been awake for almost 24 hours. Cocaine was found in the vehicle. He had difficulty describing a timeline of events and stated he did not have a driver’s license. He did give consent to search the vehicle and the deputy found a small baggie containing a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine in the center console of the vehicle. Arrellano-Saldana admitted it was cocaine but said he was holding it for a friend. When he was taken to Hopkins County jail, a similar small baggie was found in the backseat of the patrol vehicle. Arrellano-Saldana was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram in a Drug Free Zone, Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair, Speeding, and No Driver’s License.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2390
__label__wiki	0.981171	0.981171	Ada murder convict featured in “The Innocent Man” to stay in prison Attorneys for Tommy Ward say newly uncovered evidence proves he should be set free. Ward is currently serving a life sentence in the 1984 murder of Donna Haraway.(KXII) Published: Jan. 7, 2021 at 5:17 PM CST ADA, Okla. (KXII) - An Ada man whose murder conviction was overturned last year after spending 35 years in prison will remain incarcerated, for now. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has granted state Attorney General Mike Hunter’s request for a stay in Tommy Ward’s case. A district judge threw out Ward’s case in December, citing a lack of evidence and issues with the original investigation. Ward was convicted of first degree murder in the death of Donna Haraway in 1984. His case and appeal were featured in the John Grisham book-turned-Netflix documentary “The Innocent Man”. He will stay in prison indefinitely. Hunter’s office has until February 16, 2021 to file their brief for appeal. That’s 60 days after a judge first issued post-conviction relief for Ward. Copyright 2021 KXII. All rights reserved. Nick’s Family Restaurant reopens after 3 month shutdown Choctaw Nation, OBI host plasma drive in Durant	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2391
__label__wiki	0.727845	0.727845	Periods of employment Previous: Paragraph Next: Paragraph Changes over time for: Paragraph 9 9.—(1) The reference in Article 11(2)(b) to a person being an employed earner for the purposes of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 in respect of whom a secondary Class 1 contribution was payable under that Act (whether or not it was in fact paid) shall be construed—N.I. (a)as respects a week of employment after 1st June 1976 and before 1st July 1992, as a reference to a person being an employed earner for the purposes of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975 in respect of whom a secondary Class 1 contribution was payable under that Act (whether or not it was in fact paid), and (b)as respects a week of employment after 6th April 1975 and before 1st June 1976, as a reference to a person being an employed earner for the purposes of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975. (2) The references in paragraph (4) of Article 11 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 include the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975; and that paragraph applies to any question arising whether an employer's contribution was or would have been payable as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1). PrintThe Whole Schedule PDF The Whole Schedule Web page The Whole Schedule	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2394
__label__wiki	0.568109	0.568109	Home > Blog > May 2019 > Corporate Accountability and the Niger Delta Air pollution is causing serious harm – it is time for the world to take action Biobanking: preserving a precious resource or bio-harvesting for commercial gain? Corporate Accountability and the Niger Delta Why have Human Rights failed people with learning disabilities and / or autism in the UK? It’s going to take more than a PR campaign to fix universal credit! Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day Zambian villagers celebrate after Supreme Court ruling Warnings on highly addictive opioid prescriptions - too little too late Matthew Renshaw and Stephen Bilko from the international team discuss the ruling of the District Court of the Hague on 1 May 2019, which stated that it had jurisdiction to hear a case against Shell, brought by a widow 24 years after the death of her husband. corporate accountability, environmental, Esther Kiobel, International, Shell Related Areas of Practice: By Matthew Renshaw and Stephen Bilko May 29th, 2019 · 11:48 AM Matthew is an associate solicitor who assists Dan Leader in the international group claims department, specialising in international human rights claims against multinationals and the state. Stephen works with Matthew and Dan in the international team. Kiobel v Shell On 1 May 2019, 24 years since the death of her husband, the District Court of the Hague concluded that it had jurisdiction to hear Esther Kiobel’s case against Shell. Esther Kiobel is the lead Claimant in a case against Shell along with Victoria Bera, Blessing Eawo and Charity Levulais. The Claimants are the widows of four of nine environmental activists executed by the Nigerian state in 1995. The activists were part of a peaceful protest group called the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) who campaigned against Shell’s environmental impact in Ogoniland, an area in the Niger Delta, throughout the 1990s. In response to the environmental protests, Nigerian military and police forces attacked villages, beating, raping and killing the residents. Following this crackdown, the nine MOSOP activists were detained and later hanged after what John Major (Prime Minster at the time) called “a fraudulent trial, followed by judicial murder”. The widows accuse Shell of complicity in the unlawful arrest, detention and execution of the “Ogoni Nine”, as detailed in Amnesty International’s 2017 Report. They first sought justice in the United States in 2002, but the US Supreme Court ultimately held that US Courts did not have jurisdiction to hear the claims 11 years later in 2013. However the Claimants were determined to keep fighting their case. In June 2017 they issued their case to the Netherlands, where Shell is domiciled. On 01 May 2019 the District Court of The Hague decided that the case could be heard in the Netherlands. Shell may now face questioning on what it knew about the Nigerian military’s operations against environmental protesters and the execution of the Ogoni Nine, and the widows can have their day in court. Additionally, the court ruled that Shell must disclose evidence relating to any payments it made to witnesses who gave evidence at trial, some of whom later withdrew their testimonies, and claimed they were bribed to give false testimony against the Ogoni Nine. The Dutch court will examine Shell’s alleged complicity in this bribery at a future trial. The need for disclosure The Kiobel case is good news for victims of human rights and environmental abuses, as well as advocates for corporate accountability. The widows have at least been granted an opportunity at gaining redress and justice. However the widows’ lengthy struggle highlights significant issues regarding the disclosure of important documents for claimants facing wealthy multinationals, including Shell. In 2016, before issuing their case in the Netherlands, Esther Kiobel and the other widows tried to access important internal company documents from their original US case. However Shell resisted the application and successfully argued that the documents were protected because they had given them to their lawyers. Without access to these internal documents, claimants seeking justice against multinationals are reliant on what those companies put into the public domain. From 2011 Leigh Day represented the Bodo Community in Ogoniland in a case against SPDC concerning two massive oil spills in 2008. Documents in that case which were obtained through the disclosure process revealed that in 2000, 8 years prior to the spills, "the remaining life of most of the SPDC oil trunklines [was] more or less non-existent or short”. With the help of this disclosure, Leigh Day settled the case for £55 million on behalf of the claimants in 2015. However despite committing to do so, three years after the settlement and 11 years after the oil spills, Shell still has not cleaned up Bodo’s land. Leigh Day also represents clients in claims against Shell for alleged oil pollution in the Niger Delta. Leigh Day’s clients in the Bille and Ogale Communities have similarly struggled with a lack of access to information. The Communities’ lives have been destroyed by repeated oil spills from Shell infrastructure over a number of years. In 2015 they launched legal claims against Shell in the English High Court and have since been engaged in lengthy litigation concerning the jurisdiction of the UK Courts. The Claimants allege that Royal Dutch Shell plc (the ultimate parent company of the Shell group) owes them a duty of care because it has assumed responsibility for relevant aspects of the operations of Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, SPDC. The disclosure of internal company documents will be crucial to understand RDS’s knowledge of the situation in Nigeria and whether and how it chose to intervene in the operation there. Whereas the Court of Appeal in Shell decided against the Claimants (by majority) and held that they had to demonstrate evidence that Shell actively intervened in the operations of its Nigerian subsidiary prior to receiving any disclosure, this approach is called into question by the recent Supreme Court judgment in Vedanta. The Vedanta judgment recognises that Claimants in cases against multinational parent companies “depend heavily upon the contents of documents internal to each of the defendant companies, and upon correspondence and other documents passing between them, currently unavailable to the claimants, but in due course disclosable.” [§44] The Bille and Ogale communities are now seeking the permission of the Supreme Court to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision, in part because of what they believe is the Court of Appeal’s flawed approach to the issue of disclosure. Meanwhile in the Netherlands, three other Niger Delta communities are suing Shell for compensation for oil spills that occurred around 2005. As in the Kiobel, Bille and Ogale cases, the Claimants engaged in protracted legal proceedings concerning the disclosure of documents. Seven years after filing suit in the Court of The Hague, the Claimants were granted the right to inspect some internal company documents. Their case is expected to be heard in the Dutch Court of Appeal in 2020. The people of the Niger Delta have borne the consequences of Shell’s poor environmental and human rights practices for decades while Shell has made billions of dollars. Shell has also spent many millions resisting victims’ attempts to obtain information to understand the truth about Shell’s corporate structure and actions. Litigation in these cases may be slow and difficult, but the courage and determination of Esther Kiobel, Victoria Bera, Blessing Eawo and Charity Levulais to achieve justice should be commended. Nigerians seeking justice against Shell, and all advocates for corporate accountability, now hope that the Kiobel case and the Supreme Court’s decision in Vedanta will mark a turning point. To discuss your case Travel litigation	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2395
__label__wiki	0.788842	0.788842	Questions for the Government in the Bolton Book TRO Hearing(s) By Jack Goldsmith, Marty Lederman Thursday, June 18, 2020, 8:12 PM John Bolton sits on stage at the 2018 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland (Gage Skidmore/https://flic.kr/p/24BRQ9w/CC BY-SA 2.0/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) Yesterday we analyzed the government’s lawsuit that seeks to enjoin John Bolton (and, as a practical matter, his publisher and booksellers, too) from publishing or selling his book, “The Room Where It Happened,” and to recover any profits he receives from the book. An hour after we posted that analysis, the government filed an emergency application for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and motion for preliminary injunction. It asked Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to enjoin publication and sale of the book before it would otherwise become available to the public next Tuesday, June 23. Lamberth will convene a hearing on the motion tomorrow (Friday) at 1:00 p.m. The public can listen in at 888-636-3807; Access Code 6967853. (Presumably Lamberth might also hold a classified, ex parte hearing, where the government can present its classified evidence, but he hasn’t yet announced that.) There’s much to say about the TRO application and the declarations of several government officials submitted in support of it. But because time is short, this post will discuss an important framing issue—Lambert’s power to second-guess the classification decisions of the Trump administration—and then raise questions we think Lamberth should consider at the hearing tomorrow. The government’s effort to enjoin publication of Bolton’s book and take away the profits from book sales depends on its assertions that Bolton breached contractual agreements he signed as a condition of his access to classified material when he was national security adviser. Two primary theories undergird that assertion. The first theory is simply that the book contains classified information; that Bolton promised, as a condition of access to such information during his time as national security adviser, that he wouldn’t disclose any classified information he learned on the job without the authorization of the National Security Council (NSC); and that therefore the court can enforce that promise by enjoining publication of the classified information. This is a remedy that would raise much more serious constitutional problems if applied to a member of the public who didn’t have such a contractual obligation to the federal government of nondisclosure. For purposes of this first theory of liability, the government contends that the book manuscript contains information that’s been classified at the CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET and TOP SECRET levels pursuant to the governing 2009 executive order. (The different levels are distinguished by the degree of possible damage that disclosure of the information might cause. For example, a classifying official can designate information “TOP SECRET” only if it’s reasonable to believe its disclosure would cause “exceptionally grave damage” to national security, whereas information can be classified as “SECRET” if the reasonably expected damage to national security is merely “serious.”) The government’s second theory is that, as a condition of access to the very most sensitive forms of classified information, called sensitive compartmented information (SCI), Bolton also made a process-based promise. That promise was that he wouldn’t publish any writings that contain or that describe activities that “relate” to SCI or that he has reason to believe are derived from SCI, until he receives written authorization from the NSC to publish such writings. The written NSC authorization would come after a “prepublication review” process that’s ostensibly designed to ensure that SCI isn’t disclosed. (The intelligence community defines SCI as “[a] subset of [classified national intelligence] concerning or derived from intelligence sources, methods or analytical processes that is required to be protected within formal access control systems established by the [director of national intelligence].” It is actually a subset of TOP SECRET information and therefore is commonly referred to as TS/SCI.) The NSC hasn’t yet given Bolton any such written authorization. And in a declaration filed in support of the TRO yesterday, the NSC’s senior director for intelligence, Michael Ellis, asserts that Bolton’s book actually contains information classified as TS/SCI. If Ellis is right about that, then Bolton likely has a legal obligation not to publish the book as a whole until obtaining the written authorization. Ellis’s announcement that he discovered classified information in his recent prepublication review contrasts with an earlier NSC review of Bolton’s manuscript. From January through May 7, 2020, Bolton engaged in an elaborate four-month “iterative” review process with Ellen Knight, who leads the NSC’s records access and information security management directorate, the entity that has primary responsibility for such prepublication reviews within the NSC. The government has acknowledged that on April 27, after Bolton had made many cuts to his manuscript, Knight concluded that the revised manuscript draft didn’t contain any classified information at all—let alone any SCI. At that point, according to the government, National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien reviewed the manuscript and “concluded that it still appeared to contain classified information.” O’Brien then asked Ellis to conduct a further review of the manuscript. Ellis’s review lasted from May 2 to June 9. On Tuesday, June 16—the same day the government sued Bolton—Ellis wrote to Bolton that the manuscript “still contains classified information” and that the NSC therefore would not provide Bolton authorization to publish his book. In his declaration filed with Lamberth yesterday, Ellis goes further: He contends that the manuscript due to go on sale next Tuesday contains information classified at the CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, TOP SECRET and TS/SCI levels. His justifications for that conclusion are not public—they’re contained in a separate classified declaration he submitted to the court. In further declarations in support of the TRO application, three other administration officials also assert or suggest that the manuscript contains classified information: John L. Ratcliff, the director of national intelligence; William R. Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center; and Paul M. Nakasone, the director of the National Security Agency. The Standard of Review for Proper Classification As we explained in our earlier post, Lamberth can enjoin publication of the book only if, at a minimum, he concludes that it contains information that the government has properly classified. Although the burden is on the government to demonstrate proper classification, courts are usually deferential to the national security assessments of government officials. The basic test, under an important 1983 D.C. Circuit decision called McGehee, is whether the reasons offered for the classifications “are rational and plausible.” That is not typically a hard standard to meet, and thus it’s virtually unheard of for a court to find that the government has classified information improperly. This, however, might be a case in which a judge rejects or at least refuses to countenance the government’s classification decisions, at least for purposes of the requested injunction. That’s because of a confluence of unusual factors. They include: Several years ago, Lamberth declared at a conference of federal employees that federal courts are “far too deferential” to the executive branch’s claims that certain information must be classified on national security grounds and shouldn’t be released to the public. Judges shouldn’t afford government officials “almost blind deference,” said Lamberth. The decision to classify material here appears to be highly irregular. The career official responsible for prepublication review at the NSC determined after a long process that Bolton’s manuscript contained no classified information. A political appointee who had only recently become a classifying authority, Ellis, then arrived at a different conclusion after only a brief review. It is even possible that Ellis classified information in Bolton’s manuscript for the first time after Bolton was told by Knight that the manuscript contained no classified information. At a minimum there were clearly process irregularities in the prepublication consideration of Bolton’s manuscript. The D.C. Circuit in dicta in McGehee stated that the government “would bear a much heavier burden” than the usual rationality review of executive branch classified information determinations in cases where the government seeks “an injunction against publication of censored items”—that is, in a case like this one. Although it’s not clear whether that’s right, the First Amendment concerns raised by this case, in this setting, may affect how credulous Lamberth is of the government’s classified information determinations and of the unusual way in which Bolton’s prepublication review was conducted. Questions for Judge Lamberth to Consider Judge Lamberth will likely have many questions for the government for purposes of its TRO motion. The following are the ones we think are among the most important. We’ll start with questions about information in the book that Ellis alleges is classified below the SCI level; then address his assertions about SCI; and, finally, identify some other important legal questions. A. Questions About Information in the Book That Ellis Alleges to Be Classified as CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, or TOP SECRET (but Not SCI) McGehee teaches that Bolton’s nondisclosure agreements only prohibit him from unauthorized disclosure of information that an authorized government classification authority has actually classified. It is not enough that the information might be “classifiable,” an authorized classification authority has to formally determine that the relevant information is classified. That’s why Ellis attests that the manuscript contains information that has in fact been classified. Which raises the following questions that Lamberth should ask the government tomorrow: 1. Did Ellen Knight and her team consult with officials in the offices of the national security adviser, the director of national intelligence, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center director, and the National Security Agency director, before Knight reached her conclusion on April 27 that the manuscript contained no classified information? If so, who did they consult and what was the nature of the input of the parties consulted? Did Ellis offer any input? If she and her team did consult with such officials, how could Knight have reached her conclusion about the absence of classified information in light of the assertions now that Ellis, Ratcliffe, Evanina and Nakasone are now making that the book contains classified information? 2. Did any classification authority classify the relevant information in Bolton’s book? If so, who classified it and on what ground? (Will those officials testify about it?) Was the information marked as classified in any documents where it appeared? If so, why did Knight and her team not realize that the manuscript contained classified information after their months of meticulous review? 3. If, by contrast, Ellis or someone else in the government classified this information for the first time after Knight reached her conclusion on April 27: Why didn’t Knight herself, who is an “original classification authority,” do so, or recommend that it be classified? (Will she testify about that?) Why wasn’t it classified earlier? Who classified the information (we suspect it was Ellis), and will that person testify? Section 1.1(b) of the executive order provides that “[i]f there is significant doubt about the need to classify information, it shall not be classified.” Did the person who classified information after Knight’s review apply that standard? When, if ever, did Ellis receive his training in classification (see section 1.3(d) of the executive order). Was the training requirement waived for him and, if so, why? B. Questions About Information in the Book That Ellis Alleges Is Classified as TS/SCI: If Judge Lamberth concludes that the manuscript doesn’t contain any information classified as TS/SCI, then there would appear to be no basis for the NSC’s SF-4414 prepublication review to continue further, and he should reject the government’s theory of liability based on breach of Bolton’s agreement with the government by premature publication of the book without NSC authorization. This raises the following questions about Ellis’s assertion that the manuscript contains TS/SCI: 1. Ellis is careful not to claim that he has authority to classify anything as TS/SCI—he writes only that he “can assess” whether information is “currently and properly” classified as SCI. In that case, who is it that allegedly classified some information in the book as SCI—and when? Specifically, was the information in question classified as SCI before or after Knight completed her review on April 27? If after April 27, why and by whom? (Shouldn’t that person have to testify?) If before April 27, why didn’t either Bolton or Knight and her team realize that the alleged information had been classified SCI—something that presumably would have been fairly obvious during the months-long process. 2. If some of the information has been classified as SCI, what is the basis for that classification (something the government would almost certainly answer only in a classified hearing)? 3. Why have the senior intelligence officials who’ve filed declarations with the court only claimed (at most) that the information in the manuscript is classified (in the Justice Department’s words, the “conclusion that the draft still contains classified information is shared by Mr. Ratcliffe, Mr. Evanina, and Gen. Nakasone” [emphasis added]) and have not further attested that it includes TS/SCI? In paragraph 8 of his declaration, Nakasone asserts that the draft contains classified information, but in paragraph 9 he states that the information supporting his determination that the manuscript contains classified information “is highly classified and extraordinarily sensitive” and adds that “a portion of the manuscript” “implicates” SCI. What’s the distinction between information that is SCI and information that “implicates” SCI? If an authority did classify some of the information as TS/SCI, is Lamberth satisfied, after his de novo review, that the reasons for that classification “are rational and plausible” (and, possibly, whether they satisfy a higher standard of review under McGehee; see below)? C. Legal Questions 1. Under Executive Order 13526, government determinations of classified information must be predicated on determinations of degrees of possible “damage to the national security.” In a related context in McGehee, the D.C. Circuit worried that a classification standard “might be excessively vague” but satisfied itself that the CIA in that case used more precise criteria than degrees of damage to national security in its prepublication review practice. Did the NSC in the Bolton preclearance review use more precise criteria than simply assessing the degree of damage to national security? If so, what were they? 2. Dicta in McGehee suggests that there might be a “heightened standard” of review for classified information determinations in a prior restraint context. Is that the right reading of the First Amendment? Should the First Amendment also inform Lamberth’s scrutiny of the unusual preclearance review process in this case? 3. Section 1.7 of Executive Order 13526 provides that information may not be classified in order to, inter alia, conceal violations of law, inefficiency or administrative error; prevent embarrassment to a person, organization or agency; or prevent or delay the release of information that does not require protection in the interest of the national security. Did any such considerations affect the decisions to classify in this case? For example, Bolton alleges in his book that President Trump is ignorant of U.S. foreign policy, sees foreign policy through a reelection lens, and the like. Did those allegations bear on the decision to classify? 4. The government argues that pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d), Bolton’s publisher, Simon & Schuster, would be subject to the injunction, as would “[c]ommercial resellers further down the distribution chain, such as booksellers,” once they have actual notice of it. Why does the government believe that such an injunction would be constitutional as applied to those parties, given that they didn’t have a contractual relationship with the government? 5. In order to obtain a TRO or preliminary injunction, the United States would have to show that it would otherwise be “irreparably harmed.” But could such an order or injunction prevent any harm here? Bolton’s book has been widely distributed to booksellers and to journalists who have already written reviews of it. Bolton already published an excerpt from the book. According to Bolton’s publisher, “hundreds of thousands of copies of the book have already been distributed around the country and the world,” and, as noted above, the Constitution might well preclude application of any injunction to booksellers that would continue sell the copies they have on hand. Widespread dissemination of the book is thus inevitable, regardless of any injunction—and any classified information contained therein will be out of the bag. All foreign allies and adversaries will learn of it regardless of what Lamberth decides. How, then, can the government claim that it will be “irreparably harmed” without the injunction? And, relatedly, how could Lamberth grant the motion for an injunction if that injunction wouldn’t prevent the injury claimed by the United States? This piece has been cross-posted to Just Security. John Bolton, Prepublication Review Marty Lederman teaches at the Georgetown University Law Center. Is There a Free Speech Defense to an Impeachment? Keith E. Whittington Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 4:18 PM Pompeo’s Right About One Thing: Diplomats Deserve First Amendment Rights Scott R. Anderson Fri, Sep 4, 2020, 8:01 AM What Alexander Meiklejohn Had to Say About Cancel Culture Stephen Bates Wed, Jul 15, 2020, 4:53 PM Court Declines to Block Release of Bolton's Book Quinta Jurecic Sat, Jun 20, 2020, 11:53 AM A Quick Analysis of Bolton’s Response to the Government’s Emergency Request for Prior Restraint Jack Goldsmith, Marty Lederman Fri, Jun 19, 2020, 11:37 AM	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2396
__label__cc	0.675065	0.324935	From the acclaimed author of The End We Start From, The Harpy is a fierce tale of love, betrayal and revenge. 'The Harpy is brilliant . . . A deeply unsettling, excellent read.' Daisy Johnson Lucy and Jake live in a house by a field where the sun burns like a ball of fire. Lucy works from home but devotes her life to the children, to their finely tuned routine, and to the house itself, which comforts her like an old, sly friend. But then a man calls one afternoon with a shattering message: his wife has been having an affair with Lucy’s husband, he wants her to know. The revelation marks a turning point: Lucy and Jake decide to stay together, but in a special arrangement designed to even the score and save their marriage, she will hurt him three times. Jake will not know when the hurt is coming, nor what form it will take. As the couple submit to a delicate game of crime and punishment, Lucy herself begins to change, surrendering to a transformation of both mind and body from which there is no return. Told in dazzling, musical prose, The Harpy by Megan Hunter is a dark, staggering fairy tale, at once mythical and otherworldly and fiercely contemporary. It is a novel of love, marriage and its failures, of power and revenge, of metamorphosis and renewal.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2400
__label__wiki	0.813149	0.813149	LK Techsky HomeGame of ThronesHow 'Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows' massifies the 'idle' genre: this is what video games are in which you hardly have to bother playing How 'Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows' massifies the 'idle' genre: this is what video games are in which you hardly have to bother playing Lineesh August 13, 2020 The players raised to Apple Arcade, the exclusive video game service for the company's devices, has received in recent days one of the most anticipated novelties of the platform. This is 'Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows', the latest interactive derivation of a franchise that, despite the end of the HBO series that made it a worldwide phenomenon, still has much to offer its fans, among new series, upcoming books, and multiple video games. That Silly Studio and Devolver Digital are responsible for this game focused on the Night's Watch, in charge of defending the Wall of the northern border of the kingdoms of Westeros. The player controls various Lord Commanders throughout the order's history, which is quite a long time, as the Night's Watch was founded eight thousand years ago, after the Long Night. Among the actions that the player will have to carry out is sending scouts to different points of the Wall and even beyond, fortifying Castle Black and starring in different stories related to the Guard. You can send on three simultaneous expeditions, and you will receive crows telling you what they have found and with messages from your envoys asking what to do next. That is practically all, to which is added some extra decision, almost always in text format to complement the missions already assigned or to make them evolve. Despite being a game based primarily on text commands, That Silly Studio has given basic importance to the map, which can be seen from three perspectives. One of them allows you to follow the route in the "real" time of the expeditions, since you will witness from a bird's eye view how time passes and the seasons follow one another, in events with a relaxing visual effect. The game consists of assigning missions, which are generated much faster than how they are solved, and watching. See how the map is changing, the expeditions are solving their orders and listening to the narrations of the Night's Watch. That is to say, 'Game of Thrones: Tale of Crows' is a barely interactive video game, certainly not complicated (although that does not mean that it is simple) and where the duration of the game is derived, precisely, from what the player is expected to Enjoy contemplating the evolution of the climate, the Wall, the hardships from the sky of the expeditions. It is the magic of the so-called idle games, of which this game from the George RR Martin saga is one of its incarnations most adapted to the general public. The idle games: play not to playEssentially, idle games (also known as clicker games, although both have ended up diverging in different directions) are games in which you have to carry out either very few actions or very repetitive actions, such as clicking on the screen one and again. In its most classic version, that continuous click provides the player with income that allows him to improve characters or buy materials, which inevitably leads to multiplying the income. For this reason, the mechanics of management or strategy games tend to fit in with clicker games. Paradoxically or significantly, two of the games in the first round of clicker games were not games as such: 'Cookie Clicker' was a joke for netizens, and 'Cow Clicker', an interactive experiment by video game theorist Ian Bogost. Soon these games became challenges of patience and mindless skill when they became semi-role-playing games in which you only had to click, and whose titles left no doubt of their affiliation: 'Time Clickers', 'Tap Heroes', 'Tap Tap Infinity', 'Insanity Clicker' or 'Sakura Clicker'. This was the origin of idle games, since clicker games like the very popular 'Clicker Heroes', at a point, do not need clicks to advance. They are played alone. The games idle, mixed in these categories with games clicker, adopt a more relaxed view of interactivity though, of course, have found ways to dodge its free nature with different forms of finance without abandoning its nature contemplative. For example, they offer the ability to see ads to increase the speed on the way to our goals. Or, directly, to pay to obtain a permanent bonus. Some of these bonuses are obtained by accepting the offer to restart the universe without losing what has been achieved, which accelerates everything and makes us reach the point of previous abandonment with more advantages ... and shoots the life of the game to infinity. Game of Thrones Gaming Video games HYPRMEET, TO REPLACE YOUR WEBCAM WITH AN ANIMATED AVATAR Lidl now sells its own smart bulbs and smart home devices A smartwatch for kids with dual camera: imoo Watch Phone Z6 Hitman 3 brings closure to Agent 47 and can be played with virtual reality best camera 8 Membership Donation Vivo Y70 review \| LK Techsky WhatsApp reverses and delays Facebook's controversial privacy conditions by three months Tim Berners-lee unveiled a new initiative to "restructure" the website Galaxy S21 camera can remove people from photos Copyright © LK Techsky	cc/2021-04/en_head_0036.json.gz/line2401

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